MFS Utilities Series Service
Standardized Performance
as of 06/17/2024
Objective And Strategy
ObjectiveThe investment seeks total return.
Strategy
MFS normally invests at least 80% of the fund's net assets in securities of issuers in the utilities industry. Issuers in the utilities industry include issuers engaged in the manufacture, production, generation, transmission, sale or distribution of electric, gas or other types of energy, water or other sanitary services; and issuers engaged in telecommunications. MFS primarily invests the fund's assets in equity securities, but may also invest in debt instruments, including below investment grade quality debt instruments.
Principal Risks
* This portfolio invests in securities of foreign issuers which involves risks not typically associated with domestic issuers, including currency fluctuations and the possibility of political and economic instability. Emerging markets involve risks in addition to those generally associated with foreign securities, because political and economic structures in many emerging markets may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development.
* This portfolio can leverage or use leveraged instruments or derivatives. Portfolios that use leverage, that is, borrow money, are subject to the risk that the cost of borrowing money to leverage will exceed the returns for the securities purchased or that the securities purchased may actually go down in value. Thus, the portfolio's net asset value can decrease more quickly than if the portfolio had not borrowed. Portfolios that use leveraged instruments or derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements, may expose the portfolio to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. The more a portfolio invests in leveraged instruments, the more the leverage will magnify any gains or losses on those investments.
* The portfolio's exposure to the US Dollar Index and/or foreign currencies subjects the portfolio to the risk that foreign currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the US Dollar or, in the case of short position, that the US Dollar will decline in value to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may move significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons including changes in interest rates, the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the US or abroad.
* At times, the Fund's investments may represent industries or industry sectors that are interrelated or have common risks, making it more susceptible to any economic, political, or regulatory developments or other risks affecting those industries and sectors.
* This Fund may invest in publicly issued equity securities, including common stocks. Investments in common stocks are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time.
* Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer's credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer's financial strength may affect a security's value, and thus, impact the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio's performance.
* Counterparty risk is the risk that the other party(s) to an agreement or participant to a transaction, such as a broker, might default on a contract or fail to perform by failing to pay amounts due or failing to fulfill the delivery conditions of the contract or transaction.
* The Fund is subject to the risks of investing in equity securities, that of market volatility. There is no assurance that the investment objective of any fund (or that of any underlying fund) will be achieved or that a diversified portfolio will produce better results than a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not guarantee returns or insulate an investor from potential losses, including the possible loss of principal. When evaluating the purchase of a variable annuity product, your clients should be aware that variable annuity products are long-term investment vehicles designed for retirement purposes and will fluctuate in value; and investing involves market risk, including possible loss of principal.
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Utilities03/08/20191.041.0504/30/20250.25