PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or 'turns over' its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 770% of the average value of its portfolio. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated without regard to cash instruments and most derivatives. If such instruments were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate might be significantly higher.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests substantially all (at least 80%) of its net assets in equity securities of Energy Services Companies that are traded in the United States and in derivatives, which primarily consist of futures contracts and options on securities, futures contracts, and stock indices. The Advisor employs a proprietary quantitative and qualitative methodology to identify Energy Services Companies in which to invest. The methodology utilizes screens based on price, liquidity, and tradability. Stocks are 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 Energy Services Companies that have small to mid-sized capitalizations. Energy Services Companies are engaged in one or more businesses in the energy services field, including those that provide services and equipment to companies engaged in the production, refinement or distribution of oil, gas, electricity, and coal; companies involved with the production and development of newer sources of energy such as nuclear, geothermal, oil shale, and solar power; companies involved with onshore or offshore drilling; companies involved in production and well maintenance; companies involved in exploration engineering, data and technology; companies involved in energy transport; and companies involved in equipment and plant design or construction. The Fund also may purchase American Depositary Receipts ('ADRs') to gain exposure to foreign Energy Services 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 and asset segregation requirements imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940 or to 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 June 30, 2021, the Fund has significant exposure to the Energy 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. Also, as of June 30, 2021, the Fund's investments are concentrated (i.e., more than 25% of its assets) in securities issued by companies in the Energy Equipment & Services Industry, a separate industry within the Energy Sector. The Fund is non-diversified and, therefore, may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer in comparison to a diversified fund.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. In addition to this risk, the Fund is subject to the principal risks described below.
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.