"This is a good fund for someone looking for a value-oriented foreign fund," said William Rocco, an analyst with Morningstar Inc. in Chicago. "It has low turnover, doesn't hedge and is willing to go wherever bargains are."
It seeks undervalued stocks based upon management, dominant position and growth potential. However, its value emphasis won't fly high in growth stock rallies, and its many smaller stocks will hold it back whenever big blue-chips dominate.
About half of the fund's holdings are in the United Kingdom and Western Europe, and about one-quarter are in Japan. The rest of Asia represents about 14 percent, and Latin America 8 percent. Its largest stock holdings were recently Sony, KT Corp., News Preferred, Akzo Nobel, Electrolux, Imperial Chemical Industries, Basf, Total, Aderans and Nestle.
The Dodge & Cox fund family is shareholder-friendly, has a lot of its own money in its funds and keeps expenses low. This "no-load" (no sales charge) fund requires a $2,500 minimum initial investment. Its annual expense ratio is 0.90 percent.
Andrew Leckey is a Tribune Media Services columnist. E-mail him at yourmoney@tribune.com.
