One is that the equity-income funds did so well.

The limited decline in the bear market is the chief reason for the equity-income funds' strong long-term performance.

Nor are equity-income funds, which pay out 2.6 percent.

In years that favor growth stocks, like 1990, they return more than traditional equity-income funds.

Managers of equity-income funds concentrate more on yield; capital appreciation is secondary.

Typical of his fund and other equity-income funds are blue-chip stocks.

Utility and equity-income funds create yield by owning shares in companies paying high dividends.

A close alternative is the equity-income fund, which invests mainly in stocks paying high dividends.

So do equity-income funds, which focus more on yield.

Among other winners are equity-income and utility funds with income components to increase their returns even when stock prices stall.