RiskMetrics Group has released its risk-adjusted, quarterly update to its Best and Worst Fund Evaluations, a free report on publicly-traded equity mutual funds and investment trusts in the US and UK. Its quantitative approach isolates those funds and unit trusts that have provided the most consistent out-performance over the last five years.

Among U.S. mutual funds, Exeter Pro-Blend Conservative Term Series Fund was rated the best, while the Gabelli Mathers Fund was ranked the worst in the conservative fund category.

In the balanced fund arena, American Century Real Estate Fund, Berwyn Income Fund, Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund and Oakmark Equity & Income Fund were cited as the best, while CDC Nvest Balanced Fund and EquiTrust Managed Portfolio were rated as the worst.

In the growth fund category, Clipper Fund, Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value Fund, Neuberger Berman Genesis Fund, and Vanguard Specialized Health Care Fund got the thumbs up, while GAM International Fund was panned.

In the aggressive fund category, ABN AMRO Mid Cap Fund, AMCAP Fund, and Fidelity Pacific Basin Fund received the "best" honors, while BlackRock International Equity Portfolio and John Hancock Global Fund took home the "worst" designation.

The rankings present a clear way to ascertain whether a particular fund is providing the type of strategy that it advertises, according to Mike Thompson, risk strategist for RiskMetrics Group. "All too often, fund managers depart from their stated strategies, creating real investment suitability problems for investors," he said.  

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