Weitz Funds

07/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/29/2024 12:37

Summary Prospectus by Investment Company - Form 497K

CORE PLUS INCOME FUND
WCPBX / WCPNX

Summary Prospectus
July 31, 2024

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's Prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. The Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated July 31, 2024 and as currently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. You can find the Fund's Prospectus and other information about the Fund online at https://weitzinvestments.com/resources/product-literature/default.fs. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 888-859-0698 or by sending an e-mail request to [email protected].

Investment Objective

The primary investment objectives of the Fund are current income and capital preservation. A secondary investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

The tables below describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.

SHAREHOLDER FEES
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Institutional Class Investor Class
Maximum sales charge (load) on purchase None None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) None None
Redemption fee None None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Institutional Class Investor Class
Management fees 0.40% 0.40%
Distribution (12b-1) fees None None
Other expenses* 0.12% 0.39%
Total annual fund operating expenses* 0.52% 0.79%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(1)* (0.07)% (0.14)%
Total annual fund operating expenses after 0.45% 0.65%
fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement

(1) The investment adviser has agreed in writing to waive its fees and reimburse certain expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage costs, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to limit the total annual fund operating expenses for Institutional Class shares and Investor Class Shares to 0.45% and 0.65%, respectively, of each Class's average daily net assets through July 31, 2025. This agreement may only be terminated by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.

* Due to new agreements entered into by the Funds, Other expenses, Total annual fund operating expenses and Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement have been estimated to reflect the new fee arrangements in these agreements and may differ from the Fund's financial highlights in the annual report.

Weitz Funds - Core Plus Income Fund

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 periods indicated and then redeem in full at the end of each of the periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same each year. The example reflects the contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement, if applicable, for the current duration of the arrangement only.

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
Institutional Class $46 $160 $284 $646
Investor Class $66 $238 $425 $965

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transactions costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate 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 12% of the average value of the portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in debt securities. These debt securities may include U.S. Government securities (including agency securities, and securities issued by government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including their mortgage-backed securities), corporate debt securities, other mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and securities issued by foreign governments, which may include sovereign debt. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in debt securities which are unrated or which are non-investment grade (we consider investment grade to mean rated at least BBB- by one or more nationally recognized credit ratings firm) (non-investment grade securities are commonly referred to as "junk bonds"); however, U.S. Government securities, as described above, even if unrated, do not count toward this 25% limit. The Fund may invest in derivatives instruments, such as options, futures contracts, including interest rate futures, and options on futures. These investments will typically be made for investment purposes consistent with the Fund's investment objective and may also be used to mitigate or hedge risks within the portfolio or for the temporary investment of cash balances. These derivative instruments will count toward the Fund's 80% policy only if they have economic characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy. The Fund may invest in securities issued by non-U.S. issuers, which securities may be denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies. We select debt securities whose yield is sufficiently attractive in view of the risks of ownership. In deciding whether the Fund should invest in particular debt securities, we consider a number of factors such as the price, coupon and yield-to-maturity, as well as the credit quality of the issuer. We review the terms of the debt security, including subordination, default, sinking fund, and early redemption provisions.

The Fund may invest in debt securities of all maturities, but expects to maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity of less than ten years. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the Fund's portfolio as of June 30, 2024 was 8.7 years.

The Fund may also invest in common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into stocks.

If we determine that circumstances warrant, a greater portion of the Fund's portfolio may be retained in cash and cash equivalents such as U.S. Government securities or other high-quality debt securities. In the event that the Fund takes such a temporary defensive position, it may not be able to achieve its investment objective during this temporary period.

Principal Investment Risks

You should be aware that an investment in the Fund involves certain risks, including, among others, the following:

Market Risk As with any mutual fund, investment return and principal value will fluctuate, depending on general market conditions and other factors. Market risk includes political, regulatory, economic, social and health risks (including the risks presented by the spread of infectious diseases) which can lead to increased market volatility and negative impacts on local and global financial markets, and the duration and severity of the impact of these risks on markets cannot be reasonably estimated. You may lose money if you invest in the Fund.
Active Management Risk The investment adviser's judgment about the attractiveness, value or potential appreciation of the Fund's investments may prove to be incorrect. The Fund could underperform other funds withsimilar objectives or investment strategies, if the Fund's overall investment selections or strategies fail to produce the intended results.

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Weitz Funds - Core Plus Income Fund

Interest Rate Risk Debt securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of debt securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. A wide variety of factors can cause interest rates to fluctuate (e.g., central bank monetary policies, inflation rates, general economic conditions, etc.). When interest rates rise, debt securities prices fall. When interest rates fall, debt securities prices rise. Changing interest rates may have sudden and unpredictable effects in the markets and on the Fund's investments. In general, debt securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Credit Risk The risk that the issuer of a debt security will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner or that negative perceptions of the issuer's ability to make such payments will cause the price of that security to fall. In general, lower-rated debt securities may have greater credit risk than investment grade securities.
Non-Investment Grade Debt (Junk Bond) Securities Risk Non-investment grade debt securities (commonly referred to as "high yield" or "junk bonds") are more speculative and involve a greater risk of default and price change than investment grade debt securities due to the issuer's creditworthiness. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the market prices of investment grade debt securities and may decline significantly in response to adverse economic changes, issuer developments or rising interest rates.
Call Risk Certain debt securities may be called (redeemed) at the option of the issuer at a specified price before reaching their stated maturity date. Call risk is the risk, especially during periods of falling interest rates, that an issuer will call or repay a debt security before its maturity date, likely causing the Fund to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, and thereby decreasing the Fund's income.
Debt Securities Liquidity Risk Debt securities purchased by the Fund may be illiquid at the time of purchase or may be liquid at the time of purchase but subsequently become illiquid due to, among other things, events relating to the issuer of the securities (e.g., changes to the market's perception of the credit quality of the issuer), market events, economic conditions, investor perceptions or lack of market participants. The Fund may be unable to sell illiquid securities on short notice or only at a price below current value.
Mortgage-Backed (and Other Asset-Backed) Securities Risk Mortgage-backed securities (and other asset-backed securities) are generally structured for the securities holders to receive periodic payments as the securities issuer receives payments of principal and/or interest on the mortgages (or loans) in an underlying asset pool. Sometimes these securities are issued in separate tranches, which can mean the securities holders of one tranche receive payment in full before the securities holders of another tranche receive payments. Also sometimes credit support is provided for these securities, which can mean the securities issuer, an affiliated party or a third party provides additional assets, or makes additional promises, with respect to payment to the securities holders. Risks to the securities holders can include (i) the underlying asset pool may not pay as expected (which could mean sooner or later than expected), (ii) the securities issuer may have insufficient cash to make payment on the securities generally, or on certain tranches of securities and (iii) the credit support may be insufficient to make payment on the securities.
Government-Sponsored Enterprises Risk Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.
Municipal Securities Risk Municipal securities risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers, and the possibility of future tax and legislative changes which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk The Fund may invest in securities issued by non-U.S. issuers, which securities may be denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies. Investments in non-U.S. securities may involve additional risks including exchange rate fluctuation, political or economic instability, the imposition of exchange controls, sanctions, expropriation, limited disclosure and illiquid markets.
Derivatives Risk Derivatives are instruments, such as futures and forward contracts, whose value is derived from that of other assets, rates or indices. The use of derivatives may carry more risk than other types of investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks including leverage, counterparty, liquidity, interest rate, market, credit, management and legal risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and in some cases the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.
Large Investor Risk Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or more large investors, including related persons of the investment adviser. These investors may redeem shares in substantial quantities or on a frequent basis, which may negatively impact the Fund's performance, may increase realized capital gains, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to other shareholders and may potentially limit the use of available capital loss carryforwards or certain other losses to offset any future realized capital gains. Large investor redemption activity also may increase the Fund's brokerage and other expenses.
Failure to Meet Investment Objective There can be no assurance that the Fund will meet its investment objective.

Your investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other governmental agency.

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Weitz Funds - Core Plus Income Fund

Performance

The following chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the Fund's performance over the periods indicated and by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns for the periods indicated, both before and after taxes, compared to those of a relevant broad-based securities market index. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index, the Fund's primary comparative index, is generally representative of the market for investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bonds. All Fund performance numbers are calculated after deducting fees and expenses, and all numbers assume reinvestment of dividends. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no waivers and/or reimbursements. The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future both before and after taxes. Updated performance information is available at weitzinvestments.com or by calling us toll-free at 888-859-0698.

Calendar Year Total Returns-Investor Class

The year-to-date return for the Fund's Investor Class for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was 0.91%.

BEST AND WORST PERFORMING QUARTERS
(during the period shown above)
Quarter/Year Total Return
Best quarter 2nd quarter 2020 8.57%
Worst quarter 2nd quarter 2022 -4.79%
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
(for periods ended December 31, 2023)
Since
1 Year 5 Year inception
Investor Class
Return before taxes 6.95% 2.98% 2.90%
Return after taxes on distributions 4.81% 1.48% 1.60%
Return after taxes on distributions and sale of 4.07% 1.68% 1.68%
fund shares
Institutional Class return before taxes 7.05% 3.10% 3.05%
Comparative Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes):
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index 5.53% 1.10% 1.53%

After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. In some instances, the return after taxes may be greater than the return before taxes because you are assumed to be able to use the capital loss on the sale of Fund shares to offset other taxable gains. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as a 401(k) account or individual retirement account (IRA).

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Weitz Funds - Core Plus Income Fund

Fund Management

Investment Adviser

Weitz Investment Management, Inc. ("Weitz Inc.") is the investment adviser for the Fund.

Portfolio Managers

Thomas D. Carney, CFA, and Nolan P. Anderson are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Both Mr. Carney and Mr. Anderson have been portfolio managers of the Fund since its inception.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

For Investor Class shares, the minimum investment required to open an account in the Fund is $2,500. The subsequent minimum investment requirement is $25.

For Institutional Class shares, the minimum investment required to open an account in the Fund is $1,000,000. The subsequent minimum investment requirement is $25.

Investors may purchase, redeem or exchange Fund shares by written request, telephone, online, or through a financial intermediary on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may conduct transactions by mail (Weitz Funds, c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, P.O. Box 541150, Omaha, Nebraska 68154), by telephone at 888-859-0698, or online at weitzinvestments.com. Purchases and redemptions by telephone are only permitted if you previously established this option on your account.

Tax Information

The Fund's distributions may be taxable to you as ordinary income and/or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed upon withdrawals made from those arrangements.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a financial adviser), the Fund and/ or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary an administrative fee to compensate them for the services they provide (commonly referred to as administrative fee payments). These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

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Weitz Funds - Core Plus Income Fund

WCPBX, WCPNX Sum Pro
5732024

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