The fund seeks capital appreciation by investing in companies 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 equity securities.
Equity securities in which the fund invests include common stock; preferred stock; equity-equivalent securities such as convertible securities; other investment companies, including exchange traded funds; American Depositary Receipts; and real estate investment trusts.
The research process is driven by fundamental analysis of one stock at a time. In selecting securities for the portfolio, the research team reviews a company’s financial statements.
The team also evaluates management and identifies market leaders within industries.
Also, the team does due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.
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 portfolio holds approximately between 50 and 90 equity securities.
The fund may invest more than 25% in dividend-paying securities.
In addition, the fund may also invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign equity securities.
The fund seeks capital appreciation by investing in small-size companies 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 process is driven by fundamental analysis of one stock at a time. In selecting securities for the portfolio, the research team focuses on the financial statements of companies relative to its peer group.
In addition, the team employs qualitative analysis which includes evaluation of management, identification of market leaders within industries, and due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.
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 portfolio generally holds approximately 50 to 90 equity securities.
Also, the fund invests in the securities of leveraged companies (i.e., companies that issue debt).
The fund also has the ability to invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, and may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign equity securities.
