Fund Evaluator:
BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A (MDFOX)
Follow This Fund
Best Performing in Large Growth Over the Last Year
| 39.6% | Tanaka Growth (TGFRX) |
| 35.2% | Fidelity Advisor OTC Z (FOTJX) |
| 35.1% | Fidelity OTC (FOCPX) |
| 34.8% | Chase Growth N (CHASX) |
| 27.3% | Fidelity Advisor Focused Stock Z (FSFOX) |
Fund Details
BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A Overview
BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A (MDFOX) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Large Growth fund. BlackRock launched the fund in 2000.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks to invest at least 80% of its net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in large cap growth equity securities and derivatives that provide investment exposure to such securities or to one or more market risk factors associated with such securities.
About BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A (MDFOX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.70 years: Reid Menge (2025), Sally Du (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: Russell 1000 TR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Russell 1000 Growth TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A has 41 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 53.0% 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.
BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity fund group. BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A has 4.0% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 91.1%. There is 4.0% allocated to foreign stock, and 4.3% 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). BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A has 0.1% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is below the $2 billion average for the 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.
MDFOX 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 BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Large Growth category. BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A has an expense ratio of 0.92%, which is 4% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. 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. BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A has a portfolio turnover rate of 31%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 54% for the Large Growth category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A returned -2.9%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Large Growth category had an average return of -3.1%. 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.
BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 0.06% category average. The fund normally distributes its income 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.
BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 9.0%, 5.3 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 11.9% over the past year (grade of B), 20.4% over the past three years (grade of B) and 9.0% per year over the past five years (grade of C) and 16.3% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
For more mutual fund grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Inv A, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
MDFOX 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 |
|
| MDFOX Return (NAV) | -2.9% | 3.6% | 11.9% | 20.4% | 9.0% | 16.3% |
| MDFOX Grade | C | B | B | B | C | B |
| +/- Category | 0.2% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Large Growth Avg | -3.1% | 1.7% | 9.1% | 18.1% | 8.7% | 15.4% |
| MDFOX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 6.6% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1.7% |
MDFOX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| MDFOX Return (NAV) | 9.0% | 12.5% | 30.5% | 52.7% | -38.2% | 16.7% | 46.4% | 30.9% | 3.1% | 30.3% | 0.3% |
| MDFOX Grade | A | D | C | A | F | D | B | D | A | C | D |
| +/- Category | 5.3% | -3.2% | 0.9% | 13.8% | -6.1% | -3.7% | 4.1% | -2.3% | 3.8% | 0.4% | -2.4% |
| Large Growth Avg | 3.7% | 15.7% | 29.7% | 38.9% | -32.1% | 20.4% | 42.3% | 33.2% | -0.7% | 29.8% | 2.7% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 18.5% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.51 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.05 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | D (78% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.32 |
| R-Squared: | 87% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $1703 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $1,043 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | A |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 31% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 0.7 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 0.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Menge Reid (2025), Du Sally (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 41 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 53.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 4.0% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 91.1% |
| Foreign Stock: | 4.0% |
| Preferred Stock: | 4.3% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.5% |
| Cash: | 0.1% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | BlackRock |
| Phone Number: | 800-441-7762 |
| Website: | www.blackrock.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | March 3, 2000 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 5.25% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.92% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.96% |
| Share Class: | BlackRock Large Cap Focus Growth Instl |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 50 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
