Fund Evaluator:
Optimum International Instl (OIIEX)
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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
Optimum International Instl Overview
Optimum International Instl (OIIEX) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend fund. Nomura launched the fund in 2003.
The investment seeks long-term growth of capital and may also seek income. The fund invests primarily in non-U.S. securities; including securities of issuers located in emerging markets, but, in any event, will invest at least 65% of its net assets in non-U.S. securities. The Advisor intends to invest primarily in common stocks, but it may also invest in other securities that a sub-advisor believes provide opportunities for capital growth and income, such as preferred stocks, rights and warrants, depositary receipts, participatory notes and securities convertible into common stocks.
About Optimum International Instl (OIIEX)
There are 8 members of the management team with an average tenure of 5.05 years: Brendan Bradley (2015), Roderick Snell (2024), Tom Walsh (2021), Jenny Davis (2021), Steve Vaughan (2022), Chris Davies (2021), Fanesca Young (2024), Donald Farquharson (2021). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI Ex USA NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MSCI ACWI Ex USA GR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Optimum International Instl has 674 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 21.7% 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.
Optimum International Instl is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Optimum International Instl has 97.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 2.0%. There is 97.5% 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). Optimum International Instl has 0.6% 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 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.
OIIEX 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 Optimum International Instl expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. Optimum International Instl has an expense ratio of 1.07%, which is 14% 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. Optimum International Instl has a portfolio turnover rate of 75%, 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, Optimum International Instl returned -1.3%, which earned it a grade of F, 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.
Optimum International Instl has a trailing yield of 1.23%, which is below the 2.17% 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.
Optimum International Instl Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 14.0%, 2.4 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 23.2% over the past year (grade of D), 16.9% over the past three years (grade of B) and 6.6% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 8.5% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
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OIIEX 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 |
|
| OIIEX Return (NAV) | -1.3% | 5.3% | 23.2% | 16.9% | 6.6% | 8.5% |
| OIIEX Grade | F | B | D | B | F | D |
| +/- Category | -2.0% | 0.8% | -1.0% | 1.0% | -1.8% | -0.6% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 0.7% | 4.4% | 24.2% | 15.9% | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| OIIEX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1.4% | 1.2% |
OIIEX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| OIIEX Return (NAV) | 14.0% | 26.0% | 8.4% | 17.4% | -23.0% | 8.5% | 11.4% | 19.6% | -14.1% | 30.5% | 4.5% |
| OIIEX Grade | A | D | A | B | F | D | C | F | B | A | A |
| +/- Category | 2.4% | -4.6% | 3.5% | 1.1% | -6.7% | -1.7% | -0.4% | -3.4% | 1.1% | 4.1% | 3.6% |
| 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: | 14.5% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.18 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.12 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (97% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.01 |
| R-Squared: | 92% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.2% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $1166 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $1,155 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Inst |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 75% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 8 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 11.6 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 5.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Bradley Brendan (2015), Walsh Tom (2021), Davis Jenny (2021), Farquharson Donald (2021), Davies Chris (2021), Vaughan Steve (2022), Snell Roderick (2024), Young Fanesca (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 4/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 674 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 21.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 97.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 2.0% |
| Foreign Stock: | 97.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.6% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Nomura |
| Phone Number: | 800-914-0278 |
| Website: | www.optimummutualfunds.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | August 1, 2003 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $ 0 |
| 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 (%): | 1.07% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.94% |
| Share Class: | Optimum International Instl |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
