Description

This fund offers investors a low cost way to gain exposure to high-quality international companies that have both the ability and the commitment to grow their dividends over time. The fund seeks to track a modified market cap weighted benchmark of all-capitalization developed and emerging markets stocks outside the United States with a history of increasing annual dividend payments. Because it invests in non-U.S. stocks, the fund can be more volatile than a domestic fund. Another risk is the possibility that returns from dividend-paying stocks will trail returns from the overall stock market during any given period. This fund may be appropriate for long-term investors seeking some income and exposure to international dividend-focused companies.With respect to 75% of its total assets, the fund may not: (1) purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or (2) purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of the fund’s total assets would be invested in that issuer’s securities; except as may be necessary to approximate the composition of its target index. This limitation does not apply to obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities.