gas storage and
transportation, and production and mining of coal and consumable fuels. The prices of the securities of companies in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
may fluctuate widely due to supply and demand for a specific product or service, the price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, world events,
and economic conditions. Natural disasters and changes in exchange rates and interest rates also may affect companies in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry. In addition, the policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”), changes in relationships among OPEC members and between OPEC and oil-importing nations, the regulatory environment, taxation policies, and the economies of the key energy consuming countries also may affect the prices of the securities in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry. Legislative or regulatory changes and increased government supervision also may affect companies in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry. The Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry is a separate industry within the Energy 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 June 30, 2024, the Fund is subject to the Sector Risk described below.
Energy
Sector Risk. The Fund's investments are exposed to issuers conducting business in the Energy Sector. The Energy Sector includes companies operating in the exploration and production, refining and marketing, and storage and transportation of oil and gas and coal and consumable fuels. It also includes companies that offer oil and gas equipment and related services. 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 Energy Sector. The performance of companies operating in the Energy Sector is closely tied to the price and supply of energy fuels and
international political events.
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, higher transaction costs, and the possibility of increased short-term capital gains (which will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income when distributed to them) and/or long-term capital gains. 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.