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A contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
A CDSC of 1.00% may be assessed on Class C shares if they are redeemed before the first anniversary of their purchase.
These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.
For the period from April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses for each class, excluding 12b-1 fees, to an annual rate of 0.60%. Shareholders will incur actual total annual operating expenses of less than or equal to 0.60% plus the amount of any applicable 12b-1 fee. This agreement may be terminated only by the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.
This amount has been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current management fee rates.
For the period from April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses for each class, excluding 12b-1 fees, to an annual rate of 0.63%. Shareholders will incur actual total annual operating expenses of less than or equal to 0.63% plus the amount of any applicable 12b-1 fee. This agreement may be terminated only by the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.
For the period from April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses for each class, excluding 12b-1 fees, to an annual rate of 1.05%. Shareholders will incur actual total annual operating expenses of less than or equal to 1.05% plus the amount of any applicable 12b-1 fee. This agreement may be terminated only by the approval of the Fund's Board of Directors.
LORD ABBETT RESEARCH FUND INC
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Lord Abbett Calibrated Dividend Growth Fund
FEES AND EXPENSES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 69 of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).</font> </p>
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2014-03-31
These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses
You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund invests principally in equity securities of large and mid-sized companies that have a history of increasing dividends and that have the potential for capital appreciation. The Fund’s portfolio management team uses fundamental research and quantitative analysis to select the Fund’s investments, while seeking to maintain an investment portfolio with industry, sector, and capitalization weightings and other portfolio characteristics that generally are similar to those of the S&P 900 10-Year Dividend Growth Index (the “Dividend Growth Index”). The Dividend Growth Index is the exclusive property of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). Under a contract with Lord Abbett, S&P administers, maintains, and calculates the Dividend Growth Index. S&P and its affiliates will have no liability for any errors or omissions in calculating the Dividend Growth Index.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund focuses on U.S. large and mid-sized companies that historically have grown their dividends over time, which represent a relatively narrow market segment compared to the broader U.S. equity markets. The Fund also may invest to a lesser extent in foreign companies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity securities</b> of large and mid-sized companies. The Fund may invest in any security that represents equity ownership in a company. Currently, the Fund invests in equity securities consisting principally of common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Dividend paying securities</b> issued by companies that pay out a portion of their profits to shareholders instead of reinvesting all their profits in their businesses. Although issuers of dividend paying securities may include fast growing companies, they more commonly consist of “value” companies whose securities have the potential for investment return because they are underpriced or undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.</font> </p>
PRINCIPAL RISKS
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Investment Strategy Risk:</b> If the Fund’s fundamental research and quantitative analysis fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform its benchmark or other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market. In addition, the Fund’s strategy of focusing on the relatively narrow market segment of dividend paying companies means the Fund will be more exposed to risks associated with that particular market segment than a fund that invests more widely.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity Risk:</b> Common stocks and other equity securities, as well as equity-like securities such as convertible bonds, may experience significant volatility. Such securities may fall sharply in response to adverse events affecting overall markets, a particular industry or sector, or an individual company’s financial condition.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Dividend Risk:</b> Securities of dividend paying companies may become less available for purchase, limiting the Fund’s ability to produce current income and increasing the volatility of the Fund’s returns. At times, the performance of dividend paying companies may lag the performance of other companies or the broader market as a whole. In addition, a company’s dividend payments may vary over time, and there is no guarantee that a company will pay a dividend at all.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Large Company Risk:</b> As compared to smaller successful companies, larger companies may be less able to respond quickly to certain market developments and may have slower rates of growth.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Mid-Sized Company Risk:</b> Securities of mid-sized companies generally involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited management experience or depth, limited access to capital, or limited products or services, or operate in markets that have not yet been established. Mid-sized company securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Value Investing Risk:</b> The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Foreign Company Risk:</b> The Fund’s investments in foreign companies and in U.S. companies with economic ties to foreign markets generally involve special risks that can increase the likelihood that the Fund will lose money. For example, as compared with companies organized and operated in the U.S., these companies may be more vulnerable to economic, political, and social instability. In addition, they may be subject to less government supervision.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Funds – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.</font> </p>
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Portfolio Turnover.
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"> The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 102.89% of the average value of its portfolio.</font> </p>
1.0289
Example
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example takes into account the fee waiver and expense limitation agreement between the Fund and Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC for the term of the agreement). The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.</font> </p>
657
907
1177
1946
657
907
1177
1946
663
885
1232
2081
163
585
1032
2081
263
585
1032
2276
163
585
1032
2276
72
306
559
1283
72
306
559
1283
61
274
505
1167
61
274
505
1167
107
415
745
1680
107
415
745
1680
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462
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1846
122
462
825
1846
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431
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1736
112
431
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If Shares Are Redeemed
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund’s investment objective is to seek current income and capital appreciation.</font> </p>
PERFORMANCE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.</font> </p>
Bar Chart (per calendar year) - Class A Shares
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0.1305
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<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund's Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund's other share classes will vary due to the different expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart and table show performance of the Fund during periods when the Fund operated under the name "Lord Abbett Capital Structure Fund" and invested in a mix of equity and fixed income securities. Effective September 27, 2012, the Fund implemented its present dividend-oriented equity strategy. This change is likely to affect the Fund's performance in the future.</font> </p> <br/><p align="center"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"/> </p>
Best Quarter
0.1247
2003-12-31
Worst Quarter
-0.1393
2011-09-30
<table style="width: 97.24%; margin-right: 0.88%; margin-left: 0.88%;" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="bottom"> <td style="width: 51.08%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td style="width: 2.63%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td align="right" style="width: 43.18%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.8mm; text-indent: -2.8mm;"> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Best Quarter</b> 4th Q ‘03 <b>+12.47%</b></font> </p> </td> <td width="3">   </td> <td align="right"> <p> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Worst Quarter</b> 3rd Q ’11 <b>-13.93%</b></font> </p> </td> </tr> </table>
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2012)
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities market indices with investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges. The Fund believes that the S&P 900 10-Year Dividend Growth Index is a more appropriate index than the 60% S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index/40% Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, in light of the composition of the Fund’s portfolio following implementation of its dividend-oriented equity strategy. Because the S&P 900 10-Year Dividend Growth Index more closely reflects the market segment in which the Fund invests, the Fund will remove the 60% S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index/40% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index from the performance table in the future.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.</font> </p>
0.0653
0.0181
0.0666
0.0578
0.0104
0.0580
0.0465
0.0119
0.0550
0.0726
0.0198
0.0674
0.1130
0.0236
0.0662
0.1323
0.0327
0.0247
0.1334
0.0337
0.0767
0.1294
0.0292
0.0721
0.1280
0.0290
0.0210
0.1281
0.0286
0.0207
0.1600
0.0166
0.0710
0.0093
0.1250
0.0220
0.0598
0.0107
0.1131
0.0381
0.0662
0.0346
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
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The Fund's average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund's returns.
The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
The Fund believes that the S&P 900 10-Year Dividend Growth Index is a more appropriate index than the 60% S&P 500 Index/40% Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, in light of the composition of the Fund's portfolio following implementation of its dividend-oriented equity strategy. Because the S&P 900 10-Year Dividend Growth Index more closely reflects the market segment in which the Fund invests, the Fund will remove the 60% S&P 500 Index/40% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index from the performance table in the future.
After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower.
In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains.
888-522-2388
www.lordabbett.com
The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs").
Lord Abbett Classic Stock Fund
FEES AND EXPENSES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 69 of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).</font> </p>
0.0575
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0500
0.0100
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0065
0.0065
0.0065
0.0065
0.0065
0.0065
0.0065
0.0065
0.0035
0.0100
0.0100
0.0010
0.0000
0.0045
0.0060
0.0050
0.0026
0.0026
0.0026
0.0026
0.0026
0.0026
0.0026
0.0026
0.0126
0.0191
0.0191
0.0101
0.0091
0.0136
0.0151
0.0141
-0.0028
-0.0028
-0.0028
-0.0028
-0.0028
-0.0028
-0.0028
-0.0028
0.0098
0.0163
0.0163
0.0073
0.0063
0.0108
0.0123
0.0113
~ http://lordabbett.com/20130327/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20009 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000887194_S000007000_48Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000887194_S000007000Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://lordabbett.com/20130327/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20010 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000887194_S000007000_48Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000887194_S000007000Member row primary compact * ~
2014-03-31
These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.
You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
50000
Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">To pursue its objective, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of large, seasoned, U.S. and multinational companies. The Fund uses a “blend” strategy to invest in both growth and value stocks, or in stocks with characteristics of both. The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity securities</b> of large companies. The Fund may invest in any security that represents equity ownership in a company. Currently, the Fund invests in equity securities consisting principally of common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Large companies</b> having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell 1000</font><font style="font-size: 2.5mm;"><sup><font style="font-family: Times, serif;">®</font></sup></font> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">Index.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Value companies</b> that portfolio management believes to be underpriced or undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects and have the potential for capital appreciation.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Growth companies</b> that portfolio management believes exhibit faster-than-average gains in earnings and have the potential to continue profit growth at a high level.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">Consistent with its investment objective and policies, the Fund selectively may invest in derivatives. Currently, the Fund expects to invest in derivatives consisting principally of futures, forwards, options, and swaps. The Fund may use derivatives for risk management purposes, including to hedge against a decline in the value of certain investments and to adjust the investment characteristics of its portfolio. The Fund also may invest in derivatives for “speculative” purposes to increase its investment return or income. For example, the Fund may manage cash by investing in futures or other derivatives that provide efficient short-term investment exposure to broad equity markets.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.</font> </p>
PRINCIPAL RISKS
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Portfolio Management Risk:</b> If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity Risk:</b> Common stocks and other equity securities, as well as equity-like securities such as convertible bonds, may experience significant volatility. Such securities may fall sharply in response to adverse events affecting overall markets, a particular industry or sector, or an individual company’s financial condition.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Large Company Risk:</b> As compared to smaller successful companies, larger companies may be less able to respond quickly to certain market developments and may have slower rates of growth.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Blend Style Risk:</b> The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections. The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Foreign Company Risk:</b> The Fund’s investments in foreign (including emerging market) companies and in U.S. companies with economic ties to foreign markets generally involve special risks that can increase the likelihood that the Fund will lose money. For example, as compared with companies organized and operated in the U.S., these companies may be more vulnerable to economic, political, and social instability and subject to less government supervision, inadequate regulatory and accounting standards, and foreign taxes. In addition, the securities of foreign companies also may be subject to inadequate exchange control regulations, higher transaction and other costs, reduced liquidity, and delays in settlement to the extent that such securities are traded on non-U.S. exchanges or markets. Because the Fund’s limit on foreign securities focuses on where the security is principally traded rather than where the issuer is organized and/or operated, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to foreign market risks may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that the Fund considers to represent foreign securities. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Derivatives Risk:</b> Derivatives can increase the Fund’s volatility and/or reduce the Fund’s returns. Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions and may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the derivatives contract.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Industry/Sector Risk:</b> To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, events affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) will impact the Fund’s performance to a greater degree than events affecting other industries or sectors.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Funds – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.</font> </p>
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Portfolio Turnover.
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"> The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 12.89% of the average value of its portfolio.</font> </p>
0.1289
Example
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example takes into account the fee waiver and expense limitation agreement between the Fund and Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC for the term of the agreement). The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.</font> </p>
669
926
1202
1987
669
926
1202
1987
666
873
1206
2041
166
573
1006
2041
266
573
1006
2210
166
573
1006
2210
75
294
531
1211
75
294
531
1211
64
262
476
1094
64
262
476
1094
110
403
718
1611
110
403
718
1611
125
450
797
1778
125
450
797
1778
115
419
744
1667
115
419
744
1667
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If Shares Are Redeemed
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund’s investment objective is growth of capital and growth of income consistent with reasonable risk.</font> </p>
PERFORMANCE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.</font> </p>
Bar Chart (per calendar year) - Class A Shares
0.3110
0.1189
0.0147
0.1249
0.1029
-0.3122
0.2620
0.1382
-0.0835
0.1498
~ http://lordabbett.com/20130327/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20013 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000887194_S000007000_48Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000887194_S000007000Member row primary compact * ~
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund's Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund's other share classes will vary due to the different expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.</font> </p> <br/><p align="center"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"/> </p>
Best Quarter
0.1849
2003-06-30
Worst Quarter
-0.1990
2008-12-31
<table style="width: 97.24%; margin-right: 0.88%; margin-left: 0.88%;" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="bottom"> <td style="width: 50.51%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td style="width: 2.63%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td align="right" style="width: 43.75%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.8mm; text-indent: -2.8mm;"> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Best Quarter</b> 2nd Q ’03 <b>+18.49%</b></font> </p> </td> <td width="3">   </td> <td align="right"> <p style="margin: 0px;"> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Worst Quarter</b> 4th Q ’08 <b>-19.90%</b></font> </p> </td> </tr> </table>
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2012)
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities market indices with investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.</font> </p>
0.0837
-0.0038
0.0612
0.0818
-0.0050
0.0576
0.0570
-0.0034
0.0534
0.0929
-0.0024
0.0620
0.1329
0.0016
0.0607
0.1530
0.0106
0.0065
0.1542
0.0117
0.0714
0.1491
0.0071
0.0674
0.1474
0.0075
0.0033
0.1487
0.0068
0.0026
0.1642
0.0192
0.0752
0.0119
0.1600
0.0166
0.0710
0.0093
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
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The Fund's average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund's returns.
The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower.
In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains.
888-522-2388
www.lordabbett.com
The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs").
Lord Abbett Growth Opportunities Fund
FEES AND EXPENSES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 69 of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).</font> </p>
0.0575
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0500
0.0100
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0075
0.0075
0.0075
0.0075
0.0075
0.0075
0.0075
0.0075
0.0035
0.0100
0.0100
0.0010
0.0000
0.0045
0.0060
0.0050
0.0032
0.0032
0.0032
0.0032
0.0032
0.0032
0.0032
0.0032
0.0142
0.0207
0.0207
0.0117
0.0107
0.0152
0.0167
0.0157
-0.0002
-0.0002
-0.0002
-0.0002
-0.0002
-0.0002
-0.0002
-0.0002
0.0140
0.0205
0.0205
0.0115
0.0105
0.0150
0.0165
0.0155
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2014-03-31
These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.
You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
50000
Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">Under normal market conditions, the Fund pursues its investment objective by investing at least 65% of its net assets in equity securities of mid-sized companies. The Fund follows a growth style of investing, which means that we favor companies that show the potential for strong revenue and earnings growth.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity securities</b> of mid-sized companies. The Fund may invest in any security that represents equity ownership in a company. Currently, the Fund invests in equity securities consisting principally of common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Mid-sized companies</b> having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell Midcap</font><font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 70%; vertical-align: top;">®</font></font> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">Index.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Growth companies</b> that portfolio management believes exhibit faster-than-average gains in earnings and have the potential to continue profit growth at a high level.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">Consistent with its investment objective and policies, the Fund selectively may invest in derivatives. Currently, the Fund expects to invest in derivatives consisting principally of futures, forwards, options, and swaps. The Fund may use derivatives for risk management purposes, including to hedge against a decline in the value of certain investments and to adjust the investment characteristics of its portfolio. The Fund also may invest in derivatives for “speculative” purposes to increase its investment return or income. For example, the Fund may manage cash by investing in futures or other derivatives that provide efficient short-term investment exposure to broad equity markets.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.</font> </p>
PRINCIPAL RISKS
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Portfolio Management Risk:</b> If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity Risk:</b> Common stocks and other equity securities, as well as equity-like securities such as convertible bonds, may experience significant volatility. Such securities may fall sharply in response to adverse events affecting overall markets, a particular industry or sector, or an individual company’s financial condition.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Mid-Sized Company Risk:</b> Securities of mid-sized companies generally involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited management experience or depth, limited access to capital, or limited products or services, or operate in markets that have not yet been established. Mid-sized company securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Growth Investing Risk:</b> Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than slower-growing value stocks. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if, for example, the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Foreign Company Risk:</b> The Fund’s investments in foreign (including emerging market) companies and in U.S. companies with economic ties to foreign markets generally involve special risks that can increase the likelihood that the Fund will lose money. For example, as compared with companies organized and operated in the U.S., these companies may be more vulnerable to economic, political, and social instability and subject to less government supervision, inadequate regulatory and accounting standards, and foreign taxes. In addition, the securities of foreign companies also may be subject to inadequate exchange control regulations, higher transaction and other costs, reduced liquidity, and delays in settlement to the extent that such securities are traded on non-U.S. exchanges or markets. Because the Fund’s limit on foreign securities focuses on where the security is principally traded rather than where the issuer is organized and/or operated, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to foreign market risks may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that the Fund considers to represent foreign securities. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Derivatives Risk:</b> Derivatives can increase the Fund’s volatility and/or reduce the Fund’s returns. Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions and may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the derivative contract.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Industry/Sector Risk:</b> To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, events affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) will impact the Fund’s performance to a greater degree than events affecting other industries or sectors.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>High Portfolio Turnover Risk:</b> High portfolio turnover may result in increased brokerage fees or other transaction costs, reduced investment performance, and higher taxes.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Funds – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.</font> </p>
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Portfolio Turnover.
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"> The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 145.62% of the average value of its portfolio.</font> </p>
1.4562
Example
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example takes into account the fee waiver and expense limitation agreement between the Fund and Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC for the term of the agreement). The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.</font> </p>
709
997
1305
2177
709
997
1305
2177
708
947
1312
2232
208
647
1112
2232
308
647
1112
2398
208
647
1112
2398
117
370
642
1419
117
370
642
1419
107
338
588
1304
107
338
588
1304
153
478
827
1811
153
478
827
1811
168
525
905
1975
168
525
905
1975
158
494
853
1866
158
494
853
1866
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If Shares Are Redeemed
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund’s investment objective is capital appreciation.</font> </p>
PERFORMANCE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.</font> </p>
Bar Chart (per calendar year) - Class A Shares
0.3385
0.1152
0.0417
0.0728
0.2105
-0.3828
0.4537
0.2326
-0.1004
0.1381
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<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund's Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund's other share classes will vary due to the different expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.</font> </p> <br/><p align="center"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"/> </p>
Best Quarter
0.1760
2009-06-30
Worst Quarter
-0.2499
2011-09-30
<table style="width: 97.24%; margin-right: 0.88%; margin-left: 0.88%;" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="bottom"> <td style="width: 51.08%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td style="width: 2.63%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td align="right" style="width: 43.18%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.8mm; text-indent: -2.8mm;"> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Best Quarter</b> 2nd Q ’09 <b>+17.60%</b></font> </p> </td> <td width="3">   </td> <td align="right"> <p> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Worst Quarter</b> 3rd Q ’11 <b>-24.99%</b></font> </p> </td> </tr> </table>
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2012)
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities market indices with investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.</font> </p>
0.0729
0.0131
0.0798
0.0729
0.0069
0.0717
0.0474
0.0101
0.0685
0.0801
0.0152
0.0808
0.1209
0.0186
0.0794
0.1410
0.0277
0.0304
0.1424
0.0287
0.0900
0.1366
0.0240
0.0852
0.1351
0.0226
0.0254
0.1360
0.0238
0.0265
0.1581
0.0323
0.1032
0.0274
0.1728
0.0357
0.1065
0.0268
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
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The Fund's average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund's returns.
The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower.
In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains.
888-522-2388
www.lordabbett.com
The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs").
Small-Cap Value Series
FEES AND EXPENSES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 69 of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).</font> </p>
0.0575
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0500
0.0100
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0073
0.0073
0.0073
0.0073
0.0073
0.0073
0.0073
0.0073
0.0030
0.0100
0.0100
0.0010
0.0000
0.0045
0.0060
0.0050
0.0020
0.0020
0.0020
0.0020
0.0020
0.0020
0.0020
0.0020
0.0123
0.0193
0.0193
0.0103
0.0093
0.0138
0.0153
0.0143
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You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
50000
Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">To pursue its objective, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small companies. The Fund invests principally in small U.S. companies that portfolio management believes are undervalued.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity securities</b> of small companies. The Fund may invest in any security that represents equity ownership in a company. Currently, the Fund invests in equity securities consisting principally of common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Small companies</b> having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell 2000</font><font style="font-size: 2.5mm;"><sup><font style="font-family: Times, serif;">®</font></sup></font> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">Index.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Value companies</b> that portfolio management believes to be underpriced or undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects and have the potential for capital appreciation.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">Consistent with its investment objective and policies, the Fund selectively may invest in derivatives. Currently, the Fund expects to invest in derivatives consisting principally of futures, forwards, options, and swaps. The Fund may use derivatives for risk management purposes, including to hedge against a decline in the value of certain investments and to adjust the investment characteristics of its portfolio. The Fund also may invest in derivatives for “speculative” purposes to increase its investment return or income. For example, the Fund may manage cash by investing in futures or other derivatives that provide efficient short-term investment exposure to broad equity markets.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.</font> </p>
PRINCIPAL RISKS
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:</font> </p> <br/><ul> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Portfolio Management Risk:</b> If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Equity Risk:</b> Common stocks and other equity securities, as well as equity-like securities such as convertible bonds, may experience significant volatility. Such securities may fall sharply in response to adverse events affecting overall markets, a particular industry or sector, or an individual company’s financial condition.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Small Company Risk:</b> Securities of small companies generally involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Small companies may have limited management experience or depth, limited access to capital, or limited products or services, or operate in markets that have not yet been established. Small company securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Value Investing Risk:</b> The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Foreign Company Risk:</b> The Fund’s investments in foreign (including emerging market) companies and in U.S. companies with economic ties to foreign markets generally involve special risks that can increase the likelihood that the Fund will lose money. For example, as compared with companies organized and operated in the U.S., these companies may be more vulnerable to economic, political, and social instability and subject to less government supervision, inadequate regulatory and accounting standards, and foreign taxes. In addition, the securities of foreign companies also may be subject to inadequate exchange control regulations, higher transaction and other costs, reduced liquidity, and delays in settlement to the extent that such securities are traded on non-U.S. exchanges or markets. Because the Fund’s limit on foreign securities focuses on where the security is principally traded rather than where the issuer is organized and/or operated, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to foreign market risks may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that the Fund considers to represent foreign securities. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Derivatives Risk:</b> Derivatives can increase the Fund’s volatility and/or reduce the Fund’s returns. Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions and may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the derivative contract.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Real Estate Risk:</b> An investment in a REIT generally is subject to the risks that impact the value of the underlying properties or mortgages of the REIT. These risks include loss to casualty or condemnation, and changes in supply and demand, interest rates, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Other factors that may adversely affect REITs include poor performance by management of the REIT, changes to the tax laws, or failure by the REIT to qualify for tax-free distribution of income.</font> </p> </li> <li> <p> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"><b>Industry/Sector Risk:</b> To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, events affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) will impact the Fund’s performance to a greater degree than events affecting other industries or sectors.</font> </p> </li> </ul> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Funds – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.</font> </p>
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Portfolio Turnover.
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"><font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"> The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 28.91% of the average value of its portfolio.</font> </p>
0.2891
Example
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five- year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.</font> </p>
693
943
1212
1978
693
943
1212
1978
696
906
1242
2072
196
606
1042
2072
296
606
1042
2254
196
606
1042
2254
105
328
569
1259
105
328
569
1259
95
296
515
1143
95
296
515
1143
140
437
755
1657
140
437
755
1657
156
483
834
1824
156
483
834
1824
146
452
782
1713
146
452
782
1713
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If Shares Are Redeemed
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.</font> </p>
PERFORMANCE
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.</font> </p>
Bar Chart (per calendar year) - Class A Shares
0.4494
0.2239
0.1321
0.2042
0.1043
-0.3106
0.2982
0.2623
-0.0461
0.1057
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<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund's Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund's other share classes will vary due to the different expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.</font> </p> <br/><p align="center"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;"/> </p>
Best Quarter
0.1973
2011-12-31
Worst Quarter
-0.2462
2011-09-30
<table style="width: 97.24%; margin-right: 0.88%; margin-left: 0.88%;" cellspacing="0"> <tr valign="bottom"> <td style="width: 51.08%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td style="width: 2.63%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> <td align="right" style="width: 43.18%;"> <p> <font style="font-size: 0.6mm;"> </font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.8mm; text-indent: -2.8mm;"> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Best Quarter</b> 4th Q ’11 <b>+19.73%</b></font> </p> </td> <td width="3">   </td> <td align="right"> <p> <font style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 3.1mm;"><b>Worst Quarter</b> 3rd Q ’11 <b>-24.62%</b></font> </p> </td> </tr> </table>
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2012)
<p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities market indices with investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.</font> </p> <br/><p style="margin: 2.1mm 0px 0px;"> <font style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 3.8mm;">The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.</font> </p>
0.0421
0.0235
0.1161
0.0375
0.0225
0.1048
0.0335
0.0201
0.0999
0.0477
0.0248
0.1167
0.0877
0.0285
0.1152
0.1075
0.0377
0.0309
0.1090
0.0388
0.1263
0.1037
0.0341
0.1213
0.1020
0.0514
0.1035
0.0524
0.1635
0.0356
0.0972
0.0246
0.1635
0.0356
0.0972
0.0604
0.1805
0.0355
0.0950
0.0190
0.1805
0.0355
0.0950
0.0522
2007-09-28
2007-09-28
2008-03-31
2007-09-28
2008-03-31
2008-03-31
2008-03-31
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The Fund's average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund's returns.
The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains.
This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower.
888-522-2388
www.lordabbett.com
The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax- deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs").