Fund Description

The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in stocks of small-capitalization companies, defined at initial purchase as those with market capitalizations equal to or less than the largest company in the Russell 2000 Growth Index during the most recent 12-month period; the fund is not required to sell equity securities whose market values appreciate or depreciate outside this market capitalization range. Managers generally focus on dividend-paying equity securities, typically common stock, of companies with accelerating earnings growth, reasonable valuations, strong management with ownership participation, reasonable debt and/or high or expanding return on equity. The fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies in the health care, information technology and industrials sectors at any given time, may invest in IPOs, may hold mid-cap stocks, and may lend securities to earn income.