Objective

Hussman Strategic Total Return Fund seeks to achieve long-term total return from income and capital appreciation.

Investment Strategy

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in fixed income securities, such as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes and bills, Treasury inflation-protected securities, U.S. Treasury Strips, U.S. Government agency securities (primarily mortgage-backed securities), and investment grade corporate debt rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings or Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or having an equivalent rating from another independent rating organization.

When market conditions favor wider diversification in the view of Hussman Strategic Advisors, Inc., the Fund’s investment manager, the Fund may invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities outside of the U.S. fixed-income market, such as utility and other energy-related stocks, precious metals and mining stocks, shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and other similar instruments, and foreign government debt securities, including debt issued by governments of emerging market countries. In addition, the Fund may use foreign currency options and futures and currency ETFs to establish or modify the portfolio’s exposure to currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Fund may make limited use of Treasury debt options and futures to manage the Fund’s exposure to interest rate risk.

Variable exposure to credit market fluctuations

The Fund’s principal investment strategies emphasize strategic management of the average interest rate sensitivity (“duration”) of portfolio holdings, the Fund’s exposure to changes in the yield curve, and allocation among fixed income alternatives and inflation hedges. The interest rate sensitivity (duration) of a bond is related to the average date at which an investor receives payment of principal and interest. Under normal market conditions, the duration of the Fund’s portfolio is expected to range between 1 year and 15 years. In its most aggressive stance (a duration of 15 years), the Fund’s net asset value could be expected to fluctuate by approximately 15% in response to a 1% (100 basis point) change in the general level of interest rates.

Historically, different combinations of valuation, market action and other factors have been accompanied by significantly different bond market performance in terms of return/risk. The specific profile of yield behavior (such as changes in the yield curve or credit spreads) is also an important factor.

The investment manager generally will increase the exposure of the Fund to interest rate risk in environments where the return expected to be derived from that risk is high, and generally will reduce exposure to interest rate risk when the return expected to be derived from that risk is unfavorable. The investment manager will also purchase utility and other energy-related stocks, precious metals stocks, shares of REITs, and foreign government debt when market conditions are believed to favor such diversification.

Minimum investment

Regular accounts: $1,000
IRA and Gift to Minors accounts: $500