Many growth funds have performed on pace with the S & P 500 this year, driven by mega-cap names such as Nvidia , Alphabet and Tesla . The Needham Aggressive Growth Fund , however, has outperformed. Aggressive growth funds are focused on investing in growth stocks, with high potential future to grow — but also higher risk. Picking companies Portfolio manager Barr, who has managed the fund since 2010, told CNBC Pro that "there is a rich universe of investment opportunities beneath the big tech companies like Nvidia." "There are small-cap companies with rapid growth, and also with the steady growth that Needham prefers."

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Persons: It's, John Barr —, Barr, Needham Organizations: Nvidia, Big Tech, Morningstar, CNBC, Apple, Needham Funds Locations: industrials, Barr, United States