Fund Evaluator:
MFS Utilities A (MMUFX)
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Best Performing in Utilities Over the Last Year
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| 7.9% | American Century Utilities Inv (BULIX) |
| 6.1% | Vanguard Utilities Index Adm (VUIAX) |
| 5.7% | Rydex Utilities Inv (RYUIX) |
Fund Details
MFS Utilities A Overview
MFS Utilities A (MMUFX) is an actively managed Sector Equity Utilities fund. MFS launched the fund in 1992.
The investment seeks total return. The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of issuers in the utilities industry. Issuers in the utilities industry include issuers engaged in the manufacture, production, generation, transmission, sale or distribution of electric, gas or other types of energy, water or other sanitary services; and issuers engaged in telecommunications, including telephone, cellular telephone, satellite, microwave, cable television, and other communications media (but not engaged in public broadcasting).
About MFS Utilities A (MMUFX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 10.57 years: Claud Davis (2014), J. Walker (2017). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: S&P 500 (TR) (1970) index with a weighting of 100% and S&P 500 Utilities TR index with a weighting of 100%. MFS Utilities A has 60 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 55.7% 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 Utilities A is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity fund group. MFS Utilities A has 10.2% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 88.6%. There is 10.2% 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 Utilities A has 1.2% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is above the $503 million average for the Utilities 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.
MMUFX 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 Utilities A expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Utilities category. MFS Utilities A has an expense ratio of 1.01%, which is 9% 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. MFS Utilities A has a portfolio turnover rate of 14%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.1 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 53% for the Utilities category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, MFS Utilities A returned -2.1%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Utilities category had an average return of -2.6%. 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 Utilities A has a trailing yield of 1.71%, which is below the 2.98% category average. The fund normally distributes its income quarterly 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 Utilities A Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 6.5%, 0.9 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 10.4% over the past year (grade of B), 10.0% over the past three years (grade of F) and 7.7% per year over the past five years (grade of D) and 8.4% per year over the past 10 years (grade of C).
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MMUFX 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 |
|
| MMUFX Return (NAV) | -2.1% | -5.2% | 10.4% | 10.0% | 7.7% | 8.4% |
| MMUFX Grade | B | C | B | F | D | C |
| +/- Category | 0.5% | 0.2% | 2.6% | -2.5% | -1.2% | -0.0% |
| Utilities Avg | -2.6% | -5.4% | 7.8% | 12.5% | 8.9% | 8.4% |
| MMUFX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
MMUFX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| MMUFX Return (NAV) | 6.5% | 14.8% | 11.4% | -2.3% | 0.4% | 13.8% | 6.0% | 24.9% | 0.8% | 14.7% | 11.4% |
| MMUFX Grade | B | C | F | B | C | F | A | B | D | B | F |
| +/- Category | 0.9% | 0.1% | -9.8% | 2.1% | -0.2% | -2.1% | 5.6% | 1.4% | -1.5% | 2.4% | -4.2% |
| Utilities Avg | 5.6% | 14.7% | 21.2% | -4.4% | 0.6% | 16.0% | 0.5% | 23.5% | 2.4% | 12.3% | 15.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 15.5% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.26 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.05 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (85% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.57 |
| R-Squared: | 22% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Mid-Cap Value |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.7% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Quarterly |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $2610 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $1,694 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | A |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 14% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 12.3 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 10.6 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Davis Claud (2014), Walker J. (2017) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 60 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 55.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 10.2% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 88.6% |
| Foreign Stock: | 10.2% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.2% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | MFS |
| Phone Number: | 800-225-2606 |
| Website: | http://www.mfs.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | February 14, 1992 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 250 |
| 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 (%): | 1.01% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.11% |
| Share Class: | MFS Utilities A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
