The fund seeks capital appreciation in the long term by investing in small-size companies outside the United States.
The investment process starts with a list of companies in the benchmark index and the research team utilizes quantitative techniques and fundamental analysis to identify investment opportunities.
Next, the research team relies on a proprietary strategy to identify companies that will increase in value over time.
The research process is driven by fundamental analysis of one stock at a time. When evaluating individual securities, the team emphasizes companies whose earnings and revenues are not only growing, but growing at an accelerating pace.
Also, the research team integrates environmental, social and governance factors as part of its process.
Then the manager constructs a portfolio of stocks from a list of companies favored by the research team and allocates capital based on its conviction level.
The fund seeks to maximize capital appreciation by investing in small-size companies outside the United States.
The investment process starts with a list of companies in the benchmark index and the research team utilizes quantitative techniques and fundamental analysis to identify investment opportunities.
Next, the research team focuses on securities of non-U.S. companies.
In addition, the team evaluates a company’s business model, the competitive landscape, upcoming product introductions and recent and projected financial metrics.
Also, the research team integrates environmental, social and governance factors as part of its process.
The team assesses a company’s technical or market factors, including price and volume trends, relative strength and institutional interest.
As part of the process, the team also utilizes macroeconomic or country-specific analyses to evaluate the sustainability of a company’s growth rate.
Then the manager constructs a portfolio of stocks from a list of companies favored by the research team and allocates capital based on its conviction level.
The manager looks to purchase companies regardless of geographic location and, therefore, at certain times, the fund could have sizeable positions in either developed countries or emerging markets.
The fund is not limited to a specific percentage of assets that may be invested in a single emerging market country, although at all times the fund must be invested in at least three countries (not limited to emerging markets countries).
In addition, the fund may also from time to time invest up to a maximum of 20% of its net assets in the securities of U.S. companies.
The fund may invest in companies with limited operating histories.
The fund seeks capital appreciation in the long term by investing in small-size companies outside the United States.
The investment process starts with a list of companies in the benchmark index and the research team utilizes quantitative techniques and fundamental analysis to identify investment opportunities.
Next, the research team looks to invest in foreign small/micro cap companies, and will invest in at least five of the countries included in the benchmark index.
The team favors companies not yet recognized by investors, and believes that these companies have greater growth potential.
Additionally, the team categorizes companies as best-in-class growth, fallen angels, and stalwarts.
According to the team, best-in-class growth refers to high-quality companies with stable growth and having lots of undiscovered opportunities.
In fallen angels, the team looks for growth companies whose future earnings power is not reflected in their current valuations.
As far as stalwarts are concerned, the team focuses on companies trading at reasonable valuations which have good growth prospects.
Then the manager constructs a portfolio of stocks from a list of companies favored by the research team and allocates capital based on its conviction level.
The fund seeks capital appreciation in the long term by investing in small-size companies outside the United States.
The investment process starts with a list of companies in the benchmark index and the research team utilizes quantitative techniques and fundamental analysis to identify investment opportunities.
Next, the research team looks to invest in foreign small/micro cap companies, and will invest in at least five of the countries included in the benchmark index.
The team favors companies not yet recognized by investors, and believes that these companies have greater growth potential.
Additionally, the team categorizes companies as best-in-class growth, fallen angels, and stalwarts.
According to the team, best-in-class growth refers to high-quality companies with stable growth and having lots of undiscovered opportunities.
In fallen angels, the team looks for growth companies whose future earnings power is not reflected in their current valuations.
As far as stalwarts are concerned, the team focuses on companies trading at reasonable valuations which have good growth prospects.
Then the manager constructs a portfolio of stocks from a list of companies favored by the research team and allocates capital based on its conviction level.
The fund seeks maximum capital appreciation in the long term by investing in small-size companies outside the United States.
The sub-adviser’s investment process starts with a list of companies in the benchmark index and the research team utilizes quantitative techniques and fundamental analysis to identify investment opportunities.
Next, the research team looks for high-quality companies demonstrating superior returns potential with reasonable risk.
In addition, the team considers anticipated economic growth rate, political outlook, current and forecasted inflation rates, currency outlook and interest rate environment to help identify countries and regions that are likely to offer the best investment opportunities.
The research process is driven by fundamental analysis of one stock at a time. When evaluating individual securities, the team prefers companies with above-average growth and superior capital appreciation potential; substantial capacity for growth in revenue through either an expanding market or market share.
Other metrics the team focuses on are a company’s balance sheet strength, quality of management; and differentiated or superior products and services or a steady stream of new products and services.
Then the manager constructs a portfolio of stocks from a list of companies favored by the research team and allocates capital based on its conviction level.
The fund allocates its investments among at least eight different countries that spans developed and emerging markets outside of the U.S.
Also, the fund may invest up to 30% of its net assets in emerging market securities, but no more than 10% in any one emerging market country.
The fund also relies on regional portfolio managers based in Europe, Japan and Asia (outside Japan) for the best available investment opportunities from each of those three regions.
