Spotlight - Parnassus Equity Income Fund (PRILX)
The Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) and the Ave Maria Growth (AVEGX) continue to hold the top relative strength scores in the socially responsible fund universe with fund dcores well above the 5 level. The scores for these two funds have been stable for about two years, giving you some consistency in relative strength with their stock selection approach. 

On the lower beta side of the equity market, the Parnassus Equity Income Fund (PRILX) has moved up in score and it leads the other funds with similar risk profiles. The current fund dcore for PRILX is 4.76 and it also possesses a lower relative risk value than the core equity market.

On the international scene, the best score comes from the Domini International Social Equity Fund Class (DOMAX) with a Fund Score of 4.72. Another international fund that has been improving rapidly in fund score is the DFA Emerging Markets Social Core Portfolio (DFESX), which is up over a point in score over the last 60 days.

 Additionally, there are two sector funds that stand out with fund scores above the 4 level: PowerShares Wilderhill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) and Calvert Global Water Fund (CFWAX). Keep in mind that the average score for a pure sector fund across the total equity fund universe is 3.06, so you are getting a boost with these funds close to 1.5 points above that average.

On the fixed-income frontier, the best fund score continues to come from the Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX), which is the only fixed-income fund with a score above the 3 threshold.

Figures in the charts below are as of October 23, 2013.

Bond Funds
High Strength, Low Risk
Fund Score > 3, Below average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds And ETFs      
    Parnassus Equity Income Fund Class Inst. (PRILX) 4.76 0.88  
    Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX) 4.50 0.94  
    Calvert Large Cap Core Portfolio Class A (CMIFX) 4.12 0.91  
    Walden Equity Fund (WSEFX) 3.53 0.99  
    iShares FTSE KLD 400 Social Idx. (ETF): NYS-DSI 3.35 0.99  
    Calvert Balanced Portfolio Class A (CSIFX) 3.14 0.59  
    Calvert Moderate Alloc. Fund Class A (CMAAX) 3.10 0.71  
   

Pax World Balanced Individual Inv. Class (PAXWX)

 3.08 0.89  
    Appleseed Fund (APPLX)      
    Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX) 3.24 0.20  
           

 

High Strength, High Risk
Fund Score > 3, Above average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds and ETFs      
    Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) 5.73 1.64  
    Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX) 5.20 1.15  
    Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund Inv (NBSRX) 4.79 1.10  
    Domini International Social Equity Fund Class (DOMAX) 4.72 1.43  
    PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy(ETF): NYS - PBW 4.71 2.51  
    TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund Instituti (TISCX) 4.62 1.05  
    Parnassus Fund (PARNX) 4.53 1.50  
    Calvert Global Water Fund Class A (CFWAX) 4.49 1.22  
    Calvert Capital Accumulation Fund Class A (CCAFX) 4.35 1.40  
    Parnassus Workplace Fund (PARWX) 4.16 1.18  
    Parnassus Mid Cap Fund (PARMX) 4.10 1.10  
    Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (AVEMX) 3.91 1.20  
    VALIC Company I Global Social Awareness Fund (VCSOX) 3.69 1.16  
    Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional (VFTNX) 3.49 1.06  
    DFA U.S. Social Core Equity 2 (DFUEX) 3.48 1.26  
    Domini Social Equity Fund Investor Class (DSEFX)
 		 3.48 1.08  
    Calvert Small Cap Fund Class A (CCVAX) 3.44 1.34  
    Calvert International Equity Fund Class A (CWVGX) 3.43 1.30  
    VALIC Company II Socially Responsible Fund (VCSRX) 3.40 1.03  
    Calvert Social Index Fund Class I (CISIX) 3.39 1.01  
    Parnassus Small Cap Fund (PARSX) 3.32 1.56  
    Calvert Equity Portfolio Class A (CSIEX) 3.16 1.05  
    iShares MSCI USA ESG Select Scl Indx Fnd: NYS - KLD 3.08 1.01  
           

 

Low Strength, Low Risk
Fund Score < 3, Below average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds and ETFs      
    DFA International Social Core Equity Portfoli (DSCLX) 2.80 0.00  
    Legg Mason Investment Counsel Soc. Awareness (SSIAX) 2.75 0.72  
           
  Bond Funds      
    Calvert Ultra-Short Income Fund Class A (CULAX) 2.79 0.05  
    Calvert Income Fund Class A (CFICX) 2.77 0.30  
    Calvert Short Duration Income Fund Class A (CSDAX) 2.75 0.16  
    Domini Social Bond Fund Investor Class (DSBFX) 2.37 0.19  
    Calvert Bond Portfolio Class A (CSIBX) 2.19 0.29  
    Calvert Tax-Free Bond Fund Class A (CTTLX) 1.96 0.44  
    Calvert Long-Term Income Fund Class A (CLDAX) 1.95 0.49  
    Parnassus Fixed Income Fund (PRFIX) 1.61 0.28  
           

 

Low Strength, High Risk
Fund Score < 3, Above average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds and ETFs      
    DFA Emerging Markets Social Core Portfolio (DFESX) 2.88 1.69