UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act File Number: 811-22982
Eaton Vance NextShares Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Maureen A. Gemma
Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Name and Address of Agent for Services)
(617) 482-8260
(Registrant’s Telephone Number)
December 31
Date of Fiscal Year End
June 30, 2017
Date of Reporting Period
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares (EVSTC)
Listing Exchange: The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Semiannual Report
June 30, 2017
NextSharesTM is a trademark of NextShares Solutions LLC. Used with permission.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Registration. Effective December 31, 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) adopted certain regulatory changes that subject registered investment companies and advisers to regulation by the CFTC if a fund invests more than a prescribed level of its assets in certain CFTC-regulated instruments (including futures, certain options and swap agreements) or markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the adviser with respect to the operation of the Fund is subject to CFTC regulation. Because of its management of other strategies, the Fund’s adviser is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator and a commodity trading advisor.
Fund shares are not insured by the FDIC and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any depository institution. Shares are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal invested.
This report must be preceded or accompanied by a current summary prospectus or prospectus. Before investing in NextShares, investors should consider carefully the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from a financial advisor. Prospective investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing. For further information, please call 1-800-262-1122.
Semiannual Report June 30, 2017
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
Table of Contents
| | | | |
Performance | | | 2 | |
| |
Fund Profile | | | 2 | |
| |
Endnotes and Additional Disclosures | | | 3 | |
| |
Fund Expenses | | | 4 | |
| |
Financial Statements | | | 5 | |
| |
Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval | | | 22 | |
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Officers and Trustees | | | 26 | |
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Important Notices | | | 27 | |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Performance1,2,3
Portfolio Manager Charles B. Gaffney
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
% Average Annual Total Returns | | Fund Inception Date | | | Performance Inception Date | | | Six Months | | | One Year | | | Five Years | | | Ten Years | | | Since Fund Inception | |
Fund at NAV | | | 02/25/2016 | | | | 11/01/2001 | | | | 9.19 | % | | | 14.16 | % | | | 14.34 | % | | | 7.44 | % | | | 16.28 | % |
Fund at Market Price | | | 02/25/2016 | | | | 02/25/2016 | | | | 9.19 | | | | 14.16 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 16.28 | % |
S&P 500 Index | | | — | | | | — | | | | 9.34 | % | | | 17.90 | % | | | 14.62 | % | | | 7.18 | % | | | 20.94 | % |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
% Total Annual Operating Expense Ratios4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1.49 | % |
Net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0.65 | |
Fund Profile5
Sector Allocation (% of net assets)6
Top 10 Holdings (% of net assets)6
| | | | |
Apple, Inc. | | | 3.6 | % |
| |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 3.0 | |
| |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C | | | 2.9 | |
| |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 2.5 | |
| |
Chubb, Ltd. | | | 2.3 | |
| |
Facebook, Inc., Class A | | | 2.2 | |
| |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | | 2.2 | |
| |
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | | | 2.1 | |
| |
First American Financial Corp. | | | 2.0 | |
| |
FedEx Corp. | | | 2.0 | |
| |
Total | | | 24.8 | % |
See Endnotes and Additional Disclosures in this report.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance is for the stated time period only; due to market volatility, the Fund current performance may be lower or higher than indicated. The Fund performance at market price will differ from its results at net asset value (NAV). The market price used to calculate the Market Price return is the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the exchange on which the shares of the Fund are listed for trading, as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. If you trade your shares at another time during the day, your return may differ. Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in NAV or market price (as applicable) with all distributions reinvested at NAV or closing market price (as applicable) on the payment date of the distribution, and are net of management fees and other expenses. Returns are before taxes unless otherwise noted. Performance less than or equal to one year is cumulative. For performance as of the most recent month-end, including historical trading premiums/discounts relative to NAV, please refer to eatonvance.com.
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Endnotes and Additional Disclosures
1 | Shares of NextShares funds are normally bought and sold in the secondary market through a broker, and may not be individually purchased or redeemed from the fund. In the secondary market, buyers and sellers transact with each other, rather than with the fund. Market trading prices of NextShares are linked to the fund’s next-computed net asset value (NAV) and will vary from NAV by a market-determined premium or discount, which may be zero. Buyers and sellers of NextShares will not know the value of their purchases and sales until after the fund’s NAV is determined at the end of the trading day. Market trading prices may vary significantly from anticipated levels. NextShares do not offer investors the opportunity to buy and sell intraday based on current (versus end-of-day) determinations of fund value. NextShares trade execution prices will fluctuate based on changes in NAV. Although limit orders may be used to control trading costs, they cannot be used to control or limit trade execution prices. As a new type of fund, NextShares have a limited operating history and may initially be available through a limited number of brokers. There can be no guarantee that an active trading market for NextShares will develop or be maintained, or that their listing will continue unchanged. Buying and selling NextShares may require payment of brokerage commissions and expose transacting shareholders to other trading costs. Frequent trading may detract from realized investment returns. The return on a shareholder’s NextShares investment will be reduced if the shareholder sells shares at a greater discount or narrower premium to NAV than he or she acquired the shares. NextShares funds issue and redeem shares only in specified creation unit quantities in transactions by or through authorized participants. In such transactions, a fund issues and redeems shares in exchange for the basket of securities, other instruments and/or cash that the fund specifies each business day. A fund’s basket is not intended to be representative of the fund’s current portfolio positions and may vary significantly from current positions. |
2 | S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of large-cap stocks commonly used as a measure of U.S. stock market performance. Unless otherwise stated, index returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable sales charges, commissions, expenses, taxes or leverage, as applicable. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Performance since inception for an index, if presented, is the performance since the Fund’s or oldest share class’ inception, as applicable. |
3 | The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in a separate investment fund (the Portfolio). The returns at NAV for periods before the date the Fund commenced operations are for a mutual fund that invests in the Portfolio (the Portfolio Investor). The performance during such period does not represent the performance of the Fund. The prior investment performance of the Portfolio Investor (rather than the Portfolio itself) is shown because it reflects the expenses typically borne by a retail fund investing in the Portfolio. The Portfolio Investor returns are not adjusted to reflect differences between the total net operating expenses of the Fund and the Portfolio Investor during the periods shown. If such an adjustment were made, the performance presented below would be higher, because the Fund’s total net operating expenses are lower than those of the Portfolio Investor. Performance is for a share class of the Portfolio Investor offered at net asset value. Performance presented in the Financial Highlights included in the financial statements is not linked. |
4 | Source: Fund prospectus. Net expense ratio reflects a contractual expense reimbursement that continues through 4/30/18. Without the reimbursement, performance would have been lower. The expense ratios for the current reporting period can be found in the Financial Highlights section of this report. |
5 | Fund primarily invests in an affiliated investment company (Portfolio) with substantially the same objective(s) and policies as the Fund and may also invest directly. Unless otherwise noted, references to investments are to the aggregate holdings of the Fund and the Portfolio. |
6 | Excludes cash and cash equivalents. |
| Fund profile subject to change due to active management. |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Fund Expenses
Example: As a Fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of Fund investing and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds. The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (January 1, 2017 – June 30, 2017).
Actual Expenses: The first section of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first section under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes: The second section of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual Fund expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year (before expenses), which is not the actual Fund return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of Fund shares. Therefore, the second section of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would be higher.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beginning Account Value (1/1/17) | | | Ending Account Value (6/30/17) | | | Expenses Paid During Period* (1/1/17 – 6/30/17) | | | Annualized Expense Ratio | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,091.90 | | | $ | 3.37 | ** | | | 0.65 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Hypothetical | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(5% return per year before expenses) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.60 | | | $ | 3.26 | ** | | | 0.65 | % |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). The Example assumes that the $1,000 was invested at the net asset value per share determined at the close of business on December 31, 2016. The Example reflects the expenses of both the Fund and the Portfolio. |
** | Absent an allocation of certain expenses to an affiliate, expenses would be higher. |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)
| | | | |
Assets | | June 30, 2017 | |
Investment in Stock Portfolio, at value (identified cost, $12,105,850) | | $ | 13,438,970 | |
Receivable from affiliate | | | 8,506 | |
Total assets | | $ | 13,447,476 | |
| |
Liabilities | | | | |
Payable to affiliates: | | | | |
Operations agreement fee | | $ | 629 | |
Trustees’ fees | | | 125 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 46,708 | |
Total liabilities | | $ | 47,462 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 13,400,014 | |
| |
Sources of Net Assets | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 10,610,308 | |
Accumulated net realized gain from Portfolio | | | 1,294,450 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | | 162,136 | |
Net unrealized appreciation from Portfolio | | | 1,333,120 | |
Total | | $ | 13,400,014 | |
| |
Net Asset Value Per Share | | | | |
($13,400,014 ÷ 550,000 shares issued and outstanding) | | $ | 24.36 | |
| | | | |
| | 5 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
| | | | |
Investment Income | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 | |
Dividends allocated from Portfolio (net of foreign taxes, $1,362) | | $ | 227,176 | |
Expenses allocated from Portfolio | | | (67,960 | ) |
Total investment income from Portfolio | | $ | 159,216 | |
| |
Expenses | | | | |
Operations agreement fee | | $ | 5,308 | |
Trustees’ fees and expenses | | | 250 | |
Custodian fee | | | 10,695 | |
Transfer and dividend disbursing agent fees | | | 5,812 | |
Legal and accounting services | | | 11,020 | |
Printing and postage | | | 4,028 | |
Registration fees | | | 1,832 | |
Listing fee | | | 3,550 | |
Intraday pricing fee | | | 2,600 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 1,816 | |
Total expenses | | $ | 46,911 | |
Deduct — | | | | |
Allocation of expenses to affiliate | | $ | 45,861 | |
Total expense reductions | | $ | 45,861 | |
| |
Net expenses | | $ | 1,050 | |
| |
Net investment income | | $ | 158,166 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) from Portfolio | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) — | | | | |
Investment transactions | | $ | 733,994 | (1) |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 744 | |
Net realized gain | | $ | 734,738 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) — | | | | |
Investments | | $ | 1,014,985 | |
Foreign currency | | | 46 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | $ | 1,015,031 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain | | $ | 1,749,769 | |
| |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | $ | 1,907,935 | |
(1) | Includes $93,512 of net realized gains from redemptions in-kind. |
| | | | |
| | 6 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Unaudited) | | | Period Ended December 31, 2016(1) | |
From operations — | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 158,166 | | | $ | 174,124 | |
Net realized gain from investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 734,738 | (2) | | | 516,985 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments and foreign currency | | | 1,015,031 | | | | 318,089 | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | $ | 1,907,935 | | | $ | 1,009,198 | |
Distributions to shareholders — | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | | $ | — | | | $ | (134,610 | ) |
Total distributions to shareholders | | $ | — | | | $ | (134,610 | ) |
Transactions in Fund shares — | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of shares | | $ | 563,718 | | | $ | 24,214,867 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | | (14,174,309 | ) | | | — | |
Transaction fees | | | 895 | | | | 1,860 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | | $ | (13,609,696 | ) | | $ | 24,216,727 | |
Other capital — | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio transaction fee contributed to Portfolio | | $ | (965 | ) | | $ | (1,322 | ) |
Portfolio transaction fee allocated from Portfolio | | | 4,374 | | | | 8,373 | |
Net increase in net assets from other capital | | $ | 3,409 | | | $ | 7,051 | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | | $ | (11,698,352 | ) | | $ | 25,098,366 | |
| | |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | |
At beginning of period | | $ | 25,098,366 | | | $ | — | |
At end of period | | $ | 13,400,014 | | | $ | 25,098,366 | |
| | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income included in net assets | | | | | | | | |
At end of period | | $ | 162,136 | | | $ | 3,970 | |
| | |
Changes in shares outstanding | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 1,125,000 | | | | — | |
Shares sold | | | 25,000 | | | | 1,125,000 | |
Shares redeemed | | | (600,000 | ) | | | — | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 550,000 | | | | 1,125,000 | |
(1) | For the period from the start of business, February 25, 2016, to December 31, 2016. |
(2) | Includes $93,512 of net realized gains from redemptions in-kind. |
| | | | |
| | 7 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Unaudited) | | | Period Ended December 31, 2016(1) | |
Net asset value — Beginning of period | | $ | 22.310 | | | $ | 20.000 | |
| | |
Income (Loss) From Operations | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income(2) | | $ | 0.173 | | | $ | 0.298 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain | | | 1.873 | | | | 2.128 | |
| | |
Total income from operations | | $ | 2.046 | | | $ | 2.426 | |
| | |
Less Distributions | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | | $ | — | | | $ | (0.128 | ) |
| | |
Total distributions | | $ | — | | | $ | (0.128 | ) |
| | |
Portfolio transaction fee, net(2) | | $ | 0.004 | | | $ | 0.012 | |
| | |
Net asset value — End of period | | $ | 24.360 | | | $ | 22.310 | |
| | |
Total Return on Net Asset Value(3)(4) | | | 9.19 | %(5) | | | 12.19 | %(5) |
| | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $ | 13,400 | | | $ | 25,098 | |
Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):(6) | | | | | | | | |
Expenses(4) | | | 0.65 | %(7) | | | 0.65 | %(7) |
Net investment income | | | 1.49 | %(7) | | | 1.61 | %(7) |
Portfolio Turnover of the Portfolio | | | 61 | %(5) | | | 118 | %(8) |
(1) | For the period from the start of business, February 25, 2016, to December 31, 2016. |
(2) | Computed using average shares outstanding. |
(3) | Returns are historical and are calculated by determining the percentage change in net asset value with all distributions reinvested and do not reflect the effect of a market-determined premium or discount. Investment returns assume that all distributions have been reinvested at net asset value. |
(4) | The investment adviser and administrator reimbursed certain operating expenses (equal to 0.43% and 0.84% of average daily net assets for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and the period ended December 31, 2016, respectively). Absent this reimbursement, total return would be lower. |
(6) | Includes the Fund’s share of the Portfolio’s allocated expenses. |
(8) | For the Portfolio’s year ended December 31, 2016. |
| | | | |
| | 8 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1 Significant Accounting Policies
Eaton Vance Stock NextShares (the Fund) is a diversified series of Eaton Vance NextShares Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund is an exchange-traded managed fund operating pursuant to an order issued by the SEC granting an exemption from certain provisions of the 1940 Act. Individual shares of the Fund may be purchased and sold only on a national securities exchange or alternative trading system through a broker-dealer that offers NextShares, and may not be directly purchased or redeemed from the Fund. Market trading prices for the Fund are directly linked to the Fund’s next-computed net asset value per share (NAV) and will vary from NAV by a market-determined premium or discount, which may be zero. The Fund commenced operations on February 25, 2016. The Fund invests all of its investable assets in interests in Stock Portfolio (the Portfolio), a Massachusetts business trust having the same investment objective and policies as the Fund. The value of the Fund’s investment in the Portfolio reflects the Fund’s proportionate interest in the net assets of the Portfolio (2.2% at June 30, 2017). The performance of the Fund is directly affected by the performance of the Portfolio. The financial statements of the Portfolio, including the portfolio of investments, are included elsewhere in this report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s financial statements.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of the Fund. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.
A Investment Valuation — Valuation of securities by the Portfolio is discussed in Note 1A of the Portfolio’s Notes to Financial Statements, which are included elsewhere in this report.
B Income — The Fund’s net investment income or loss consists of the Fund’s pro-rata share of the net investment income or loss of the Portfolio, less all actual and accrued expenses of the Fund.
C Federal Taxes — The Fund’s policy is to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute to shareholders each year substantially all of its net investment income, and all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary.
As of June 30, 2017, the Fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. The Fund files a U.S. federal income tax return annually after its fiscal year-end, which is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years from the date of filing.
D Expenses — The majority of expenses of the Trust are directly identifiable to an individual fund. Expenses which are not readily identifiable to a specific fund are allocated taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative size of the funds.
E Use of Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
F Indemnifications — Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust (such as the Trust) could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Trust. However, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Fund shareholders and the By-laws provide that the Trust shall assume the defense on behalf of any Fund shareholders. Moreover, the By-laws also provide for indemnification out of Fund property of any shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder for all loss or expense arising from such liability. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.
G Other — Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis.
H Interim Financial Statements — The interim financial statements relating to June 30, 2017 and for the six months then ended have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, but in the opinion of the Fund’s management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements.
2 Distributions to Shareholders and Income Tax Information
It is the present policy of the Fund to make at least one distribution annually (normally in December) of all or substantially all of its net investment income and to distribute annually all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains. Distributions are paid in cash and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. As required by U.S. GAAP, only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits are reported in the financial statements as a return of capital. Permanent differences between book and tax accounting relating to distributions are reclassified to paid-in capital. For tax purposes, distributions from short-term capital gains are considered to be from ordinary income.
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) — continued
3 Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
The investment adviser fee is earned by Eaton Vance Management (EVM) as compensation for investment advisory services rendered to the Fund. The fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets that are not invested in other investment companies for which EVM or its affiliates serve as investment adviser and receive an advisory fee (“Direct Assets”) up to $500 million and is payable monthly. On Direct Assets of $500 million and over, the annual fee is reduced. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Fund incurred no investment adviser fee on Direct Assets. To the extent the Fund’s assets are invested in the Portfolio, the Fund is allocated its share of the Portfolio’s investment adviser fee. The Portfolio has engaged Boston Management and Research (BMR), a subsidiary of EVM, to render investment advisory services. See Note 2 of the Portfolio’s Notes to Financial Statements which are included elsewhere in this report. EVM also serves as the administrator of the Fund, but receives no compensation.
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into an operations agreement with EVM pursuant to which EVM provides the Fund with services required for it to operate as a NextShares exchange-traded managed fund in accordance with the exemptive order obtained by EVM and the Trust. Pursuant to the agreement, the Fund pays EVM a monthly fee at an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets provided the average net assets of NextShares funds sponsored by EVM (“Covered Assets”) are less than $10 billion. The annual rate is reduced if Covered Assets are $10 billion and above. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the operations agreement fee amounted to $5,308 or 0.05% (annualized) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
EVM has agreed to reimburse the Fund’s expenses to the extent that total annual operating expenses (relating to ordinary operating expenses only) exceed 0.65% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through April 30, 2018. Thereafter, the reimbursement may be changed or terminated at any time. Pursuant to this agreement, EVM was allocated $45,861 of the Fund’s operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Trustees and officers of the Fund who are members of EVM’s or BMR’s organizations receive remuneration for their services to the Fund out of the investment adviser fee. Certain officers and Trustees of the Fund and the Portfolio are officers of the above organizations.
4 Investment Transactions
For the six months ended June 30, 2017, increases and decreases in the Fund’s investment in the Portfolio aggregated $614,224 and $14,223,037, respectively. In addition, a Portfolio transaction fee is imposed by the Portfolio on the combined daily inflows or outflows of the Fund and the Portfolio’s other investors as more fully described at Note 1H of the Portfolio’s financial statements included herein. Such fee is allocated to the Fund based on its pro-rata interest in the Portfolio. The amount of the Portfolio transaction fee imposed on the Fund, if any, and the allocation of such fee are presented as Other capital on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.
5 Capital Share Transactions
The Trust may issue an unlimited number of shares of capital stock (no par value per share) in one or more series (such as the Fund). The Fund issues and redeems shares only in blocks of 25,000 shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund issues and redeems Creation Units in return for the securities, other instruments and/or cash (the “Basket”) that the Fund specifies each business day. Creation Units may be purchased or redeemed only by or through Authorized Participants, which are broker-dealers or institutional investors that have entered into agreements with the Fund’s distributor for this purpose. The Fund imposes a transaction fee on Creation Units issued and redeemed to offset the estimated cost to the Fund of processing the transaction, which is paid by the Authorized Participants directly to a third-party administrator. In addition, Authorized Participants pay the Fund a variable charge for converting the Basket to or from the desired portfolio composition. Such variable charges are reflected as Transaction fees on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.
At June 30, 2017, EVM owned approximately 98% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks — 100.0% | |
| | |
| | | | | | | | |
Security | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Aerospace & Defense — 2.3% | |
CAE, Inc. | | | 386,100 | | | $ | 6,657,307 | |
United Technologies Corp. | | | 61,355 | | | | 7,492,059 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 14,149,366 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Air Freight & Logistics — 2.0% | |
FedEx Corp. | | | 57,018 | | | $ | 12,391,722 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 12,391,722 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Auto Components — 1.1% | |
Delphi Automotive PLC | | | 79,043 | | | $ | 6,928,119 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 6,928,119 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Banks — 6.6% | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 203,951 | | | $ | 18,641,121 | |
KeyCorp | | | 358,854 | | | | 6,724,924 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 286,924 | | | | 15,898,459 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 41,264,504 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Beverages — 1.6% | |
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A | | | 50,301 | | | $ | 9,744,813 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 9,744,813 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Biotechnology — 3.5% | |
Biogen, Inc.(1) | | | 16,753 | | | $ | 4,546,094 | |
Celgene Corp.(1) | | | 44,975 | | | | 5,840,903 | |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | | | 105,323 | | | | 7,454,762 | |
Incyte Corp.(1) | | | 16,792 | | | | 2,114,281 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | | | 17,577 | | | | 2,265,148 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 22,221,188 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Capital Markets — 2.1% | |
CBOE Holdings, Inc. | | | 69,656 | | | $ | 6,366,558 | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | | | 151,753 | | | | 6,519,309 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 12,885,867 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Chemicals — 0.5% | |
Monsanto Co. | | | 23,745 | | | $ | 2,810,458 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 2,810,458 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Security | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.9% | |
Brambles, Ltd. | | | 794,700 | | | $ | 5,942,439 | |
Deluxe Corp. | | | 88,506 | | | | 6,126,385 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 12,068,824 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Communications Equipment — 0.7% | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | | 149,800 | | | $ | 4,688,740 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 4,688,740 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Containers & Packaging — 2.2% | |
Crown Holdings, Inc.(1) | | | 107,857 | | | $ | 6,434,749 | |
International Paper Co. | | | 129,958 | | | | 7,356,922 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 13,791,671 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Diversified Consumer Services — 1.4% | |
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.(1) | | | 40,992 | | | $ | 3,164,993 | |
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc.(1) | | | 138,001 | | | | 5,408,259 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 8,573,252 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 2.2% | |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | | 310,701 | | | $ | 13,875,907 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 13,875,907 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Electric Utilities — 1.2% | |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | | | 52,178 | | | $ | 7,311,703 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 7,311,703 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 1.4% | |
Avnet, Inc. | | | 227,756 | | | $ | 8,855,153 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 8,855,153 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Energy Equipment & Services — 1.2% | |
Halliburton Co. | | | 113,238 | | | $ | 4,836,395 | |
Oceaneering International, Inc. | | | 120,704 | | | | 2,756,879 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 7,593,274 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 2.8% | |
CubeSmart | | | 318,750 | | | $ | 7,662,750 | |
Equity Residential | | | 97,074 | | | | 6,390,381 | |
Extra Space Storage, Inc. | | | 48,283 | | | | 3,766,074 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 17,819,205 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | 11 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited) — continued
| | | | | | | | |
Security | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Food & Staples Retailing — 2.1% | |
CVS Health Corp. | | | 31,500 | | | $ | 2,534,490 | |
Performance Food Group Co.(1) | | | 381,976 | | | | 10,466,142 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 13,000,632 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Food Products — 1.5% | |
Pinnacle Foods, Inc. | | | 159,901 | | | $ | 9,498,119 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 9,498,119 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 2.1% | |
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | | | 103,050 | | | $ | 13,231,620 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 13,231,620 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Health Care Providers & Services — 3.3% | |
Aetna, Inc. | | | 69,220 | | | $ | 10,509,673 | |
Envision Healthcare Corp.(1) | | | 163,648 | | | | 10,255,820 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 20,765,493 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Household Durables — 3.5% | |
D.R. Horton, Inc. | | | 151,221 | | | $ | 5,227,710 | |
Newell Brands, Inc. | | | 191,365 | | | | 10,260,991 | |
NVR, Inc.(1) | | | 2,658 | | | | 6,407,402 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 21,896,103 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Household Products — 1.2% | |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | | | 103,700 | | | $ | 7,687,281 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 7,687,281 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Industrial Conglomerates — 1.1% | |
General Electric Co. | | | 262,546 | | | $ | 7,091,367 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 7,091,367 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Insurance — 5.9% | |
American Financial Group, Inc. | | | 95,529 | | | $ | 9,492,717 | |
Chubb, Ltd. | | | 100,048 | | | | 14,544,978 | |
First American Financial Corp. | | | 285,546 | | | | 12,761,051 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 36,798,746 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 1.8% | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(1) | | | 11,916 | | | $ | 11,534,688 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 11,534,688 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Security | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Internet Software & Services — 7.3% | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1) | | | 20,054 | | | $ | 18,223,672 | |
eBay, Inc.(1) | | | 304,025 | | | | 10,616,553 | |
Facebook, Inc., Class A(1) | | | 92,136 | | | | 13,910,693 | |
GoDaddy, Inc., Class A(1) | | | 75,222 | | | | 3,190,917 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 45,941,835 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
IT Services — 3.3% | |
Amdocs, Ltd. | | | 168,772 | | | $ | 10,879,043 | |
Genpact, Ltd. | | | 348,074 | | | | 9,686,900 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 20,565,943 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Media — 3.0% | |
Time Warner, Inc. | | | 113,151 | | | $ | 11,361,492 | |
Walt Disney Co. (The) | | | 72,970 | | | | 7,753,062 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 19,114,554 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Metals & Mining — 0.3% | |
Rio Tinto PLC ADR | | | 46,735 | | | $ | 1,977,358 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 1,977,358 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Multi-Utilities — 2.0% | |
CMS Energy Corp. | | | 138,660 | | | $ | 6,413,025 | |
Sempra Energy | | | 55,956 | | | | 6,309,039 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 12,722,064 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 4.7% | |
Chevron Corp. | | | 116,955 | | | $ | 12,201,915 | |
ConocoPhillips | | | 158,780 | | | | 6,979,969 | |
EOG Resources, Inc. | | | 44,913 | | | | 4,065,525 | |
Phillips 66 | | | 75,090 | | | | 6,209,192 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 29,456,601 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Personal Products — 1.0% | |
Unilever NV - NY Shares | | | 111,221 | | | $ | 6,147,185 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 6,147,185 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals — 5.5% | |
Allergan PLC | | | 25,041 | | | $ | 6,087,217 | |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(1) | | | 43,382 | | | | 6,745,901 | |
Johnson & Johnson | | | 81,037 | | | | 10,720,385 | |
Pfizer, Inc. | | | 319,009 | | | | 10,715,512 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 34,269,015 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | 12 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited) — continued
| | | | | | | | |
Security | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Professional Services — 1.0% | |
Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The) | | | 60,341 | | | $ | 6,525,879 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 6,525,879 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Road & Rail — 1.8% | |
CSX Corp. | | | 209,146 | | | $ | 11,411,006 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 11,411,006 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 3.7% | |
Broadcom, Ltd. | | | 17,271 | | | $ | 4,025,007 | |
Intel Corp. | | | 232,386 | | | | 7,840,704 | |
NXP Semiconductors NV(1) | | | 34,896 | | | | 3,819,367 | |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ADR | | | 85,713 | | | | 2,996,526 | |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | | | 58,734 | | | | 4,518,407 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 23,200,011 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Software — 2.1% | |
Adobe Systems, Inc.(1) | | | 25,706 | | | $ | 3,635,857 | |
Intuit, Inc. | | | 25,050 | | | | 3,326,890 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | | 62,400 | | | | 4,301,232 | |
Proofpoint, Inc.(1) | | | 23,675 | | | | 2,055,700 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 13,319,679 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Specialty Retail — 1.0% | |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | | | 52,372 | | | $ | 6,106,052 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 6,106,052 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 3.6% | |
Apple, Inc. | | | 157,408 | | | $ | 22,669,900 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 22,669,900 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 0.6% | |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | | | 63,825 | | | $ | 3,765,675 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 3,765,675 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
Tobacco — 1.9% | |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | | | 103,134 | | | $ | 12,113,088 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | $ | 12,113,088 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| |
Total Common Stocks (identified cost $542,034,265) | | | $ | 627,783,660 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Investments — 0.0%(2) | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Units | | | Value | |
Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC, 1.20%(3) | | | 80,627 | | | $ | 80,643 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| |
Total Short-Term Investments (identified cost $80,643) | | | $ | 80,643 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| |
Total Investments — 100.0% (identified cost $542,114,908) | | | $ | 627,864,303 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| |
Other Assets, Less Liabilities — 0.0%(2) | | | $ | 205,355 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| |
Net Assets — 100.0% | | | $ | 628,069,658 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The percentage shown for each investment category in the Portfolio of Investments is based on net assets.
(1) | Non-income producing security. |
(2) | Amount is less than 0.05%. |
(3) | Affiliated investment company, available to Eaton Vance portfolios and funds, which invests in high quality, U.S. dollar denominated money market instruments. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of June 30, 2017. |
Abbreviations:
| | | | |
ADR | | – | | American Depositary Receipt |
| | | | |
| | 13 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)
| | | | |
Assets | | June 30, 2017 | |
Unaffiliated investments, at value (identified cost, $542,034,265) | | $ | 627,783,660 | |
Affiliated investment, at value (identified cost, $80,643) | | | 80,643 | |
Cash | | | 55 | |
Foreign currency, at value (identified cost, $17,829) | | | 17,880 | |
Dividends receivable | | | 572,037 | |
Dividends receivable from affiliated investment | | | 406 | |
Receivable for investments sold | | | 11,527,392 | |
Tax reclaims receivable | | | 153,396 | |
Total assets | | $ | 640,135,469 | |
| |
Liabilities | | | | |
Demand note payable | | $ | 700,000 | |
Payable for investments purchased | | | 10,945,746 | |
Payable for capital withdrawals | | | 28,807 | |
Payable to affiliates: | | | | |
Investment adviser fee | | | 308,794 | |
Trustees’ fees | | | 9,650 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 72,814 | |
Total liabilities | | $ | 12,065,811 | |
Net Assets applicable to investors’ interest in Portfolio | | $ | 628,069,658 | |
| |
Sources of Net Assets | | | | |
Investors’ capital | | $ | 542,321,656 | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | | 85,748,002 | |
Total | | $ | 628,069,658 | |
| | | | |
| | 14 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
| | | | |
Investment Income | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes, $35,800) | | $ | 6,874,121 | |
Dividends from affiliated investment | | | 8,080 | |
Total investment income | | $ | 6,882,201 | |
| |
Expenses | | | | |
Investment adviser fee | | $ | 1,885,699 | |
Trustees’ fees and expenses | | | 21,901 | |
Custodian fee | | | 86,897 | |
Legal and accounting services | | | 26,532 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 15,634 | |
Total expenses | | $ | 2,036,663 | |
| |
Net investment income | | $ | 4,845,538 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) — | | | | |
Investment transactions | | $ | 23,085,115 | (1) |
Investment transactions — affiliated investment | | | 326 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 19,432 | |
Net realized gain | | $ | 23,104,873 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) — | | | | |
Investments | | $ | 28,179,615 | |
Investments — affiliated investment | | | 404 | |
Foreign currency | | | 1,598 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | $ | 28,181,617 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain | | $ | 51,286,490 | |
| |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | $ | 56,132,028 | |
(1) | Includes $3,112,149 of net realized gains from redemptions in-kind. |
| | | | |
| | 15 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, 2016 | |
From operations — | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 4,845,538 | | | $ | 8,396,685 | |
Net realized gain from investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 23,104,873 | (1) | | | 12,678,047 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments and foreign currency | | | 28,181,617 | | | | 20,172,529 | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | $ | 56,132,028 | | | $ | 41,247,261 | |
Capital transactions — | | | | | | | | |
Contributions | | $ | 9,441,017 | | | $ | 255,687,315 | |
Withdrawals | | | (78,601,573 | ) | | | (51,820,934 | ) |
Portfolio transaction fee | | | 125,356 | | | | 367,287 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions | | $ | (69,035,200 | ) | | $ | 204,233,668 | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | | $ | (12,903,172 | ) | | $ | 245,480,929 | |
| | |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | |
At beginning of period | | $ | 640,972,830 | | | $ | 395,491,901 | |
At end of period | | $ | 628,069,658 | | | $ | 640,972,830 | |
(1) | Includes $3,112,149 of net realized gains from redemptions in-kind. |
| | | | |
| | 16 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data | | | 2016 | | | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2012 | |
Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses(1) | | | 0.64 | %(2) | | | 0.65 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.71 | % | | | 0.73 | % | | | 0.73 | % |
Net investment income | | | 1.53 | %(2) | | | 1.60 | % | | | 1.16 | % | | | 1.07 | % | | | 0.93 | % | | | 1.21 | % |
Portfolio Turnover | | | 61 | %(3) | | | 118 | % | | | 96 | % | | | 109 | % | | | 90 | % | | | 91 | % |
| | | | | | |
Total Return | | | 9.20 | %(3) | | | 7.14 | % | | | 4.88 | % | | | 12.56 | % | | | 33.50 | % | | | 16.18 | % |
| | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | | $ | 628,070 | | | $ | 640,973 | | | $ | 395,492 | | | $ | 252,929 | | | $ | 237,133 | | | $ | 188,806 | |
(1) | Excludes the effect of custody fee credits, if any, of less than 0.005%. Effective September 1, 2015, custody fee credits, which were earned on cash deposit balances, were discontinued by the custodian. |
| | | | |
| | 17 | | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1 Significant Accounting Policies
Stock Portfolio (the Portfolio) is a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Portfolio’s investment objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity securities. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue interests in the Portfolio. At June 30, 2017, Eaton Vance Stock Fund, Eaton Vance Stock NextShares and Eaton Vance Balanced Fund held an interest of 15.7%, 2.2% and 82.1%, respectively, in the Portfolio.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of the Portfolio. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.
A Investment Valuation — The following methodologies are used to determine the market value or fair value of investments.
Equity Securities. Equity securities listed on a U.S. securities exchange generally are valued at the last sale or closing price on the day of valuation or, if no sales took place on such date, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices therefore on the exchange where such securities are principally traded. Equity securities listed on the NASDAQ Global or Global Select Market generally are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Unlisted or listed securities for which closing sales prices or closing quotations are not available are valued at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices.
Foreign Securities and Currencies. Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by a third party pricing service. The pricing service uses a proprietary model to determine the exchange rate. Inputs to the model include reported trades and implied bid/ask spreads. The daily valuation of exchange-traded foreign securities generally is determined as of the close of trading on the principal exchange on which such securities trade. Events occurring after the close of trading on foreign exchanges may result in adjustments to the valuation of foreign securities to more accurately reflect their fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. When valuing foreign equity securities that meet certain criteria, the Portfolio’s Trustees have approved the use of a fair value service that values such securities to reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities.
Affiliated Fund. The Portfolio may invest in Eaton Vance Cash Reserves Fund, LLC (Cash Reserves Fund), an affiliated investment company managed by Eaton Vance Management (EVM). While Cash Reserves Fund is not a registered money market mutual fund, it conducts all of its investment activities in accordance with the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Investments in Cash Reserves Fund are valued at the closing net asset value per unit on the valuation day. Cash Reserves Fund generally values its investment securities based on available market quotations provided by a third party pricing service.
Fair Valuation. Investments for which valuations or market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees of the Portfolio in a manner that fairly reflects the security’s value, or the amount that the Portfolio might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale in the ordinary course. Each such determination is based on a consideration of relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. These factors may include, but are not limited to, the type of security, the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition, the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies or entities, quotations or relevant information obtained from broker/dealers or other market participants, information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), an analysis of the company’s or entity’s financial condition, and an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold.
B Investment Transactions — Investment transactions for financial statement purposes are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are determined on the basis of identified cost.
C Income — Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. However, if the ex-dividend date has passed, certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as the Portfolio is informed of the ex-dividend date. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and capital gains have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.
D Federal Taxes — The Portfolio has elected to be treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. No provision is made by the Portfolio for federal or state taxes on any taxable income of the Portfolio because each investor in the Portfolio is ultimately responsible for the payment of any taxes on its share of taxable income. Since at least one of the Portfolio’s investors is a regulated investment company that invests all or substantially all of its assets in the Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements (under the Internal Revenue Code) in order for its investors to satisfy them. The Portfolio will allocate, at least annually among its investors, each investor’s distributive share of the Portfolio’s net investment income, net realized capital gains and losses and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit.
As of June 30, 2017, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. The Portfolio files a U.S. federal income tax return annually after its fiscal year-end, which is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years from the date of filing.
E Foreign Currency Translation — Investment valuations, other assets, and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of foreign investment securities and income and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates in effect on the respective dates of such transactions. Recognized
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) — continued
gains or losses on investment transactions attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. That portion of unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.
F Use of Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
G Indemnifications — Under the Portfolio’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Portfolio. Under Massachusetts law, if certain conditions prevail, interestholders in the Portfolio could be deemed to have personal liability for the obligations of the Portfolio. However, the Portfolio’s Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of liability on the part of Portfolio interestholders and the By-laws provide that the Portfolio shall assume the defense on behalf of any Portfolio interestholder. Moreover, the By-laws also provide for indemnification out of Portfolio property of any interestholder held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been an interestholder for all loss or expense arising from such liability. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred.
H Capital Transactions — To seek to protect the Portfolio (and, indirectly, other investors in the Portfolio) against the costs of accommodating investor inflows and outflows, the Portfolio imposes a fee (“Portfolio transaction fee”) on inflows and outflows by Portfolio investors. The Portfolio transaction fee is sized to cover the estimated cost to the Portfolio of, in connection with issuing interests, converting the cash and/or other instruments it receives to the desired composition and, in connection with redeeming its interests, converting Portfolio holdings to cash and/or other instruments to be distributed. Such fee, which may vary over time, is limited to amounts that have been authorized by the Board of Trustees and determined by EVM to be appropriate. The maximum Portfolio transaction fee is 2% of the amount of net contributions or withdrawals. The Portfolio transaction fee is recorded as a component of capital transactions on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.
I Interim Financial Statements — The interim financial statements relating to June 30, 2017 and for the six months then ended have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, but in the opinion of the Portfolio’s management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements.
2 Investment Adviser Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
The investment adviser fee is earned by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a subsidiary of EVM, as compensation for investment advisory services rendered to the Portfolio. Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement and subsequent fee reduction agreement between the Portfolio and BMR, the fee is computed at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets up to $500 million and 0.575% from $500 million but less than $1 billion, and is payable monthly. On net assets of $1 billion or over, the annual fee is reduced. The fee reduction cannot be terminated or reduced without the approval of a majority vote of the Trustees of the Portfolio who are not interested persons of BMR or the Portfolio and by the vote of a majority of the holders of interest in the Portfolio. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Portfolio’s investment adviser fee amounted to $1,885,699 or 0.59% (annualized) of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The Portfolio invests its cash in Cash Reserves Fund. EVM does not currently receive a fee for advisory services provided to Cash Reserves Fund.
Trustees and officers of the Portfolio who are members of EVM’s or BMR’s organizations receive remuneration for their services to the Portfolio out of the investment adviser fee. Trustees of the Portfolio who are not affiliated with the investment adviser may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of the Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, no significant amounts have been deferred. Certain officers and Trustees of the Portfolio are officers of the above organizations.
3 Purchases and Sales of Investments
Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations and in-kind transactions, aggregated $389,151,358 and $438,955,054, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. In-kind contributions and withdrawals for the six months ended June 30, 2017 aggregated $547,841 and $13,667,193, respectively.
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) — continued
4 Federal Income Tax Basis of Investments
The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments of the Portfolio at June 30, 2017, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
| | | | |
| |
Aggregate cost | | $ | 543,739,517 | |
| |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 94,372,377 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (10,247,591 | ) |
| |
Net unrealized appreciation | | $ | 84,124,786 | |
5 Line of Credit
The Portfolio participates with other portfolios and funds managed by EVM and its affiliates in a $625 million unsecured line of credit agreement with a group of banks, which is in effect through September 1, 2017. Borrowings are made by the Portfolio solely to facilitate the handling of unusual and/or unanticipated short-term cash requirements. Interest is charged to the Portfolio based on its borrowings at an amount above either the Eurodollar rate or Federal Funds rate. In addition, a fee computed at an annual rate of 0.15% on the daily unused portion of the line of credit is allocated among the participating portfolios and funds at the end of each quarter. Because the line of credit is not available exclusively to the Portfolio, it may be unable to borrow some or all of its requested amounts at any particular time. At June 30, 2017, the Portfolio had a balance outstanding pursuant to this line of credit of $700,000 at an interest rate of 2.16%. Based on the short-term nature of the borrowings under the line of credit and variable interest rate, the carrying value of the borrowings approximated its fair value at June 30, 2017. If measured at fair value, borrowings under the line of credit would have been considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy (see Note 6) at June 30, 2017. The Portfolio’s average borrowings or allocated fees during the six months ended June 30, 2017 were not significant.
6 Fair Value Measurements
Under generally accepted accounting principles for fair value measurements, a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the assumptions, referred to as inputs, is used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
• | | Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments |
• | | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including a fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
In cases where the inputs used to measure fair value fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level disclosed is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
Stock Portfolio
June 30, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) — continued
At June 30, 2017, the hierarchy of inputs used in valuing the Portfolio’s investments, which are carried at value, were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Asset Description | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
| | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary | | $ | 77,918,443 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 77,918,443 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 58,191,118 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 58,191,118 | |
Energy | | | 37,049,875 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 37,049,875 | |
Financials | | | 90,949,117 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 90,949,117 | |
Health Care | | | 90,487,316 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 90,487,316 | |
Industrials | | | 57,695,725 | | | | 5,942,439 | | | | — | | | | 63,638,164 | |
Information Technology | | | 139,241,261 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 139,241,261 | |
Materials | | | 18,579,487 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 18,579,487 | |
Real Estate | | | 17,819,205 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 17,819,205 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 13,875,907 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 13,875,907 | |
Utilities | | | 20,033,767 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 20,033,767 | |
| | | | |
Total Common Stocks | | $ | 621,841,221 | | | $ | 5,942,439 | * | | $ | — | | | $ | 627,783,660 | |
| | | | |
Short-Term Investments | | $ | — | | | $ | 80,643 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 80,643 | |
| | | | |
Total Investments | | $ | 621,841,221 | | | $ | 6,023,082 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 627,864,303 | |
* | Includes foreign equity securities whose values were adjusted to reflect market trading of comparable securities or other correlated instruments that occurred after the close of trading in their applicable foreign markets. |
The Portfolio held no investments or other financial instruments as of December 31, 2016 whose fair value was determined using Level 3 inputs. At June 30, 2017, there were no investments transferred between Level 1 and Level 2 during the six months then ended.
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval
Overview of the Contract Review Process
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), provides, in substance, that each investment advisory agreement between a fund and its investment adviser will continue in effect from year to year only if its continuation is approved at least annually by the fund’s board of trustees, including by a vote of a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the fund (“Independent Trustees”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval.
At a meeting of the Boards of Trustees (each a “Board”) of the registered investment companies advised by either Eaton Vance Management or its affiliate, Boston Management and Research, (the “Eaton Vance Funds”) held on April 25, 2017, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, voted to approve continuation of existing investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements for the Eaton Vance Funds for an additional one-year period. In voting its approval, the Board relied upon the affirmative recommendation of its Contract Review Committee, which is a committee comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees. Prior to making its recommendation, the Contract Review Committee reviewed information furnished by each adviser to the Eaton Vance Funds (including information specifically requested by the Board) for a series of meetings of the Contract Review Committee held between February and April 2017. The Contract Review Committee also considered information received at prior meetings of the Board and its committees, as relevant to its annual evaluation of the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements.
The information that the Board considered included, among other things, the following (for funds that invest through one or more underlying portfolio(s), references to “each fund” in this section may include information that was considered at the portfolio-level):
Information about Fees, Performance and Expenses
• | | A report from an independent data provider comparing the advisory and related fees paid by each fund with fees paid by comparable funds as identified by the independent data provider (“comparable funds”); |
• | | A report from an independent data provider comparing each fund’s total expense ratio and its components to comparable funds; |
• | | A report from an independent data provider comparing the investment performance of each fund (including, where relevant, yield data, Sharpe ratios and information ratios) to the investment performance of comparable funds over various time periods; |
• | | Data regarding investment performance in comparison to benchmark indices, as well as customized groups of peer funds and blended indices identified by the adviser in consultation with the Board; |
• | | For each fund, comparative information concerning the fees charged and the services provided by each adviser in managing other accounts (including mutual funds, other collective investment funds and institutional accounts) using investment strategies and techniques similar to those used in managing such fund; |
• | | Profitability analyses for each adviser with respect to each fund; |
Information about Portfolio Management and Trading
• | | Descriptions of the investment management services provided to each fund, including the investment strategies and processes it employs; |
• | | The procedures and processes used to determine the fair value of fund assets and actions taken to monitor and test the effectiveness of such procedures and processes; |
• | | Information about each adviser’s policies and practices with respect to trading, including each adviser’s processes for monitoring best execution of portfolio transactions; |
• | | Information about the allocation of brokerage transactions and the benefits received by each adviser as a result of brokerage allocation, including information concerning the acquisition of research through client commission arrangements and policies with respect to “soft dollars”; |
• | | Data relating to portfolio turnover rates of each fund; |
Information about each Adviser
• | | Reports detailing the financial results and condition of each adviser; |
• | | Descriptions of the qualifications, education and experience of the individual investment professionals whose responsibilities include portfolio management and investment research for the funds, and information relating to their compensation and responsibilities with respect to managing other mutual funds and investment accounts; |
• | | The Code of Ethics of each adviser and its affiliates, together with information relating to compliance with and the administration of such codes; |
• | | Policies and procedures relating to proxy voting and the handling of corporate actions and class actions; |
• | | Information concerning the resources devoted to compliance efforts undertaken by each adviser and its affiliates (including descriptions of various compliance programs) and their record of compliance; |
• | | Information concerning the business continuity and disaster recovery plans of each adviser and its affiliates; |
• | | A description of Eaton Vance Management’s procedures for overseeing third party advisers and sub-advisers, including with respect to regulatory and compliance issues, investment management and other matters; |
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued
Other Relevant Information
• | | Information concerning the nature, cost and character of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided by Eaton Vance Management and its affiliates; |
• | | Information concerning management of the relationship with the custodian, subcustodians and fund accountants by each adviser or the funds’ administrator; and |
• | | The terms of each investment advisory agreement. |
Over the course of the twelve-month period ended April 30, 2017, with respect to one or more funds, the Board met ten times and the Contract Review Committee, the Audit Committee, the Governance Committee, the Portfolio Management Committee and the Compliance Reports and Regulatory Matters Committee, each of which is a Committee comprised solely of Independent Trustees, met seven, thirteen, six, eight and ten times, respectively. At such meetings, the Trustees participated in investment and performance reviews with the portfolio managers and other investment professionals of each investment adviser relating to each fund, and considered various investment and trading strategies used in pursuing each fund’s investment objective, such as the use of derivative instruments, as well as risk management techniques. The Board and its Committees also evaluated issues pertaining to industry and regulatory developments, compliance procedures, fund governance and other issues with respect to the funds, and received and participated in reports and presentations provided by Eaton Vance Management and other fund advisers with respect to such matters. In addition to the formal meetings of the Board and its Committees, the Independent Trustees hold regular teleconferences in between meetings to discuss, among other topics, matters relating to the continuation of investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements.
For funds that invest through one or more underlying portfolios, the Board considered similar information about the portfolio(s) when considering the approval of investment advisory agreements. In addition, in cases where the fund’s investment adviser has engaged a sub-adviser, the Board considered similar information about the sub-adviser when considering the approval of any sub-advisory agreement.
The Contract Review Committee was assisted throughout the contract review process by Goodwin Procter LLP, independent legal counsel for the Independent Trustees. The members of the Contract Review Committee relied upon the advice of such counsel and their own business judgment in determining the material factors to be considered in evaluating each investment advisory and sub-advisory agreement and the weight to be given to each such factor. The conclusions reached with respect to each investment advisory and sub-advisory agreement were based on a comprehensive evaluation of all the information provided and not any single factor. Moreover, each member of the Contract Review Committee may have placed varying emphasis on particular factors in reaching conclusions with respect to each investment advisory and sub-advisory agreement. In evaluating each investment advisory and sub-advisory agreement, including the specific fee structures and other terms of the agreements, the Contract Review Committee was informed by multiple years of analysis and discussion among the Independent Trustees and the Eaton Vance Funds’ advisers and sub-advisers.
Results of the Process
Based on its consideration of the foregoing, and such other information as it deemed relevant, including the factors and conclusions described below, the Contract Review Committee concluded that the continuation of the investment advisory and administrative agreement of Eaton Vance Stock NextShares (the “Fund”) with Eaton Vance Management (“EVM”), as well as the investment advisory agreement of Stock Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), the portfolio in which the Fund invests, with Boston Management and Research (“BMR”) (EVM, with respect to the Fund, and BMR, with respect to the Portfolio, are each referred to herein as the “Adviser”), including their fee structures, is in the interests of shareholders and, therefore, the Contract Review Committee recommended to the Board approval of each agreement. The Board accepted the recommendation of the Contract Review Committee based on the material factors considered and conclusions reached by the Contract Review Committee with respect to the agreements. Accordingly, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, voted to approve continuation of the investment advisory and administrative agreement for the Fund and the investment advisory agreement for the Portfolio (together, the “investment advisory agreements”).
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
In considering whether to approve the investment advisory agreements of the Fund and the Portfolio, the Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund and the Portfolio by the applicable Adviser.
The Board considered each Adviser’s management capabilities and investment process with respect to the types of investments held by the Fund and the Portfolio, including the education, experience and number of its investment professionals and other personnel who provide portfolio management, investment research, and similar services to the Fund and the Portfolio. The Board specifically noted that each Adviser has devoted extensive resources to in-house equity research and also draws upon independent research available from third-party sources. The Board also took into account the resources dedicated to portfolio management and other services, as well as the compensation methods of each Adviser and other factors, such as the reputation and resources of the Adviser to recruit and retain highly qualified research, advisory and supervisory investment professionals. In addition, the Board considered the time and attention devoted to the Eaton Vance Funds, including the Fund and the Portfolio, by senior management, as well as the infrastructure, operational capabilities and support staff in place to assist in the portfolio management and operations of the Fund and the Portfolio, including the provision of administrative services. The Board also considered the business-related and other risks to which each Adviser or its affiliates may be subject in managing the Fund and the Portfolio.
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued
The Board considered the special attributes of the Fund relative to a traditional mutual fund and the benefits that are expected to be realized from an investment in the Fund, rather than a traditional mutual fund. The Board also considered the resources devoted by the applicable Adviser and its affiliates in developing and maintaining an infrastructure necessary to support the on-going operations of the Fund.
The Board noted that under the terms of the investment advisory agreement of the Fund, EVM may invest assets of the Fund directly in securities, for which it would receive a fee, or in the Portfolio, for which it receives no separate fee but for which BMR receives an advisory fee from the Portfolio.
The Board considered the compliance programs of each Adviser and relevant affiliates thereof. Among other matters, the Board considered compliance and reporting matters relating to personal trading by investment professionals, selective disclosure of portfolio holdings, late trading, frequent trading, portfolio valuation, business continuity and the allocation of investment opportunities. The Board also considered the responses of each Adviser and its affiliates to requests in recent years from regulatory authorities such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
The Board was aware that on April 24, 2017 a former employee of the Adviser agreed to plead guilty to fraud charges arising from the individual’s prior activities as an equity options trader for certain Eaton Vance Funds. The Board was informed that the Adviser became aware of the matter on April 18, 2017, at which time management contacted federal authorities, alerted the Board and began an internal investigation. The Adviser represented to the Board that, based on information available as of April 25, 2017, management had no reason to believe that any other employee of the Adviser or its affiliates was involved in any wrongful activities or that any fund had been materially harmed. The Adviser agreed to keep the Board fully apprised as additional information is learned, and assured the Board that any fund harmed by the former employee’s wrongful activities will be made whole, as determined in consultation with the Board. The Board concluded that the Adviser’s actions in response to these events are appropriate and consistent with the Adviser’s commitment to protect and provide quality services to the Eaton Vance Funds.
The Board considered shareholder and other administrative services provided or managed by Eaton Vance Management and its affiliates, including transfer agency and accounting services. The Board evaluated the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is a part of a large fund complex offering exposure to a variety of asset classes and investment disciplines.
After consideration of the foregoing factors, among others, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by each Adviser, taken as a whole, are appropriate and consistent with the terms of the applicable investment advisory agreement.
Fund Performance
The Board compared the Fund’s investment performance to that of comparable funds and appropriate benchmark indices. In light of the Fund’s relatively brief operating history, the Board concluded that additional time is required to evaluate Fund performance.
Management Fees and Expenses
The Board considered contractual fee rates payable by the Fund and by the Portfolio for advisory and administrative services (referred to collectively as “management fees”). As part of its review, the Board considered the Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio for the one year period ended September 30, 2016, as compared to those of comparable funds, before and after giving effect to any undertaking to waive fees or reimburse expenses. The Board also considered factors that had an impact on Fund expense ratios, as identified by management in response to inquiries from the Contract Review Committee.
After considering the foregoing information, and in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by each Adviser, the Board concluded that the management fees charged for advisory and related services are reasonable.
Profitability and Other “Fall-Out” Benefits
The Board considered the level of profits realized by each Adviser and relevant affiliates thereof in providing investment advisory and administrative services to the Fund, to the Portfolio and to all Eaton Vance Funds as a group. The Board considered the level of profits realized without regard to marketing support or other payments by each Adviser and its affiliates to third parties in respect of distribution services. The Board also considered other direct or indirect fall-out benefits received by each Adviser and its affiliates in connection with their relationships with the Fund and the Portfolio, including the benefits of research services that may be available to each Adviser as a result of securities transactions effected for the Fund and the Portfolio and other investment advisory clients.
The Board concluded that, in light of the foregoing factors and the nature, extent and quality of the services rendered, the profits realized by each Adviser and its affiliates are deemed not to be excessive.
Economies of Scale
In reviewing management fees and profitability, the Board also considered the extent to which the applicable Adviser and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Fund and the Portfolio, on the other hand, can expect to realize benefits from economies of scale as the assets of the Fund and the Portfolio
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Board of Trustees’ Contract Approval — continued
increase. The Board acknowledged the difficulty in accurately measuring the benefits resulting from economies of scale, if any, with respect to the management of any specific fund or group of funds. The Board reviewed data summarizing the increases and decreases in the assets of the Fund and of all Eaton Vance Funds as a group over various time periods, and evaluated the extent to which the total expense ratio of the Fund and the profitability of each Adviser and its affiliates may have been affected by such increases or decreases. Based upon the foregoing, the Board concluded that the Fund currently shares in any benefits from economies of scale. The Board also concluded that, assuming reasonably foreseeable increases in the assets of the Fund and the Portfolio, the structure of the advisory fees, which include breakpoints at several asset levels, will allow the Fund and the Portfolio to continue to benefit from any economies of scale in the future.
Eaton Vance
Stock NextShares
June 30, 2017
Officers and Trustees
Officers of Eaton Vance Stock NextShares
Edward J. Perkin
President
Maureen A. Gemma
Vice President, Secretary and
Chief Legal Officer
James F. Kirchner
Treasurer
Paul M. O’Neil
Chief Compliance Officer
Officers of Stock Portfolio
Edward J. Perkin
President
Maureen A. Gemma
Vice President, Secretary and
Chief Legal Officer
James F. Kirchner
Treasurer
Paul M. O’Neil
Chief Compliance Officer
Trustees of Eaton Vance Stock NextShares and Stock Portfolio
William H. Park
Chairperson
Scott E. Eston
Thomas E. Faust Jr.*
Mark R. Fetting**
Cynthia E. Frost
George J. Gorman
Valerie A. Mosley
Helen Frame Peters
Susan J. Sutherland
Harriett Tee Taggart
Scott E. Wennerholm**
** | Messrs. Fetting and Wennerholm began serving as Trustees effective September 1, 2016. |
Eaton Vance Funds
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Privacy. The Eaton Vance organization is committed to ensuring your financial privacy. Each of the financial institutions identified below has in effect the following policy (“Privacy Policy”) with respect to nonpublic personal information about its customers:
• | | Only such information received from you, through application forms or otherwise, and information about your Eaton Vance fund transactions will be collected. This may include information such as name, address, social security number, tax status, account balances and transactions. |
• | | None of such information about you (or former customers) will be disclosed to anyone, except as permitted by law (which includes disclosure to employees necessary to service your account). In the normal course of servicing a customer’s account, Eaton Vance may share information with unaffiliated third parties that perform various required services such as transfer agents, custodians and broker-dealers. |
• | | Policies and procedures (including physical, electronic and procedural safeguards) are in place that are designed to protect the confidentiality of such information. |
• | | We reserve the right to change our Privacy Policy at any time upon proper notification to you. Customers may want to review our Privacy Policy periodically for changes by accessing the link on our homepage: www.eatonvance.com. |
Our pledge of privacy applies to the following entities within the Eaton Vance organization: the Eaton Vance Family of Funds, Eaton Vance Management, Eaton Vance Investment Counsel, Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc., Eaton Vance Trust Company, Eaton Vance Management (International) Limited, Eaton Vance Management’s Real Estate Investment Group and Boston Management and Research. In addition, our Privacy Policy applies only to those Eaton Vance customers who are individuals and who have a direct relationship with us. If a customer’s account (i.e., fund shares) is held in the name of a third-party financial advisor/broker-dealer, it is likely that only such advisor’s privacy policies apply to the customer. This notice supersedes all previously issued privacy disclosures. For more information about Eaton Vance’s Privacy Policy, please call 1-800-262-1122.
Delivery of Shareholder Documents. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits funds to deliver only one copy of shareholder documents, including prospectuses, proxy statements and shareholder reports, to fund investors with multiple accounts at the same residential or post office box address. This practice is often called “householding” and it helps eliminate duplicate mailings to shareholders. Your financial advisor may household the mailing of your documents indefinitely unless you instruct your financial advisor otherwise. If you would prefer that your Eaton Vance documents not be householded, please contact your financial advisor. Your instructions that householding not apply to delivery of your Eaton Vance documents will typically be effective within 30 days of receipt by your financial advisor.
Portfolio Holdings. Each Eaton Vance Fund and its underlying Portfolio(s) (if applicable) will file a schedule of portfolio holdings on Form N-Q with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. The Form N-Q will be available on the Eaton Vance website at www.eatonvance.com, by calling Eaton Vance at 1-800-262-1122 or in the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Form N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. (call 1-800-732-0330 for information on the operation of the public reference room).
Proxy Voting. From time to time, funds are required to vote proxies related to the securities held by the funds. The Eaton Vance Funds or their underlying Portfolios (if applicable) vote proxies according to a set of policies and procedures approved by the Funds’ and Portfolios’ Boards. You may obtain a description of these policies and procedures and information on how the Funds or Portfolios voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-262-1122 and by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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Investment Adviser of Stock Portfolio
Boston Management and Research
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Investment Adviser and Administrator of Eaton Vance Stock NextShares
Eaton Vance Management
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Distributor*
Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent
State Street Bank and Trust Company
State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
Fund Offices
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
* | FINRA BrokerCheck. Investors may check the background of their Investment Professional by contacting the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA BrokerCheck is a free tool to help investors check the professional background of current and former FINRA-registered securities firms and brokers. FINRA BrokerCheck is available by calling 1-800-289-9999 and at www.FINRA.org. The FINRA BrokerCheck brochure describing this program is available to investors at www.FINRA.org. |
22456 6.30.17
Item 2. Code of Ethics
Not required in this filing.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Not required in this filing.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Rule 2-01(c)(1)(ii)(A) of Regulation S-X (the “Loan Rule”) prohibits an accounting firm, such as the Trust’s principal accountant, Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”), from having certain financial relationships with their audit clients and affiliated entities. Specifically, the Loan Rule provides, in relevant part, that an accounting firm generally would not be independent if it or a “covered person” of the accounting firm (within the meaning of applicable SEC rules relating to auditor independence) receives a loan from a lender that is a “record or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of the audit client’s equity securities.” Based on information provided to the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees (the “Audit Committee”) of the Eaton Vance family of funds by D&T, certain relationships between D&T and its affiliates (“Deloitte Entities”) and one or more lenders who are record owners of shares of one or more funds within the Eaton Vance family of funds (the “Funds”) implicate the Loan Rule, calling into question D&T’s independence with respect to the Funds. The Funds are providing this disclosure to explain the facts and circumstances as well as D&T’s conclusions concerning D&T’s objectivity and impartiality with respect to the audits of the Funds notwithstanding the existence of one or more breaches of the Loan Rule.
On June 20, 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued no-action relief to another mutual fund complex (see Fidelity Management & Research Company et al., No-Action Letter (June 20, 2016) (the “No-Action Letter”)) related to an auditor independence issue arising under the Loan Rule. In the No-Action Letter, the SEC indicated that it would not recommend enforcement action against the fund group if the auditor is not in compliance with the Loan Rule provided that: (1) the auditor has complied with PCAOB Rule 3526(b)(1) and 3526(b)(2); (2) the auditor’s non-compliance under the Loan Rule is with respect to certain lending relationships; and (3) notwithstanding such non-compliance, the auditor has concluded that it is objective and impartial with respect to the issues encompassed within its engagement as auditor of the funds. The SEC has indicated that the no-action relief will expire 18 months from its issuance.
Based on information provided by D&T to the Audit Committee, the requirements of the No-Action Letter appear to be met with respect to D&T’s lending relationships described above. Among other things, D&T has advised the Audit Committee of its conclusion that the consequences of the breach of the Loan Rule have been satisfactorily addressed, that D&T’s objectivity and impartiality in the planning and conduct of the audits of the Fund’s financial statements has not been compromised and that, notwithstanding the breach, D&T is in a position to continue as the auditor for the Funds and D&T does not believe any actions need to be taken with respect to previously issued reports by D&T. D&T has advised the Audit Committee that these conclusions were based in part on its consideration of the No-Action Letter and other relevant information communicated to the Audit Committee.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
Please see schedule of investments contained in the Report to Stockholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No material changes.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits
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(a)(1) | | Registrant’s Code of Ethics – Not applicable (please see Item 2). |
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(a)(2)(i) | | Treasurer’s Section 302 certification. |
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(a)(2)(ii) | | President’s Section 302 certification. |
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(b) | | Combined Section 906 certification. |
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Eaton Vance NextShares Trust
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By: | | /s/ Edward J. Perkin |
| | Edward J. Perkin |
| | President |
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Date: | | August 24, 2017 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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By: | | /s/ James F. Kirchner |
| | James F. Kirchner |
| | Treasurer |
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Date: | | August 24, 2017 |
| |
By: | | /s/ Edward J. Perkin |
| | Edward J. Perkin |
| | President |
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Date: | | August 24, 2017 |