results or other factors
affecting individual prices, as well as industry and/or economic trends and developments
affecting industries or the securities market as a whole.
Large-Cap Companies Risk. Investing primarily in large-cap companies carries the risk that due to current market conditions these companies may be out
of favor with investors. Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to
new competitive challenges or attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies. During periods when equity securities experience heightened volatility, such as during periods
of market, economic or financial uncertainty or distress, the Fund’s
investments in equity securities may be subject to heightened risks. Larger, more
established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive
challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes. Larger companies
also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, particularly during extended periods of economic expansion.
Mid-Cap Company Risk. Investing in mid-cap companies carries the risk that due to current market conditions these companies may be out of favor with investors. Stocks of mid-cap companies may be more volatile
than those of larger companies due to, among other reasons, narrower product
lines, more limited financial resources and fewer experienced managers.
Small-Cap Company Risk. Investing in small-cap companies carries the risk that due to current market conditions these companies may be out of
favor with investors. Small companies often are in the early stages of
development with limited product lines, markets, or financial resources and managements lacking depth and experience, which may cause their stock prices to be more volatile than those of larger
companies. Small company stocks may be less liquid yet subject to abrupt or erratic
price movements. It may take a substantial period of time before the Fund
realizes a gain on an investment in a small-cap company, if it realizes any gain at all.
Growth Style Risk. Generally, “growth” stocks are stocks of companies that have anticipated earnings ranging from
steady to accelerated growth. Many investors buy growth stocks because of
anticipated superior earnings growth, but earnings disappointments often result in sharp price declines. Growth companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their own businesses
so their stocks may lack the dividends that can cushion share prices in a down
market. In addition, the value of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes
in current or expected earnings than the value of other stocks, because growth stocks trade at
higher prices relative to current earnings.
Sector Risk. Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that
securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or
competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector.
Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than
others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect
those sectors emphasized by the Fund.
Technology Sector Risk. Technology stocks historically have experienced unusually wide price swings. Earnings disappointments and intense competition
for market share can result in sharp declines in the prices of technology stocks.
Liquidity Risk. If the active trading market for certain securities becomes limited or non-existent, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. This may cause the
value of such securities and the Fund’s share price to fall dramatically.
Illiquidity can be caused by, among other things, a drop in overall market
trading volume, an inability to find a willing buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities’ resale.
Market Risk. The Fund’s share price can fall because of weakness in the broad market, a particular industry, or
specific holdings or due to adverse social, political or economic developments
here or abroad, changes in investor psychology, technological disruptions, or heavy
institutional selling and other conditions or events (including, for example,
military confrontations, war, terrorism, trade wars, disease/virus outbreaks and
epidemics). The prices of individual securities may fluctuate, sometimes
dramatically, from day to day. The prices of stocks and other equity securities tend to be more
volatile than those of fixed-income securities.
Securities Lending Risk. Engaging in securities lending could increase the market and credit risk for Fund investments. The Fund may lose money if it
does not recover borrowed securities, the value of the collateral falls, or the
value of investments made with cash collateral declines. The Fund’s loans will be collateralized by securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities,
which subjects the Fund to the credit risk of the U.S. Government or the issuing
federal agency or instrumentality. If the value of either the cash collateral or the Fund’s investments of the cash collateral falls below the amount owed to a borrower, the Fund also may incur losses that
exceed the amount it earned on lending the security. Securities lending also
involves the risks of delay in receiving additional collateral