Is Invesco SteelPath MLP Income C (MLPRX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Sector - Energy fund seekers may want to consider taking a look at Invesco SteelPath MLP Income C (MLPRX). MLPRX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on various forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance.ObjectiveWe classify MLPRX in the Sector - Energy category, an area that is rife with possible choices. Throughout the massive global energy sector, Sector - Energy mutual funds hold a wide range of quickly changing and vitally important industries. While oil and gas comprise the bulk of the exposure, carbon-based fuels will be the biggest group of assets in these funds, though clean energy is starting to pick up steam.History of Fund/ManagerMLPRX is a part of the Invesco family of funds, a company based out of Kansas City, MO. Invesco SteelPath MLP Income C made its debut in May of 2011, and since then, MLPRX has accumulated about $486.76 million in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund is currently managed by Stuart Cartner who has been in charge of the fund since May of 2011.PerformanceInvestors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 28.38%, and is in the middle third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 14.56%, which places it in the bottom third during this time-frame.It is important to note that the product's returns may not reflect all its expenses. Any fees not reflected would lower the returns. Total returns do not reflect the fund's [%] sale charge. If sales charges were included, total returns would have been lower.When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Over the past three years, MLPRX's standard deviation comes in at 12.3%, compared to the category average of 12.63%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 19.24% compared to the category average of 14.44%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade.Risk FactorsThe fund has a 5-year beta of 0.68, so investors should note that it is hypothetically less volatile than the market at large. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. MLPRX's 5-year performance has produced a positive alpha of 15.01, which means managers in this portfolio are skilled in picking securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns.ExpensesFor investors, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is key, since costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing. Competition is heating up in this space, and a lower cost product will likely outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, all things being equal. In terms of fees, MLPRX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 2.08% compared to the category average of 1.09%. MLPRX is actually more expensive than its peers when you consider factors like cost.This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $1,000, and each subsequent investment should be at least $50.Fees charged by investment advisors have not been taken into consideration. Returns would be less if those were included.Bottom LineOverall, even with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and higher fees, Invesco SteelPath MLP Income C ( MLPRX ) has a neutral Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and therefore looks a somewhat average choice for investors right now.Your research on the Sector - Energy segment doesn't have to stop here. You can check out all the great mutual fund tools we have to offer by going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds to see the additional features we offer as well for additional information. If you want to check out our stock reports as well, make sure to go to Zacks.com to see all of the great tools we have to offer, including our time-tested Zacks Rank.Quantum Computing Stocks Set To SoarArtificial intelligence has already reshaped the investment landscape, and its convergence with quantum computing could lead to the most significant wealth-building opportunities of our time.Today, you have a chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this technological revolution. In our urgent special report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power, you'll discover the little-known stocks we believe will win the quantum computing race and deliver massive gains to early investors.Access the Report Free Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (MLPRX): Fund Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks