If you’re checking the Fidelity Contra Fund price today, you’re probably looking at a number around $24.60 to $24.75. As of mid-January 2026, the Net Asset Value (NAV) for FCNTX has been hovering in this range, specifically hitting $24.66 earlier this week. But honestly, focusing on the daily price of a mutual fund is kinda like checking the weather in a city you won't visit for ten years.
It tells you where things stand, but it doesn't tell you where they're going.
The Fidelity Contrafund—often just called "Contra" by the folks who have held it since the 90s—is a massive beast. We are talking about over $160 billion in share class assets. When a fund gets that big, people start worrying. They worry it’s too heavy to move. They worry the "secret sauce" has watered down.
Yet, here we are in 2026, and the fund is still a cornerstone for millions of 401(k) plans.
Why the Fidelity Contra Fund Price Today is Only Half the Story
Most investors obsess over the NAV. They want to see that $24.66 number tick up every single afternoon at 6:00 PM EST. But the real story isn't the price; it's the active management happening under the hood.
Will Danoff has been running this show since 1990. That is an insane tenure for a fund manager. In an era where everyone is pivoting to low-cost index funds, Danoff is the last of the "rockstar" stock pickers.
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But things changed recently.
Fidelity finally added co-managers—Asher Anolic and Jason Weiner—to help Danoff steer this massive ship. This wasn't a "he's retiring" move, but more of a "this fund is too big for one human brain" move. They now oversee about 10% of the assets.
What’s actually inside the fund?
If you look at the holdings as of late 2025 and early 2026, it looks a lot like a "Who's Who" of Big Tech, but with some tactical twists.
- Meta Platforms (META): Still a massive top holding, often over 12% of the portfolio.
- NVIDIA (NVDA): A huge driver of recent performance, making up nearly 9%.
- Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A): This is the "Contra" part—balancing the tech heat with old-school value.
- Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT): Essential staples that keep the fund's floor relatively high.
Basically, the fund isn't just betting on "growth." It's betting on "best of breed" companies that Danoff believes the rest of the market is underappreciating. That’s the core philosophy: finding companies where the value isn't fully recognized by the public yet.
The Performance Gap: FCNTX vs. S&P 500
Last year was a bit of a rollercoaster. In late 2025, the fund actually lagged the S&P 500 for a quarter, gaining about 6.13% while the index jumped over 8%.
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Why? Because Contra is often slightly more defensive or idiosyncratic than a straight index fund.
When the market is ripping solely on a few AI names, Contra might be sitting on Berkshire or more diversified sectors like health care or financials that don't move as fast. But look at the long-term numbers—the "life of fund" return is over 13%. That beats the S&P 500's historical average of roughly 10-11%.
For a fund with a 0.63% expense ratio, you're paying for that historical outperformance. Some people hate paying fees. They'd rather use a Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) with a nearly zero expense ratio.
And they aren't wrong!
But the "Contra" crowd stays because they want someone like Danoff to know when to trim Meta and when to buy more NVIDIA. They’re paying for the filter.
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Is FCNTX Still a "Buy" in 2026?
Honestly, it depends on what you already own. If your 401(k) is already 100% in an S&P 500 index fund, adding Contrafund is sort of redundant. You’re doubling down on the same mega-cap tech stocks.
However, if you want an active manager who has proven they can survive the dot-com bubble, the 2008 crash, and the 2022 tech wreck, Contra is hard to beat.
One thing to watch is the "size drag." With over $170 billion in total strategy assets, it’s hard for this fund to buy small, explosive companies without moving the entire market price. They are largely stuck in the Large Cap world.
Wait, what about the fees?
A 0.63% fee means for every $10,000 you invest, you’re paying $63 a year. Compared to a Vanguard ETF at $3 a year, that sounds expensive. But if Danoff beats the index by even 1%, you’ve made back your fee and then some.
Practical Next Steps for Investors
- Check your overlap: Use a tool like Morningstar’s "Instant X-Ray" to see if your Contrafund shares are just mimicking the index fund you already own.
- Look at your 401(k) options: Many plans offer a "K" share class (FCNKX) or other institutional versions that have even lower fees than the retail FCNTX.
- Rebalance, don't react: If the price dips to $23 or $22, don't panic. This fund is built for decades, not days.
- Watch the co-managers: Keep an eye on how much more of the "pie" Anolic and Weiner take over in 2026. If Danoff’s influence fades, the fund’s character might change.
The Fidelity Contra Fund price today is a snapshot of a moment. The real value is in the 35 years of history and the tactical shifts the team is making right now to navigate a 2026 market defined by AI infrastructure and shifting interest rates.
If you're holding, hold for the strategy, not the daily ticker update.