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10 best performing mutual funds

Here are the best performing mutual funds in terms of YTD performance and more.

The best performing mutual funds this year were those that invest in small-cap companies. But if you don’t find this type of investment attractive, some mutual funds that overperformed in December 2024 invest in growth and tech stocks like Alphabet, Apple and Microsoft or in micro cap companies. Here are some of the best-performing mutual funds of December 2024.

10 best performing mutual funds for 2024

We compared all mutual funds and selected the ones that had the highest year-to-date return. We also looked at a average returns made sure not to use similar funds that offered the same return on investment.

LogoMutual fund & tickerMutual fund descriptionYTD return5 year returnExpense ratio
Fidelity investments logoFidelity Series Blue Chip Growth (FSBDX)FSBDX is a Fidelity fund targeting growth by investing in established, blue-chip companies with strong growth potential.32.99%-5.84%0.01%
Fidelity investments logoFidelity NASDAQ Composite Index (FNCMX)FNCMX is a Fidelity fund mirroring the NASDAQ Composite Index, offering investors diverse exposure to tech-heavy stocks.24.05%66.81%0.37%
Fidelity investments logoFidelity Series Growth Company (FCGSX)FCGSX is a Fidelity fund focused on growth-oriented investments, emphasizing companies with strong potential for capital appreciation.23.82%-6.01%0.00%
Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF logoVanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index I (VRGWX)VRGWX is a Vanguard fund tracking the Russell 1000 Growth Index, offering investors exposure to growing U.S. companies.23.13%82.96%0.07%
Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF logoFidelity Advisor Series Equity Growth Fund (FMFMX)FMFMX is a mutual fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation.17.89%-0.63%0.00%
Fidelity investments logoFidelity 500 Index (FXAIX)FXAIX is a Fidelity index fund tracking the S&P 500, offering broad exposure to top U.S. stocks.10.70%51.97%0.02%
Fidelity investments logoFidelity Large Cap Stock K6 Fund (FCLKX)FCLKX is a Fidelity index that focuses on long-term growth by investing in large-cap stocks.9.73%1.49%0.45%
Picture not describedSchwab Fundamental US Large Company Index Fund (SFLNX)SFLNX is the Schwab fund that invests in large-cap US stocks based on fundamental factors.3.58%22.96%0.25%
Fidelity investments logoFidelity Series Small Cap Discovery Fund (FJACX)FJACX is a Fidelity index that focuses on growth by investing in small-cap stocks with high potential.1.13%-11.52%0.00%
Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF logoVanguard Windsor Investor Shares (VWNDX)VWNDX, a Vanguard fund, seeks long-term value by investing in U.S. companies with strong growth potential and undervalued stocks.0.57%-9.57%0.38%

How to invest in the best mutual funds

Investing in mutual funds is as simple as investing in stocks. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Find a trading platform.
  2. Request access to trade mutual funds. This may be required depending on the platform you choose.
  3. Fund your account. Transfer funds into your account so you can begin investing.
  4. Search for the mutual fund by its ticker symbol. Example, search for “FXAIX” if you’re looking for the Fidelity 500 Index.
  5. Enter the number of shares you want to buy. Decided how many units and at what price.
  6. Submit your order. That’s it!
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Matt's thoughts on choosing a broker for mutual fund investing

When choosing a broker to invest in mutual funds, first consider which mutual funds you want to invest in. While most brokers that offer mutual funds will offer access to funds from other companies, purchasing a mutual fund through the fund company itself will typically result in fewer fees. So if you want to buy a Fidelity mutual fund, consider purchasing it through Fidelity.

— Matt Miczulski, Editor, Investments.

3 factors to consider when investing in mutual funds

To find the right mutual fund to invest in, consider the following:

  • How long do you plan to hold your investment? Investing in the stock market typically offers solid performance over the long term. If you only intend to hold your investment for a year or two, consider mutual funds that invest in growth or tech sectors because these could provide larger moves in the short term.
  • Annual fee. Mutual funds come with an expense ratio, which is an annual fee you pay to the fund. The best-performing mutual funds can cost up to 2.6% annually, meaning it has to earn at least that much to break even. The top mutual funds in December 2024 returned way more than that.
  • Risk tolerance. Mutual funds that often have a low risk tend to have lower performance in the long run than high-risk funds. Compare funds based on risk using Morningstar’s rating system. The 5-star funds typically have an excellent performance-to-risk ratio.

Frequently asked questions about the best performing mutual funds

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Kliment Dukovski was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in investments and cryptocurrency. He's written more than 700 articles to help readers compare the best trading platforms, understand complex investment terms and find the best credit cards for their needs. His expert commentary has been featured in such digital publications as Fox Business, MSN Money and MediaFeed. He’s also well-versed in money transfers, home loans and more — breaking down these topics into simple concepts anyone can understand. In another life, Kliment ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies. See full bio

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Editor, Investments

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise
Matt has written 209 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management

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