Federated Hermes MDT Small Cap Core Fund Class R6 (QLSCX) is an open-end mutual fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in the common stocks of small U.S. companies, with at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) allocated to small-cap equities selected predominantly from the Russell 2000 Index; it employs a quantitative investment strategy blending growth and value stocks across various sectors while managing risk through diversification constraints that limit exposure to individual companies and correlated groups. The fund offers share classes including R6, which features a net expense ratio of 0.88%, a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000, and targets institutional investors seeking exposure to the small blend category with approximately 96% in U.S. stocks, 1.5% in non-U.S. stocks, and holdings in around 301 securities. Managed by Federated Hermes MDT Advisers, a division of the broader Federated Hermes, Inc. asset management firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the fund operates primarily in the United States market.
The R6 share class (QLSCX) commenced operations on June 29, 2016, succeeding the Institutional Shares; the overall fund traces its roots to a reorganization of the predecessor MDT Small Cap Core Fund on December 8, 2006, with earlier performance history from that entity, and underwent a name change from Federated MDT Small Cap Core Fund to Federated Hermes MDT Small Cap Core Fund effective June 29, 2020. In a notable recent development, Federated Hermes launched the actively managed Federated Hermes MDT Small Cap Core ETF (FSCC) on July 31, 2024, applying the same quantitative small-cap strategy focused on U.S. companies within the Russell 2000 Index to provide an ETF vehicle for capital growth with similar risk management approaches. The fund maintains assets under management of approximately $1.31 billion, with a portfolio turnover rate of 85% and an annual dividend payout, reflecting ongoing portfolio adjustments amid small-cap market volatility.