As I study the profile page of each fund, I see certain factors to consider. Therefore, compare and consider the factors you listed only after you have identified the asset class you are looking for and some potential no-load funds that invest in that. It s also important to compare similar funds. So don t conclude that just because the latter has lower expenses, it is a better investment.
Expenses are a predictable drag on performance.
Think of a plastic bucket dangling in the water behind a sailboat. The bigger that bucket, the harder it is for that sailboat to win a race. The portfolio turnover rate is important mostly because it indicates the amount of capital gains the fund is likely to have to distribute to its shareholders. A very active style, with high turnover, will necessarily have higher trading costs. Those costs are already reflected in the fund s performance.