Class Z [Member] Investment Risks - Class Z Shares - International Small Cap Portfolio
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Sep. 30, 2025 |
| Market Risks [Member] |
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Market Risk: The Portfolio is subject to market risk, which is the risk that stock prices in general or in particular countries or sectors may decline over short or extended periods. Stock prices may decline in response to adverse changes in the economy or the economic outlook; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest rate, currency and commodity price fluctuations; inflationary pressures; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer- and sector-specific considerations; public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious disease or illness) and regional and global conflicts (including war or civil disturbance and acts of terrorism); cybersecurity events; market disruptions caused by tariffs; trade disputes; levels of government debt and deficits and measures to address budget deficits; downgrading of sovereign debt; sanctions or other government actions; and other factors.
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The United States and other countries are periodically involved in disputes over trade and other matters, which may result in tariffs on various categories of goods imported from the other country, restrictions on investment and adverse impacts on affected
companies and securities. For example, the current political climate between the United States and China has intensified concerns about protectionist trade policies and a potential trade war between China and the United States. The United States has imposed tariffs and other trade barriers on Chinese exports and placed other restrictions on or barriers to investments in China. Trade disputes, particularly prolonged disputes, may adversely affect the economies of the United States and its trading partners, as well as the companies directly or indirectly affected by the dispute and financial markets generally, and thus may adversely affect the value of the Portfolio’s assets. In addition, an increase in tariffs or trade restrictions, or even the threat of such increased tariffs or restrictions, could lead to a significant reduction in international trade, which could have a negative impact on the global economy and a commensurately negative impact on the Portfolio. The United States government has in the recent past acted to prohibit U.S. persons, such as the Portfolio, from owning, and required them to divest, certain Chinese companies designated as related to the Chinese military. There is no assurance that more such companies will not be so designated in the future, which could limit the Portfolio’s opportunities for investment and require the sale of securities at a loss or make them illiquid. Some countries and regions in which the Portfolio invests have strained international relations due to territorial disputes, historical animosities or other defense concerns. Incidents involving a country’s or region’s security may cause uncertainty in the markets and may adversely affect a Portfolio’s investments. For example, the Chinese government is involved in a territorial dispute with Taiwan as well as other territorial disputes; the risk of a forced unification with Taiwan by the Chinese government may adversely affect securities of Chinese, Taiwan-based and other issuers both in and outside the region. If the political climate between the United States, China and other countries in Asia continues to deteriorate, economies and markets may be adversely affected.
Policy and legislative changes in the U.S. and in other countries are affecting many aspects of financial regulation, and these and other events affecting global markets, such as potential trade imbalances with China or other countries; or sanctions or other government actions imposed by the U.S. or a foreign country, including those against specific individuals or companies (or countermeasures taken in response to such sanctions), may contribute to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the financial markets. The impact of these changes on the markets, and the implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time.
Economies and financial markets throughout the world are highly interconnected. Economic, financial or political events, trading and tariff arrangements, armed conflict, including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and the conflict involving Israel, Iran and other countries in the Middle East, terrorism, natural disasters (including the spread of infectious illness) and other circumstances in one country or region could have profound impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the Portfolio invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic and financial difficulties, the value and liquidity of the Portfolio’s investments may be negatively affected.
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| Foreign Currency Risk [Member] |
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Foreign Currency Risk: This is the risk that changes in foreign (non‑U.S.) currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments or reduce the returns of the Portfolio. For example, the value of the Portfolio’s investments in foreign securities and foreign currency positions may decrease if the U.S. Dollar is strong (i.e., gaining value relative to other currencies) and other currencies are weak (i.e., losing value relative to the U.S. Dollar).
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| Country Concentration Risk [Member] |
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Country Concentration Risk: The Portfolio may not always be diversified among countries or regions and the effect on the share price of the Portfolio of specific risks such as political, regulatory and currency may be magnified due to concentration of the Portfolio’s investments in a particular country or region.
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| Emerging Markets Securities Risk [Member] |
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Emerging Markets Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities entail significant risks in addition to those customarily associated with investing in U.S. equities. These risks include risks related to unfavorable or unsuccessful government actions, reduction of government or central bank support, economic sanctions and tariffs and potential responses to those sanctions and tariffs, inadequate accounting standards and auditing and financial recordkeeping requirements, lack of information, social instability, armed conflict, and other adverse market, economic, political and regulatory factors, all of which could disrupt the financial markets in which the Portfolio invests and adversely affect the value of the Portfolio’s assets. These risks are heightened with respect to issuers in emerging market countries because the markets are less developed, less liquid and subject to increased potential for market manipulation, and there may be a greater amount of economic, political and social uncertainty. These risks are even more pronounced in “frontier” markets, which are investable markets with lower total market capitalization and liquidity than the more developed emerging markets. Emerging markets typically have fewer medical and economic resources than more developed countries, and thus they may be less able to control or mitigate the effects of a pandemic, climate change, or a natural disaster.
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| Sector Risk [Member] |
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Sector Risk: The Portfolio may have more risk because of concentrated investments in a particular market sector, such as the industrials sector. Market or economic factors affecting that sector could have a major effect on the value of the Portfolio’s investments.
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| Redemption Risk [Member] |
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Redemption Risk: The Portfolio may experience heavy redemptions that could cause the Portfolio to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or unfavorable prices or increase or accelerate taxable gains or transaction costs and may negatively affect the
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Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”), or performance, which could cause the value of your investment to decline. Redemption risk is heightened during periods of overall market turmoil.
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| Actions by a Few Major Investors [Member] |
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Actions by a Few Major Investors: In certain countries, volatility may be heightened by actions of a few major investors. For example, substantial increases or decreases in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local stock prices and, therefore, share prices of the Portfolio.
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| Capitalization Risk [Member] |
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Capitalization Risk: Investments in small-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in small-capitalization companies may have additional risks because these companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, and their personnel may lack management experience. The prices of securities of small capitalization companies generally are more volatile than those of large capitalization companies and are more likely to be adversely affected than large capitalization companies by changes in earnings results and investor expectations or poor economic or market conditions, including those experienced during a recession. Securities of small capitalization companies may underperform large capitalization companies, may be harder to sell at times or at prices the portfolio managers believe appropriate and may have greater potential for losses.
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| Allocation Risk [Member] |
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Allocation Risk: The Portfolio may seek to focus on different investment disciplines or factors at different times as a means to achieve its investment objective. In the event that the investment disciplines or factors to which the Portfolio has greater exposure perform worse than the investment disciplines or factors with less exposure, the Portfolio’s returns may be negatively affected.
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| Derivatives Risks [Member] |
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Derivatives Risk: The Portfolio may use derivatives in currency hedging as well as for direct investments to gain access to certain markets, earn income, enhance return and broaden portfolio diversification, which entail greater risk than if used solely for hedging purposes. While hedging can guard against potential risks, there is also a risk that a derivative intended as a hedge may not perform as expected. In addition to other risks such as the credit risk of the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction), derivatives involve the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate with relevant assets, rates or indices. Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind, and small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Portfolio. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of an unlimited increase in the value of the underlying asset, reference rate or index, which could cause the Portfolio to suffer a potentially unlimited loss. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. Assets required to be set aside or posted as margin or collateral for derivatives positions may themselves go down in value, and these collateral and other requirements may limit investment flexibility. Some derivatives involve leverage, which can make the Portfolio more volatile and can compound other risks. Derivatives, especially over‑the‑counter derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty on a derivative transaction will be unable or unwilling to honor its contractual obligations to the Portfolio. The U.S. Government and certain foreign governments have adopted regulations governing derivatives markets, including mandatory clearing of certain derivatives as well as additional regulations governing margin, reporting and registration requirements. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation may make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance, or disrupt markets.
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| Real Estate Related Securities Risk [Member] |
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Real Estate Related Securities Risk: Investing in real estate related securities includes, among others, the following risks: possible declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions, including increases in the rate of inflation; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds; overbuilding; extended vacancies of properties; a weakening demand for new office and retail space; increases in competition, property taxes and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws; costs resulting from the clean‑up of, and liability to third parties for damages resulting from, environmental problems; casualty or condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents; and changes in interest rates. In addition, global climate change may have an adverse effect on property and security values and may exacerbate the risks of natural disasters. Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. Investing in REITs also involves risks similar to those associated with investing in small-capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial and management resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. REIT issuers may also fail to maintain their exemptions from investment company registration or fail to qualify for the “dividends paid deduction” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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| Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk [Member] |
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Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk: As with other investments, investments in other investment companies, including other AB Mutual Funds and ETFs, are subject to market and management risk. The market value of the shares of other investment companies and ETFs may differ from their NAV. In addition, if the Portfolio acquires shares of investment companies, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Portfolio (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies.
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| Illiquid Investments Risk [Member] |
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Illiquid Investments Risk: Illiquid investments risk exists when particular investments are difficult or impossible to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Portfolio from purchasing or selling these securities at an advantageous price. In certain cases, governmental actions could prevent sales of securities or repatriation of proceeds. Illiquid securities may also be difficult to value. If the Portfolio is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, or to try to limit losses, the Portfolio may be forced to sell at a substantial loss or may not be able to sell at all.
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| Capital Gain Risk [Member] |
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Capital Gain Risk: As of the date of this Prospectus, a substantial portion of the Portfolio’s net asset value is attributable to realized and/or net unrealized capital gains on portfolio securities. If the Portfolio realizes capital gains in excess of realized capital losses in any fiscal year, it generally expects to make capital gain distributions to shareholders. You may receive distributions that are attributable to appreciation of portfolio securities that happened before you made your investment. Unless you purchase shares through a tax‑advantaged account (such as an IRA or 401(k) plan), these distributions will be taxable to you even though they economically represent a return of a portion of your investment. You should consult your tax professional about your investment in the Portfolio.
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| Management Risk [Member] |
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Management Risk: The Portfolio is subject to management risk because it is an actively-managed investment portfolio. The Manager will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Portfolio, but these techniques, analyses and decisions may not work as intended or may not produce the desired results, and may, during certain periods, result in increased volatility for the Portfolio or cause the value of the Portfolio’s shares to go down. In some cases, derivatives and other investment techniques may be unavailable, or the Manager may determine not to use them, possibly even under market conditions where their use could benefit the Portfolio. Some of these techniques may incorporate, or rely upon, quantitative models, but there is no guarantee that these models will generate accurate forecasts, reduce risk or otherwise perform as expected. In addition, the Manager may change the Portfolio’s investment strategies or policies from time to time. Those changes may not lead to the results intended by the Manager and could have an adverse effect on the Manager and could also have an adverse effect on the value or performance of the Portfolio.
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| Foreign Non U S Securities Risk [Member] |
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Foreign (Non‑U.S.) Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities entail significant risks in addition to those customarily associated with investing in U.S. securities, such as less liquid, less transparent, less regulated and more volatile markets. These risks include risks related to unfavorable or unsuccessful government actions, reduction of government or central bank support, economic sanctions and tariffs and potential responses to those sanctions and tariffs, inadequate accounting standards and auditing and financial recordkeeping requirements, lack of information, social instability, armed conflict, and other adverse market, economic, political and regulatory factors, all of which could disrupt the financial markets in which the Portfolio invests and adversely affect the value of the Portfolio’s assets.
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| Risk Lose Money [Member] |
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As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Portfolio.
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