Strategy. The Fund, under normal conditions, invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of small-capitalization companies. The Fund defines small-capitalization (Small Cap) companies as those companies with a market capitalization, at the time of initial investment, that is within or below the range of companies in the Russell 2000 Index. As of February 28, 2026, the market capitalization range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index was between $10 million and $39 billion. The Funds investments in securities of Small Cap companies may include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, debt instruments, equity-linked notes (ELNs), other investment companies or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Fund considers investments in other investment companies and ETFs … Show more… The Fund, under normal conditions, invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of small-capitalization companies. The Fund defines small-capitalization (Small Cap) companies as those companies with a market capitalization, at the time of initial investment, that is within or below the range of companies in the Russell 2000 Index. As of February 28, 2026, the market capitalization range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index was between $10 million and $39 billion. The Funds investments in securities of Small Cap companies may include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, debt instruments, equity-linked notes (ELNs), other investment companies or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Fund considers investments in other investment companies and ETFs to be investments in Small Cap companies if the underlying investment company or ETF also has a policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets in small capitalization companies. The Funds investments in other investment companies and ETFs will typically be less than 20% of the Funds net assets. The Funds initial investments may appreciate beyond the Small Cap market capitalization range described above, however, the Fund will not sell an investment simply because it does not meet the original small-capitalization definition. The Fund may, on occasion, purchase securities of companies with market capitalizations outside of the range described above when the Adviser believes the company has value and income qualities similar to small-capitalization companies sought out by the Fund. The Funds investments in Small Cap companies may also include investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs), companies in the utilities industry, companies whose business is related to commodities, or in registered investment companies or other companies that invest directly or indirectly in commodities, and master limited partnerships (MLPs). A REIT is a corporation, trust or association dedicated to owning, operating or financing income-producing real estate. MLPs are businesses organized as limited partnerships that trade their proportionate shares of the partnership (units) on a public exchange. Utilities companies include companies that produce or distribute gas, electricity or water. The Fund may also invest in ELNs in an effort to generate income. ELNs are structured as notes that are issued by counterparties, including banks, broker-dealers or their affiliates, and that are designed to offer a return linked to the underlying instruments within the ELN. To assist the Advisers portfolio management process, the Adviser may purchase and write put and call options in an effort to (i) generate additional income and reduce volatility in the portfolio, (ii) remove or add securities from the portfolio ( i.e. , convertible securities), (iii) facilitate total return opportunities, and (iv) hedge against market risks or other risks in the Funds portfolio. The Fund has entered into swap agreements, including total return swaps. The Fund utilizes swap agreements in an attempt to gain exposure to the securities in a market without actually purchasing those securities. The extent of the Funds use of put and call options will vary depending on the Advisers assessment of market conditions and other factors. The Fund engages in short sales of securities in its portfolio to hedge against market, interest-rate, commodity, inflation and credit risk and to facilitate total return opportunities. In a short sale transaction, the Fund borrows a security and sells it at the current market price in the anticipation of buying the security at a lower price prior to the time the Fund is obligated to return the security to the owner. The Fund will not sell a security short if, as a result of such short sale, the aggregate market value of all securities sold short exceeds 20% of the Funds net assets. The Fund invests in fixed income securities of Small Cap companies of varying duration, maturity and credit quality, including debt securities that have been rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (NRSRO), commonly referred to as junk bonds or high yield bonds. The Fund is also authorized to borrow from banks for investment purposes an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), in compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). The use of borrowings to purchase additional securities is known as leverage. The Fund enters into arrangements with counterparties that allow the Fund to borrow cash. Borrowings under such arrangements will be collateralized by the Funds investments. Interest on such borrowing arrangements is typically charged at the overnight bank funding rate plus an additional percentage rate on the amount borrowed. The Funds use of leverage will vary depending on market conditions. Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to employ leverage ranging from 0% to 30% of the Funds net assets. However, in an effort to successfully carry out the Funds active strategies, the Fund may opportunistically deploy leverage at levels outside the expected range, in compliance with the 1940 Act. The Fund invests primarily in securities of U.S. companies, but also invests in foreign securities, including securities of companies located in emerging markets. The Funds investments in foreign securities may include sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), International Depositary Receipts (IDRs), U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities, direct foreign securities (purchased on a foreign exchange), and securities of companies incorporated outside the U.S. but whose securities are publicly traded on a U.S. exchange. The Adviser is a top-down manager, making investment decisions with global macroeconomic factors in mind. The Adviser actively manages the assets of the portfolio pursuant to a variety of quantitative, qualitative, and relative valuation factors. When selecting investments in Small Cap companies, the Adviser may emphasize stocks that it considers to be value stocks. As an example, the Adviser may favor lower relative price stocks, or stocks with higher profitability as compared to their representation in the small-cap value segment of the U.S. market (favorable relative value). If a company has a low price in relation to its book value or relative to the price of its peers, it would also be considered a value stock. When evaluating the relative price of a security, the Adviser may consider additional features such as enterprise values, capital ratios, operating metrics, and other key financial ratios that the Adviser believes are pertinent to valuing a sector or industry group of the Small Cap company, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. When selecting preferred securities that are subject to a call provision, the Adviser generally seeks to underweight or eliminate those that trade above the call price and exhibit a low or negative yield-to-call ( i.e. , the rate of return that an investor would earn if the security was held until its call date). As part of its quantitative analysis when selecting securities and constructing the portfolio, the Adviser evaluates potential investments with respect to key variables, including, without limitation, the competitive position of a company, the perceived ability of the company to earn a high return on capital, the historical and projected stability and reliability of the profits of the company, the anticipated ability of the company to generate cash in excess of its growth needs, and the companys ability to obtain additional capital. The Adviser also considers data points such as current yield, market capitalization, financial risk profiles, and relative values based on various time horizons. To seek to obtain capital appreciation and income, the Adviser favors Small Cap companies that it currently views as undervalued on a relative basis. Generally, the Adviser utilizes a multi-factor proprietary approach that considers a Small Cap companys value relative to its industry or sector; however, the Adviser also considers a companys value relative to the characteristics of other Small Cap companies contained in the Russell 2000 Index. For example, the Adviser may overweight a specific Small Cap issuer or the Funds exposure to a real estate sector over the financial sector when the market has oversold a real estate sector or issuer or has overbought a financial sector. In addition, to reduce volatility and obtain income, the Adviser may add preferred securities, which, under normal market conditions, have historically lower volatility than common securities. When constructing and maintaining the Funds portfolio, the Adviser will also consider macroeconomic factors and outlook with the goal of achieving diversification and the Funds objectives. Depending on the current market environment, the Adviser may select investments in sectors such as Utilities, REITs, Industrials and Pipelines, when it believes equity securities of these sectors offer high dividends and total return opportunities on a relative basis. The Fund may invest in limited partnership interest through MLP units, securities of companies holding primarily general partner or managing member interests in MLPs, and other investment companies that invest in MLPs. In addition to quantitative, qualitative, and relative valuation factors, the Adviser aims to achieve an investment philosophy that is: (1) driven by discipline, (2) applied consistently, and (3) centered around risk management. The Adviser will execute a transaction after considering the time horizon for the investment and the portfolios positioning. Factors considered as part of the sell discipline include excessive valuation, opportunities to shift to more favorable investments, lack of confidence in the original thesis, changes in the companys fundamental position, and whether a better opportunity exists to further the Funds strategy. The Adviser expects, at times, to engage in active trading with high portfolio turnover of the Funds portfolio investments to achieve the Funds investment objective. The Adviser expects annual portfolio turnover may, at times, exceed 100% of the average value of the Funds portfolio. Show less