To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests substantially all of its assets in stocks of large-capitalization companies. "Large capitalization" companies are those that, at the time of purchase, have market capitalizations of $5 billion or more. The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in companies considered by the fund's sub-adviser, Fayez Sarofim & Co., LLC (sub-adviser), to be "growth" companies. The sub-adviser considers "growth" companies to be companies whose revenue the sub-adviser believes is likely to grow faster than U.S. economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product, and that have the potential for growth in long-term earnings and/or cash flow per share.

In choosing stocks, the fund's sub-adviser first identifies sectors that it believes will expand over the next three to five years or longer. Using fundamental analysis, the fund's sub-adviser then invests in growth companies within these sectors that it believes have dominant positions in their industries and that have demonstrated sustained patterns of profitability, strong balance sheets and/or an expanding global presence. The fund's sub-adviser also seeks to identify companies which it considers undervalued in terms of current earnings, assets or growth prospects. The sub-adviser routinely evaluates the fund's portfolio for changing qualitative risks, which may include, but is not limited to, shifting company competitive status, turnover in company management, and adverse industry developments. As a supplement to its primarily qualitative approach to risk, the fund's sub-adviser utilizes software designed to quantify the contribution of various investment factors to overall portfolio performance and equity risk factor models to conduct scenario analysis to enhance its understanding and management of the risk profile of the fund's portfolio. The fund's portfolio typically will consist of 25-35 companies.

The fund invests principally in common stocks. The sub-adviser employs a "buy-and hold" investment strategy for the fund, which is expected to result in a low annual portfolio turnover rate.

The fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in direct investments in foreign securities (i.e., issued by companies organized under the laws of countries other than the U.S.). In addition to direct investments in foreign securities, the fund also may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

The fund may, from time to time, invest a significant portion (more than 20%) of its net assets in securities of companies in one or more sectors. As of December 31, 2025, the fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of companies in the financials and technology sectors.

The fund typically sells a stock when the fund's sub-adviser believes there is a significant adverse change in the company's business fundamentals that may lead to a sustained impairment in earnings power.

The fund is non-diversified, which means that the fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers.