This Fund Beats the Market Via Faith-Based Rules
You won't find tobacco, alcohol or gambling companies in the Eventide Gilead Fund. That's because Christian principles guides the fund's stock selection.

You won’t find tobacco, alcohol or gambling companies in the Eventide Gilead Fund (ETGLX). That’s because faith—specifically, Christian principles as they apply to business—guides the fund’s stock selection. “We invest in companies that excel in creating positive social value,” says lead manager Finny Kuruvilla. The approach gets results: Since Eventide’s mid-2008 launch, it has earned 17.5% annualized, beating the typical midsize-company growth fund by an average of 8 percentage points per year.
At Eventide, earnings and other financial measures matter less than whether a company operates with integrity. That said, this fund isn’t dowdy. Kuruvilla and co-manager David Barksdale have owned shares in Tesla Motors, the electric-car maker, since 2011 (the stock, though weak lately, has climbed 276% over the past year). Kuruvilla, a doctor by training, likes biotech firms because their success isn’t strongly intertwined with the overall economy. The fund’s top holding at last report was Acadia Therapeutics, which has skyrocketed 348% over the past year.
Though Morningstar considers Eventide a midsize-company fund, it can invest in businesses of any size. At last report, half of its assets were invested in small-company stocks, 32% in midsize firms and 18% in large concerns. The fund’s no-load Class N shares are available at Fidelity and TD Ameritrade, among other brokers, with no transaction fee.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

-
The Seven-Day Financial Reset: A Simple Plan to Get Control of Your Money, From an Expert
Sometimes, getting unstuck requires a reset. These practical steps can help you tackle your money issues and feel less overwhelmed by it all.
-
Three Pros (and Four Cons) of Hiring Multiple Financial Advisers: The View From a Financial Adviser
There's nothing to stop you from working with several financial advisers instead of just one. But take a balanced view of the risks and rewards first.
-
The 5 Best Actively Managed Fidelity Funds to Buy and Hold
mutual funds Sometimes it's best to leave the driving to the pros – and these actively managed Fidelity funds do just that, at low costs to boot.
-
The 12 Best Bear Market ETFs to Buy Now
ETFs Investors who are fearful about the more uncertainty in the new year can find plenty of protection among these bear market ETFs.
-
Don't Give Up on the Eurozone
mutual funds As Europe’s economy (and stock markets) wobble, Janus Henderson European Focus Fund (HFETX) keeps its footing with a focus on large Europe-based multinationals.
-
Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock Profits from ESG Leaders
mutual funds Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock (VEIGX) favors firms with high standards for their businesses.
-
Kip ETF 20: What's In, What's Out and Why
Kip ETF 20 The broad market has taken a major hit so far in 2022, sparking some tactical changes to Kiplinger's lineup of the best low-cost ETFs.
-
ETFs Are Now Mainstream. Here's Why They're So Appealing.
Investing for Income ETFs offer investors broad diversification to their portfolios and at low costs to boot.
-
Do You Have Gun Stocks in Your Funds?
ESG Investors looking to make changes amid gun violence can easily divest from gun stocks ... though it's trickier if they own them through funds.
-
How to Choose a Mutual Fund
mutual funds Investors wanting to build a portfolio will have no shortage of mutual funds at their disposal. And that's one of the biggest problems in choosing just one or two.