Five Years Straight, Ivy Funds Stays in Top Five of Barron’s Five-Year Ranking of “Best Mutual Fund Families”

Either Waddell & Reed or Ivy Funds has held one of top two spots in 5-year ranking since 2008

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Across a variety of market cycles, Ivy Funds and Waddell & Reed have shown remarkably steady performance, as evidenced by the latest Barron’s ranking of the “Best Mutual Fund Families.”

“It’s gratifying to see these rankings continue to bear out what we believe are the merits of our daily research and stewardship of client assets. Short-term volatility will always be a challenge, but longer term performance is paramount.”

Since 2008, either Ivy Funds or Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds has occupied the No. 1, 2 or 3 spot on the five-year rankings published annually by Barron’s. Dating to 2007, Ivy Funds has been in the top 10 for six straight years, ranking No. 7 out of 61 firms for the five-year period ended Dec. 31, 2007.

In the latest rankings, published Feb. 11, 2013, Ivy Funds is No. 2 over the last five years after ranking at the top last year, while Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds rank 16 over the last five years after ranking second last year, out of 53 firms ranked. Barron’s also included separate one-year rankings for the five specific asset categories in which funds must have a presence in order to qualify for the overall rankings, listing only the top and bottom five. Ivy Funds ranked first out of the 62 firms in the Mixed Asset category (equity and fixed-income assets) for the year ended Dec. 31. 2012.

The two fund families, both affiliates of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE:WDR), utilize a rigorous research process that emphasizes longer-term performance with a focus on risk management, according to company executives, with the benefits realized over longer periods.

“Market cycles change year to year, but investors need clarity and consistency in performance over time, and that is what our process strives to deliver,” said Henry J. Herrmann, Chairman and CEO of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., parent company to both fund families. “It’s gratifying to see these rankings continue to bear out what we believe are the merits of our daily research and stewardship of client assets. Short-term volatility will always be a challenge, but longer term performance is paramount.”

In the current Barron’s rankings over 10 years, Ivy Funds ranked No. 2, while Waddell & Reed ranked No. 21 for the period ended Dec. 31, 2012, out of 46 firms ranked. For the one-year period, a time marked by volatility and global uncertainty, Ivy Funds ranked No. 24 and Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked No. 25, out of 62 firms ranked.

Consistency over time

Ivy Funds and Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds have demonstrated consistent historical performance, year after year:

• In the 2011 rankings, published Feb. 6, 2012, Ivy Funds ranked first and Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked second, out of 53 firms ranked.
• In 2010, Ivy Funds ranked first and Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked second in terms of performance over the five-year period ended Dec. 31, 2010, out of 53 fund families ranked.
• In 2009, Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked first and Ivy Funds ranked second, over the five-year period ended Dec. 31, 2009, out of 54 fund families ranked.
• In 2008, Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked first and Ivy Funds ranked third over the five-year period ended Dec. 31, 2008, out of 53 fund families ranked.

Barron’s rankings are based on asset-weighted returns in five categories: domestic equity, world equity (including international and global portfolios), mixed asset (stocks and bonds), taxable bonds and tax exempt bonds. Rankings also take into account an individual fund’s performance within its Lipper peer group. Sales charges are not included in the calculation of returns, and the ranking period included time periods during which some funds’ returns were affected by expense reduction arrangements.

Both the Waddell & Reed Advisors and Ivy Fund families offer a broad fund lineup covering all major asset categories, including international and domestic equity funds, asset allocation funds, sector funds, fixed-income funds and money market funds.

The Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds are offered through Waddell & Reed financial advisors, the company’s network of personal financial planners with offices around the country. Ivy Funds are offered through the company’s wholesale channel, which includes national and regional broker/dealers, registered investment advisors and retirement platforms.

Through its subsidiaries, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. provides investment management and financial planning services to clients throughout the U.S. The firm had approximately $96 billion in total assets under management at Dec. 31, 2012. Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company serves as investment advisor to the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios and InvestEd Portfolios, while Ivy Investment Management Company serves as investment advisor to the Ivy Funds. Waddell & Reed, Inc. serves as principal underwriter and distributor to the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios, and InvestEd Portfolios, while Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc. serves as principal underwriter and distributor to the Ivy Funds.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a fund carefully before investing. For a prospectus, or if available, a summary prospectus, containing this and other information for any of the Waddell & Reed Advisors or Ivy Funds, call your financial advisor or visit www.waddell.com or www.ivyfunds.com. Please read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and it is possible to lose money by investing. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.