4 Water Mutual Funds to Buy Now

In addition to ETFs, investors can access the water industry sector through mutual funds.  Here is a list of some of the more noteworthy funds in this sector: Calvert Global Water Fund ( CFWAX ) Managers: Craig Bonthron and Jens Peers Total assets: $42 million Total annual Fund operating expenses: 5.78% Load: 4.75% Status: open Minimum initial investment: $2,000 Calvert Global Water Fund holds 30% of its assets in water utilities, 40% in infrastructure companies, and 30% in water technologies. About 65% to 70% of the 100 to 105 water stocks in the Fund are identified worldwide are pure plays, which derive over 50% of their revenue from water-related activities. Individual positions tend to be small- and mid-cap stocks, while the larger-cap names usually include other components besides water. Top Holdings (as of September 2010): American Water Works (NYSE: AWK ), Severn Trent, Pentair (NYSE: PNR ), United Utilities Group ( UUGRY ), Kurita Water Industries ( KTWIY ), Danaher Corp. (NYSE: D HR ), Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A ), Aqua America (NYSE: WTR ), Tetra Tech (NYSE: TTI ).  Allianz RCM Global Water Fund ( AWTAX ) Managers:  Vipin Ahuja and Andreas Fruschki Total assets: $54 million Maximum Sales Charge: 5.50% Net Expense Ratio : 1.80 Minimum initial investment: $1,000 Investment Objective: Focuses primarily on water utilities in view of the relative shortage of other pure-play water stocks. Invests in companies engaged in businesses related to the quality, availability or demand for water — a sector marked by rising demand and dwindling supply. The fund expands its investment universe beyond its benchmark, seeking opportunities across all stages of water-related technologies.  Fund uses a bottom-up stock selection of 25 to 50 stocks for the portfolio. Top Holdings (as of September 2010): Gerberit AG, Nalco Holding (NYSE: NAL ), Andritz AG, Danaher Corp. (NYSE: DHR ), ITT Corp. (NYSE: ITT ), United Utilities Group PLC, Kurita Water Industries, Severn Trent PLC, Arcadis NV, Aqua America (NYSE: WTR ). PFW Water Fund ( PFWAX ) Managers: Ben Murillo Jr., Richard Capalbo, Rod Hagenbuch Total assets: $17 million Expenses: 1.50% Load: 5.75 % Status: open Minimum initial investment: $2,500 Investment Objective:  Seeks to invest at least 80% of assets in water-related companies that derive at least 50% of their income or profits from, or devotes at least 50% of its resources to the production or delivery of water-related products or services that influence the quality or availability of water.  Companies may be involved in the production, collection, treatment and distribution of water to domestic and industrial users; purification, desalination, or disinfection of water; the collection, treatment or disposal of domestic and industrial liquid wastes; or provide equipment, consulting and engineering services in connection with water. Top Holdings: (as of August 2010): J.G. Boswell (OTC: BWEL ), Nalco Holding (NYSE: NLC ) , Watts Water Technologies (NYSE: WTS ) , Calgon Carbon (NYSE: CCC ), Energy Recovery (NASDAQ: ERII ), Aqua America (NYSE: WTR ), Consolidated Water (NASDAQ: CWCO ), Ameron International (NYSE: AMN ), Met Pro Corp. (NYSE: MPR ), Entegris (NASDAQ: ENTG ),  Gorman-Rupp (AMEX: GRC ), Muller Water Products. Kinetics Water Infrastructure Advantaged Fund ( KWIAX ) Managers:  James Davalos, Peter Boyle, David Kingsley, Murray Stahl Total assets: $ 26 million Expenses: 1.89 Load: 5.75 % Status: open Minimum initial investment: $2,500 Top Holdings (as of June 2010): Ameron International (NYSE: AMN ), URS Corp. (NYSE: URS ), Geberit AG, First American Prime Obligation, ESCO Technologies (NYSE: ESE ).
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