Dear Fellow Shareholders:
We are pleased to present you with this semi-annual report for Value Line Premier Growth Fund, Inc., Value Line Mid Cap Focused Fund, Inc., Value Line Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc. and Value Line Larger Companies Focused Fund, Inc. (individually, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
During the semi-annual period, most broad U.S. equity indices generated positive absolute returns. Each of the four Funds posted positive absolute returns as well, and, notably, all four also outperformed their respective benchmark index on a relative basis. Further, the semi-annual period was highlighted by each of the four equity and hybrid Value Line Funds being recognized for its long-term performance and/or attractive risk profiles.
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Value Line Premier Growth Fund, Inc.* outpaced the category average return of its peers for the three-year period ended June 30, 2018 (mid-cap growth category), as measured by Morningstar.1 Additionally, the Fund was given an overall Risk rating of Below Averagei by Morningstar.
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Value Line Mid Cap Focused Fund, Inc.* outpaced the category average return of its peers for the three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2018 (mid-cap growth category), as measured by Morningstar.1 Additionally, Morningstar gave the Fund an overall Risk Rating of Low.ii
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Value Line Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc. (formerly Value Line Income and Growth Fund, Inc.)* outpaced the category average return of its peers for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2018 (allocation-70% to 85% equity category), as measured by Morningstar,1 and ranking in the top 5% of its peer category in each of those time periods. Additionally, the Fund earned an overall five-star rating from Morningstar2 in the allocation-70% to 85% equity category among 313 funds as of June 30, 2018 based on risk-adjusted returns. Morningstar gave the Fund an overall Return rating of High and an overall Risk Rating of Low.iii
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Value Line Larger Companies Focused Fund, Inc.* outpaced the category average return of its peers for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2018 (large growth category), as measured by Morningstar,1 ranking in the top 20% of its peer category in each of those time periods. Additionally, the Fund earned an overall four-star rating from Morningstar2 in the large growth category among 1,265 funds as of June 30, 2018 based on risk-adjusted returns.iv
On the following pages, the Funds’ portfolio managers discuss the management of their respective Funds during the semi-annual period. The discussions highlight key factors influencing recent performance of the Funds. You will also find a Schedule of Investments and financial statements for each of the Funds.
Before reviewing the performance of your individual mutual fund investment(s), we encourage you to take a brief look at the major factors affecting the financial markets during the six months ended June 30, 2018, especially given the newsworthy events of the semi-annual period. With meaningful trends and some surprising shifts during the first half of 2018 in several drivers of the capital markets, we also invite you to take this time to consider a broader diversification strategy by including additional Value Line Funds in your investment portfolio. You can find out more about the entire family of Value Line Funds at our website, www.vlfunds.com.
Economic Review
Overall, the semi-annual period was one of improving U.S. economic growth and modestly increasing inflation.
For the first quarter of 2018, U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth registered 2.0%. Retail sales were particularly weak in the first two months of the calendar year, a key factor in keeping growth rates slower than the 2.9% GDP growth rate of the fourth quarter of 2017. However, retail sales then picked up considerably in March, April and May 2018, leading economists to forecast second quarter GDP growth to be considerably stronger, possibly reaching an annualized growth rate of 3.8% or more. The U.S. labor market remained healthy throughout the semi-annual period, as job gains averaged 214,000 per month, higher than the 188,000 monthly average for the year 2017. Unemployment fell from 4.1% at the beginning of the calendar year to 4.0% in June 2018, the lowest level in more than 18 years. In the month of May 2018, U.S. unemployment actually achieved its lowest reading of the semi-annual period at 3.8%. Manufacturing also remained strong, with the most important measure, the ISM Manufacturing Survey, reaching its highest level in more than nine months. Because of this economic strength, inflation, which had been tame for so long, finally started to pick up, albeit modestly. Although average hourly earnings among U.S. workers did not increase, the broadest measure of inflation, which the Federal Reserve (the Fed) closely follows, i.e. the core Personal Consumption Expenditure price index, which excludes food and energy, rose from 1.5% in January 2018 to 2.0% on a year over year basis as of May 2018 (latest data available).
The modest uptick in inflation supported the Fed’s tightening of monetary policy. During the semi-annual period, the Fed increased its targeted federal funds rate twice — in March and June 2018 — bringing it to a range of 1.75% to 2.00%. The Fed also signaled to investors that it would increase interest rates once or possibly twice more before the calendar year ends. While U.S. inflation had only increased modestly, Fed policymakers stated concerns about the low unemployment rate, which they believe may eventually push wages higher, driving the overall inflation rate even higher. The hikes in the federal funds rate mostly affected short-term fixed income securities, whose yields rose significantly during the semi-annual period. For example,