BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Calvert Investments announces that the Calvert Global Water Fund (CFWYX) received a 2014 Lipper Fund Award acknowledging consistent, strong, risk-adjusted performance relative to its peers.
The Calvert Global Water Fund (Y shares) was named the best-performing fund among 105 funds in the Global Natural Resources Funds classification for the 3-year period ended December 31, 2013, by Lipper at a New York City awards ceremony last night.
“Calvert Global Water Fund is designed to access one of the most intriguing long-term investment themes of our time,” noted Natalie Trunow, Chief Investment Officer of Equities for Calvert Investment Management, Inc., going on to characterize the product as “a high conviction portfolio that seeks to capture investment opportunities in the water sector and delivers consistent, less correlated and less cyclical returns across different market cycles.”
The Calvert Global Water Fund is sub-advised by Kleinwort Benson Investors International Ltd (KBI), a global pioneer in environmental investing who is now in its 14th year of managing water equities. Co-portfolio managers Matt Sheldon and Catherine Ryan lead the team responsible for the day-to-day management of the portfolio.
“Water is our most vital natural resource and one without substitute,” said Matt Sheldon. “Demand for water-related solutions to address global growth as well as fix existing aging infrastructure is ongoing, creating above-average growth potential over the long term. It is estimated that water infrastructure alone will require $22 trillion globally over the next several decades.”
The Calvert Global Water Fund is an actively managed all-capitalization fund designed to achieve strong long term returns by investing in water solutions posed by sustainability challenges. The companies in the portfolio must also meet strict environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. Portfolio holdings’ main businesses are in the water sector or are significantly involved in water-related services or technologies. The Fund seeks to deliver a new source of alpha to a global equity allocation in a risk efficient manner.
“Winning this award means a lot to our team,” said Ms. Ryan. “While we’ve clearly seen opportunities in new and emerging water stocks, we are investing in companies that have a long history of providing diverse water solutions. The staying power of these companies is a tribute to their business models, their ability to innovate and the demand for their products, all of which we expect to continue well into the future.”
Ms. Ryan explained that the Fund seeks to invest in a wide range of companies and other enterprises that demonstrate commitment toward addressing key corporate responsibility and sustainability challenges, allowing investors the opportunity to apply their capital toward sustainable water-related technologies, services, and solutions.
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Average Annual Total Returns for period ending 12/31/2014 |
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| 1YR | 3YR | 5YR |
Since
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| A Shares(4.75% Sales Charge) | 22.63% | 11.97% | 15.48% | 9.93% | ||||||||
| A Shares (No Charge) | 28.72% | 13.81% | 16.62% | 10.96% | ||||||||
| Y Shares (No Charge) | 29.07% | 14.11% | 16.88% | 11.16% | ||||||||
| 28.32% | 11.26% | 15.19% | 10.02% | |||||||||
| 13.00% | -1.10% | 12.48% | 2.64% | |||||||||
See the average annual total returns for the Calvert Global Water Fund for the period ending 2/28/2014 here.
A Shares Gross Expense Ratio: 1.99%. Net Expense Ratio: 1.85%. Y Shares Gross Expense Ratio: 1.61%. Net Expense Ratio: 1.60%. Performance data quoted already reflects deduction of fund operating expenses. Net expense ratio reflects contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement through January 31, 2015.
Class Y shares are generally available only to wrap or similar fee based programs offered by financial intermediaries, and foundations, endowments, and other consultant-driven business.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. An Index reflects no deduction for fees and expenses. An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Visit www.calvert.com to obtain performance data current to the most recent month-end.
The Fund is subject to the risk that stocks that comprise the water-related resource sector may fall in value. A downturn in the water-related resource sector would impact the Fund more than a fund that does not concentrate in this industry, and the Fund therefore may be more volatile than a typical mutual fund. Foreign investments involve greater risks than U.S. investments, including political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations. The Fund is non-diversified and may invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund; therefore, gains or losses on a single investment may have greater impact on the Fund.
The water industry can be significantly affected by a number of factors, including availability of water, the level of rainfall, water consumption, price and supply fluctuations, and government regulations and policies. The water sector can be volatile. Investment involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
About the Lipper Fund Awards
Lipper Fund Awards are granted annually to the funds in each Lipper classification that achieve the highest score for Consistent Return, a measure of funds’ historical risk-adjusted returns, relative to peers. Scores for Consistent Return are computed for all Lipper global classifications with ten or more distinct portfolios. The scores are subject to change every month and are calculated over 36, 60 and 120–month periods. The highest 20% of funds in each classification are named Lipper Leaders for Consistent Return. The highest Lipper Leader for Consistent Return within each eligible classification determines the fund classification winner over three, five, or ten years. Source: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company.
About Calvert Investments
Calvert Investments is a leading investment management company using sustainability as a platform to create value for investors. Serving financial advisors and their clients, retirement plans and insurance carriers, and institutional investors, the company offers a broad array of equity, bond, and asset allocation strategies, featuring integrated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research and corporate engagement. Strategies are available through mutual funds, sub-advisory services, and separate account management. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Calvert Investments had more than $ 13 billion in assets under management as of February 28, 2014. www.Calvert.com
For more information on any Calvert fund, please contact Calvert at 800.368.2748 for a free summary prospectus and/or prospectus. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of an investment carefully before investing. The summary prospectus and prospectus contain this and other information. Read them carefully before you invest or send money.
Calvert mutual funds are underwritten and distributed by Calvert Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA and subsidiary of Calvert Investments, Inc.
