One of the nation’s oldest and largest investment management companies, Van Kampen Investments was established in 1927. With a rich legacy of domain expertise, the company currently manages or supervises around $85 billion worth of assets. It has a strong commitment towards a research driven culture and uses a bottom-up approach to select investments. The company offers a wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, retirement solutions and unit investment trusts. Van Kampen allows its sector specific teams to build their own individual investment styles, supporting them with the firm’s trading expertise and cutting edge technology solutions.
Below we will share with you 5 top rated Van Kampen funds. Each has earned a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) as we expect the fund to outperform its peers in the future. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all Van Kampen funds, then click here.
Van Kampen Equity Growth A (VEGAX) invests in growth-oriented medium and large-cap companies. Up to 35% of the fund’s assets may be used to purchase foreign securities. It may also invest a relatively smaller proportion in real estate investment trusts. The fund returned 69.91% over the last one year period.
Kristian Heugh is the fund manager and he has managed this Van Kampen fund since 2006.
Van Kampen Emerging Markets A (MSRAX) seeks long term capital growth. Emerging market equity securities constitute the major investments of the fund. A significant portion of its assets may be invested in debt, with around 10% used to purchase lower –grade securities. The fund returned 74.37% in the last one year and has a five year annualized return of 11.96%.
The Van Kampen fund has a minimum initial investment of $1,000 and an expense ratio of 2.22% compared to a category average of 1.76%.
Van Kampen Enterprise A (ACENX) invests in stocks with the potential for superior capital growth. Up to 25% of its assets are invested in foreign securities and a maximum of 10% is invested in real estate investment trusts. The fund returned 60.37% over the last one year period.
As of December 2009, this fund held 43 issues, with 7.25% of its total assets invested in Amazon.com, Inc.
Van Kampen Pennsylvania Tax-Free Income A (VKMPX) seeks income which is exempt from the federal income taxes and those levied by the state of Pennsylvania. It invests heavily in Pennsylvania municipal securities rated medium or lower at the time of purchase. It returned 67.36% in 2009 and has a ten year annualized return of 4.37%.
The Van Kampen fund has an expense ratio of 1.21% compared to a category average of 1.07%.
Van Kampen Growth and Income A (ACGIX) invests heavily in income generating equity securities. It may invest not more than 25% of its assets in foreign securities. It also limits its investment in real estate investment trusts to 15% of its total assets. The fund returned 36.66% over the last one year period.
The fund manager is Thomas Bastian and he has manged this fund since 2003.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all Van Kampen 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/
