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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
1.11.2005 ET
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Winslow Green Growth Fund Up 19.12% in Fourth Quarter
WGGFX marks 10th year with average annual growth of 20.39%
(CSRwire) BOSTON, MA - Winslow Management Company announced today that the
Winslow Green Growth Fund (WGGFX) finished the fourth quarter with a
return of 19.12%, significantly exceeding the returns of its
benchmarks.
The Russell 2000 Growth Index finished the quarter with a 15.08% gain, and
the Russell 2500 Index finished the quarter with a gain of 14.22%. For a
longer-term perspective, the fund's one-, five- and 10-year average annual
returns for the period ended Dec. 31, 2004 were 12.09%, 7.05% and 20.39%,
respectively. (Performance data quoted represents past performance and is
no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher
than the performance data quoted. Investment return and principal value
will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth
more or less than original cost. For the most recent month-end
performance, please visit the Fund's website at www.wggf.com. Shares
redeemed or exchanged within 90 days of purchase will be charged a 2.00%
redemption fee subject to limited exceptions.*)
The fund's return of 12.09% for all of 2004 compares favorably with
returns for small-cap funds as a whole, which were up 10.72% for the year,
according to Lipper, Inc. The Russell 2000 Growth and Russell 2500 were up
14.31% and 18.29% respectively for the year. The Nasdaq index, which
consists primarily of small-cap stocks, was up 8.59% for the year.
"We're pleased with our results for 2004, especially since the Winslow
Green Growth Fund was up 92% for 2003," said President and lead Portfolio
Manager Jackson W. Robinson. "Anytime a fund's returns rank near the top
in its category, it is extremely difficult to sustain high returns the
following year. Yet, the Winslow Green Growth Fund still performed better
than the average small-cap fund, according Lipper."
Having been launched in April 1994, 2004 marked the 10th year since the
fund's inception. During the past 10 years, the fund has had an average
annual return of 20.39%, compared with returns of 7.12% for the Russell
2000 Growth Index and 13.75% for the Russell 2500 Index.
"We believe our focus on environmental performance has given the fund a
long-term edge," said Portfolio Manager Matthew W. Patsky. "Contrary to
popular opinion, we have found that companies that are environmentally
responsible historically outperform those that are not. The result is
that by investing in companies that are acting responsibly, we believe
investors can benefit not only the environment, but themselves."
The top 10 holdings in the fund as of Dec. 31, 2004 included: Surmodics,
Inc. (SRDX), Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (LGF), Thermogenesis Corp.
(KOOL), Aptimus (APTM), Whole Foods Market (WFMI), Audible, Inc. (ADBL),
Fuel-Tech NV (FTEK), Quantum Fuel Systems (QTWW), Durect Corp. (DRRX) and
Presstek, Inc. (PRST).
The Winslow Green Growth Fund is an aggressive growth equity portfolio
seeking above-average performance and long-term capital appreciation
through environmentally responsible investing. The Fund invests primarily
in domestic securities of small- and mid- cap companies that Winslow
believes are reasonably priced and demonstrate potential for superior
growth. The Winslow Green Growth Fund is a no-load, open-end mutual fund
for individuals and institutions seeking an investment that reflects their
environmental commitment. The Fund is available through the following
no-transaction-fee platforms: Schwab's Mutual Fund OneSource(R),
Fidelity's FundsNetwork and TD Waterhouse Mutual Fund Network.
Lipper Inc. is an independent mutual fund rating service that ranks funds
in various fund categories by making comparative calculations using total
returns.
Winslow Management Company (www.winslowgreen.com) seeks to
invest in high growth and environmentally proactive and environmentally
sensitive companies. From its inception in 1984, Winslow has been
investing the assets of high-net-worth individuals, non-profit
institutions, and pension funds in growth companies that are
environmentally sensitive. Its products and services include: The Winslow
Green Growth Fund, an aggressive equity growth fund open to individual and
institutional investors; The Green Century Balanced Fund**, to which it is
the subadviser; individual portfolio management for high-net-worth
individuals and institutions, and a hedge fund that is open to qualified
clients. Based in Boston, Winslow manages assets totaling approximately
$225 million as of 12/31/04.
*Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund's investment
objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in
the prospectus, a copy of which may be obtained by calling (888) 314-9049
or visiting the Fund's website. Please read the prospectus carefully
before you invest.
The Fund's return assumes the reinvestment of dividend and capital gain
distributions. For the period reported, some of the Fund's fees were
waived or expenses reimbursed; otherwise, total return would have been
lower. The Fund invests in small- and medium- sized companies which pose
greater risks than those associated with larger, more established
companies. Forum Fund Services, LLC is the distributor for the Winslow
Green Growth Fund.
The Russell 2500 Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of 2500
stocks. The Russell 2000 Growth Index measures the performance of Russell
2000 companies with high price-to-book ratios and high forecasted growth
values. The Nasdaq Composite index is an unmanaged index representing the
market cap weighted performance of approximately 5,000 domestic common
stocks traded on the Nasdaq exchange. No one can invest directly in an
index.
Prior to April 1, 2001, the Adviser managed a common trust fund with an
investment objective and investment policies that were, in all material
respects, equivalent to those of the Fund. The Fund's performance for
periods before April 1, 2001 is that of the common trust fund and reflects
the expenses of the common trust fund. If the common trust fund's
performance had been readjusted to reflect the estimated expenses of the
Fund for its first fiscal year, the performance would have been lower.
The common trust fund was not registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 ("1940 Act") and was not subject to certain investment
limitations, diversification requirements, and other restrictions imposed
by the 1940 Act and t he Internal Revenue Code, which, if applicable, may
have adversely affected its performance. 1/05
**Before investing you should carefully consider the Green Century
Balanced Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This
and other information is in the prospectus, a copy of which may be
obtained by calling (800) 93-GREEN or visiting the Fund's website at www.greencentury.com. Please read
the prospectus carefully before you invest.
Like all funds invested in stocks, the Green Century Balanced Fund's share
price will fluctuate daily depending on the performance of the companies
that comprise the Fund's investments. The universe of securities that the
Fund may invest in is more limited compared to those of funds that don't
apply any environmental criteria. Under certain economic conditions, that
means the Fund's performance could be better or worse than the market as a
whole.
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