In the world of investing, mutual funds are not the only type of investment company; however, they are most popular. The Investment Company Act of 1940 created three types of investment companies: Face Amount Certificate Companies, Unit Investment Trusts and Management Companies.
A management company is an investment company that manages a portfolio of securities for its shareholders. Mutual funds fall into this category. Management companies are divided into two categories: open-end or closed-end. The main difference between the two is that an open-end company makes a continuous offering of its shares, while a closed-end company makes a one-time offering of its shares.
Open-End Investment Companies
An open-end investment company makes a continuous offering of its shares that are redeemable. An open-end investment company is the technical term for a mutual fund. The purchase price of a fund is the net asset value, plus any commission or sales charged.
Closed-End Investment Companies
A closed-end company makes a one-time offering of its shares that are not redeemable. It issues shares of common stock, from which capital will be raised, and builds a portfolio of securities. The purchase price is determined by supply and demand; therefore, a closed-end fund shares can sell at a discount from net asset value or at a premium over net asset value.
Below is a chart comparing the characteristics of open-end companies and closed-end companies:
Open-End | Closed-End | |
Outstanding Shares: | Always Changing | Remains Fixed |
Public Offering: | Continuous | One-Time |
Redemption Price: | Net Asset Value | Not Redeemable by Issuer |
Redeemable by Issuer: | Yes | No |
How Shares are Purchased: | Through a Dealer | From Another Stockholder or Dealer Inventory |
Where Shares are Sold: | Over the Counter | Over the Counter or on an Exchange |
Buying or Selling Costs: | Stated in Fund Prospectus; Sales Charge Added to Net Asset Value to Determine Purchase Price; No Redemption Charge | For Purchase and Sales; Normally a Stock Exchange Commission |
Today there are more than 27,000 mutual funds (open-end) as compared to approximately 624 closed-end companies. The popularity of mutual funds is evident: An investor can find mutual fund prices printed in various media sources everyday, while closed-end company quotations are printed only once a week.
In conclusion, the main difference between the two categories is the method by which they obtain capital to invest. An open-end company makes a continuous offering of its shares, while a closed-end company makes a one-time offering of its shares. However, the goal is the same, both invest professionally managed money for the benefit of shareholders. Henssler Financial generally recommends avoiding closed-end funds, since the net asset value may not be the price the security sells for; therefore, adding to the risk of owning it. While specific situations may warrant considering closed-end funds, generally, we believe it is better for investors to use open-end funds, commonly known as mutual funds. For more information regarding this topic, please contact Henssler Financial at 770-429-9166 or experts@henssler.com.