The fund seeks primarily to maximize total return and secondarily capital appreciation in the long term by investing in companies across any size in 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 invests in dividend-paying equity securities, including common stock and preferred stock, of companies.
In addition, the team focuses on equity securities that have consistently increased dividends for a period of at least 10 years.
In selecting securities for the portfolio, the research team evaluates companies based on factors, such as dividend yield, dividend growth rate, earnings growth, valuation multiples on the basis of earnings, credit rating, balance sheet strength, and volatility.
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.
While the fund does not concentrate in any one industry, from time to time, based on economic conditions, it may make significant investments in certain sectors.
The fund may invest up to 30% of its net assets in foreign equity securities, including common stock and preferred stock.
The fund seeks primarily capital appreciation in the long term and secondarily dividend income by investing in companies across any size in 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 invests in growth and dividend-paying stocks.
The team utilizes a top-down approach which focuses on sector.
In selecting securities for the portfolio, the research team considers factors, such as revenue growth, earnings growth rate, dividend yield, valuation multiples on the basis of earnings, balance sheet strength, and price momentum.
Also, the research team integrates environmental, social and governance factors as part of its process.
The team prefers companies that exhibit positive accomplishments with respect to ethical factors, such as fairness of employment policies and labor relations, and involvement in the community.
Other ethical factors include efforts and strategies to minimize the negative impact of business activities and products on the environment and to embrace alternatives to reduce polluting and unnecessary animal suffering, and management and board governance.
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.
In addition, the fund does not intend to invest in companies that it believes derive material revenue from gambling, firearms, pornography, the production of alcohol or tobacco.
Also, the fund avoids investing in companies that are involved in non-humanitarian business operations in countries considered State Sponsors of Terrorism by the U.S. Secretary of State.
Although the fund may invest in companies of any size, the fund prefers large cap companies.
The fund seeks capital appreciation in the long term by investing in companies across any size in the United States.
The investment process is designed to highlight companies that are participating or benefitting from the development of the resources in the Mid-North America area, encompassing the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan (the Region).
Next, the research team focuses on companies that are headquartered or maintain their principal place of business in the Region.
The team also considers companies that derived at least 50% of their revenues from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the Region, or have at least 50% of their assets in the Region during the issuer’s most recent fiscal year.
In addition, the team looks for companies and industries that are trading at a discount to their estimated intrinsic value.
The team prefers companies that demonstrate the potential for above-average performance and growth over the long term.
Then the manager constructs a diversified portfolio from a list of companies in the benchmark index favored by the research team and allocates capital based on its conviction level.
The manager has the flexibility to invest a significant amount of the fund’s net assets in companies in the natural resources area, as well as in the companies that serve these sectors and/or service the Region.
Also, the manager may invest in companies that engage in hydraulic fracturing.
The fund may invest in smaller companies that have recently commenced operations and do not have significant revenues.
The fund has the flexibility to invest in the securities of foreign issuers, such as American Depositary Receipts.
