utilizes screens based on price, liquidity, and tradability. The securities are then weighted using a proprietary modified capitalization weighting methodology. The portfolio may be further adjusted to comply with regulatory investment limitations or as determined appropriate by the Advisor.
The Fund may invest to a significant extent in the securities of Health Care Companies that have small to mid-sized capitalizations. Health Care Companies include pharmaceutical companies, companies involved in the research and development of pharmaceutical products and services, companies involved in the operation of health care facilities, and other companies involved in the design, manufacture, or sale of health care related products or services. Health Care Companies may include companies that are significantly involved in multiple industries, including the health care industry. The Fund also may purchase American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") to gain exposure to foreign Health Care Companies and U.S. government securities.
Investments in derivative instruments, such as futures and options, have the economic effect of creating financial leverage in the Fund's portfolio because such investments may give rise to losses that exceed the amount the Fund has invested in those instruments. Financial leverage will magnify, sometimes significantly, the Fund's exposure to any increase or decrease in prices associated with a particular reference asset resulting in increased volatility in the value of the Fund's portfolio. The value of the Fund's portfolio is likely to experience greater volatility over short-term periods. While such financial leverage has the potential to produce greater gains, it also may result in greater losses, which in some cases may cause the Fund to liquidate other portfolio investments at a loss to comply with limits on leverage imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, satisfy margin or collateral requirements, or meet redemption requests.
In an effort to ensure that the Fund is fully invested on a day-to-day basis, the Fund may conduct any necessary trading activity at or just prior to the close of the U.S. financial markets. As of March 31, 2024, the Fund has significant exposure to the Health Care Sector, as that sector is defined by the Global Industry Classification Standard, a widely recognized industry classification methodology developed by MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
The value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate and is subject to investment risks, which means investors could lose money, including all or part of their investment in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any governmental agency. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. An investment in the Fund is subject to the risks summarized below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure. Please see "More Information About the Trust and the Funds - Principal Risks" in the Fund's prospectus for a more detailed description of the risks of investing in the Fund.
Depositary Receipt Risk-The Fund may hold the securities of non-U.S. companies in the form of depositary receipts. The underlying securities of the depositary receipts in the Fund's portfolio are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates that may affect the value of the Fund's portfolio. In addition, the value of the securities underlying the depositary receipts may change materially when the U.S. markets are not open for trading. Investments in the underlying foreign securities also involve political and economic risks distinct from those associated with investing in the securities of U.S. issuers.
Derivatives Risk-Derivatives and other instruments (collectively referred to in this paragraph as "derivatives") pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other investments, including risks relating to leverage, market conditions and market risk, imperfect correlations with underlying investments or the Fund's other portfolio holdings, high price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty credit, liquidity, valuation, operational and legal restrictions and risk. Their use is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of derivatives may result in leverage, which may cause the Fund to be more volatile and riskier than if it had not been leveraged. Changes in the value of a derivative also may create sudden margin delivery or settlement payment obligations for the Fund, which can materially affect the performance of the Fund, its liquidity, and other aspects of the Fund's risk profile. If the Advisor is incorrect about its expectations of market conditions, the use of derivatives also could result in a loss, which in some cases may be unlimited. Certain risks are specific to the particular to the type of derivative instrument in which the Fund may invest. For example, some of the derivatives in which the Fund invests may be traded (and privately negotiated) in the over-the-counter ("OTC") market. OTC derivatives are subject to heightened counterparty credit, legal, liquidity and valuation risks.