Large-cap value mutual funds provide excellent choices for investors who seek returns with low risk. While mutual funds investing in value stocks have the potential to deliver higher returns and exhibit lower volatility than growth or blend counterparts, large cap funds are usually safer than small-cap or mid-cap funds. Thus investors may look for large-cap value funds to earn in a moderate return, volatile environment.

Value funds generally invest in stocks that tend to trade at a price lower than their fundamentals (i.e. earnings, book value, Debt-Equity) and pay out dividends. These stocks are expected to outperform growth stocks across all asset classes when considered on a long-term investment horizon and are less susceptible to trending markets. Meanwhile, large-cap funds have exposure to large-cap stocks that are expected to have a long-term performance history and assure more stability than what mid or small caps offer. Companies with market capitalization of more than $10 billion are generally considered large caps.

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

VALIC Company II Large Cap Value (VACVX - Free Report) seeks higher total return than the Russell 1000 Value Index. VACVX invests a large share of its assets in equity securities of large-cap companies with market capitalization more than the smallest member of the Russell 1000 Index. VALIC Company II Large Cap Value has a three-year annualized return of 7.3%.

As of July 2016, VACVX held 113 issues, with 3.68% of its assets invested in Occidental Petroleum Corp.

PNC Large Cap Value I (PLIVX - Free Report) invests the majority of its assets in equity securities including common stocks and American Depository Receipts (ADRs) of domestic large-cap companies. PLIVX is expected to maintain a diversified portfolio comprising undervalued securities. The fund may also invest in securities of companies located in foreign lands. PNC Large Cap Value I has a three-year annualized return of 7.7%.

PLIVX has an expense ratio of 0.93% compared with the category average of 1.16%.

MFS Value A (MEIAX - Free Report) seeks capital growth over the long run. MEIAX generally invests in equity securities including common stocks, securities of REITs and convertible securities. Though MEIAX primarily invests in value companies having a large capitalization, it may also invest in small- and mid-cap companies. MFS Value A has a three-year annualized return of 8.7%.

As of July 2016, MEIAX held 99 issues with 4.15% of its assets invested in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)