Powerfund Portfolios Performance Review

Powerfund Portfolios Commentary

May 2022 Performance Review

June 5, 2022
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

May was a good month for our portfolios, especially relative to US markets. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)7.15%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)5.16%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)4.51%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)4.28%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)2.41%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)2.41%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)2.41%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)2.25%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)2.17%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.73%
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP)1.72%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)1.65%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)1.64%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)1.42%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)0.62%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.18%
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)-1.15%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.91%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.58%
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)0.48%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.23%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-4.03%

April 2022 Performance Review

May 5, 2022
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

Global markets are not in the mood to fight inflation, and the market reaction to the Fed press conference on May 4 only highlights the growing fear of the world of waning global monetary stimulus. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)29.91%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)0.99%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)-2.25%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-4.38%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-4.72%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)-4.79%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-5.17%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)-5.51%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-5.55%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)-6.25%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-6.55%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)-6.62%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)-6.79%
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP)-7.86%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)-8.01%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-8.72%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)-13.21%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-3.59%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-3.85%
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)-4.71%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-9.49%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-12.57%

March 2022 Performance Review

April 5, 2022
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

At the end of March the S&P 500 was down just under 5% for the year, and the Nasdaq just under 10%. With bonds and foreign stocks mostly down around 6% for the year, diversifying isn't helping. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)14.38%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)9.78%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)5.35%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.70%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)3.28%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)1.72%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)0.68%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)0.30%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)0.16%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)-1.32%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-1.41%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-2.47%
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP)-2.50%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)-2.56%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)-4.38%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-9.69%
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)-10.92%
Bond Funds1mo %
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)-2.38%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-2.47%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-2.83%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-3.98%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-6.38%

February 2022 Performance Review

March 8, 2022
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

Just when it felt like we were exiting one global economic problem, we're confronted with another. Within just a few days, the Russia—Ukraine war has already decimated Russian stocks and now seems to be spreading into other markets, notably Germany, the most strongly linked economically to Russia, likely foreshadowing economic problems to come. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)6.70%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)3.94%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)3.08%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)0.45%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)-0.18%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-0.32%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)-1.15%
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP)-1.44%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)-1.86%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-1.87%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-2.47%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)-2.65%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-2.99%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-4.27%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)-5.29%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-5.81%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)-8.86%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-1.08%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-1.13%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-2.52%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-2.60%
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)-4.23%

January 2022 Performance Review

February 2, 2022
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

In January, the roughly 50% crash in higher flying mania stocks that started earlier in 2021 finally spread to the rest of the stock market — the market with earnings. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)17.39%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)13.37%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)8.92%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)0.42%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-0.16%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)-1.07%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-1.30%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)-1.44%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)-2.47%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)-2.94%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-3.36%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)-3.58%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)-3.86%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-3.95%
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP)-4.02%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-5.18%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)-7.78%
Bond Funds1mo %
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)0.66%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-1.48%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-2.19%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-4.27%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-4.73%

December 2021 Performance Review

January 5, 2022
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

If ever there was a year for American exceptionalism, it was 2021. Our vaccines, if not our deployment, were at the top of the global heap (with some help from Germany). Our stock market as measured by the S&P 500 delivered a remarkable 28%+ return for the year, while the main foreign developed markets index was up around 8%. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)9.42%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)7.74%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)6.94%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)5.38%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)5.17%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)4.80%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)4.67%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)4.48%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)4.29%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)3.93%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)2.84%
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP)2.14%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)1.74%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)0.25%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-2.48%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)-2.68%
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)-3.69%
Bond Funds1mo %
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)0.57%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.18%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.41%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-1.08%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-2.71%

November 2021 Performance Review

December 4, 2021
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

On November 26, we decreased our official stock allocation from 67% to 62% in our Aggressive Portfolio and 45% to 42% in our Conservative Portfolio. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-0.70%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)-1.52%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-1.59%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-1.99%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)-2.70%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)-3.04%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-3.22%
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)-4.58%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)-4.64%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-4.72%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)-4.89%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)-4.95%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)-5.16%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)-5.17%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-5.49%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)-6.45%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)3.60%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)1.10%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.33%
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)-3.20%

October 2021 Performance Review

November 7, 2021
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The brief weakness in stocks in September didn't last. Any fears of inflation, stagflation, global supply shortages, and the like melted away as the S&P 500, with dividends, returned 7%, leading to a 5.13% three-month return and a whopping 24% year-to-date ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Vanguard Energy (VDE)11.21%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)7.00%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)6.01%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)5.82%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)5.44%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)5.03%
Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR)4.56%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)3.69%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)3.23%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)3.15%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)3.12%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)2.43%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)1.11%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-0.31%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)-1.52%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)-5.65%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)-9.17%
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)-14.69%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)3.52%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)1.72%
Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP)0.70%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.03%
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)-1.18%

September 2021 Performance Review

October 5, 2021
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

High inflation with rising energy prices was unsettling enough, but add interest rates on a move back up and it all seemed to be too much for investors to handle. In September almost all fund categories were down, except energy, commodities, and Japan. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)11.76%
Vanguard Energy (VDE)8.66%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)6.64%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-2.01%
Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR)-2.55%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-3.37%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)-3.39%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-3.43%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)-3.94%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)-4.23%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-4.65%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-4.78%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)-5.38%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)-5.40%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)-5.63%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)-6.83%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-6.95%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)-11.47%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP)-0.06%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.91%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-2.52%
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)-3.02%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-3.84%

August 2021 Performance Review

September 3, 2021
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The S&P 500 beat 95% of fund categories last month, once again leaving portfolios in the dust as mega cap growth and tech stocks continued to dominate, much like they did in bubbly 1999. With no real standouts other than perhaps utilities, we barely beat bonds last month. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)3.70%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.04%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)2.67%
Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX)2.65%
Vanguard Value Index (VTV)2.09%
Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR)2.08%
Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK)1.81%
VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH)1.58%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.38%
Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR)1.33%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA)1.31%
Franklin FTSE China (FLCH)-0.21%
Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE)-0.54%
Vanguard Energy (VDE)-1.85%
Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR)-2.33%
Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR)-2.80%
ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY)-4.37%
ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID)-8.23%
Bond Funds1mo %
iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB)0.53%
Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP)0.00%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.20%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-0.28%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-0.36%
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