Rydex Variable Trust

04/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2024 09:47

Summary Prospectus by Investment Company - Form 497K

Rydex Variable Trust
Rydex Variable Trust
|
Rydex Sector
|
5.1.2024
Guggenheim Variable Insurance Funds
Summary Prospectus
Rydex Sector Fund
Biotechnology Fund
Before you invest, you may wish to review the Fund's Prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You may obtain the Prospectus and other information about the Fund, including the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and most recent reports to shareholders, at no cost by visiting guggenheiminvestments.com/variable-insurance-funds, calling 800.820.0888 or e-mailing [email protected]. The Fund's Prospectus and SAI, both dated May 1, 2024, as revised from time to time, and the Fund's most recent shareholder reports, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. This Summary Prospectus is intended for use in connection with a variable contract as defined in Section 817(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not intended for use by other investors.
SUMVTBY-0524x0525
guggenheiminvestments.com
Biotechnology Fund
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Biotechnology Fund (the "Fund") seeks to provide capital appreciation by investing in companies that are involved in the biotechnology industry, including companies involved in research and development, genetic or other biological engineering, and in the design, manufacture, or sale of related biotechnology products or services ("Biotechnology Companies").
FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. Owners of variable annuity and insurance contracts that invest in the Fund also should refer to the variable insurance contract prospectus for a description of fees and expenses that may be deducted at the separate account level or contract level for any charges that may be incurred under a contract. If the information below were to reflect the deduction of insurance charges, fees and expenses would be higher.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
N/A
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees
0.85
%
Other Expenses
0.95
%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
1.80
%
Fee Waiver (and/or expense reimbursement)1
-0.02
%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver (and/or expense reimbursement)
1.78
%
1
The Advisor has contractually agreed, through May 1, 2025, to waive and/or reimburse the Fund's expenses in an amount equal to an annual percentage rate of 0.05% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The agreement shall automatically renew for one-year terms unless the Advisor provides written notice to the Fund of the termination of the agreement. The agreement may be terminated at any time by the Fund's Board of Trustees and when the Advisor ceases to serve as such.
EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not reflect the fees and expenses which are, or may be, imposed under your variable insurance contract. If the Example were to reflect the deduction of such charges, the costs shown would be greater.The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
$181
$564
$973
$2,114
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. 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 74% 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 Biotechnology 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 Biotechnology Companies in which to invest. The methodology
1 | SUMMARY PROSPECTUS
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 Biotechnology Companies that have small to mid-sized capitalizations. Biotechnology Companies may be engaged in a variety of activities, including the research, development, and manufacture of various biotechnological products, services, and processes; manufacture and/or distribute biotechnological and biomedical products, including devices and instruments; provide or benefit significantly from scientific and technological advances in biotechnology; or provide processes or services instead of, or in addition to, products. Biotechnology Companies also may include companies that are significantly involved in multiple industries, including the biotechnology industry. The Fund also may purchase American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") to gain exposure to foreign Biotechnology 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. Also, as of March 31, 2024, the Fund's investments are concentrated (i.e., more than 25% of its assets) in securities issued by companies in the Biotechnology Industry, a separate industry within the Health Care Sector.
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
SUMMARY PROSPECTUS | 2
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.
Futures Contracts Risk-Futures contracts are exchange-traded contracts that call for the future delivery of an asset at a certain price and date, or cash settlement of the terms of the contract. Risks of futures contracts include imperfect correlation between the movements in the price of the instruments and the price of the underlying assets. In addition, there is a risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid market. Exchanges can limit the number of futures positions that can be held or controlled by the Fund or the Advisor, thus limiting the ability to implement the Fund's strategies. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") per share. Futures also are subject to leverage and liquidity risks. The Fund may invest in standard futures contracts, e-mini futures contracts, and micro e-mini futures contracts depending on the investment exposure needs of the Fund. E-mini futures contracts and micro e-mini futures contracts are similar to standard futures contracts, except that they are electronically traded and e-mini futures contracts generally are one-fifth the size of standard futures contracts and micro e-mini futures contracts generally are one-tenth the size of e-mini futures contracts.
Options Risk-Options and options on futures contracts give the holder of the option the right, but not the obligation, to buy (or to sell) a position in a security or in a contract to the writer of the option, at a certain price. Options are subject to correlation risk because there may be an imperfect correlation between the options and the markets for underlying instruments that could cause a given transaction to fail to achieve its objectives. The successful use of options depends on the Advisor's ability to predict correctly future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the markets for options and the underlying instruments. Exchanges can limit the number of options positions that can be held or controlled by the Fund or the Advisor, thus limiting the ability to implement the Fund's strategies. Options also are particularly subject to leverage risk and can be subject to liquidity risk.
Early Closing Risk-The Fund is subject to the risk that unanticipated early closings of securities exchanges and other financial markets may result in the Fund's inability to buy or sell securities or other financial instruments on that day and may cause the Fund to incur substantial trading losses.
Equity Securities Risk-Equity securities include common stocks and other equity and equity-related securities (and securities convertible into stocks). The prices of equity securities generally fluctuate more than those of fixed-income investments, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably, and may reflect real or perceived changes in the issuing company's financial condition and changes in the overall market or economy. A decline in the value of equity securities held by the Fund will adversely affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Common stocks generally represent the riskiest investment in a company and dividend payments (if declared) to preferred stockholders generally rank junior to payments due to a company's debtholders. The Fund may lose a substantial part, or even all, of its investment in a company's stock.
Foreign Issuer Exposure Risk-The Fund may invest in securities of foreign companies directly or in financial instruments that are indirectly linked to the performance of foreign issuers, such as ADRs. The Fund's exposure to foreign issuers and investments in foreign securities, if any, are subject to additional risks in comparison to U.S. securities and U.S. issuers, including currency fluctuations, adverse political (including geopolitical) and economic developments, unreliable or untimely information, less liquidity, limited legal recourse and higher transactional costs.
Industry Concentration Risk-The Fund expects to concentrate its investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry or group of related industries. To the extent the Fund does so, the Fund is more vulnerable to adverse market, economic, regulatory, political or other developments affecting that industry or group of related industries than a fund that invests its assets more broadly. As of March 31, 2024, the Fund's investments are concentrated in securities issued by companies in the Biotechnology Industry. As a result of the Fund's concentration in the Biotechnology Industry, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with that Industry. The Biotechnology Industry includes companies primarily engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and/or marketing of products based on genetic analysis and genetic engineering. The prices of the securities of companies in the Biotechnology Industry may fluctuate widely due to patent considerations, intense competition, rapid technological change and obsolescence, and regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration, the
3 | SUMMARY PROSPECTUS
Environmental Protection Agency, state and local governments, and foreign regulatory authorities. Legislative or regulatory changes and increased government supervision also may affect companies in the Biotechnology Industry. The Biotechnology Industry is a separate industry within the Health Care Sector.
Market Risk-The value of, or income generated by, the investments held by the Fund may fluctuate rapidly and unpredictably. These fluctuations may be frequent and significant. In addition, the Fund may incur losses as a result of various market and economic factors, such as those affecting individual companies or issuers or particular industries, or from broader influences, such as general market conditions. In addition, developments related to economic, political (including geopolitical), social, public health, market, extreme weather, natural or man-made disasters or other conditions or events may cause volatility in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or debt markets, which could adversely impact the Fund and its investments and their value and performance. Under such conditions, the Fund (or an underlying fund) may experience significant redemption activity by shareholders and could be forced to sell portfolio securities or other assets at unfavorable prices in an effort to generate sufficient cash to pay redeeming shareholders. The Fund's investments may perform poorly or underperform the general securities markets or other types of securities.
Mid-Capitalization Securities Risk-The Fund is subject to the risk that mid-capitalization securities may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole. Securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more speculative, volatile and less liquid than securities of large companies. Mid-capitalization companies tend to have inexperienced management as well as limited product and market diversification and financial resources and may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than large capitalization companies.
Portfolio Turnover Risk-The Fund's strategy may frequently involve buying and selling portfolio securities, which may lead to increased costs to the Fund. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Fund's performance to be less than you expect.
Regulatory and Legal Risk-U.S. and non-U.S. governmental agencies and other regulators regularly implement additional regulations and legislators pass new laws that affect the investments held by the Fund, the strategies used by the Fund or the level of regulation or taxation applying to the Fund (such as regulations related to the use of derivatives and other transactions). These regulations and laws impact the investment strategies, performance, costs and operations of the Fund or taxation of shareholders.
Sector Risk-To the extent the Fund's holdings have significant exposure to one or more market sectors, the Fund may be especially sensitive to the developments affecting and risks of such market sectors. As of March 31, 2024, the Fund is subject to the Sector Risk described below.
Health Care Sector Risk. The Fund's investments are exposed to issuers conducting business in the Health Care Sector. The Health Care Sector includes health care providers and services, companies that manufacture and distribute health care equipment and supplies, and health care technology companies. It also includes companies involved in the research, development, production and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products. The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities of such issuers will underperform the market as a whole due to legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions and/or increased competition affecting the Health Care Sector. The prices of the securities of companies operating in the Health Care Sector are closely tied to government regulation and approval of their products and services, which can have a significant effect on the price and availability of those products and services.
Shareholder Trading Risk-The Fund may be used as a tool for certain investors that employ trading strategies involving frequent trading. Such trading strategies may lead to increased portfolio turnover in the Fund and higher transaction costs. Large movements of assets into and out of the Fund due to active or frequent trading also may adversely affect the Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective.
Small-Capitalization Securities Risk-The Fund is subject to the risk that small-capitalization securities may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole. Securities of small-capitalization companies may be more speculative, volatile and less liquid than securities of larger companies. Small-capitalization companies tend to have inexperienced management as well as limited product and market diversification and financial resources and may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than mid- or large-capitalization companies.
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Temporary Defensive Investment Risk-The Advisor generally does not attempt to take defensive positions in the Fund in declining markets. Therefore, the Fund may be subject to greater losses in a declining market than a fund that does take defensive positions in declining markets.
Trading Halt Risk-The Fund typically will hold futures contracts and short-term options. The major exchanges on which these contracts are traded, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, have established limits on how much the trading price of a futures contract or option may decline over various time periods within a day, and may halt trading in a contract that exceeds such limits. If a trading halt occurs, the Fund may temporarily be unable to purchase or sell certain securities, futures contracts or options. Such a trading halt near the time the Fund prices its shares may limit the Fund's ability to fully invest its assets, which could adversely affect performance, and may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The following bar chart shows the performance of the shares of the Fund from year to year. The variability of performance over time provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The following table shows the performance of the shares of the Fund as an average over different periods of time in comparison to the performance of a broad-based market index. The figures in the bar chart and table assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions. The performance information below reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the periods shown. The performance information below does not reflect fees and expenses of any variable contract that may use the Fund as its underlying investment and would be lower if it did, nor does it reflect the effect of any taxes. Of course, this past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
During the periods shown in
the chart above:
Quarter Ended
Return
Highest Quarter
June 30, 2020
28.01%
Lowest Quarter
March 31, 2016
-22.46%
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
(for periods ended December 31, 2023)
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Biotechnology Fund
5.53%
7.01%
6.64%
Index
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
26.29%
15.69%
12.03%
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Security Investors, LLC, which operates under the name Guggenheim Investments, serves as the investment adviser of the Fund.
5 | SUMMARY PROSPECTUS
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Michael P. Byrum, CFA, Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Byrum has been associated with the Advisor since 1993.
Adrian Bachman, CFA, Director and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Bachman has most recently been associated with the Advisor since 2014. Mr. Bachman also was associated with the Advisor for an eleven-year period prior to 2008.
Brendan Cain, CFA, Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Cain has been associated with the Advisor since 2006.
Spencer Crane, CFA, Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Crane has been associated with the Advisor since 2012.
Scott Miller, Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Miller has been associated with the Advisor since 2008.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
Shares of the Fund are purchased by insurance companies for their separate accounts to fund variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts. All orders for the purchase of shares are subject to acceptance or rejection by the Trust. All redemption requests will be processed and payment with respect thereto will be made within seven days after tender.
TAX INFORMATION
The tax consequences of your investment in the Fund depend on the provisions of the annuity or life insurance program through which you invest. For more information on taxes, please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the annuity or life insurance program through which Fund shares are offered.
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