For the first five weeks this year, value funds are down 2.2 percent.

The category of small value funds, up 0.8 percent, was the only one in the black.

But she, too, would not put everything into a stable value fund.

In other words, stable value funds can run into trouble.

They were also told that the Value fund was closed to new investors.

Value funds' lead over growth funds has been shrinking of late.

Those who own value funds that have picked up some growth stocks are already there.

Because the share prices are relatively low, value funds tend to be more conservative.

And among small-cap value funds, it is nearly 17 percent.

A new study offers an explanation - and shows why value funds are unlikely to be any more successful in the future.