Form 497K SCHWAB INVESTMENTS

June 26, 2018 11:49 AM EDT
Summary Prospectus | June 28, 2018
Schwab Global Real Estate FundTM
Ticker Symbol: SWASX
Before you invest, you may want to review the fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund’s prospectus, Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and other information about the fund online at  www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus. You can also obtain this information at no cost by calling 1-866-414-6349 or by sending an email request to [email protected]. If you purchase or hold fund shares through a financial intermediary, the fund’s prospectus, SAI, and other information about the fund are available from your financial intermediary.
The fund’s prospectus and SAI, both dated June 28, 2018, include a more detailed discussion of fund investment policies and the risks associated with various fund investments. The prospectus and SAI are incorporated by reference into the summary prospectus, making them legally a part of the summary prospectus.
Investment Objective
The fund seeks capital growth and income consistent with prudent investment management.
Fund Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
  None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
Management fees 0.77
Distribution (12b-1) fees None
Other expenses 0.35
Total annual fund operating expenses 1.12
Less expense reduction (0.07)
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reduction1 1.05
1 The investment adviser and its affiliates have agreed to limit the total annual fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and certain non-routine expenses) of the fund to 1.05% for so long as the investment adviser serves as the adviser to the fund. This agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval of the fund’s Board of Trustees.
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 time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those time periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The figures are based on total annual fund operating expenses after expense reduction. The expenses would be the same whether you stayed in the fund or sold your shares at the end of each period. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Expenses on a $10,000 Investment
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$107 $334 $579 $1,283
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 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 the 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 96% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of real estate companies and companies related to the real estate industry. The fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice before changing this policy. Real estate companies include U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that, in the opinion of the investment adviser, derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from the ownership, construction, development, financing, management, servicing, sale or leasing of commercial, industrial or residential real estate or have 50% of their total assets in real estate. Companies related to the real estate industry include companies whose products and services pertain to the real estate industry, such as mortgage lenders and mortgage servicing companies. The fund does not invest directly in real estate.
The fund may invest a significant portion of its total assets in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other similar REIT-like structures. REITs are U.S. real estate companies that own and commonly operate income producing real estate, or that use their assets to finance real estate. REITs are not subject to U.S. corporate income tax, provided they comply with a number of tax requirements, including the distribution to shareholders of at least 90% of their net income. A number of other countries have adopted REIT-like structures that are not subject to local corporate income tax, provided they distribute a significant portion of their net income to shareholders and meet certain other requirements. The fund may also invest in real estate operating companies (REOCs). REOCs are real estate companies that engage in the development,
 
 
Schwab Global Real Estate Fund | Summary Prospectus1
REG56047-20        00211604

 

management or financing of real estate. They typically provide services such as property management, property development, facilities management and real estate financing. REOCs are publicly-traded corporations that have not elected to be taxed as REITs. The three primary reasons for not making such an election are the (a) availability of tax-loss carry-forwards, (b) operation in non-REIT-qualifying lines of business, and (c) ability to retain earnings.
The fund invests in equity securities, primarily common stocks. The fund may also invest in other types of equity securities, including preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights or warrants to purchase stocks, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The fund selects investments based on the investment adviser’s analysis of each issuer. In making this determination, the investment adviser may take into account a variety of factors that it determines to be relevant from time to time, such as the issuer’s financial condition, industry position, earnings estimates, management and local and global economic and market conditions. The investment adviser uses proprietary research to help choose and allocate the fund’s investments.
The fund may invest in derivative securities, such as swaps, options, futures and options on futures, which are principally tied to the real estate industry, for hedging purposes and to seek returns on the fund’s otherwise uninvested cash. The derivative securities may relate to a specific investment, a group of investments, or the fund’s portfolio as a whole. Derivatives are financial contracts whose values depend upon or are derived from the values of underlying assets, reference rates or indexes. The fund may use investment techniques such as short sales and reverse repurchase agreements. Please see the “Principal Risks” section for a description of these investments. The fund may lend its securities to certain financial institutions to earn additional income.
Under normal market conditions, the fund seeks to invest its assets across different countries and regions. The fund’s investments in a single country or a limited number of countries may represent a higher percentage of the fund’s assets from time to time. The fund invests primarily in developed market countries, but may invest up to 15% of its total assets in emerging market countries. “Emerging market” countries include, but are not limited to, countries included in the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM. In allocating the fund’s investments, the investment adviser considers the size and condition of the real estate market in each country and region and the global real estate market as a whole. Except as provided above, the fund is not required to invest or restricted from investing any minimum or maximum percentage of its assets in any one country or region.
The fund sells securities when the investment adviser believes it is appropriate to do so, regardless of how long the securities have been held. Such sales may cause the fund to experience high portfolio turnover and correspondingly increased transaction costs. The sales may also result in capital gain or loss, including short-term capital gain or loss. High portfolio turnover may adversely impact the fund’s performance.
The fund may hold up to 100% of its assets in cash, cash equivalents and other short-term investments for temporary or defensive purposes. The fund may utilize such tactics when the investment adviser believes that market or economic interests are unfavorable for investors. Under such circumstances, the fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Principal Risks
The fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. The fund’s principal risks include:
Market Risk. Financial markets rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of an investment in the fund will fluctuate, which means that an investor could lose money over short or long periods.
Equity Risk. The prices of equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Market Capitalization Risk. Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization fall behind other types of investments, the fund’s performance could be impacted.
Mid-Cap Company Risk. Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply.
Small-Cap Company Risk. Securities issued by small-cap companies may be riskier than those issued by larger companies, and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns.
Real Estate Investment Risk. The fund has a policy of concentrating its investments in real estate companies and companies related to the real estate industry. As such, the fund is subject to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate securities and an investment in the fund will be closely linked to the performance of the real estate markets. These risks include, among others: declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds or other limits to accessing the credit or capital markets; defaults by borrowers or tenants, particularly during an economic downturn; and changes in interest rates.
REITs Risk. In addition to the risks associated with investing in securities of real estate companies and real estate related companies, REITs are subject to certain additional risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the trusts, and mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills and cash flows, and may have their investments in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type.
Schwab Global Real Estate Fund | Summary Prospectus2

 

Failure of a company to qualify as a REIT under federal tax law may have adverse consequences to the fund. In addition, REITs have their own expenses, and the fund will bear a proportionate share of those expenses.
Foreign Investment Risk. The fund’s investments in securities of foreign issuers involve certain risks that may be greater than those associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These include risks of adverse changes in foreign economic, political, regulatory and other conditions; changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations (including limitations on currency movements and exchanges); the imposition of economic sanctions or other government restrictions; differing accounting, auditing, financial reporting and legal standards and practices; differing securities market structures; and higher transaction costs. These risks may negatively impact the value or liquidity of the fund’s investments, and could impair the fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its investment strategy. There is a risk that investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent the fund’s investments in a single country or a limited number of countries represent a large percentage of the fund’s assets, the fund’s performance may be adversely affected by the economic, political, regulatory and social conditions in those countries, and the fund’s price may be more volatile than the price of a fund that is geographically diversified.
Emerging Markets Risk. Emerging market countries may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. Emerging market countries often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements and greater risk associated with the custody of securities. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than in developed countries. As a result, there may be an increased risk of illiquidity and price volatility associated with the fund’s investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, and, at times, it may be difficult to value such investments.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline, and the credit standing of the issuer. The price of a convertible security will also normally vary in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying common stock because of the conversion or exercise feature.
Derivatives Risk. The fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. The fund’s use of derivatives could reduce the fund’s performance, increase the fund’s volatility and could cause the fund to lose more than the initial amount invested. In addition, investments in derivatives may involve leverage, which means a small percentage of assets invested in derivatives can have a disproportionately large impact on the fund. However, these risks
are less severe when the fund uses derivatives for hedging rather than to enhance the fund’s returns or as a substitute for a position or security.
Leverage Risk. Certain fund transactions, such as derivatives, short sales and reverse repurchase agreements, may give rise to a form of leverage and may expose the fund to greater risk. Leverage tends to magnify the effect of any decrease or increase in the value of the fund’s portfolio securities. The use of leverage may cause the fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations.
Short Sales Risk. The fund will incur a loss if the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the fund replaces the borrowed security.
Management Risk. As an actively managed mutual fund, the fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser will select investments or allocate assets in a manner that could cause the fund to underperform or otherwise not meet its objective. The fund’s investment adviser applies its own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the fund, but there can be no guarantee that they will produce the desired results.
ETF Risk. When the fund invests in an ETF, it will bear a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, lack of liquidity in the market for an ETF’s shares can result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities.
Securities Lending Risk. Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in, or delay in recovery of, the loaned securities if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.
Liquidity Risk. The fund may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the fund may have to sell them at a loss.
For more information on the risks of investing in the fund, please see the “Fund Details” section in the prospectus.
Performance
The bar chart below shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compared to that of an index. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. All figures assume distributions were reinvested. Keep in mind that future performance (both before and after taxes) may differ from past performance. For current performance information, please see  www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus. On September 28, 2009, the Investor Share class and Select Share class were combined into a single class of shares of the fund, and the fund no longer offers multiple classes of shares. The performance history of the fund prior to September 28, 2009 is that of the fund’s former Select Shares.
Schwab Global Real Estate Fund | Summary Prospectus3

 

Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31
Best Quarter: 36.55% Q2 2009
Worst Quarter: (31.24%) Q4 2008
Year-to-date performance (before taxes) as of 3/31/18: (3.28%)
Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/17
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Before taxes 15.34% 7.10% 4.03%
After taxes on distributions 13.55% 5.39% 2.36%
After taxes on distributions and sale of shares 8.94% 4.76% 2.39%
Comparative Index (reflects no deduction for expenses or taxes)      
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Index (Net) 13.99% 6.22% N/A 1
Global Real Estate Spliced Index2 13.99% 6.22% 3.11%
1 The inception date of the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Index is October 31, 2008. The fund began tracking the index on November 1, 2008.
2 The Global Real Estate Spliced Index is a custom blended index developed by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. comprised of the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Index (Gross) from inception of the fund until the close of business on October 31, 2008, and the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global Index (Net) from November 1, 2008 thereafter. The components that make up the composite may vary over time.
The after-tax figures reflect the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during the period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your fund shares through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, an individual retirement account (IRA) or other tax-advantaged account.
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
Portfolio Managers
Jonas Svallin, CFA, Vice President and Head of Active Equities, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since 2012.
Wei Li, Ph.D., CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. She has managed the fund since 2013.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The fund is open for business each day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the fund reserves the right to treat such
day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate its share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
New investors may only invest in the fund through an account at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or another financial intermediary. When you place orders to purchase, exchange or redeem fund shares through an account at Schwab or another financial intermediary, you must follow Schwab’s or the other financial intermediary’s transaction procedures. Investors who purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the fund’s transfer agent may make additional purchases and place exchange and redemption orders through the fund’s transfer agent by contacting the transfer agent by phone or in writing as noted below:
• by telephone at 1-800-407-0256; or
• by mail to DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323.
The minimum initial investment for the fund is $100. The minimum may be waived for certain investors or in the fund’s sole discretion.
Tax Information
Dividends and capital gains distributions received from the fund will generally be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of 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 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.  
Schwab Global Real Estate Fund | Summary Prospectus4

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