For our table, we ranked funds by the three-year average annual return. In first place: First Eagle SoGen Gold (SGGDX), a portfolio that topped the year-to-date, one-year, and five-year rankings as well. A caveat is the fund’s expense ratio. At 2.70% of assets, it exceeds the gold group’s average, although the fund has a track record that outshines the competition.
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Top Precious Metals Funds |
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| Fund Name (Ticker) | 1-Year Ann. Total Return* |
3-Year Ann. Total Return* |
5-Year Ann. Total Return* |
Toll-Free Number |
Minimum Initial Investment |
| First Eagle SoGen Gold (SGGDX) | 82.38% | 22.36% | 6.83% | 800-334-2143 | $1,000 |
| Tocqueville Gold (TGLDX) | 72.83 | 17.53 | N/A | 800-697-3863 | 1,000 |
| Gabelli Gold (GOLDX) | 68.33 | 16.49 | 3.25 | 800-422-3554 | 1,000 |
| Monterey OCM Gold (MNTGX) | 66.06 | 15.05 | 1.95 | 800-251-1970 | 1,000 |
| USAA Precious Metals & Minerals (USAGX) | 57.02 | 14.75 | 5.19 | 800-382-8722 | 3,000 |
| Evergreen Precious Metals A (EKWAX) | 51.97 | 12.99 | N/A | 800-343-2898 | 1,000 |
| Scudder Gold & Precious Metals S (SCGDX) | 42.66 | 12.59 | 1.01 | 800-621-1048 | 2,500 |
| Evergreen Precious Metals B (EKWBX) | 50.83 | 12.14 | 0.46 | 800-343-2898 | 1,000 |
| Evergreen Precious Metals C (EKWCX) | 50.91 | 12.13 | N/A | 800-343-2898 | 1,000 |
| Fidelity Select Gold (FSAGX) | 56.67 | 11.25 | 0.32 | 800-544-8888 | 2,500 |
| *AS OF SEPT. 30, 2002 SOURCE: MORNINGSTAR INC. |
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