10 Longest-Held Stocks of Top-Rated Mutual Funds (Update1)

BOSTON (TheStreet) -- Stock market experts are saying there's are still a lot of economic issues to worry about despite the first quarter's stellar performance. That should have investors thinking about rebalancing their portfolios to preserve some of those gains.

So with a view toward turning to more conservative, less volatile stocks, I reviewed the portfolios of eight of Morningstar's most highly rated big mutual funds to search out stocks that those funds have held the longest. Such longevity imparts a greater degree of confidence in them on the part of the fund managers.

Given most mutual fund managers' reputations as quick-on-the-draw traders, these funds have held some stocks for a surprisingly long time, including one 28-year-old pick. But it's worth noting that many fund managers change the size of their allocation to a particular stock or it changes due to other variables. And some funds may close out positions in long-held stocks only to reinitate them at a more opportune share price.