First Eagle Funds Performance Review and Analysis

First Eagle Investment Management has been around since 1864, making it one of the oldest investment management companies in the world.

First Eagle's flagship fund, the First Eagle Fund, has consistently delivered strong performance over the long term, with a 10-year annualized return of 8.6%.

The fund's success can be attributed to its conservative investment approach, which focuses on high-quality, dividend-paying stocks.

First Eagle's experienced team of investment professionals has a proven track record of managing money through various market cycles.

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The First Eagle Funds have shown varying returns over the past few years.

Their highest monthly return in the Class I (FECRX) fund was 2.21% on January 31, 2023.

The Class I fund also had a significant drop in October 2024, with a return of -1.82%.

Here's a breakdown of the monthly returns for the Class I fund over the past few years:

It's essential to remember that past performance does not guarantee future results.

The average annual returns for the investment classes are a crucial metric to consider when evaluating performance.

For Class I (FECRX), the average annual return over the past year is 0.24% as of Jan 31, 2025, which is a significant increase from the previous year's average return of 1.58% as of Jan 31, 2021.

Over the past 2 years, the average annual return for Class I is 0.71%, indicating a moderate growth trend.

Here's a breakdown of the average annual returns for the 3 classes over the past 2 years:

The average annual returns for Class A (FECAX) and Class A-2 (FCAAX) are 0.67% and 0.63%, respectively, indicating a moderate growth trend over the past 2 years.

It's essential to note that past performance does not guarantee future results, and these returns may not be representative of future performance.

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Capital Gains Distributions are an important aspect of performance metrics, and they can have a significant impact on your investment returns.

The Record Date is the date when the distribution is declared, and it's usually 4-5 days before the Ex and Reinvestment Date, which is the date when the distribution is actually paid out.

The Payable Date is the date when the distribution is paid out, which is usually 1-2 days after the Ex and Reinvestment Date.

Ordinary Income is not a significant factor in these distributions, as all the amounts in this column are $0.000.

Short Term Capital Gains are distributions that are taxed at a higher rate, and they can be a significant factor in your investment returns. For example, in 2021, the Short Term Capital Gains were $0.080.

Long Term Capital Gains are distributions that are taxed at a lower rate, and they can also be a significant factor in your investment returns. For example, in 2022, the Long Term Capital Gains were $0.001.

Here is a summary of the distributions:

These distributions can have a significant impact on your investment returns, and it's essential to understand how they work and how they can affect your taxes.

The First Eagle Credit Opportunities Fund seeks to provide attractive current income with a secondary objective of providing long-term risk-adjusted returns by investing in a portfolio of U.S. alternative credit assets across multiple sectors and risk profiles.

The Fund's investment strategy involves employing a variety of fundamental and technical factors to establish risk/return expectations across the investment opportunity set. This approach enables the team to construct a portfolio of a variety of credit asset classes that balances the need for current income with potentially more long-term risk-adjusted returns.

The team behind the Fund has a wealth of experience, with several members having started their careers in the industry in the 1980s and 1990s. This seasoned team of true small cap specialists has a time-tested, catalyst-driven value approach that has allowed them to find opportunity in short- and long-term dislocations due to volatility.

Here are some key facts about the Fund's investment strategy:

The First Eagle Credit Opportunities Fund's investment philosophy is centered around providing attractive current income with a secondary objective of providing long-term risk-adjusted returns. They aim to achieve this by investing in a portfolio of U.S. alternative credit assets across multiple sectors and risk profiles.

The fund's flexibility in allocating capital to both public and private markets allows them to take an opportunistic approach, seeking to generate attractive current income and long-term risk-adjusted returns. This flexibility is a key aspect of their investment strategy.

The fund's team seeks to mitigate downside risks by building a portfolio of assets across the alternative credit spectrum, with an emphasis on first-lien, senior-secured assets. This approach helps to balance the need for current income with potentially more long-term risk-adjusted returns.

Here are some key investment objectives of the fund:

The fund's investment approach is designed to deliver current income with a secondary objective of providing long-term risk-adjusted returns. By investing in a portfolio of U.S. alternative credit assets, the fund's team aims to achieve these objectives while minimizing risk.

Our team of small cap specialists has a wealth of experience finding opportunities in volatile markets. We've developed a time-tested approach that's proven to be effective in both short- and long-term dislocations.

We take a catalyst-driven value approach, which means we focus on finding undervalued companies with strong potential for growth. This approach has allowed us to capitalize on market fluctuations and deliver strong returns for our investors.

Our team has a proven track record of identifying opportunities in small cap stocks, and we're confident in our ability to find the best investments for our clients.

Here are some key facts about our team and approach:

The First Eagle Funds have a diverse portfolio, with a total of 22 companies making up its holdings as of August 31, 2025.

The fund's size is substantial, with a total net asset value of $4.224 billion as of the same date.

Here are some key statistics that give us a sense of the fund's composition:

The fund's turnover rate as of October 31, 2024, was 61.0%, indicating a moderate level of trading activity.

The First Eagle Funds have a history of delivering strong performance, with the First Eagle Overseas Fund boasting a 10-year annualized return of 7.1% as of March 2022.

One of the key factors contributing to this success is the fund's ability to invest in a wide range of international markets, including developed and emerging economies.

First Eagle's experienced investment team has a long-term approach, which has allowed them to navigate market fluctuations and capitalize on opportunities.

Their focus on fundamental research and risk management has helped the fund avoid significant losses during times of market stress.

The First Eagle Fund's low turnover ratio of 5% as of March 2022 demonstrates their commitment to long-term investing.

This approach has resulted in the fund's ability to generate consistent returns over time, with the First Eagle Overseas Fund having a 20-year annualized return of 8.4% as of March 2022.

Evaluating a mutual fund's performance is crucial to making informed investment decisions.

First Eagle Funds has consistently outperformed its peers in the long-term, with a 10-year average annual return of 8.1% for its flagship fund, First Eagle Global Fund.

Investors can use various metrics to assess a fund's performance, including its Sharpe ratio, which measures risk-adjusted returns.

The Sharpe ratio for First Eagle Global Fund is 0.83, indicating that it has provided higher returns relative to its risk level.

A fund's expense ratio is another important consideration, as it directly affects returns.

First Eagle Global Fund has an expense ratio of 0.74%, which is lower than the average for its category.

Investors should also consider a fund's volatility, as measured by its standard deviation.

The standard deviation for First Eagle Global Fund is 12.1%, which is lower than the average for its category.

Ultimately, evaluating a mutual fund's performance requires a comprehensive analysis of its historical returns, risk metrics, and fees.

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