A Contra Mutual Fund undertakes a contrarian investment strategy. Fund managers select stocks that are against market trends and search for
undervalued stocks. Here are a few features that define Contra Funds:
- The major differentiating element of contra funds is contrarian investing. Fund managers search for opportunities in companies or industries that the market has neglected or that are temporarily undervalued or at discounted prices.
- Contra Funds can help you maintain a diverse portfolio. Diversification limits the negative impact of a single investment and spreads risk.
- Effective market timing is often required for successful contrarian investing. Fund managers need to determine when specific stocks are undervalued or when a shift in mood is likely to occur in the market cycle.
Contrarian investing often takes a long-term perspective. Fund managers think that the market will eventually recognize the true worth of the stocks that they have picked, resulting in capital appreciation. Also, not every underperforming stock or industry has the potential to improve in the future. So, you need to carefully assess the fund’s past performance and the fund manager’s history and expertise before investing.