5 Great Funds for a Down Market

Akre Focus

The managers at Akre Focus (symbol, AKREX) are choosy. Chuck Akre, John Neff and Chris Cerrone hunt for businesses that meet their “three-legged stool” standard. The first leg involves finding firms with qualities such as consistently high returns on equity (a measure of profitability) and sustainable competitive advantages over peers. The second prioritizes firms with skilled executives calling the shots. Finally, firms must have a history of wisely reinvesting in the business and the capacity to continue doing so. At last check, only 20 stocks had made the cut.

The managers generate ideas by homing in on long-term themes. The fund took positions in alternative asset managers KKR (KKR) and Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) in recent years when the managers saw a shift in how institutional investors allocate capital, says Cerrone. When few reasonably priced opportunities arise, the managers let cash accumulate, and the fund held a 17% cash stake at the end of 2019. The cash pile shrank to about 10% in March as the managers, wary of further volatility, “spooned, rather than shoveled” money into undervalued stocks in the portfolio. That willingness to hold cash, along with disciplined stock picking, has bolstered returns in rocky markets. Over the past decade, the fund returned an annualized 16.0%—better than 99% of large-company stock funds and well ahead of the S&P 500’s 11.5% return.

Amana Growth

Amana Growth (AMAGX) may seem like a niche fund to some investors, because the investing process starts with a screen to ensure that the portfolio adheres to Islamic principles. But the fund’s track record holds broad appeal. The fund rules out businesses that scripture forbids, such as those involved with alcohol, tobacco and pork processing. Because Islam prohibits borrowing and lending money, financial firms are out, as are heavily indebted businesses, such as those in the telecommunications, energy and utilities sectors.

When the financial crisis struck in 2008, Amana didn’t own a single bank. And as oil prices have plunged during the current market slide, the fund’s aversion to energy firms has boosted returns. Amana has lost 9.5% since stocks peaked in February, compared with 14.8% for the S&P 500. Over the past 15 years, the fund’s 11% annualized return walloped the S&P 500 by 2.4 percentage points, with less volatility.

The trio of managers favor firms that score highly on environmental, social and governance criteria, trade at reasonable valuations, and sport long-term competitive advantages. Amana first invested in Apple (AAPL), its top holding, in 1992. Recently, Apple has shown why investing in cash-rich firms with little debt pays off, says comanager Monem Salam. “When stores close and you have to figure out how to pay employees, it helps to have $100 billion in cash on the balance sheet.”

Jensen Quality Growth

The managers at Jensen Quality Growth (JENSX) starts their stock-picking process with a big universe—companies with a market capitalization (share price times shares outstanding) of $1 billion or more—but narrows things down rapidly. First, firms must have generated 15% return on equity for at least 10 consecutive years. From there, the fund’s six-manager team looks for companies with long-term competitive advantages, strong growth in free cash flow (cash profits left after spending to maintain and expand the business), growth prospects, and shareholder-friendly management. Stocks with high growth projections that trade at a reasonable price make it into the portfolio and stay there for about 5.5 years, on average.

Companies occupying the largest positions in the 30-stock portfolio tend to enjoy robust consumer demand for their products and services regardless of economic conditions, says comanager Eric Schoenstein. Amid the current bear market, big stakes in health care firms Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Becton Dickinson (BDX) have helped the fund beat the broad stock market by 4.4 percentage points, he says.

Parnassus Core Equity

Parnassus Core Equity’s (PRBLX) search for high-quality firms revolves around mitigating risk. Managers Todd Ahlsten and Benjamin Allen screen for companies with the financial strength to withstand shocks to their business, favoring highly profitable firms with ample cash, expanding profit margins and a lineup of essential products or services that the managers expect to grow even more relevant over time. In line with Parnassus’s social-responsibility mandate, the fund excludes firms that score poorly on environmental, social and corporate governance measures.

Stocks that make it through the screens are assessed based on best- and worst-case scenarios over the next three to 10 years. Given the current bear, the duo assessed the portfolio’s risk, ranking each of the 40 stocks from 1 (rock-solid) to 4 (high or unknowable risks). The managers are mum on the riskier names they pared back, but said they added to stakes in Clorox (CLX), Mastercard (MA) and Microsoft (MSFT)—firms that can expect long-term, sturdy demand from consumers. Since Ahlsten assumed the lead role in May 2001, the fund has returned 9.1%, against 6.5% for the S&P 500, with 13% less volatility.

Vanguard Dividend Growth

Since Vanguard Dividend Growth (VDIGX) reopened to new investors in August 2019, investor dollars have poured in. At this pace, Vanguard is likely to close the fund again in the next year or two, says Morningstar analyst Alec Lucas. Investors looking for a smooth ride should get in while they can. The fund held up better than the S&P 500 over the past five major drops, and it has beaten the index in each drawdown of 10% or more since manager Don Kilbride took the helm in 2006.

As the name implies, the fund’s primary strategy is finding firms that can boost their payout. Kilbride aims for stocks with a dividend growth rate at least three percentage points higher than the rate of inflation, though growth rates in his portfolio tend to be higher. He sticks mainly to blue-chips with a record of boosting profits and a demonstrated commitment to returning cash to shareholders. Medical device firm Medtronic (MDT) headlines the 42-stock portfolio, along with Coca-Cola (KO) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH). Over the past 15 years, the fund has been 17% less volatile than the S&P 500. It’s 9.5% return over the period beats the index by 0.9 percentage point.