The 10 worst performing mutual funds for the past three years represent a variety of investment options that have underperformed their benchmarks, leading to situations in which investors have paid continued money management fees for poor performance.
According to BankInvestmentConsultant, these are the 10 worst-performing mutual funds over the past three years, as measured on an annualized basis and compared to the funds' benchmarks:
Rank |
Name |
Symbol |
3-Year Return |
Below Benchmark |
Expense Ratio |
Total Assets (Millions) |
10 |
Neuberger Berman Long Short |
NLSAX |
2.27% |
-7.86% |
1.69% |
$2,791 |
9 |
Invesco Energy |
IENAX |
-18.54% |
-8.39% |
1.26% |
$650 |
8 |
Catalyst Hedged Futures Strategy |
HFXAX |
-2.57% |
-9.02% |
2.17% |
$2,436 |
7 |
MFS Utilities |
MMUFX |
1.86% |
-10.35% |
0.99% |
$4,033 |
6 |
Ivy Science And Technology |
WSTAX |
6.12% |
-10.78% |
1.30% |
$4,059 |
5 |
Virtus Equity Trend |
VAPAX |
-1.48% |
-11.31% |
1.50% |
$592 |
4 |
Waddell & Reed Science & Tech |
UNSCX |
5.53% |
-11.37% |
1.27% |
$3,531 |
3 |
AB All Market Real Return |
AMTAX |
-8.34% |
-12.91% |
1.30% |
$1,423 |
2 |
Marketfield |
MFADX |
-4.70% |
-14.83% |
1.83% |
$509 |
1 |
Pimco StocksPlus Short |
PSSAX |
-9.25% |
-19.38% |
1.04% |
$2,284 |
This is not Ivy's first time on such a poor-returns list. In 2016, we reported Ivy High Income C (WRXHIX) as the worst-performing high-yield bond fund of the 10 largest and ranked by poorest one-year return percentage. Also on that list was PIMCO High Yield Instl (PHIYX); Pimco appears as the overall worst-performer in Pimco StocksPlus Short (PSSAX; 19.38% below benchmark).
In 2015, FINRA sanctioned former Edward Jones broker Dalas Lee Gundersen of Willows, CA for unsuitable investment recommendations and excess concentration related to investments in a related Invesco (#9) product.
Also in 2015, the SEC issued a cease-and-desist order against Virtus Investment Advisers (Virtus Equity Trend is #5) related to its mutual fund business.
If you have invested with any broker or financial adviser whose recommendation of one of the aforementioned 10 worst performing mutual funds was unsuitable given your investments objectives and risk tolerance preferences, or has over concentrated such a position in your portfolio, and this misconduct has proven harmful to your investments or interests, please call The Law Offices of Jonathan W. Evans & Associates at (800) 699-1881 for an investigation and consultation.