7 Best No-Load Mutual Funds To Invest In
Written by
Daria Uhlig
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Mutual funds are a popular way to invest, because they let you pool your money with money from other investors to buy into a portfolio of stocks, bonds or other assets. The diverse nature of the portfolio makes a mutual fund less risky than buying an individual stock or bond, but if you’re not careful, sales and administrative fees can take a serious bite out of any gains your investment earns.
Administrative fees, expressed as an expense ratio, are unavoidable. However, sales fees, also referred to as sales loads, are not. Although it’s possible that a fund that charges loads will make up for it with stellar performance, sticking with no-load mutual funds usually leaves you with more money in your investment account, where it belongs.
Just make sure that other fees funds might charge — redemption, exchange, purchase and account fees, for example — don’t cancel out the benefits of a no-load fund.
No-Load Mutual Funds To Invest In
GOBankingRates has put together a list some of the best no-load mutual funds to invest in right now.
- American Funds American Mutual Fund Class F-1 (AMFFX)
- Fidelity Fund (FFIDX)
- T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund (PRCOX)
- Fidelity Large Cap Growth Index Fund (FSPGX)
- T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Income Fund (PRTAX)
- Vanguard Equity-Income Fund Investor Shares (VEIPX)
- Thrivent Small Cap Stock Fund Class S (TSCSX)
1. American Funds American Mutual Fund Class F-1 (AMFFX)
AMFFX is a large value fund that invests mostly in dividend stocks of U.S. and Canadian companies expected to contribute to the growth of the economy. The fund’s top holdings include Microsoft, AbbVie Inc., Raytheon Technologies Corp., UnitedHealth Group, Comcast and other companies that fund managers believe are undervalued, but the portfolio might also contain bonds and other debt securities.
Value stocks can remain undervalued over the long term, but this fund has performed well, with a Morningstar rating placing it in the top 22.5% compared to other large value funds, according to Fidelity. AMFFX is up 1.22% year to date as of June 8. However, its annualized returns over 10 years are an impressive 9.27%.
2. Fidelity Fund (FFIDX)
FFIDX is a large growth fund that aims to achieve long-term capital growth. It primarily invests in growth and/or value stocks. Its top 10 holdings, which make up over 43% of the portfolio, include blue chip companies like Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, UnitedHealth, Costco and Amazon.
The fund’s risk level is above average because it’s fully invested in stocks, but it has outperformed large growth stocks overall over the last five years and significantly so over the last year. In addition, expenses are among the lowest in this roundup at 0.45%, and there’s no minimum investment required.
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3. T. Rowe Price US Equity Research Fund (PRCOX)
PRCOX is a large blend fund designed for long-term capital growth, but it’s similar to an index fund in that it weights sectors and industries in much the same way the S&P 500 index does, and its performance is very similar. However, the PRCOX portfolio might include small- and mid-cap stocks.
It’s a highly diverse fund with 283 holdings, the top 10 of which make up less than one-third of the portfolio. Tech stocks like Alphabet, Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft make up the largest category, but healthcare, financial services and consumer cyclicals figure prominently as well.
The fund’s expense ratio is just 0.45% — which is low — the risk level is slightly above average and returns are above average — 12.30% over 10 years, annualized.
4. Fidelity Large Cap Growth Index Fund (FSPGX)
It’s been a less difficult year for FSPGX than for many mutual funds, and as the best-performing fund on this list, it’s worth considering if you’re looking for an investment with solid growth potential. As a large growth index fund, FSPGX aims to replicate the total return of large-cap U.S. stocks.
At least 80% of its assets are typically invested in securities found in the Russell 1000 Growth Index, which tracks U.S. large-cap growth stocks. Over 45% of its portfolio is invested in its top 10 holdings, which include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Nvidia. The fund also earns income by loaning securities.
It has outperformed large growth stocks overall during the past year, losing 10.91% compared to 14.35%, as well as over three and five years.
5. T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Income Fund (PRTAX)
PRTAX is a fairly low-risk fund that invests mostly in long-term investment-grade municipal bonds to provide a high level of tax-exempt income. While municipal bonds can be a risky investment when interest rates are increasing and inflation is high, higher summertime demand can turn them around.
If it does, you could do worse than to have money in PRTAX. It’s a lower-risk fund by nature of its bond holdings, and returns are above average compared to other municipal bond funds.
6. Vanguard Equity-Income Fund Investor Shares (VEIPX)
VEIPX is a large value fund that serves as a good compromise between income and long-term capital appreciation. Unlike the American Funds value fund listed above, which invests in large-cap value stocks, this Vanguard fund also includes mid-cap stocks. Although mid-cap stocks can be more volatile than large-cap offerings, VEIPX balances the risk with defensive stocks like Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble.
As a result, the fund has seen relatively modest losses year to date and for the past year and has produced average returns, earning it a four-star rating from Morningstar.
7. Thrivent Small Cap Stock Fund Class S (TSCSX)
If you can tolerate a little more risk, consider a small-cap fund that has the potential to deliver outsize gains. TSCSX invests in companies with capitalizations equivalent to the companies included in the Russell 2000 and similar indexes with the goal of achieving long-term capital growth.
It delivers high returns that fall in the top 10% compared to other small-blend funds and easily outperforms the Russell 2000 and S&P 600 indexes. Expenses are low at 0.82%. While the portfolio only has 86 holdings as of June 8, they’re well distributed — the top 10 holdings make up less than 21% of the portfolio.
Advantages and Disadvantages of No-Load Mutual Funds
No one investment type is the right choice for every investor — here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of no-load mutual funds to help you decide if one of these is right for you.
What Are the Advantages of No-Load Mutual Funds?
- No sales fee: More of your money stays in your investment.
- More control: You can make your own fund purchases rather than relying on a financial planner.
What Are the Disadvantages of No-Load Mutual Funds?
- Other fees may be higher: Management fees, account fees and redemption fees might all be higher with a no-load fund.
- Less guidance: Choosing your own investments also means doing your own research.
How Do Brokers Make Money on No-Load Mutual Funds?
Brokers charge other fees — like account management fees — that make them money even on no-load mutual funds.
Amber Barkley contributed to the reporting for this article.
Data is accurate as of June 8, 2023, and is subject to change.
Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "Mutual Fund Fees and Expenses."
- Fidelity. "Mutual Funds Research."
