Top Aggressive Growth Funds

We are proud to feature top performingThe aggressive growth fund has an expense ratio
“Aggressive Growth" equity mutual funds,of 3.74%. As of July 2009, it has a portfolio
which primarily invest in aggressive growth equityturnover of 151%.
securities of companies.Matthew W. Markatos has been lead manager of
Investors can come across such funds by lookingthe fund since February 2003. Before joining
at the entire list of the Zacks #1 RankStonebridge in 2000, Markatos was a portfolio
Aggressive Growth Equity Funds.manager and analyst of separate account equity
3 Great Examples of Aggressive Growthportfolios at Van Deventer & Hoch
ProFunds UltraBull Fund Inv (ULPIX) seeks dailyInvestment Counsel.
investment results that correspond, prior to feesNeedham Aggressive Growth Fund (NEAGX)
and expenses, to 200% of the performance ofseeks long-term capital appreciation. It was
the S&P 500 Index. It was incepted inincepted in September 2001.
November 1997.The fund invests in equities of public companies
The fund uses a leverage to seek to double thewith above-average prospective growth rates.
daily performance of the benchmark index.While focusing on capital appreciation, it also seeks
Leverage is borrowing money or using credit totax efficiency and lower risk exposure through
potentially earn higher returns. But along with thethe use of hedging instruments such as short
potential for higher returns, leverage alsoselling. The aggressive growth fund customarily
increases the risk of an investment. Thisinvests at least 65% of total assets in equity
aggressive growth fund usually invests asecurities of domestic issuers. Although it may
substantial portion of its assets in stock indexinvest in companies of all sizes, its investment
futures contracts, options on stock index futuresstrategy may often lead it to invest in smaller
contracts and options on securities and stockcompanies. The fund is non-diversified.
indexes. It may also invest in securities that areShareholders have to make a minimum initial
expected to track the S&P 500.investment of $5,000 to enter this Zacks #1
The aggressive growth fund has an expense ratioRank ("Strong Buy") fund. It has an expense ratio
of 1.65%. As of July 2009, it has a portfolioof 2.50%.
turnover of 697%.Bernard Lirola has been lead manager of this
Howard S. Rubin has been lead manager of theaggressive growth fund since January 2008. Lirola
fund since December 2009. Rubin is a Charteredhas a MBA from Harvard Business School and
Financial Analyst and has been a senior portfolioalso co-manages the Needham Growth Fund.
manager with ProFund Advisors since NovemberDiscover Many More Funds
2004.Learn more about the new Zacks Mutual Fund
Stonebridge Small-Cap Growth (SBAGX) wasRank and discover some of the best
incepted in October 1956. The aggressive growthmarket-beating mutual funds by browsing our
fund seeks long-term growth of capital andmutual funds section. This part of offers a variety
short-term income as a consequential objective.of tools, including mutual fund research, a new
This aggressive growth fund invests primarily inmutual fund screener, helpful answers to
common stocks that appear to have goodfrequently asked questions and quick access to
prospects for superior earnings growth, andprospectuses and other information.
investing in companies with smaller marketBy applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds,
capitalizations, based on the total value of publiclyinvestors can discover funds that not only
traded equity securities. It picks stocks throughoutpaced the market in the past but are also
careful analysis and intensive study of severalexpected to outperform going forward.
industries and companies.