The Large Cap Growth style ranks fourth out of the twelve fund styles as detailed in our 4Q16 Style Ratings for ETFs and Mutual Funds report. Last quarter, the Large Cap Growth style ranked fourth as well. It gets our Neutral rating, which is based on an aggregation of ratings of 16 ETFs and 653 mutual funds in the Large Cap Growth style as of November 4, 2016. See a recap of our 3Q16 Style Ratings here.
Figures 1 and 2 show the five best and worst rated ETFs and mutual funds in the style. Not all Large Cap Growth style ETFs and mutual funds are created the same. The number of holdings varies widely (from 20 to 1029). This variation creates drastically different investment implications and, therefore, ratings.
Investors seeking exposure to the Large Cap Growth style should buy one of the Attractive-or-better rated ETFs or mutual funds from Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 1: ETFs with the Best & Worst Ratings – Top 5
* Best ETFs exclude ETFs with TNAs less than $100 million for inadequate liquidity.
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
State Street SPDR MSCI World Strategic Factors ETF (QWLD) is excluded from Figure 1 because its total net assets (TNA) are below $100 million and do not meet our liquidity minimums.
Figure 2: Mutual Funds with the Best & Worst Ratings – Top 5
* Best mutual funds exclude funds with TNAs less than $100 million for inadequate liquidity.
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
Nuveen Growth Fund’s (NSRGX, NBGRX, NSRCX, NSAGX), and Frontier MFG Global Plus Fund (FMGPX, FMPSX) are excluded from Figure 2 because their total net assets (TNA) are below $100 million and do not meet our liquidity minimums.
iShares Edge MSCI USA Quality Factor (QUAL) is the top-rated Large Cap Growth ETF and City National Rochdale US Core Equity Fund (CNRUX) is the top-rated Large Cap Growth mutual fund. Both earn a Very Attractive rating.
iShares Edge MSCI USA Momentum Factor (MTUM) is the worst rated Large Cap Growth ETF and Quaker Global Tactical Allocation Fund (QTRAX) is the worst rated Large Cap Growth mutual fund. MTUM is rated Neutral and QTRAX is rated Very Dangerous.
Discover Financial Services (DFS: $56/share) is one of our favorite stocks held by Large Cap Growth ETFs and mutual funds and earns a Very Attractive rating. Since 2007, DFS has grown after-tax profit (NOPAT) by 12% compounded annually. The company has improved its return on invested capital (ROIC) from 14% in 2007 to a top-quintile 21% over the last twelve months (TTM). Despite the fundamental improvement in the business, DFS remains undervalued. At its current price of $56/share, DFS has a price-to-economic book value (PEBV) ratio of 0.7. This ratio means the market expects DFS’ NOPAT to permanently decline by 30%. If DFS can grow NOPAT by 4% compounded annually over the next decade, the stock is worth $88/share today – a 55% upside.
Bristol Myers Squibb Company (BMY: $50/share) is one of our least favorite stocks held by ELGAX and earns a Dangerous rating. Over the past decade, BMY’s NOPAT has declined by 6% compounded annually. The company’s ROIC has fallen from 18% in 2005 to 11% over the last twelve months. Despite the deterioration of the business’ operations, BMY remains priced for significant profit growth. In order to justify its current price of $50/share, BMY must grow NOPAT by 12% compounded annually for the next 13 years. This scenario seems overly optimistic given BMY’s profit decline over the past decade.
Figures 3 and 4 show the rating landscape of all Large Cap Growth ETFs and mutual funds.
Figure 3: Separating the Best ETFs From the Worst Funds
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
Figure 4: Separating the Best Mutual Funds From the Worst Funds
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
This article originally published here on November 4, 2016.
Disclosure: David Trainer, Kyle Guske and Kyle Martone receive no compensation to write about any specific stock, style, or theme.