For investors looking for long-term aggressive holdings and having a reasonable appetite for risk, technology mutual funds are often the preferred option. Technology mutual funds are still relatively new as a category and emerged as a force to reckon with only in the nineties. Despite the phenomenal growth they enjoyed in the years that followed, their subsequent decline made them unpalatable to the risk-averse investor. However, since the bubble burst, fund prices have been based on stronger fundamentals, substantially reducing the risk involved.
Below we will share with you the 5 best performing technology mutual funds year to date. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all technology mutual funds, then click here.
| Mutual Fund | Zacks Rank | Total Return YTD |
| Firsthand Technology Opportunities | #1 Strong Buy | 9.2% |
| RS Technology A | #1 Strong Buy | 7.5% |
| Wasatch Global Science & Technology | #1 Strong Buy | 5.1% |
| Buffalo Science & Technology | #2 Buy | 4.3% |
| Dreyfus Technology Growth A | # 1 Strong Buy | 3.3% |
Firsthand Technology Opportunities (TEFQX) invests a large portion of its assets in companies whose primary operations are related to high technology. The fund selects companies on the basis of their growth potential in their specific sector. It invests in companies of all sizes and may invest in relatively newer companies. It is a no-load fund.
This technology mutual fund returned 33.07% in the last one year period.
RS Technology A (RSIFX) seeks long term capital growth. It invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of technology companies. It concentrates on purchasing securities of small and mid-cap companies. The fund invests heavily in domestic companies but may also purchase foreign securities. The technology mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 4.64%.
The fund manager is Stephen Bishop and he has managed this technology mutual fund since 2001.
Wasatch Global Science & Technology (WAGTX) invests the majority of its assets in domestic and foreign companies in the science and technology domain. It invests in at least three developed countries including the U.S. The fund may also purchase a substantial amount of emerging market securities. This technology mutual fund returned 22.55% in the last one year period.
The technology mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $2,000 and an expense ratio of 1.95% compared to a category average of 1.76%.
Buffalo Science & Technology (BUFTX) seeks capital appreciation over the long term. It primarily invests in common stocks of domestic companies whose securities may gain from advances in science and technology. This technology mutual fund returned 18.69% in the last one year period and has a five year annualized return of 4.65%.
As of March 2010, this technology mutual fund held 59 issues, with 5.64% of its total assets invested in Fidelity Instl MM Fds Government I.
Dreyfus Technology Growth A (DTGRX) invests a large portion of its assets in stocks of companies with strong growth potential. These firms must be prominent producers in the technology domain or poised to gain from advancements in this sector. This technology mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 2.7%.
The technology mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $1,000 and an expense ratio of 1.67% compared to a category average of 1.76%.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all technology mutual funds, then click here.
About Zacks Mutual Fund Rank
By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find funds that not only outpaced the market in the past but are also expected to outperform going forward. Learn more about the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank at http://www.zacks.com/funds/mutualfund/
