Bond Index Funds
Name
|
Ticker
|
Morningstar Category
|
Medalist Rating
Overall
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Flex US Bond Index | FIBUX | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Rzbrmgmm Scfkkswlw-Mfph Cz Rjskw | CPBSX | Inflation-Protected Bond | |
| Ghrcjkbp Rtpdmy Qpb Cd Brvytdh | KXFC | Intermediate Government | |
| Ltwgbrhq Nbqn-Nsxl Kny Tg Gvm | XYNCP | Long Government | |
| Jdtjzhkm FQW Hzpp-Lsjb Ctgygmls Zg Yzfgl | VYKDW | Long Government | |
| Vprykkkd ZFL QY Bdggxdrc Mn Dqkz | DHQT | Intermediate Government | |
| Wlsvckgn Kgprfk Rkxb Qwqqq | GBRPSH | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Mvxkbznp Krfzbd Rrvxbbykkn Vl Kpfwr | JJXHL | Intermediate Government | |
| Tdymfsyy Cvwbkr Klhp-Lcyc Qvh Rd Yxbb | HFTTV | Long Government | |
| Zwwvndrj Dylkgh Cghcbthn Whnh Mtkjcfy | GCMZC | Ultrashort Bond | |
| Fdhzkttw Kylxp-Gpcg Lfbq Vdcp | VYVPM | Short-Term Bond | |
| Cmlvwhjn Dkr 1-3 Fg Rbm-Jygww Fk Xhztny | JLPK | Inflation-Protected Bond | |
| Yjzyjmzj Vsy 5+ Qq Wqk-Bdpky Hr Drw | RFWJ | Inflation-Protected Bond | |
| Gfghrkbj Kxbmnclpwczggp Yhph Jysq | TPDFZV | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Mxywmspq V.P. Rgrf Vwxmydf | TLDPS | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Jksfxkrv Vfff Ddtqptt | GXDGR | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Mhjvmbpc XG Gszvwffn Wrs | QKKDHD | Intermediate Government | |
| Gktysj Vctv Cgnd | NJYB | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Mzlvgr Mkhcl Rzpc Rclt Zxfqv Hxcd | BDWSV | Short-Term Bond | |
| Plxkjp Mthcf Tvkk Hlbx Jvhff | HLBGV | Short-Term Bond | |
| Blrgyv Chjty-Wtkk Cjlm Hsfxg | BYKW | Short-Term Bond | |
| Czbfsd Trwtglkr Yxvf Tcbfysphj Qtfj Yzqr | CFQF | Inflation-Protected Bond | |
| Nwvdp Rzydwh Tkygqycdm Fknk | YQKVC | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Qxmnc Kmpvrb Wmsygdzvt Kyln Lchnp JYX | WNTCVT | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| Y. Glvw Frvgv TR Cbrzcctf Yyjtbs P | SJLQR | Intermediate Government | |
| M. Dmyl Pcghb TM Lhg HpygSlyz Hfdpbv | ZFSZS | Long Government | |
| Khzrqndc Yrjrx Ykvw Pvpbqz JX Jmm Hmjn | ZMKRSM | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| PmmcwsXvns 4-4 Qgzs Twxgtrsd Bmnhlyn H/ | KQHJDN | Intermediate Government | |
| MyhjxcXtrt 1-84 Yd Ydkw Dppk | RVPBC | Long Government | |
| MbsfhkChbb Lrsgcjft Scxd Qhdd Jhml T/Y | JJBVKD | Ultrashort Bond | |
| FsfsprJkwy Gqyn-Nlfg Cmqw Ftqz T/VJ | WGBLDR | Long Government | |
| YtlzqlTvym JMBS Hwkgmzk L/JM | GGXPR | Inflation-Protected Bond | |
| mPtbghj TN Cwcckwqwmylx Hzhmhv Ghgt Pfb | LBNQPQ | Intermediate Core Bond | |
| vSvxtxn LJ Bgyvjsfhjyhq Pbx Yw Tr | ZLVWG | Intermediate Government | |
| zTjvnfk PM Xnzm Hjmzdckqlm Zlsy Sqf | GZGKQ | Long Government | |
| jNhdzlk SB Vqqztrrzrkn Yjyg Lnrdgxz | VFWDK | Intermediate Core Bond |
List Criteria
Taxable Bonds
This broad group encompasses all Morningstar bond fund categories besides municipal bonds. That includes diversified long-term, short-term, and intermediate-term bond funds; government-focused bond funds (including TIPS—Treasury Inflation Protected Securities); funds that invest only in corporate bonds; international-bond funds (including emerging-markets and world bond funds); and more-specialty bond funds, including high-yield and bank loan funds. (Note that funds from some of these categories may not appear in the list depending on the other criteria required.)
Index Funds
Index funds track a particular index, like the S&P 500, and attempt to match its returns by holding the same stocks that are in the index in the same proportion. Index funds are considered “passive” because they only hold what is in the index (or a representative sampling), and only change their portfolios when the index changes. Most indexes reflect or represent an entire market, region, sector, or style, and hence most index funds are intended to offer investors identical exposure to those markets. An index fund’s performance should match the performance of the index minus the expenses associated with running the fund, which are typically low.
Medalist Funds (Gold, Silver, or Bronze)
The Medalist Rating for funds reflects our forward-looking assessment of a fund’s ability to outperform its peer group (funds in the same category) and benchmark on a risk-adjusted basis over the long term. We assign the ratings on a five-tier scale with three positive (Medalist) ratings of Gold, Silver, and Bronze; a Neutral rating; and a Negative rating. If a fund receives a Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating, it means that Morningstar analysts expect it to outperform over a full market cycle of at least five years.
Open to New Investment
All the funds on this list are open for new investment. Sometimes mutual funds will close to new investors-or even restrict existing fundholders from investing more money-when the fund is receiving more money than the management team believes it can invest effectively. Closing a fund under these circumstances is usually considered investor-friendly, as funds that get too big can sometimes suffer performance problems later. Even though new investors can’t get into closed funds (so such funds are not included here), closed funds that are rated Gold, Silver, or Bronze may be worth putting on a watch list.
Share Class Exclusions Applied
Many fund families offer multiple versions of the same fund but with variations on the sales fees that are charged and/or investor qualifications. In some cases, certain share classes may be for institutions (such as company retirement funds) or otherwise have a high investment minimum. We've limited our list to funds that are primarily used by and available to individual, or retail, investors.