Large-cap blend mutual funds seek to offer value appreciation through capital gains with relatively less volatility by investing in both value and growth stocks. Blend funds, which are also known as “hybrid funds” owes its origin to a graphical representation of a fund’s equity style box. In addition to diversification, blend funds are great picks for investors looking for a mix of growth and value investment.

Meanwhile, significant exposure to large-cap stocks makes these blend funds safer options for risk-averse investors, when compared to small-cap and mid cap funds. Companies with market capitalization above $10 billion are generally considered as large-cap firms. Also, these funds are believed to provide long-term performance history and assure more stability than what mid cap or small caps offer.

Below we share with you 4 top-rated, large-cap blend mutual funds. Each has earned a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all large-cap blend mutual funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of large-cap blend funds .

MFS Massachusetts Investors Trust A (MITTX - MF report) seeks growth of capital. MITTX primarily focuses on acquiring equity securities including common stocks. MITTX generally invests in securities of large-cap companies and may also include securities of companies located in foreign lands. The MFS Massachusetts Investors Trust A fund has a five-year annualized return of 11.4%.

As of October 2015, MITTX held 88 issues with 3.13% of its assets invested in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

Vanguard Growth & Income Investor (VQNPX - MF report) invests in a diversified group of stocks chosen with the help of quantitative analysis. VQNPX seeks stocks that are believed to provide dividend income and have impressive growth prospect and that, as a group, appears likely to provide higher returns than the Standard & Poor's 500 Index while having similar risk characteristics. VQNPX invests a minimum of 65% of its assets in companies included in the index. The Vanguard Growth & Income Investor fund has a five-year annualized return of 13%.

VQNPX has an expense ratio of 0.34% as compared to the category average of 1.04%.

Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS IB (HBGIX - MF report) seeks capital appreciation. HBGIX maintains a diversified portfolio by investing the lion’s share of its assets in common stocks of companies across a wide range of sectors. Though HBGIX invests in securities irrespective of market capitalization, HBGIX primarily emphasizes large-cap companies with market capitalization within the range of the S&P 500 Index. HBGIX may invest a maximum of 20% of its assets in securities of foreign firms. The Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS IB fund has a five-year annualized return of 14.6%.

Mammen Chally is the fund manager of HBGIX since 1998.

Northern Large Cap Equity (NOGEX - MF report) invests a major portion of its assets in equity securities of large cap firms. These companies will have a market capital, at the time of purchase, within the range of those listed in the S&P 500 Index. The Northern Large Cap Equity fund has a five-year annualized return of 11.4%.

NOGEX has an expense ratio of 0.86% as compared to the category average of 1.04%.