Powerfund Portfolios Performance Review
October 2021 Performance Review
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 Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| 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 Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| 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
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 Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| 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 Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| 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
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 Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| 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 Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| 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% |
July 2021 Performance Review
In July, the S&P 500 was in the top 5% of fund categories as market cap-weighted investing in US companies continued to dominate global investing after a brief pause in leadership. The few hot areas that did slightly better last month were yield oriented, as rates drifted lower again in the face of rising inflation and investors snapped up any yields over 2%. ...read the rest of this article»
| Stock Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Vanguard Utilities (VPU) | 3.92% |
| VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH) | 2.87% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) | 2.37% |
| Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK) | 1.86% |
| Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX) | 1.26% |
| Vanguard Value Index (VTV) | 1.01% |
| ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY) | 0.92% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX) | 0.54% |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA) | 0.50% |
| Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE) | -0.03% |
| Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR) | -0.19% |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR) | -1.65% |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR) | -5.01% |
| ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID) | -5.77% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX) | -6.29% |
| Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR) | -8.07% |
| Vanguard Energy (VDE) | -8.70% |
| Franklin FTSE China (FLCH) | -13.42% |
| Bond Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV) | 4.95% |
| Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV) | 2.98% |
| Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP) | 1.31% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) | 1.21% |
| iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB) | -0.46% |
June 2021 Performance Review
Our focus on yesterday's losers and some shorts on tech dragged at our returns last month, though some hot areas, like energy and Brazil, kept us in the game with the drag of value stocks. ...read the rest of this article»
| Stock Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR) | 6.29% |
| Vanguard Energy (VDE) | 5.19% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) | 2.33% |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR) | 1.85% |
| VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH) | 1.26% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX) | 1.19% |
| Franklin FTSE China (FLCH) | 0.57% |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA) | -0.94% |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR) | -1.02% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX) | -1.11% |
| Vanguard Value Index (VTV) | -1.25% |
| Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX) | -1.34% |
| Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK) | -1.39% |
| Vanguard Utilities (VPU) | -1.85% |
| Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE) | -2.84% |
| Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR) | -3.35% |
| ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY) | -3.41% |
| ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID) | -12.02% |
| Bond Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV) | 5.48% |
| Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV) | 3.86% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) | 0.77% |
| Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP) | 0.04% |
| iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB) | -1.13% |
May 2021 Performance Review
Large cap growth and tech names are no longer driving the big gains and are even dragging on the market cap weighted indexes as smaller and cheaper stocks catch up, which benefits our current portfolios. ...read the rest of this article»
| Stock Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR) | 9.60% |
| Vanguard Energy (VDE) | 6.55% |
| Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK) | 4.45% |
| VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH) | 3.78% |
| Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR) | 3.64% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX) | 3.63% |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA) | 3.58% |
| Vanguard Value Index (VTV) | 2.92% |
| Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX) | 2.57% |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR) | 2.23% |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR) | 2.01% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX) | 1.73% |
| ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID) | 1.51% |
| Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE) | 1.31% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) | 0.69% |
| Franklin FTSE China (FLCH) | 0.40% |
| ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY) | -1.45% |
| Vanguard Utilities (VPU) | -2.34% |
| Bond Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB) | 1.76% |
| Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP) | 0.77% |
| Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV) | 0.33% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) | 0.24% |
| Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV) | -0.11% |
April 2021 Performance Review
It was the best of times, it was the best of times. The only thing that seems capable of burning investors now is just that: too many good times. The S&P 500 was back in the top 10% of the entire universe of over 100 fund categories, and in the top 15% for the year. Our portfolio saw more of our funds underperforming the index as well. ...read the rest of this article»
| Stock Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR) | 6.46% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) | 5.33% |
| Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX) | 5.23% |
| Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK) | 4.78% |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR) | 4.01% |
| Vanguard Utilities (VPU) | 3.78% |
| Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR) | 3.56% |
| Vanguard Value Index (VTV) | 3.44% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX) | 3.17% |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA) | 3.05% |
| Invesco CurrencyShares Euro (FXE) | 2.47% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX) | 1.86% |
| VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH) | 1.24% |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR) | 1.23% |
| Vanguard Energy (VDE) | 0.43% |
| Franklin FTSE China (FLCH) | -0.18% |
| Bond Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV) | 2.87% |
| iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB) | 1.89% |
| Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV) | 1.82% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) | 0.95% |
| Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP) | 0.87% |
March 2021 Performance Review
The stock market moved back up on increasing optimism that the upcoming roaring post-COVID economy is going to lift all boats, and plenty of yachts, too. This wasn't good for bonds, which have been struggling for months now (except for inflation-protected bonds), as the consensus is that inflation is going to take off with interest rates. ...read the rest of this article»
| Stock Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Vanguard Utilities (VPU) | 10.29% |
| Vanguard Value Index (VTV) | 6.65% |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR) | 5.31% |
| Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX) | 5.09% |
| Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR) | 4.90% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) | 4.38% |
| Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR) | 3.82% |
| Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK) | 3.32% |
| Vanguard Energy (VDE) | 3.06% |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA) | 2.78% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX) | 2.61% |
| VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH) | 2.21% |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR) | 1.66% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX) | -1.03% |
| Invesco CurrencyShares Euro Currenc (FXE) | -2.89% |
| ProShares UltraShort QQQ (QID) | -5.46% |
| Bond Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP) | 0.42% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) | -1.38% |
| iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB) | -2.56% |
| Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV) | -3.28% |
| Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV) | -6.27% |
January 2021 Performance Review
In a month in which individual stocks entered what can only be described as a crazed bubble fueled by chat room manipulators, it was a calm month for bonds and stocks as a whole. ...read the rest of this article»
| Stock Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Franklin FTSE China (FLCH) | 8.43% |
| Vanguard Energy (VDE) | 4.96% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX) | 2.93% |
| VanEck Vectors Pharma. (PPH) | 2.92% |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea (FLKR) | 2.18% |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Value (VBR) | 2.04% |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Mkts. (VEA) | -0.72% |
| ProShares Short QQQ (PSQ) | -0.76% |
| Vanguard Value Index (VTV) | -0.79% |
| Vanguard FTSE Europe (VGK) | -0.90% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) | -1.01% |
| Vanguard Utilities (VPU) | -1.04% |
| Homestead Value Fund (HOVLX) | -1.06% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX) | -1.18% |
| Franklin FTSE Germany (FLGR) | -1.18% |
| Franklin FTSE Brazil (FLBR) | -7.46% |
| ProShares Decline of Retail (EMTY) | -12.48% |
| Bond Funds | 1mo % |
|---|---|
| Vanguard S/T Infl. Protect. (VTIP) | 0.47% |
| Schwab US TIPS (SCHP) | 0.29% |
| [Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) | -0.80% |
| iShares JP Morgan Em. Bond (LEMB) | -1.06% |
November 2021 Performance Review
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»