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Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
  • Jan 5, 2015 How did Funds perform on big down day
    @MFO Members: Successful mutual fund investing is a marathon not a sprint ! Hope we don't have another repeat of this today.
    Regards,
    Ted
    It's a mentality shaped by a market that has gone up constantly for a while now. Declines are met with, effectively, "It's not supposed to do that" and/or heightened concern. I don't have anything against these threads, but, would a 2-3% decline 7-10 years ago result in frequent discussions of "what's worked today?" Probably not.
    I am pretty concerned with oil that doesn't seem to stop going down and interest rates where they are, but the market down a few %? It's one of those "Wake me when it's 15-20%."
  • Jan 5, 2015 How did Funds perform on big down day
    Same category with PRWCX and FPACX: MAPOX on 05 Jan. '15:
    down -$0.95 cents, or -1.09%. It's a gooder.
    Why do we overthink this? Are those are all you need? 10, 15 year TRs
    Fund 10YR 15YR
    PRWCX 8.82 10.63
    FPACX 8.50 10.83
    MAPOX 7.75 7.95
    S&P 500 7.73 4.44
  • Jan 5, 2015 How did Funds perform on big down day
    Same category with PRWCX and FPACX: MAPOX on 05 Jan. '15:
    down -$0.95 cents, or -1.09%. It's a gooder.
  • Morningstar's Portfolio Manager Price Updating Concern ...
    So their mobile app updated with correct pricing around the usual time, but I'm still not seeing the updates from 1/5 reflected on the website.
    Maybe they're just afraid people can't take the sight of all that red?
  • M* Nominees For 2014 International-Stock Manager Of The Year
    Just for reference against some MFO faves:
    2014 returns for:
    EAFE: -4.9%
    ACWI ex US: -3.87%
    ARTKX: -0.59%
    PRIDX: -0.43%
    DODFX: 0.08%
    SFGIX: -0.52%
    GPIOX: 2.36%
    FMIJX: 4.62%
  • Morningstar's Portfolio Manager Price Updating Concern ...
    As of 11:19 am EST none of my funds has updated for yesterday's close.
  • conference call with Bernie Horn of Polaris Capital, January 13, 7 - 8 p.m. Eastern
    Dear friends,
    You are cordially invited to join me on a conference call with Bernie Horn, founder of Polaris Capital Management and manager of Polaris Global Value (PGVFX). You’re receiving this note because you asked to be included on the Observer’s conference call notification list. The call will take place between 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., EST, this coming Tuesday, January 13th. To register, just follow this link.
    Mr. Horn and the Polaris team advise Polaris Global Value and sub-advise funds for PNC and Pear Tree. Mr. Horn has been managing global portfolios since 1980, launched Global Value L.P. in 1989, founded Polaris in 1995 and launched PGVFX in 1998. The fund remains small but distinguished. It has a great long-term record and superb tax efficiency, but suffered a terrible ’07 and bad ’08. That cost the fund nearly two-thirds of its assets, though the fund’s assets are a small fraction of the firm’s total AUM. Mr. Horn and his team made substantial and thoughtful revisions since then, and the fund has been in the top 10% of world stock funds over the past 3 and 5 years.
    We're likely to talk most about PGV but maybe a bit too about QUSOX, his really good international SCV fund.
    If you can make it, you're more than welcome. If you can but you have questions you'd like me to raise with him, just post them below. I've logged the queries from AJ, Vert and Mike and it's likely he'll review this thread before the call. As always, it's just a telephone conference call and I'll try to post highlights and an mp3 afterward.
    For what interest it holds,
    David
  • Bill Gross Says The Good Times Are Over
    FYI: Bill Gross, the former manager of the world’s largest bond fund, said prices for many assets will fall this year as record-low interest rates fail to restore sufficient economic growth.
    Regards,
    Ted
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2015-01-06/gross-says-good-times-are-over-with-markets-set-to-fall.html
  • Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund (NRIAX)
    @mrdarcey: NRAIX is unranked among #113 (WA) Funds covered by U.S. News & World Report. 12.70% 3 year return puts it in the 3rd percentile, not bad
    Regards,
    Ted
    M* NRAIX Performance:
    http://performance.morningstar.com/fund/performance-return.action?t=NRIAX&region=usa&culture=en-US
  • DODFX closing
    Thanks. Interesting that now, with international markets off, is when D&C close DODFX. I know inflows have been large over the last year, but I'd think they'd be looking for opportunities in Europe or wherever. And there can't be that large a difference with that many billions.
    Speaking of D&C international holdings, has anyone else seen that DODWX is now @ 10% preferreds?
  • DODFX closing
    SEC filing concerning closing:
    http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/29440/000119312515002005/d828215d497.htm
    497 1 d828215d497.htm FORM 497
    LOGO
    SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 6, 2015
    TO
    STATUTORY PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2014
    Effective as of the close of trading on January 16, 2015, the Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund will be closed to new investors. Accordingly, the International Stock Fund Statutory Prospectus is updated as follows.
    The following is added to the beginning of the section titled “Summary of Other Important Information About Fund Shares – Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares” on page 26 of the Statutory Prospectus:
    The Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund will be closed to new investors as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on January 16, 2015, with certain limited exceptions. For more information, see the “How to Purchase Shares” section of the Prospectus.
    The following is added to the end of the section titled “How to Purchase Shares” on pages 42-44 of the Statutory Prospectus:
    Information Regarding Purchases of the Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund The Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund will be closed to new investors as of the close of trading on January 16, 2015 (the “Close Date”), with certain limited exceptions. Your investment must be received (not postmarked) by the Fund’s transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services, or an authorized agent or sub-agent, in good order, before the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the Close Date.
    In addition, you will not be permitted to exchange shares of other Dodge & Cox Funds for shares of the Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund unless you are an existing shareholder of the International Stock Fund.
    After the Close Date, purchases of shares of the Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund must qualify under one of the following exceptions:
    Existing Shareholders — An existing shareholder of the Fund (either directly or through an intermediary) as of the Close Date may:
    (i) add to the shareholder’s account through the purchase of additional Fund shares, either with cash or through the reinvestment of dividends and cash distributions;
    (ii) open a new UGMA/UTMA account for which the shareholder is the custodian; or
    (iii) open a new account that is registered in the shareholder’s name or has the same taxpayer identification or social security number assigned to it, including a new account opened in connection with a distribution or roll-over from an individual retirement account, 401(k) plan or other defined contribution retirement plan that is invested in the Fund. This exception applies only to individuals or institutions opening accounts for their own benefit and does not apply to institutions opening accounts on behalf of their clients. Institutions that maintain omnibus account arrangements with the Fund are not allowed to purchase shares of the Fund in their omnibus accounts for clients who do not currently own shares of the Fund unless the client is eligible to open an account under one of the other criteria listed herein.
    Retirement Plans — A defined contribution retirement plan (for example, 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and money purchase plans), 403(b) plan or 457 plan that offers the Fund as of the Close Date may open new participant accounts within the plan. Participants in a plan may not open a new account outside of the plan under this exception.
    Gifts — An individual may receive shares of the Fund as a gift from a family member who is an existing shareholder of the Fund.
    Charities — A charitable foundation or trust may receive shares of the Fund from an existing shareholder of the Fund.
    Financial Intermediaries Using a Model Portfolio — A registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance company, or bank and trust company that held the Fund in a model portfolio prior to the Close Date may open new accounts within that model for new and existing clients. Approved or recommended lists are not considered model portfolios.
    Institutions that have Selected the Fund — An institutional investor that has notified Dodge & Cox in writing that it has selected the Fund for investment by the Close Date may invest in the Fund within one year of the Close Date.
    Certain Dodge & Cox Affiliates — Current trustees or officers of Dodge & Cox Funds, employees of Dodge & Cox, or a member of the immediate family of any of these persons may invest in the Fund.
    Once an account is closed, additional investments will not be accepted unless you meet one of the specified criteria above. Management reserves the right to: (i) make additional exceptions that, in its judgment, do not adversely affect its ability to manage the Fund; (ii) reject any investment or refuse any exception, including those detailed above, that it believes will adversely affect its ability to manage the Fund; and (iii) close or re-open the Fund to new or existing shareholders at any time. An investment is subject to management’s determination of your eligibility to buy shares of the Fund and you may be required to provide additional documentation or otherwise demonstrate eligibility before an investment is accepted.
    The Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund’s closing does not restrict you from redeeming shares of the Fund. The Dodge & Cox Stock, Global Stock, Balanced, Income, and Global Bond Funds remain open to all investors.
    PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
  • Morningstar's Portfolio Manager Price Updating Concern ...
    Well ...
    Today is Tuesday 01/06/2015 about 6:30 AM EST and it seems Morningstar is still having concerns with its portfolio manager system as my portfolio has yet to update as it still reflects Friday January 2nd market closing prices.
    For those that use Morningstar's portfolio manager ... My question ... Are you having price updating problems too?
    Old_Skeet
  • ARIVX: anyone still own it
    I remember this fund being heavily marketed by Aston at the 2011 Morningstar conference. Anytime I walked anywhere near the Aston booth I would be handed an ARIVX fact sheet. Ironically, for one of the lunches Eric ended up being at our table. I couldn't get away from this fund.
    I actually invested in ARIVX at inception based on Eric's previous performance at Intrepid Small Cap which I had owned previously. In particular his 07-09 returns at Intrepid were exemplary. It was based on sound stock picking, and moderate cash levels at the end of 08 to take advantage of depressed valuations. I seem to recall the cash level in late 08 was roughly 25%. So much of that performance was due to avoiding toxic sectors.
    And at the start, ARIVX behaved well. Portfolio was diverse and at the time a 50% cash position served it well particularly during the small cap implosion of Q3 2011. That's how it achieved the top small cap fund for 2011.
    But that success was short lived. Small caps took off in Q4 2011 and quite frankly haven't looked back. ARIVX has since morphed into something unrecognizable. The equity portfolio is no longer broad but narrowly focused with an obsession for materials. And cash is now at an obscene 78%.
    I also noticed that assets have been declining, presumably due to redemptions. But what's interesting is that cash percentage has risen as well. So it would seem that some equities are being sold to accomplish that. To me that implies they are not all that confident in the equities they currently hold.
    Personally, I couldn't continue to justify paying a 1.41 expense ratio to a 3rd party to manage such a large cash stake. I would just prefer to reduce my own portfolio's small cap allocation if I was that concerned about valuations. I exited ARIVX at the end of 2012.
    One other thought - often funds are cited for their performance during bear markets. But we've often seen that not every bear behaves the same. I specifically remember Bridgeway, Dodge & Cox and many others being hyped for their avoidance of the dot com debacle. Only to see them fail miserably in the 08 debacle. Time will tell whether Cinnamond can repeat his bear market performance of 08. I think the opportunity cost of not being invested for 2012-14 will make that difficult.
  • Jan 5, 2015 How did Funds perform on big down day
    A lot of red here. Only ACCNX up by 2¢ and ARYVX up by 1¢ were positive.
  • Jan 5, 2015 How did Funds perform on big down day
    Forget baseline Vanguard 500 Index Inv VFINX -1.82%
  • ARIVX: anyone still own it
    Understand MikeM.
    This is a tough one.
    On the one hand, folks bailed on Buffett in 1999. He stayed the same. The world changed.
    On the other, I remember when Charles Akre launched AKREX in 2009. He was such a downer. The fund did badly out of the gate. He was still sporting 2008 collapse.
    But, quickly realized he was wrong and turned bullish. It served him well...and, investors.
    So, question, is world out of whack...or, is Mr. Cinnamond?
    And, what is the appropriate time frame to judge? Is it 1 year? (Taking my trend hat off.) Or, 3? Or, 5? The Three Alarm eval periods were 1, 3, and 5 years.
    Honestly, I have more of an issue with the fund's expenses than the strategy, but that is true for just about every fund out there.
    Here are the Three Alarm stats through November:
    image