XML 63 R98.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Penn Series Smid Cap Value Fund
FUND SUMMARY:  SMID CAP VALUE FUND
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the SMID Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Fund Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. Additional fees and expenses will be applied at the variable contract level. Those fees and expenses are described in your variable contract prospectus. If the information below were to reflect the deduction of variable contract charges, fees and expenses would be higher.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
Penn Series Smid Cap Value Fund
Smid Cap Value Fund
Investment Advisory Fees 0.95%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets
Distribution (12b-1) Fees none
Other Expenses 0.29%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.24%rr_ExpensesOverAssets
Example
This 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 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 and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example (USD $)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Penn Series Smid Cap Value Fund Smid Cap Value Fund
126 393 681 1,500
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs. 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 51% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategy
The Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of small and medium capitalization U.S. companies, generally representing 60 to 125 companies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of small and medium capitalization companies. For this Fund, small and medium capitalization companies are those that, at the time of investment, fall within the capitalization range between the smallest company in the Russell 2500™ Value Index (as of March 31, 2015, this amount was $5.48 million) and the greater of $5 billion or the market capitalization of the largest company in the Russell 2500™ Value Index (as of March 31, 2015, this amount was $14.75 billion). Because the Fund's definition of small and medium capitalization companies is dynamic, the lower and upper limits on market capitalization will change with the markets. The Fund's investments in small capitalization companies may include micro-capitalization companies.

The Fund invests in companies that are determined by the Sub-Adviser to be undervalued, using its fundamental value approach. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Sub-Adviser uses its fundamental research to identify companies whose long-term earnings power is not reflected in the current market price of their securities. The Sub-Adviser's fundamental value approach to equity investing generally defines value as the relationship between a security's current price and its intrinsic economic value, as measured by long-term earnings prospects.

To the extent that companies involved in certain industries may from time to time constitute a material portion of the universe of small and medium capitalization companies, the Fund may also invest significantly in these industries (but not more than 25% of its total assets in any one industry). The Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") and non-U.S. securities.

The Sub-Adviser will generally sell a security when it reaches fair value on a risk-adjusted basis. Typically, growth in the size of a company's market capitalization relative to other domestically traded companies will not cause the Sub-Adviser to dispose of the security.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by non-U.S. companies and enter into forward commitments.
Principal Risks of Investing
Currency Risk.  The possibility that the value of the Fund’s assets may be affected favorably or unfavorably by currency exchange rates, currency exchange control regulations, and restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies.

Depositary Receipt Risk.  The possibility that the Fund’s investments in foreign companies through depositary receipts will expose the Fund to the same risks as direct investment in securities of foreign issuers. In addition, investments in ADRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market, and the value of securities underlying ADRs may change materially at times when U.S. markets are not open for trading.

Foreign Investment Risk.  The possibility that the Fund’s investments in foreign securities may be adversely affected by political, social, and economic conditions affecting foreign issuers, greater volatility, reduced liquidity, or decreases in foreign currency values relative to the U.S. dollar.

Forward Commitment Risk.  The possibility that the Fund engages in when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions (e.g., TBAs) and a counterparty fails to consummate the sale, resulting in a missed opportunity by the Fund to obtain an advantageous price or yield. Such transactions may also have the effect of leverage on the Fund and may cause the Fund to be more volatile. Additionally, these transactions may create a higher portfolio turnover rate.

Liquidity Risk.  The possibility that the market for certain of the Fund’s investments may become illiquid under adverse or volatile market or economic conditions, making those investments difficult to sell at an advantageous price. The market price of certain investments may fall dramatically if there is no liquid trading market for the investments. It also may be difficult for the Fund to purchase a desired investment at an advantageous price under such circumstances.

Market Risk.  The possibility that the values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by the Fund may decline, sometimes unpredictably, due to general market conditions or other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Security markets are volatile and may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, political, or economic developments. Different sectors of the market and different security types may react differently to such developments.

Small- and Mid-Cap Securities Risk.  The possibility that the Fund’s investments in small- and mid-cap securities may be subject to greater risk and higher volatility than are customarily associated with investing in larger more established companies. Securities issued by small- and mid-sized companies, which can include start-up companies, tend to be more vulnerable than larger and more established companies to adverse business and economic developments. Such companies generally have narrower product lines, more limited financial resources and more limited markets for their stock as compared with larger companies. As a result, the value of such securities also may be more volatile than the securities of larger companies, and the Fund’s portfolio may experience difficulty in purchasing or selling such securities at the desired time and price or in the desired amount.

“Value” Investing Risk.  The possibility that the Fund’s investments in securities believed by the Sub-Adviser to be undervalued may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The securities in which the Fund invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities, and may underperform growth stocks and/or the market as a whole.

An investment in the Fund may be appropriate for investors who are willing to accept the risks and uncertainties of investing in common stocks in the hope of long-term growth of capital.
Performance Information
The bar chart and table below show the performance of the Fund both year-by-year and as an average over different periods of time. The bar chart and table demonstrate the variability of performance over time and provide an indication of the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with those of a broad-based securities market index. Past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. This performance information does not include the impact of any charges deducted under your variable contract. If it did, returns would be lower.
Bar Chart
Best Quarter    Worst Quarter
24.07%    -22.52%
9/30/2009    9/30/2011
Average Annual Total Return (for Periods Ended December 31, 2014)
Average Annual Total Returns Penn Series Smid Cap Value Fund
1 Year
5 Years
Since Inception
Inception Date
Smid Cap Value Fund
9.25% 16.13% 12.40% Aug. 25, 2008
Russell 2500™ Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
7.11% 15.48% 10.20% Aug. 25, 2008