Morningstar’s fund managers of the year: Who will they be?

Portfolio managers from T. Rowe Price, Fidelity and Pimco are among the nominees for Morningstar’s fund managers of the year awards.

The honors, presented annually, recognize managers whose funds demonstrate strong performance and outstanding long-term risk-adjusted returns. Nominees have also proven to be strong stewards of fund shareholders’ capital.

"This year's crop of nominees delivered strong returns to shareholders by sticking to their fundamental investing approach," said Laura Pavlenko Lutton, Morningstar's director of manager research, North America, in a statement. "These managers have exhibited the discipline and skill that successful investing demands, and they've also demonstrated a strong commitment to shareholders. Our nominees have generated solid past performance, and we think they'll do well in the future."

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In order to qualify for a nomination, managers’ funds must have a gold or silver Morningstar analyst rating. Awards are given in four categories: domestic stock, international stock, fixed income and allocation/alternatives.

Morningstar plans to announce the winners Jan. 24 on CNBC.

The nominees include:

Domestic Stock:
Steven Wymer, Fidelity Growth Company (FDGRX). The five-star-rated fund has generated one-year returns of 38.23% and 10-year returns of 12.28%, per Morningstar data. Assets total $41.9 billion, and the minimum investment is $2,500. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.77% and is currently closed to new investors.

Paul Viera of Earnest Partners, Harbor Small Cap Value (HASCX). The five-star fund has a one-year return of 38.23% and a 10-year return of $12.28%. Total assets are $1.3 billion, and the minimum investment is $50,000. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.87% and is currently open to new investors.

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Larry Puglia; T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth (TRBCX). The five-star fund has seen one-year returns of 38.14% and 10-year returns of 11.44%. Total assets are $45.8 billion and the minimum investment is $2,500. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.72% and is currently open to new investors.

Henry Ellenbogen; T. Rowe Price New Horizons (PRNHX). The five-star fund had a 2017 return of 21.6%. Assets total $21.9 billion, and the minimum investment is $2,500. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.79% and is currently open to new investors.

International Stock:
Sarah Ketterer, Harry Hartford and team, Causeway International Value (CIVIX). The four-star fund has seen one-year returns of 31.47% and 10-year returns of 14%. Total assets are $8.8 billion, and the minimum investment is $1 million. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.91% and is currently open to new investors.

Rajeev Bhaman and John Delano, Oppenheimer Global (OPPAX). The four-star fund has seen one-year returns of 37.76% and 10-year returns of 7.59%. Total assets are $11.6 billion, and the minimum investment is $1,000. The fund has an expense ratio of 1.15% and is currently open to new investors.

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James Anderson and Thomas Coutts of Baillie Gifford Overseas and Simon Webber of Schroder Investment Management, Vanguard International Growth (VWIGX). The four-star fund has seen a one-year return of 43.76% and 10-year returns of 5.4%. Total assets are $34.1 billion, and the minimum investment is $3,000. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.45% and is currently open to new investors.

Fixed Income:
David Hoffman, Stephen Smith, John McIntyre and Anujeet Sareen, BrandywineGlobal Global Opportunities Bond (GOBSX). The four-star fund has a one-year return of 13.98% and a 10-year return of 5.36%. Total assets are $3.5 billion, and the minimum investment is $1 million. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.58% and is currently open to new investors.

Daniel Ivascyn, Alfred Murata and team, Pimco Income (PIMIX). The five-star fund has a one-year return of 8.24% and a 10-year return of 9.12%. Assets total $107.8 billion, and the minimum investment is $1 million. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.50% and is currently open to new investors.

Scott Mather, Mark Kiesel and Mihir Worah, Pimco Total Return (PTTRX). The four-star fund has a one-year return of 3.89% and a 10-year return of 5.02%. Assets total $73.8 billion, and the minimum investment is $1 million. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.46% and is currently open to new investors.

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Michael Collins, Robert Tipp, Richard Piccirillo and Gregory Peters, Prudential Total Return Bond (PDBZX). The five-star fund has a one-year return of 5.24%% and a 10-year return of 5.87%. Assets total $30.3 billion, and the minimum investment is $5 million. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.51% and is currently open to new investors.

Ken Leech and team, Western Asset Core Plus Bond (WACPX). The five-star fund has a one-year return of 6.02% and a 10-year return of 5.86%. Assets total $22.2 billion, and the minimum investment is $1 million. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.45% and is currently open to new investors.

Allocation/Alternatives:
Andrew Dierdorf and Brett Sumsion, Fidelity Freedom Target-Date Series (FFFEX). The four-star fund has a one-year return of 20.49% and a 10-year return of 5.82%. Assets total $12.4 billion, and the minimum investment is $2,500. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.70% and is currently open to new investors.

Paul Stewart, Michael Buckius, Daniel Ashcraft and Kenneth Toft, Gateway (GTEYX). The three-star fund has a one-year return of 9.81% and a 10-year return of 5.94%. Assets total $8.6 billion, and the minimum investment is $100,000. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.70% and is currently open to new investors.

David Giroux, T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation (PRWCX). The five-star has a one-year return of 15.93% and a 10-year return of 9.37%. Assets total $29.4 billion, and the minimum investment is $2,500. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.70% and its current status for new investors is limited.

Anne Lester, Dan Oldroyd and team, JPMorgan SmartRetirement Target-Date Series (JSMIX). The four-star fund has a one-year return of 19.48% and a 10-year return of 6.95%. Assets total $8.6 billion, with no minimum investment listed. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.58% and is currently open to new investors.

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