497K3B 1 nif-fundprofile.txt NEW INCOME FUND, 10/1/01 October 1, 2001 FUND PROFILE T. ROWE PRICE New Income Fund A bond fund investing primarily in investment-grade bonds to achieve an attractive level of income. TROWEPRICELOGO This profile summarizes key information about the fund that is included in the fund's prospectus. The fund's prospectus includes additional information about the fund, including a more detailed description of the risks associated with investing in the fund that you may want to consider before you invest. You may obtain the prospectus and other information about the fund at no cost by calling 1-800-638-5660, or by visiting our Web site at www.troweprice.com. 1 1 FUND PROFILE --------------------------------------------------------- What is the fund's objective? The fund seeks the highest level of income consistent with the preservation of capital over time by investing primarily in marketable debt securities. What is the fund's principal investment strategy? We will invest at least 80% of the fund's total assets in income-producing securities, which may include U.S. government and agency obligations, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, foreign securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), and others, including, on occasion, equities. All debt securities purchased by the fund must be rated investment grade (AAA, AA, A, or BBB) by at least one major credit rating agency or, if unrated, must have a T. Rowe Price equivalent rating. Up to 15% of total assets may be invested in "split-rated securities," or those rated investment grade by at least one rating agency, but below investment grade by others. However, none of the fund's remaining assets can be invested in bonds rated below investment grade by Standard & Poor's, Moody's, or Fitch IBCA, Inc. We have considerable flexibility in seeking high yield for the fund. There are no maturity restrictions, so we can purchase longer-term bonds, which tend to have higher yields than shorter-term issues. However, the portfolio's weighted average maturity is expected to be between four and 15 years. In addition, when there is a large yield difference between the various quality levels, we may move down the credit scale and purchase lower-rated bonds with higher yields. When the difference is small or the outlook warrants, we may concentrate investments in higher-rated issues. We may also invest in other securities, including futures, options, and swaps, in keeping with the fund's objective. The fund may sell holdings for a variety of reasons, such as to adjust the portfolio's average maturity or quality, or to shift assets into higher-yielding securities or different sectors. Further information about the fund's investments, including a review of market conditions and fund strategies and their impact on performance, is available in the annual and semiannual shareholder reports. To obtain free copies of these documents, call 1-800-638-5660. What are the main risks of investing in the fund? . Interest rate risk Investors should be concerned primarily with this risk. An increase in interest rates will likely cause the fund's share price to fall, resulting in a loss of principal. That's because the bonds and notes in the fund's portfolio become less attractive to other investors when securities with higher yields become available. Even GNMAs and other securities whose principal and interest payments are guaranteed can decline in price if rates rise. Generally speaking, the 2 FUND PROFILE --------------------------------------------------------- longer a bond's maturity, the greater its potential for price declines if rates rise and for price gains if rates fall. Because the fund may invest in bonds of any maturity, it carries more interest rate risk than short-term bond funds. . Credit risk This is the chance that any of a fund's holdings will have its credit rating downgraded or will default (fail to make scheduled interest or principal payments), potentially reducing the fund's income level and share price. While the fund's overall credit quality is high, it can own BBB securities, which are more susceptible to adverse economic conditions and may have speculative characteristics. . The fund may continue to hold a security that has been downgraded or loses its investment-grade rating after purchase. . Foreign investing risk To the extent the fund holds foreign bonds, it will be subject to special risks whether the bonds are denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies. These risks include potentially adverse political and economic developments overseas, greater volatility, lower liquidity, and the possibility that foreign currencies will decline against the dollar, lowering the value of securities denominated in those currencies and possibly the fund's share price. . Prepayment risk and extension risk A mortgage-backed bond, unlike most other bonds, can be hurt when interest rates fall, because homeowners tend to refinance and prepay principal. Receiving increasing prepayments in a falling interest rate environment causes the average maturity of the portfolio to shorten, reducing its potential for price gains. It also requires the fund to reinvest proceeds at lower interest rates, which reduces the portfolio's total return, reduces its yield, and may even cause certain bonds' prices to fall below what the fund paid for them, resulting in a capital loss. Any of these developments could cause a decrease in the fund's income, share price, or total return. Extension risk refers to a rise in interest rates that causes a fund's average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. This would increase the fund's sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines. . Derivatives risk Shareholders are also exposed to derivatives risk, the potential that our investments in these complex and volatile instruments could affect the fund's share price. In addition to CMOs and better-known instruments such as swaps and futures, other derivatives that may be used in limited fashion by the fund include interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities known as "strips." The value of these instruments is derived from an underlying pool of mortgage-backed securities or a CMO. Some of these instruments can be highly volatile, and their value can fall dramatically in response to rapid or unexpected changes in the mortgage, interest rate, or economic environment. 3 3 FUND PROFILE --------------------------------------------------------- As with any mutual fund, there can be no guarantee the fund will achieve its objective. . The share price and income level of the fund will fluctuate with changing market conditions and interest rate levels. When you sell your shares, you may lose money. 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. How can I tell if the fund is appropriate for me? Consider your investment goals, your time horizon for achieving them, and your tolerance for risk. The fund may be appropriate for you if you seek an attractive level of income and are willing to accept the risk of a declining share price when interest rates rise. Steadily reinvesting the fund's income is a conservative strategy for building capital over time. If you are investing primarily for safety and liquidity, you should consider a money market fund. The fund can be used in both regular and tax-deferred accounts, such as IRAs. . The fund should not represent your complete investment program or be used for short-term trading purposes. How has the fund performed in the past? The bar chart showing calendar year returns and the average annual total return table indicate risk by illustrating how much returns can differ from one year to the next and over time. Fund past performance is no guarantee of future returns. The fund can also experience short-term performance swings, as shown by the best and worst calendar quarter returns during the years depicted in the chart. LOGO 4 FUND PROFILE ---------------------------------------------------------
Calendar Year Total Returns "91" "92" "93" "94" "95" "96" "97" "98" "99" "00" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.51 4.96 9.58 -2.22 18.36 2.38 9.32 5.04 -1.58 11.13 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Quarter ended Total return Best quarter 6/30/95 5.83% Worst quarter 3/31/96 -2.53% Table 1 Average Annual Total Returns
Periods ended 09/30/2001 1 year 5 years 10 years ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Income Fund 12.98% 7.02% 6.94% Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index 12.95 8.06 7.76 Lipper Corporate Debt Funds A Rated 11.56 6.91 7.27 Average -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These figures include changes in principal value, reinvested dividends, and capital gain distributions, if any. Lehman indices do not reflect the deduction of any fees or expenses. What fees or expenses will I pay? The fund is 100% no load. There are no fees or charges to buy or sell fund shares, reinvest dividends, or exchange into other T. Rowe Price funds. There are no 12b-1 fees. Table 2 Fees and Expenses of the Fund*
Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management fee 0.47%/ // / Other expenses 0.26% Total annual fund operating expenses 0.73%/ // / --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Redemption proceeds of less than $5,000 sent by wire are subject to a $5 fee paid to the fund. Accounts with less than a $2,000 balance (with certain exceptions) are subject to a $10 fee. Example. The following table gives you a rough idea of how expense ratios may translate into dollars and helps you to compare the cost of investing in this fund with that of other mutual funds. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the table shows how much you would pay if operating expenses remain the same, you invest $10,000, earn a 5% annual return, and hold the investment for the following periods and then redeem:
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years ---------------------------------------------------- $75 $233 $406 $906 ----------------------------------------------------
5 5 FUND PROFILE --------------------------------------------------------- Who manages the fund? The fund is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Founded in 1937, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates manage investments for individual and institutional accounts. The company offers a comprehensive array of stock, bond, and money market funds directly to the investing public. William T. Reynolds manages the fund day to day and has been chairman of its Investment Advisory Committee since 1998. He joined T. Rowe Price in 1981 and has been managing investments since 1978. To participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans: The following questions and answers about buying and selling shares and services do not apply to your plan. Please call your plan's toll-free number for additional information. Also note that this profile may include funds not available through your plan. How can I purchase shares? Fill out the New Account Form and return it with your check in the postpaid envelope. The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRAs and gifts or transfers to minors). The minimum subsequent investment is $100 ($50 for IRAs, gifts or transfers to minors, or Automatic Asset Builder). You can also open an account by bank wire, by exchanging from another T. Rowe Price fund, or by transferring assets from another financial institution. How can I sell shares? You may redeem or sell any portion of your account on any business day. Simply write to us or call. You can also access your account at any time via Tele*Access /(R)/ or our Web site. We offer convenient exchange among our entire family of domestic and international funds. Restrictions may apply in special circumstances, and some redemption requests need a signature guarantee. When will I receive income and capital gain distributions? The fund distributes income monthly and net capital gains, if any, at year-end. For regular accounts, income and short-term gains are taxable at ordinary income rates, and long-term gains are taxable at the capital gains rate. Distributions are reinvested automatically in additional shares unless you choose another option, such as receiving a check. Distributions paid to IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are automatically reinvested. What services are available? A wide range, including but not limited to: . retirement plans for individuals and large and small businesses; . automated information and transaction services by telephone or computer; . electronic transfers between fund and bank accounts; . automatic investing and automatic exchange; FUND PROFILE --------------------------------------------------------- . brokerage services; and . asset manager accounts. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 100 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202 www.troweprice.com LOGO RPS F43-035 T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., Distributor