MFS Core Growth AMFCAX

Morningstar Rating

Fund Research and Analysis

by Bridget B. Hughes, CFA

MFS Core Growth continues to struggle in 2009, but its prospects are brighter.

For the year to date through Oct. 28, 2009, this large-growth fund has gained 15%. Although that's a nice, solid number, it lands the fund in the category's worst decile and more than 10 percentage points behind the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 26% jump. Read more

Kudos

Above-average long-term performance.

Experienced manager. Read more

Risks

Investors should be prepared for big swings in absolute returns. Read more

Strategy

Manager Stephen Pesek looks for companies with strong earnings growth in expanding sectors of the economy. He will sell a stock when there's a serious deterioration in its fundamentals or when it meets his price target, which is based on how well a company can improve its earnings and cash flow. Read more

Management

Stephen Pesek, this fund's manager since January 1996, managed several Fidelity Select portfolios with solid results before joining MFS. He used to contribute to MFS Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock with two other managers, but that changed when MFS sought to create greater differentiation between that fund and this one. Read more

Inside Scoop

This fund, which emphasizes strong earnings growth and dominant franchises, has put up attractive returns more often than not. Volatility has been relatively low, too. Read more

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