Principal Investment
Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of
its net assets in common stocks of companies that have market capitalizations in the range of companies in the Russell 2000® Growth Index (the Index) at the time of purchase (between $16.6 million and $59.1 billion as of March 31, 2024). The market capitalization range and composition of companies in the Index are subject to change.
The Fund invests typically in common stocks of companies believed to have the potential
for long-term, above-average earnings growth but may invest in companies for their short, medium or long-term prospects. The Fund may at times
emphasize one or more sectors in selecting its investments, including the health care, industrials and information technology sectors.
The Fund may invest in special situations, such as companies involved in initial public offerings, tender offers,
mergers and other corporate restructurings, and in companies involved in management changes or companies
developing new technologies.
The Fund’s investment strategy may involve the frequent trading of portfolio securities.
An investment in the Fund involves risks, including Small-Cap Stock Risk, Market Risk, Growth Securities Risk, and Sector Risk, among others. Descriptions of these and other principal risks of investing in the Fund are
provided below. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective
and you may lose money. The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s net asset
value (NAV) and share price may go down. 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. The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary
over time depending on the composition of the Fund's portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information below carefully, because any one
or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Active Management Risk. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index
and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies.
Frequent Trading Risk. The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its
investment strategies. Frequent trading can also mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs associated with
portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Growth Securities Risk. Growth securities typically trade at a
higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may never reach their expected market value
and may decline in price. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time. Growth securities may also be
sensitive to movements in interest rates.
Issuer Risk. An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly or
below expectations, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures,
breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism, disease/virus
outbreaks, epidemics or other events, conditions and factors which may impair the value of your investment in the Fund.
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Small-Cap Stock Risk. Investments in small-capitalization companies (small-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in
larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small-cap companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial
resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small-cap companies may be less liquid and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Market Risk. The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines
may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant
market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and
financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country,
region or financial market. These risks may be magnified