smid

"If I say 'smid' to my parents, they don't know what I'm talking about," says Devin Dougherty , a product manager with Delaware Investments, which last year reshaped the midcap Delaware Growth Opportunities into Delaware Smid Cap Growth .

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

These days, fund officials say, most advisers and brokers are familiar with the smid approach and nomenclature.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

Over time, the smid approach has worked its way through the universe of financial advisers and brokers.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

The firms can also manage more dollars in a smid strategy than one that is purely small-cap, since a small-stock fund's growth in assets can quickly make it difficult to buy and sell substantial positions in thinly traded small stocks.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

A single smid fund can replace separate small-cap and midcap funds in a portfolio or 401k plan.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

A number of financial firms have adopted "smid" in their fund names to indicate a focus on small to midsize companies, sometimes replacing a specific "small to mid" label.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

Fund managers and other professional investors "like to shorten our phrases" and have been saying smid for many years, says Nathan Rowader , director of investments at Forward Management LLC.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

The Smids Have It To be sure, though, a shorter name isn't the only benefit from labeling some funds as "smid," notes Mr. Rowader of Forward Management.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

That's a non-issue using "smid" in the name, Mr. Rowader says: "Smid's not a real word, so it gives you some flexibility."

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011

One of the first mutual funds to use the "smid" name was Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital SMID-Cap , back in 2002.

'S Wonderful? 'S Marvelous? No. Just Say 'S Confusing. Karen Damato 2011