Earlier this year Morningstar introduced some changes to the methodology behind one of the components of its new analyst ratings for mutual funds. In the "Fund Spy" column, Morningstar fund research editorial director Laura Pavlenko Lutton explains somes changes to the stewardship grade methodology for the parent pillar of the analyst rating. Fundsters looking for a peek inside part of Morningstar's newest black box may want to read the full article.

For example, Morningstar will now issue new stewardship grades to funds' parent companies instead of assigning them to individual funds. The rating specialists will also up the importance of two stewardship grade components, corporate-culture and manager-incentives, which proved predictive in a March 2011 study. And they will switch several criteria from fund-level to firmwide. 

Correction: A prior version of this story listed the wrong timing for the changes to Morningstar's methodology for stewardship grades. Morningstar announced the changes in June, in advance of the new analyst ratings launched last month.

Edited by: HFD


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