These fund categories enjoyed big rallies until ...
December 12, 2016 3:48 PM
Health funds saw a decline in 2016, specifically biotech and drug manufacturers, as the government has stepped up scrutiny on drug pricing practices, says Andrew Daniels, equity strategies analyst at Morningstar. Indeed, the health category tops the chart on mutual fund categories that declined in 2016. Health funds had been a top-performing sector for the previous several years, he noted, so it it's not surprising that some investors were looking for reason to take profits.
Bear funds also fell off a cliff in 2016. As a group, they were down more than 4% in 2015, but year-to-date in 2016, they've decline another 20%, not that surprising in a year when the S&P 500 posted gains of more than 10%. (This was originally posted in mid December.)
The bottom half of the list of declines was dominated by munis. New York and California each accounted for two categories, but Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio were also present and accounted for, as well as high yield munis.
To be sure, the first half the year was good for munis, but in the fall, worries of rate hikes loomed large and slowed gains. Then, Trump's surprise victory in November created uncertainty for fixed-income (although gave a boost for stocks) as expectations for more government spending has brought worries of higher inflation.
Scroll through to see the biggest declines, by category, in the markets. Declines were measured by the largest percentage point decrease in 2016 year-to-date performance over 2015 performance. Only categories with at least 10 funds were included. All data is from Morningstar.
Bear funds also fell off a cliff in 2016. As a group, they were down more than 4% in 2015, but year-to-date in 2016, they've decline another 20%, not that surprising in a year when the S&P 500 posted gains of more than 10%. (This was originally posted in mid December.)
The bottom half of the list of declines was dominated by munis. New York and California each accounted for two categories, but Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio were also present and accounted for, as well as high yield munis.
To be sure, the first half the year was good for munis, but in the fall, worries of rate hikes loomed large and slowed gains. Then, Trump's surprise victory in November created uncertainty for fixed-income (although gave a boost for stocks) as expectations for more government spending has brought worries of higher inflation.
Scroll through to see the biggest declines, by category, in the markets. Declines were measured by the largest percentage point decrease in 2016 year-to-date performance over 2015 performance. Only categories with at least 10 funds were included. All data is from Morningstar.
20. Muni Single State Long
2015 Return: 2.37%
2016 YTD Return: -0.18%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -2.55
Net Assets (millions): $22,950
2016 YTD Return: -0.18%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -2.55
Net Assets (millions): $22,950
19. Foreign Small/Mid Blend
2015 Return: 3.65%
2016 YTD Return: 0.80%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -2.85
Net Assets (millions): $19,069
2016 YTD Return: 0.80%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -2.85
Net Assets (millions): $19,069
18. Muni Ohio
2015 Return: 2.58%
2016 YTD Return: -0.44%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.02
Net Assets (millions): $5,290
2016 YTD Return: -0.44%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.02
Net Assets (millions): $5,290
17. Muni Single State Interm
2015 Return: 2.34%
2016 YTD Return: -0.93%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.26
Net Assets (millions): $13,306
2016 YTD Return: -0.93%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.26
Net Assets (millions): $13,306
16. Muni Pennsylvania
2015 Return: 3%
2016 YTD Return: -0.35%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.35
Net Assets (millions): $9,581
2016 YTD Return: -0.35%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.35
Net Assets (millions): $9,581
15. Muni National Interm
2015 Return: 2.50%
2016 YTD Return: -0.89%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.39
Net Assets (millions): $183,490
2016 YTD Return: -0.89%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.39
Net Assets (millions): $183,490
14. Muni New York Long
2015 Return: 3.11%
2016 YTD Return: -0.30%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.41
Net Assets (millions): $19,656
2016 YTD Return: -0.30%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.41
Net Assets (millions): $19,656
13. Muni Massachusetts
2015 Return: 2.63%
2016 YTD Return: -0.87%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.50
Net Assets (millions): $7,386
2016 YTD Return: -0.87%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.50
Net Assets (millions): $7,386
12. Muni Minnesota
2015 Return: 2.73%
2016 YTD Return: -0.88%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.60
Net Assets (millions): $6,135
2016 YTD Return: -0.88%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.60
Net Assets (millions): $6,135
11. Muni New York Intermediate
2015 Return: 2.78%
2016 YTD Return: -1.06%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.84
Net Assets (millions): $10,834
2016 YTD Return: -1.06%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.84
Net Assets (millions): $10,834
10. Muni National Long
2015 Return: 3.09%
2016 YTD Return: -0.83%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.92
Net Assets (millions): $88,677
2016 YTD Return: -0.83%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -3.92
Net Assets (millions): $88,677
9. Foreign Large Growth
2015 Return: 0.84%
2016 YTD Return: -3.23%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.08
Net Assets (millions): $324,057
2016 YTD Return: -3.23%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.08
Net Assets (millions): $324,057
8. High Yield Muni
2015 Return: 4.20%
2016 YTD Return: 0%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.19
Net Assets (millions): $90,369
2016 YTD Return: 0%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.19
Net Assets (millions): $90,369
7. Muni California Intermediate
2015 Return: 2.88%
2016 YTD Return: -1.38%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.27
Net Assets (millions): $25,660
2016 YTD Return: -1.38%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.27
Net Assets (millions): $25,660
6. Muni California Long
2015 Return: 3.88%
2016 YTD Return: -0.91%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.68
Net Assets (millions): $38,683
2016 YTD Return: -0.91%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -4.68
Net Assets (millions): $38,683
5. Europe Stock
2015 Return: 1.78%
2016 YTD Return: -5.27%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -7.05
Net Assets (millions): $18,047
2016 YTD Return: -5.27%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -7.05
Net Assets (millions): $18,047
4. Japan Stock
2015 Return: 12.28%
2016 YTD Return: 2.24%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -10.04
Net Assets (millions): $7,081
2016 YTD Return: 2.24%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -10.04
Net Assets (millions): $7,081
3. Foreign Small/Mid Growth
2015 Return: 7.46%
2016 YTD Return: -3.89%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -11.35
Net Assets (millions): $35,914
2016 YTD Return: -3.89%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -11.35
Net Assets (millions): $35,914
2. Bear Market
2015 Return: -4.78%
2016 YTD Return: -20.37%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -15.59
Net Assets (millions): $3,214
2016 YTD Return: -20.37%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -15.59
Net Assets (millions): $3,214
1. Health
2015 Return: 8.15%
2016 YTD Return: -10.06%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -18.21
Net Assets (millions): $103,228
2016 YTD Return: -10.06%
Differential in 2015 & 2016 YTD Returns (% Points): -18.21
Net Assets (millions): $103,228
