Fund Evaluator:
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv (WAFMX)
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Fund Details
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv Overview
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv (WAFMX) is an actively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts fund. Wasatch launched the fund in 2012.
The investment seeks long-term growth of capital. The fund invests primarily in the equity securities of companies of all market capitalizations that are tied economically to frontier markets and small emerging market countries. It will invest at least 80% of its assets in the equity securities of companies that are tied economically to frontier markets and small emerging market countries. The fund may invest a large percentage of its assets in a few sectors. These sectors were financials, information technology, industrials, consumer discretionary, and consumer staples. It is non-diversified.
About Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv (WAFMX)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 10.07 years: Scott Thomas (2016). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI Frontier Markets NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MSCI Frontier Emerging Market NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv has 37 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 50.1% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv has 97.2% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 2.3%. There is 97.2% 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). Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv has 0.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $17 million in total assets, which is below the $1 billion average for the Diversified Emerging Mkts 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.
WAFMX 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 Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv has an expense ratio of 1.96%, which is 69% 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. Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv has a portfolio turnover rate of 60%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 68% for the Diversified Emerging Mkts category.
Recently, in the month of June 2026, Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv returned 1.6%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Diversified Emerging Mkts category had an average return of 0.2%. 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.
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 1.58% 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.
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 3.6%, 22.1 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of F. The fund has returned -3.4% over the past year (grade of F), 9.1% over the past three years (grade of F) and -2.4% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 3.8% per year over the past 10 years (grade of F).
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WAFMX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 6/30/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| WAFMX Return (NAV) | 1.6% | 6.9% | -3.4% | 9.1% | -2.4% | 3.8% |
| WAFMX Grade | B | F | F | F | F | F |
| +/- Category | 1.4% | -15.2% | -47.5% | -12.7% | -8.8% | -6.0% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 0.2% | 22.0% | 44.1% | 21.9% | 6.4% | 9.7% |
| WAFMX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
WAFMX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 6/30/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| WAFMX Return (NAV) | 3.6% | 4.3% | 10.7% | 28.2% | -41.1% | 8.6% | 28.2% | 26.5% | -18.5% | 21.2% | -11.4% |
| WAFMX Grade | F | F | A | A | F | A | B | B | D | F | F |
| +/- Category | -22.1% | -27.1% | 4.5% | 16.0% | -18.5% | 8.8% | 6.7% | 4.6% | -2.1% | -15.4% | -20.0% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 25.7% | 31.4% | 6.2% | 12.1% | -22.6% | -0.2% | 21.6% | 21.9% | -16.4% | 36.6% | 8.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 13.2% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.08 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.81 - Low |
| Category Risk Grade: | A (8% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.77 |
| R-Squared: | 66% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Mid-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $23 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 17 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Inv |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 60% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 1 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 10.1 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 10.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Thomas Scott (2016) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 3/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 37 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 50.1% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 97.2% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 2.3% |
| Foreign Stock: | 97.2% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.5% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Wasatch |
| Phone Number: | 800-551-1700 |
| Website: | www.wasatchfunds.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | January 31, 2012 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $2,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $2,000 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 2.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.96% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.16% |
| Share Class: | Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Countrs Inv |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 100 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 100 |
