Fund Evaluator:
Columbia Acorn International Sel A (LAFAX)
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Best Performing in Foreign Large Growth Over the Last Year
| 27.0% | WCM Focused International Equity Inv (WLIVX) |
| 25.4% | Saturna International Z (SIFZX) |
| 25.1% | Saturna International (SSIFX) |
| 24.2% | American Funds EUPAC F-3 (FEUPX) |
| 23.2% | Fidelity Diversified International (FDIVX) |
Fund Details
Columbia Acorn International Sel A Overview
Columbia Acorn International Sel A (LAFAX) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Large Growth fund. Columbia Threadneedle launched the fund in 2000.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. The fund invests at least 65% of its net assets in foreign companies in developed markets. It also may invest up to 35% of its total assets in companies in emerging markets. The fund generally invests in at least three countries other than the United States but may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of U.S. issuers. Under normal circumstances, it invests a majority of its net assets in the common stock of companies.
About Columbia Acorn International Sel A (LAFAX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 2.73 years: Simon Haines (2023), Nitisha Bosamia (2023). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI EAFE NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MSCI EAFE Growth NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Columbia Acorn International Sel A has 65 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 33.4% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Columbia Acorn International Sel A is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Columbia Acorn International Sel A has 92.3% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 3.6%. There is 92.3% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Columbia Acorn International Sel A has 3.2% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $114 million in total assets, which is below the $1 billion average for the Foreign Large Growth category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
LAFAX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Columbia Acorn International Sel A expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Foreign Large Growth category. Columbia Acorn International Sel A has an expense ratio of 1.11%, which is 7% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a D. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Columbia Acorn International Sel A has a portfolio turnover rate of 21%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 51% for the Foreign Large Growth category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Columbia Acorn International Sel A returned -1.2%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Foreign Large Growth category had an average return of -2.7%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
Columbia Acorn International Sel A has a trailing yield of 3.10%, which is above the 0.95% category average. The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Columbia Acorn International Sel A Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 5.5%, 1.1 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 14.6% over the past year (grade of C), 9.5% over the past three years (grade of D) and -0.6% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 6.7% per year over the past 10 years (grade of F).
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LAFAX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| LAFAX Return (NAV) | -1.2% | 4.3% | 14.6% | 9.5% | -0.6% | 6.7% |
| LAFAX Grade | B | B | C | D | F | F |
| +/- Category | 1.4% | 1.7% | 1.6% | -1.3% | -3.9% | -1.4% |
| Foreign Large Growth Avg | -2.7% | 2.6% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 3.2% | 8.2% |
| LAFAX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.1% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
LAFAX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| LAFAX Return (NAV) | 5.5% | 20.3% | -0.3% | 18.1% | -36.8% | 10.5% | 18.2% | 33.4% | -12.5% | 35.3% | 0.9% |
| LAFAX Grade | D | C | F | B | F | B | D | A | B | B | B |
| +/- Category | -1.1% | 0.3% | -5.6% | 1.5% | -11.6% | 2.4% | -7.2% | 4.1% | 1.1% | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Foreign Large Growth Avg | 6.5% | 20.0% | 5.3% | 16.7% | -25.2% | 8.1% | 25.5% | 29.3% | -13.6% | 32.1% | -1.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 17.3% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.41 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.13 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (81% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.13 |
| R-Squared: | 82% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 3.1% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Semi-Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $197 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 114 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | A |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 21% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 2.7 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 2.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Haines Simon (2023), Bosamia Nitisha (2023) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 65 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 33.4% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 92.3% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 3.6% |
| Foreign Stock: | 92.3% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 1.0% |
| Cash: | 3.2% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Columbia Threadneedle |
| Phone Number: | 800-345-6611 |
| Website: | www.columbiathreadneedleus.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | October 16, 2000 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $2,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $1,000 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 5.75% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.11% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.03% |
| Share Class: | Columbia Acorn International Sel Inst |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
