Principal Style Characteristics: Large cap value stocks
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities, principally common and preferred stocks, of companies with market capitalizations that fall within the range of the Russell 1000® Value Index. As of December 31, 2010, the range of the Index was $237 million to $364.1 billion, but it is expected to change frequently.
The Subadviser uses a bottom-up stock selection approach, employing fundamental and quantitative criteria to identify companies that the Subadviser believes are undervalued. The Subadviser focuses on those companies with sustainable cash flow and the ability to pay and grow dividends over time that the Subadviser believes will deliver superior capital appreciation and income over the long term.
The Subadviser seeks to invest in companies that it believes:
The Subadviser expects to invest the portfolio across a number of sectors with no single sector comprising more than three times the Russell 1000® Value Index's sector weighting or 40% of the total portfolio, whichever is lower. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest in approximately 60 to 80 companies with at least 80% of its net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in a diversified portfolio of large cap equity securities. The Fund's 80% investment policy can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days' advance notice to shareholders.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in the securities of foreign issuers, including issuers located or doing business in emerging markets.
There is no guarantee that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Stocks fluctuate in price and the value of your investment in the Fund may go down. This means that you could lose money on your investment in the Fund or the Fund may not perform as well as other possible investments. Principal risks include:
Market risk: The individual stocks in which the Fund has invested or overall stock markets in which they trade may decline in value. Additionally, an adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular company's stock.
Value style risk: Over time, a value oriented investing style may go in and out of favor, which may cause the Fund to sometimes underperform other equity funds that use different investing styles.
Selection risk: The Subadviser's judgment about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of a particular company's stock could be incorrect.
Large cap risk: Large cap stocks may fall out of favor relative to small or mid cap stocks, which may cause the Fund to underperform other equity funds that focus on small or mid cap stocks.
Foreign securities risk: Prices of the Fund's foreign securities holdings may go down because of unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, foreign government actions, political instability or the more limited availability of accurate information about foreign issuers. Also, a decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may reduce the unhedged value of securities denominated in those currencies. Foreign securities are sometimes less liquid and harder to value than securities of U.S. issuers. These risks are more significant for issuers in emerging market countries.