Prudent Bear Fund

ticker B E A R X Mutual Funds . Bear Market .

Overview

 
AT A GLANCE
Portfolio
Assets
February 28 2025
$115.6 M
YTD Return NAV
March 26 2025
4.11%
Alternative
Gross
Expenses
2.72%
Net
Expenses
2.61%
STRATEGY

Seeks capital appreciation primarily through short positions in domestically traded equity securities and indices.

KEY FACTS
Key Facts - Part 1
Symbol ticker B E A R X
Benchmark S&P 500®
Key Facts - Part 2
Fund Number(s)
409
CUSIP 3 1 4 2 1 N 7 0 9
Performance Incp. Date December 28 1995
MORNINGSTAR CATEGORY / STYLE
Category
Trading--Inverse Equity
Style
Medium Blend
INVESTMENT GOALS Retirement
Growth
KEY INVESTMENT TEAM
Dana Meissner, CFA, FRM, CAIA
Senior Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager
Head of Alternatives Equity Team

joined Federated Hermes
25 years of experience
P. Ryan Bend, CFA, CPA, CAIA
Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager

joined Federated Hermes
23 years of experience
Chad Hudson, CFA
Vice President
Portfolio Manager
Senior Trader

joined Federated Hermes
30 years of experience

Performance

DAILY PERFORMANCEAS OF March 27 2025
View Historical Prices
Daily Performance Metrics - Part 1
NAV $4.83
NAV Change $0.02
Daily Performance Metrics - Part 2
MOP $5.11
Daily Distribution Yield at NAV 9.51%
Daily Distribution Yield at MOP 8.99%

Characteristics

DISCLOSURES

For additional information, including definitions of related terms and indexes, see the Financial Glossary and Benchmark Index Glossary. In addition, by accessing documents containing CUSIP information, you agree to the Terms of Use for CUSIP Information contained in the Financial Glossary.

Commentary

Market Overview

For the fourth quarter of 2024, the S&P 500 returned 2.39%, including dividends. The Russell 2000 Index returned 0.33% and the NASDAQ returned 6.36%. During the quarter, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services were the best performers from a sector perspective, while Materials and Health Care were the weakest.

In the fourth quarter, stocks and bonds performed divergently as stickier inflation readings and a more hawkish US Federal Reserve caused significant pressures in the bond market. While stock markets initially rallied in response to the decisive re-election of President Trump in November, December comments from the Fed caused markets to re-evaluate the level of policy easing expected in 2025. Growth equities notably outperformed value issues in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, equity volatility, as measured by the VIX Index, was elevated at times due to the US presidential election and decisions from the Fed. The VIX began the fourth quarter at 17, ended the quarter at 17, and also averaged 17.

Fixed income markets had a challenging fourth quarter as the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index returned -3.06%. The Fed decreased the federal funds rate by 0.25% in both November and December, yet US 10‑year Treasury bond yields increased markedly in the quarter, increasing 79 basis points from 3.78% to 4.57%. This was because the Fed indicated fewer than anticipated further interest rate cuts in 2025 due to persistent inflation.

The US dollar appreciated significantly in the fourth quarter, returning 7.6% as measured by the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY). Key commodities were mostly stronger in the fourth quarter; gold returned -0.4%, Brent crude oil returned 4.0% and natural gas returned 24.3%.

Fund Performance

Federated Prudent Bear Fund’s returned -0.68% (A Shares at NAV) in the fourth quarter. The fund managers varied net short exposure throughout the quarter, ranging approximately from a high of 101% to a low of 87%. In the fourth quarter, the contribution to fund performance from equity index futures and equity options was -0.69% and -0.17%, respectively.

Performance quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than what is stated. Other share classes may have experienced different returns than the share class presented. To view performance current to the most recent month-end and for after tax returns, click on the Performance tab. Performance does not reflect the maximum 5.5% sales charge for A Shares. If included, it would reduce the performance quoted.

Click the Performance tab for standard fund performance.

Positioning and Strategy

The fund managers commenced the fourth quarter positioned with net short exposure at approximately 101% (includes put options) and ended the fourth quarter with net short exposure at approximately 93% (includes put options). The fund managers continued to own equity securities in businesses that we believe are undervalued and to sell short equity securities that we believe trade at higher prices than are warranted. Throughout the quarter, the fund managers purchased and traded equity put options on broad market indexes tactically.

At the end of the fourth quarter, total gross short exposure was 103% and was comprised of: S&P 500 short exposure of 88%, non-S&P 500 short exposure of 10%, and 5% delta-adjusted put options. At the end of the fourth quarter, total gross long exposure was 10%. Consequently, at the end of the fourth quarter, net short exposure was 93%.

Documents

 
Documents
DOCUMENT NAME FORMAT AS OF ACTIONS
Prudent Bear Fund - Investor Fact Sheet PDF December 31 2024
Why own Federated Hermes Prudent Bear Fund PDF December 31 2024
Annual Report PDF November 25 2024
Semi-Annual Report PDF May 29 2024
Annual Financial Statements PDF November 25 2024
Summary Prospectus PDF November 27 2024
Prospectus PDF November 27 2024
Statement of Additional Information PDF February 24 2025
Quarter 1 Holdings PDF February 27 2025
Quarter 3 Holdings PDF August 28 2024
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS & LINKS
DISCLOSURES

The “As of Date” for regulatory documents  is the date when the document is made available on Federated Hermes' website.

1 disclosure If this product is new, it will not have completed its first financial reporting period. Please check back to view future shareholder reports. For the new share of an existing fund, you may wish to view recent shareholder reports of another share of that fund by visiting another share.

2 disclosure Each fiscal quarter, the Fund will file with the SEC a complete schedule of its monthly portfolio holdings on “Form N-PORT.” The Fund’s holdings as of the end of the third month of every fiscal quarter, as reported on Form N-PORT, will be publicly available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov within 60 days of the end of the fiscal quarter upon filing.

Distributions and Taxes

Standard Performance

 
DISCLOSURES

dagger disclosure The fund's expense ratio is from the most recent prospectus. The expense ratio may reflect voluntary fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements determined by the fund's Advisor and/or its affiliates. The voluntary waivers and/or reimbursements, if applicable, are in effect up to but not including the later of 12/01/2025 or the date of the fund's next effective prospectus. The expense ratio includes Dividends and Other Expenses Related to Short Sales. If Dividends and Other Expenses Related to Short Sales were excluded, the total net expenses would have been 1.80%.

Total returns for periods of less than one year are cumulative.

The Federated Hermes Prudent Bear Fund is the successor to the Prudent Bear Fund, pursuant to a reorganization that took place on December 5, 2008. Prior to that date, the Federated Hermes Prudent Bear Fund had no investment operations. Accordingly, performance information shown for periods prior to December 5, 2008, is historical information for the former No Load Shares but has been adjusted to reflect the maximum sales charges and expenses applicable to the fund’s A and C Shares.

The value of equity securities in the fund’s portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the fund’s share price may decline. Equity securities may decline in value because of an increase in interest rates or changes in the stock market.

Value stocks tend to have higher dividends and thus have a higher income-related component in their total return than growth stocks. Value stocks also may lag growth stocks in performance at times, particularly in late stages of a market advance.

The fund's use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional instruments.

Investing in IPOs involves special risks such as limited liquidity and increased volatility.

Diversification does not assure a profit nor protect against loss.

Federated Hermes Prudent Bear Fund regularly makes short sales of securities, which involves unlimited risk including the possibility that losses may exceed the original amount invested. The fund may also use options and future contracts, which have risks associated with unlimited losses of the underlying holdings due to unanticipated market movements and failure to correctly predict the direction of securities prices, interest rates and currency exchange rates. However, a mutual fund investor’s risk is limited to one’s amount of investment in a mutual fund. Such securities may be difficult to sell without experiencing delays or additional costs. Please see the prospectus for further details. Considering the increased risks, the fund may not be suitable for all investors.

After-tax returns are calculated using a standard set of assumptions. Actual after-tax returns depend on each investor's personal tax situation, and are likely to differ from those shown. The stated returns assume the highest historical federal income and capital gains tax rates. Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes a continued investment in the fund and shows the effect of taxes on fund distributions. Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares assumes all shares were redeemed at the end of each measurement period, and shows the effect of any taxable gain (or offsetting loss) on redemption, as well as the effects of taxes on fund distributions. These after-tax returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors holding shares through tax-deferred programs, such as IRA or 401(k) plans, or variable annuities. The after-tax average annual total returns are based on the 37% tax bracket and include the 3.8% tax on net investment income.

Mutual funds are subject to risks and fluctuate in value.

Product classifications noted at the top are Federated Hermes' internal classifications.

The holdings percentages are based on net assets at the close of business on the date above, and may not necessarily reflect adjustments that are routinely made when presenting net assets for formal financial statement purposes. Because this is a managed portfolio, the investment mix will change.

Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.

Investors should carefully consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a summary prospectus or prospectus containing this and other information, contact us or view the prospectus provided on this website. Please carefully read the summary prospectus or prospectus before investing.

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Not FDIC Insured
May Lose Value
No Bank Guarantee

1400765619