- The significance of Janus in the mutual fund industry is that the company has performed well over the long term. The main reason for this is that Janus focuses on growth stocks as well as international stocks with a view toward long term appreciation. Morningstar and other mutual fund rating entities consistently rate the Janus funds highly.
- Part of the reason that Janus mutual funds perform above expectations and provide a reasonable return over the long term is because the company is devoted to intensive research of the stocks in which they invest. Janus spends tens of millions a year on research and the average analysts is on the road approximately one-fifth of the year to conduct grassroots level analysis of how the companies operate throughout the systemic
- Janus funds are considered some of the most reliable in the admittedly unreliable business of betting on the performance of stocks. The average annual return over the past twenty years has been above competing funds, but not every year has been a a winner. Janus Funds performed below average in the early years of the 21st century and actually performed twice as bad the S&P index in 2001 and 2002.
- As part of its commitment to performance and research, Janus actually requires its mutual fund workers to invest an amount equitable to one year's salary into the fund. Janus employs thirty-five analysts and those analysts over the years have invested over ten million dollars in Janus Research. The purpose for this rule is to ensure that the interests of the employees moves in concert with the interests of the shareholders.
- In addition to a historically proven track record of success one of the primary benefits of Janus mutual funds is that they are relatively more affordable than similar funds. The minimum investment in a Janus fund is just $2500 and Morningstar rates the ongoing fees for maintaining a Janus fund very highly. In addition, it is possible to buy funds directly from the company without the necessity for a broker.
- Janus funds were outperforming nearly every other company in the 1990s but the burst of the tech bubble caused many of their most dependable managers to lose their jobs. The downturn of the company throughout the decade has also witnessed many top manages bolting the company. In addition, Janus funds' involvement in the mutual fund scandal of 2003 placed a pall over the once highly dependable company.
