Fund Evaluator:
MFS Global Real Estate R1 (MGLJX)Best Performing in Global Real Estate Over the Last Year
| 20.0% | PGIM Global Real Estate Z (PURZX) |
| 19.1% | PGIM Select Real Estate Z (SREZX) |
| 19.0% | American Century Global Real Estate Y (ARYYX) |
| 18.6% | American Century Global Real Estate Inv (ARYVX) |
| 18.3% | iShares Developed Real Estate Idx Inv A (BARDX) |
Fund Details
MFS Global Real Estate R1 Overview
MFS Global Real Estate R1 (MGLJX) is an actively managed Sector Equity Global Real Estate fund. MFS launched the fund in 2014.
The investment seeks total return. The fund normally invests at least 80% of the fund's net assets in U.S. and foreign real estate-related investments. It normally invests the fund's assets primarily in equity securities. The fund may invest the fund's assets in real estate-related investments of any size. MFS normally invests the fund's assets across different countries and regions, but MFS may invest a significant percentage of the fund's assets in issuers in a single country or region.
About MFS Global Real Estate R1 (MGLJX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 10.87 years: Richard Gable (2009), Mark Syn (2022). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. MFS Global Real Estate R1 has 63 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 39.5% 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.
MFS Global Real Estate R1 is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity fund group. MFS Global Real Estate R1 has 32.8% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 69.8%. There is 32.8% 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). MFS Global Real Estate R1 has -2.6% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $487 million in total assets, which is below the $209 million average for the Global Real Estate 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.
MGLJX 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 MFS Global Real Estate R1 expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Global Real Estate category. MFS Global Real Estate R1 has an expense ratio of 1.93%, which is 67% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a F. 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. MFS Global Real Estate R1 has a portfolio turnover rate of 35%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 71% for the Global Real Estate category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, MFS Global Real Estate R1 returned 3.1%, which earned it a grade of A, as the Global Real Estate category had an average return of 2.5%. 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.
MFS Global Real Estate R1 has a trailing yield of 1.94%, which is below the 2.74% 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.
MFS Global Real Estate R1 Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 12.3%, 1.3 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 15.2% over the past year (grade of D), 5.1% over the past three years (grade of F) and -1.1% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 3.5% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
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MGLJX 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 |
|
| MGLJX Return (NAV) | 3.1% | 5.3% | 15.2% | 5.1% | -1.1% | 3.5% |
| MGLJX Grade | A | A | D | F | F | D |
| +/- Category | 0.6% | 3.2% | -0.2% | -3.3% | -2.1% | -0.7% |
| Global Real Estate Avg | 2.5% | 2.1% | 15.4% | 8.5% | 0.9% | 4.1% |
| MGLJX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 1.4% |
MGLJX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| MGLJX Return (NAV) | 12.3% | 2.6% | -3.8% | 10.2% | -27.8% | 28.5% | 1.1% | 25.1% | -4.7% | 11.9% | 6.3% |
| MGLJX Grade | D | F | F | D | F | B | B | C | C | C | A |
| +/- Category | 1.3% | -6.8% | -4.4% | -0.2% | -1.9% | 3.9% | 2.8% | -0.4% | 1.1% | -2.0% | 3.3% |
| Global Real Estate Avg | 11.0% | 9.4% | 0.6% | 10.4% | -25.9% | 24.6% | -1.7% | 25.5% | -5.8% | 13.9% | 3.1% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 16.5% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.35 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.03 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (83% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.04 |
| R-Squared: | 64% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Mid-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.9% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $2213 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 0 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Retirement |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 35% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 17.4 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 10.9 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Gable Richard (2009), Syn Mark (2022) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 63 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 39.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 32.8% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 69.8% |
| Foreign Stock: | 32.8% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | -2.6% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | MFS |
| Phone Number: | 800-225-2606 |
| Website: | http://www.mfs.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | December 19, 2014 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 1.00% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.93% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.15% |
| Share Class: | MFS Global Real Estate I |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |