Nationwide Mutual Funds
08/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/26/2026 13:26
Summary Prospectus by Investment Company (Form 497K)
Nationwide International Small Cap Fund
Summary Prospectus August 26, 2026
Class/Ticker A NWXSX R6 NWXUX Institutional Service Class NWXVX Eagle Class NWBFX
Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's Prospectus, which contains information about the Fund and its risks. The Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, each dated March 2, 2026 (as may be supplemented or revised), are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. For free paper or electronic copies of the Fund's Prospectus and other information about the Fund, go to nationwide.com/mutualfundprospectuses, email a request to [email protected] or call 800-848-0920, or ask any financial advisor, bank, or broker-dealer who offers shares of the Fund.
Objective
The Nationwide International Small Cap Fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth.
Fees and Expenses
This table describes 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. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "Investing with Nationwide Funds" commencing on page 18 of the Prospectus and in "Additional Information on Purchases and Sales" commencing on page 93 of the Statement of Additional Information. In addition, if you purchase shares through a specific intermediary, you may be subject to different sales charges including reductions in or waivers of such charges. More information about these intermediary-specific sales charge variations is available in Appendix A to the Fund's Prospectus.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
|
Class A
Shares
|
Class R6
Shares
|
Institutional Service
Class Shares
|
Eagle Class
Shares
|
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
|
5.75%
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
Class A
Shares
|
Class R6
Shares
|
Institutional Service
Class Shares
|
Eagle Class
Shares
|
|
|
Management Fees(1)
|
0.80%
|
0.80%
|
0.80%
|
0.80%
|
|
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
|
0.25%
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
|
Other Expenses(2)
|
0.42%
|
0.17%
|
0.29%
|
0.27%
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
1.47%
|
0.97%
|
1.09%
|
1.07%
|
|
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement(3)
|
(0.08)%
|
(0.08)%
|
(0.08)%
|
(0.08)%
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement
|
1.39%
|
0.89%
|
1.01%
|
0.99%
|
(1) "Management Fees" has been restated to reflect the reduction of contractual investment advisory fees as of July 1, 2026.
(2) "Other Expenses" for Eagle Class Shares is based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(3) Nationwide Mutual Funds (the "Trust") and Nationwide Fund Advisors (the "Adviser") have entered into a written contract limiting annual fund operating expenses to 0.89% until at least
August 31, 2027. Under the expense limitation agreement, the level to which operating expenses are limited applies to all share classes, excluding any taxes, interest, compensation payable to
parties not affiliated with the Adviser for the recovery of tax reclaims, brokerage commissions, Rule 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, short-sale dividend expenses, administrative services fees, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any merger or reorganization, and may exclude other nonroutine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business. The expense limitation agreement may be changed or eliminated only with the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Adviser may request and receive reimbursement from the Fund for advisory fees waived or other expenses reimbursed by the Adviser pursuant to the expense limitation agreement at a date not to exceed three years from the date in which the corresponding waiver or reimbursement to the Fund was made. However, no reimbursement may be made unless: (i) the Fund's assets exceed $100 million and (ii) the total annual expense ratio of the class making such reimbursement is no higher than the amount of the expense limitation that was in place at the time the Adviser waived the fees or reimbursed the expenses and does not cause the expense ratio to exceed the current expense limitation. Reimbursement by the Fund of amounts previously waived or reimbursed by the Adviser is not permitted except as provided for in the expense limitation agreement.
SP-ISC (8/26)
Summary Prospectus August 26, 2026
1
Nationwide International Small Cap Fund
Example
This Example is intended to help you to 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 sell all of your shares at the end of those time periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and no change in expenses, and any expense limitation or fee waivers that may apply for the periods indicated above under "Fees and Expenses." 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
|
|
|
Class A Shares
|
$708
|
$1,006
|
$1,324
|
$2,225
|
|
Class R6 Shares
|
91
|
301
|
529
|
1,182
|
|
Institutional Service
Class Shares
|
103
|
339
|
593
|
1,322
|
|
Eagle Class Shares
|
101
|
332
|
582
|
1,298
|
Portfolio Turnover
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 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 132.52% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests, at the time of purchase, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations and derivatives that provide investment exposure to such securities or to one or more market risk factors associated with such securities.Companies that are deemed to have smaller capitalizations are those with capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East Small Cap Index ("EAFE® Small Cap Index"). In addition, under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in securities of non-U.S. companies. For these purposes, the subadviser considers an issuer to be a non-U.S. company if it maintains its principal place of business outside the United States, it generates more than 50% of its revenues from business outside the United States, or its common stock trades on an exchange outside the United States. Some of the companies in which the Fund invests may be located in emerging market countries, which typically are developing and low- or middle-income countries. Emerging market countries may be found in regions such as Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Many securities are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
The subadviser employs a "bottom-up" approach to selecting securities, emphasizing those that it believes to represent above-average potential for capital appreciation, based on fundamental research and analysis. The subadviser seeks to develop a portfolio that is broadly diversified across issuers, countries, industries and even styles. The Fund's portfolio therefore includes stocks that are considered to be either growth stocks or value stocks. Because the subadviser's process is driven primarily by individual stock selection, the overall portfolio's yield, price-to-earnings ratio, price-to-book ratio, growth rate and other characteristics will vary over time and, at any given time, the Fund may emphasize either growth stocks or value stocks.
The Fund's subadviser may use derivatives, such as futures, forwards and swaps, to obtain efficient investment exposure as a substitute for taking a position in an underlying asset, to increase returns, or to hedge against international currency exposure or other risks. The Fund may engage in frequent and active trading of portfolio securities.
Principal Risks
The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective.
As with any fund, the value of the Fund's investments-and therefore, the value of Fund shares-may fluctuate. These changes may occur because of:
Equity securities risk - stock markets are volatile. The price of an equity security fluctuates based on changes in a company's financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.
Summary Prospectus August 26, 2026
2
Nationwide International Small Cap Fund
Market risk - the risk that one or more markets in which the Fund invests will go down in value, including the possibility that the markets will go down sharply and unpredictably. This occurs due to numerous factors, including interest rates, the outlook for corporate profits, the health of the national and world economies, and the fluctuation of other securities markets around the world. These risks may be magnified if certain social, political, economic and other conditions and events (such as natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts, trade disputes and social unrest or rapid technological developments such as artificial intelligence) adversely interrupt the global economy.
Smaller company risk - smaller companies are usually less stable in price and less liquid than larger, more established companies. Smaller companies are more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business and economic developments and may have more limited resources. Therefore, they generally involve greater risk.
Foreign securities risk - foreign securities often are more volatile, harder to price and less liquid than U.S. securities. The prices of foreign securities may be further affected by other factors, such as changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the securities are traded.
Foreign currencies - foreign securities may be denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the value of the Fund's portfolio. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency loses value because the currency is worth fewer U.S. dollars. Conversely, when the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency gains value because the currency is worth more U.S. dollars.
Emerging markets risk - emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets are considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Since these markets are smaller than developed markets, they may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. Practices in relation to settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because the Fund will need to use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries are unreliable compared to developed markets. Companies in emerging market countries generally are subject to less stringent financial reporting, accounting and auditing standards than companies in more developed countries. In addition, information about such
companies may be less available and reliable. Many emerging markets also have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies, and the ability to bring and enforce actions may be limited. Certain emerging markets also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war, nationalization of assets, unexpected market closures and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts.
Country or sector risk- if the Fund emphasizes one or more countries or economic sectors, it will be more susceptible to the financial, market or economic events affecting the particular issuers in which it invests than funds that do not emphasize particular countries or sectors.
Growth style risk - growth stocks are generally more sensitive to market movements than other types of stocks primarily because their stock prices are based heavily on future expectations. If the subadviser's assessment of the prospects for a company's growth is wrong, or if the subadviser's judgment of how other investors will value the company's growth is wrong, then the Fund will suffer a loss as the price of the company's stock may fall or not approach the value that the subadviser has placed on it. In addition, growth stocks as a group sometimes are out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for long periods while the market concentrates on other types of stocks, such as "value" stocks.
Value style risk - value investing carries the risk that the market will not recognize a security's intrinsic value for a long time or that a stock judged to be undervalued actually is appropriately priced. In addition, value stocks as a group sometimes are out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for long periods while the market concentrates on other types of stocks, such as "growth" stocks.
Derivatives risk - derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, measure or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. Normally derivatives involve leverage, which means that their use can magnify significantly the effect of price movements of the underlying securities or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund's losses and reducing the Fund's opportunities for gains. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, including a loss that may be greater than the amount invested. They also present default risks if the counterparty to a derivatives contract fails to fulfill its obligations to the Fund. Certain derivatives held by the Fund may be illiquid, including non-exchange-traded or over-the-counter derivatives that are linked to illiquid instruments or illiquid markets, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Finally, the Fund's use of derivatives may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) than if the Fund had not used such instruments. Derivatives also may be more difficult to purchase, sell or value than other instruments.
Summary Prospectus August 26, 2026
3
Nationwide International Small Cap Fund
Currency exposure - the Fund's investments in currency futures and forward foreign currency exchange contracts (collectively, "currency contracts") may involve a small investment relative to the amount of risk assumed. To the extent the Fund enters into these transactions, its success will depend on the subadviser's ability to predict market movements, and their use may have the opposite effect of that intended. Risks include potential loss due to the imposition of controls by a government on the exchange of foreign currencies, the loss of any premium paid to enter into the transaction, delivery failure, default by the other party, or inability to close out a position because the trading market becomes illiquid. Currency contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in the value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying security.
Futures - the prices of futures contracts typically are more volatile than those of stocks and bonds. Small movements in the values of the assets or measures of underlying futures contracts can cause disproportionately larger losses to the Fund. While futures may be more liquid than other types of derivatives, they may experience periods when they are less liquid than stocks, bonds or other investments.
Swaps and forwards - using swaps and forwards can involve greater risks than if the Fund were to invest directly in the underlying securities or assets. Because swaps and forwards often involve leverage, their use can significantly magnify the effect of price movements of the underlying securities or reference measures, disproportionately increasing the Fund's losses and reducing the Fund's opportunities for gains. Currently there are few central exchanges or markets for swap and forward contracts, and therefore they may be less liquid than exchange-traded instruments. If a swap or forward counterparty fails to meet its obligations under the contract, the Fund will lose money.
Liquidity risk - when there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities or instruments, it can become more difficult to sell the securities or instruments at or near their perceived value. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund's value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Liquidity risk also includes the risk that the Fund will experience significant net redemptions of its shares at a time when it cannot find willing buyers for its portfolio securities or instruments or can sell its portfolio securities or instruments only at a material loss. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell other securities or instruments that are more liquid, but at unfavorable times and conditions. Investments in foreign securities tend to have more exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities.
Selection risk - the risk that the securities selected by the Fund's subadviser will underperform the markets, the relevant indexes or the securities selected by other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.
Portfolio turnover risk - a higher portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, may adversely impact the Fund's performance, and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Performance
The following bar chart and table can help you evaluate the Fund's potential risks. The bar chart shows how the Fund's annual total returns have varied from year to year. The table compares the Fund's average annual total returns to the returns of a broad-based securities market index and an additional index. The additional index has characteristics relevant to the Fund's investment strategy. Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting nationwide.com/mutualfunds or by calling 800-848-0920.
The Fund compares its performance to the MSCI EAFE Index to satisfy a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosure requirement.
Annual Total Returns- Class R6 Shares
(Years Ended December 31,)
(Years Ended December 31,)
|
Highest Quarter:
|
22.36%
|
-
|
Q2 2020
|
|
Lowest Quarter:
|
-27.05%
|
-
|
Q1 2020
|
|
Year-to-date total return:
|
10.94%
|
-
|
June 30, 2026
|
After-tax returns are shown in the table for Class R6 shares only and will vary for other classes. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax return depends on your personal tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-advantaged
Summary Prospectus August 26, 2026
4
Nationwide International Small Cap Fund
arrangements, such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans or certain other employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Eagle Class shares have not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, pre-inception historical performance for Eagle Class shares is based on the previous performance of the Fund's Institutional Service Class shares. Performance shown for Eagle Class shares has not been adjusted to reflect that share class's lower expenses than those of Institutional Service Class shares.
Average Annual Total Returns
(For the Periods Ended December 31, 2025)
(For the Periods Ended December 31, 2025)
|
1 Year
|
5 Years
|
Since
Fund
Inception
|
Fund
Inception
Date
|
|
|
Class A Shares- Before Taxes
|
28.87%
|
5.01%
|
8.07%
|
12/29/2016
|
|
Class R6 Shares- Before
Taxes
|
37.25%
|
6.66%
|
9.16%
|
12/29/2016
|
|
Class R6 Shares- After Taxes
on Distributions
|
33.06%
|
4.22%
|
6.65%
|
12/29/2016
|
|
Class R6 Shares- After Taxes
on Distributions and Sales of
Shares
|
23.96%
|
4.47%
|
6.39%
|
12/29/2016
|
|
Institutional Service
Class Shares- Before Taxes
|
37.11%
|
6.54%
|
9.05%
|
12/29/2016
|
|
Eagle Class Shares- Before
Taxes
|
37.11%
|
6.54%
|
9.05%
|
12/29/2016
|
|
MSCI EAFE® Index (The Index
does not pay sales charges,
fees, expenses or taxes.)
|
31.22%
|
8.92%
|
9.08%
|
|
|
MSCI EAFE® Small Cap Index
(The Index does not pay sales
charges, fees, expenses or
taxes.)
|
31.83%
|
5.62%
|
8.20%
|
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
Nationwide Fund Advisors
Subadviser
Wellington Management Company LLP
Portfolio Managers
|
Portfolio Manager
|
Title
|
Length of Service
with Fund
|
|
Jonathan G. White, CFA
|
Managing Director and
Director, Research
Portfolios
|
Since 2018
|
|
Mary L. Pryshlak, CFA
|
Senior Managing
Director and Head of
Investment Research
|
Since 2018
|
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
|
Minimum Initial Investment
Class A: $2,000
Class R6: $1,000,000
Institutional Service Class and Eagle Class: $50,000
Automatic Asset Accumulation Plan (Class A): $0*
* Provided each monthly purchase is at least $50
|
|
Minimum Additional Investment
Class A: $100
Class R6, Institutional Service Class and Eagle Class: no minimum
Automatic Asset Accumulation Plan (Class A): $50
|
In general, you can buy or sell (redeem) shares of the Fund through your broker-dealer or financial intermediary, or by mail or phone on any business day. You can generally pay for shares by check or wire.
|
To Purchase and Sell (Redeem) Fund Shares
|
||
|
Mail:
Nationwide Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global
Fund Services
P.O. Box 219336
Kansas City, MO
64121-9336
|
Overnight:
Nationwide Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global
Fund Services
801 Pennsylvania Ave.,
Suite 219336
Kansas City, MO
64105-1307
|
Website:
nationwide.com/
mutualfunds
|
|
Phone: 800-848-0920 (toll free). Representatives are available 9 a.m. -
8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
|
||
Tax Information
The Fund's distributions are taxable, and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions may be taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn from the tax-advantaged account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
Summary Prospectus August 26, 2026
5
Nationwide International Small Cap Fund
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Summary Prospectus August 26, 2026
6
Nationwide International Small Cap Fund
Nationwide Mutual Funds published this content on August 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via EDGAR on August 26, 2026 at 19:26 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]