Bridget B. Hughes

These three firms are in the running for our 2020 award.

It's reasonable for investors to expect more changes.

These asset managers treat investors well.

The firms have similar strengths and weaknesses.

The Focused Credit fund prompts Parent rating downgrade, but other issues are apparent.

Vanguard boasts the largest number of Gold-rated funds.

Our annual stewardship survey shows firm-level analysis matters, too.

It was tough for active managers to outpace Vanguard's low-cost index funds in 2014, and many of its active funds also outperformed.

Arrowpoint, run by ex-Janus managers Chad Meade and Brian Schaub, will begin managing a 4% sleeve of Vanguard Explorer.

Here's what's behind some strong performance.

A new Morningstar study suggests that investors often benefit when they seek out firms with strong stewardship characteristics.

New study points to differences among top firms' stewardship practices and performance.

New Morningstar study of asset managers shows good stewards have produced better funds.

Vanguard deep-sixes the subadvisor, which had managed about 4% of Vanguard Windsor II's assets, and increases subadvisor Hotchkis & Wiley's sleeve of the fund.

Repeated changes at the firm elevate levels of concern and uncertainty.

Emerging-markets consumer stocks are one of the few areas of long-term growth as the people are buying, eating, and drinking better, says Virtus Foreign Opportunities manager Rajiv Jain.

After a nasty 25-year bear market, Japan is still far cheaper than both U.S. and European equities, despite its huge rally, says IVA CIO and portfolio manager Charles de Vaulx.

The biggest U.S. fund firm still stands out.

Teamwork defines this venerable, Boston-based fund firm.

Turning three can be a make-or-break moment.

This Gold-rated fund knows how to execute.

From worst to first ... what's next for these notable funds?

Only a small group of foreign-stock funds buy U.S. companies in a meaningful way.

Royce Funds' David Nadel discusses how non-U.S. cultures influence dividend payers, why Europe thrives on exports to emerging markets, and a growth story in Africa.

Can you read between the lines of some fund-company maneuvers?

Morningstar 2011 Fixed-Income Manager of the Year John Carlson says new debt issuance is high in the developing world, with plenty of opportunities in dollar-based bonds and a growing local-currency market.

Legg Mason's Randy Befumo points to how staying clear of significant industry weightings allows his fund to control for volatility.

After Bill Miller steps down from Legg Mason Value Trust this month, new manager Sam Peters says investors will still see continuity in the portfolio strategy but should expect some differences.

After a strong six months for stocks, have those who can raise cash done it?

At Dreyfus Research Growth, a group of 14 analysts decide both which stocks and the weight of those stocks in the portfolio.

Marty Whitman's imprint will remain strong, though Ian Lapey will have his say.

Current comanager Ian Lapey will take the reins.

Fresh from a trip to Asia, Third Avenue Value manager Ian Lapey discusses the fund's Hong Kong commecial real estate holdings, plus potential opportunities in oil and gas exploration and insurance.

Third Avenue International Value's Matt Fine says the macro problems in Europe are creating rare opportunities to take advantage of certain stocks, particularly in the automotive and insurance sectors.

The Tweedy, Browne team, winner of Morningstar's 2011 International-Stock Manager of the Year Award, discusses the role of process and time horizon in the fund's successful long-term track record.

This is a success story for Dreyfus, but there are risks.

There may be a new regime, but it's awfully familiar.

Beta isn't a perfect measure of risk, but investors spooked by recent market volatility may want to pay closer attention.

It's very difficult to generate attractive long-term capital appreciation if you try to protect against short-term market volatility, says Third Avenue Value's Ian Lapey.

And have they been good buys?

In Third Avenue's eyes, these real estate stocks are among the most attractive in the world.

Asia is quite attractive from the perspective of an investor looking for both yield and growth in an underlying dividend, says Matthews' Jesper Madsen.

When experience walks out the door, whether or not to sell depends on the circumstances.

They aren't all created equal, and fees need to come down.

MFS chairman emeritus and author Bob Pozen discusses the trends toward international investing, ETFs, dedicated asset managers, and trading processes.

MFS chairman emeritus and author Bob Pozen discusses the merits of the automatic IRA and automatic opt-in.

An impressive strategy runs through Mutual Series, but the funds have key distinctions, as well.

A portfolio can include dicey holdings yet be conservative overall.

After a big bounce in 2009, Bill Miller's Capital Management Value Trust is behind again.

This venerable fund has made some changes to its portfolio, but it's still fabulous.