Buy 3 Needham Mutual Funds for Long-Term Gains

Needham Asset Management, LLC, founded in 1992, is an investment manager that focuses on investing in small- to medium-sized capitalization companies. 

The investment strategies of Needham are primarily focused on growth equities of all market capitalizations. Needham uses fundamental research alongside data analysis to evaluate companies across a range of criteria, including growth and valuation. The investment objective of the strategies managed by Needham is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. In addition to capital appreciation, tax efficiency and downside risk minimization are important components of the investment approach, making it a compelling investment option.  

We have picked three Needham mutual funds — Needham Growth Retail NEEGX, Needham Aggressive Growth Retail NEAGX and Needham Small Cap Growth Retail NESGX — which investors should buy now for the long term. These funds have a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Rank #2 (Buy), with positive three-year and five-year annualized returns, minimum initial investments within $5000 and expense ratios considerably lower than the category average. So, these funds have given comparatively stronger performance and carry a lower fee.

Needham Growth Retail fund invests in total assets in equity securities, principally common stocks, of domestic issuers listed on a nationally recognized securities exchange, generally defined as companies located, organized, or with a majority of assets or business in the United States. 

Chris J. Retzler has been the lead manager of NEEGX since Jan. 22, 2009. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies such as PDF Solutions, Inc. (4.2%), FormFactor, Inc. (3.9%) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (3.5%) as of March 31, 2026.

NEEGX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 21.3% and 8.6%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 1.70%. NEEGX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.        

To see how this fund performed compared to its category, and other 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 Ranked Mutual Funds,please click here. 

Needham Aggressive Growth Retail fund invests principally in markets and industries with strong growth potential, focusing primarily on market leaders, and may result in a focus on smaller companies. 

John O. Barr has been the lead manager of NEAGX since Jan. 1, 2010. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies such as nLIGHT, Inc. (6%), Vicor Corp (4.9%) and Vertiv Holdings Co (4.2%) as of March 31, 2026. 

NEAGX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 23.1% and 14.6%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 1.63%. NEAGX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.   

Needham Small Cap Growth Retail fund invests its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities (principally common stock) of domestic issuers listed on a nationally recognized securities exchange that, at the time of investment, have market capitalizations not exceeding $8 billion. 

Chris J. Retzler has been the lead manager of NESGX since Jan. 17, 2008. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies such as Arteris, Inc. (7.8%), ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (6.8%) and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (5.8%) as of March 31, 2026.

NESGX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 26.1% and 4.2%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 1.75%. NESGX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2.