Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
While past performance is a good place to start, there are several other factors to consider, as outlined below. There is no way to accurately predict the future, but these factors can help you evaluate your portfolio to make sure it s meeting your investing objectives. First, however, it s important to understand what contributes to a fund s overall performance. Every investment fund has its own behavior pattern. Stock funds can earn money through capital appreciation, dividend reinvestment, and capital gain distributions.