3 Biotechnology Mutual Funds for 2022

Biotechnology companies use living organisms and molecular biology to produce a broad range of products, including medicine and pharmaceuticals. The biotechnology sector attracted heightened attention in 2021 as the industry produced emerging vaccines, treatments, and biomedical devices to address the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, some of these companies have seen explosive revenue and profit growth.

Well-known biotechnology companies include Moderna Inc. (MRNA), Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGIO), and CRISPR Therapeutics A.G. (CRSP).

Investors who expect biotech companies to continue to grow in in 2022 may be interested in mutual funds focused on the biotech sector. These biotechnology mutual funds provide professionally managed exposure to the sector. They help minimize costs while investing in a broad range of stocks in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

We look at three biotechnology mutual funds as ranked by each’s one-year trailing total return (TTM) as of the close of market on Dec. 16, 2021. All three of these funds focus on biotech firms, and all significantly underperformed the benchmark Morningstar US Healthcare TR index, which provided one-year trailing total returns of 18.9%. The broader health category provided total returns of 5.3% over the same period.

The performance data above and all figures below are as of Dec. 17, 2021.

Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology Fund Class A (FBTAX)

• One-Year Trailing Return: -6.0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.01%
• Trailing-12-Month (TTM) Dividend Yield: 0.38%
• Assets Under Management: $2.4 billion
• Inception Date: Dec. 27, 2000

FBTAX is managed by Eirene Kontopoulos. The fund invests at least 80% of assets in companies engaged in the research, development, manufacture, and distribution of biotechnological products, services, and processes, as well as companies that benefit significantly from scientific and technological advances in biotechnology. Nearly 92% of assets are invested in biotechnology companies, with pharmaceutical companies making up most of the remainder.

FBTAX invests in a blend of growth and value stocks. Its top holdings include AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN), and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX), all of which are biopharmaceutical or biotechnology companies.

Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio (FBIOX)

• One-Year Trailing Return: -14.6%
• Expense Ratio: 0.70%
• Trailing-12-Month (TTM) Dividend Yield: 0.17%
• Assets Under Management: $7.0 billion
• Inception Date: Dec. 16, 1985

FBIOX is managed by Rajiv Kaul. The fund typically invests at least 80% of its assets in companies engaged in the research, development, manufacture, and distribution of biotechnological products, services, and processes, as well as companies that benefit significantly from scientific and technological advances in biotechnology.

Nearly 89% of FBIOX’s assets are invested in biotechnology companies, with the bulk of the remainder targeting pharmaceutical companies. The fund’s top holdings include Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD), Moderna, and AbbVie, all of which are biopharmaceutical and technology companies.

Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund Class A (FBDIX)

• One-Year Trailing Return: -19.5%
• Expense Ratio: 0.98%
• Trailing-12-Month (TTM) Dividend Yield: 0.00%
• Assets Under Management: $1.1 billion
• Inception Date: Sept. 15, 1997

FBDIX is managed by Evan McCulloch, Wendy Lam, and Akiva Felt. The fund typically invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of biotechnology companies and discovery research firms, including those involved in fields such as genomics, genetic engineering, and gene therapy, as well as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Nearly 90% of assets are invested in U.S.-based companies, with the remainder divided among companies based in Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and several other countries.

FBDIX invests in a blend of growth and value stocks. Its top holdings include Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc. (AMGN), and Horizon Therapeutics PLC (HZNP). The first two of these are U.S.-based biopharmaceutical companies, and the third is an Ireland-based biopharmaceutical company.

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