International Value A [TGVAX], which owns a diverse mix of stocks. The fund is too young for a 10-year record, but its five-year annualized return of 16.49% is among the best for that period.
Altfest says that his clients hold Artisan International Inv [ARTIX] and Harbor International Inv [HIINX] funds. “They go well together,” he points out, “because the Artisan fund is growth-oriented while the Harbor fund holds value stocks.” The 10-year annualized return for Artisan International Inv is 12.88%, in the top 10% of the large-growth category.
If you want a foreign small-cap fund, you’ll find that many are closed to new investors. One still open, as of this writing, is T. Rowe Price International Discovery [PRIDX], where the three-year annualized return is 24.87% and the five-year annualized return is 22.96%. Among emerging markets funds, a top performer has been SSgA Emerging Markets [SSEMX], whose top holdings are from Brazil, Russia, and South Korea. Its five-year annualized return is 25.71%.
TOP large-cap foreign growth funds
| Fund Name: |
Ticker |
1-Year Ann. Total Return |
3-Year Ann. Total Return |
5-Year Ann. Total Return |
Minimum Initial Investment |
Toll- Free Number |
| Janus Overseas | JAOSX | 37.11% | 29.92% | 18.28% | $2,500 | 800-525-0020 |
| AIM International Growth A | AIIEX | 21.93 | 21.15 | 14.55 | 1,000 | 800-347-4246 |
| RiverSource Intl Aggressive Growth A | AXGAX | 19.10 | 19.71 | 14.47 | 2,000 | 800-862-7919 |
| Excelsior International | UMINX | 15.56 | 19.02 | 13.61 | 500 | 800-446-1012 |
| Oppenheimer Intl Growth A | OIGAX | 22.76 | 18.45 | 13.10 | 1,000 | 800-225-5677 |
| Marisco International Opportunities | MIOFX | 18.34 | 18.33 | 16.77 | 2,500 | 888-860-8686 |
| Laudus Intl MarketMasters Inv | SWOIX | 18.65 | 19.70 | 15.25 | 2,500 | 800-435-4000 |
| Forward International Equity | FFINX | 25.98 | 19.55 | 15.00 | 4,000 | 800-999-6809 |
| Columbia Marisco Intl Opp A | MAIOX | 17.73 | 18.29 | 16.52 | 2,500 | 800-321-7854 |
*Based on 3-year performance. As of Jan. 5, 2007. Source: Morningstar Inc.