Morningstar has just released another batch of its ever-controversial, but nonetheless heavily influential analyst ratings.

Fidelity's Spartan 500 Index Inv was the only fund to net a gold rating, while three Pimco funds were awarded a silver rating. Mairs & Powers' Growth Fund netted the last silver rating.

The three silver-rated Pimco funds were the Global Bnd (USD-Hedged), Frgn Bnd (USD-Hedged), Global Bond (Unhedged) Instl.

Five funds garnered bronze ratings, including T. Rowe Price's GNMA fund; Putnam's International Capital Opp A Fund; Neuberger Berman's Real Estate Tr fund and two Franklin Templeton Franklin funds: the MicroCap Value A and the Flex Cap Growth A.

Meanwhile, a total of 16 funds were given Neutral ratings. These included nine target-date funds managed by John Hancock received only neutral ratings, including Retirement Living products for every five-year interval between 2010 and 2050.

For nearly a year now, Morningstar analysts have been producing forward-looking ratings of mutual funds, looking at such characteristics as parent company, people, performance, price and investment process.  

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