Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund

Fund summary

Goal

Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. 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 Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 12 of the fund’s prospectus and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund	Class A		Class B		Class C		Class M		Class R	Class Y
Share class	Class A		Class B		Class C		Class M		Class R	Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%		none		none		3.50%		none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	[2]	1.00%	[3]	0.65%	[1]	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund		Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R	Class Y
Share class		Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R	Class Y
Management fees	[1]	0.59%	0.59%	0.59%	0.59%	0.59%	0.59%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees		0.25%	1.00%	1.00%	0.75%	0.50%
Other expenses		0.38%	0.38%	0.38%	0.38%	0.38%	0.38%
Total annual fund operating expenses		1.22%	1.97%	1.97%	1.72%	1.47%	0.97%

Example

The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

Expense Example Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund (USD $)	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R	Class Y
Share class	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R	Class Y
1 year	692	700	300	519	150	99
3 years	940	918	618	873	465	309
5 years	1,207	1,262	1,062	1,251	803	536
10 years	1,967	2,102	2,296	2,309	1,757	1,190

Expense Example, No Redemption Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund (USD $)	Class B	Class C
Share class	Class B (no redemption)	Class C (no redemption)
1 year	200	200
3 years	618	618
5 years	1,062	1,062
10 years	2,102	2,296

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction-related costs when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 69%.

Investments

We (Putnam Investment Management, LLC) invest mainly in common stocks of U.S. companies of any size, with a focus on growth stocks. Growth stocks are issued by companies whose earnings are expected to grow faster than those of similar firms, and whose business growth and other characteristics may lead to an increase in stock price. We may consider, among other factors, a company’s valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding whether to buy or sell investments.

Risks

It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund

The prices of stocks in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including both general financial market conditions and factors related to a specific company or industry. These risks are generally greater for small and midsize companies. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and the market may not favor growth-style investing.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.

Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

Year-to-date performance

through 9/30/11

-14.78%

Best calendar quarter

Q4 2001

20.81%

Worst calendar quarter

Q3 2001

-29.29%

Average annual total returns after sales charges (for periods ending 12/31/10)

Average Annual Total Returns Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund	Share class	Label	Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text]	1 year	5 years	10 years
before taxes Class A	Class A	before taxes		12.44%	0.90%	(2.03%)
before taxes Class B	Class B	before taxes		13.43%	0.96%	(2.18%)
before taxes Class C	Class C	before taxes		17.40%	1.35%	(2.18%)
before taxes Class M	Class M	before taxes		14.55%	0.88%	(2.29%)
before taxes Class R	Class R	before taxes		19.01%	1.85%	(1.69%)
before taxes Class Y	Class Y	before taxes		19.61%	2.36%	(1.20%)
after taxes on distributions Class A	Class A	after taxes on distributions		12.44%	0.90%	(2.03%)
after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares Class A	Class A	after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		8.09%	0.77%	(1.70%)
Russell 3000 Growth Index		Russell 3000 Growth Index	(no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	17.64%	3.88%	0.30%

After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

Class B share performance does not reflect conversion to class A shares.

[1] Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.

[2] This charge is phased out over six years.

[3] This charge is eliminated after one year.

[1] Management fees are subject to a performance adjustment.