The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation and to protect the purchasing power of capital against inflation. The fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign companies (including those located in emerging markets) principally engaged in the exploration, mining, or processing of gold and other precious metals and minerals, such as platinum, silver, and diamonds. It is non-diversified.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Parent Company

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a San Antonio-based Fortune 500 diversified financial services group of companies including a Texas Department of Insurance-regulated reciprocal inter-insurance exchange and subsidiaries offering banking, investing, and insurance to people and families who serve, or served, in the United States Armed Forces. At the end of 2017, it had 12.4 million members.

USAA was founded in 1922 in San Antonio by a group of 25 U.S. Army officers as a mechanism for mutual self-insurance when they were unable to secure auto insurance because of the perception that they, as military officers, were a high-risk group. USAA has since expanded to offer banking and insurance services to past and present members of the Armed Forces, officers and enlisted, and their families. The company ranked No. 100 in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Performance

Over the past year, the USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund (USAGX) has returned 45.36 percent. 20.18 percent over the past three, 22.29% over the last five and -2.26% over the last 10 years.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Top Holdings

The top 10 holdings (making up around 15% of the total portfolio) of the USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund (USAGX) are Centamin PLC, Zijn Mining Group Co. Ltd. H, Regis Resources Ltd., Sandstorm Gold Ltd., Polyus PAO ORD, Northern Star Resources Ltd., Dundee Precious Metals, Inc., Polymetal International PLC, Torex Gold Resources Ltd., Evolution Mining Ltd.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Category

The fund falls in the Precious Metals Equity category. The fund has returned 22.29 percent over the past five years and -2.26 percent over the past decade.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Ranking

This fund is ranked #9 in Equity Precious Metals

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Investment Strategy

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation and to protect the purchasing power of your capital against inflation. The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign companies principally engaged in the exploration, mining, and processing of gold and other precious metals. The fund had a positive total return for the quarter and outperformed both its primary benchmark and secondary benchmark. 

The fund selects holdings from among the universe of gold miner stocks. In doing so, the fund uses quantitative analysis to identify companies that meet one of the following criteria: trade at attractive valuations, exhibit positive momentum, and/or are high quality as measured by strong and stable profitability.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Management

The USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund (USAGX) is managed by John P Toohey and Dan Denbow.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Fees

Fees are Below Average compared to funds in the same category. USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund has an expense ratio of 1.19 percent.

USAGX – USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund: Risk

Stock markets, especially foreign markets, are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. Fund and index performance may vary somewhat due to factors such as transaction costs, sample selection, and timing differences associated with index additions and deletions.

Volatility Measurements

Volatility measures reflect the uncertainty or risk of change in a security`s value.

Standard Deviation

33.969

Mean

1.967

Sharpe Ratio

0.646