Using Morningstar’s Analytical Measures to Evaluate Investment Recommendations Made by Consumer Reports

Abstract

Instead of its typical analysis of automobiles and household gadgets, Consumer Reports ventured into the murky world of predicting investments performance in 2005 and 2007. Enough time has passed since these recommendations to conduct a rigorous investigation of Consumer Reports’ success. This study analyzes recommendations through examination of return, risk, and risk-adjusted return using the popular Morningstar ratings. Consumer Reports’ choices will be judged in relationship to mutual funds in the same category and index funds. It appears as though Consumer Reports provided a valuable service to its investing readership both times.