Fund Evaluator:
Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M (NWHLX)Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 35.2% | AB International Strat Eqs Z (STEZX) |
| 32.9% | NYLI WMC International Research Eq Cl I (MYIIX) |
| 31.4% | Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M (NWHLX) |
| 31.2% | Goldman Sachs Intl Eq Insghts Inv (GCITX) |
| 31.2% | Vanguard International Core Stock Adm (VZICX) |
Fund Details
Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M Overview
Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M (NWHLX) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend fund. Nationwide launched the fund in 1979.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities. Equity securities represent an ownership interest in the issuer. Common stocks are the most common type of equity securities. The fund may also invest in equity securities of U.S. companies.
About Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M (NWHLX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 5.67 years: Irene Liando (2026), Daniel McKellar (2015). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI EAFE NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M has 192 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 16.4% 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.
Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M has 98.1% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.8%. There is 98.1% 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). Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M has 0.8% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $284 million in total assets, which is below the $2 billion average for the Foreign Large Blend 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.
NWHLX 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 Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M expense ratio is above average compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M has an expense ratio of 0.68%, which is 28% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. 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. Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M has a portfolio turnover rate of 41%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 62% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M returned 1.1%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of 0.7%. 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.
Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M has a trailing yield of 2.42%, which is above the 2.17% 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.
Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 16.2%, 4.6 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 31.4% over the past year (grade of A), 20.2% over the past three years (grade of A) and 11.5% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 9.3% per year over the past 10 years (grade of C).
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NWHLX 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 |
|
| NWHLX Return (NAV) | 1.1% | 6.0% | 31.4% | 20.2% | 11.5% | 9.3% |
| NWHLX Grade | C | A | A | A | A | C |
| +/- Category | 0.4% | 1.5% | 7.2% | 4.3% | 3.1% | 0.2% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 0.7% | 4.4% | 24.2% | 15.9% | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| NWHLX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
NWHLX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| NWHLX Return (NAV) | 16.2% | 34.7% | 7.3% | 21.9% | -15.9% | 10.1% | 8.3% | 21.7% | -19.7% | 24.7% | -2.3% |
| NWHLX Grade | A | B | A | A | C | C | D | D | F | D | F |
| +/- Category | 4.6% | 4.2% | 2.4% | 5.7% | 0.5% | -0.1% | -3.5% | -1.2% | -4.5% | -1.7% | -3.2% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 11.6% | 30.5% | 4.9% | 16.2% | -16.4% | 10.2% | 11.8% | 22.9% | -15.2% | 26.4% | 1.0% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 12.8% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.04 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.99 - Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | C (48% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.88 |
| R-Squared: | 91% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 2.4% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Quarterly |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $303 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 285 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | M |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 41% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 11.3 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 5.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): McKellar Daniel (2015), Liando Irene (2026) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 192 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 16.4% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 98.1% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 0.8% |
| Foreign Stock: | 98.1% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.3% |
| Cash: | 0.8% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Nationwide |
| Phone Number: | 800-848-0920 |
| Website: | www.nationwide.com/mutualfunds |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | September 4, 1979 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $5,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.68% ( Rating : Above Avg ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.94% |
| Share Class: | Nationwide Bailard Intl Eqs M |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 100 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |