The share of 401(k) assets held in commodities funds make up a little more than 1% (or about $4.1 billion) of the $3.6 trillion in 401(k) assets that BrightScope analyzes.
BrightScope recently published a list of the top 20 commodities funds for the 401(k) and defined contribution industry.
"Since BrightScope began tracking commodity funds five years ago, the big players in the space consistently rank high while the total amount of dollars represented by the list has steadily grown," Brooks Herman, head of Data & Research at BrightScope, said in a statement.
According to BrightScope, the total overall assets represented by top commodity funds increased by more than $367 million year over year.
While the top firm on this list is staying put for the third year in a row, this year also saw some new entrants to the list.
"There has been a shakeup in the top three commodities funds on this year's list with newcomer Wellington, likely as a result of the fund's recent inclusion in the plan of a major discount retailer," Herman said in a statement.
Two of Wellington's funds made this year's list. Other newcomers included Russell Real Asset and Blackrock DJ UBS Commodity Daily.
To determine which commodity funds are most used in the 401(k) industry, BrightScope took the investment menus from audit reports associated with Form 5500s submitted to the Department of Labor.
From there, BrightScope aggregated the largest commonly found commodity funds on the audit report. The data is as of 2013, the most recent available from the DOL.
Here are BrightScope's top 20 commodities funds by total distribution:
20. Ivy Global Natural Resources (IGNRX)
This fund had about $909.9 million in total assets as of Sept. 9.
19. SSgA Dow Jones US Commodity Fund
Total assets were not available for this fund.
18. Credit Suisse Commodity Return Strategy (CRSAX)
As of Sept. 9, this fund had about $5.3 billion in total assets.
17. Fidelity Global Commodity Stock (FFGCX)
This fund had about $244.1 million in total assets as of Sept. 9.
16. Blackrock DJ UBS Commodity Daily
This is the fund's first time on the top commodities funds list. Total AUM were not available for this fund.
15. John Hancock Funds II Natural Resources (JNRIX)
As of Aug. 31, this fund had $626.1 million in total assets.
14. Russell Real Asset
Total assets were not available for this fund. This is the fund's first time on the top commodities funds list.
13. Fidelity Select Materials (FSDPX)
This fund had about $1.7 billion in total assets as of Sept. 9.
