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 162% 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 Basic Materials 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 Basic Materials 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 Basic Materials Companies that have small to mid-sized capitalizations. Basic Materials Companies are engaged in the manufacture, mining, processing, or distribution of raw materials and intermediate goods used in the industrials sector, and may be involved in the production and transportation of metals, textiles, and wood products. The Fund also may purchase American Depositary Receipts ('ADRs') to gain exposure to foreign Basic Materials 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 Materials 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 Chemicals Industry and Metals & Mining Industry, separate industries within the Materials Sector.
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.
Derivatives Risk-Derivatives may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other investments, including risks relating to leverage, imperfect correlations with underlying investments or the Fund's other portfolio holdings, high price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty credit, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions. Their use is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Advisor is