When capital growth takes precedence over the need for regular income growth funds could be the ideal choice for investors. Growth funds usually invest in companies whose stocks are underpriced relative to their intrinsic value. Investing in this category, therefore, requires a longer investment horizon and a higher tolerance for risk. This is because growth stocks may experience more fluctuations than other fund classes.

Below we will share with you 5 top rated growth funds. Each has earned a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) as we expect the fund to outperform its peers in the future. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all growth funds, then click here.

Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities A (GGOAX) invests at least 90% of its assets in equity securities. The fund focuses on acquiring mid-cap stocks and looks at purchasing publicly traded domestic securities. Up to 25% of its assets may be invested in foreign securities, including those issued from emerging markets. [Read the full article]

They say that the first step in overcoming an addiction is to admit the problem and eliminate the denial component.

Anytime the broad indexes a la Dow Jones (DJI: ^DJI), S&P 500 (SNP: ^GSPC) and Nasdaq (Nasdaq: ^IXIC) rally more than 75% in a one-year span is concerning. I think the last time this happened was in the 1930s.

I'd like to be a bull, but being a bull would have gotten me burned twice already in the past decade. In 2000 it was the tech bubble (NYSEArca: XLK - News) that busted, in 2007 it was the financial spill (NYSEArca: XLF - News) that flooded the system.

Being a bear wasn't wrong back than. And today it feels just like 2000 and 2007 all over again. Ok, there are a few major differences.

Unemployment is higher today, much higher. For much of 2000, the unemployment rate was below 4%. For all of 2007, unemployment was below 5%. Today, unemployment is around 10%. [Read the full article]

EDGAR, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, is an automated system that collects, validates and indexes any forms a company is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). EDGAR's primary objective is to increase the efficiency of finding time-sensitive corporate information on companies that issue shares in the United States. Since 1996, issuing companies, both U.S. and foreign-based, are required to file documents via EDGAR. This means that with a few exceptions, EDGAR should be a one-stop-shop for investors seeking information. But with thousands of companies producing as many as hundreds of forms each, just navigating this system can be a daunting task. Here we provide some tips to help you use it to your advantage. Navigating the SystemEDGAR's website is closely linked with the SEC, and it's easy to navigate. [Read the full article]

Elsewhere in Third Point's latest disclosed portfolio, international banking player Popular (NASDAQ: BPOP - News), independent oil and natural gas firm Energy Partners (NYSE: EPL - News), and specialty pharmaceutical company DepoMed (NASDAQ: DEPO - News) are also huge winners over the past three months, gaining 40% or more. Loeb was also among the high-profile hedge fund managers loading up on Citigroup (NYSE: C - News) during the fourth quarter -- a bet that's gained 35% since the end of January.

Given the recent performance of Loeb's top end-of-2009 equity picks, it will be interesting to see where he was making moves during the first quarter. Investors can view more stocks that Third Point has invested in and a chart of their combined performance at tickerspy.com.

Pro portfolio performance is based on institutions' top-15 holdings as disclosed in quarter-end filings with the SEC. [Read the full article]