Strategy. To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small-cap U.S. companies. The fund currently considers small-cap companies to be those companies with total market capitalizations that are equal to or less than the total market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000 Value Index (the Index). As of December 31, 2025, the market capitalization of the largest company in the Index was approximately $31.15 billion. The fund's sub-adviser, Newton Investment Management North America, LLC, an affiliate of BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., uses fundamental research and qualitative analysis to select stocks among the portfolio candidates. The sub-adviser looks for companies … Show more… To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small-cap U.S. companies. The fund currently considers small-cap companies to be those companies with total market capitalizations that are equal to or less than the total market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000 Value Index (the Index). As of December 31, 2025, the market capitalization of the largest company in the Index was approximately $31.15 billion. The fund's sub-adviser, Newton Investment Management North America, LLC, an affiliate of BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., uses fundamental research and qualitative analysis to select stocks among the portfolio candidates. The sub-adviser looks for companies with strong competitive positions, high quality management, and financial strength. The fund's sub-adviser uses a variety of screening methods to identify small-cap companies that might be attractive investments for the fund. Once attractive investments have been identified, the sub-adviser then uses a consistent three-step fundamental research process to evaluate the stocks, consisting of: Valuation : to identify small-cap companies that are considered to be attractively priced relative to their earnings potential; Fundamentals : to verify the strength of the underlying business position; and Catalyst : to identify a specific event that has the potential to cause the stocks to appreciate in value. The fund's sub-adviser focuses primarily on individual stock selection instead of trying to predict which industries or sectors will perform best. The fund's stock selection process is designed to produce a diversified portfolio of companies that the sub-adviser believes are undervalued relative to expected business growth. The fund may, from time to time, invest a significant portion (more than 20%) of its net assets in securities of companies certain sectors, such as the financials sector. The fund typically sells a security when the sub-adviser determines that there has been a negative change in the company's fundamentals, the company has met its price objective or has become fully valued. The fund also generally will sell a security when the sub-adviser determines that the company has lost favor in the current market or economic environment or a more attractive opportunity has been identified. Show less