24 Low-Cost Funds Up 20% or More in 2009

Investors in China-focused funds had a rude awakening last year: After two years of 50%-plus returns investors bailed on the country as its economy showed signs of cooling off during the global recession. According to Lipper, the average China offering lost 52.7% in 2008, leaving a wake of battered and cheap stocks.

Matthews China (MCHFX), a fund that has been investing in the country for over a decade, took a sizable hit during that time, slipping 48%. This year, however, has been a different story. China has implemented a new stimulus plan and banks there are starting to lend at greater levels. During the second quarter, the Chinese economy grew by almost 8% and the investors who once abandoned the country started to return.

For Matthews China, the turn of events is proof that by sticking to its best picks and buying some others on the cheap during the downturn, it would be duly rewarded. The fund is up 44.8% year-to-date. Richard Gao, the fund's lead portfolio manager, thinks that performance is sustainable, especially given the fact that the valuation on many stocks is still considerably low. China stocks, he says, went from trading at a rich 35 to 38 times earnings at the peak in 2007 to around 15 times earnings late last year.

Matthews China and its sister fund Matthews Asia Pacific (MPACX) are just two of the funds, which make our screen of funds that have posted at least 20% gains in 2009. Typically, we don't screen for such short time periods. (We don't want to encourage performance chasing or reward a one-hit wonder.) So, the funds also have to be consistent top-performers over the trailing three- and five-year time periods. That took us from a universe of 1647 funds and share classes down to 185. Then we sought out those funds that charge below-average fees. Ultimately, we were left with 24 funds.

If investors take a close look at the list below, they can pick out an interesting trend. Most of the funds fit into at least one of four general categories: focused, technology, small caps and emerging markets.

Now the question is, can the rally that boosted those categories continue? Earlier this year, many market experts were expecting a pullback. Now, though, the sentiment seems to be changing towards a slow but steady run-up. "We think we are in the early stages of an economic expansion, but we still have a ways to go," says Christina Bergeron, an investment officer with Bryn Mawr Trust Wealth Management outside Philadelphia.

If Bergeron's prediction is correct it could produce a tricky stock-picking environment for more aggressive focused funds. The performance of these funds -- what we define as offerings with fewer than 50 stocks in their portfolios -- can be made or broke by one or two stocks. Yacktman Focused (YAFFX), which owns just 26 stocks, is Morningstar's top-ranked large-cap value fund over the trailing one-, three-, five- and 10-year time periods. It's up 32.6% this year due to strong performance of stocks like AmeriCredit (ACF), Liberty Media (LINTA), Microsoft (MSFT) and Dish Network (DISH).

The rally also lifted small-cap and tech funds. That follows history: these niches tend to do well during market recoveries. Now, these funds are benefiting from decent corporate earnings and investors' newfound appetite for risk.

Also risky but full of potential are emerging markets funds like Matthews China. These funds have gotten a boost from investors who are once again comfortable taking on some riskier -- yet potentially more rewarding -- plays. Lipper says the average emerging markets fund gained 34.2% during the first two quarters of 2009.

Matthews China has done well by adhering to a theme it has championed for several years: China's emerging middle class. While some competitors focus on energy and commodity-related stocks, Gao favors consumer-oriented names. That means he is getting decent performance without the risk and volatility that comes with commodities and energy.

"We try to ignore the noises in the market for the one-quarter or six-month [periods]," says Gao. "If you take a look at the portfolio you won't see many cyclical or commodity names. We think growth will be more and more reliant on domestic demand."

The Criteria: The equity funds on the table below have gained at least 20% in 2009. The funds also have track records during the trailing three- and five-year time periods that put them in the top 20% of their Lipper categories. They are open to new money, require a minimum investment of less than $5,000 and charge an annual expense ratio of under 1.5%. As usual, we didn't include load funds.

* Funds had to invest around 40% of their assets in the U.S. to be considered.