Mutual Fund Distributions - How They Work
When the value of a fund holding increases, the fund has an unrealized gain until the security is sold. Once this security is sold, however, the fund realizes the gain and must pay a distribution unless the gain is offset by capital losses. Consequently, a fund’s capital gains distribution in a particular year is a result of the sale of securities that may have appreciated in value over time, perhaps during prior years when the fund’s returns were positive. Capital gains can be paid out to shareholders or reinvested into a fund in the form of new shares