Fund Description

The fund's equity portion generally invests in large-capitalization companies using a proprietary multi-factor model that blends fundamental measures of value and growth potential with ESG metrics. Each security receives a financial score and an ESG score that combine into an overall score, evaluated on a sector-specific basis, with the fund seeking the strongest scores within each sector. Financial inputs may include price-to-earnings and price-to-cash flow ratios, earnings and cash-flow growth, changes in earnings estimates, and price momentum. To evaluate each security's ESG characteristics, the portfolio managers use internal data and research as well as third-party commercial data sources and scoring systems; qualitative review of portfolio securities may include examining registration statements and other company information and engagement with company management. The fixed-income portion invests in a diversified mix of high- and medium-grade non-money market debt, including corporate bonds and notes, government securities, bank loans, mortgage- or asset-backed securities, and collateralized debt obligations; shorter-term debt may also be used. The fund may invest in derivative instruments such as options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and swap agreements, provided such investments are in keeping with the fund's investment objective, and may use foreign currency exchange contracts to shift investment exposure from one currency into another for hedging purposes.