XML 13 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
Label Element Value
Emerging Markets Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Emerging Markets Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Emerging Markets Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities in emerging markets around the world.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for Class A sales charge discounts if you and your family (includes spouse and children under age 21) invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000, in the aggregate, in Classes A and C of the VanEck Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “Shareholder Information—Sales Charges” section on page 29 of this prospectus, in the “Availability of Discounts” section on page 50 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) and, with respect to purchases of shares through specific intermediaries, in Appendix A to this prospectus, entitled “Intermediary Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers”.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination May 01, 2019
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

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 that the Fund pays 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 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 36% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 36.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Expense Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

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 for the time periods indicated and then either redeem all of your shares at the end of these periods or continue to hold them. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, and applies fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, if any, for the periods indicated above under “Annual Fund Operating Expense.” Although your actual expenses may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption Sold
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption Held
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of companies that are organized in, maintain at least 50% of their assets in, or derive at least 50% of their revenues from, emerging market countries. The Adviser has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as emerging markets. The Adviser selects emerging market countries that the Fund will invest in based on the Adviser’s evaluation of economic fundamentals, legal structure, political developments and other specific factors the Adviser believes to be relevant.


Utilizing qualitative and quantitative measures, the Fund’s portfolio manager seeks to invest in reasonably-priced companies that have strong structural growth potential. The portfolio manager seeks attractive investment opportunities in all areas of emerging markets, and utilizes a flexible investment approach across all market capitalizations.


The Fund’s holdings may include issues denominated in currencies of emerging market countries, investment companies (like country funds) that invest in emerging market countries, and American Depositary Receipts, and similar types of investments, representing emerging market securities.


The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities issued by other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The Fund may also invest in money market funds, but these investments are not subject to this limitation. The Fund may invest in ETFs to participate in, or gain exposure to, certain market sectors, or when direct investments in certain countries are not permitted or available.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s share price and return will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund involves the risk of losing money.


Chinese Issuers. Investing in securities of Chinese companies involves certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, (i) more frequent (and potentially widespread) trading suspensions and government interventions with respect to Chinese issuers, resulting in lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (ii) currency revaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations or blockage; (iii) the nature and extent of intervention by the Chinese government in the Chinese securities markets, whether such intervention will continue and the impact of such intervention or its discontinuation; (iv) the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets; (v) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support economic reform programs; (vi) limitations on the use of brokers; (vii) higher rates of inflation; (viii) greater political, economic and social uncertainty; (ix) market volatility caused by any potential regional or territorial conflicts or natural disasters and (x) the risk of increased trade tariffs, embargoes and other trade limitations.


Direct Investments. Direct investments may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. Because of the absence of any public trading market for these investments, the Fund may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities. Direct investments are generally considered illiquid and will be aggregated with other illiquid investments for purposes of the limitation on illiquid investments.


Emerging Market Securities. Emerging market securities typically present even greater exposure to the risks described under “Foreign Securities” and may be particularly sensitive to certain economic changes. Emerging market securities are exposed to a number of risks that may make these investments volatile in price or difficult to trade.


Foreign Currency Transactions. An investment transacted in a foreign currency may lose value due to fluctuations in the rate of exchange. These fluctuations can make the return on an investment go up or down, entirely apart from the quality or performance of the investment itself.


Foreign Securities. Foreign investments are subject to greater risks than U.S. domestic investments. These additional risks may include exchange rate fluctuations and exchange controls; less publicly available information; more volatile or less liquid securities markets; and the possibility of arbitrary action by foreign governments, or political, economic or social instability. Foreign companies also may be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies, including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing the earnings potential of such foreign companies.


Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Fund’s investment in another investment company may subject the Fund indirectly to the underlying risks of the investment company. The Fund also will bear its share of the underlying investment company’s fees and expenses, which are in addition to the Fund’s own fees and expenses.


Investments through Stock Connect. The Fund’s investments in Chinese A-shares through Stock Connect will be subject to investment quotas and trading restrictions which may pose risks to the Fund. In addition, uncertainty in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) tax rules may result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund.


Management. Investment decisions made by the Adviser in seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective may not produce the returns expected by the Adviser, may cause a decline in the value of the securities held by the Fund and, in turn, cause the Fund’s shares to lose value or underperform other funds with similar investment objectives.


Market. Market risk refers to the risk that the market prices of securities that the Fund holds will rise or fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. In general, equity securities tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities.


Operational. The Fund is exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or system failures.


Sectors. The Fund may be subject to greater risks and market fluctuations than a fund whose portfolio has exposure to a broader range of sectors. The Fund may be susceptible to financial, economic, political or market events, as well as government regulation, impacting the financial services, information technology and consumer discretionary sectors.


Small- and Medium-Capitalization Companies. Securities of small- and medium-sized companies often have greater price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than larger, more established companies. The stocks of small- and medium-sized companies may have returns that vary, sometimes significantly, from the overall stock market.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The Fund’s share price and return will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund involves the risk of losing money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading PERFORMANCE
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. For instance, the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Markets Index is an all market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index consists of the following 24 emerging market country indices: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Qatar, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund’s Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown.


Additionally, large purchases and/or redemptions of shares of a class, relative to the amount of assets represented by the class, may cause the annual returns for each class to differ. Updated performance information for the Fund is available on the VanEck website at vaneck.com.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress vaneck.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading CLASS A: Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund’s Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

 

 

 

 

 

Best Quarter:

 

+59.06%

 

2Q ’09

Worst Quarter:

 

-38.59%

 

4Q ’08

Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 59.06%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (38.59%)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred The after-tax return information shown above does not apply to Fund shares held through a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k) plan or Investment Retirement Account.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown These returns are shown for one class of shares only; after tax-returns for the other classes may vary.
Average Annual Return, Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/17
Emerging Markets Fund | MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes except withholding taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 36.83%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.47%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.85%
Emerging Markets Fund | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the net asset value or purchase price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none [1]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.47%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.47%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.47%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock A contingent deferred sales charge for Class A shares of 1.00% for one year applies to redemptions of qualified commissionable shares purchased at or above the $1 million breakpoint level.
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for Class A sales charge discounts if you and your family (includes spouse and children under age 21) invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000, in the aggregate, in Classes A and C of the VanEck Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 25,000
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 716
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 1,013
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,332
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,231
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 716
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 1,013
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,332
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,231
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (68.12%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 120.37%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 28.17%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (26.58%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 30.44%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 11.31%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (0.70%)
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (12.91%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (0.43%)
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 49.70%
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 41.12%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.22%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.55%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 20, 1993
Emerging Markets Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 41.06% [3]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.18% [3]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.34% [3]
Life of Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception [3]
Emerging Markets Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 23.27%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.86%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.10%
Emerging Markets Fund | Class C  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the net asset value or purchase price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice 1.00%
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.53%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.28%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets none [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.28%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for Class A sales charge discounts if you and your family (includes spouse and children under age 21) invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000, in the aggregate, in Classes A and C of the VanEck Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 25,000
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 331
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 712
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,220
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,615
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 231
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 712
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,220
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,615
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 47.56%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.58%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 1.35%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 03, 2003
Emerging Markets Fund | Class I  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the net asset value or purchase price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.40%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.15%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.15%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.00%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 102
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 350
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 618
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,384
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 102
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 350
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 618
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,384
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 50.40%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.00%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.73%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Dec. 31, 2007
Emerging Markets Fund | Class Y  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the net asset value or purchase price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.40%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.15%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.05%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursements rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.10%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 112
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 360
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 628
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,393
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 112
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 360
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 628
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,393
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 50.32%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.84%
Life of Class rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.17%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2010
[1] A contingent deferred sales charge for Class A shares of 1.00% for one year applies to redemptions of qualified commissionable shares purchased at or above the $1 million breakpoint level.
[2] Van Eck Associates Corporation (the "Adviser") has agreed to waive fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, trading expenses, dividends and interest payments on securities sold short, taxes and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 1.60% for Class A, 2.50% for Class C, 1.00% for Class I, and 1.10% for Class Y of the Fund's average daily net assets per year until May 1, 2019. During such time, the expense limitation is expected to continue until the Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such expense limitation.
[3] After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. These returns are shown for one class of shares only; after tax-returns for the other classes may vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and may differ from those shown in the preceding table. The after-tax return information shown above does not apply to Fund shares held through a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k) plan or Investment Retirement Account.