Aston/Optimum Mid Cap NCHTTX

Morningstar Rating

Fund Research and Analysis

by David Kathman, CFA

Aston/Optimum Mid Cap continues to shine.

Thyra Zerhusen has managed this fund for the past decade with a strategy that combines conviction and patience. Zerhusen, with the help of Marie Lorden and Mary Pierson (named comanagers in March 2009) maintains a fairly concentrated portfolio of around 40 mid-cap stocks. Read more

Kudos

Excellent returns under current lead manager.

Manager has her own money invested in the fund.

Small asset base keeps the fund nimble enough to trade the small- and mid-cap stocks it prefers. Read more

Risks

Concentrated portfolio courts risk.

Expenses are just average relative to other no-load rivals in the category. Read more

Strategy

Lead manager Thyra Zerhusen looks for companies in the $1 billion to $12 billion market-cap range and favors those in niche businesses with strong top-line growth and minimal debt whose shares are selling at a discount to the S&P 500 Index. Read more

Management

Thyra Zerhusen has managed this fund since July 1999, first at Talon Asset Management, and since mid-2003 at Optimum Investment Advisors. In March 2009, Marie Lorden and Mary Pierson, longtime analysts on the fund, were named comanagers. Zerhusen has more than 15 years of analyst experience, working first as an analyst at Harris Trust & Savings Bank in Chicago and subsequently at Sears Investment Management. Read more

Inside Scoop

This fund has built an impressive record under manager Thyra Zerhusen, who took the reins in mid-1999. Zerhusen trolls the market for growth at a reasonable price, and she tends to pile assets into a few sectors and to hold only 35-40 names. Read more

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