UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
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Investment Company Act file number: | | 811-02896 |
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Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: | | Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 |
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Address of principal executive offices: | | 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor |
| | Newark, New Jersey 07102 |
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Name and address of agent for service: | | Andrew R. French |
| | 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor |
| | Newark, New Jersey 07102 |
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | | 800-225-1852 |
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Date of fiscal year end: | | 8/31/2023 |
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Date of reporting period: | | 8/31/2023 |
Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders
PGIM SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD INCOME FUND
ANNUAL REPORT
AUGUST 31, 2023
To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery
Table of Contents
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
The views expressed in this report and information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings are for the period covered by this report and are subject to change thereafter.
Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC. PGIM Fixed Income is a unit of PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a registered investment adviser. PIMS and PGIM are Prudential Financial companies. © 2023 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. PGIM and the PGIM logo are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.
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Letter from the President
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| | Dear Shareholder: We hope you find the annual report for the PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund informative and useful. The report covers performance for the 12-month period that ended August 31, 2023. Although central banks raised interest rates aggressively to tame surging inflation during the period, the global economy and financial markets demonstrated resilience. Employers continued to hire, consumers continued to spend, home prices rose, and recession fears receded. |
Stocks fell early in the period, bottomed in October, and then began a rally that eventually ended a bear market. Despite a banking industry crisis in March, stocks have continued to rise globally throughout 2023 as inflation cooled and the Federal Reserve slowed the pace of its rate hikes. Equities in both US and international markets posted gains during the period.
Bond market returns were mixed during the period as rising interest rates lifted yields to their highest level in two decades. US and global investment-grade bonds fell, while US high yield corporate bonds and emerging-market debt rose.
Regarding your investments with PGIM, we believe it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio of funds consistent with your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals. Your financial advisor can help you create a diversified investment plan that may include funds covering all the basic asset classes and that reflects your personal investor profile and risk tolerance. However, diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
At PGIM Investments, we provide access to active investment strategies across the global markets in the pursuit of consistent outperformance for investors. PGIM is the world’s 14th-largest investment manager with more than $1.3 trillion in assets under management. Our scale and investment expertise allow us to deliver a diversified suite of actively managed solutions across a broad spectrum of asset classes and investment styles.
Thank you for choosing our family of funds.
Sincerely,
Stuart S. Parker, President
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
October 16, 2023
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 3
Your Fund’s Performance (unaudited)
Performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the past performance data quoted. An investor may obtain performance data as of the most recent month-end by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852.
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| | Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 |
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| | One Year (%) | | Five Years (%) | | Ten Years (%) | | Since Inception (%) |
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Class A | | | | | | | | |
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(with sales charges) | | 3.93 | | 3.19 | | 3.62 | | — |
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(without sales charges) | | 6.33 | | 3.66 | | 3.85 | | — |
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Class C | | | | | | | | |
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(with sales charges) | | 4.54 | | 2.89 | | 3.08 | | — |
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(without sales charges) | | 5.54 | | 2.89 | | 3.08 | | — |
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Class Z | | | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | 6.60 | | 3.90 | | 4.11 | | — |
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Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | 6.78 | | 3.97 | | N/A | | 4.12 (10/27/2014) |
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Bloomberg US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 Year 1% Capped Index | | | | | | | | |
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| | 7.63 | | 3.67 | | 3.97 | | — |
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Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 Since Inception (%) |
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| | Class R6 (10/27/2014) |
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Bloomberg US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 Year 1% Capped Index | | 3.75 |
Since Inception returns are provided for any share class with less than 10 fiscal years of returns. Since Inception returns for the Index are measured from the closest month-end to the class’s inception date.
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Growth of a $10,000 Investment (unaudited)
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class Z shares with a similar investment in the Bloomberg US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 Year 1% Capped Index, by portraying the initial account values at the beginning of the 10-year period (August 31, 2013) and the account values at the end of the current fiscal year (August 31, 2023) as measured on a quarterly basis. For purposes of the graph, and unless otherwise indicated, it has been assumed that (a) all recurring fees (including management fees) were deducted and (b) all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The line graph provides information for Class Z shares only. As indicated in the tables provided earlier, performance for other share classes will vary due to the differing fees and expenses applicable to each share class (as indicated in the following paragraphs). Without waiver of fees and/or expense reimbursements, if any, the returns would have been lower.
Past performance does not predict future performance. Total returns and the ending account values in the graphs include changes in share price and reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions in a hypothetical investment for the periods shown. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect the deduction of income taxes on an individual’s investment. Taxes may reduce your actual investment returns on income or gains paid by the Fund or any gains you may realize if you sell your shares.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 5
Your Fund’s Performance (continued)
The returns in the tables do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or following the redemption of Fund shares. The average annual total returns take into account applicable sales charges, which are described for each share class in the table below.
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| | Class A | | Class C | | Class Z | | Class R6 |
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Maximum initial sales charge | | 2.25% of the public offering price | | None | | None | | None |
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Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of the original purchase price or the net asset value at redemption) | | 1.00% on sales of $500,000 or more made within 12 months of purchase | | 1.00% on sales made within 12 months of purchase | | None | | None |
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Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets) | | 0.25% | | 1.00% | | None | | None |
Benchmark Definition
Bloomberg US High Yield Ba/B 1–5 Year 1% Capped Index—The Bloomberg US High Yield Ba/B 1–5 Year 1% Capped Index (the Index) represents the performance of US short duration, higher-rated high yield bonds.
Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The returns for the Index would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes that may be paid by an investor.
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Credit Quality expressed as a percentage of total investments as of 8/31/23 (%) | |
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AAA | | | 6.8 | |
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BBB | | | 5.1 | |
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BB | | | 41.0 | |
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B | | | 34.6 | |
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CCC | | | 6.9 | |
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D | | | 0.5 | |
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Not Rated | | | 2.2 | |
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Cash/Cash Equivalents | | | 2.9 | |
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Total | | | 100.0 | |
Credit ratings reflect the highest rating assigned by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) such as Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s), S&P Global Ratings (S&P), or Fitch Ratings Inc. (Fitch). Credit ratings reflect the common nomenclature used by both S&P and Fitch. Where applicable, ratings are converted to the comparable S&P/Fitch rating tier nomenclature. These rating agencies are independent and are widely used. The Not Rated category consists of securities that have not been rated by an NRSRO. Credit ratings are subject to change.
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Distributions and Yields as of 8/31/23 | | | | | | |
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| | Total Distributions Paid for One Year ($) | | SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield* (%) | | SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield** (%) |
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Class A | | 0.50 | | 7.26 | | 7.25 |
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Class C | | 0.44 | | 6.66 | | 6.66 |
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Class Z | | 0.52 | | 7.68 | | 7.61 |
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Class R6 | | 0.52 | | 7.72 | | 7.72 |
*SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s net expenses (net of any expense waivers or reimbursements). The investor experience is represented by the SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield.
**SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s gross expenses. The investor experience is represented by the SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 7
Strategy and Performance Overview* (unaudited)
How did the Fund perform?
The PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund’s Class Z shares returned 6.60% in the 12-month reporting period that ended August 31, 2023, underperforming the 7.63% return of the Bloomberg US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 Year 1% Capped Index (the Index).
What were the market conditions?
· | | US high yield bonds posted gains over the reporting period amid limited new issuance, resilient economic data, and an ongoing supply deficit fueled by a high volume of calls, tenders, maturities, and coupon payments. |
· | | Spreads on the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield Bond Index tightened 113 basis points (bps) to 372 bps as of the end of the reporting period. (One basis point equals 0.01%.) Spreads on the short-duration, higher-quality portion of the high yield market, as measured by the Bloomberg US High Yield Ba/B 1-5 year 1% Constrained Index, tightened 133 bps over the reporting period to 292 bps. |
· | | Meanwhile, fundamentals remained solid, with leverage remaining low and coverage ratios remaining strong despite recession concerns and a series of rolling crises, including a string of regional bank failures, the debt ceiling debate, and still-high inflation. |
· | | After posting outflows of $47 billion during 2022, high yield bond mutual funds saw $11.7 billion of outflows during the first eight months of 2023. However, technicals remained supportive as subdued primary activity helped to offset the headwinds from negative fund flows. After totaling just $106.5 billion in 2022, high yield gross issuance totaled $111.2 billion through the first eight months of 2023, or just $40.8 billion excluding refinancing activity. |
· | | By quality, all credit tiers posted positive returns over the reporting period, with CCC-rated credits outperforming their B-rated and BB-rated peers. Meanwhile, the par-weighted US high yield default rate, including distressed exchanges, ended the reporting period at 2.40%, which was below its long-term historical average but 75 bps higher than the beginning of the year and 119 bps higher than a year earlier, according to J.P. Morgan. |
What worked?
· | | Overall security selection contributed to the Fund’s performance over the reporting period, with selection in technology, healthcare & pharmaceuticals, and consumer non-cyclicals contributing the most. |
· | | In individual security selection, positioning in Lumen Technologies Inc. (telecom), Bausch Health Americas Inc. (pharmaceuticals), and West Technology Group LLC (consumer non-cyclical) were among the largest contributors to performance. |
· | | While overall sector allocation detracted from performance, an overweight relative to the Index to building materials & home construction, along with underweights relative to the Index to retailers & restaurants and real estate investment trusts (REITs), contributed. |
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What didn’t work?
· | | While overall security selection contributed to the Fund’s performance during the reporting period, security selections in chemicals, upstream energy, and media & entertainment detracted. |
· | | Overall sector allocation detracted from performance, with an underweight relative to the Index to gaming/lodging/leisure, along with overweights relative to the Index to telecom and cable & satellite, detracting the most. |
· | | In individual security selection, positioning in Venator Materials LLC (chemicals), Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (telecom), and CSC Holdings LLC (media) detracted from results. |
· | | Having less beta, on average, in the Fund relative to the Index over the reporting period had a negative impact on returns. (Beta is a measure of the volatility or risk of a security or portfolio compared to the market or index.) |
Did the Fund use derivatives?
The Fund used credit index derivatives and interest rate futures to manage its overall risk profile during the reporting period, the aggregate impact of which was positive.
Current outlook
· | | While PGIM Fixed Income expects to see some deterioration of fundamentals, some mitigating factors will likely keep US high yield spreads from widening sharply from current levels. The market is of a higher quality than prior cycles, with BB-rated credits comprising nearly 50% of the market, net leverage remaining near all-time lows, and interest coverage near all-time highs. Meanwhile, the technical backdrop remains supportive due to a variety of factors, including lower gross new issuance and sizeable rising stars leading to a meaningful supply deficit and an overall shrinking high yield market. |
· | | PGIM Fixed Income does not expect defaults to be as severe as in previous downturns due to the strength of most issuers’ balance sheets and the absence of a near-term maturity wall, as many issuers have already termed out debt at low interest rates. Should the economy follow its base-case recession scenario, PGIM Fixed Income expects defaults to remain manageable, rising to 5% over the next 12 months. |
· | | While the short-term outlook is somewhat positive, PGIM Fixed Income forecasts a flat excess return over the next 12 months. In terms of positioning, PGIM Fixed Income remains defensive but is looking to opportunistically add higher-quality and short-duration risk on pullbacks from here. |
*This strategy and performance overview, which discusses what strategies or holdings (including derivatives, if applicable) affected the Fund’s performance, is compiled based on how the Fund performed relative to the Fund’s benchmark index and is viewed for performance attribution purposes at the aggregate Fund level, which in most instances will not directly correlate to the amounts disclosed in the Statement of Operations which conform to US generally accepted accounting principles.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 9
Fees and Expenses (unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemptions, as applicable, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses, as applicable. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 held through the six-month period ended August 31, 2023. The example is for illustrative purposes only; you should consult the Prospectus for information on initial and subsequent minimum investment requirements.
Actual Expenses
The first line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information on this line, 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 ÷ $1,000 =8.6), then multiply the result by the number on the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual 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 the 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.
The Fund’s transfer agent may charge additional fees to holders of certain accounts that are not included in the expenses shown in the table on the following page. These fees apply to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Section 403(b) accounts. As of the close of the six-month period covered by the table, IRA fees included an annual maintenance fee of $15 per account (subject to a maximum annual maintenance fee of $25 for all accounts held by the same shareholder). Section 403(b) accounts are charged an annual $25 fiduciary maintenance fee. Some of the fees may vary in amount, or may be waived, based on your total account balance or the number of PGIM funds, including the Fund, that you own. You should consider the additional fees that were charged to your Fund account over the six-month period when you estimate the total ongoing expenses paid over the period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information
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provided in the expense table. Additional fees have the effect of reducing investment returns.
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 sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in 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 have been higher.
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PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund | | Beginning Account Value March 1, 2023 | | Ending Account Value August 31, 2023 | | Annualized Expense Ratio Based on the Six-Month Period | | Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period* |
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Class A | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,045.00 | | 1.00% | | $5.15 |
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| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,020.16 | | 1.00% | | $5.09 |
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Class C | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,041.10 | | 1.75% | | $9.00 |
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| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,016.38 | | 1.75% | | $8.89 |
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Class Z | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,046.30 | | 0.75% | | $3.87 |
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| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,021.42 | | 0.75% | | $3.82 |
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Class R6 | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,047.90 | | 0.70% | | $3.61 |
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| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,021.68 | | 0.70% | | $3.57 |
*Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) for each share class are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each share class (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 184 days in the six-month period ended August 31, 2023, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 11
Schedule of Investments
as of August 31, 2023
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Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
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LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS 95.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 3.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Collateralized Loan Obligations | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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BlueMountain CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2016-02A, Class A1R2, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.382% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.120%) | | 6.761%(c) | | 08/20/32 | | | 20,000 | | | $ | 19,850,778 | |
BlueMountain Fuji US CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2017-02A, Class A1AR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.262% (Cap N/A, Floor 0.000%) | | 6.588(c) | | 10/20/30 | | | 4,708 | | | | 4,698,606 | |
Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2014-03RA, Class A1A, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.312% (Cap N/A, Floor 0.000%) | | 6.669(c) | | 07/27/31 | | | 5,237 | | �� | | 5,208,128 | |
Series 2015-04A, Class A1R, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.602% (Cap N/A, Floor 0.000%) | | 6.928(c) | | 07/20/32 | | | 7,000 | | | | 6,973,670 | |
Guggenheim CLO STAT Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2022-01A, Class A1A, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 2.590% (Cap N/A, Floor 2.590%) | | 7.941(c) | | 10/25/31 | | | 22,772 | | | | 22,875,717 | |
KKR Static CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2022-02A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 2.220% (Cap N/A, Floor 2.220%) | | 7.546(c) | | 10/20/31 | | | 35,395 | | | | 35,421,044 | |
Madison Park Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2019-33A, Class AR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.290% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.290%) | | 6.598(c) | | 10/15/32 | | | 7,500 | | | | 7,434,398 | |
Signal Peak CLO Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2018-05A, Class A, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.372% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.110%) | | 6.723(c) | | 04/25/31 | | | 8,913 | | | | 8,894,914 | |
TICP CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2017-09A, Class A, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.402% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.140%) | | 6.728(c) | | 01/20/31 | | | 12,885 | | | | 12,843,833 | |
TSTAT Ltd. (Bermuda), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2022-02A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 2.370% (Cap N/A, Floor 2.370%) | | 7.696(c) | | 01/20/31 | | | 22,809 | | | | 22,851,650 | |
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TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (cost $146,057,394) | | | | | | | | | | | 147,052,738 | |
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CONVERTIBLE BOND 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Telecommunications | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sub. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 7.000% (original cost $56,425; purchased 03/21/23 - 04/03/23)(f) (cost $56,425) | | 7.000 | | 09/18/23(oo) | | | 383 | | | | 36,380 | |
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See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 13
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
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Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
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CORPORATE BONDS 79.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Aerospace & Defense 2.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Bombardier, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.000% | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 15,150 | | | $ | 14,113,172 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125 | | | | 06/15/26 | | | | 23,375 | | | | 22,912,409 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 03/15/25 | | | | 3,828 | | | | 3,820,535 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 3,900 | | | | 3,826,875 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.875 | | | | 04/15/27 | | | | 14,150 | | | | 14,114,625 | |
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 04/15/25 | | | | 4,461 | | | | 4,405,203 | |
TransDigm UK Holdings PLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 6.875 | | | | 05/15/26 | | | | 8,575 | | | | 8,714,344 | |
TransDigm, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.500 | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 20,458 | | | | 19,419,030 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 03/15/27 | | | | 6,788 | | | | 6,804,372 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 2,475 | | | | 2,458,989 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 100,589,554 | |
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Airlines 1.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
American Airlines, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.250 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 2,925 | | | | 2,871,014 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 11.750 | | | | 07/15/25 | | | | 4,896 | | | | 5,361,960 | |
American Airlines, Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 04/20/26 | | | | 36,730 | | | | 36,046,006 | |
United Airlines, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.375 | | | | 04/15/26 | | | | 4,237 | | | | 3,995,299 | |
VistaJet Malta Finance PLC/Vista Management Holding, Inc. (Switzerland), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.875 | | | | 05/01/27 | | | | 7,933 | | | | 7,159,533 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.500 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 3,500 | | | | 3,228,750 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 58,662,562 | |
| | | | |
Apparel 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Hanesbrands, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 05/15/26 | | | | 1,475 | | | | 1,378,989 | |
William Carter Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 03/15/27 | | | | 7,240 | | | | 7,019,098 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8,398,087 | |
| | | | |
Auto Manufacturers 1.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Allison Transmission, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 10/01/27 | | | | 3,824 | | | | 3,588,517 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Auto Manufacturers (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 2.300% | | | | 02/10/25 | | | | 4,000 | | | $ | 3,750,400 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 2.700 | | | | 08/10/26 | | | | 1,750 | | | | 1,567,097 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 2.900 | | | | 02/16/28 | | | | 12,250 | | | | 10,440,618 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.125 | | | | 08/17/27 | | | | 3,207 | | | | 2,910,869 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.950 | | | | 05/28/27 | | | | 2,300 | | | | 2,155,077 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.584 | | | | 03/18/24 | | | | 1,525 | | | | 1,517,795 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 6.800 | | | | 05/12/28 | | | | 8,625 | | | | 8,619,121 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 6.950 | | | | 03/06/26 | | | | 3,800 | | | | 3,808,517 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.350 | | | | 11/04/27 | | | | 9,750 | | | | 9,931,751 | |
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.750 | | | | 10/15/25 | | | | 6,625 | | | | 6,642,225 | |
Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 2.750 | | | | 03/09/28 | | | | 3,125 | | | | 2,632,365 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, MTN | | | 1.850 | | | | 09/16/26 | | | | 6,450 | | | | 5,591,946 | |
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (Japan), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.345 | | | | 09/17/27 | | | | 2,750 | | | | 2,517,064 | |
PM General Purchaser LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.500 | | | | 10/01/28 | | | | 3,950 | | | | 3,794,244 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69,467,606 | |
| | | | |
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Adient Global Holdings Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 08/15/26 | | | | 6,695 | | | | 6,410,462 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 04/15/28 | | | | 3,300 | | | | 3,300,000 | |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 1,341 | | | | 1,305,765 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.500 | | | | 04/01/27 | | | | 4,444 | | | | 4,215,634 | |
Dana Financing Luxembourg Sarl, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 04/15/25 | | | | 4,737 | | | | 4,632,028 | |
Dana, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 2,400 | | | | 2,282,852 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 06/15/28 | | | | 1,000 | | | | 940,934 | |
Tenneco, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.000 | | | | 11/17/28 | | | | 8,275 | | | | 6,814,716 | |
Titan International, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(a) | | | 7.000 | | | | 04/30/28 | | | | 2,300 | | | | 2,189,923 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 32,092,314 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 15
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Banks 0.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Credit Suisse AG (Switzerland), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN | | | 3.625% | | | | 09/09/24 | | | | 2,170 | | | $ | 2,111,368 | |
Freedom Mortgage Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.625 | | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 3,925 | | | | 3,610,762 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.250 | | | | 04/15/25 | | | | 4,950 | | | | 4,883,369 | |
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (Italy), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sub. Notes, 144A, MTN | | | 5.017 | | | | 06/26/24 | | | | 5,525 | | | | 5,372,510 | |
Popular, Inc. (Puerto Rico), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.250 | | | | 03/13/28 | | | | 14,600 | | | | 14,691,250 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30,669,259 | |
| | | | |
Building Materials 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Eco Material Technologies, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.875 | | | | 01/31/27 | | | | 5,175 | | | | 5,065,291 | |
JELD-WEN, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 12/15/25 | | | | 4,570 | | | | 4,426,795 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 12/15/27 | | | | 6,320 | | | | 5,635,867 | |
Masonite International Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 1,376 | | | | 1,296,880 | |
Standard Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.750 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 5,600 | | | | 5,154,989 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 35,138 | | | | 33,376,821 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 54,956,643 | |
| | | | |
Chemicals 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Avient Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 27,462 | | | | 27,100,553 | |
Cornerstone Chemical Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 8.250% and PIK 2.000% (original cost $5,913,003; purchased 04/05/19)(f) | | | 10.250 | | | | 09/01/27 | | | | 6,000 | | | | 5,197,722 | |
NOVA Chemicals Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 06/01/24 | | | | 13,450 | | | | 13,197,947 | |
Olympus Water US Holding Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.250 | | | | 10/01/28 | | | | 3,481 | | | | 2,877,862 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.750 | | | | 11/15/28 | | | | 7,775 | | | | 7,838,914 | |
Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.250 | | | | 04/01/25 | | | | 363 | | | | 356,733 | |
SNF Group SACA (France), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.125 | | | | 03/15/27 | | | | 18,392 | | | | 16,236,274 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chemicals (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TPC Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 13.000% | | | | 12/16/27 | | | | 5,361 | | | $ | 5,420,101 | |
Venator Finance Sarl/Venator Materials LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 07/15/25(d) | | | | 4,070 | | | | 122,100 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.500 | | | | 07/01/25(d) | | | | 25,261 | | | | 19,703,580 | |
WR Grace Holdings LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 06/15/27 | | | | 4,615 | | | | 4,306,457 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 102,358,243 | |
| | | | |
Coal 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Conuma Resources Ltd. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 13.125 | | | | 05/01/28 | | | | 6,200 | | | | 5,727,250 | |
| | | | |
Commercial Services 4.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Adtalem Global Education, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 03/01/28 | | | | 4,953 | | | | 4,631,530 | |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.625 | | | | 07/15/26 | | | | 60,146 | | | | 57,256,731 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.750 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 10,774 | | | | 9,895,646 | |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 10,366 | | | | 8,811,100 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 3,625 | | | | 3,045,000 | |
Alta Equipment Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 04/15/26 | | | | 19,350 | | | | 17,913,007 | |
AMN Healthcare, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 10/01/27 | | | | 15,275 | | | | 14,081,265 | |
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 1,020 | | | | 925,531 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 6,575 | | | | 6,316,032 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 13,920 | | | | 13,296,845 | |
Avis Budget Finance PLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.750 | | | | 01/30/26 | | | EUR | 1,825 | | | | 1,940,277 | |
Brink’s Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 1,311 | | | | 1,219,703 | |
Herc Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 14,941 | | | | 14,359,136 | |
Hertz Corp. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 12/01/26 | | | | 3,625 | | | | 3,279,118 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 17
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Commercial Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500% | | | | 09/01/28 | | | | 6,250 | | | $ | 5,317,802 | |
United Rentals North America, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.875 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 1,275 | | | | 1,212,594 | |
Verscend Escrow Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.750 | | | | 08/15/26 | | | | 36,573 | | | | 36,413,464 | |
VT Topco, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.500 | | | | 08/15/30 | | | | 2,175 | | | | 2,205,306 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 202,120,087 | |
| | | | |
Computers 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CA Magnum Holdings (India), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 10/31/26 | | | | 2,100 | | | | 1,872,024 | |
NCR Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 09/01/27 | | | | 18,220 | | | | 18,384,006 | |
Tempo Acquisition LLC/Tempo Acquisition Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 06/01/25 | | | | 15,915 | | | | 15,658,755 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 35,914,785 | |
| | | | |
Distribution/Wholesale 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
H&E Equipment Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.875 | | | | 12/15/28 | | | | 18,099 | | | | 15,806,638 | |
Ritchie Bros Holdings, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 03/15/28 | | | | 1,200 | | | | 1,210,200 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17,016,838 | |
| | | | |
Diversified Financial Services 3.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Bread Financial Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.750 | | | | 12/15/24 | | | | 26,515 | | | | 25,866,750 | |
goeasy Ltd. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.375 | | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 950 | | | | 874,532 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 12/01/24 | | | | 27,557 | | | | 27,074,753 | |
LD Holdings Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 13,275 | | | | 8,663,777 | |
LFS Topco LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 10/15/26 | | | | 11,200 | | | | 9,718,625 | |
Macquarie Airfinance Holdings Ltd. (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.375 | | | | 05/01/28 | | | | 1,175 | | | | 1,196,009 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Diversified Financial Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500% | | | | 08/15/28 | | | | 9,470 | | | $ | 8,618,037 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.000 | | | | 01/15/27 | | | | 6,775 | | | | 6,502,284 | |
Navient Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 10/25/24 | | | | 500 | | | | 492,508 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 6.750 | | | | 06/25/25 | | | | 5,150 | | | | 5,126,616 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN | | | 6.125 | | | | 03/25/24 | | | | 14,883 | | | | 14,825,673 | |
OneMain Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 3.500 | | | | 01/15/27 | | | | 3,400 | | | | 2,959,581 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 3.875 | | | | 09/15/28 | | | | 2,525 | | | | 2,070,158 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 6.125 | | | | 03/15/24 | | | | 1,000 | | | | 998,254 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 6.875 | | | | 03/15/25 | | | | 17,747 | | | | 17,658,265 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.125 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 17,838 | | | | 17,587,521 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 8.250 | | | | 10/01/23 | | | | 4,775 | | | | 4,781,044 | |
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 10/15/25 | | | | 11,575 | | | | 11,196,763 | |
Rocket Mortgage LLC/Rocket Mortgage Co-Issuer, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 2.875 | | | | 10/15/26 | | | | 8,069 | | | | 7,179,996 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 173,391,146 | |
| | | | |
Electric 2.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Calpine Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.500 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 10,660 | | | | 9,873,316 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 06/01/26 | | | | 7,765 | | | | 7,627,256 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.125 | | | | 03/15/28 | | | | 17,347 | | | | 15,807,413 | |
NRG Energy, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.750 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 13,524 | | | | 12,793,798 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.250 | | | | 06/15/29 | | | | 10,250 | | | | 9,228,502 | |
Vistra Operations Co. LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 07/31/27 | | | | 18,241 | | | | 17,173,067 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 09/01/26 | | | | 3,617 | | | | 3,487,933 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 16,133 | | | | 15,524,651 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 91,515,936 | |
| | | | |
Electrical Components & Equipment 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Energizer Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.500 | | | | 12/31/27 | | | | 16,843 | | | | 16,271,820 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 19
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Electrical Components & Equipment (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
WESCO Distribution, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125% | | | | 06/15/25 | | | | 23,198 | | | $ | 23,365,161 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.250 | | | | 06/15/28 | | | | 2,802 | | | | 2,855,784 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42,492,765 | |
| | | | |
Electronics 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Likewize Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $16,666,646; purchased 10/08/20 - 04/26/22)(f) | | | 9.750 | | | | 10/15/25 | | | | 16,109 | | | | 15,730,775 | |
Sensata Technologies BV, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 10/01/25 | | | | 3,020 | | | | 2,929,400 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 11/01/24 | | | | 1,050 | | | | 1,036,875 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19,697,050 | |
| | | | |
Engineering & Construction 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AECOM, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.125 | | | | 03/15/27 | | | | 3,065 | | | | 2,944,303 | |
Brand Industrial Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 10.375 | | | | 08/01/30 | | | | 700 | | | | 722,803 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,667,106 | |
| | | | |
Entertainment 3.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 10.000% or PIK 12.000% or Cash coupon 5.000% and PIK 6.000% | | | 10.000 | | | | 06/15/26 | | | | 836 | | | | 579,890 | |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 07/01/25 | | | | 42,332 | | | | 42,032,024 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 02/15/30 | | | | 14,275 | | | | 14,333,390 | |
CCM Merger, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.375 | | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 19,144 | | | | 18,575,657 | |
Golden Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.625 | | | | 04/15/26 | | | | 13,666 | | | | 13,634,230 | |
International Game Technology PLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.125 | | | | 04/15/26 | | | | 2,700 | | | | 2,554,929 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 01/15/27 | | | | 8,500 | | | | 8,372,500 | |
Jacobs Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 4,775 | | | | 4,330,134 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 5,075 | | | | 4,643,693 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Entertainment (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Motion Bondco DAC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.625% | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 6,350 | | | $ | 5,889,625 | |
Penn Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 01/15/27 | | | | 24,783 | | | | 23,514,329 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 138,460,401 | |
| | | | |
Environmental Control 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
GFL Environmental, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.000 | | | | 08/01/28 | | | | 1,700 | | | | 1,511,521 | |
| | | | |
Foods 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Albertson’s Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New Albertson’s LP/Albertson’s LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.250 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 1,423 | | | | 1,324,102 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 01/15/27 | | | | 13,775 | | | | 13,028,308 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.500 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 750 | | | | 746,329 | |
B&G Foods, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 04/01/25 | | | | 25,380 | | | | 24,784,320 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 09/15/27 | | | | 22,026 | | | | 19,505,755 | |
Chobani LLC/Chobani Finance Corp., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 04/15/25 | | | | 15,986 | | | | 15,971,681 | |
Market Bidco Finco PLC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 11/04/27 | | | GBP | 1,000 | | | | 989,878 | |
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.875 | | | | 09/30/27 | | | | 17,510 | | | | 17,339,708 | |
Post Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 7,501 | | | | 7,194,762 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 100,884,843 | |
| | | | |
Gas 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.500 | | | | 05/20/25 | | | | 9,274 | | | | 9,098,830 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.750 | | | | 05/20/27 | | | | 6,929 | | | | 6,409,444 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.875 | | | | 08/20/26 | | | | 11,889 | | | | 11,272,946 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 26,781,220 | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Services 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
HCA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.050 | | | | 12/01/27 | | | | 15,705 | | | | 16,332,188 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 21
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Legacy LifePoint Health LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375% | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 24,830 | | | $ | 21,483,789 | |
Prime Healthcare Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.250 | | | | 11/01/25 | | | | 41,378 | | | | 38,826,879 | |
RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Inc./LifePoint Health, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.750 | | | | 12/01/26 | | | | 21,883 | | | | 20,469,578 | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | | 4.625 | | | | 06/15/28 | | | | 5,744 | | | | 5,301,017 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | | 4.875 | | | | 01/01/26 | | | | 1,731 | | | | 1,678,177 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 104,091,628 | |
| | | | |
Home Builders 4.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Ashton Woods USA LLC/Ashton Woods Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.625 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 3,260 | | | | 3,118,059 | |
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.875 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 16,812 | | | | 15,860,622 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.750 | | | | 03/15/25 | | | | 12,045 | | | | 12,022,218 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.250 | | | | 10/15/29 | | | | 6,417 | | | | 6,221,683 | |
Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield Residential US LLC (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 09/15/27 | | | | 31,689 | | | | 29,035,046 | |
Century Communities, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 6.750 | | | | 06/01/27 | | | | 6,996 | | | | 6,976,837 | |
Empire Communities Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.000 | | | | 12/15/25 | | | | 29,712 | | | | 28,709,220 | |
Forestar Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.850 | | | | 05/15/26 | | | | 18,060 | | | | 16,842,877 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 03/01/28 | | | | 3,150 | | | | 2,923,291 | |
M/I Homes, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.950 | | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 8,649 | | | | 8,035,109 | |
Mattamy Group Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.250 | | | | 12/15/27 | | | | 33,644 | | | | 31,499,195 | |
Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.750 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 6,075 | | | | 5,590,221 | |
STL Holding Co. LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 02/15/26 | | | | 11,259 | | | | 10,538,843 | |
Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 2,218 | | | | 2,149,350 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.875 | | | | 06/15/27 | | | | 6,681 | | | | 6,565,095 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
22
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Home Builders (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Taylor Morrison Holdings II, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625% | | 03/01/24 | | | 6,397 | | | $ | 6,365,015 | |
Tri Pointe Homes, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.250 | | 06/01/27 | | | 21,693 | | | | 20,712,489 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.700 | | 06/15/28 | | | 2,143 | | | | 2,030,991 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 215,196,161 | |
| | | | |
Household Products/Wares 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Kronos Acquisition Holdings, Inc./KIK Custom Products, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.000 | | 12/31/27 | | | 4,500 | | | | 3,948,750 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.000 | | 12/31/26 | | | 2,736 | | | | 2,537,640 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6,486,390 | |
| | | | |
Housewares 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.375 | | 02/01/32 | | | 1,050 | | | | 828,537 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.500 | | 10/15/29 | | | 7,975 | | | | 6,655,735 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 7,484,272 | |
| | | | |
Internet 1.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cablevision Lightpath LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 09/15/27 | | | 11,805 | | | | 9,881,829 | |
Cogent Communications Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.500 | | 05/01/26 | | | 1,150 | | | | 1,073,534 | |
Gen Digital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.000 | | 04/15/25 | | | 47,505 | | | | 46,587,853 | |
Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC/GD Finance Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | 12/01/27 | | | 15,010 | | | | 14,367,147 | |
Northwest Fiber LLC/Northwest Fiber Finance Sub, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.750 | | 04/30/27 | | | 16,180 | | | | 14,163,371 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 86,073,734 | |
| | | | |
Iron/Steel 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ATI, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 7.250 | | 08/15/30 | | | 1,775 | | | | 1,790,667 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 23
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Iron/Steel (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Big River Steel LLC/BRS Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.625% | | 01/31/29 | | | 6,361 | | | $ | 6,334,753 | |
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.750 | | 04/15/30 | | | 3,750 | | | | 3,572,563 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.750 | | 03/15/26 | | | 18,100 | | | | 18,139,011 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 29,836,994 | |
| | | | |
Leisure Time 2.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Carnival Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 03/01/27 | | | 10,050 | | | | 9,459,562 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.625 | | 03/01/26 | | | 15,025 | | | | 14,937,404 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.000 | | 08/15/29 | | | 1,400 | | | | 1,415,750 | |
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 9.000 | | 05/15/28 | | | 4,375 | | | | 4,487,800 | |
NCL Corp. Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 03/15/26 | | | 21,356 | | | | 20,075,067 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.875 | | 02/15/27 | | | 7,575 | | | | 7,316,920 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.375 | | 02/01/28 | | | 4,725 | | | | 4,843,125 | |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.250 | | 01/15/30 | | | 2,075 | | | | 2,100,336 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.375 | | 07/15/27 | | | 11,244 | | | | 10,545,073 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.500 | | 04/01/28 | | | 7,875 | | | | 7,358,873 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 11.625 | | 08/15/27 | | | 26,700 | | | | 29,019,963 | |
Viking Cruises Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 09/15/27 | | | 10,725 | | | | 9,974,250 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.250 | | 05/15/25 | | | 3,000 | | | | 2,943,750 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.000 | | 02/15/29 | | | 5,075 | | | | 4,795,875 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 129,273,748 | |
| | | | |
Lodging 2.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Genting New York LLC/GENNY Capital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.300 | | 02/15/26 | | | 15,211 | | | | 13,594,228 | |
Las Vegas Sands Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 2.900 | | 06/25/25 | | | 900 | | | | 849,682 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 3.500 | | 08/18/26 | | | 700 | | | | 648,109 | |
MGM Resorts International, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.625 | | 09/01/26 | | | 12,877 | | | | 12,130,214 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.750 | | 10/15/28 | | | 15,964 | | | | 14,487,792 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.500 | | 04/15/27 | | | 17,000 | | | | 16,256,598 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.750 | | 06/15/25 | | | 965 | | | | 953,033 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.750 | | 05/01/25 | | | 8,821 | | | | 8,835,038 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
24
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Lodging (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Prop Mezz LP/Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.875% | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 23,495 | | | $ | 22,699,969 | |
Wynn Macau Ltd. (Macau), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.500 | | | 01/15/26 | | | | 26,232 | | | | 24,530,593 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | | 10/01/27 | | | | 12,650 | | | | 11,358,878 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.625 | | | 08/26/28 | | | | 2,337 | | | | 2,047,796 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 128,391,930 | |
| | | | |
Machinery-Diversified 1.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Maxim Crane Works Holdings Capital LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 10.125 | | | 08/01/24 | | | | 38,660 | | | | 38,730,511 | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 11.500 | | | 09/01/28 | | | | 8,100 | | | | 8,123,705 | |
TK Elevator US Newco, Inc. (Germany), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 26,957 | | | | 25,154,251 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 72,008,467 | |
| | | | |
Media 9.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AMC Networks, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.000 | | | 04/01/24 | | | | 12,485 | | | | 12,360,498 | |
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 25,695 | | | | 23,679,927 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.125 | | | 05/01/27 | | | | 51,404 | | | | 48,333,254 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 20,679 | | | | 20,148,126 | |
CSC Holdings LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 21,500 | | | | 17,640,666 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.500 | | | 04/15/27 | | | | 45,376 | | | | 39,167,747 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.500 | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 12,585 | | | | 7,972,875 | |
Diamond Sports Group LLC/Diamond Sports Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $15,609,994; purchased 07/18/19 - 07/05/22)(f) | | 5.375 | | | 08/15/26 | (d) | | | 18,919 | | | | 551,854 | |
DISH DBS Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.875 | | | 11/15/24 | | | | 17,902 | | | | 16,660,389 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.750 | | | 07/01/26 | | | | 44,200 | | | | 33,026,795 | |
DISH Network Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 11.750 | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 7,925 | | | | 8,046,755 | |
Gray Television, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.875 | | | 07/15/26 | | | | 39,512 | | | | 36,033,688 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.000 | | | 05/15/27 | | | | 2,000 | | | | 1,792,732 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 25
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Media (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
iHeartCommunications, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(a) | | 6.375% | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 27,573 | | | $ | 24,056,065 | |
Midcontinent Communications/Midcontinent Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | | 08/15/27 | | | | 23,983 | | | | 22,715,463 | |
Nexstar Media, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 40,350 | | | | 37,934,238 | |
Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.500 | | | 09/15/26 | | | | 24,349 | | | | 18,966,217 | |
Sinclair Television Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.125 | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 12,106 | | | | 9,936,686 | |
Univision Communications, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | | 02/15/25 | | | | 39,388 | | | | 38,847,171 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.625 | | | 06/01/27 | | | | 12,490 | | | | 12,092,459 | |
Videotron Ltd. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | | 06/15/24 | | | | 7,288 | | | | 7,244,345 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 437,207,950 | |
| | | | |
Mining 1.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Arsenal AIC Parent LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 8.000 | | | 10/01/30 | | | | 1,750 | | | | 1,786,770 | |
Constellium SE, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | | 02/15/26 | | | | 3,212 | | | | 3,151,518 | |
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (Zambia), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.875 | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 800 | | | | 781,728 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.875 | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 2,400 | | | | 2,319,192 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | | 04/01/25 | | | | 16,731 | | | | 16,661,985 | |
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.375 | | | 08/01/28 | | | | 1,820 | | | | 1,690,616 | |
Hecla Mining Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.250 | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 3,225 | | | | 3,161,750 | |
Hudbay Minerals, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | | 04/01/26 | | | | 20,485 | | | | 19,307,113 | |
New Gold, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 6,650 | | | | 6,333,327 | |
Novelis Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.250 | | | 11/15/26 | | | | 25,674 | | | | 23,251,812 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.750 | | | 01/30/30 | | | | 12,094 | | | | 10,823,737 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 89,269,548 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
26
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Miscellaneous Manufacturing 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Amsted Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625% | | 07/01/27 | | | 8,461 | | | $ | 8,215,719 | |
Trinity Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.750 | | 07/15/28 | | | 4,400 | | | | 4,489,490 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 12,705,209 | |
| | | | |
Oil & Gas 4.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Aethon United BR LP/Aethon United Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.250 | | 02/15/26 | | | 10,000 | | | | 10,047,256 | |
Alta Mesa Holdings LP/Alta Mesa Finance Services Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.875 | | 12/15/24(d) | | | 10,985 | | | | 1,099 | |
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC/ARU Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.000 | | 11/01/26 | | | 1,750 | | | | 1,739,857 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 9.000 | | 11/01/27 | | | 7,789 | | | | 9,795,647 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.250 | | 12/31/28 | | | 19,888 | | | | 19,910,355 | |
Athabasca Oil Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 9.750 | | 11/01/26 | | | 18,230 | | | | 18,845,262 | |
Chesapeake Energy Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 02/01/26 | | | 2,425 | | | | 2,371,566 | |
CITGO Petroleum Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.375 | | 06/15/26 | | | 14,500 | | | | 14,204,871 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.000 | | 06/15/25 | | | 9,285 | | | | 9,196,794 | |
Civitas Resources, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 8.375 | | 07/01/28 | | | 5,850 | | | | 6,024,952 | |
CNX Resources Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.250 | | 03/14/27 | | | 6,675 | | | | 6,667,995 | |
Crescent Energy Finance LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 9.250 | | 02/15/28 | | | 3,675 | | | | 3,757,888 | |
Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 01/30/28 | | | 11,468 | | | | 11,221,511 | |
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 02/01/29 | | | 1,200 | | | | 1,123,713 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.250 | | 11/01/28 | | | 1,000 | | | | 961,245 | |
MEG Energy Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.125 | | 02/01/27 | | | 10,907 | | | | 11,011,598 | |
Nabors Industries Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.250 | | 01/15/26 | | | 6,225 | | | | 5,968,219 | |
Nabors Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.750 | | 02/01/25 | | | 4,190 | | | | 4,109,993 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 27
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Oil & Gas (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Nabors Industries, Inc., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.375% | | 05/15/27 | | | 7,625 | | | $ | 7,438,162 | |
Noble Finance II LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 8.000 | | 04/15/30 | | | 1,325 | | | | 1,369,924 | |
Occidental Petroleum Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 7.150 | | 05/15/28 | | | 2,275 | | | | 2,360,095 | |
Parkland Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 07/15/27 | | | 11,915 | | | | 11,468,188 | |
Precision Drilling Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.125 | | 01/15/26 | | | 4,646 | | | | 4,593,175 | |
Preem Holdings AB (Sweden), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 12.000 | | 06/30/27 | | EUR | 10,530 | | | | 12,246,025 | |
SilverBow Resources, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A, 3 Month LIBOR + 0.750%^ | | 13.052(c) | | 12/15/28 | | | 6,500 | | | | 6,370,000 | |
Southwestern Energy Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.375 | | 02/01/29 | | | 3,175 | | | | 3,010,036 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.375 | | 03/15/30 | | | 5,600 | | | | 5,242,044 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 8.375 | | 09/15/28 | | | 3,284 | | | | 3,410,305 | |
Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.875 | | 03/15/28 | | | 865 | | | | 842,187 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.000 | | 04/15/27 | | | 6,575 | | | | 6,505,289 | |
Valaris Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.375 | | 04/30/30 | | | 2,200 | | | | 2,240,810 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 204,056,061 | |
| | | | |
Packaging & Containers 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 08/15/26 | | | 4,853 | | | | 4,524,500 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | 08/15/27 | | | 3,150 | | | | 2,700,558 | |
Graham Packaging Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.125 | | 08/15/28 | | | 11,950 | | | | 10,504,985 | |
Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Finco, Inc./Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 09/15/28 | | | 17,732 | | | | 15,958,800 | |
LABL, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.875 | | 11/01/28 | | | 10,900 | | | | 9,925,663 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.750 | | 07/15/26 | | | 7,075 | | | | 6,916,993 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 9.500 | | 11/01/28 | | | 2,075 | | | | 2,139,297 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 10.500 | | 07/15/27 | | | 5,450 | | | | 5,203,425 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
28
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Packaging & Containers (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.875 | % | | | 08/15/26 | | | | 4,775 | | | $ | 4,704,544 | |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.375 | | | | 08/15/25 | | | | 5,435 | | | | 5,434,863 | |
Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer LLC/Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375 | | | | 10/15/28 | | | | 3,205 | | | | 2,859,780 | |
Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer, Inc./Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 1,625 | | | | 1,460,468 | |
Sealed Air Corp./Sealed Air Corp. US, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 1,275 | | | | 1,255,814 | |
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 12.750 | | | | 12/31/28 | | | | 7,675 | | | | 8,002,925 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 81,592,615 | |
| | | | |
Pharmaceuticals 1.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AdaptHealth LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.125 | | | | 08/01/28 | | | | 17,601 | | | | 15,927,400 | |
Bausch Health Americas, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.500 | | | | 01/31/27 | | | | 38,200 | | | | 21,248,750 | |
Bausch Health Cos., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 01/30/28 | | | | 4,150 | | | | 1,846,750 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 3,468 | | | | 1,569,270 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 784 | | | | 464,520 | |
Organon & Co./Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.125 | | | | 04/30/28 | | | | 1,288 | | | | 1,165,216 | |
P&L Development LLC/PLD Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.750 | | | | 11/15/25 | | | | 36,954 | | | | 31,934,654 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 74,156,560 | |
| | | | |
Pipelines 1.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 4,000 | | | | 3,873,999 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.875 | | | | 05/15/26 | | | | 24,275 | | | | 24,686,147 | |
EQM Midstream Partners LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 4.125 | | | | 12/01/26 | | | | 4,129 | | | | 3,868,552 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.000 | | | | 07/01/25 | | | | 920 | | | | 911,352 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.500 | | | | 07/01/27 | | | | 6,100 | | | | 6,056,333 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 06/01/27 | | | | 5,315 | | | | 5,362,846 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 29
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Pipelines (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.000 | % | | | 08/01/27 | | | | 6,197 | | | $ | 6,110,629 | |
Howard Midstream Energy Partners LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.875 | | | | 07/15/28 | | | | 1,950 | | | | 2,015,004 | |
Northriver Midstream Finance LP (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 02/15/26 | | | | 4,145 | | | | 3,974,019 | |
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.600 | | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 7,020 | | | | 6,643,693 | |
Tallgrass Energy Partners LP/Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 5,265 | | | | 4,889,243 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.000 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 9,092 | | | | 8,716,472 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 10/01/25 | | | | 6,562 | | | | 6,588,682 | |
Western Midstream Operating LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 3.100 | | | | 02/01/25 | | | | 3,180 | | | | 3,046,412 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 3.950 | | | | 06/01/25 | | | | 2,650 | | | | 2,558,772 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 89,302,155 | |
| | | | |
Real Estate 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Five Point Operating Co. LP/Five Point Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.875 | | | | 11/15/25 | | | | 30,088 | | | | 28,165,061 | |
Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.750 | | | | 09/01/30 | | | | 2,175 | | | | 2,196,465 | |
Howard Hughes Corp. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 08/01/28 | | | | 27,588 | | | | 24,910,319 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 55,271,845 | |
| | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Diversified Healthcare Trust, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.375 | | | | 03/01/31 | | | | 675 | | | | 509,388 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 9.750 | | | | 06/15/25 | | | | 15,853 | | | | 15,599,425 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 05/01/24 | | | | 10,585 | | | | 10,040,446 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.750 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 1,950 | | | | 1,490,950 | |
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 0.993 | | | | 10/15/26 | | | EUR | 3,100 | | | | 2,427,631 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 17,063 | | | | 13,494,069 | |
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC/PK Domestic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property LLC/PK Finance Co-Issuer, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 06/01/25 | | | | 17,300 | | | | 17,365,167 | |
RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 6,414 | | | | 5,968,310 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
30
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.250 | % | | | 07/15/28 | | | | 1,925 | | | $ | 1,938,271 | |
Sabra Health Care LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.125 | | | | 08/15/26 | | | | 650 | | | | 628,187 | |
SBA Communications Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 3.875 | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 21,953 | | | | 20,307,807 | |
VICI Properties LP/VICI Note Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.250 | | | | 12/01/26 | | | | 4,290 | | | | 4,043,267 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.500 | | | | 09/01/26 | | | | 10,120 | | | | 9,593,607 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 103,406,525 | |
| | | | |
Retail 2.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 7,025 | | | | 6,444,805 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.875 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 632 | | | | 570,380 | |
At Home Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 07/15/28 | | | | 725 | | | | 346,515 | |
Brinker International, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 10/01/24 | | | | 5,593 | | | | 5,505,080 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.250 | | | | 07/15/30 | | | | 9,450 | | | | 9,284,549 | |
eG Global Finance PLC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | | 4.375 | | | | 02/07/25 | | | EUR | 4,908 | | | | 5,148,642 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 10/30/25 | | | EUR | 6,296 | | | | 6,637,197 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 02/07/25 | | | | 21,452 | | | | 21,076,590 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.500 | | | | 10/30/25 | | | | 16,230 | | | | 16,067,700 | |
Ferrellgas LP/Ferrellgas Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$3,371,010; purchased 08/22/22 - 03/17/23)(f) | | | 5.375 | | | | 04/01/26 | | | | 3,725 | | | | 3,505,551 | |
Sally Holdings LLC/Sally Capital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.625 | | | | 12/01/25 | | | | 13,845 | | | | 13,746,392 | |
White Cap Parent LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 8.250% or | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
PIK 9.000%(a) | | | 8.250 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 5,000 | | | | 4,935,504 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 93,268,905 | |
| | | | |
Software 2.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Black Knight InfoServ LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.625 | | | | 09/01/28 | | | | 11,007 | | | | 10,154,862 | |
Boxer Parent Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.125 | | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 650 | | | | 651,204 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 31
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Software (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Boxer Parent Co., Inc., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125% | | | 10/02/25 | | | 16,590 | | | $ | 16,606,824 | |
Camelot Finance SA, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.500 | | | 11/01/26 | | | 66,801 | | | | 62,709,439 | |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.875 | | | 07/01/28 | | | 9,585 | | | | 8,471,797 | |
SS&C Technologies, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | 09/30/27 | | | 8,000 | | | | 7,697,958 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 106,292,084 | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications 5.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Altice France SA (France), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.125 | | | 02/01/27 | | | 32,099 | | | | 27,126,865 | |
Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 5.000% and PIK 3.000% (original cost $322,791; purchased 03/21/23 - 03/22/23)(f) | | | 8.000 | | | 04/01/25(d) | | | 822 | | | | 189,151 | |
Digicel International Finance Ltd./Digicel International Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $2,787,928; purchased 05/22/20 - 07/09/21)(f) | | | 8.000 | | | 12/31/26(d) | | | 3,128 | | | | 152,476 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 6.000% and PIK 7.000% (original cost $9,685,635; purchased 05/22/20 - 12/15/22)(f) | | | 13.000 | | | 12/31/25(d) | | | 11,761 | | | | 8,321,119 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $15,518,478; purchased 03/07/19 - 11/09/20)(f) | | | 8.750 | | | 05/25/24 | | | 15,663 | | | | 14,232,811 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $14,643,451; purchased 05/22/20 - 10/04/21)(f) | | | 8.750 | | | 05/25/24 | | | 14,353 | | | | 13,035,881 | |
Digicel Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $10,875,125; purchased 04/22/21 - 02/16/22)(f) | | | 6.750 | | | 12/31/23(d) | | | 11,300 | | | | 550,875 | |
Iliad Holding SASU (France), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.500 | | | 10/15/26 | | | 13,270 | | | | 12,623,088 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | 10/15/28 | | | 4,425 | | | | 4,104,188 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes^(a) | | | 5.500 | | | 08/01/23(d) | | | 6,971 | | | | 7 | |
Level 3 Financing, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.250 | | | 07/01/28 | | | 10,200 | | | | 6,680,169 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | 09/15/27 | | | 10,980 | | | | 8,240,061 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.400 | | | 03/01/27 | | | 20,922 | | | | 19,299,743 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
32
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Rogers Communications, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.100% | | | | 10/01/23 | | | | 12,519 | | | $ | 12,494,126 | |
Sprint LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.125 | | | | 06/15/24 | | | | 11,700 | | | | 11,801,028 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.625 | | | | 02/15/25 | | | | 2,215 | | | | 2,259,185 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.625 | | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 2,600 | | | | 2,695,950 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.875 | | | | 09/15/23 | | | | 32,839 | | | | 32,857,813 | |
T-Mobile USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 2.625 | | | | 04/15/26 | | | | 1,052 | | | | 977,545 | |
Viasat, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 04/15/27 | | | | 7,282 | | | | 6,550,828 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 09/15/25 | | | | 40,439 | | | | 38,267,508 | |
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 19,999 | | | | 14,975,215 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 237,435,632 | |
| | | | |
Transportation 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
XPO Escrow Sub LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 2,625 | | | | 2,681,164 | |
XPO, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 05/01/25 | | | | 1,514 | | | | 1,499,590 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125 | | | | 06/01/31 | | | | 625 | | | | 629,169 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 14,100 | | | | 13,817,666 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18,627,589 | |
| | | | |
Trucking & Leasing 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 05/01/28 | | | | 6,125 | | | | 5,685,452 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(cost $3,965,017,516) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,703,496,670 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS 8.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Airlines 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
United Airlines, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B Term Loan, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.750% | | | 9.292(c) | | | | 04/21/28 | | | | 16,958 | | | | 16,968,621 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 33
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chemicals 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Starfruit Finco BV (Netherlands), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan, 3 Month SOFR + 2.850% | | | 8.318 | %(c) | | | 10/01/25 | | | | 6,269 | | | $ | 6,257,735 | |
Venator Materials LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DIP Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 10.000%^ | | | 15.314 | (c) | | | 12/31/23 | | | | 8,753 | | | | 8,927,936 | |
Initial Term Loan | | | 12.250 | | | | 08/08/24 | | | | 9,301 | | | | 4,394,948 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19,580,619 | |
| | | | |
Commercial Services 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cimpress PLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tranche B-1 Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.614% | | | 8.946 | (c) | | | 05/17/28 | | | | 7,056 | | | | 6,958,980 | |
Mavis Tire Express Services TopCo LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.000% | | | 9.446 | (c) | | | 05/04/28 | | | | 14,626 | | | | 14,562,610 | |
Trans Union LLC, 2021 Incremental Term B-6 Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 2.250% | | | 7.696 | (c) | | | 12/01/28 | | | | 11,576 | | | | 11,559,754 | |
Verscend Holding Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
New Term Loan B, 1 Month SOFR + 4.114% | | | 9.446 | (c) | | | 08/27/25 | | | | 14,632 | | | | 14,614,099 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 47,695,443 | |
| | | | |
Computers 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
McAfee Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tranche B-1 Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.850% | | | 9.168 | (c) | | | 03/01/29 | | | | 22,999 | | | | 22,469,871 | |
| | | | |
Electric 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Heritage Power LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term Loan B | | | — | (p) | | | 07/30/26 | (d) | | | 10,368 | | | | 2,125,367 | |
| | | | |
Entertainment 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Golden Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term B1 Facility Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 2.850% | | | 8.170 | (c) | | | 05/28/30 | | | | 6,126 | | | | 6,111,002 | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Products 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Mozart Borrower LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Dollar Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.364% | | | 8.696 | (c) | | | 10/23/28 | | | | 20,131 | | | | 20,103,232 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
34
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Insurance 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Acrisure LLC, 2021-1 Additional Term Loan, 1 Month LIBOR + 3.750% | | 9.196%(c) | | 02/15/27 | | | 4,339 | | | $ | 4,250,011 | |
Term Loan B 2020, 1 Month LIBOR + 3.500% | | 8.946(c) | | 02/15/27 | | | 4,588 | | | | 4,492,559 | |
Asurion LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
New B-9 Term Loan, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.250% | | 8.788(c) | | 07/31/27 | | | 2,028 | | | | 1,947,180 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 10,689,750 | |
| | | | |
Media 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CSC Holdings LLC, 2022 Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.500% | | 9.810(c) | | 01/18/28 | | | 10,253 | | | | 9,654,673 | |
Diamond Sports Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 10.100% | | 12.775(c) | | 05/25/26 | | | 1,828 | | | | 1,169,881 | |
Second Lien Term Loan | | 8.025 | | 08/24/26 | | | 1,542 | | | | 39,847 | |
Radiate Holdco LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amendment No. 6 Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.250% | | 8.696(c) | | 09/25/26 | | | 5,985 | | | | 4,906,712 | |
Univision Communications, Inc., 2021 Replacement Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.364% | | 8.696(c) | | 03/15/26 | | | 4,930 | | | | 4,925,445 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 20,696,558 | |
| | | | |
Mining 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Rain Carbon GmbH (Germany), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term Loan | | — (p) | | 10/31/28 | | | 21,000 | | | | 22,315,923 | |
| | | | |
Packaging & Containers 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Tranche B-3 Initial Term Loan, 3 Month | | | | | | | | | | | | |
LIBOR + 4.000% | | 9.538(c) | | 09/15/28 | | | 4,203 | | | | 4,178,221 | |
Tranche B-5 Initial Term Loan, 3 Month SOFR + 4.500% | | 9.742(c) | | 09/15/28 | | | 14,220 | | | | 14,194,279 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 18,372,500 | |
| | | | |
Retail 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Great Outdoors Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term B-2 Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.864% | | 9.196(c) | | 03/06/28 | | | 9,134 | | | | 9,095,460 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 35
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Retail (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
LBM Acquisition LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.850% | | | 9.181%(c) | | | 12/17/27 | | | 7,004 | | | $ | 6,808,043 | |
White Cap Buyer LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Closing Date Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.750% | | | 9.081(c) | | | 10/19/27 | | | 3,910 | | | | 3,903,193 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 19,806,696 | |
| | | | |
Software 1.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
athenahealth, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.500% | | | 8.820(c) | | | 02/15/29 | | | 6,214 | | | | 6,107,655 | |
Boxer Parent Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 Replacement Dollar Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.750% | | | 9.196(c) | | | 10/02/25 | | | 18,571 | | | | 18,555,832 | |
Second Lien Incremental Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 5.614% | | | 10.946(c) | | | 02/27/26 | | | 1,125 | | | | 1,108,125 | |
Camelot Co. (Luxembourg), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amendment No. 2 Incremental Term Loans, 1 Month SOFR + 3.114% | | | 8.446(c) | | | 10/30/26 | | | 2,453 | | | | 2,451,213 | |
Dun & Bradstreet Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term Loan B, 1 Month SOFR + 2.850% | | | 8.170(c) | | | 02/06/26 | | | 9,485 | | | | 9,485,019 | |
Finastra USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dollar Term Loan (Second Lien), 6 Month LIBOR + 7.250% | | | 12.981(c) | | | 06/13/25 | | | 708 | | | | 706,668 | |
First Lien Dollar Term Loan, 6 Month LIBOR + 3.500% | | | 9.231(c) | | | 06/13/24 | | | 33,253 | | | | 33,193,051 | |
Skillsoft Finance II, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 5.364% | | | 10.677(c) | | | 07/14/28 | | | 11,453 | | | | 10,545,053 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 82,152,616 | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications 1.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Digicel International Finance Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Initial Term B Loan, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.250% | | | 8.981(c) | | | 05/27/24 | | | 10,682 | | | | 9,713,570 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term B Loan, 3 Month SOFR + 4.400% | | | 9.772(c) | | | 02/01/29 | | | 26,848 | | | | 26,828,423 | |
Intrado Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 2 Month SOFR + 4.000% | | | 9.343(c) | | | 01/31/30 | | | 4,070 | | | | 4,067,456 | |
MLN US HoldCo LLC, 3L Term B Loans, 3 Month SOFR + 9.250%^ | | | 14.660(c) | | | 10/18/27 | | | 4 | | | | 600 | |
Initial Term Loan, 3 Month SOFR + 6.440% | | | 11.850(c) | | | 10/18/27 | | | 244 | | | | 177,169 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
36
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
MLN US HoldCo LLC, (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan (Second Out (First Lien Roll-Up)), 3 Month SOFR + 6.700% | | | 12.110 | %(c) | | | 10/18/27 | | | | 552 | | | $ | 179,358 | |
Viasat, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.500% | | | 9.831 | (c) | | | 03/02/29 | | | | 14,020 | | | | 13,700,393 | |
Xplornet Communications, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.000% | | | 9.446 | (c) | | | 10/02/28 | | | | 18,460 | | | | 14,763,574 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69,430,543 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(cost $393,797,266) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 378,518,741 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
SOVEREIGN BONDS 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ecuador Government International Bond (Ecuador), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 2.500 | (cc) | | | 07/31/40 | | | | 125 | | | | 40,978 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.500 | (cc) | | | 07/31/35 | | | | 535 | | | | 195,787 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.000 | (cc) | | | 07/31/30 | | | | 324 | | | | 157,749 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.608 | (s) | | | 07/31/30 | | | | 92 | | | | 25,341 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL SOVEREIGN BONDS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(cost $841,870) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 419,855 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS(k) 3.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.500 | | | | 04/30/24 | | | | 52,245 | | | | 51,251,120 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 4.250 | | | | 09/30/24 | | | | 116,645 | | | | 115,337,300 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(cost $168,936,672) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 166,588,420 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | Shares | | | | |
| | | | |
COMMON STOCKS 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chemicals 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TPC Group, Inc.*^ | | | | | | | | | | | 319,092 | | | | 7,977,300 | |
| | | | |
Electric Utilities 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
GenOn Energy Holdings, Inc. (Class A Stock)*^ | | | | | | | | | | | 41,315 | | | | 3,718,350 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 37
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Description | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | |
COMMON STOCKS (Continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Gas Utilities 0.2% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Ferrellgas Partners LP (Class B Stock) (original cost $15,214,802; purchased 05/06/15 - 06/06/22)(f) | | | 55,306 | | | $ | 7,838,818 | |
| | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.1% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
CEC Entertainment, Inc.* | | | 366,068 | | | | 6,467,323 | |
| | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.5% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Chesapeake Energy Corp.(a) | | | 239,866 | | | | 21,158,580 | |
| | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Intelsat Emergence SA (Luxembourg)* | | | 65,330 | | | | 1,473,192 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $20,014,166) | | | | | | | 48,633,563 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | Units | | | | |
| | |
RIGHTS* 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Series A (Luxembourg), CVR, expiring 12/05/25^ | | | 6,840 | | | | 42,750 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Series B (Luxembourg), CVR, expiring 12/05/25^ | | | 6,840 | | | | 27,360 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL RIGHTS (cost $173) | | | | | | | 70,110 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $4,694,721,482) | | | | | | | 4,444,816,477 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | Shares | | | | |
| | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 15.3% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS | | | | | | | | |
PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(wl) | | | 117,274,100 | | | | 117,274,100 | |
PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund(wl) | | | 5,751,964 | | | | 52,572,955 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
38
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Description | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | |
AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | |
PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund | | | | | | | | |
(cost $544,460,032; includes $541,985,494 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(b)(wl) | | | 544,977,977 | | | $ | 544,705,489 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $714,193,919) | | | | | | | 714,552,544 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 110.7% (cost $5,408,915,401) | | | | | | | 5,159,369,021 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets(z) (10.7)% | | | | | | | (497,501,003 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
NET ASSETS 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 4,661,868,018 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Below is a list of the abbreviation(s) used in the annual report: |
| | EUR—Euro |
| | GBP—British Pound |
| | USD—US Dollar |
| | 144A—Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and, pursuant to the requirements of Rule 144A, may not be resold except to qualified institutional buyers. |
| | BNP—BNP Paribas S.A. |
| | BNYM—Bank of New York Mellon |
| | CDX—Credit Derivative Index |
| | CGM—Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
| | CLO—Collateralized Loan Obligation |
| | CVR—Contingent Value Rights |
| | DAC—Designated Activity Company |
| | DIP—Debtor-In-Possession |
| | GSI—Goldman Sachs International |
| | iBoxx—Bond Market Indices |
| | LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate |
| | LP—Limited Partnership |
| | MTN—Medium Term Note |
| | OTC—Over-the-counter |
| | PIK—Payment-in-Kind |
| | Q—Quarterly payment frequency for swaps |
| | REITs—Real Estate Investment Trust |
| | SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
| | T—Swap payment upon termination |
* | | Non-income producing security. |
# | | Principal or notional amount is shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. |
^ | | Indicates a Level 3 instrument. The aggregate value of Level 3 instruments is $27,064,303 and 0.6% of net assets. |
(a) | | All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $531,133,042; cash collateral of $541,985,494 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments. In the event of significant appreciation in value of securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the Fund may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities and such shortfall is remedied the following business day. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 39
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
(b) | Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment. |
(c) | Variable rate instrument. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at August 31, 2023. |
(cc) | Variable rate instrument. The rate shown is based on the latest available information as of August 31, 2023. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description. |
(d) | Represents issuer in default on interest payments and/or principal repayment. Non-income producing security. Such securities may be post-maturity. |
(f) | Indicates a restricted security that is acquired in unregistered, private sales from the issuing company or from an affiliate of the issuer and is considered restricted as to disposition under federal securities law; the aggregate original cost of such securities is $110,665,288. The aggregate value of $69,343,413 is 1.5% of net assets. |
(k) | Represents security, or a portion thereof, segregated as collateral for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives. |
(oo) | Perpetual security. Maturity date represents next call date. |
(p) | Represents a security with a delayed settlement and therefore the interest rate is not available until settlement which is after the period end. |
(s) | Represents zero coupon bond or principal only security. Rate represents yield to maturity at purchase date. |
(wl) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund, PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund, PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund, if applicable. |
(z) | Includes net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and/or market value of the below holdings which are excluded from the Schedule of Investments: |
Futures contracts outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Value / | | | | |
Number | | | | | | Current | | | Unrealized | |
of | | | | Expiration | | Notional | | | Appreciation | |
Contracts | | Type | | Date | | Amount | | | (Depreciation) | |
| | | | | |
Long Positions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1,435 | | 2 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | Dec. 2023 | | $ | 292,459,727 | | | | | | | $ | 554,485 | | | | | |
49 | | 5 Year Euro-Bobl | | Sep. 2023 | | | 6,169,290 | | | | | | | | (45,236 | ) | | | | |
5,822 | | 5 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | Dec. 2023 | | | 622,499,185 | | | | | | | | 2,914,396 | | | | | |
8 | | 30 Year U.S. Ultra Treasury Bonds | | Dec. 2023 | | | 1,035,750 | | | | | | | | 16,209 | | | | | |
1 | | Euro Schatz Index | | Sep. 2023 | | | 113,987 | | | | | | | | (657 | ) | | | | |
2 | | Euro Schatz Index | | Dec. 2023 | | | 228,754 | | | | | | | | 31 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,439,228 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short Positions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
6 | | 10 Year Euro-Bund | | Sep. 2023 | | | 866,547 | | | | | | | | 13,144 | | | | | |
19 | | 10 Year Euro-Bund | | Dec. 2023 | | | 2,732,529 | | | | | | | | (26,813 | ) | | | | |
314 | | 10 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | Dec. 2023 | | | 34,863,813 | | | | | | | | (296,354 | ) | | | | |
8 | | 20 Year U.S. Treasury Bonds | | Dec. 2023 | | | 973,500 | | | | | | | | (16,645 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (326,668 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 3,112,560 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
40
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding at August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Notional | | Value at | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase | | | | | | Amount | | Settlement | | Current | | Unrealized | | Unrealized |
Contracts | | Counterparty | | | | (000) | | Date | | Value | | Appreciation | | Depreciation |
| | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Euro, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | | | GSI | | | | | | | | | | EUR 22,666 | | | | $ | 24,451,059 | | | | $ | 24,583,655 | | | | | | | | | $ | 132,596 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $— | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Notional | | Value at | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sale | | | | | | Amount | | Settlement | | Current | | Unrealized | | Unrealized |
Contracts | | Counterparty | | | | (000) | | Date | | Value | | Appreciation | | Depreciation |
| | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Euro, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | | | BNYM | | | | | | | | | | EUR 22,666 | | | | $ | 25,028,093 | | | | $ | 24,583,655 | | | | | | | | | $ | 444,438 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | |
Expiring 10/03/23 | | | | GSI | | | | | | | | | | EUR 22,666 | | | | | 24,484,831 | | | | | 24,617,145 | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (132,314 | ) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 49,512,924 | | | | $ | 49,200,800 | | | | | | | | | | 444,438 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (132,314 | ) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 577,034 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (132,314 | ) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Credit default swap agreements outstanding at August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference | | | | | | Notional | | | | | | Value at | | | Unrealized | |
Entity/ | | Termination | | Fixed | | Amount | | | Value at | | | August 31, | | | Appreciation | |
Obligation | | Date | | Rate | | (000)#(3) | | | Trade Date | | | 2023 | | | (Depreciation) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement on credit indices - Buy Protection(1): | | | | | |
CDX.NA.IG.40.V1 | | 06/20/28 | | 1.000%(Q) | | | 124,160 | | | $ | (1,602,947 | ) | | $ | (2,175,162 | ) | | | | | | $ | (572,215 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Implied Credit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference | | | | | | Notional | | | Spread at | | | | | Value at | | | Unrealized | |
Entity/ | | Termination | | Fixed | | Amount | | | August 31, | | Value at | | | August 31, | | | Appreciation | |
Obligation | | Date | | Rate | | (000)#(3) | | | 2023(4) | | Trade Date | | | 2023 | | | (Depreciation) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement on credit indices - Sell Protection(2): | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CDX.NA.HY.40.V1 | | 06/20/28 | | 5.000%(Q) | | | 45,536 | | | 4.257% | | $ | 1,219,029 | | | $ | 1,748,196 | | | | | | | $ | 529,167 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Fund entered into credit default swaps (“CDS”) to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be short the credit as the value of the contract rises the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases.
(1) | If the Fund is a buyer of protection, it pays the fixed rate. When a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and make delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 41
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| index or (ii) receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
(2) | If the Fund is a seller of protection, it receives the fixed rate. When a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
(3) | Notional amount represents the maximum potential amount the Fund could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement. |
(4) | Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the fair value of credit default swap agreements where the Fund is the seller of protection as of the reporting date serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/ performance risk and represent the likelihood of risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include up-front payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. |
Total return swap agreement outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference Entity | | | | Financing Rate | | Counterparty | | | Termination Date | | | Long (Short) Notional Amount (000)#(1) | | | Fair Value | | | Upfront Premiums Paid (Received) | | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)(2) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OTC Total Return Swap Agreement: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
iBoxx US Dollar Liquid Investment Grade Index(T) | | | | 1 Day SOFR(Q)/ 5.310% | | | BNP | | | | 12/20/23 | | | | (8,959) | | | $ | 261,599 | | | | | $— | | | | | | $261,599 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | On a long total return swap, the Fund receives payments for any positive return on the reference entity (makes payments for any negative return) and pays the financing rate. On a short total return swap, the Fund makes payments for any positive return on the reference entity (receives payments for any negative return) and receives the financing rate. |
(2) | Upfront/recurring fees or commissions, as applicable, are included in the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). |
Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for OTC Swap Agreements:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Premiums Paid | | Premiums Received | | Unrealized Appreciation | | Unrealized Depreciation |
| | | | |
OTC Swap Agreements | | $— | | $— | | $261,599 | | $— |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
42
Summary of Collateral for Centrally Cleared/Exchange-traded Derivatives:
Cash and securities segregated as collateral, including pending settlement for closed positions, to cover requirements for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives are listed by broker as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Broker | | | | Cash and/or Foreign Currency | | Securities Market Value |
CGM | | | | | | $ | 4,160,000 | | | | | | | $ | 6,811,659 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fair Value Measurements:
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices generally in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, foreign currency exchange rates and other observable inputs.
Level 3—unobservable inputs for securities valued in accordance with Board approved fair valuation procedures.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of August 31, 2023 in valuing such portfolio securities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | $ | — | | | $ | 147,052,738 | | | $ | — | |
Convertible Bond | | | — | | | | 36,380 | | | | — | |
Corporate Bonds | | | — | | | | 3,697,126,663 | | | | 6,370,007 | |
Floating Rate and Other Loans | | | — | | | | 369,590,205 | | | | 8,928,536 | |
Sovereign Bonds | | | — | | | | 419,855 | | | | — | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | | — | | | | 166,588,420 | | | | — | |
Common Stocks | | | 21,158,580 | | | | 15,779,333 | | | | 11,695,650 | |
Rights | | | — | | | | — | | | | 70,110 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds | | | 714,552,544 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Total | | $ | 735,711,124 | | | $ | 4,396,593,594 | | | $ | 27,064,303 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | 3,498,265 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | | | — | | | | 577,034 | | | | — | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | 529,167 | | | | — | |
OTC Total Return Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | 261,599 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Total | | $ | 3,498,265 | | | $ | 1,367,800 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | (385,705 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 43
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | |
Other Financial Instruments* (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | | $ | — | | | $ | (132,314 | ) | | $ | — | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | (572,215 | ) | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | (385,705 | ) | | $ | (704,529 | ) | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Schedule of Investments, such as futures, forwards and centrally cleared swap contracts, which are recorded at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument, and OTC swap contracts which are recorded at fair value. |
Industry Classification:
The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of August 31, 2023 were as follows:
| | | | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds (11.6% represents investments purchased with collateral from securities on loan) | | | 15.3 | % |
Media | | | 9.8 | |
Telecommunications | | | 6.6 | |
Commercial Services | | | 5.3 | |
Home Builders | | | 4.6 | |
Oil & Gas | | | 4.4 | |
Software | | | 4.1 | |
Diversified Financial Services | | | 3.7 | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | | 3.6 | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | | 3.2 | |
Entertainment | | | 3.1 | |
Chemicals | | | 2.8 | |
Leisure Time | | | 2.8 | |
Lodging | | | 2.7 | |
Retail | | | 2.4 | |
Mining | | | 2.4 | |
Healthcare-Services | | | 2.2 | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | | | 2.2 | |
Foods | | | 2.2 | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 2.1 | |
Packaging & Containers | | | 2.1 | |
Electric | | | 2.1 | |
Pipelines | | | 1.9 | |
Internet | | | 1.8 | |
Airlines | | | 1.7 | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 1.6 | |
Machinery-Diversified | | | 1.5 | |
Auto Manufacturers | | | 1.5 | |
Computers | | | 1.3 | |
| | | | |
Real Estate | | | 1.2 | % |
Building Materials | | | 1.2 | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 0.9 | |
Auto Parts & Equipment | | | 0.7 | |
Banks | | | 0.7 | |
Iron/Steel | | | 0.6 | |
Gas | | | 0.6 | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | | | 0.5 | |
Healthcare-Products | | | 0.4 | |
Electronics | | | 0.4 | |
Transportation | | | 0.4 | |
Distribution/Wholesale | | | 0.4 | |
Miscellaneous Manufacturing | | | 0.3 | |
Insurance | | | 0.2 | |
Apparel | | | 0.2 | |
Gas Utilities | | | 0.2 | |
Housewares | | | 0.2 | |
Household Products/Wares | | | 0.1 | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | | | 0.1 | |
Coal | | | 0.1 | |
Trucking & Leasing | | | 0.1 | |
Electric Utilities | | | 0.1 | |
Engineering & Construction | | | 0.1 | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | 0.0 | * |
Environmental Control | | | 0.0 | * |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
44
Industry Classification (continued):
| | | | |
Sovereign Bonds | | | 0.0 | *% |
| | | | |
| | | 110.7 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets | | | (10.7 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
| | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Effects of Derivative Instruments on the Financial Statements and Primary Underlying Risk Exposure:
The Fund invested in derivative instruments during the reporting period. The primary types of risk associated with these derivative instruments are credit risk, foreign exchange risk, and interest rate risk. See the Notes to Financial Statements for additional detail regarding these derivative instruments and their risks. The effect of such derivative instruments on the Fund’s financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations is presented in the summary below.
Fair values of derivative instruments as of August 31, 2023 as presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | |
| | | | |
Credit contracts | | Due from/to broker-variation margin swaps | | $ | 529,167* | | | Due from/to broker-variation margin swaps | | $ | 572,215* | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 577,034 | | | Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 132,314 | |
Interest rate contracts | | Due from/to broker-variation margin futures | | | 3,498,265 | * | | Due from/to broker-variation margin futures | | | 385,705 | * |
Interest rate contracts | | Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap agreements | | | 261,599 | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | $ | 4,866,065 | | | | | $ | 1,090,234 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the schedule of open futures and centrally cleared swap contracts. Only unsettled variation margin receivable (payable) is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 45
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
The effects of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended August 31, 2023 are as follows:
Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Futures | | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | Swaps | |
Credit contracts | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | (331,843 | ) |
Foreign exchange contracts | | | — | | | | (1,521,852 | ) | | | — | |
Interest rate contracts | | | (43,221,949 | ) | | | — | | | | 1,405,101 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Total | | $ | (43,221,949 | ) | | $ | (1,521,852 | ) | | $ | 1,073,258 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | |
| |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Futures | | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | Swaps | |
Credit contracts | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 482,763 | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | | — | | | | (257,786 | ) | | | — | |
Interest rate contracts | | | 7,335,865 | | | | — | | | | (153,549 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Total | | $ | 7,335,865 | | | $ | (257,786 | ) | | $ | 329,214 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund’s average volume of derivative activities is as follows:
| | |
Derivative Contract Type | | Average Volume of Derivative Activities* |
|
Futures Contracts - Long Positions (1) | | $898,598,252 |
|
Futures Contracts - Short Positions (1) | | 31,679,644 |
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - Purchased (2) | | 28,712,876 |
|
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - Sold (2) | | 59,365,008 |
|
Credit Default Swap Agreements - Buy Protection (1) | | 64,335,800 |
|
Credit Default Swap Agreements - Sell Protection (1) | | 21,353,980 |
|
Total Return Swap Agreements (1) | | 28,053,800 |
|
* | Average volume is based on average quarter end balances as noted for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
(1) | Notional Amount in USD. |
(2) | Value at Settlement Date. |
Financial Instruments/Transactions—Summary of Offsetting and Netting Arrangements:
The Fund invested in OTC derivatives and entered into financial instruments/transactions during the reporting period that are either offset in accordance with current requirements or are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements that permit offsetting. The information about offsetting and related netting arrangements for OTC derivatives and financial instruments/transactions where the legal right to set-off exists is presented in the summary below.
Offsetting of financial instrument/transaction assets and liabilities:
See Notes to Financial Statements.
46
| | | | | | |
|
Description | | Gross Market Value of Recognized Assets/(Liabilities) | | Collateral Pledged/(Received)(2) | | Net Amount |
|
| | | |
Securities on Loan | | $531,133,042 | | $(531,133,042) | | $— |
|
Offsetting of OTC derivative assets and liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Counterparty | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets(1) | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities(1) | | Net Amounts of Recognized Assets/(Liabilities) | | Collateral Pledged/(Received)(2) | | Net Amount |
BNP | | | | $ | 261,599 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | 261,599 | | | | | | | $ | (261,599 | ) | | | | | | $ | — | | | |
BNYM | | | | | 444,438 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | 444,438 | | | | | | | | (290,000 | ) | | | | | | | 154,438 | | | |
GSI | | | | | 132,596 | | | | | | | | (132,314 | ) | | | | | | | 282 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | 282 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | $ | 838,633 | | | | | | | $ | (132,314 | ) | | | | | | $ | 706,319 | | | | | | | $ | (551,599 | ) | | | | | | $ | 154,720 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Includes unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on swaps and forwards, premiums paid/(received) on swap agreements and market value of purchased and written options, as represented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
(2) | Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions and the Fund’s OTC derivative exposure by counterparty. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 47
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | |
| |
Assets | | | | |
| |
Investments at value, including securities on loan of $531,133,042: | | | | |
Unaffiliated investments (cost $4,694,721,482) | | $ | 4,444,816,477 | |
Affiliated investments (cost $714,193,919) | | | 714,552,544 | |
Cash | | | 178,692 | |
Foreign currency, at value (cost $461,624) | | | 458,659 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 70,393,737 | |
Receivable for Fund shares sold | | | 15,426,993 | |
Receivable for investments sold | | | 11,628,882 | |
Deposit with broker for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives | | | 4,160,000 | |
Due from broker—variation margin futures | | | 689,804 | |
Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 577,034 | |
Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap agreements | | | 261,599 | |
Prepaid expenses | | | 125 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total Assets | | | 5,263,144,546 | |
| | | | |
| |
Liabilities | | | | |
| |
Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan | | | 541,985,494 | |
Payable for investments purchased | | | 30,430,123 | |
Payable for Fund shares purchased | | | 20,163,316 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 3,738,019 | |
Management fee payable | | | 2,503,338 | |
Dividends payable | | | 2,050,335 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 231,310 | |
Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 132,314 | |
Due to broker—variation margin swaps | | | 21,233 | |
Affiliated transfer agent fee payable | | | 11,166 | |
Directors’ fees payable | | | 9,880 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total Liabilities | | | 601,276,528 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net Assets | | $ | 4,661,868,018 | |
| | | | |
| |
| | | | |
| |
Net assets were comprised of: | | | | |
Common stock, at par | | $ | 5,691,266 | |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | | | 5,287,404,709 | |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | | | (631,227,957 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
Net assets, August 31, 2023 | | $ | 4,661,868,018 | |
| | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
48
| | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Net asset value and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($382,916,206 ÷ 46,759,500 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | | | $ | 8.19 | | | |
Maximum sales charge (2.25% of offering price) | | | | | 0.19 | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Maximum offering price to public | | | | $ | 8.38 | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class C | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($177,138,100 ÷ 21,632,640 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | | | $ | 8.19 | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($3,636,190,474 ÷ 443,920,070 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | | | $ | 8.19 | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($465,623,238 ÷ 56,814,393 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | | | $ | 8.20 | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 49
Statement of Operations
Year Ended August 31, 2023
| | | | |
Net Investment Income (Loss) | | | | |
| |
Income | | | | |
Interest income | | $ | 282,606,856 | |
Affiliated dividend income | | | 6,386,043 | |
Unaffiliated dividend income | | | 5,334,130 | |
Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $1,702,868) | | | 1,801,940 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total income | | | 296,128,969 | |
| | | | |
| |
Expenses | | | | |
Management fee | | | 32,213,641 | |
Distribution fee(a) | | | 2,806,443 | |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $86,235)(a) | | | 3,971,072 | |
Custodian and accounting fees | | | 350,196 | |
Shareholders��� reports | | | 225,300 | |
Registration fees(a) | | | 212,149 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 69,994 | |
Professional fees | | | 65,605 | |
Audit fee | | | 43,000 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 240,121 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total expenses | | | 40,197,521 | |
Less: Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(a) | | | (2,374,455 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
Net expenses | | | 37,823,066 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 258,305,903 | |
| | | | |
| |
Realized And Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Investment And Foreign Currency Transactions | | | | |
| |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | |
Investment transactions (including affiliated of $33,598) | | | (24,215,500 | ) |
Futures transactions | | | (43,221,949 | ) |
Forward currency contract transactions | | | (1,521,852 | ) |
Swap agreement transactions | | | 1,073,258 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | 13,860 | |
| | | | |
| |
| | | (67,872,183 | ) |
| | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | | | | |
Investments (including affiliated of $163,122) | | | 96,732,038 | |
Futures | | | 7,335,865 | |
Forward currency contracts | | | (257,786 | ) |
Swap agreements | | | 329,214 | |
Foreign currencies | | | (15,525 | ) |
Unfunded loan commitment | | | 6,503 | |
| | | | |
| |
| | | 104,130,309 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 36,258,126 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | $ | 294,564,029 | |
| | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
50
(a) | Class specific expenses and waivers were as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | | | Class C | | | Class Z | | | Class R6 | |
Distribution fee | | | 913,798 | | | | 1,892,645 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses | | | 265,032 | | | | 152,127 | | | | 3,527,836 | | | | 26,077 | |
Registration fees | | | 29,935 | | | | 23,297 | | | | 116,529 | | | | 42,388 | |
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | | | (129,076 | ) | | | (89,338 | ) | | | (2,044,914 | ) | | | (111,127 | ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 51
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | Year Ended August 31, | | | | |
| | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | | |
| | | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | $ | 258,305,903 | | | $ | 194,661,912 | | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (67,872,183 | ) | | | (15,668,364 | ) | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currencies | | | 104,130,309 | | | | (457,336,690 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | 294,564,029 | | | | (278,343,142 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions from distributable earnings | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (22,481,636 | ) | | | (18,739,786 | ) | | | | |
Class C | | | (10,227,256 | ) | | | (10,158,764 | ) | | | | |
Class Z | | | (223,123,846 | ) | | | (173,365,840 | ) | | | | |
Class R6 | | | (42,592,103 | ) | | | (46,970,983 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | (298,424,841 | ) | | | (249,235,373 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fund share transactions (Net of share conversions) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds from shares sold | | | 2,398,738,068 | | | | 3,243,449,067 | | | | | |
Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 271,659,264 | | | | 223,900,268 | | | | | |
Cost of shares purchased | | | (2,760,525,901 | ) | | | (2,803,294,466 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | | | (90,128,569 | ) | | | 664,054,869 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (93,989,381 | ) | | | 136,476,354 | | | | | |
| | | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Beginning of year | | | 4,755,857,399 | | | | 4,619,381,045 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
End of year | | $ | 4,661,868,018 | | | $ | 4,755,857,399 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
52
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | Year Ended August 31, | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.75 | | | | $8.97 | | | | $8.90 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.43 | | | | 0.32 | | | | 0.35 | | | | 0.42 | | | | 0.43 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 0.07 | | | | (0.79 | ) | | | 0.41 | | | | (0.21 | ) | | | 0.12 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.50 | | | | (0.47 | ) | | | 0.76 | | | | 0.21 | | | | 0.55 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.50 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.48 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $8.19 | | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.75 | | | | $8.97 | |
Total Return(b): | | | 6.33 | % | | | (5.32 | )% | | | 8.90 | % | | | 2.53 | % | | | 6.43 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $382,916 | | | | $374,112 | | | | $398,715 | | | | $321,482 | | | | $270,853 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $365,519 | | | | $387,572 | | | | $356,899 | | | | $290,219 | | | | $252,620 | |
Ratios to average net assets(c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.00 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.04 | % | | | 1.04 | % | | | 1.04 | % | | | 1.07 | % | | | 1.08 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 5.30 | % | | | 3.73 | % | | | 3.86 | % | | | 4.89 | % | | | 4.81 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(d) | | | 32 | % | | | 43 | % | | | 67 | % | | | 65 | % | | | 49 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(c) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(d) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 53
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class C Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | Year Ended August 31, | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.75 | | | | $8.97 | | | | $8.90 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.36 | | | | 0.36 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 0.07 | | | | (0.80 | ) | | | 0.42 | | | | (0.21 | ) | | | 0.13 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.44 | | | | (0.54 | ) | | | 0.70 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 0.49 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.44 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (0.37 | ) | | | (0.37 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $8.19 | | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.75 | | | | $8.97 | |
Total Return(b): | | | 5.54 | % | | | (5.92 | )% | | | 7.97 | % | | | 1.77 | % | | | 5.64 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $177,138 | | | | $206,423 | | | | $277,887 | | | | $297,707 | | | | $332,503 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $189,264 | | | | $249,871 | | | | $286,974 | | | | $315,727 | | | | $326,067 | |
Ratios to average net assets(c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.75 | % | | | 1.75 | % | | | 1.75 | % | | | 1.75 | % | | | 1.75 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.80 | % | | | 1.79 | % | | | 1.79 | % | | | 1.81 | % | | | 1.81 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 4.54 | % | | | 2.95 | % | | | 3.14 | % | | | 4.16 | % | | | 4.06 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(d) | | | 32 | % | | | 43 | % | | | 67 | % | | | 65 | % | | | 49 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(c) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(d) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
54
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class Z Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.75 | | | | $8.97 | | | | $8.91 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.35 | | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.45 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 0.07 | | | | (0.80 | ) | | | 0.42 | | | | (0.22 | ) | | | 0.12 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.52 | | | | (0.45 | ) | | | 0.79 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 0.57 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.52 | ) | | | (0.44 | ) | | | (0.46 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | (0.51 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $8.19 | | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.75 | | | | $8.97 | |
Total Return(b): | | | 6.60 | % | | | (5.08 | )% | | | 9.17 | % | | | 2.79 | % | | | 6.57 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $3,636,190 | | | | $3,338,292 | | | | $3,120,921 | | | | $2,218,850 | | | | $2,188,123 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $3,488,961 | | | | $3,408,050 | | | | $2,529,710 | | | | $2,184,180 | | | | $1,859,209 | |
Ratios to average net assets(c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.81 | % | | | 0.81 | % | | | 0.81 | % | | | 0.83 | % | | | 0.83 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 5.56 | % | | | 3.99 | % | | | 4.09 | % | | | 5.14 | % | | | 5.03 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(d) | | | 32 | % | | | 43 | % | | | 67 | % | | | 65 | % | | | 49 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(c) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(d) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 55
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R6 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.76 | | | | $8.97 | | | | $8.91 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.35 | | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.45 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | 0.08 | | | | (0.79 | ) | | | 0.41 | | | | (0.20 | ) | | | 0.12 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.53 | | | | (0.44 | ) | | | 0.78 | | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.57 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.52 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | (0.46 | ) | | | (0.46 | ) | | | (0.51 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $8.20 | | | | $8.19 | | | | $9.08 | | | | $8.76 | | | | $8.97 | |
Total Return(b): | | | 6.78 | % | | | (5.03 | )% | | | 9.10 | % | | | 2.95 | % | | | 6.63 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $465,623 | | | | $837,030 | | | | $821,859 | | | | $488,557 | | | | $164,537 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $654,572 | | | | $913,657 | | | | $622,618 | | | | $245,125 | | | | $141,275 | |
Ratios to average net assets(c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.70 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.72 | % | | | 0.71 | % | | | 0.72 | % | | | 0.73 | % | | | 0.74 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 5.55 | % | | | 4.05 | % | | | 4.14 | % | | | 5.13 | % | | | 5.08 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(d) | | | 32 | % | | | 43 | % | | | 67 | % | | | 65 | % | | | 49 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(c) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(d) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
56
Notes to Financial Statements
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 (the “Registered Investment Company” or “RIC”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The RIC is organized as a Maryland Corporation. These financial statements relate only to the PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the RIC. The Fund is classified as a diversified fund for purposes of the 1940 Act.
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide a high level of current income.
The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Fund consistently follows such policies in the preparation of its financial statements.
Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets and liabilities that are fair valued as of the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. As described in further detail below, the Fund’s investments are valued daily based on a number of factors, including the type of investment and whether market quotations are readily available. The RIC’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures for security valuation and designated PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or the “Manager”) as the “Valuation Designee,” as defined by Rule 2a-5(b) under the 1940 Act, to perform the fair value determination relating to all Fund investments. Pursuant to the Board’s oversight, the Valuation Designee has established a Valuation Committee to perform the duties and responsibilities as Valuation Designee under Rule 2a-5. The valuation procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. Fair value is the estimated price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
For the fiscal reporting year-end, securities and other assets and liabilities were fair valued at the close of the last U.S. business day. Trading in certain foreign securities may occur when the NYSE is closed (including weekends and holidays). Because such foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 57
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot purchase or redeem Fund shares.
Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the Schedule of Investments and referred to herein as the “fair value hierarchy” in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 — Fair Value Measurement.
Common or preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and derivative instruments, if applicable, that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. In the event that no sale or official closing price on a valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in the absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Investments in open-end funds (other than ETFs) are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.
Fixed income securities traded in the OTC market are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such fixed income securities are typically valued using the market approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The Fund utilizes the market approach as the primary method to value securities when market prices of identical or comparable instruments are available. The third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated bid price are based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations and reported trades. Certain Level 3 securities are also valued using the market approach when obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing transaction prices for identical securities that have been used in excess of five business days. During the reporting period, there were no changes to report with respect to the valuation approach and/or valuation techniques discussed above.
Floating rate and other loans are generally valued at prices provided by approved independent pricing vendors. The pricing vendors utilize broker/dealer quotations and provide prices based on the average of such quotations. Floating rate and other loans valued using such vendor prices are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
58
Floating rate and other loans valued based on a single broker quote or at the original transaction price in excess of five business days are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
OTC and centrally cleared derivative instruments are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such derivative instruments are typically valued using the market approach and/or income approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The Fund utilizes the market approach when quoted prices in broker-dealer markets are available but also includes consideration of alternative valuation approaches, including the income approach. In the absence of reliable market quotations, the income approach is typically utilized for purposes of valuing derivatives such as interest rate swaps based on a discounted cash flow analysis whereby the value of the instrument is equal to the present value of its future cash inflows or outflows. Such analysis includes projecting future cash flows and determining the discount rate (including the present value factors that affect the discount rate) used to discount the future cash flows. In addition, the third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated derivative price is based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, underlying asset prices, indices, spreads, interest rates and exchange rates. Certain derivatives may be classified as Level 3 when valued using the market approach by obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing unobservable inputs in the income approach. During the reporting period, there were no changes to report with respect to the valuation approach and/or valuation techniques discussed above.
Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on policies and procedures approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Altering one or more unobservable inputs may result in a significant change to a Level 3 security’s fair value measurement.
When determining the fair value of securities, some of the factors influencing the valuation include: the nature of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; assessment of the general liquidity of the securities; the issuer’s financial condition and the markets in which it does business; the cost of the investment; the size of the holding and the capitalization of the issuer; the prices of any recent transactions or bids/offers for such securities or any comparable securities; and any available analyst media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the Valuation Designee regarding the issuer or the markets or industry in which it operates. Using fair value to price securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent closing price and from the price used by other unaffiliated mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.
Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities — at the exchange rate as of the valuation date;
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 59
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses — at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not generally isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities held at the end of the period. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities sold during the period. Accordingly, holding period unrealized and realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions on the Statements of Operations. Notwithstanding the above, the Fund does isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when determining the gain (loss) upon the sale or maturity of foreign currency denominated debt obligations; such amounts are included in net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions.
Additionally, net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from the disposition of holdings of foreign currencies, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest, dividends and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains (losses) arise from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities (other than investments) at period end exchange rates.
Forward and Cross Currency Contracts: A forward currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The Fund enters into forward currency contracts, as defined in the prospectus, in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings or on specific receivables and payables denominated in a foreign currency and to gain exposure to certain currencies. The contracts are valued daily at current forward exchange rates and any unrealized gain (loss) is included in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on forward and cross currency contracts. Gain (loss) is realized on the settlement date of the contract equal to the difference between the settlement value of the original and negotiated forward contracts. This gain (loss), if any, is included in net realized gain (loss) on forward and cross currency contract transactions. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Forward currency contracts involve risks from currency exchange rate and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and
60
Liabilities. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty at the end of the contract’s life. A cross currency contract is a forward contract where a specified amount of one foreign currency will be exchanged for a specified amount of another foreign currency.
Financial Futures Contracts: A financial futures contract is an agreement to purchase (long) or sell (short) an agreed amount of securities at a set price for delivery on a future date. Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying security. Such variation margin is recorded for financial statement purposes on a daily basis as unrealized gain (loss). When the contract expires or is closed, the gain (loss) is realized and is presented in the Statement of Operations as net realized gain (loss) on futures transactions.
The Fund invested in financial futures contracts in order to hedge its existing portfolio securities, or securities the Fund intends to purchase, against fluctuations in value caused by changes in prevailing interest rates. Should interest rates move unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the financial futures contracts and may realize a loss. The use of futures transactions involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts, interest rates and the underlying hedged assets. Since futures contracts are exchange-traded, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchanges’ clearinghouse acts as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures and guarantees the futures contracts against default.
Swap Agreements: The Fund entered into certain types of swap agreements detailed in the disclosures below. A swap agreement is an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. Swap agreements are negotiated in the OTC market and may be executed either directly with a counterparty (“OTC-traded”) or through a central clearing facility, such as a registered exchange. Swap agreements are valued daily at current market value and any change in value is included in the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on swap agreements. Centrally cleared swaps pay or receive an amount known as “variation margin”, based on daily changes in the valuation of the swap contract. For OTC-traded, upfront premiums paid and received are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Swap agreements outstanding at period end, if any, are listed on the Schedule of Investments.
Credit Default Swaps (“CDS”): CDS involve one party (the protection buyer) making a stream of payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for the right to receive a specified payment in the event of a default or as a result of a default (collectively a “credit event”) for the referenced entity (typically corporate issues or sovereign issues of an
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 61
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
emerging country) on its obligation; or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index.
The Fund is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives, and as such, has entered into CDS contracts to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be “short the credit” because the higher the contract value rises, the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk for purchased CDS is the inability of the counterparty to honor the contract up to the notional value due to a credit event.
As a seller of protection on credit default swap agreements, the Fund generally receives an agreed upon payment from the buyer of protection throughout the term of the swap, provided no credit event occurs. As the seller, the Fund effectively increases its investment risk because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund may be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
The maximum amount of the payment that the Fund, as a seller of protection, could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be equal to the notional amount of the underlying security or index contract as a result of a credit event. This potential amount will be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements which the Fund entered into for the same referenced entity or index. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.
Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements where the Fund is the seller of protection as of period end are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments, if applicable. These spreads serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of default risk for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads and increased market value in absolute terms, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement.
62
Total Return Swaps: In a total return swap, one party receives payments based on the market value of the security or the commodity involved, or total return of a specific referenced asset, such as an equity, index or bond, and in return pays a defined amount. The Fund is subject to risk exposures associated with the referenced asset in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund entered into total return swaps to manage its exposure to a security or an index. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the change in the value of the security, in the Fund’s favor, from the point of entering into the contract.
Floating Rate and Other Loans: The Fund invested in floating rate and other loans. Floating rate and other loans include loans that are privately negotiated between a corporate borrower and one or more financial institutions, including, but not limited to, term loans, revolvers, and other instruments issued in the floating rate and other loans market. The Fund acquire interests in loans directly (by way of assignment from the selling institution) and/or indirectly (by way of the purchase of a participation interest from the selling institution). Under a floating rate and other loans assignment, the Fund generally will succeed to all the rights and obligations of an assigning lending institution and become a lender under the loan agreement with the relevant borrower in connection with that loan. Under a floating rate and other loans participation, the Fund generally will have a contractual relationship only with the lender, not with the relevant borrower. As a result, the Fund generally will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest, and any fees to which they are entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the relevant borrower. The Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which they have purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation to the Fund.
Master Netting Arrangements: The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of all or a portion of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts, the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off and the right of set-off is enforceable by law.
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, is a party to International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreements with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 63
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the Fund is held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian and with respect to those amounts which can be sold or re-pledged, is presented in the Schedule of Investments. Collateral pledged by the Fund is segregated by the Fund’s custodian and identified in the Schedule of Investments. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the Fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the Fund’s net position with each counterparty. Termination events applicable to the Fund may occur upon a decline in the Fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the Fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the Fund’s future derivative activity.
In addition to each instrument’s primary underlying risk exposure (e.g. interest rate, credit, equity or foreign exchange, etc.), swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that no liquid market for these agreements will exist, the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree on the contractual terms of the agreement, and changes in net interest rates will be unfavorable. In connection with these agreements, securities in the portfolio may be identified or received as collateral from the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide or receive assets of value and to serve as recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency of either party. Such OTC derivative agreements include conditions which, when materialized, give the counterparty the right to cause an early termination of the transactions under those agreements. Any election by the counterparty for early termination of the contract(s) may impact the amounts reported on financial statements.
Short sales and OTC contracts, including forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swaps, forward rate agreements and written options involve elements of both market and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, if applicable. Such risks may be mitigated by engaging in master netting arrangements.
Rights: The Fund held rights acquired either through a direct purchase or pursuant to corporate actions. Rights entitle the holder to buy a proportionate amount of common stock, or such other security that the issuer may specify, at a specific price and time through the
64
expiration dates. Such rights are held as long positions by the Fund until exercised, sold or expired. Rights are valued at fair value in accordance with the Board approved fair valuation procedures.
Payment-In-Kind: The Fund invested in the open market or received pursuant to debt restructuring securities that pay-in-kind (PIK) the interest due on such debt instruments. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified, is added to the existing principal balance of the debt when issued bonds have the same terms as the bond or recorded as a separate bond when terms are different from the existing debt, and is recorded as interest income.
Securities Lending: The Fund lends its portfolio securities to banks and broker-dealers. The loans are secured by collateral at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Collateral pledged by each borrower is invested in an affiliated money market fund and is marked to market daily, based on the previous day’s market value, such that the value of the collateral exceeds the value of the loaned securities. In the event of significant appreciation in value of the securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the financial statements may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities. Such shortfall is remedied as described above. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower will return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. The remaining open loans of the securities lending transactions are considered overnight and continuous. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund has the right to repurchase the securities in the open market using the collateral.
The Fund recognizes income, net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees, for lending its securities in the form of fees or interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The borrower receives all interest and dividends from the securities loaned and such payments are passed back to the lender in amounts equivalent thereto, which are reflected in interest income or unaffiliated dividend income based on the nature of the payment on the Statement of Operations. The Fund also continues to recognize any unrealized gain (loss) in the market price of the securities loaned and on the change in the value of the collateral invested that may occur during the term of the loan. In addition, realized gain (loss) is recognized on changes in the value of the collateral invested upon liquidation of the collateral. Net earnings from securities lending are disclosed in the Statement of Operations.
Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date, or for certain foreign securities, when the Fund becomes aware of such dividends. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on the accrual basis. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual expense amounts. Net investment income or loss (other than class
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 65
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
specific expenses and waivers, which are allocated as noted below) and unrealized and realized gains (losses) are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of adjusted net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Class specific expenses and waivers, where applicable, are charged to the respective share classes. Such class specific expenses and waivers include distribution fees and distribution fee waivers, shareholder servicing fees, transfer agent’s fees and expenses, registration fees and fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, as applicable.
Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to continue to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable net investment income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, interest and capital gains, if any, are recorded, net of reclaimable amounts, at the time the related income is earned.
Dividends and Distributions: Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified between total distributable earnings (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate. The chart below sets forth the expected frequency of dividend and capital gains distributions to shareholders. Various factors may impact the frequency of dividend distributions to shareholders, including but not limited to adverse market conditions or portfolio holding-specific events.
| | |
| |
Expected Distribution Schedule to Shareholders* | | Frequency |
Net Investment Income | | Monthly |
Short-Term Capital Gains | | Annually |
Long-Term Capital Gains | | Annually |
* | Under certain circumstances, the Fund may make more than one distribution of short-term and/or long-term capital gains during a fiscal year. |
Estimates: The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a management agreement with the Manager pursuant to which it has responsibility for all investment advisory services, including supervision of the subadviser’s performance of such services, and for rendering administrative services.
66
The Manager has entered into a subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc., which provides subadvisory services to the Fund through its business unit PGIM Fixed Income and PGIM, Inc. has entered into a sub-subadvisory agreement with PGIM Limited (collectively, the “subadviser”). The Manager pays for the services of the subadviser.
Fees payable under the management agreement are computed daily and paid monthly. For the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, the contractual and effective management fee rates were as follows:
| | | | |
| |
Contractual Management Rate | | Effective Management Fee, before any waivers and/or expense reimbursements | |
0.700% of average daily net assets up to and including $2 billion; | | | 0.69% | |
0.675% on next $3 billion of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.655% on average daily net assets over $5 billion. | | | | |
The Manager has contractually agreed, through December 31, 2024, to limit total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. This contractual waiver excludes interest, brokerage, taxes (such as income and foreign withholding taxes, stamp duty and deferred tax expenses), acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, and certain other Fund expenses such as dividend and interest expense and broker charges on short sales.
Where applicable, the Manager agrees to waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class. In addition, total annual operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual operating expenses for Class Z shares. Fees and/or expenses waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager for the purpose of preventing the expenses from exceeding a certain expense ratio limit may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver/reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year. The expense limitations attributable to each class are as follows:
| | |
| |
Class | | Expense Limitations |
A | | 1.00% |
C | | 1.75 |
Z | | 0.75 |
R6 | | 0.70 |
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class C, Class Z and Class R6 shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A and Class C shares, pursuant to the plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 67
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate based on average daily net assets per class. The distribution fees are accrued daily and payable monthly.
The Fund’s annual gross and net distribution rates, where applicable, are as follows:
| | | | |
| | |
Class | | Gross Distribution Fee | | Net Distribution Fee |
A | | 0.25% | | 0.25% |
C | | 1.00 | | 1.00 |
Z | | N/A | | N/A |
R6 | | N/A | | N/A |
For the year ended August 31, 2023, PIMS received front-end sales charges (“FESL”) resulting from sales of certain class shares and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) imposed upon redemptions by certain shareholders. The sales charges are as follows where applicable:
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class | | FESL | | | CDSC | |
A | | $ | 251,315 | | | $ | 7,934 | |
C | | | — | | | | 22,505 | |
PGIM Investments, PGIM, Inc., PGIM Limited and PIMS are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).
4. | Other Transactions with Affiliates |
Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (“PMFS”), an affiliate of PGIM Investments and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential, serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and shareholder servicing agent. Transfer agent’s fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations include certain out-of-pocket expenses paid to non-affiliates, where applicable.
The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund (the “Core Government Fund”), a fund of the Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc. and/or in the PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund, a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, each registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. The Fund may invest its securities lending cash collateral in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (the “Money Market Fund”), a fund of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. The Fund may also invest in the PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund, pursuant to an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), a fund of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 (together with PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund, the “Core Funds”) registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. PGIM Investments and/or its affiliates are paid fees or reimbursed for providing their
68
services to the Core Funds and the Money Market Fund. In addition to the realized and unrealized gains on investments in the Core Funds and Money Market Fund, earnings from such investments are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.
The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act that, subject to certain conditions, permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors/trustees, and/or common officers. For the year ended August 31, 2023, no Rule 17a-7 transactions were entered into by the Fund.
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) for the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Cost of Purchases | | Proceeds from Sales | | |
| | $1,325,381,925 | | $1,290,115,026 | | |
A summary of the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of shares of affiliated mutual funds for the year ended August 31, 2023, is presented as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Value, Beginning of Year | | Cost of Purchases | | | Proceeds from Sales | | | Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | Realized Gain (Loss) | | | Value, End of Year | | | Shares, End of Year | | | Income | |
Short-Term Investments - Affiliated Mutual Funds: | |
PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(1)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ — | | | $ 721,829,919 | | | | $ 604,555,819 | | | | $ — | | | | $— | | | | $117,274,100 | | | | 117,274,100 | | | | $1,577,972 | |
PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund(1)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
50,050,547 | | | 2,409,241 | | | | — | | | | 113,167 | | | | — | | | | 52,572,955 | | | | 5,751,964 | | | | 2,409,241 | |
PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(1)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
49,238,460 | | | 52,474,998 | | | | 101,713,458 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,398,830 | |
PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund(1)(b)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
516,022,594 | | | 1,123,377,152 | | | | 1,094,777,810 | | | | 49,955 | | | | 33,598 | | | | 544,705,489 | | | | 544,977,977 | | | | 1,702,868 | (2) |
$615,311,601 | | | $1,900,091,310 | | | | $1,801,047,087 | | | | $163,122 | | | | $33,598 | | | | $714,552,544 | | | | | | | | $8,088,911 | |
(1) | The Fund did not have any capital gain distributions during the reporting period. |
(2) | The amount, or a portion thereof, represents the affiliated securities lending income shown on the Statement of Operations. |
(b) | Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment. |
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 69
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(wl) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund, PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund, PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund, if applicable. |
6. | Distributions and Tax Information |
Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date.
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Tax Return of Capital | | Total Dividends and Distributions |
| | | |
$298,424,841 | | $— | | $— | | $298,424,841 |
For the year ended August 31, 2022, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Tax Return of Capital | | Total Dividends and Distributions |
| | | |
$249,235,373 | | $— | | $— | | $249,235,373 |
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund had the following amounts of accumulated undistributed earnings on a tax basis:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Undistributed Ordinary Income | | Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains | | |
| | | |
| | $6,919,879 | | $— | | |
The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized depreciation as of August 31, 2023 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Tax Basis | | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | | Gross Unrealized Depreciation | | Net Unrealized Depreciation |
| | | |
$5,535,172,009 | | $ | 53,879,936 | | | $ | (429,935,888 | ) | | $ | (376,055,952 | ) |
The difference between GAAP and tax basis is primarily attributable to deferred losses on wash sales, swaps, differences in the treatment of premium amortization for book and tax purposes and other book to tax differences.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund had an approximated capital loss carryforward as of August 31, 2023 which can be carried forward for an unlimited period. No capital gains
70
distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such losses.
| | |
| |
Capital Loss Carryforward | | Capital Loss Carryforward Utilized |
| |
$257,344,000 | | $— |
The Manager has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed tax returns, the Fund’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the four fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 are subject to such review.
The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class Z and Class R6 shares. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 2.25%. Investors who purchase $500,000 or more of Class A shares and sell those shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a CDSC of 1% on sales although these purchases are not subject to a front-end sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for certain retirement and/or benefit plans. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who qualified to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase. Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a monthly basis approximately eight years (ten years prior to January 22, 2021) after purchase. Class Z and Class R6 shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charges and are available exclusively for sale to a limited group of investors.
Under certain circumstances, an exchange may be made from specified share classes of the Fund to one or more other share classes of the Fund as presented in the table of transactions in shares of common stock, below.
The RIC is authorized to issue 96,525,000,000 shares of capital stock, $0.01 par value per share, 8,575,000,000 of which are designated as shares of the Fund. The authorized shares of the Fund are currently classified and designated as follows:
| | | | |
| |
Class | | Number of Shares | |
A | | | 800,000,000 | |
C | | | 700,000,000 | |
Z | | | 5,500,000,000 | |
T | | | 75,000,000 | |
R6 | | | 1,500,000,000 | |
The Fund currently does not have any Class T shares outstanding.
As of August 31, 2023, Prudential, through its affiliated entities, including affiliated funds (if applicable), did not own any shares of the Fund.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 71
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
At the reporting period end, the number of shareholders holding greater than 5% of the Fund are as follows:
| | | | |
| | |
| | Number of Shareholders | | Percentage of Outstanding Shares |
Affiliated | | — | | —% |
Unaffiliated | | 11 | | 92.6 |
Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Class A | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 11,771,670 | | | $ | 95,515,311 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 2,594,093 | | | | 21,024,653 | |
Shares purchased | | | (15,513,097 | ) | | | (125,651,422 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (1,147,334 | ) | | | (9,111,458 | ) |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 3,895,018 | | | | 31,637,948 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (1,683,316 | ) | | | (13,673,864 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 1,064,368 | | | $ | 8,852,626 | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 13,840,484 | | | $ | 121,092,446 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 2,008,798 | | | | 17,350,619 | |
Shares purchased | | | (16,950,566 | ) | | | (147,237,211 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (1,101,284 | ) | | | (8,794,146 | ) |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 5,751,754 | | | | 49,715,583 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (2,885,679 | ) | | | (25,614,274 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 1,764,791 | | | $ | 15,307,163 | |
| | |
Class C | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 4,151,803 | | | $ | 33,686,375 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 1,151,055 | | | | 9,327,237 | |
Shares purchased | | | (5,734,528 | ) | | | (46,445,149 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (431,670 | ) | | | (3,431,537 | ) |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (3,150,424 | ) | | | (25,559,808 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (3,582,094 | ) | | $ | (28,991,345 | ) |
72
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 4,175,042 | | | $ | 36,636,013 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 1,048,330 | | | | 9,073,544 | |
Shares purchased | | | (5,988,058 | ) | | | (51,558,100 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (764,686 | ) | | | (5,848,543 | ) |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (4,641,588 | ) | | | (40,078,618 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (5,406,274 | ) | | $ | (45,927,161 | ) |
| | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 253,215,379 | | | $ | 2,055,967,417 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 25,174,279 | | | | 204,123,200 | |
Shares purchased | | | (239,570,179 | ) | | | (1,941,369,542 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | 38,819,479 | | | | 318,721,075 | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 2,494,239 | | | | 20,247,573 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (5,027,149 | ) | | | (40,456,910 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 36,286,569 | | | $ | 298,511,738 | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 277,277,065 | | | $ | 2,416,998,411 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 17,904,041 | | | | 154,587,932 | |
Shares purchased | | | (232,177,399 | ) | | | (1,995,584,118 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | 63,003,707 | | | | 576,002,225 | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 3,638,016 | | | | 32,146,379 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (2,792,771 | ) | | | (24,570,818 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 63,848,952 | | | $ | 583,577,786 | |
| | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 26,351,914 | | | $ | 213,568,965 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 4,591,118 | | | | 37,184,174 | |
Shares purchased | | | (79,759,284 | ) | | | (647,059,788 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (48,816,252 | ) | | | (396,306,649 | ) |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 3,623,971 | | | | 29,048,364 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (153,289 | ) | | | (1,243,303 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (45,345,570 | ) | | $ | (368,501,588 | ) |
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 73
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 76,516,754 | | | $ | 668,722,197 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 4,972,727 | | | | 42,888,173 | |
Shares purchased | | | (70,741,475 | ) | | | (608,915,037 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | 10,748,006 | | | | 102,695,333 | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 1,101,629 | | | | 9,838,120 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (172,828 | ) | | | (1,436,372 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 11,676,807 | | | $ | 111,097,081 | |
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Participating Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary funding for capital share redemptions. The table below provides details of the current SCA in effect at the reporting period-end as well as the prior SCA.
| | | | |
| | |
| | Current SCA | | Prior SCA |
Term of Commitment | | 9/30/2022 - 9/28/2023 | | 10/1/2021 – 9/29/2022 |
Total Commitment | | $ 1,200,000,000 | | $ 1,200,000,000 |
Annualized Commitment Fee on the Unused Portion of the SCA | | 0.15% | | 0.15% |
Annualized Interest Rate on Borrowings | | 1.00% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the daily SOFR rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero percent | | 1.20% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the one-month LIBOR rate or (3) zero percent |
| | | | |
Subsequent to the reporting period end, the SCA has been renewed and effective September 29, 2023 will provide a commitment of $1,200,000,000 through September 26, 2024. The commitment fee paid by the Participating Funds will continue to be 0.15% of the unused portion of the SCA. The interest on borrowings under the renewed SCA will be paid monthly and at a per annum interest rate of 1.00% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the daily SOFR rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero percent.
Certain affiliated registered investment companies that are parties to the SCA include portfolios that are subject to a predetermined mathematical formula used to manage certain benefit guarantees offered under variable annuity contracts. The formula may result in large scale asset flows into and out of these portfolios. Consequently, these portfolios may be more likely to utilize the SCA for purposes of funding redemptions. It may be possible for those portfolios to fully exhaust the committed amount of the SCA, thereby requiring the Manager
74
to allocate available funding per a Board-approved methodology designed to treat the Participating Funds in the SCA equitably.
The Fund utilized the SCA during the year ended August 31, 2023. The average daily balance for the 40 days that the Fund had loans outstanding during the period was approximately $15,158,025, borrowed at a weighted average interest rate of 6.15%. The maximum loan outstanding amount during the period was $34,430,000. At August 31, 2023, the Fund did not have an outstanding loan amount.
9. | Risks of Investing in the Fund |
The Fund’s risks include, but are not limited to, some or all of the risks discussed below. For further information on the Fund’s risks, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Credit Risk: This is the risk that the issuer, the guarantor, or the insurer of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and interest payments or to otherwise honor its obligations. Additionally, fixed income securities could lose value due to a loss of confidence in the ability of the issuer, guarantor, insurer, or counterparty to pay back debt. The lower the credit quality of a bond, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Debt Obligations Risk: Debt obligations are subject to credit risk, market risk and interest rate risk. The Fund’s holdings, share price, yield and total return may also fluctuate in response to bond market movements. The value of bonds may decline for issuer-related reasons, including management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services. Certain types of fixed income obligations also may be subject to “call and redemption risk,” which is the risk that the issuer may call a bond held by the Fund for redemption before it matures and the Fund may not be able to reinvest at the same rate of interest and therefore would earn less income.
Derivatives Risk: Derivatives involve special risks and costs and may result in losses to the Fund. The successful use of derivatives requires sophisticated management, and, to the extent that derivatives are used, the Fund will depend on the subadviser’s ability to analyze and manage derivatives transactions. The prices of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in abnormal market conditions. Some derivatives are “leveraged” or may create economic leverage for the Fund. and therefore may magnify or otherwise increase investment losses to the Fund. The Fund’s use of derivatives may also increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
Other risks arise from the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivatives positions. In fact, many over-the-counter derivative instruments will not have liquidity beyond the counterparty to the instrument. Over-the-counter derivative instruments also involve the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations to the Fund. The use of derivatives also exposes the Fund to
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 75
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
operational issues, such as documentation and settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate control and human error.
Derivatives may also involve legal risks, such as insufficient documentation, the lack of capacity or authority of a counterparty to execute or settle a transaction, and the legality and enforceability of derivatives contracts. The U.S. Government and foreign governments have adopted (and may adopt further) regulations governing derivatives markets, including mandatory clearing of certain derivatives, margin and reporting requirements and risk exposure limitations. Regulation of derivatives may make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility to the Fund, or otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.
Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth or the functioning of the securities markets, or otherwise reduce inflation, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Governmental efforts to curb inflation often have negative effects on the level of economic activity. Relatively reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide.
Emerging Markets Risk: The risks of foreign investments are greater for investments in or exposed to emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation. Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by non-U.S. investors, or that prevent non-U.S. investors from withdrawing their money at will.
The Fund may invest in some emerging markets that subject it to risks such as those associated with illiquidity, custody of assets, different settlement and clearance procedures and asserting legal title under a developing legal and regulatory regime to a greater degree than in developed markets or even in other emerging markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (including those denominated in U.S. dollars) may involve more risk than investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign political, economic and legal systems, especially those in developing and emerging market countries, may be less stable and more volatile than in the United States. Foreign legal systems generally have fewer regulatory requirements than the U.S. legal system, particularly those of emerging markets. In general, less information is publicly available with respect to non-U.S. companies than U.S. companies. Non-U.S. companies
76
generally are not subject to the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards as are U.S. companies. Additionally, the changing value of foreign currencies and changes in exchange rates could also affect the value of the assets the Fund holds and the Fund’s performance. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of foreign securities to make payment of principal and interest or dividends to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise.
Investments in emerging markets are subject to greater volatility and price declines.
In addition, the Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currency, confiscatory taxation and adverse diplomatic developments. Special U.S. tax considerations may apply.
Increase in Expenses Risk: Your actual cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the expenses shown in the expense table in the Fund’s prospectus for a variety of reasons. For example, expense ratios may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and Fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile. Active and frequent trading of Fund securities can increase expenses.
Interest Rate Risk: The value of your investment may go down when interest rates rise. A rise in rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term or duration debt securities. Similarly, a rise in interest rates may also have a greater negative impact on the value of equity securities whose issuers expect earnings further out in the future. For example, a fixed income security with a duration of three years is expected to decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest rates increase by 1%. This is referred to as “duration risk.” When interest rates fall, the issuers of debt obligations may prepay principal more quickly than expected, and the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate. This is referred to as “prepayment risk.” When interest rates rise, debt obligations may be repaid more slowly than expected, and the value of the Fund’s holdings may fall sharply. This is referred to as “extension risk.” The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply or in a manner not anticipated by the subadviser.
Junk Bonds Risks: High-yield, high-risk bonds have predominantly speculative characteristics, including particularly high credit risk. Junk bonds tend to have lower market liquidity than higher-rated securities. The liquidity of particular issuers or industries within a particular investment category may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning. The non-investment grade bond market can experience sudden and sharp price swings and become illiquid due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, a high profile default or a change in the market’s psychology.
Large Shareholder and Large Scale Redemption Risk: Certain individuals, accounts, funds (including funds affiliated with the Manager) or institutions, including the Manager and its
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 77
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
affiliates, may from time to time own or control a substantial amount of the Fund’s shares. There is no requirement that these entities maintain their investment in the Fund. There is a risk that such large shareholders or that the Fund’s shareholders generally may redeem all or a substantial portion of their investments in the Fund in a short period of time, which could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s NAV, liquidity, and brokerage costs. Large redemptions could also result in tax consequences to shareholders and impact the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy. The Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective after one or more large scale redemptions may be impaired and, as a result, the Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalents.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Fund may invest in instruments that trade in lower volumes and are more illiquid than other investments. If the Fund is forced to sell these investments to pay redemption proceeds or for other reasons, the Fund may lose money. In addition, when there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the instrument at all. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.
Management Risk: Actively managed funds are subject to management risk. The subadviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but the subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry or sector or about market movements may be incorrect. Additionally, the investments selected for the Fund may underperform the markets in general, the Fund’s benchmark and other funds with similar investment objectives.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risks: Market disruption can be caused by economic, financial or political events and factors, including but not limited to, international wars or conflicts (including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine), geopolitical developments (including trading and tariff arrangements, sanctions and cybersecurity attacks), instability in regions such as Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, terrorism, natural disasters and public health epidemics (including the outbreak of COVID-19 globally).
The extent and duration of such events and resulting market disruptions cannot be predicted, but could be substantial and could magnify the impact of other risks to the Fund. These and other similar events could adversely affect the U.S. and foreign financial markets and lead to increased market volatility, reduced liquidity in the securities markets, significant negative impacts on issuers and the markets for certain securities and commodities and/or government intervention. They may also cause short- or long-term economic uncertainties in
78
the United States and worldwide. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted. Further, due to closures of certain markets and restrictions on trading certain securities, the value of certain securities held by the Fund could be significantly impacted, which could lead to such securities being valued at zero.
COVID-19 and the related governmental and public responses have had, and future public health epidemics may have an impact on the Fund’s investments and net asset value, and have led and may lead to increased market volatility and the potential for illiquidity in certain classes of securities and sectors of the market. Future public health epidemics may result in periods of business disruption, business closures, inability to obtain raw materials, supplies and component parts, and reduced or disrupted operations for the issuers in which the Fund invests. The occurrence, reoccurrence and pendency of public health epidemics could adversely affect the economies and financial markets either in specific countries or worldwide.
Market Risk: Securities markets may be volatile and the market prices of the Fund’s securities may decline. Securities fluctuate in price based on changes in an issuer’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. If the market prices of the securities owned by the Fund fall, the value of your investment in the Fund will decline.
Reference Rate Risk: The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from using or continue to use the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value.
The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) announced a phase out of LIBOR such that after June 30, 2023, the overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings ceased to be published or are no longer representative. All other LIBOR settings and certain other interbank offered rates, such as the Euro Overnight Index Average (“EONIA”), ceased to be published after December 31, 2021. On December 16, 2022, the Federal Reserve Board adopted regulations implementing the Adjustable Interest Rate Act by identifying benchmark rates based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate that replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts after June 30, 2023. These regulations apply only to contracts governed by U.S. law, among other limitations. The FCA will permit the use of synthetic U.S. dollar LIBOR rates for non-U.S. contracts through September 30, 2024, but any such rates would be considered non-representative of the underlying market.
Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of applicable
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 79
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.
10. | Recent Regulatory Developments |
Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information deemed important for retail investors to assess and monitor their fund investments (the “Rule”). Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in the funds’ streamlined shareholder reports but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The Rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the Rule and its impact to the Fund.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 and Shareholders of PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund (one of the funds constituting Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2023 and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended August 31, 2020 and the financial highlights for each of the periods ended on or prior to August 31, 2020 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated October 15, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
October 17, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the PGIM Retail Funds complex since 2020.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 81
Tax Information (unaudited)
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable but not less than 56.37% as interest related dividends in accordance with Section 871(k)(1) and 881(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
For the tax year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable but not less than 83.20% of interest dividends that are eligible to be treated as interest income in accordance with Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In January 2024, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV, as to the federal tax status of dividends received by you in calendar year 2023.
We are required by Massachusetts, Missouri and Oregon to inform you that dividends which have been derived from interest on federal obligations are not taxable to shareholders provided the Fund meets certain requirements mandated by the respective state’s taxing authorities. We are pleased to report that 2.14% of the dividends paid by the Fund qualify for such deduction.
For more detailed information regarding your state and local taxes, you should contact your tax adviser or the state/local taxing authorities.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program (unaudited)
Consistent with Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “LRMP”). The Fund’s LRMP seeks to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is defined as the risk that the Fund is unable to meet investor redemption requests without significantly diluting the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board has approved PGIM Investments, the Fund’s investment manager, to serve as the administrator of the Fund’s LRMP. As part of its responsibilities as administrator, PGIM Investments has retained a third party to perform certain functions, including providing market data and liquidity classification model information.
The Fund’s LRMP includes a number of processes designed to support the assessment and management of its liquidity risk. In particular, the Fund’s LRMP includes no less than annual assessments of factors that influence the Fund’s liquidity risk; no less than monthly classifications of the Fund’s investments into one of four liquidity classifications provided for in the Liquidity Rule; a 15% of net assets limit on the acquisition of “illiquid investments” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule); establishment of a minimum percentage of the Fund’s assets to be invested in investments classified as “highly liquid” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule) if the Fund does not invest primarily in highly liquid investments; and regular reporting to the Board.
At a meeting of the Board on March 7-9, 2023, PGIM Investments provided a written report (“LRMP Report”) to the Board addressing the operation, adequacy, and effectiveness of the Fund’s LRMP, including any material changes to the LRMP for the period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 (“Reporting Period”). The LRMP Report concluded that the Fund’s LRMP was reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk and was adequately and effectively implemented during the Reporting Period. There were no material changes to the LRMP during the Reporting Period. The LRMP Report further concluded that the Fund’s investment strategies continue to be appropriate given the Fund’s status as an open-end fund.
There can be no assurance that the LRMP will achieve its objectives in the future. Additional information regarding risks of investing in the Fund, including liquidity risks presented by the Fund’s investment portfolio, is found in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund 83
INFORMATION ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS (unaudited)
Information about Board Members and Officers of the Fund is set forth below. Board Members who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Board Members.” Board Members who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund are referred to as “Interested Board Members.” The Board Members are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Board in turn elects the Officers, who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund.
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Independent Board Members |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Ellen S. Alberding 1958 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 99 | | Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President, The Joyce Foundation (charitable foundation) (since 2002); formerly Vice Chair, City Colleges of Chicago (community college system) (2011-2015); formerly Trustee, National Park Foundation (charitable foundation for national park system) (2009-2018); formerly Trustee, Economic Club of Chicago (2009-2016); Trustee, Loyola University (since 2018). | | None. | | Since September 2013 |
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Kevin J. Bannon 1952 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Managing Director (April 2008-May 2015) and Chief Investment Officer (October 2008-November 2013) of Highmount Capital LLC (registered investment adviser); formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (April 1993-August 2007) of Bank of New York Company; formerly President (May 2003-May 2007) of BNY Hamilton Family of Mutual Funds. | | Director of Urstadt Biddle Properties (equity real estate investment trust) (since September 2008). | | Since July 2008 |
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
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Independent Board Members |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Linda W. Bynoe 1952 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 97 | | President and Chief Executive Officer (since March 1995) and formerly Chief Operating Officer (December 1989-February 1995) of Telemat Limited LLC (formerly Telemat Ltd) (management consulting); formerly Vice President (January 1985-June 1989) at Morgan Stanley & Co. (broker-dealer). | | Trustee of Equity Residential (residential real estate) (since December 2009); Director of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services) (since April 2006); formerly Director of Anixter International, Inc. (communication products distributor) (January 2006-June 2020). | | Since March 2005 |
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Barry H. Evans 1960 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly President (2005-2016), Global Chief Operating Officer (2014-2016), Chief Investment Officer - Global Head of Fixed Income (1998-2014), and various portfolio manager roles (1986-2006), Manulife Asset Management (asset management). | | Formerly Director, Manulife Trust Company (2011-2018); formerly Director, Manulife Asset Management Limited (2015-2017); formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of Manulife Asset Management U.S. (2005-2016); formerly Chairman of the Board, Declaration Investment Management and Research (2008-2016). | | Since September 2017 |
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Keith F. Hartstein 1956 Board Member & Independent Chair Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Member (November 2014-September 2022) of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC) (organization of independent mutual fund directors); formerly Executive Committee of the IDC Board of Governors (October 2019-December 2021); formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (2005-2012), Senior Vice President (2004-2005), Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (1997-2004), and various executive management positions (1990-1997), John Hancock Funds, LLC (asset management); formerly Chairman, Investment Company Institute’s Sales Force Marketing Committee (2003-2008). | | None. | | Since September 2013 |
Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
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Independent Board Members |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Laurie Simon Hodrick 1962 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 97 | | A. Barton Hepburn Professor Emerita of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (since 2018); Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University (since 2015); Sole Member, ReidCourt LLC (since 2008) (a consulting firm); formerly Visiting Professor of Law, Stanford Law School (2015-2021); formerly A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (1996-2017); formerly Managing Director, Global Head of Alternative Investment Strategies, Deutsche Bank (2006-2008). | | Independent Director, Andela (since January 2022) (global talent network); Independent Director, Roku (since December 2020) (communication services); formerly Independent Director, Synnex Corporation (2019-2021) (information technology); formerly Independent Director, Kabbage, Inc. (2018-2020) (financial services); formerly Independent Director, Corporate Capital Trust (2017-2018) (a business development company). | | Since September 2017 |
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Brian K. Reid 1961 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Chief Economist for the Investment Company Institute (ICI) (2005-2017); formerly Senior Economist and Director of Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1998-2004); formerly Senior Economist, Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1996-1998); formerly Staff Economist at the Federal Reserve Board (1989-1996); formerly Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2012-2017). | | None. | | Since March 2018 |
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
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Independent Board Members |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Grace C. Torres 1959 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential Variable Contract Accounts and The Prudential Series Fund (1998-June 2014); Assistant Treasurer (March 1999-June 2014) and Senior Vice President (September 1999-June 2014) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) and Vice President (June 2005-June 2014) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) of Prudential Annuities Advisory Services, Inc. | | Director (since January 2018) of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank; formerly Director (July 2015-January 2018) of Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. and Sun National Bank. | | Since November 2014 |
Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
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Interested Board Members |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Stuart S. Parker 1962 Board Member & President Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Officer in Charge of PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC) (since January 2012); President and Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; President and PEO (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Executive Vice President of Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June 2005-December 2011); Investment Company Institute - Board of Governors (since May 2012). | | None. | | Since January 2012 |
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Scott E. Benjamin 1973 Board Member & Vice President Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Executive Vice President (since May 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President (since June 2012) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Executive Vice President (since September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, PGIM Investments (since February 2006); Vice President (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Vice President (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, PGIM Investments LLC (2003-2006). | | None. | | Since March 2010 |
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
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Fund Officers(a) | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Claudia DiGiacomo 1974 Chief Legal Officer | | Chief Legal Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Chief Legal Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of PIFM Holdco, LLC (since August 2020); Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since August 2020); formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (2005-2020); formerly Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004). | | Since December 2005 |
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Andrew Donohue 1972 Chief Compliance Officer | | Chief Compliance Officer (since May 2023) of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since October 2022); Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer of PGIM Investments LLC (since September 2022); formerly various senior compliance roles within Principal Global Investors, LLC., global asset management for Principal Financial (2011-2022), most recently as Global Chief Compliance Officer (2016-2022). | | Since May 2023 |
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Andrew R. French 1962 Secretary | | Vice President (since December 2018) of PGIM Investments LLC; Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President and Corporate Counsel (2010-2018) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC. | | Since October 2006 |
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Melissa Gonzalez 1980 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2018) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (March 2014-September 2018) of Prudential. | | Since March 2020 |
Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
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Fund Officers(a) | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Patrick E. McGuinness 1986 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Director and Corporate Counsel (since February 2017) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. | | Since June 2020 |
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Debra Rubano 1975 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since November 2020) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc; formerly Director and Senior Counsel of Allianz Global Investors U.S. Holdings LLC (2010-2020) and Assistant Secretary of numerous funds in the Allianz fund complex (2015-2020). | | Since December 2020 |
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Kelly A. Coyne 1968 Assistant Secretary | | Director, Investment Operations of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since 2010); Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. | | Since March 2015 |
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Christian J. Kelly 1975 Chief Financial Officer | | Vice President, Global Head of Fund Administration of PGIM Investments LLC (since November 2018); Chief Financial Officer (since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Credit Fund (since September 2022); Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. (since July 2022); formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (January 2019- March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director of Fund Administration of Lord Abbett & Co. LLC (2009-2018), Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds (2017-2018); Director of Accounting, Avenue Capital Group (2008-2009); Senior Manager, Investment Management Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP (1998-2007). | | Since January 2019 |
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
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Fund Officers(a) | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Russ Shupak 1973 Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; formerly Assistant Treasurer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since October 2019); formerly Director (2013-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Lana Lomuti 1967 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Assistant Treasurer (December 2007-February 2014) of The Greater China Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2005-2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since April 2014 |
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Deborah Conway 1969 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2007-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Elyse M. McLaughlin 1974 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Advanced Series Trust, the Prudential Series Fund and the Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since October 2019); formerly Director (2011-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Robert W. McCormack 1973 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (Since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2016-2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Vice President within Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Management Controllers (2008- 2016), Assistant Treasurer of Goldman Sachs Family of Funds (2015-2016). | | Since March 2023 |
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Fund Officers(a) | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Kelly Florio 1978 Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer | | Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Global Compliance Programs and Compliance Risk Management (since December 2021) of Prudential; formerly Head of Fraud Risk Management (October 2019 to December 2021) at New York Life Insurance Company; formerly Head of Key Risk Area Operations (November 2018 to October 2019), Director of the US Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (2009-2018) and Bank Loss Prevention Associate (2006 -2009) at MetLife. | | Since June 2022 |
(a) Excludes Mr. Parker and Mr. Benjamin, interested Board Members who also serve as President and Vice President, respectively.
Explanatory Notes to Tables:
∎ | | Board Members are deemed to be “Interested,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with PGIM Investments LLC and/or an affiliate of PGIM Investments LLC. |
∎ | | Unless otherwise noted, the address of all Board Members and Officers is c/o PGIM Investments LLC, 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4410. |
∎ | | There is no set term of office for Board Members or Officers. The Board Members have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Board Members on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 75. |
∎ | | “Other Directorships Held” includes all directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the 1934 Act (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
∎ | | “Portfolios Overseen” includes such applicable investment companies managed by PGIM Investments LLC and overseen by the trustee/director. The investment companies for which PGIM Investments LLC serves as manager include the PGIM Mutual Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust. |
∎ | | As used in the Fund Officers table “Prudential” means The Prudential Insurance Company of America. |
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (unaudited)
The Fund’s Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund1 (the “Fund”) consists of ten individuals, eight of whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Directors”). The Board is responsible for the oversight of the Fund and its operations, and performs the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Directors have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of the Board is an Independent Director. The Board has established five standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Compliance Committee and two Investment Committees. Each committee is chaired by, and composed of, Independent Directors.
Annual Approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreements
As required under the 1940 Act, the Board determines annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”), the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM”), on behalf of its PGIM Fixed Income unit (“PGIM Fixed Income”), and the Fund’s sub-subadvisory agreement with PGIM Limited (“PGIML”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, met on May 25 and June 6-8, 2023 (the “Board Meeting”) and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2024, after concluding that the renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
In advance of the meetings, the Board requested and received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration. Among other things, the Board considered comparative fee information from PGIM Investments, PGIML, PGIM, and, where appropriate, affiliates of PGIM. Also, the Board considered comparisons with other mutual funds in relevant Peer Universes and Peer Groups, as is further discussed below.
In approving the agreements, the Board, including the Independent Directors advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided by PGIM Investments, the subadviser and, as relevant, its affiliates, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders as the Fund’s assets grow. In their deliberations, the Directors did not identify any single factor which alone was responsible for the Board’s decision to approve the agreements with respect to the Fund. In connection with its deliberations, the Board considered information provided by PGIM Investments throughout the year at regular Board meetings, presentations from
1 PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund is a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)
portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the Board Meeting.
The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PGIM Investments, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, between PGIM Investments and PGIM, which, through its PGIM Fixed Income unit, serves as the Fund’s subadviser pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PGIM Investments, and between PGIM and PGIML, which serves as the Fund’s sub-subadviser pursuant to the terms of a sub-subadvisory agreement with PGIM, are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.
The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Directors’ reaching their determinations to approve the continuance of the agreements are separately discussed below.
Nature, Quality and Extent of Services
The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Fund by PGIM Investments, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML. The Board noted that PGIM Fixed Income and PGIML are affiliated with PGIM Investments. The Board considered the services provided by PGIM Investments, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadviser and sub-subadviser for the Fund, as well as the provision of fund recordkeeping, compliance and other services to the Fund, and PGIM Investments’ role as administrator of the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. With respect to PGIM Investments’ oversight of the subadviser and sub-subadviser, the Board noted that PGIM Investments’ Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PGIM Investments, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PGIM Investments’ senior management on the performance and operations of the subadviser and sub-subadviser. The Board also considered that PGIM Investments pays the salaries of all of the officers and interested Directors of the Fund who are part of Fund management. The Board also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by PGIM Fixed Income and PGIML, including investment research and security selection, as well as adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable Fund policies and procedures. The Board considered PGIM Investments’ evaluation of the subadviser and sub-subadviser, as well as PGIM Investments’ recommendation, based on its review of the subadviser and sub-subadviser, to renew the subadvisory and sub-subadvisory agreements.
The Board considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PGIM Investments’ senior management responsible for the oversight of the Fund, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML, and also considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PGIM Fixed Income’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Board was provided with
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information pertaining to PGIM Investments’, PGIM Fixed Income’s, and PGIML’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to PGIM Investments, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML. The Board also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as to PGIM Investments, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML.
The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PGIM Investments, the subadvisory services provided to the Fund by PGIM Fixed Income, and the sub-subadvisory services provided by PGIML, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PGIM Investments, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML under the management, subadvisory and sub-subadvisory agreements.
Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PGIM Investments
The Board was provided with information on the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Board discussed with PGIM Investments the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from fund management contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocations and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. Taking these factors into account, the Board concluded that the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board received and discussed information concerning economies of scale that PGIM Investments may realize as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Board noted that the management fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints, which have the effect of decreasing the fee rate as assets increase. During the course of time, the Board has considered information regarding the launch date of the Fund, the management fees of the Fund compared to those of similarly managed funds and PGIM Investments’ investment in the Fund over time. The Board noted that economies of scale can be shared with the Fund in other ways, including low management fees from inception, additional technological and personnel investments to enhance shareholder services, and maintaining existing expense structures in the face of a rising cost environment. The Board also considered PGIM Investments’ assertion that it continually evaluates the management fee schedule of the Fund and the potential to share economies of scale through breakpoints or fee waivers as asset levels increase.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)
The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of PGIM Investments’ costs are not specific to individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
Other Benefits to PGIM Investments, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML
The Board considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PGIM Investments, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Investments included transfer agency fees received by the Fund’s transfer agent (which is affiliated with PGIM Investments), as well as benefits to its reputation or other intangible benefits resulting from PGIM Investments’ association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Fixed Income and PGIML included the ability to use soft dollar credits, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and benefits to their reputations. The Board concluded that the benefits derived by PGIM Investments, PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIML were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.
Performance of the Fund /Fees and Expenses
The Board considered certain additional specific factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of the Fund for the one-,three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2022.
The Board also considered the Fund’s actual management fee, as well as the Fund’s net total expense ratio, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022. The Board considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PGIM Investments to other funds and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds in a Peer Group. The actual management fee represents the fee rate actually paid by Fund shareholders and includes any fee waivers or reimbursements. The net total expense ratio for the Fund represents the actual expense ratio incurred by Fund shareholders.
The mutual funds included in the Peer Universe, which was used to consider performance, and the Peer Group, which was used to consider expenses and fees, were objectively determined by Broadridge, an independent provider of mutual fund data. In certain circumstances, PGIM Investments also provided supplemental Peer Universe or Peer Group information for reasons addressed with the Board. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles over various periods, with the first quartile being the best 25% of the mutual funds (for performance, the best performing mutual funds and, for expenses, the lowest cost mutual funds).
The section below summarizes key factors considered by the Board and the Board’s conclusions regarding the Fund’s performance, fees and overall expenses. The table sets forth net performance comparisons (which reflect the impact on performance of
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fund expenses, or any subsidies, expense caps or waivers that may be applicable) with the Peer Universe, actual management fees with the Peer Group (which reflect the impact of any subsidies or fee waivers),and net total expenses with the Peer Group, each of which were key factors considered by the Board.
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Net Performance | | 1 Year | | 3 Years | | 5 Years | | 10 Years |
| | 3rd Quartile | | 2nd Quartile | | 1st Quartile | | 1st Quartile |
Actual Management Fees: 4th Quartile | | | | |
Net Total Expenses: 4th Quartile |
| · | | The Board noted that the Fund outperformed its benchmark index over the three-and five-year periods and underperformed its benchmark index over the one- and ten-year periods. |
| · | | The Board also noted that the Fund outperformed its peer group average for the year-to-date, three-,five- and ten-year periods and outperformed its benchmark index for the three- and five-year periods and equaled its benchmark index for the ten-year period ended March 31, 2023. |
| · | | The Board noted that, effective July 1, 2022, PGIM Investments contractually amended its management fee schedule to add an additional breakpoint at asset levels above $5 billion. The current contractual fee rate schedule is as follows: 0.700% up to $2 billion; 0.675% from $2 billion up to $5 billion; and 0.655% over $5 billion. |
| · | | The Board and PGIM Investments agreed to retain the existing contractual expense cap, which (exclusive of certain fees and expenses) caps total annual operating expenses at 1.00%for Class A shares, 1.75% for Class C shares, 0.70% for Class R6 shares, and 0.75% for Class Z shares through December 31, 2023. |
| · | | In addition, PGIM Investments will waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class and has agreed that total annual fund operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual fund operating expenses for Class Z shares. |
| · | | The Board concluded that it, in light of the above, would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to renew the agreements. |
| · | | The Board concluded that the management fees (including subadvisory and sub-subadvisory fees) and total expenses were reasonable in light of the services provided. |
* * *
After full consideration of these factors, the Board concluded that approval of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund
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∎ MAIL | | ∎ TELEPHONE | | ∎ WEBSITE |
655 Broad Street | | (800) 225-1852 | | pgim.com/investments |
Newark, NJ 07102 | | | | |
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PROXY VOTING |
The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated to the Fund’s subadviser the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to the Fund. A description of these proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852 or by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the Fund’s website and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website. |
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DIRECTORS |
Ellen S. Alberding ● Kevin J. Bannon ● Scott E. Benjamin ● Linda W. Bynoe ● Barry H. Evans ● Keith F. Hartstein ● Laurie Simon Hodrick ● Stuart S. Parker ● Brian K. Reid ● Grace C. Torres |
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OFFICERS |
Stuart S. Parker, President ● Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President ● Christian J. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer ● Claudia DiGiacomo, Chief Legal Officer ● Andrew Donohue, Chief Compliance Officer ● Russ Shupak, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer ● Kelly Florio, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer ● Andrew R. French, Secretary ● Melissa Gonzalez, Assistant Secretary ● Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Secretary ● Patrick E. McGuinness, Assistant Secretary ● Debra Rubano, Assistant Secretary ● Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer ● Elyse M. McLaughlin, Assistant Treasurer ● Deborah Conway, Assistant Treasurer ● Robert W. McCormack, Assistant Treasurer |
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MANAGER | | PGIM Investments LLC | | 655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 |
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SUBADVISER | | PGIM Fixed Income | | 655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 |
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DISTRIBUTOR | | Prudential Investment Management Services LLC | | 655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 |
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CUSTODIAN | | The Bank of New York Mellon | | 240 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10286 |
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TRANSFER AGENT | | Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC | | PO Box 534432 Pittsburgh, PA 15253 |
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | | 300 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10017 |
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FUND COUNSEL | | Willkie Farr &Gallagher LLP | | 787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 |
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An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. An investor may obtain the prospectus and summary prospectus by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852. The prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing. |
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E-DELIVERY |
To receive your mutual fund documents online, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery and enroll. Instead of receiving printed documents by mail, you will receive notification via email when new materials are available. You can cancel your enrollment or change your email address at any time by visiting the website address above. |
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SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS |
Shareholders can communicate directly with the Board of Directors by writing to the Chair of the Board, PGIM Short Duration High Yield Income Fund, PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Directors, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Director by writing to that Director at the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee. |
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AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT filings are available on the Commission’s website at sec.gov. |
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The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852. |
Mutual Funds:
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ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY | | MAY LOSE VALUE | | ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK OR ANY BANK AFFILIATE |
PGIM SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD INCOME FUND
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SHARE CLASS | | A | | C | | Z | | R6 | | |
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NASDAQ | | HYSAX | | HYSCX | | HYSZX | | HYSQX | | |
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CUSIP | | 74442J109 | | 74442J208 | | 74442J307 | | 74442J406 | | |
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MF216E | | | | | | | | | | |
PGIM HIGH YIELD FUND
ANNUAL REPORT
AUGUST 31, 2023
To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery
Table of Contents
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
The views expressed in this report and information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings are for the period covered by this report and are subject to change thereafter.
Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC. PGIM Fixed Income is a unit of PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a registered investment adviser. PIMS and PGIM are Prudential Financial companies © 2023 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. PGIM and the PGIM logo are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.
2 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
Letter from the President
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| | Dear Shareholder: We hope you find the annual report for the PGIM High Yield Fund informative and useful. The report covers performance for the 12-month period that ended August 31, 2023. Although central banks raised interest rates aggressively to tame surging inflation during the period, the global economy and financial markets demonstrated resilience. Employers continued to hire, consumers continued to spend, home prices rose, and recession fears receded. |
Stocks fell early in the period, bottomed in October, and then began a rally that eventually ended a bear market. Despite a banking industry crisis in March, stocks have continued to rise globally throughout 2023 as inflation cooled and the Federal Reserve slowed the pace of its rate hikes. Equities in both US and international markets posted gains during the period.
Bond market returns were mixed during the period as rising interest rates lifted yields to their highest level in two decades. US and global investment-grade bonds fell, while US high yield corporate bonds and emerging-market debt rose.
Regarding your investments with PGIM, we believe it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio of funds consistent with your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals. Your financial advisor can help you create a diversified investment plan that may include funds covering all the basic asset classes and that reflects your personal investor profile and risk tolerance. However, diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
At PGIM Investments, we provide access to active investment strategies across the global markets in the pursuit of consistent outperformance for investors. PGIM is the world’s 14th-largest investment manager with more than $1.3 trillion in assets under management. Our scale and investment expertise allow us to deliver a diversified suite of actively managed solutions across a broad spectrum of asset classes and investment styles.
Thank you for choosing our family of funds.
Sincerely,
Stuart S. Parker, President
PGIM High Yield Fund
October 16, 2023
PGIM High Yield Fund 3
Your Fund’s Performance (unaudited)
Performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the past performance data quoted. An investor may obtain performance data as of the most recent month-end by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852.
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| | Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 |
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| | One Year (%) | | Five Years (%) | | Ten Years (%) | | Since Inception (%) |
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Class A | | | | | | | | |
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(with sales charges) | | 1.91 | | 2.41 | | 4.04 | | — |
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(without sales charges) | | 5.34 | | 3.09 | | 4.38 | | — |
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Class C | | | | | | | | |
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(with sales charges) | | 3.83 | | 2.40 | | 3.65 | | — |
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(without sales charges) | | 4.81 | | 2.40 | | 3.65 | | — |
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Class R | | | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | 5.25 | | 2.82 | | 4.09 | | — |
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Class Z | | | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | 5.60 | | 3.35 | | 4.64 | | — |
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Class R2 | | | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | 5.40 | | 2.99 | | N/A | | 3.07 (12/27/2017) |
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Class R4 | | | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | 5.66 | | 3.25 | | N/A | | 3.33 (12/27/2017) |
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Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | 5.73 | | 3.48 | | 4.76 | | — |
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Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index | | | | |
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| | 7.23 | | 3.20 | | 4.40 | | — |
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Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 Since Inception (%) |
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| | Class R2, Class R4 (12/27/2017) |
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Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index | | 3.17 |
Since Inception returns are provided for any share class with less than 10 fiscal years of returns. Since Inception returns for the Index are measured from the closest month-end to the class’s inception date.
4 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
Growth of a $10,000 Investment (unaudited)
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class Z shares with a similar investment in the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index by portraying the initial account values at the beginning of the 10-year period (August 31, 2013) and the account values at the end of the current fiscal year (August 31, 2023) as measured on a quarterly basis. For purposes of the graph, and unless otherwise indicated, it has been assumed that (a) all recurring fees (including management fees) were deducted and (b) all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The line graph provides information for Class Z shares only. As indicated in the tables provided earlier, performance for other share classes will vary due to the differing fees and expenses applicable to each share class (as indicated in the following paragraphs). Without waiver of fees and/or expense reimbursements, if any, the returns would have been lower.
Past performance does not predict future performance. Total returns and the ending account values in the graphs include changes in share price and reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions in a hypothetical investment for the periods shown. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect the deduction of income taxes on an individual’s investment. Taxes may reduce your actual investment returns on income or gains paid by the Fund or any gains you may realize if you sell your shares.
PGIM High Yield Fund 5
Your Fund’s Performance (continued)
The returns in the tables do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or following the redemption of Fund shares. The average annual total returns take into account applicable sales charges, which are described for each share class in the table below.
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| | Class A | | Class C | | Class R | | Class Z | | Class R2 | | Class R4 | | Class R6 |
| | | | | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge | | 3.25% of the public offering price | | None | | None | | None | | None | | None | | None |
| | | | | | | |
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of the original purchase price or the net asset value at redemption) | | 1.00% on sales of $500,000 or more made within 12 months of purchase | | 1.00% on sales made within 12 months of purchase | | None | | None | | None | | None | | None |
| | | | | | | |
Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets) | | 0.25% | | 1.00% | | 0.75% (0.50% currently) | | None | | 0.25% | | None | | None |
| | | | | | | |
Shareholder service fees | | None | | None | | None | | None | | 0.10%* | | 0.10%* | | None |
*Shareholder service fee reflects maximum allowable fees under a shareholder services plan.
Benchmark Definition
Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index—The Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index (the Index) is an unmanaged index which covers the universe of US dollar denominated, non-convertible, fixed rate, non-investment grade debt. Issuers are capped at 1% of the Index. Index holdings must have at least one year to final maturity, at least $150 million par amount outstanding, and be publicly issued with a rating of Ba1 or lower.
Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The returns for the Index would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes that may be paid by an investor.
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| | | | |
| |
Credit Quality expressed as a percentage of total investments as of 8/31/23 (%) | | | |
| |
AAA | | | 5.3 | |
| |
BBB | | | 6.7 | |
| |
BB | | | 38.8 | |
| |
B | | | 28.8 | |
| |
CCC | | | 12.2 | |
| |
CC | | | 0.1 | |
| |
D | | | 0.2 | |
| |
Not Rated | | | 3.5 | |
| |
Cash/Cash Equivalents | | | 4.4 | |
| |
Total | | | 100.0 | |
Credit ratings reflect the highest rating assigned by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) such as Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s), S&P Global Ratings (S&P), or Fitch Ratings Inc. (Fitch). Credit ratings reflect the common nomenclature used by both S&P and Fitch. Where applicable, ratings are converted to the comparable S&P/Fitch rating tier nomenclature. These rating agencies are independent and are widely used. The Not Rated category consists of securities that have not been rated by an NRSRO. Credit ratings are subject to change.
| | | | | | |
|
Distributions and Yields as of 8/31/23 |
| | | |
| | Total Distributions Paid for One Year ($) | | SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield* (%) | | SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield** (%) |
| | | |
Class A | | 0.32 | | 7.85 | | 7.85 |
| | | |
Class C | | 0.29 | | 7.43 | | 7.43 |
| | | |
Class R | | 0.30 | | 7.85 | | 7.60 |
| | | |
Class Z | | 0.33 | | 8.41 | | 8.41 |
| | | |
Class R2 | | 0.31 | | 7.90 | | 8.21 |
| | | |
Class R4 | | 0.32 | | 8.13 | | 8.33 |
| | | |
Class R6 | | 0.34 | | 8.44 | | 8.44 |
*SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s net expenses (net of any expense waivers or reimbursements). The investor experience is represented by the SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield.
**SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s gross expenses. The investor experience is represented by the SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield.
PGIM High Yield Fund 7
Strategy and Performance Overview* (unaudited)
How did the Fund perform?
The PGIM High Yield Fund’s Class Z shares returned 5.60% in the 12-month reporting period that ended August 31, 2023, underperforming the 7.23% return of the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index (the Index).
What were the market conditions?
· | | US high yield bonds posted gains over the reporting period amid limited new issuance, resilient economic data, and an ongoing supply deficit fueled by a high volume of calls, tenders, maturities, and coupon payments. |
· | | Spreads on the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield Bond Index tightened 113 basis points (bps) to 372 bps as of the end of the reporting period. (One basis point equals 0.01%.) Meanwhile, fundamentals remained solid, with leverage remaining low and coverage ratios remaining strong despite recession concerns and a series of rolling crises, including a string of regional bank failures, the debt ceiling debate, and still-high inflation. |
· | | After posting outflows of $47 billion during 2022, high yield bond mutual funds saw $11.7 billion of outflows during the first eight months of 2023. However, technicals remained supportive as subdued primary activity helped to offset the headwinds from negative fund flows. After totaling just $106.5 billion in 2022, high yield gross issuance totaled $111.2 billion through the first eight months of 2023, or just $40.8 billion excluding refinancing activity. |
· | | By quality, all credit tiers posted positive returns over the reporting period, with CCC-rated credits outperforming their B-rated and BB-rated peers. Meanwhile, the par-weighted US high yield default rate, including distressed exchanges, ended the reporting period at 2.40%, which was below its long-term historical average but 75 bps higher than the beginning of the year and 119 bps higher than a year earlier, according to J.P. Morgan. |
What worked?
· | | Overall sector allocation contributed to the Fund’s performance during the reporting period, with an overweight relative to the Index to building materials & home construction, along with underweights relative to the Index to telecom and media & entertainment being the largest contributors. |
· | | While overall security selection detracted from performance, selections in healthcare & pharmaceuticals, retailers & restaurants, and technology contributed. |
· | | In individual security selection, positioning in TPC Group Inc. (chemicals), Altice France Holding SA (telecom), and CommScope Inc. (technology) were among the largest contributors to performance. |
What didn’t work?
· | | Overall security selection was the largest detractor from the Fund’s performance during the reporting period, with selections in telecom, media & entertainment, and upstream energy detracting the most. |
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· | | In individual security selection, positioning in Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (telecom), Diamond Sports Group LLC (media & entertainment), and Venator Materials LLC (chemicals) detracted from results. |
· | | While overall sector allocation contributed, underweights relative to the Index to gaming/lodging/leisure and other industrials, along with an overweight relative to the Index to cable & satellite, detracted. |
· | | Having less beta, on average, in the Fund relative to the Index over the reporting period had a negative impact on returns. (Beta is a measure of the volatility or risk of a security or portfolio compared to the market or index.) |
Did the Fund use derivatives?
The Fund used credit index derivatives and interest rate futures to manage its overall risk profile during the reporting period, the aggregate impact of which was positive.
Current outlook
· | | While PGIM Fixed Income expects to see some deterioration of fundamentals, some mitigating factors will likely keep US high yield spreads from widening sharply from current levels. The market is of a higher quality than prior cycles, with BB-rated credits comprising nearly 50% of the market, net leverage remaining near all-time lows, and interest coverage near all-time highs. Meanwhile, the technical backdrop remains supportive due to a variety of factors, including lower gross new issuance and sizeable rising stars leading to a meaningful supply deficit and an overall shrinking high yield market. |
· | | PGIM Fixed Income does not expect defaults to be as severe as in previous downturns due to the strength of most issuers’ balance sheets and the absence of a near-term maturity wall, as many issuers have already termed out debt at low interest rates. Should the economy follow its base-case recession scenario, PGIM Fixed Income expects defaults to remain manageable, rising to 5% over the next 12 months. |
· | | While the short-term outlook is somewhat positive, PGIM Fixed Income forecasts a flat excess return over the next 12 months. In terms of positioning, PGIM Fixed Income remains defensive but is looking to opportunistically add higher-quality and short-duration risk on pullbacks from here. |
*This strategy and performance overview, which discusses what strategies or holdings (including derivatives, if applicable) affected the Fund’s performance, is compiled based on how the Fund performed relative to the Fund’s benchmark index and is viewed for performance attribution purposes at the aggregate Fund level, which in most instances will not directly correlate to the amounts disclosed in the Statement of Operations which conform to US generally accepted accounting principles.
PGIM High Yield Fund 9
Fees and Expenses (unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemptions, as applicable, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses, as applicable. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 held through the six-month period ended August 31, 2023. The example is for illustrative purposes only; you should consult the Prospectus for information on initial and subsequent minimum investment requirements.
Actual Expenses
The first line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information on this line, 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 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number on the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual 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 the 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.
The Fund’s transfer agent may charge additional fees to holders of certain accounts that are not included in the expenses shown in the table on the following page. These fees apply to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Section 403(b) accounts. As of the close of the six-month period covered by the table, IRA fees included an annual maintenance fee of $15 per account (subject to a maximum annual maintenance fee of $25 for all accounts held by the same shareholder). Section 403(b) accounts are charged an annual $25 fiduciary maintenance fee. Some of the fees may vary in amount, or may be waived, based on your total account balance or the number of PGIM funds, including the Fund, that you own. You should consider the additional fees that were charged to your Fund account over the six-month period when you estimate the total ongoing expenses paid over the period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information
10 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
provided in the expense table. Additional fees have the effect of reducing investment returns.
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 sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in 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 have been higher.
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
PGIM High Yield Fund | | Beginning Account Value March 1, 2023 | | Ending Account Value August 31, 2023 | | Annualized Expense Ratio Based on the Six-Month Period | | Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period* |
| | | | | |
Class A | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,044.70 | | 0.75% | | $3.87 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,021.42 | | 0.75% | | $3.82 |
| | | | | |
Class C | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,043.30 | | 1.45% | | $7.47 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,017.90 | | 1.45% | | $7.38 |
| | | | | |
Class R | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,045.50 | | 1.02% | | $5.26 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,020.06 | | 1.02% | | $5.19 |
| | | | | |
Class Z | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,046.00 | | 0.49% | | $2.53 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,022.74 | | 0.49% | | $2.50 |
| | | | | |
Class R2 | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,046.10 | | 0.91% | | $4.69 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,020.62 | | 0.91% | | $4.63 |
| | | | | |
Class R4 | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,047.40 | | 0.66% | | $3.41 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,021.88 | | 0.66% | | $3.36 |
| | | | | |
Class R6 | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,046.60 | | 0.38% | | $1.96 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,023.29 | | 0.38% | | $1.94 |
* Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) for each share class are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each share class (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 184 days in the six-month period ended August 31, 2023, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.
PGIM High Yield Fund 11
Schedule of Investments
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS 93.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 1.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Bain Capital Credit CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2019-02A, Class AR, 144A, 3 Month LIBOR + 1.100% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.100%) | | | 6.670%(c) | | | | 10/17/32 | | | | 8,200 | | | $ | 8,142,600 | |
Battalion CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2018-12A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.332% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.070%) | | | 6.708(c) | | | | 05/17/31 | | | | 16,246 | | | | 16,156,709 | |
BlueMountain Fuji US CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2017-02A, Class A1AR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.262% (Cap N/A, Floor 0.000%) | | | 6.588(c) | | | | 10/20/30 | | | | 26,603 | | | | 26,547,123 | |
Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2015-04A, Class A1R, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.602% (Cap N/A, Floor 0.000%) | | | 6.928(c) | | | | 07/20/32 | | | | 26,000 | | | | 25,902,204 | |
CarVal CLO Ltd. (United Kingdom), Series 2023-01A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 2.200% (Cap N/A, Floor 2.200%) | | | 7.526(c) | | | | 01/20/35 | | | | 15,000 | | | | 15,079,032 | |
CIFC Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2015-01A, Class ARR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.372% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.110%) | | | 6.717(c) | | | | 01/22/31 | | | | 9,627 | | | | 9,577,431 | |
HPS Loan Management Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 11A-17, Class AR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.282% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.020%) | | | 6.651(c) | | | | 05/06/30 | | | | 14,485 | | | | 14,413,164 | |
Madison Park Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2019-33A, Class AR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.290% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.290%) | | | 6.598(c) | | | | 10/15/32 | | | | 25,000 | | | | 24,781,328 | |
Series 2021-38A, Class A, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.382% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.382%) | | | 6.690(c) | | | | 07/17/34 | | | | 9,500 | | | | 9,420,348 | |
Nassau Ltd. (United Kingdom), Series 2022-01A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 2.130% (Cap N/A, Floor 2.130%) | | | 7.438(c) | | | | 01/15/31 | | | | 56,447 | | | | 56,664,282 | |
Northwoods Capital Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2020-22A, Class AR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.450% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.450%) | | | 6.727(c) | | | | 09/01/31 | | | | 10,000 | | | | 9,912,552 | |
Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2021-04A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.062% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.062%) | | | 6.370(c) | | | | 10/15/29 | | | | 20,226 | | | | 20,125,334 | |
Tikehau US CLO Ltd. (Bermuda), Series 2022-02A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 2.390% (Cap N/A, Floor 2.390%) | | | 7.716(c) | | | | 01/20/32 | | | | 54,182 | | | | 54,407,602 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 13
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Voya CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2014-01A, Class AAR2, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.252% (Cap N/A, Floor 0.000%) | | | 6.562%(c) | | | | 04/18/31 | | | | 27,180 | | | $ | 27,056,287 | |
Wellfleet CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Series 2016-02A, Class A1R, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.402% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.140%) | | | 6.728(c) | | | | 10/20/28 | | | | 1,247 | | | | 1,240,074 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (cost $317,971,644) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 319,426,070 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CONVERTIBLE BOND 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), Sub. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 7.000% (original cost $4,803,658; purchased 06/23/20 - 04/03/23)(f) (cost $4,803,658) | | | 7.000 | | | | 09/18/23(oo) | | | | 15,604 | | | | 1,482,348 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS 83.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Advertising 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CMG Media Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.875 | | | | 12/15/27 | | | | 90,641 | | | | 71,235,293 | |
| | | | |
Aerospace & Defense 2.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Boeing Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.805 | | | | 05/01/50 | | | | 90,942 | | | | 88,511,224 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.930 | | | | 05/01/60 | | | | 48,720 | | | | 47,064,747 | |
Bombardier, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.000 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 42,550 | | | | 39,637,984 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125 | | | | 06/15/26 | | | | 45,845 | | | | 44,937,727 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 03/15/25 | | | | 18,404 | | | | 18,368,112 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 30,175 | | | | 29,609,219 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.875 | | | | 04/15/27 | | | | 134,771 | | | | 134,434,072 | |
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 04/15/25 | | | | 16,750 | | | | 16,540,497 | |
TransDigm UK Holdings PLC, Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.875 | | | | 05/15/26 | | | | 9,738 | | | | 9,896,242 | |
TransDigm, Inc., Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 15,330 | | | | 13,728,390 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.500 | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 26,139 | | | | 24,811,517 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Aerospace & Defense (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TransDigm, Inc., (cont’d.) Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.375% | | | | 06/15/26 | | | | 9,977 | | | $ | 9,979,987 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 16,748 | | | | 16,639,656 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 494,159,374 | |
| | | | |
Agriculture 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Vector Group Ltd., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 60,284 | | | | 52,538,769 | |
| | | | |
Airlines 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
American Airlines, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.250 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 11,525 | | | | 11,312,285 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 11.750 | | | | 07/15/25 | | | | 14,003 | | | | 15,335,687 | |
American Airlines, Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 04/20/26 | | | | 9,583 | | | | 9,404,401 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 04/20/29 | | | | 47,500 | | | | 45,412,375 | |
Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property Ltd./HawaiianMiles Loyalty Ltd., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 01/20/26 | | | | 19,654 | | | | 18,155,383 | |
United Airlines, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.375 | | | | 04/15/26 | | | | 33,277 | | | | 31,378,707 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 04/15/29 | | | | 18,674 | | | | 16,627,064 | |
VistaJet Malta Finance PLC/Vista Management Holding, Inc. (Switzerland), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.375 | | | | 02/01/30 | | | | 26,385 | | | | 21,635,700 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.875 | | | | 05/01/27 | | | | 24,815 | | | | 22,395,537 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.500 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 13,550 | | | | 12,499,875 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 204,157,014 | |
| | | | |
Apparel 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Kontoor Brands, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.125 | | | | 11/15/29 | | | | 11,626 | | | | 9,879,638 | |
William Carter Co. (The), Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 03/15/27 | | | | 8,142 | | | | 7,893,577 | |
Wolverine World Wide, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 08/15/29 | | | | 63,139 | | | | 47,256,790 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 65,030,005 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 15
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Auto Manufacturers 1.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Allison Transmission, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.750% | | | | 01/30/31 | | | | 9,648 | | | $ | 8,069,943 | |
Ford Holdings LLC, Gtd. Notes | | | 9.300 | | | | 03/01/30 | | | | 1,900 | | | | 2,097,182 | |
Ford Motor Co., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 3.250 | | | | 02/12/32 | | | | 5,700 | | | | 4,448,058 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.750 | | | | 01/15/43 | | | | 148,382 | | | | 110,958,153 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.291 | | | | 12/08/46 | | | | 9,232 | | | | 7,263,043 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.400 | | | | 11/01/46 | | | | 26,892 | | | | 27,443,955 | |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 11/13/30 | | | | 12,977 | | | | 10,980,529 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 4.542 | | | | 08/01/26 | | | | 8,000 | | | | 7,541,203 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.584 | | | | 03/18/24 | | | | 530 | | | | 527,496 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 6.800 | | | | 05/12/28 | | | | 4,725 | | | | 4,721,779 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 6.950 | | | | 03/06/26 | | | | 7,150 | | | | 7,166,026 | |
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC (United Kingdom), Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.750 | | | | 10/15/25 | | | | 29,200 | | | | 29,275,920 | |
Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 2.750 | | | | 03/09/28 | | | | 7,000 | | | | 5,896,498 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, MTN | | | 2.450 | | | | 09/15/28 | | | | 5,000 | | | | 4,074,159 | |
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (Japan), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.810 | | | | 09/17/30 | | | | 18,700 | | | | 16,457,053 | |
PM General Purchaser LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.500 | | | | 10/01/28 | | | | 49,221 | | | | 47,280,123 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 294,201,120 | |
| | | | |
Auto Parts & Equipment 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Adient Global Holdings Ltd., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 08/15/26 | | | | 47,671 | | | | 45,644,982 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 04/15/28 | | | | 12,375 | | | | 12,375,000 | |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 8,040 | | | | 7,828,750 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.500 | | | | 04/01/27 | | | | 23,699 | | | | 22,481,167 | |
Dana Financing Luxembourg Sarl, Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 04/15/25 | | | | 4,119 | | | | 4,027,723 | |
Dana, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 4.250 | | | | 09/01/30 | | | | 19,410 | | | | 16,023,867 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.500 | | | | 02/15/32 | | | | 14,150 | | | | 11,419,332 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 10,775 | | | | 10,249,054 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 06/15/28 | | | | 5,274 | | | | 4,962,485 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Auto Parts & Equipment (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Tenneco, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.000% | | | | 11/17/28 | | | | 32,250 | | | $ | 26,558,862 | |
Titan International, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | | 7.000 | | | | 04/30/28 | | | | 33,788 | | | | 32,170,922 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 193,742,144 | |
| | | | |
Banks 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Citigroup, Inc., Jr. Sub. Notes | | | 3.875(ff) | | | | 02/18/26(oo) | | | | 26,150 | | | | 22,769,289 | |
Credit Suisse AG (Switzerland), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, MTN | | | 3.625 | | | | 09/09/24 | | | | 8,190 | | | | 7,968,713 | |
Freedom Mortgage Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.625 | | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 14,790 | | | | 13,605,904 | |
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (Italy), Sub. Notes, 144A | | | 4.198(ff) | | | | 06/01/32 | | | | 13,746 | | | | 10,447,510 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 54,791,416 | |
| | | | |
Building Materials 1.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Camelot Return Merger Sub, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.750 | | | | 08/01/28 | | | | 21,845 | | | | 21,781,529 | |
Cemex SAB de CV (Mexico), Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.450 | | | | 11/19/29 | | | | 23,375 | | | | 22,398,393 | |
Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 45,023 | | | | 36,543,395 | |
Eco Material Technologies, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.875 | | | | 01/31/27 | | | | 20,794 | | | | 20,353,173 | |
Griffon Corp., Gtd. Notes | | | 5.750 | | | | 03/01/28 | | | | 19,896 | | | | 18,553,261 | |
JELD-WEN, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 12/15/25 | | | | 11,429 | | | | 11,070,862 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 12/15/27 | | | | 8,865 | | | | 7,905,373 | |
Knife River Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.750 | | | | 05/01/31 | | | | 9,825 | | | | 10,063,862 | |
Masonite International Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.500 | | | | 02/15/30 | | | | 13,533 | | | | 11,278,267 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 1,957 | | | | 1,844,473 | |
MIWD Holdco II LLC/MIWD Finance Corp., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 02/01/30 | | | | 26,665 | | | | 22,594,447 | |
Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.000 | | | | 11/01/28 | | | | 47,264 | | | | 45,375,704 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 17
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Building Materials (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Standard Industries, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.375% | | | | 01/15/31 | | | | 24,289 | | | $ | 19,374,305 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.375 | | | | 07/15/30 | | | | 64,026 | | | | 54,876,872 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 9,883 | | | | 9,097,635 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 19,187 | | | | 18,225,313 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 331,336,864 | |
| | | | |
Chemicals 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Ashland, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 6.875 | | | | 05/15/43 | | | | 36,370 | | | | 35,961,891 | |
ASP Unifrax Holdings, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 09/30/28 | | | | 11,725 | | | | 7,913,161 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 09/30/29 | | | | 9,475 | | | | 4,926,506 | |
Avient Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 1,260 | | | | 1,243,416 | |
Chemours Co. (The), Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 05/15/27 | | | | 10,230 | | | | 9,631,684 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 11/15/29 | | | | 6,704 | | | | 5,575,119 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 11/15/28 | | | | 15,640 | | | | 14,047,264 | |
Cornerstone Chemical Co., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 8.250% and PIK 2.000% (original cost $40,926,462; purchased 08/03/17 - 03/15/21)(f) | | | 10.250 | | | | 09/01/27 | | | | 41,923 | | | | 36,317,352 | |
Iris Holding, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 10.000 | | | | 12/15/28 | | | | 38,268 | | | | 30,429,765 | |
NOVA Chemicals Corp. (Canada), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 06/01/24 | | | | 2,540 | | | | 2,492,400 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 05/01/25 | | | | 3,600 | | | | 3,418,704 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 06/01/27 | | | | 21,927 | | | | 19,435,216 | |
Olympus Water US Holding Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.250 | | | | 10/01/28 | | | | 16,100 | | | | 13,310,419 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.750 | | | | 11/15/28 | | | | 29,825 | | | | 30,070,174 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 10/01/29 | | | | 4,578 | | | | 3,684,232 | |
Rain Carbon, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 12.250 | | | | 09/01/29 | | | | 30,875 | | | | 31,802,178 | |
Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.250 | | | | 04/01/25 | | | | 1,165 | | | | 1,144,888 | |
SK Invictus Intermediate II Sarl, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 10/30/29 | | | | 43,125 | | | | 35,334,037 | |
SNF Group SACA (France), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.375 | | | | 03/15/30 | | | | 12,150 | | | | 9,877,100 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chemicals (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TPC Group, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 13.000% | | | | 12/16/27 | | | | 36,467 | | | $ | 36,866,325 | |
Tronox, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 03/15/29 | | | | 34,346 | | | | 28,154,553 | |
Valvoline, Inc., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.625 | | | | 06/15/31 | | | | 14,825 | | | | 11,834,474 | |
Venator Finance Sarl/Venator Materials LLC, Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 07/15/25(d) | | | | 65,304 | | | | 1,959,120 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.500 | | | | 07/01/25(d) | | | | 23,430 | | | | 18,275,400 | |
WR Grace Holdings LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 06/15/27 | | | | 1,157 | | | | 1,079,647 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.375 | | | | 03/01/31 | | | | 5,750 | | | | 5,680,529 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 400,465,554 | |
| | | | |
Coal 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Conuma Resources Ltd. (Canada), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 13.125 | | | | 05/01/28 | | | | 23,100 | | | | 21,338,625 | |
Coronado Finance Pty Ltd. (Australia), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 10.750 | | | | 05/15/26 | | | | 12,807 | | | | 13,249,354 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 34,587,979 | |
| | | | |
Commercial Services 4.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Adtalem Global Education, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 03/01/28 | | | | 24,602 | | | | 23,005,228 | |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.625 | | | | 07/15/26 | | | | 48,580 | | | | 46,246,334 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.000 | | | | 06/01/29 | | | | 71,573 | | | | 54,841,937 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.750 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 68,027 | | | | 62,481,076 | |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 41,788 | | | | 35,519,800 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 36,956 | | | | 31,043,040 | |
Alta Equipment Group, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 04/15/26 | | | | 16,763 | | | | 15,518,126 | |
AMN Healthcare, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 04/15/29 | | | | 15,247 | | | | 13,094,789 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 10/01/27 | | | | 15,085 | | | | 13,906,113 | |
APi Group DE, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.750 | | | | 10/15/29 | | | | 10,373 | | | | 9,380,582 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 19
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Commercial Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750% | | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 28,975 | | | $ | 26,291,426 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 03/01/29 | | | | 475 | | | | 436,387 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 235 | | | | 225,744 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 619 | | | | 591,289 | |
Avis Budget Finance PLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.750 | | | | 01/30/26 | | | EUR | 11,000 | | | | 11,694,824 | |
Brink’s Co. (The), Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 3,173 | | | | 2,952,034 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 07/15/25 | | | | 766 | | | | 752,753 | |
Carriage Services, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.250 | | | | 05/15/29 | | | | 8,946 | | | | 7,754,967 | |
Gartner, Inc., Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.625 | | | | 06/15/29 | | | | 8,525 | | | | 7,488,038 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.750 | | | | 10/01/30 | | | | 5,248 | | | | 4,532,663 | |
Hertz Corp. (The), Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 12/01/26 | | | | 9,950 | | | | 9,000,613 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 12/01/29 | | | | 18,800 | | | | 15,493,403 | |
Metis Merger Sub LLC, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.500 | | | | 05/15/29 | | | | 92,665 | | | | 80,308,419 | |
MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 09/01/28 | | | | 52,848 | | | | 44,965,637 | |
NESCO Holdings II, Inc., Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 04/15/29 | | | | 26,390 | | | | 24,030,434 | |
Service Corp. International, Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 3.375 | | | | 08/15/30 | | | | 17,030 | | | | 14,184,320 | |
United Rentals North America, Inc., Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 3.750 | | | | 01/15/32 | | | | 23,383 | | | | 19,620,080 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 3.875 | | | | 02/15/31 | | | | 5,805 | | | | 4,976,227 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 07/15/30 | | | | 2,906 | | | | 2,546,229 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 59,499 | | | | 56,586,762 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 01/15/30 | | | | 30,170 | | | | 28,683,732 | |
Verscend Escrow Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 9.750 | | | | 08/15/26 | | | | 109,424 | | | | 108,946,678 | |
VT Topco, Inc., Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.500 | | | | 08/15/30 | | | | 11,375 | | | | 11,533,496 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 788,633,180 | |
| | | | |
Computers 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CA Magnum Holdings (India), Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 10/31/26 | | | | 6,425 | | | | 5,727,502 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Computers (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
McAfee Corp., Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.375% | | | | 02/15/30 | | | | 37,735 | | | $ | 33,013,294 | |
| | | | |
NCR Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 10/01/28 | | | | 18,075 | | | | 16,599,400 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.125 | | | | 04/15/29 | | | | 29,199 | | | | 26,630,928 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 10/01/30 | | | | 11,634 | | | | 10,456,075 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 09/01/27 | | | | 11,642 | | | | 11,746,795 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 09/01/29 | | | | 15,715 | | | | 16,129,549 | |
Tempo Acquisition LLC/Tempo Acquisition Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 06/01/25 | | | | 22,329 | | | | 21,969,484 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 142,273,027 | |
| | | | |
Distribution/Wholesale 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
H&E Equipment Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.875 | | | | 12/15/28 | | | | 74,761 | | | | 65,292,007 | |
Ritchie Bros Holdings, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.750 | | | | 03/15/31 | | | | 14,650 | | | | 15,101,074 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 03/15/28 | | | | 4,550 | | | | 4,588,675 | |
Windsor Holdings III LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.500 | | | | 06/15/30 | | | | 24,100 | | | | 24,210,310 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 109,192,066 | |
| | | | |
Diversified Financial Services 2.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Bread Financial Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.750 | | | | 12/15/24 | | | | 25,173 | | | | 24,557,560 | |
goeasy Ltd. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375 | | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 14,058 | | | | 12,941,232 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 12/01/24 | | | | 206 | | | | 202,395 | |
Jefferies Finance LLC/JFIN Co-Issuer Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 08/15/28 | | | | 56,680 | | | | 48,604,540 | |
LD Holdings Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.125 | | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 31,488 | | | | 20,550,284 | |
LFS Topco LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 10/15/26 | | | | 30,200 | | | | 26,205,579 | |
LPL Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.000 | | | | 03/15/29 | | | | 14,349 | | | | 12,760,050 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375 | | | | 05/15/31 | | | | 1,250 | | | | 1,100,558 | |
Macquarie Airfinance Holdings Ltd. (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.375 | | | | 05/01/28 | | | | 8,625 | | | | 8,779,215 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 21
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Diversified Financial Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.125% | | 12/15/30 | | | 59,645 | | | $ | 50,601,522 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.000 | | 01/15/27 | | | 38,045 | | | | 36,513,562 | |
Navient Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 5.500 | | 03/15/29 | | | 31,775 | | | | 27,230,336 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 6.750 | | 06/25/25 | | | 10,475 | | | | 10,427,437 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 9.375 | | 07/25/30 | | | 14,350 | | | | 14,418,778 | |
OneMain Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 3.875 | | 09/15/28 | | | 12,720 | | | | 10,428,679 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.000 | | 09/15/30 | | | 32,589 | | | | 25,379,527 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 6.625 | | 01/15/28 | | | 10,834 | | | | 10,199,658 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 6.875 | | 03/15/25 | | | 6,688 | | | | 6,654,560 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 7.125 | | 03/15/26 | | | 51,653 | | | | 50,927,694 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 8.250 | | 10/01/23 | | | 1,568 | | | | 1,569,985 | |
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.250 | | 02/15/29 | | | 21,950 | | | | 18,209,941 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.375 | | 10/15/25 | | | 26,500 | | | | 25,634,058 | |
Rocket Mortgage LLC/Rocket Mortgage Co-Issuer, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.625 | | 03/01/29 | | | 7,271 | | | | 6,189,027 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.875 | | 03/01/31 | | | 5,293 | | | | 4,317,266 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.000 | | 10/15/33 | | | 18,550 | | | | 14,716,381 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 469,119,824 | |
| | | | |
Electric 4.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Calpine Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.750 | | 03/01/31 | | | 13,137 | | | | 10,946,561 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | 02/15/28 | | | 11,674 | | | | 10,812,485 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.250 | | 06/01/26 | | | 627 | | | | 615,878 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 02/01/29 | | | 62,740 | | | | 54,532,144 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 02/01/31 | | | 78,131 | | | | 66,137,627 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | 03/15/28 | | | 176,674 | | | | 160,993,769 | |
Keystone Power Pass-Through Holders LLC/Conemaugh Power Pass-Through Holders, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sub. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 13.000% or PIK 13.000% | | 13.000 | | 06/01/24 | | | 18,043 | | | | 11,728,037 | |
NRG Energy, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.750 | | 01/15/28 | | | 36,375 | | | | 34,411,002 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.625 | | 01/15/27 | | | 8,744 | | | | 8,633,844 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.375 | | 02/15/29 | | | 14,241 | | | | 11,738,490 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.625 | | 02/15/31 | | | 48,578 | | | | 37,999,332 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.875 | | 02/15/32 | | | 30,058 | | | | 23,251,211 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.250 | | 06/15/29 | | | 20,336 | | | | 18,309,347 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
22
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Electric (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
NRG Energy, Inc., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Jr. Sub. Notes, 144A | | 10.250%(ff) | | 03/15/28(oo) | | | 33,500 | | | $ | 32,723,619 | |
PG&E Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(a) | | 5.250 | | 07/01/30 | | | 57,947 | | | | 51,489,903 | |
Vistra Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Jr. Sub. Notes, 144A | | 7.000(ff) | | 12/15/26(oo) | | | 32,750 | | | | 30,459,023 | |
Jr. Sub. Notes, 144A | | 8.000(ff) | | 10/15/26(oo) | | | 44,840 | | | | 43,000,818 | |
Vistra Operations Co. LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.375 | | 05/01/29 | | | 36,450 | | | | 32,126,040 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 07/31/27 | | | 77,163 | | | | 72,645,434 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 09/01/26 | | | 18,365 | | | | 17,709,674 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | 02/15/27 | | | 71,972 | | | | 69,258,055 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 799,522,293 | |
| | | | |
Electrical Components & Equipment 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Energizer Gamma Acquisition BV, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 3.500 | | 06/30/29 | | EUR | 5,555 | | | | 4,864,277 | |
Energizer Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.375 | | 03/31/29 | | | 25,697 | | | | 22,001,300 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.750 | | 06/15/28 | | | 2,650 | | | | 2,350,448 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.500 | | 12/31/27 | | | 6,796 | | | | 6,565,534 | |
WESCO Distribution, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.125 | | 06/15/25 | | | 16,425 | | | | 16,543,356 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.250 | | 06/15/28 | | | 29,217 | | | | 29,777,814 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 82,102,729 | |
| | | | |
Electronics 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Likewize Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $43,053,278; purchased 10/08/20 - 06/21/22)(f) | | 9.750 | | 10/15/25 | | | 41,105 | | | | 40,139,890 | |
Sensata Technologies, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.750 | | 02/15/31 | | | 2,000 | | | | 1,672,199 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 41,812,089 | |
| | | | |
Engineering & Construction 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Brand Industrial Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 10.375 | | 08/01/30 | | | 10,725 | | | | 11,074,370 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 23
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Engineering & Construction (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TopBuild Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.625% | | 03/15/29 | | | 14,278 | | | $ | 12,290,481 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 02/15/32 | | | 11,500 | | | | 9,605,258 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 32,970,109 | |
| | | | |
Entertainment 2.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 10.000% or PIK 12.000% or Cash coupon 5.000% and PIK 6.000% | | 10.000 | | 06/15/26 | | | 10,918 | | | | 7,573,108 | |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.250 | | 07/01/25 | | | 13,480 | | | | 13,384,477 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.000 | | 02/15/30 | | | 56,475 | | | | 56,706,005 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.625 | | 10/15/29 | | | 68,067 | | | | 59,533,540 | |
CCM Merger, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.375 | | 05/01/26 | | | 21,770 | | | | 21,123,697 | |
CDI Escrow Issuer, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.750 | | 04/01/30 | | | 9,125 | | | | 8,486,250 | |
Churchill Downs, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.750 | | 05/01/31 | | | 8,000 | | | | 7,825,788 | |
Everi Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.000 | | 07/15/29 | | | 2,533 | | | | 2,259,037 | |
Golden Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.625 | | 04/15/26 | | | 42,148 | | | | 42,050,016 | |
International Game Technology PLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 04/15/26 | | | 8,223 | | | | 7,781,178 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | 01/15/29 | | | 6,336 | | | | 5,940,000 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.250 | | 01/15/27 | | | 9,103 | | | | 8,966,455 | |
Jacobs Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.750 | | 02/15/29 | | | 24,710 | | | | 22,407,877 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.750 | | 02/15/29 | | | 19,835 | | | | 18,149,293 | |
Light & Wonder International, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.000 | | 05/15/28 | | | 1,200 | | | | 1,200,858 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.500 | | 09/01/31 | | | 9,850 | | | | 9,985,661 | |
Midwest Gaming Borrower LLC/Midwest Gaming Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.875 | | 05/01/29 | | | 35,098 | | | | 30,549,348 | |
Motion Bondco DAC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.625 | | 11/15/27 | | | 22,270 | | | | 20,655,425 | |
Penn Entertainment, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.125 | | 07/01/29 | | | 49,725 | | | | 40,681,482 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.625 | | 01/15/27 | | | 56,199 | | | | 53,322,106 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
24
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Entertainment (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Premier Entertainment Sub LLC/Premier Entertainment Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.875% | | 09/01/31 | | | 40,700 | | | $ | 31,417,498 | |
Scientific Games Holdings LP/Scientific Games US FinCo, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.625 | | 03/01/30 | | | 25,448 | | | | 22,430,628 | |
Wynn Resorts Finance LLC/Wynn Resorts Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.125 | | 10/01/29 | | | 32,036 | | | | 28,708,400 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 521,138,127 | |
| | | | |
Environmental Control 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Covanta Holding Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.000 | | 09/01/30 | | | 7,284 | | | | 6,197,535 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.875 | | 12/01/29 | | | 4,261 | | | | 3,684,845 | |
GFL Environmental, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.000 | | 08/01/28 | | | 9,450 | | | | 8,402,278 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.375 | | 08/15/29 | | | 36,677 | | | | 32,277,961 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.750 | | 06/15/29 | | | 5,000 | | | | 4,509,450 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 55,072,069 | |
| | | | |
Foods 2.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Albertson’s Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New Albertson’s LP/Albertson’s LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.500 | | 03/15/29 | | | 4,844 | | | | 4,194,226 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 01/15/27 | | | 11,857 | | | | 11,214,276 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.875 | | 02/15/28 | | | 7,075 | | | | 6,867,320 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.500 | | 02/15/28 | | | 6,655 | | | | 6,622,426 | |
B&G Foods, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.250 | | 04/01/25 | | | 750 | | | | 732,397 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.250 | | 09/15/27 | | | 101,650 | | | | 90,019,067 | |
C&S Group Enterprises LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 12/15/28 | | | 31,184 | | | | 24,169,273 | |
Chobani LLC/Chobani Finance Corp., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.500 | | 04/15/25 | | | 9,994 | | | | 9,985,048 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.625 | | 11/15/28 | | | 1,784 | | | | 1,607,084 | |
JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food Co./JBS USA Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 3.750 | | 12/01/31 | | | 18,077 | | | | 15,004,651 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.500 | | 01/15/30 | | | 12,473 | | | | 12,072,741 | |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.375 | | 06/01/46 | | | 46,550 | | | | 38,501,943 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 25
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Foods (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.625% | | | | 10/01/39 | | | | 950 | | | $ | 836,470 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.000 | | | | 07/15/35 | | | | 7,205 | | | | 6,996,101 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.200 | | | | 07/15/45 | | | | 10,575 | | | | 9,724,607 | |
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.125 | | | | 01/31/30 | | | | 4,571 | | | | 4,023,276 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375 | | | | 01/31/32 | | | | 3,405 | | | | 2,956,009 | |
Market Bidco Finco PLC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 11/04/27 | | | GBP | 3,449 | | | | 3,414,088 | |
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 3.500 | | | | 03/01/32 | | | | 46,652 | | | | 37,532,695 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.250 | | | | 04/15/31 | | | | 31,667 | | | | 27,414,196 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 09/30/27 | | | | 17,825 | | | | 17,651,644 | |
Post Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 04/15/30 | | | | 36,906 | | | | 32,681,191 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 12/15/29 | | | | 27,997 | | | | 25,890,577 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.500 | | | | 09/15/31 | | | | 28,674 | | | | 24,712,554 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 414,823,860 | |
| | | | |
Gas 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.500 | | | | 05/20/25 | | | | 18,950 | | | | 18,592,068 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.750 | | | | 05/20/27 | | | | 24,359 | | | | 22,532,494 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 08/20/26 | | | | 24,359 | | | | 23,096,785 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 64,221,347 | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Products 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Embecta Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 02/15/30 | | | | 33,950 | | | | 27,918,316 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 02/15/30 | | | | 7,550 | | | | 6,669,899 | |
Medline Borrower LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.875 | | | | 04/01/29 | | | | 79,207 | | | | 68,989,411 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 10/01/29 | | | | 80,385 | | | | 71,381,318 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 174,958,944 | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Services 3.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
DaVita, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.750 | | | | 02/15/31 | | | | 91,662 | | | | 72,985,868 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 06/01/30 | | | | 76,872 | | | | 65,941,201 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
26
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
HCA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.050% | | | | 12/01/27 | | | | 8,725 | | | $ | 9,073,438 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.500 | | | | 11/06/33 | | | | 17,650 | | | | 19,063,694 | |
Gtd. Notes, MTN | | | 7.580 | | | | 09/15/25 | | | | 7,101 | | | | 7,282,864 | |
Gtd. Notes, MTN | | | 7.750 | | | | 07/15/36 | | | | 25,990 | | | | 28,688,854 | |
Legacy LifePoint Health LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375 | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 24,513 | | | | 21,209,510 | |
LifePoint Health, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 42,494 | | | | 29,134,693 | |
Prime Healthcare Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.250 | | | | 11/01/25 | | | | 56,123 | | | | 52,662,790 | |
RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc./LifePoint Health, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.750 | | | | 12/01/26 | | | | 102,869 | | | | 96,224,694 | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 10/01/28 | | | | 38,201 | | | | 36,793,801 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(a) | | | 4.250 | | | | 06/01/29 | | | | 59,603 | | | | 53,232,438 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | | 4.375 | | | | 01/15/30 | | | | 88,193 | | | | 78,437,174 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | | 4.625 | | | | 06/15/28 | | | | 5,042 | | | | 4,653,156 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 05/15/31 | | | | 15,595 | | | | 15,547,225 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 6.875 | | | | 11/15/31 | | | | 48,941 | | | | 49,086,890 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 640,018,290 | |
| | | | |
Home Builders 4.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Ashton Woods USA LLC/Ashton Woods Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 08/01/29 | | | | 14,409 | | | | 12,486,594 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 04/01/30 | | | | 22,361 | | | | 19,253,226 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.625 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 12,483 | | | | 11,939,489 | |
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.875 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 43,153 | | | | 40,711,006 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 6.750 | | | | 03/15/25 | | | | 26,976 | | | | 26,924,978 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.250 | | | | 10/15/29 | | | | 76,643 | | | | 74,310,185 | |
Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield Residential US LLC (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 02/15/30 | | | | 53,996 | | | | 44,681,690 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 09/15/27 | | | | 34,243 | | | | 31,375,149 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 06/15/29 | | | | 14,319 | | | | 11,884,770 | |
Century Communities, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 6.750 | | | | 06/01/27 | | | | 27,988 | | | | 27,911,337 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.875 | | | | 08/15/29 | | | | 234 | | | | 201,798 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 27
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Home Builders (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Empire Communities Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.000% | | 12/15/25 | | | 5,300 | | | $ | 5,121,125 | |
Forestar Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.850 | | 05/15/26 | | | 12,554 | | | | 11,707,944 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.000 | | 03/01/28 | | | 39,545 | | | | 36,698,900 | |
KB Home, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.000 | | 06/15/31 | | | 22,456 | | | | 18,909,079 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.800 | | 11/15/29 | | | 29,319 | | | | 26,447,959 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.875 | | 06/15/27 | | | 17,586 | | | | 17,798,889 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 7.250 | | 07/15/30 | | | 2,975 | | | | 2,991,417 | |
M/I Homes, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 3.950 | | 02/15/30 | | | 5,017 | | | | 4,283,219 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.950 | | 02/01/28 | | | 28,261 | | | | 26,255,082 | |
Mattamy Group Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 03/01/30 | | | 55,558 | | | | 48,613,250 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | 12/15/27 | | | 34,931 | | | | 32,704,149 | |
Meritage Homes Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.125 | | 06/06/27 | | | 14,350 | | | | 13,785,214 | |
Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.750 | | 02/15/28 | | | 50,125 | | | | 46,125,077 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 4.750 | | 04/01/29 | | | 18,584 | | | | 16,544,441 | |
STL Holding Co. LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.500 | | 02/15/26 | | | 37,665 | | | | 35,255,843 | |
Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 01/15/28 | | | 16,194 | | | | 15,692,772 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 06/15/27 | | | 35,369 | | | | 34,755,400 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.125 | | 08/01/30 | | | 25,204 | | | | 23,213,022 | |
Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Taylor Morrison | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Holdings II, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | 03/01/24 | | | 4,455 | | | | 4,432,725 | |
Tri Pointe Homes, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.250 | | 06/01/27 | | | 6,603 | | | | 6,304,548 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.700 | | 06/15/28 | | | 34,272 | | | | 32,480,686 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 761,800,963 | |
| | | | |
Home Furnishings 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Tempur Sealy International, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.000 | | 04/15/29 | | | 10,217 | | | | 8,774,955 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
28
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Household Products/Wares 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ACCO Brands Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.250% | | 03/15/29 | | | 42,670 | | | $ | 36,476,613 | |
Central Garden & Pet Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.125 | | 10/15/30 | | | 4,500 | | | | 3,871,161 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 04/30/31 | | | 905 | | | | 769,214 | |
Kronos Acquisition Holdings, Inc./KIK Custom Products, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.000 | | 12/31/27 | | | 31,203 | | | | 27,380,632 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.000 | | 12/31/26 | | | 5,450 | | | | 5,054,875 | |
Spectrum Brands, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.875 | | 03/15/31 | | | 4,490 | | | | 3,761,986 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 77,314,481 | |
| | | | |
Housewares 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.000 | | 04/01/31 | | | 57,793 | | | | 45,449,385 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.375 | | 02/01/32 | | | 19,175 | | | | 15,130,657 | |
SWF Escrow Issuer Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.500 | | 10/01/29 | | | 84,380 | | | | 54,806,892 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 115,386,934 | |
| | | | |
Insurance 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
BroadStreet Partners, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 04/15/29 | | | 30,291 | | | | 26,654,738 | |
| | | | |
Internet 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cablevision Lightpath LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 09/15/27 | | | 33,280 | | | | 27,858,303 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | 09/15/28 | | | 24,703 | | | | 19,001,444 | |
Gen Digital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 04/15/25 | | | 39,308 | | | | 38,549,107 | |
Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC/GD Finance Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 3.500 | | 03/01/29 | | | 17,687 | | | | 15,189,416 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 100,598,270 | |
| | | | |
Iron/Steel 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ATI, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 7.250 | | 08/15/30 | | | 9,050 | | | | 9,129,879 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 29
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Iron/Steel (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Big River Steel LLC/BRS Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.625% | | | | 01/31/29 | | | | 40,370 | | | $ | 40,203,424 | |
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.750 | | | | 04/15/30 | | | | 24,800 | | | | 23,626,550 | |
Commercial Metals Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.125 | | | | 01/15/30 | | | | 6,000 | | | | 5,296,883 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.375 | | | | 03/15/32 | | | | 9,360 | | | | 8,025,512 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 86,282,248 | |
| | | | |
Leisure Time 2.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Carnival Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 57,893 | | | | 54,491,786 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.625 | | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 40,925 | | | | 40,686,407 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 08/15/29 | | | | 6,775 | | | | 6,851,219 | |
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.000 | | | | 05/15/28 | | | | 17,450 | | | | 17,899,912 | |
NCL Corp. Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 48,592 | | | | 45,677,452 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 6,325 | | | | 6,109,507 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.375 | | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 27,739 | | | | 28,432,475 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.750 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 18,075 | | | | 17,141,607 | |
NCL Finance Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 03/15/28 | | | | 20,569 | | | | 18,486,389 | |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.250 | | | | 01/15/30 | | | | 8,950 | | | | 9,059,280 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.250 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 14,650 | | | | 15,568,848 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.250 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 7,925 | | | | 8,254,046 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.500 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 3,700 | | | | 3,727,750 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 13,400 | | | | 12,567,056 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 08/31/26 | | | | 9,500 | | | | 9,053,690 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 31,900 | | | | 29,809,274 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 11.625 | | | | 08/15/27 | | | | 46,845 | | | | 50,915,362 | |
Viking Cruises Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.875 | | | | 09/15/27 | | | | 38,750 | | | | 36,037,500 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.000 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 5,725 | | | | 5,410,125 | |
Viking Ocean Cruises Ship VII Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 27,910 | | | | 25,816,750 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
30
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Leisure Time (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Vista Outdoor, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.500% | | 03/15/29 | | | 7,778 | | | $ | 6,529,023 | |
VOC Escrow Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 02/15/28 | | | 11,200 | | | | 10,386,880 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 458,912,338 | |
| | | | |
Lodging 1.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Genting New York LLC/GENNY Capital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.300 | | 02/15/26 | | | 3,775 | | | | 3,373,757 | |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.625 | | 02/15/32 | | | 42,765 | | | | 35,501,469 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.000 | | 05/01/31 | | | 1,852 | | | | 1,609,781 | |
MGM Resorts International, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.625 | | 09/01/26 | | | 2,870 | | | | 2,703,558 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.750 | | 10/15/28 | | | 46,117 | | | | 41,852,513 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.500 | | 04/15/27 | | | 40,275 | | | | 38,513,794 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.750 | | 06/15/25 | | | 4,825 | | | | 4,765,165 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 6.750 | | 05/01/25 | | | 22,319 | | | | 22,354,519 | |
Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Prop Mezz LP/Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 05/15/25 | | | 19,045 | | | | 18,400,550 | |
Wynn Macau Ltd. (Macau), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.125 | | 12/15/29 | | | 15,250 | | | | 12,430,885 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 01/15/26 | | | 9,475 | | | | 8,860,451 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.500 | | 10/01/27 | | | 13,450 | | | | 12,077,226 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.625 | | 08/26/28 | | | 60,510 | | | | 53,021,887 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 255,465,555 | |
| | | | |
Machinery-Construction & Mining 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Terex Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.000 | | 05/15/29 | | | 26,280 | | | | 24,114,977 | |
| | | | |
Machinery-Diversified 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chart Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 9.500 | | 01/01/31 | | | 13,675 | | | | 14,754,413 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 01/01/30 | | | 26,475 | | | | 27,150,170 | |
GrafTech Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.625 | | 12/15/28 | | | 26,632 | | | | 20,912,964 | |
Maxim Crane Works Holdings Capital LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 10.125 | | 08/01/24 | | | 50,323 | | | | 50,414,783 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 31
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Machinery-Diversified (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Maxim Crane Works Holdings Capital LLC, (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 11.500% | | | | 09/01/28 | | | | 31,925 | | | $ | 32,018,429 | |
TK Elevator US Newco, Inc. (Germany), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 14,525 | | | | 13,553,641 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 158,804,400 | |
| | | | |
Media 6.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AMC Networks, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 04/01/24 | | | | 10,534 | | | | 10,428,953 | |
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 4.500 | | | | 05/01/32 | | | | 108,474 | | | | 87,926,883 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.250 | | | | 02/01/31 | | | | 103,551 | | | | 84,930,675 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.250 | | | | 01/15/34 | | | | 51,521 | | | | 39,452,716 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.500 | | | | 06/01/33 | | | | 34,925 | | | | 27,597,632 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 03/01/30 | | | | 12,417 | | | | 10,673,188 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 30,725 | | | | 28,315,460 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.125 | | | | 05/01/27 | | | | 15,403 | | | | 14,482,863 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 06/01/29 | | | | 14,806 | | | | 13,477,202 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 22,685 | | | | 22,102,628 | |
CSC Holdings LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.375 | | | | 02/15/31 | | | | 27,213 | | | | 18,702,839 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.125 | | | | 12/01/30 | | | | 20,475 | | | | 14,598,863 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.500 | | | | 11/15/31 | | | | 8,756 | | | | 6,240,142 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 02/01/28 | | | | 15,756 | | | | 12,927,737 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 04/15/27 | | | | 38,655 | | | | 33,366,301 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.500 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 12,960 | | | | 10,715,208 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 06/01/24 | | | | 9,108 | | | | 8,642,070 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 12/01/30 | | | | 134,663 | | | | 70,418,301 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 11/15/31 | | | | 16,770 | | | | 9,014,485 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 01/15/30 | | | | 51,843 | | | | 28,690,827 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 25,972 | | | | 16,453,834 | |
Diamond Sports Group LLC/Diamond Sports Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $181,475,272; purchased 07/18/19 - 06/03/22)(f) | | | 6.625 | | | | 08/15/27(d) | | | | 267,691 | | | | 7,100,188 | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $59,318,362; purchased 11/18/21 - 08/03/22)(f) | | | 5.375 | | | | 08/15/26(d) | | | | 183,396 | | | | 5,349,531 | |
DISH DBS Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.125 | | | | 06/01/29 | | | | 64,394 | | | | 34,779,550 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 7.375 | | | | 07/01/28 | | | | 30,755 | | | | 19,227,257 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.750 | | | | 07/01/26 | | | | 175,096 | | | | 130,833,930 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
32
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Media (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
DISH Network Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 11.750% | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 37,200 | | | $ | 37,771,518 | |
Gray Television, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 07/15/26 | | | | 67,025 | | | | 61,124,669 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.000 | | | | 05/15/27 | | | | 949 | | | | 850,651 | |
iHeartCommunications, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(a) | | | 6.375 | | | | 05/01/26 | | | | 27,700 | | | | 24,166,739 | |
Midcontinent Communications/Midcontinent Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 08/15/27 | | | | 7,300 | | | | 6,914,184 | |
News Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.875 | | | | 05/15/29 | | | | 10,433 | | | | 9,165,987 | |
Nexstar Media, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 11/01/28 | | | | 6,587 | | | | 5,777,185 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 12,620 | | | | 11,864,438 | |
Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.500 | | | | 09/15/26 | | | | 39,352 | | | | 30,652,536 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.500 | | | | 09/15/28 | | | | 125,674 | | | | 68,414,450 | |
Sinclair Television Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.125 | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 53,817 | | | | 44,173,356 | |
Univision Communications, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.500 | | | | 05/01/29 | | | | 21,907 | | | | 18,859,052 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.125 | | | | 02/15/25 | | | | 22,800 | | | | 22,486,937 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.625 | | | | 06/01/27 | | | | 94,781 | | | | 91,764,242 | |
VZ Secured Financing BV (Netherlands), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 01/15/32 | | | | 47,550 | | | | 38,515,500 | |
Ziggo Bond Co. BV (Netherlands), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.125 | | | | 02/28/30 | | | | 1,800 | | | | 1,383,750 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,240,334,457 | |
| | | | |
Metal Fabricate/Hardware 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Roller Bearing Co. of America, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.375 | | | | 10/15/29 | | | | 16,098 | | | | 14,340,028 | |
| | | | |
Mining 1.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Arsenal AIC Parent LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.000 | | | | 10/01/30 | | | | 8,950 | | | | 9,138,054 | |
Constellium SE, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 02/15/26 | | | | 7,625 | | | | 7,481,421 | |
Eldorado Gold Corp. (Turkey), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 09/01/29 | | | | 47,135 | | | | 40,179,759 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 33
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Mining (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (Zambia), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.875% | | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 3,930 | | | $ | 3,840,239 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.875 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 28,111 | | | | 27,164,503 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 04/01/25 | | | | 31,927 | | | | 31,795,301 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.625 | | | | 06/01/31 | | | | 21,350 | | | | 21,676,441 | |
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.375 | | | | 08/01/28 | | | | 330 | | | | 306,540 | |
Hecla Mining Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 7.250 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 24,845 | | | | 24,357,729 | |
Hudbay Minerals, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.500 | | | | 04/01/26 | | | | 19,537 | | | | 18,413,623 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 04/01/29 | | | | 42,395 | | | | 39,851,300 | |
New Gold, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 07/15/27 | | | | 50,319 | | | | 47,922,809 | |
Novelis Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.250 | | | | 11/15/26 | | | | 937 | | | | 848,600 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.875 | | | | 08/15/31 | | | | 5,098 | | | | 4,230,956 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.750 | | | | 01/30/30 | | | | 12,930 | | | | 11,571,930 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 288,779,205 | |
| | | | |
Miscellaneous Manufacturing 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Amsted Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 07/01/27 | | | | 6,475 | | | | 6,287,292 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 05/15/30 | | | | 28,647 | | | | 25,253,157 | |
Trinity Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.750 | | | | 07/15/28 | | | | 16,950 | | | | 17,294,742 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 48,835,191 | |
| | | | |
Office/Business Equipment 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 3.250 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 10,920 | | | | 9,519,218 | |
| | | | |
Oil & Gas 7.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Aethon United BR LP/Aethon United Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.250 | | | | 02/15/26 | | | | 19,986 | | | | 20,080,446 | |
Alta Mesa Holdings LP/Alta Mesa Finance Services Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.875 | | | | 12/15/24(d) | | | | 104,709 | | | | 10,471 | |
Antero Resources Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 03/01/30 | | | | 39,525 | | | | 36,993,170 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
34
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Oil & Gas (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Antero Resources Corp., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.625% | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 23,477 | | | $ | 24,010,344 | |
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC/ARU Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 11/01/26 | | | | 18,868 | | | | 18,758,637 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 9.000 | | | | 11/01/27 | | | | 28,374 | | | | 35,683,872 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.250 | | | | 12/31/28 | | | | 54,930 | | | | 54,991,744 | |
Athabasca Oil Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.750 | | | | 11/01/26 | | | | 57,180 | | | | 59,109,825 | |
Chesapeake Energy Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.500 | | | | 02/01/26 | | | | 15,495 | | | | 15,153,576 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 10,895 | | | | 10,440,818 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.750 | | | | 04/15/29 | | | | 29,799 | | | | 29,592,356 | |
CITGO Petroleum Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.375 | | | | 06/15/26 | | | | 1,226 | | | | 1,201,046 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 06/15/25 | | | | 56,580 | | | | 56,042,499 | |
Civitas Resources, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 8.375 | | | | 07/01/28 | | | | 22,525 | | | | 23,198,639 | |
CNX Resources Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.250 | | | | 03/14/27 | | | | 54,088 | | | | 54,031,236 | |
Comstock Resources, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 01/15/30 | | | | 18,425 | | | | 16,274,685 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.750 | | | | 03/01/29 | | | | 32,042 | | | | 29,947,340 | |
Crescent Energy Finance LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 9.250 | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 22,657 | | | | 23,168,018 | |
CrownRock LP/CrownRock Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 05/01/29 | | | | 7,850 | | | | 7,282,963 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 10/15/25 | | | | 7,487 | | | | 7,367,349 | |
Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 01/30/28 | | | | 39,738 | | | | 38,883,887 | |
EQT Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.000 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 10,350 | | | | 9,832,552 | |
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 28,950 | | | | 27,109,573 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.000 | | | | 04/15/30 | | | | 23,336 | | | | 21,698,333 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.000 | | | | 02/01/31 | | | | 26,190 | | | | 24,093,900 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 11/01/28 | | | | 52,048 | | | | 50,030,901 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 04/15/32 | | | | 30,875 | | | | 28,383,270 | |
MEG Energy Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.875 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 26,250 | | | | 25,092,638 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.125 | | | | 02/01/27 | | | | 17,963 | | | | 18,135,265 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 35
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Oil & Gas (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Nabors Industries Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.250% | | | | 01/15/26 | | | | 26,955 | | | $ | 25,843,106 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 66,185 | | | | 60,865,712 | |
Nabors Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 02/01/25 | | | | 45,170 | | | | 44,307,487 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.375 | | | | 05/15/27 | | | | 2,775 | | | | 2,707,003 | |
Noble Finance II LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.000 | | | | 04/15/30 | | | | 6,650 | | | | 6,875,468 | |
Occidental Petroleum Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.125 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 1,230 | | | | 1,268,034 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.150 | | | | 05/15/28 | | | | 8,292 | | | | 8,602,156 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.200 | | | | 04/01/28 | | | | 2,400 | | | | 2,474,520 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.875 | | | | 09/15/31 | | | | 850 | | | | 942,405 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 7.950 | | | | 04/15/29 | | | | 8,558 | | | | 9,124,342 | |
Parkland Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.500 | | | | 10/01/29 | | | | 33,190 | | | | 29,207,200 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 05/01/30 | | | | 28,475 | | | | 25,022,406 | |
Precision Drilling Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.875 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 8,275 | | | | 7,902,625 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125 | | | | 01/15/26 | | | | 15,052 | | | | 14,880,859 | |
Range Resources Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 4.875 | | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 19,172 | | | | 18,695,611 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 02/15/30 | | | | 3,875 | | | | 3,500,115 | |
SilverBow Resources, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A, 3 Month LIBOR + 0.750%^ | | | 13.052(c) | | | | 12/15/28 | | | | 25,050 | | | | 24,549,000 | |
Southwestern Energy Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 02/01/32 | | | | 37,250 | | | | 32,978,043 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 15,208 | | | | 14,417,835 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.375 | | | | 03/15/30 | | | | 67,106 | | | | 62,816,537 | |
Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.500 | | | | 05/15/29 | | | | 26,133 | | | | 23,654,492 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.500 | | | | 04/30/30 | | | | 26,625 | | | | 23,756,025 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 5.875 | | | | 03/15/28 | | | | 3,936 | | | | 3,832,195 | |
Transocean, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.250 | | | | 11/01/25 | | | | 16,015 | | | | 15,754,756 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 01/15/26 | | | | 11,077 | | | | 10,919,042 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 8.000 | | | | 02/01/27 | | | | 1,220 | | | | 1,186,462 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 11.500 | | | | 01/30/27 | | | | 3,550 | | | | 3,737,440 | |
Valaris Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.375 | | | | 04/30/30 | | | | 11,475 | | | | 11,687,861 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,258,108,090 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
36
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Packaging & Containers 2.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ARD Finance SA (Luxembourg), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 6.500% or PIK 7.250%(a) | | 6.500% | | 06/30/27 | | | 39,731 | | | $ | 31,784,553 | |
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC/Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance PLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.000 | | 09/01/29 | | | 4,615 | | | | 3,734,689 | |
Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | 08/15/27 | | | 8,175 | | | | 6,928,803 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 08/15/26 | | | 3,735 | | | | 3,482,178 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | 08/15/27 | | | 8,910 | | | | 7,638,721 | |
Graham Packaging Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.125 | | 08/15/28 | | | 33,920 | | | | 29,818,333 | |
Graphic Packaging International LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.125 | | 08/15/24 | | | 9,225 | | | | 9,050,185 | |
Intelligent Packaging Holdco Issuer LP (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 9.000% or PIK 9.750% | | 9.000 | | 01/15/26 | | | 18,475 | | | | 15,057,125 | |
Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Finco, Inc./Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.000 | | 09/15/28 | | | 35,362 | | | | 31,825,800 | |
LABL, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 11/01/28 | | | 24,240 | | | | 22,073,218 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.750 | | 07/15/26 | | | 275 | | | | 268,858 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 9.500 | | 11/01/28 | | | 7,750 | | | | 7,990,145 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 8.250 | | 11/01/29 | | | 37,377 | | | | 31,324,984 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 10.500 | | 07/15/27 | | | 29,699 | | | | 28,355,326 | |
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.875 | | 08/15/26 | | | 21,000 | | | | 20,690,141 | |
OI European Group BV, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.750 | | 02/15/30 | | | 13,450 | | | | 12,230,623 | |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.375 | | 08/15/25 | | | 4,236 | | | | 4,235,894 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.625 | | 05/13/27 | | | 3,530 | | | | 3,492,617 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.250 | | 05/15/31 | | | 12,400 | | | | 12,514,281 | |
Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer LLC/Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.375 | | 10/15/28 | | | 22,350 | | | | 19,942,613 | |
Sealed Air Corp./Sealed Air Corp. US, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.125 | | 02/01/28 | | | 5,150 | | | | 5,072,503 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 37
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Packaging & Containers (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 12.750% | | | | 12/31/28 | | | | 39,500 | | | $ | 41,187,692 | |
TriMas Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.125 | | | | 04/15/29 | | | | 12,675 | | | | 11,070,236 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 359,769,518 | |
| | | | |
Pharmaceuticals 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AdaptHealth LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 4.625 | | | | 08/01/29 | | | | 48,526 | | | | 39,660,596 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.125 | | | | 03/01/30 | | | | 22,832 | | | | 18,930,807 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.125 | | | | 08/01/28 | | | | 20,027 | | | | 18,122,723 | |
Bausch Health Americas, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.500 | | | | 01/31/27 | | | | 2,823 | | | | 1,570,294 | |
Bausch Health Cos., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 01/30/28 | | | | 49,922 | | | | 22,215,290 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.000 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 73,671 | | | | 31,310,175 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 01/30/30 | | | | 116,023 | | | | 48,729,660 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.250 | | | | 02/15/31 | | | | 23,067 | | | | 9,693,445 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 195,770 | | | | 85,649,375 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.000 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 11,113 | | | | 5,028,632 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 9.000 | | | | 12/15/25 | | | | 3,775 | | | | 3,473,000 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.875 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 4,474 | | | | 2,650,845 | |
Jazz Securities DAC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.375 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 6,397 | | | | 5,709,067 | |
Organon & Co./Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.125 | | | | 04/30/28 | | | | 10,873 | | | | 9,836,486 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.125 | | | | 04/30/31 | | | | 73,881 | | | | 62,880,827 | |
P&L Development LLC/PLD Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.750 | | | | 11/15/25 | | | | 34,502 | | | | 29,815,702 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 395,276,924 | |
| | | | |
Pipelines 3.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.375 | | | | 06/15/29 | | | | 33,170 | | | | 31,095,351 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.750 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 32,490 | | | | 31,466,561 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.750 | | | | 01/15/28 | | | | 40,953 | | | | 39,203,016 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.875 | | | | 05/15/26 | | | | 2,575 | | | | 2,618,613 | |
Cheniere Energy Partners LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 03/01/31 | | | | 34,475 | | | | 30,398,222 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
38
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Pipelines (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cheniere Energy Partners LP, (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.500% | | 10/01/29 | | | 1,322 | | | $ | 1,220,515 | |
Cheniere Energy, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | 4.625 | | 10/15/28 | | | 87,539 | | | | 82,434,131 | |
CNX Midstream Partners LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.750 | | 04/15/30 | | | 3,550 | | | | 3,067,106 | |
DCP Midstream Operating LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.125 | | 05/15/29 | | | 7,937 | | | | 7,750,803 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.625 | | 07/15/27 | | | 13,195 | | | | 13,208,382 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.450 | | 11/03/36 | | | 3,455 | | | | 3,520,645 | |
Energy Transfer LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Jr. Sub. Notes, Series G | | 7.125(ff) | | 05/15/30(oo) | | | 17,145 | | | | 15,196,972 | |
EQM Midstream Partners LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 5.500 | | 07/15/28 | | | 685 | | | | 653,996 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 07/01/25 | | | 3,242 | | | | 3,211,524 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.500 | | 07/01/27 | | | 25,112 | | | | 24,932,236 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.500 | | 06/01/27 | | | 7,125 | | | | 7,189,139 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.500 | | 06/01/30 | | | 14,801 | | | | 15,174,774 | |
Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.875 | | 01/15/29 | | | 15,486 | | | | 14,689,319 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 7.000 | | 08/01/27 | | | 14,055 | | | | 13,859,109 | |
Howard Midstream Energy Partners LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 8.875 | | 07/15/28 | | | 7,250 | | | | 7,491,680 | |
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.600 | | 05/15/25 | | | 1,475 | | | | 1,395,933 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.800 | | 05/15/30 | | | 4,000 | | | | 3,528,245 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.950 | | 07/15/29 | | | 148 | | | | 135,780 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.875 | | 04/15/40 | | | 51,988 | | | | 47,029,520 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 07/15/38 | | | 9,417 | | | | 8,898,995 | |
Tallgrass Energy Partners LP/Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 01/15/28 | | | 61,967 | | | | 57,544,486 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.000 | | 03/01/27 | | | 15,384 | | | | 14,748,592 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.000 | | 12/31/30 | | | 15,727 | | | | 14,136,817 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 09/01/31 | | | 9,663 | | | | 8,576,281 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 10/01/25 | | | 6,207 | | | | 6,232,238 | |
Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 08/15/29 | | | 19,005 | | | | 16,455,509 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 08/15/31 | | | 14,185 | | | | 12,049,958 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.250 | | 01/15/30 | | | 9,675 | | | | 9,432,374 | |
Western Midstream Operating LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 3.950 | | 06/01/25 | | | 19,164 | | | | 18,504,264 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 39
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Pipelines (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Western Midstream Operating LP, (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.050% | | 02/01/30 | | | 4,719 | | | $ | 4,206,612 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.500 | | 03/01/28 | | | 325 | | | | 306,168 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.250 | | 02/01/50 | | | 10,200 | | | | 8,242,377 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.450 | | 04/01/44 | | | 578 | | | | 484,828 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.500 | | 08/15/48 | | | 6,380 | | | | 5,294,179 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 585,585,250 | |
| | | | |
Real Estate 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Five Point Operating Co. LP/Five Point Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.875 | | 11/15/25 | | | 58,169 | | | | 54,451,391 | |
Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 7.750 | | 09/01/30 | | | 11,125 | | | | 11,234,791 | |
Howard Hughes Corp. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.125 | | 02/01/29 | | | 35,275 | | | | 28,962,068 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.375 | | 02/01/31 | | | 24,777 | | | | 19,755,779 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | 08/01/28 | | | 31,235 | | | | 28,203,343 | |
Hunt Cos., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.250 | | 04/15/29 | | | 63,521 | | | | 48,677,965 | |
Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.250 | | 04/15/30 | | | 16,541 | | | | 11,552,445 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.750 | | 01/15/29 | | | 9,200 | | | | 6,588,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 209,425,782 | |
| | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 1.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Diversified Healthcare Trust, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.375 | | 03/01/31 | | | 50,779 | | | | 38,320,284 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 9.750 | | 06/15/25 | | | 33,018 | | | | 32,489,864 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.750 | | 05/01/24 | | | 9,674 | | | | 9,176,313 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes(a) | | 4.750 | | 02/15/28 | | | 44,279 | | | | 33,855,272 | |
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 0.993 | | 10/15/26 | | EUR | 2,225 | | | | 1,742,412 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 3.500 | | 03/15/31 | | | 37,561 | | | | 24,338,085 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 4.625 | | 08/01/29 | | | 7,075 | | | | 5,113,340 | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.000 | | 10/15/27 | | | 25,329 | | | | 20,031,137 | |
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC/PK Domestic Property LLC/PK Finance Co-Issuer, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 06/01/25 | | | 43,696 | | | | 43,860,597 | |
RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.500 | | 02/15/29 | | | 7,700 | | | | 6,759,468 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
40
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Sabra Health Care LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes(a) | | 5.125% | | 08/15/26 | | | 6,308 | | | $ | 6,096,311 | |
SBA Communications Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 3.125 | | 02/01/29 | | | 545 | | | | 466,556 | |
VICI Properties LP/VICI Note Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | 09/01/26 | | | 4,950 | | | | 4,692,525 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | 01/15/28 | | | 11,899 | | | | 11,063,553 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 12/01/29 | | | 36,481 | | | | 33,072,182 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 271,077,899 | |
| | | | |
Retail 4.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 4.000 | | 10/15/30 | | | 73,055 | | | | 61,500,621 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 01/15/28 | | | 8,583 | | | | 7,746,157 | |
Arko Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.125 | | 11/15/29 | | | 15,325 | | | | 12,596,005 | |
At Home Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.125 | | 07/15/29 | | | 24,647 | | | | 12,408,977 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.875 | | 07/15/28 | | | 6,650 | | | | 3,178,379 | |
BCPE Ulysses Intermediate, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 7.750% or PIK 8.500% | | 7.750 | | 04/01/27 | | | 9,975 | | | | 9,247,264 | |
Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.500 | | 08/01/30 | | | 7,750 | | | | 7,662,362 | |
Brinker International, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.000 | | 10/01/24 | | | 1,411 | | | | 1,388,819 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 8.250 | | 07/15/30 | | | 37,105 | | | | 36,455,363 | |
Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | 5.875 | | 07/01/29 | | | 21,545 | | | | 18,501,118 | |
eG Global Finance PLC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | 4.375 | | 02/07/25 | | EUR | 24,926 | | | | 26,149,707 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | 6.250 | | 10/30/25 | | EUR | 29,991 | | | | 31,614,661 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | 6.750 | | 02/07/25 | | | 8,484 | | | | 8,335,530 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.500 | | 10/30/25 | | | 29,617 | | | | 29,320,830 | |
Ferrellgas LP/Ferrellgas Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $ 7,678,413; purchased 07/25/22 - 08/04/22)(f) | | 5.375 | | 04/01/26 | | | 8,315 | | | | 7,825,144 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $ 4,799,035; purchased 08/02/22 - 08/05/22)(a)(f) | | 5.875 | | 04/01/29 | | | 5,438 | | | | 4,798,122 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 41
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Retail (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Fertitta Entertainment LLC/Fertitta Entertainment Finance Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.750% | | | | 01/15/30 | | | | 69,312 | | | $ | 57,261,702 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 12,034 | | | | 10,414,028 | |
Foundation Building Materials, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 6.000 | | | | 03/01/29 | | | | 50,740 | | | | 43,003,163 | |
Gap, Inc. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.625 | | | | 10/01/29 | | | | 24,215 | | | | 18,424,923 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.875 | | | | 10/01/31 | | | | 47,182 | | | | 34,197,178 | |
LBM Acquisition LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.250 | | | | 01/15/29 | | | | 42,070 | | | | 37,034,091 | |
LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 05/01/29 | | | | 45,170 | | | | 39,245,987 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 8.250 | | | | 08/01/31 | | | | 12,700 | | | | 12,718,292 | |
Park River Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 02/01/29 | | | | 71,577 | | | | 56,022,616 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.750 | | | | 08/01/29 | | | | 9,165 | | | | 7,399,896 | |
Patrick Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.750 | | | | 05/01/29 | | | | 15,080 | | | | 12,910,593 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 7.500 | | | | 10/15/27 | | | | 12,225 | | | | 11,938,743 | |
Sally Holdings LLC/Sally Capital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 5.625 | | | | 12/01/25 | | | | 62,320 | | | | 61,876,141 | |
SRS Distribution, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.000 | | | | 12/01/29 | | | | 41,722 | | | | 35,905,237 | |
Suburban Propane Partners LP/Suburban Energy Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | | 5.875 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 32,661 | | | | 32,113,973 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 5.000 | | | | 06/01/31 | | | | 39,247 | | | | 33,748,666 | |
Superior Plus LP/Superior General Partner, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.500 | | | | 03/15/29 | | | | 56,075 | | | | 49,120,018 | |
White Cap Buyer LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.875 | | | | 10/15/28 | | | | 25,060 | | | | 22,943,927 | |
White Cap Parent LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 8.250% or PIK 9.000%(a) | | | 8.250 | | | | 03/15/26 | | | | 4,125 | | | | 4,071,790 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 859,080,023 | |
| | | | |
Software 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Black Knight InfoServ LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.625 | | | | 09/01/28 | | | | 57,101 | | | | 52,680,367 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
42
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Software (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Boxer Parent Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125% | | | | 10/02/25 | | | | 37,408 | | | $ | 37,445,937 | |
Camelot Finance SA, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 4.500 | | | | 11/01/26 | | | | 1,065 | | | | 999,769 | |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.875 | | | | 07/01/29 | | | | 20,796 | | | | 18,077,505 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 3.875 | | | | 07/01/28 | | | | 750 | | | | 662,895 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 109,866,473 | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications 3.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Altice France SA (France), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 8.125 | | | | 02/01/27 | | | | 72,515 | | | | 61,282,427 | |
Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 5.000% and | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
PIK 3.000% (original cost $3,090,228; purchased 06/23/20 - 03/08/23)(f) | | | 8.000 | | | | 04/01/25(d) | | | | 12,361 | | | | 2,843,010 | |
Digicel International Finance Ltd./Digicel International | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $51,237,746; purchased 05/22/20 - 10/26/21)(f) | | | 8.000 | | | | 12/31/26(d) | | | | 58,118 | | | | 2,833,233 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 6.000% and PIK 7.000% (original cost $68,636,496; purchased 05/22/20 - 12/22/22)(f) | | | 13.000 | | | | 12/31/25(d) | | | | 75,441 | | | | 53,374,621 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $230,625; purchased 03/15/23)(f) | | | 8.750 | | | | 05/25/24 | | | | 250 | | | | 227,173 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $74,296,706; purchased 05/22/20 - 07/10/20)(f) | | | 8.750 | | | | 05/25/24 | | | | 76,959 | | | | 69,896,444 | |
Digicel Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $121,836,021; purchased 02/24/15 - 11/10/21)(f) | | | 6.750 | | | | 12/31/23(d) | | | | 178,995 | | | | 8,726,006 | |
Iliad Holding SASU (France), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes(a) | | | 5.625 | | | | 10/15/28 | | | EUR | 2,600 | | | | 2,653,401 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 6.500 | | | | 10/15/26 | | | | 25,720 | | | | 24,466,150 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 7.000 | | | | 10/15/28 | | | | 31,005 | | | | 28,757,138 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes^ | | | 5.500 | | | | 08/01/23(d) | | | | 110,159 | | | | 110 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A^ | | | 8.500 | | | | 10/15/24(d) | | | | 55,297 | | | | 55 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A^ | | | 9.750 | | | | 07/15/25(d) | | | | 89,167 | | | | 89 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.500 | | | | 03/15/30 | | | | 98,456 | | | | 90,087,240 | |
Level 3 Financing, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 3.750 | | | | 07/15/29 | | | | 7,089 | | | | 4,224,171 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.250 | | | | 07/01/28 | | | | 15,745 | | | | 10,311,693 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 43
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Level 3 Financing, Inc., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.625% | | | | 09/15/27 | | | | 12,248 | | | $ | 9,191,645 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 3.400 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 8,925 | | | | 8,232,970 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 10.500 | | | | 05/15/30 | | | | 22,161 | | | | 22,534,513 | |
Sprint Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 6.875 | | | | 11/15/28 | | | | 11,526 | | | | 12,177,905 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 8.750 | | | | 03/15/32 | | | | 34,652 | | | | 41,288,919 | |
Sprint LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.125 | | | | 06/15/24 | | | | 33,082 | | | | 33,367,660 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.625 | | | | 02/15/25 | | | | 36,161 | | | | 36,882,349 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.625 | | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 8,977 | | | | 9,308,287 | |
Gtd. Notes | | | 7.875 | | | | 09/15/23 | | | | 29,489 | | | | 29,505,893 | |
Viasat, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 04/15/27 | | | | 1,251 | | | | 1,125,389 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 5.625 | | | | 09/15/25 | | | | 82,282 | | | | 77,863,624 | |
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A(a) | | | 4.000 | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 18,115 | | | | 13,564,479 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.125 | | | | 03/01/28 | | | | 24,058 | | | | 15,718,570 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 670,445,164 | |
| | | | |
Transportation 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
XPO Escrow Sub LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.500 | | | | 11/15/27 | | | | 7,750 | | | | 7,915,818 | |
XPO, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 7.125 | | | | 06/01/31 | | | | 4,825 | | | | 4,857,182 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | | 6.250 | | | | 06/01/28 | | | | 3,975 | | | | 3,895,406 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16,668,406 | |
| | | | |
Trucking & Leasing 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | | 5.500 | | | | 05/01/28 | | | | 28,003 | | | | 25,993,424 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (cost $17,220,174,213) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14,969,318,397 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS 2.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Airlines 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
United Airlines, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B Term Loan, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.750% | | | 9.292(c) | | | | 04/21/28 | | | | 35,982 | | | | 36,004,606 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
44
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chemicals 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Venator Materials LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DIP Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 10.000%^ | | | 15.314%(c) | | | | 12/31/23 | | | | 33,930 | | | $ | 34,608,437 | |
Initial Term Loan | | | 12.250 | | | | 08/08/24 | | | | 15,707 | | | | 7,421,751 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42,030,188 | |
| | | | |
Computers 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
McAfee Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tranche B-1 Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.850% | | | 9.168(c) | | | | 03/01/29 | | | | 21,302 | | | | 20,812,456 | |
| | | | |
Cosmetics/Personal Care 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Rainbow Finco Sarl (Luxembourg), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Facility B3 Loan, SONIA + 5.000% | | | 10.187(c) | | | | 02/23/29 | | | GBP | 11,625 | | | | 13,892,041 | |
| | | | |
Electric 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Heritage Power LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term Loan B | | | — (p) | | | | 07/30/26(d) | | | | 35,287 | | | | 7,233,926 | |
| | | | |
Housewares 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
SWF Holdings I Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.114% | | | 9.446(c) | | | | 10/06/28 | | | | 28,830 | | | | 23,900,122 | |
| | | | |
Insurance 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Acrisure LLC, 2021-1 Additional Term Loan, 1 Month LIBOR + 3.750% | | | 9.196(c) | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 4,922 | | | | 4,821,354 | |
Term Loan B 2020, 1 Month LIBOR + 3.500% | | | 8.946(c) | | | | 02/15/27 | | | | 17,430 | | | | 17,066,843 | |
Asurion LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
New B-4 Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 5.364% | | | 10.696(c) | | | | 01/20/29 | | | | 34,145 | | | | 29,913,444 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 51,801,641 | |
| | | | |
Investment Companies 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Rainbow Midco Ltd. (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term Loan, 3 Month EURIBOR + 7.750%^ | | | 10.947(c) | | | | 02/22/30 | | | EUR | 14,873 | | | | 15,643,554 | |
| | | | |
Media 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CSC Holdings LLC, 2022 Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.500% | | | 9.810(c) | | | | 01/18/28 | | | | 14,433 | | | | 13,590,832 | |
Diamond Sports Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 10.100% | | | 12.775(c) | | | | 05/25/26 | | | | 41,706 | | | | 26,691,809 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 45
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Media (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Diamond Sports Group LLC, (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Second Lien Term Loan | | | 8.025% | | | | 08/24/26 | | | | 136,549 | | | $ | 3,527,475 | |
Radiate Holdco LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amendment No. 6 Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.250% | | | 8.696(c) | | | | 09/25/26 | | | | 14,065 | | | | 11,531,227 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 55,341,343 | |
| | | | |
Retail 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
EG America LLC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
New Term Loan B, 1 Month SOFR + 4.250%^ | | | 9.647(c) | | | | 03/31/26 | | | | 10,730 | | | | 10,703,540 | |
Great Outdoors Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Term B-2 Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.864% | | | 9.196(c) | | | | 03/06/28 | | | | 32,865 | | | | 32,727,716 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43,431,256 | |
| | | | |
Software 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Boxer Parent Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 Replacement Dollar Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.750% | | | 9.196(c) | | | | 10/02/25 | | | | 12,072 | | | | 12,062,566 | |
Second Lien Incremental Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 5.614% | | | 10.946(c) | | | | 02/27/26 | | | | 11,900 | | | | 11,721,500 | |
Finastra USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dollar Term Loan (Second Lien), 6 Month LIBOR + 7.250% | | | 12.981(c) | | | | 06/13/25 | | | | 39,716 | | | | 39,666,118 | |
First Lien Dollar Term Loan, 6 Month LIBOR + 3.500% | | | 9.231(c) | | | | 06/13/24 | | | | 36,460 | | | | 36,394,302 | |
Skillsoft Finance II, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 5.364% | | | 10.677(c) | | | | 07/14/28 | | | | 49,997 | | | | 46,034,610 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 145,879,096 | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Digicel International Finance Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Initial Term B Loan, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.250% | | | 8.981(c) | | | | 05/27/24 | | | | 8,253 | | | | 7,505,255 | |
MLN US HoldCo LLC, 3L Term B Loans, 3 Month SOFR + 9.250%^ | | | 14.660(c) | | | | 10/18/27 | | | | 70 | | | | 10,440 | |
Initial Term Loan, 3 Month SOFR + 6.440% | | | 11.850(c) | | | | 10/18/27 | | | | 1,038 | | | | 752,264 | |
Initial Term Loan (Second Out (First Lien Roll-Up)), 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Month SOFR + 6.700% | | | 12.110(c) | | | | 10/18/27 | | | | 2,343 | | | | 761,558 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
46
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | | Maturity Date | | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Xplornet Communications, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.000% | | | 9.446%(c) | | | | 10/02/28 | | | | 60,841 | | | $ | 48,657,839 | |
Initial Term Loan- Second Lien, 1 Month SOFR + 7.114% | | | 12.446(c) | | | | 10/01/29 | | | | 25,920 | | | | 12,344,400 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 70,031,756 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
TOTAL FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (cost $629,827,119) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 526,001,985 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS 3.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Notes(k) | | | 2.500 | | | | 03/31/27 | | | | 60,475 | | | | 56,662,241 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes(k) | | | 2.625 | | | | 05/31/27 | | | | 100,565 | | | | 94,397,538 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes(h) | | | 3.875 | | | | 11/30/27 | | | | 476,400 | | | | 467,690,812 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (cost $635,505,221) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 618,750,591 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | Shares | | | | |
| | | | |
COMMON STOCKS 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chemicals 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TPC Group, Inc.*^ | | | | | | | | | | | 2,374,523 | | | | 59,363,075 | |
| | | | |
Electric Utilities 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
GenOn Energy Holdings, Inc. (Class A Stock)*^ | | | | | | | | | | | 195,390 | | | | 17,585,100 | |
Keycon Power Holdings LLC*^ | | | | | | | | | | | 82,238 | | | | 10,436,002 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28,021,102 | |
| | | | |
Gas Utilities 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Ferrellgas Partners LP (Class B Stock) (original cost $113,624,931; purchased 03/31/10 - 11/04/21)(f) | | | | | | | | | | | 432,445 | | | | 61,292,765 | |
| | | | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CEC Entertainment, Inc.* | | | | | | | | | | | 240,485 | | | | 4,248,649 | |
| | | | |
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Vistra Corp. | | | | | | | | | | | 342,429 | | | | 10,759,119 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 47
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Description | | Shares | | | Value | |
| | |
COMMON STOCKS (Continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.4% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Chesapeake Energy Corp.(a) | | | 885,809 | | | $ | 78,137,212 | |
| | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.3% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Intelsat Emergence SA (Luxembourg)* | | | 2,417,044 | | | | 54,504,342 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (cost $210,397,508) | | | | | | | 296,326,264 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
PREFERRED STOCKS 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Capital Markets 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 6.375%(c), 3 Month LIBOR + 3.550%, Series K, Maturing 05/10/24(oo) | | | 87,000 | | | | 2,179,350 | |
| | |
Construction Materials 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
New Millennium Homes LLC, Maturing 01/01/49*^ | | | 2,000 | | | | 10,000 | |
| | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Ferrellgas Escrow LLC, 8.956%, Maturing 03/30/31 (original cost $142,482,000; purchased 03/29/21 - 02/09/22)^(f) | | | 142,275 | | | | 142,275,000 | |
| | |
Media 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Adelphia Communications Corp.*^ | | | 20,000 | | | | 20 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (cost $140,262,643) | | | | | | | 144,464,370 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | Units | | | | |
| | |
RIGHTS* 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Series A (Luxembourg), CVR, expiring 12/05/25^ | | | 253,124 | | | | 1,582,025 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Series B (Luxembourg), CVR, expiring 12/05/25^ | | | 253,124 | | | | 1,012,496 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL RIGHTS (cost $6,515) | | | | | | | 2,594,521 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
48
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Description | | Units | | | Value | |
| | |
WARRANTS* 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Chemicals | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Hercules, Inc., expiring 03/31/29 (cost $0) | | | 230 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $19,158,948,521) | | | | | | | 16,878,364,546 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | Shares | | | | |
| | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 18.5% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS | | | | | | | | |
PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(wl) | | | 528,836,093 | | | | 528,836,093 | |
PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund(wl) | | | 35,169,477 | | | | 321,449,022 | |
PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (cost $2,480,892,736; includes $2,469,026,843 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(b)(wl) | | | 2,483,158,423 | | | | 2,481,916,844 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $3,330,150,812) | | | | | | | 3,332,201,959 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 112.4% (cost $22,489,099,333) | | | | | | | 20,210,566,505 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets(z) (12.4)% | | | | | | | (2,236,433,382 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
NET ASSETS 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 17,974,133,123 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Below is a list of the abbreviation(s) used in the annual report:
EUR—Euro
GBP—British Pound
USD—US Dollar
144A—Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and, pursuant to the requirements of Rule 144A, may not be resold except to qualified institutional buyers.
BNP—BNP Paribas S.A.
BNYM—Bank of New York Mellon
CDX—Credit Derivative Index
CGM—Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
CLO—Collateralized Loan Obligation
CVR—Contingent Value Rights
DAC—Designated Activity Company
DIP—Debtor-In-Possession
EURIBOR—Euro Interbank Offered Rate
GSI—Goldman Sachs International
IBEX—Spanish Stock Index
iBoxx—Bond Market Indices
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 49
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
LP—Limited Partnership
MSI—Morgan Stanley & Co International PLC
MTN—Medium Term Note
OTC—Over-the-counter
PIK—Payment-in-Kind
Q—Quarterly payment frequency for swaps
REITs—Real Estate Investment Trust
SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate
SONIA—Sterling Overnight Index Average
SSB—State Street Bank & Trust Company
T—Swap payment upon termination
* | Non-income producing security. |
# | Principal or notional amount is shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. |
^ | Indicates a Level 3 instrument. The aggregate value of Level 3 instruments is $317,778,943 and 1.8% of net assets. |
(a) | All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $2,420,093,849; cash collateral of $2,469,026,843 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments. In the event of significant appreciation in value of securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the Fund may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities and such shortfall is remedied the following business day. |
(b) | Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment. |
(c) | Variable rate instrument. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at August 31, 2023. |
(d) | Represents issuer in default on interest payments and/or principal repayment. Non-income producing security. Such securities may be post-maturity. |
(f) | Indicates a restricted security that is acquired in unregistered, private sales from the issuing company or from an affiliate of the issuer and is considered restricted as to disposition under federal securities law; the aggregate original cost of such securities is $917,489,233. The aggregate value of $444,480,827 is 2.5% of net assets. |
(ff) | Variable rate security. Security may be issued at a fixed coupon rate, which converts to a variable rate at a specified date. Rate shown is the rate in effect as of period end. |
(h) | Represents security, or a portion thereof, segregated as collateral for OTC derivatives. |
(k) | Represents security, or a portion thereof, segregated as collateral for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives. |
(oo) | Perpetual security. Maturity date represents next call date. |
(p) | Represents a security with a delayed settlement and therefore the interest rate is not available until settlement which is after the period end. |
(wl) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund, PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund, PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund, if applicable. |
(z) | Includes net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and/or market value of the below holdings which are excluded from the Schedule of Investments: |
Futures contracts outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of Contracts | | Type | | Expiration Date | | Current Notional Amount | | | Value / Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
| | | | |
Long Positions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
4,668 | | 2 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | Dec. 2023 | | $ | 951,360,284 | | | | $2,086,634 | | | |
262 | | 5 Year Euro-Bobl | | Sep. 2023 | | | 32,986,816 | | | | (241,808 | ) | | |
7,913 | | 5 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | Dec. 2023 | | | 846,072,836 | | | | 4,034,551 | | | |
1,940 | | 10 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | Dec. 2023 | | | 215,400,625 | | | | 1,834,171 | | | |
1 | | Euro Schatz Index | | Sep. 2023 | | | 113,987 | | | | (657 | ) | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
50
Futures contracts outstanding at August 31, 2023 (continued):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of Contracts | | Type | | Expiration Date | | Current Notional Amount | | | Value / Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
| | | | |
Long Positions (cont’d): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2 | | Euro Schatz Index | | Dec. 2023 | | $ | 228,754 | | | $ | 31 | | | |
6 | | IBEX 35 Index | | Dec. 2023 | | | 874,470 | | | | 7,496 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 7,720,418 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short Positions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
36 | | 10 Year Euro-Bund | | Sep. 2023 | | | 5,199,285 | | | | 79,405 | | | |
103 | | 10 Year Euro-Bund | | Dec. 2023 | | | 14,813,186 | | | | (145,567 | ) | | |
544 | | 20 Year U.S. Treasury Bonds | | Dec. 2023 | | | 66,198,000 | | | | (653,510 | ) | | |
461 | | 30 Year U.S. Ultra Treasury Bonds | | Dec. 2023 | | | 59,685,094 | | | | (735,420 | ) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | (1,455,092 | ) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | $ | 6,265,326 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase Contracts | | Counterparty | | Notional Amount (000) | | | Value at Settlement Date | | | Current Value | | | Unrealized Appreciation | | Unrealized Depreciation |
| | | | | | | | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
British Pound, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | MSI | | | GBP | | | | 15,591 | | | | $ 19,682,446 | | | | $ 19,751,549 | | | | | | $ 69,103 | | | | | | | | $— | | | |
Euro, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | GSI | | | EUR | | | | 89,063 | | | | 96,076,909 | | | | 96,597,927 | | | | | | 521,018 | | | | | | | | — | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | $115,759,355 | | | | $116,349,476 | | | | | | 590,121 | | | | | | | | — | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Sale Contracts | | Counterparty | | Notional Amount (000) | | | Value at Settlement Date | | | Current Value | | | Unrealized Appreciation | | Unrealized Depreciation |
| | | | | | | | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
British Pound, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | SSB | | | GBP | | | | 15,591 | | | $ | 20,042,773 | | | $ | 19,751,549 | | | | | $ | 291,224 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | |
Expiring 10/03/23 | | MSI | | | GBP | | | | 15,591 | | | | 19,685,215 | | | | 19,753,870 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | (68,655 | ) | | |
Euro, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | BNYM | | | EUR | | | | 89,063 | | | | 98,344,279 | | | | 96,597,926 | | | | | | 1,746,353 | | | | | | | | — | | | |
Expiring 10/03/23 | | GSI | | | EUR | | | | 89,063 | | | | 96,209,613 | | | | 96,729,521 | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | (519,908 | ) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 234,281,880 | | | $ | 232,832,866 | | | | | | 2,037,577 | | | | | | | | (588,563 | ) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 2,627,698 | | | | | | | $ | (588,563 | ) | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 51
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
Credit default swap agreements outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference Entity/ Obligation | | Termination Date | | Fixed Rate | | Notional Amount (000)#(3) | | | Value at Trade Date | | | Value at August 31, 2023 | | | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement on credit indices - Buy Protection(1): | |
CDX.NA.IG.40.V1 | | 06/20/28 | | 1.000%(Q) | | | 1,648,550 | | | | | | | $ | (20,020,253 | ) | | | | | | | | | | $ | (28,880,988 | ) | | | | | | | | | | $ | (8,860,735 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference Entity/ Obligation | | Termination Date | | Fixed Rate | | Notional Amount (000)#(3) | | | Implied Credit Spread at August 31, 2023(4) | | Value at Trade Date | | Value at August 31, 2023 | | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement on credit indices - Sell Protection(2): | | | |
CDX.NA.HY.40.V1 | | 06/20/28 | | 5.000%(Q) | | | 162,220 | | | 4.257% | | | | $ | 3,190,255 | | | | | | | $ | 6,227,873 | | | | | | | $ | 3,037,618 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Fund entered into credit default swaps (“CDS”) to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be short the credit as the value of the contract rises the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases.
(1) | If the Fund is a buyer of protection, it pays the fixed rate. When a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and make delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
(2) | If the Fund is a seller of protection, it receives the fixed rate. When a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
(3) | Notional amount represents the maximum potential amount the Fund could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement. |
(4) | Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the fair value of credit default swap agreements where the Fund is the seller of protection as of the reporting date serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/ performance risk and represent the likelihood of risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include up-front payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
52
| under the terms of the agreement. |
Total return swap agreements outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference Entity | | Financing Rate | | Counterparty | | | Termination Date | | | Long (Short) Notional Amount (000)#(1) | | | Fair Value | | | Upfront Premiums Paid (Received) | | | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)(2) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OTC Total Return Swap Agreements: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
iBoxx US Dollar Liquid Investment Grade Index(T) | | 1 Day SOFR(Q)/ 5.310% | | | BNP | | | | 09/20/23 | | | | (100,000 | ) | | $ | (876,536 | ) | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (876,536 | ) | | | | |
iBoxx US Dollar Liquid Investment Grade Index(T) | | 1 Day SOFR(Q)/ 5.310% | | | BNP | | | | 09/20/23 | | | | (100,000 | ) | | | (767,195 | ) | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (767,195 | ) | | | | |
iBoxx US Dollar Liquid Investment Grade Index(T) | | 1 Day SOFR(Q)/ 5.310% | | | BNP | | | | 03/20/24 | | | | 65,300 | | | | (398,029 | ) | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (398,029 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (2,041,760 | ) | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (2,041,760 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | On a long total return swap, the Fund receives payments for any positive return on the reference entity (makes payments for any negative return) and pays the financing rate. On a short total return swap, the Fund makes payments for any positive return on the reference entity (receives payments for any negative return) and receives the financing rate. |
(2) | Upfront/recurring fees or commissions, as applicable, are included in the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). |
Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for OTC Swap Agreements:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Unrealized | | Unrealized |
| | Premiums Paid | | Premiums Received | | Appreciation | | Depreciation |
| | | | |
OTC Swap Agreements | | | $ | — | | | | $ | — | | | | $ | — | | | | $ | (2,041,760 | ) |
Summary of Collateral for Centrally Cleared/Exchange-traded Derivatives:
Cash and securities segregated as collateral, including pending settlement for closed positions, to cover requirements for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives are listed by broker as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Broker | | Cash and/or Foreign Currency | | Securities Market Value | |
| | | | | | |
CGM | | | | | | $ | 44,000 | | | | | | | | | $ | 34,506,163 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 53
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
Fair Value Measurements:
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices generally in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, foreign currency exchange rates and other observable inputs.
Level 3—unobservable inputs for securities valued in accordance with Board approved fair valuation procedures.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of August 31, 2023 in valuing such portfolio securities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | | | | Level 2 | | | | | | Level 3 | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | 319,426,070 | | | | | | | $ | — | |
Convertible Bond | | | — | | | | | | | | 1,482,348 | | | | | | | | — | |
Corporate Bonds | | | — | | | | | | | | 14,944,769,143 | | | | | | | | 24,549,254 | |
Floating Rate and Other Loans | | | — | | | | | | | | 465,036,014 | | | | | | | | 60,965,971 | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | | — | | | | | | | | 618,750,591 | | | | | | | | — | |
Common Stocks | | | 88,896,331 | | | | | | | | 120,045,756 | | | | | | | | 87,384,177 | |
Preferred Stocks | | | 2,179,350 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | 142,285,020 | |
Rights | | | — | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | 2,594,521 | |
Warrants | | | — | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | — | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds | | | 3,332,201,959 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 3,423,277,640 | | | | | | | $ | 16,469,509,922 | | | | | | | $ | 317,778,943 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | 8,042,288 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | — | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | | | — | | | | | | | | 2,627,698 | | | | | | | | — | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | | | | | 3,037,618 | | | | | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 8,042,288 | | | | | | | $ | 5,665,316 | | | | | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | (1,776,962 | ) | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | — | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | | | — | | | | | | | | (588,563 | ) | | | | | | | — | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | | | | | (8,860,735 | ) | | | | | | | — | |
OTC Total Return Swap Agreements | | | — | | | | | | | | (2,041,760 | ) | | | | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | (1,776,962 | ) | | | | | | $ | (11,491,058 | ) | | | | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Schedule of Investments, such as futures, forwards and centrally cleared swap contracts, which are recorded at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument, and OTC swap contracts which are recorded at fair value. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
54
The following is a reconciliation of assets in which unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Corporate Bonds | | | Floating Rate and Other Loans | | | Common Stocks | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 08/31/22 | | | | | | $ | 712,275 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 28,635,213 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 31,928,902 | | | | | |
Realized gain (loss) | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 57,211 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,123,687 | | | | | |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,983,495 | | | | | | | | | | | | 29,758,031 | | | | | |
Purchases/Exchanges/Issuances | | | | | | | 24,549,000 | | | | | | | | | | | | 45,602,568 | | | | | | | | | | | | 25,727,152 | | | | | |
Sales/Paydowns | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (9,367,358 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (3,153,595 | ) | | | | |
Accrued discount/premium | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,271,442 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Transfers into Level 3* | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Transfers out of Level 3* | | | | | | | (712,021 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (10,216,600 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 08/31/23 | | | | | | $ | 24,549,254 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 60,965,971 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 87,384,177 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) relating to securities still held at reporting period end | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 4,983,495 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 29,758,031 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Preferred Stocks | | | Rights | | | Warrants | | | Unfunded Loan Commitment | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 08/31/22 | | | | | | $ | 142,285,020 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 2,907,018 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 4,820 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
Realized gain (loss) | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (11 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (5 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | | | | | | 127,623 | | | | | | | | | | | | (319,012 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (4,815 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Purchases/Exchanges/Issuances | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 6,526 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Sales/Paydowns | | | | | | | (127,623 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Accrued discount/premium | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Transfers into Level 3* | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Transfers out of Level 3* | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of 08/31/23 | | | | | | $ | 142,285,020 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 2,594,521 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) relating to securities still held at reporting period end | | | | | | $ | 127,623 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (319,012 | ) | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | It is the Fund’s policy to recognize transfers in and transfers out at the securities’ fair values as of the beginning of period. Securities transferred between Level 2 and Level 3 are due to changes in the method utilized in valuing the investments. Transfers from Level 2 to Level 3 are typically a result of a change from the use of methods used by independent pricing services (Level 2) to the use of a single broker quote or valuation technique which utilizes significant unobservable inputs due to an absence of current or reliable market quotations (Level 3). Transfers from Level 3 to Level 2 are a result of the availability of current and reliable market data provided by independent pricing services or other valuation techniques which utilize observable inputs. In accordance with the requirements of ASC 820, the amounts of transfers into and out of Level 3, if material, are disclosed in the Notes to the Schedule of Investments of the Fund. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 55
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
Level 3 securities as presented in the table above are being fair valued using pricing methodologies approved by the Board, which contain unobservable inputs as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Level 3 Securities** | | Fair Value as of August 31, 2023 | | | Valuation Approach | | Valuation Methodology | | Unobservable Inputs |
| | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds | | | | | | $ | 254 | | | | | | | Market | | Contingent Value | | Contingent Value |
Corporate Bonds | | | | | | | 24,549,000 | | | | | | | Market | | Transaction Based | | Unadjusted Purchase Price |
Floating Rate and Other Loans | | | | | | | 15,643,554 | | | | | | | Market | | Comparable Bond | | Discounted Yield Curve Spread |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | 10,436,002 | | | | | | | Market | | Enterprise Value | | Discounted Rate |
Preferred Stocks | | | | | | | 20 | | | | | | | Market | | Contingent Value | | Contingent Value |
Preferred Stocks | | | | | | | 10,000 | | | | | | | Income | | Discounted Cash Flow | | Discount Rate |
Preferred Stocks | | | | | | | 142,275,000 | | | | | | | Market | | Transaction Based | | Unadjusted Purchase Price |
Rights | | | | | | | 2,594,521 | | | | | | | Market | | Transaction Based | | Unadjusted Last Traded Price |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | $ | 195,508,351 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
** | The table does not include Level 3 securities and/or derivatives that are valued by independent pricing vendors or brokers. As of August 31, 2023, the aggregate value of these securities and/or derivatives was $122,270,592. The unobservable inputs for these investments were not developed by the Fund and are not readily available (e.g. single broker quotes). |
Industry Classification:
The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of August 31, 2023 were as follows:
| | | | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds (13.7% represents investments purchased with collateral from securities on loan) | | | 18.5 | % |
Media | | | 7.2 | |
Oil & Gas | | | 7.0 | |
Retail | | | 5.1 | |
Electric | | | 4.4 | |
Commercial Services | | | 4.4 | |
Home Builders | | | 4.2 | |
Telecommunications | | | 4.1 | |
Healthcare-Services | | | 3.6 | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | | 3.4 | |
Pipelines | | | 3.3 | |
Entertainment | | | 2.9 | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 2.8 | |
Chemicals | | | 2.7 | |
Diversified Financial Services | | | 2.6 | |
Leisure Time | | | 2.6 | |
Foods | | | 2.3 | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 2.2 | |
| | | | |
Packaging & Containers | | | 2.0 | % |
Building Materials | | | 1.8 | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | | 1.8 | |
Auto Manufacturers | | | 1.6 | |
Mining | | | 1.6 | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | | | 1.5 | |
Software | | | 1.4 | |
Lodging | | | 1.4 | |
Airlines | | | 1.3 | |
Real Estate | | | 1.2 | |
Auto Parts & Equipment | | | 1.1 | |
Healthcare-Products | | | 1.0 | |
Computers | | | 0.9 | |
Machinery-Diversified | | | 0.9 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | | | 0.8 | |
Housewares | | | 0.7 | |
Distribution/Wholesale | | | 0.6 | |
Internet | | | 0.6 | |
Iron/Steel | | | 0.5 | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 0.5 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
56
Industry Classification (continued):
| | | | |
Insurance | | | 0.4 | % |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | | | 0.4 | |
Household Products/Wares | | | 0.4 | |
Advertising | | | 0.4 | |
Apparel | | | 0.4 | |
Gas | | | 0.4 | |
Gas Utilities | | | 0.4 | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | 0.3 | |
Environmental Control | | | 0.3 | |
Banks | | | 0.3 | |
Agriculture | | | 0.3 | |
Miscellaneous Manufacturing | | | 0.3 | |
Electronics | | | 0.2 | |
Coal | | | 0.2 | |
Engineering & Construction | | | 0.2 | |
Electric Utilities | | | 0.2 | |
Trucking & Leasing | | | 0.1 | |
Machinery-Construction & Mining | | | 0.1 | |
Transportation | | | 0.1 | |
| | | | |
Investment Companies | | | 0.1 | % |
Metal Fabricate/Hardware | | | 0.1 | |
Cosmetics/Personal Care | | | 0.1 | |
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers | | | 0.1 | |
Office/Business Equipment | | | 0.1 | |
Home Furnishings | | | 0.0 | * |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | | | 0.0 | * |
Capital Markets | | | 0.0 | * |
Construction Materials | | | 0.0 | * |
| | | | |
| |
| | | 112.4 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets | | | (12.4 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
| | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Effects of Derivative Instruments on the Financial Statements and Primary Underlying Risk Exposure:
The Fund invested in derivative instruments during the reporting period. The primary types of risk associated with these derivative instruments are credit risk, equity risk, foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk. See the Notes to Financial Statements for additional detail regarding these derivative instruments and their risks. The effect of such derivative instruments on the Fund’s financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations is presented in the summary below.
Fair values of derivative instruments as of August 31, 2023 as presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives | |
| | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | |
| | | | |
Credit contracts | | Due from/to broker-variation margin swaps | | $ | 3,037,618 | * | | Due from/to broker-variation margin swaps | | $ | 8,860,735* | |
Equity contracts | | Due from/to broker-variation margin futures | | | 7,496 | * | | — | | | — | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 2,627,698 | | | Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 588,563 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 57
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives | |
| | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | |
| | | | |
Interest rate contracts | | Due from/to broker-variation margin futures | | $ | 8,034,792 | * | | Due from/to broker-variation margin futures | | $ | 1,776,962 | * |
Interest rate contracts | | — | | | — | | | Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap agreements | | | 2,041,760 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | $ | 13,707,604 | | | | | $ | 13,268,020 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the schedule of open futures and centrally cleared swap contracts. Only unsettled variation margin receivable (payable) is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effects of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended August 31, 2023 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | |
| | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | | | Futures | | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | Swaps | |
| | | | |
Credit contracts | | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 18,081,604 | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | | | | — | | | | (5,478,857 | ) | | | — | |
Interest rate contracts | | | | | (120,661,033 | ) | | | — | | | | 19,354,789 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Total | | | | $ | (120,661,033 | ) | | $ | (5,478,857 | ) | | $ | 37,436,393 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | |
| | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | | | Futures | | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | Swaps | |
| | | | |
Credit contracts | | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | (20,925,613 | ) |
Equity contracts | | | | | 7,496 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | | | | — | | | | (1,072,175 | ) | | | — | |
Interest rate contracts | | | | | 24,862,352 | | | | — | | | | (13,185,520 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Total | | | | $ | 24,869,848 | | | $ | (1,072,175 | ) | | $ | (34,111,133 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund’s average volume of derivative activities is as follows: |
| | |
Derivative Contract Type | | Average Volume of Derivative Activities* |
Futures Contracts - Long Positions (1) | | $2,521,708,934 |
Futures Contracts - Short Positions (1) | | 177,445,242 |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - Purchased (2) | | 106,690,206 |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - Sold (2) | | 229,152,058 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
58
| | |
Derivative Contract Type | | Average Volume of Derivative Activities* |
Credit Default Swap Agreements - Buy Protection (1) | | $978,494,975 |
Credit Default Swap Agreements - Sell Protection (1) | | 231,086,880 |
Total Return Swap Agreements (1) | | 345,731,000 |
* | Average volume is based on average quarter end balances as noted for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
(1) | Notional Amount in USD. |
(2) | Value at Settlement Date. |
Financial Instruments/Transactions—Summary of Offsetting and Netting Arrangements:
The Fund invested in OTC derivatives and entered into financial instruments/transactions during the reporting period that are either offset in accordance with current requirements or are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements that permit offsetting. The information about offsetting and related netting arrangements for OTC derivatives and financial instruments/transactions where the legal right to set-off exists is presented in the summary below.
Offsetting of financial instrument/transaction assets and liabilities:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Description | | Gross Market Value of Recognized Assets/(Liabilities) | | Collateral Pledged/(Received)(2) | | Net Amount |
Securities on Loan | | $2,420,093,849 | | $(2,420,093,849) | | $— |
Offsetting of OTC derivative assets and liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Counterparty | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets(1) | | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities(1) | | | Net Amounts of Recognized Assets/(Liabilities) | | | Collateral Pledged/(Received)(2) | | | Net Amount | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BNP | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (2,041,760 | ) | | | | | | | | | | $ | (2,041,760 | ) | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,757,629 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (284,131 | ) | | | | |
BNYM | | | | | | | 1,746,353 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,746,353 | | | | | | | | | | | | (1,059,702 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | 686,651 | | | | | |
GSI | | | | | | | 521,018 | | | | | | | | | | | | (519,908 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | 1,110 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,110 | | | | | |
MSI | | | | | | | 69,103 | | | | | | | | | | | | (68,655 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | 448 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 448 | | | | | |
SSB | | | | | | | 291,224 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 291,224 | | | | | | | | | | | | (286,196 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | 5,028 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | $ | 2,627,698 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (2,630,323 | ) | | | | | | | | | | $ | (2,625 | ) | | | | | | | | | | $ | 411,731 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 409,106 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Includes unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on swaps and forwards, premiums paid/(received) on swap agreements and market value of purchased and written options, as represented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
(2) | Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions and the Fund’s OTC derivative exposure by counterparty. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 59
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | |
Assets | | | | |
| |
Investments at value, including securities on loan of $2,420,093,849: | | | | |
Unaffiliated investments (cost $19,158,948,521) | | $ | 16,878,364,546 | |
Affiliated investments (cost $3,330,150,812) | | | 3,332,201,959 | |
Cash | | | 432,887 | |
Foreign currency, at value (cost $8,851,472) | | | 8,767,267 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 298,634,767 | |
Receivable for Fund shares sold | | | 31,132,956 | |
Receivable for investments sold | | | 23,549,323 | |
Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 2,627,698 | |
Due from broker—variation margin futures | | | 975,926 | |
Due from broker—variation margin swaps | | | 467,649 | |
Deposit with broker for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives | | | 44,000 | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | 16,250 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total Assets | | | 20,577,215,228 | |
| | | | |
| |
Liabilities | | | | |
| |
Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan | | | 2,469,026,843 | |
Payable for Fund shares purchased | | | 65,974,963 | |
Payable for investments purchased | | | 32,307,637 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 16,562,747 | |
Dividends payable | | | 10,357,756 | |
Management fee payable | | | 5,560,917 | |
Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap agreements | | | 2,041,760 | |
Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 588,563 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 497,638 | |
Affiliated transfer agent fee payable | | | 129,767 | |
Directors’ fees payable | | | 33,514 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total Liabilities | | | 2,603,082,105 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net Assets | | $ | 17,974,133,123 | |
| | | | |
| |
| | | | |
| |
Net assets were comprised of: | | | | |
Common stock, at par | | $ | 38,833,797 | |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | | | 20,943,278,478 | |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | | | (3,007,979,152 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
Net assets, August 31, 2023 | | $ | 17,974,133,123 | |
| | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
60
| | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value and redemption price per share, ($1,389,895,558 ÷ 300,651,201 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 4.62 | | | | | |
Maximum sales charge (3.25% of offering price) | | | 0.16 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Maximum offering price to public | | $ | 4.78 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class C | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, ($203,121,701 ÷ 43,995,045 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 4.62 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class R | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, ($62,119,312 ÷ 13,444,850 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 4.62 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, ($8,520,420,245 ÷ 1,838,720,498 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 4.63 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class R2 | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, ($23,439,592 ÷ 5,064,630 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 4.63 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class R4 | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, ($32,930,279 ÷ 7,118,060 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 4.63 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, ($7,742,206,436 ÷ 1,674,385,405 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 4.62 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 61
Statement of Operations
Year Ended August 31, 2023
| | | | |
| |
Net Investment Income (Loss) | | | | |
| |
Income | | | | |
Interest income | | $ | 1,255,623,009 | |
Affiliated dividend income | | | 30,918,757 | |
Unaffiliated dividend income | | | 22,695,197 | |
Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $10,058,129) | | | 10,751,770 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total income | | | 1,319,988,733 | |
| | | | |
| |
Expenses | | | | |
Management fee | | | 66,040,734 | |
Distribution fee(a) | | | 6,201,466 | |
Shareholder servicing fees(a) | | | 66,102 | |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $922,736)(a) | | | 13,545,058 | |
Shareholders’ reports | | | 1,024,540 | |
Custodian and accounting fees | | | 933,478 | |
Registration fees(a) | | | 311,773 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 271,460 | |
Professional fees | | | 148,407 | |
Audit fee | | | 45,500 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 268,757 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total expenses | | | 88,857,275 | |
Less: Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(a) | | | (8,332 | ) |
Distribution fee waiver(a) | | | (154,198 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
Net expenses | | | 88,694,745 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 1,231,293,988 | |
| | | | |
| |
Realized And Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Investment And Foreign Currency Transactions | | | | |
| |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | |
Investment transactions (including affiliated of $84,630) | | | (237,570,235 | ) |
Futures transactions | | | (120,661,033 | ) |
Forward currency contract transactions | | | (5,478,857 | ) |
Swap agreement transactions | | | 37,436,393 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (508,440 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
| | | (326,782,172 | ) |
| | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | | | | |
Investments (including affiliated of $886,987) | | | 115,028,761 | |
Futures | | | 24,869,848 | |
Forward currency contracts | | | (1,072,175 | ) |
Swap agreements | | | (34,111,133 | ) |
Foreign currencies | | | (539,130 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
| | | 104,176,171 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (222,606,001 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | $ | 1,008,687,987 | |
| | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
62
(a) | Class specific expenses and waivers were as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | | | Class C | | | Class R | | | Class Z | | | Class R2 | | Class R4 | | Class R6 |
| | | | | | | |
Distribution fee | | | 3,516,902 | | | | 2,138,555 | | | | 462,595 | | | | — | | | | 83,414 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 33,366 | | | | 32,736 | | | | — | |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses | | | 1,716,350 | | | | 167,757 | | | | 100,525 | | | | 11,088,184 | | | | 56,252 | | | | 54,061 | | | | 361,929 | |
Registration fees | | | 48,471 | | | | 18,204 | | | | 8,704 | | | | 126,789 | | | | 9,234 | | | | 8,834 | | | | 91,537 | |
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (4,865 | ) | | | (3,467 | ) | | | — | |
Distribution fee waiver | | | — | | | | — | | | | (154,198 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 63
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Operations | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | $ | 1,231,293,988 | | | $ | 1,212,924,229 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (326,782,172 | ) | | | (148,422,882 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currencies | | | 104,176,171 | | | | (3,439,473,771 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | 1,008,687,987 | | | | (2,374,972,424 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Distributions from distributable earnings | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (97,475,419 | ) | | | (111,802,947 | ) |
Class C | | | (13,302,674 | ) | | | (15,608,268 | ) |
Class R | | | (4,084,408 | ) | | | (4,680,265 | ) |
Class Z | | | (621,901,366 | ) | | | (811,188,784 | ) |
Class R2 | | | (2,268,916 | ) | | | (2,773,631 | ) |
Class R4 | | | (2,301,289 | ) | | | (2,295,804 | ) |
Class R6 | | | (565,640,081 | ) | | | (596,864,104 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | | (1,306,974,153 | ) | | | (1,545,213,803 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Fund share transactions (Net of share conversions) | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net proceeds from shares sold | | | 6,079,164,560 | | | | 8,016,038,450 | |
Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 1,170,989,695 | | | | 1,337,105,023 | |
Cost of shares purchased | | | (7,617,202,166 | ) | | | (10,637,824,802 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | | | (367,047,911 | ) | | | (1,284,681,329 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | (665,334,077 | ) | | | (5,204,867,556 | ) |
| | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Beginning of year | | | 18,639,467,200 | | | | 23,844,334,756 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
End of year | | $ | 17,974,133,123 | | | $ | 18,639,467,200 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
64
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Class A Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.49 | | | | $5.44 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.30 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.32 | | | | 0.31 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.83 | ) | | | 0.29 | | | | (0.13 | )(b) | | | 0.07 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.24 | | | | (0.56 | ) | | | 0.57 | | | | 0.19 | | | | 0.38 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $4.62 | | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.49 | |
Total Return(c): | | | 5.34 | % | | | (10.37 | )% | | | 10.83 | % | | | 3.67 | % | | | 7.28 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $1,389,896 | | | | $1,482,194 | | | | $1,845,347 | | | | $1,738,601 | | | | $1,687,802 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $1,406,761 | | | | $1,692,604 | | | | $1,758,634 | | | | $1,639,881 | | | | $1,402,647 | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.79 | % | | | 0.80 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 0.79 | % | | | 0.80 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 6.52 | % | | | 5.14 | % | | | 5.01 | % | | | 5.96 | % | | | 5.82 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(e) | | | 22 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 56 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 43 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not directly correlate to the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of portfolio share transactions in relation to fluctuating market values. |
(c) | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 65
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Class C Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $4.69 | | | | $5.59 | | | | $5.35 | | | | $5.48 | | | | $5.43 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 0.24 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.28 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.83 | ) | | | 0.29 | | | | (0.13 | )(b) | | | 0.06 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.22 | | | | (0.60 | ) | | | 0.53 | | | | 0.15 | | | | 0.34 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.24 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $4.62 | | | | $4.69 | | | | $5.59 | | | | $5.35 | | | | $5.48 | |
Total Return(c): | | | 4.81 | % | | | (11.04 | )% | | | 10.05 | % | | | 2.95 | % | | | 6.55 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $203,122 | | | | $228,267 | | | | $285,550 | | | | $264,771 | | | | $234,165 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $213,856 | | | | $265,453 | | | | $276,522 | | | | $240,674 | | | | $234,601 | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.47 | % | | | 1.47 | % | | | 1.46 | % | | | 1.49 | % | | | 1.49 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.47 | % | | | 1.47 | % | | | 1.46 | % | | | 1.49 | % | | | 1.49 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 5.80 | % | | | 4.41 | % | | | 4.29 | % | | | 5.27 | % | | | 5.14 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(e) | | | 22 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 56 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 43 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not directly correlate to the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of portfolio share transactions in relation to fluctuating market values. |
(c) | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
66
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Class R Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $4.69 | | | | $5.59 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.49 | | | | $5.43 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.30 | | | | 0.30 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.82 | ) | | | 0.28 | | | | (0.13 | )(b) | | | 0.07 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.23 | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 0.54 | | | | 0.17 | | | | 0.37 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $4.62 | | | | $4.69 | | | | $5.59 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.49 | |
Total Return(c): | | | 5.25 | % | | | (10.67 | )% | | | 10.31 | % | | | 3.35 | % | | | 7.17 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $62,119 | | | | $65,159 | | | | $80,110 | | | | $75,437 | | | | $74,523 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $61,679 | | | | $74,379 | | | | $75,371 | | | | $73,040 | | | | $71,667 | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.06 | % | | | 1.06 | % | | | 1.04 | % | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.09 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 1.31 | % | | | 1.31 | % | | | 1.29 | % | | | 1.35 | % | | | 1.34 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 6.21 | % | | | 4.83 | % | | | 4.71 | % | | | 5.67 | % | | | 5.55 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(e) | | | 22 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 56 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 43 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not directly correlate to the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of portfolio share transactions in relation to fluctuating market values. |
(c) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 67
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Class Z Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $4.71 | | | | $5.61 | | | | $5.37 | | | | $5.50 | | | | $5.45 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.31 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.33 | | | | 0.33 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.82 | ) | | | 0.29 | | | | (0.13 | )(b) | | | 0.06 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.25 | | | | (0.54 | ) | | | 0.58 | | | | 0.20 | | | | 0.39 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.36 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $4.63 | | | | $4.71 | | | | $5.61 | | | | $5.37 | | | | $5.50 | |
Total Return(c): | | | 5.60 | % | | | (10.12 | )% | | | 11.09 | % | | | 3.94 | % | | | 7.56 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $8,520,420 | | | | $9,297,381 | | | | $12,845,347 | | | | $9,241,395 | | | | $4,643,766 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $8,663,429 | | | | $11,828,293 | | | | $11,069,596 | | | | $6,354,707 | | | | $4,021,108 | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.51 | % | | | 0.51 | % | | | 0.50 | % | | | 0.53 | % | | | 0.54 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.51 | % | | | 0.51 | % | | | 0.50 | % | | | 0.53 | % | | | 0.54 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 6.76 | % | | | 5.37 | % | | | 5.22 | % | | | 6.18 | % | | | 6.09 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(e) | | | 22 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 56 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 43 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not directly correlate to the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of portfolio share transactions in relation to fluctuating market values. |
(c) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
68
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Class R2 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.37 | | | | $5.50 | | | | $5.44 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.31 | | | | 0.31 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.83 | ) | | | 0.29 | | | | (0.13 | )(b) | | | 0.07 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.24 | | | | (0.57 | ) | | | 0.55 | | | | 0.18 | | | | 0.38 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $4.63 | | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.37 | | | | $5.50 | |
Total Return(c): | | | 5.40 | % | | | (10.51 | )% | | | 10.45 | % | | | 3.55 | % | | | 7.36 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $23,440 | | | | $38,316 | | | | $44,289 | | | | $13,815 | | | | $7,402 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $33,366 | | | | $43,115 | | | | $34,097 | | | | $8,936 | | | | $6,253 | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.91 | % | | | 0.91 | % | | | 0.91 | % | | | 0.91 | % | | | 0.91 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.92 | % | | | 0.92 | % | | | 0.91 | % | | | 1.11 | % | | | 1.22 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 6.35 | % | | | 4.99 | % | | | 4.77 | % | | | 5.83 | % | | | 5.73 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(e) | | | 22 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 56 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 43 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not directly correlate to the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of portfolio share transactions in relation to fluctuating market values. |
(c) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 69
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Class R4 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
| | Year Ended August 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.50 | | | | $5.44 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.30 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.32 | | | | 0.33 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.82 | ) | | | 0.29 | | | | (0.14 | )(b) | | | 0.07 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.25 | | | | (0.55 | ) | | | 0.57 | | | | 0.18 | | | | 0.40 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $4.63 | | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.50 | |
Total Return(c): | | | 5.66 | % | | | (10.28 | )% | | | 10.93 | % | | | 3.61 | % | | | 7.66 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $32,930 | | | | $33,423 | | | | $31,793 | | | | $19,171 | | | | $11,469 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $32,736 | | | | $34,464 | | | | $24,783 | | | | $14,759 | | | | $4,571 | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.66 | % | | | 0.66 | % | | | 0.66 | % | | | 0.66 | % | | | 0.66 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.67 | % | | | 0.69 | % | | | 0.67 | % | | | 0.79 | % | | | 1.07 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 6.61 | % | | | 5.27 | % | | | 5.05 | % | | | 6.10 | % | | | 6.00 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(e) | | | 22 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 56 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 43 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not directly correlate to the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of portfolio share transactions in relation to fluctuating market values. |
(c) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
70
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Class R6 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | Year Ended August 31, | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(a): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.49 | | | | $5.44 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.32 | | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.30 | | | | 0.33 | | | | 0.34 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.83 | ) | | | 0.29 | | | | (0.12 | )(b) | | | 0.06 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.26 | | | | (0.54 | ) | | | 0.59 | | | | 0.21 | | | | 0.40 | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.36 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) |
Net asset value, end of year | | | $4.62 | | | | $4.70 | | | | $5.60 | | | | $5.36 | | | | $5.49 | |
Total Return(c): | | | 5.73 | % | | | (10.03 | )% | | | 11.24 | % | | | 4.07 | % | | | 7.71 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of year (000) | | | $7,742,206 | | | | $7,494,727 | | | | $8,711,897 | | | | $8,146,218 | | | | $3,022,241 | |
Average net assets (000) | | | $7,742,669 | | | | $8,544,222 | | | | $8,959,961 | | | | $4,881,610 | | | | $2,462,874 | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.38 | % | | | 0.38 | % | | | 0.38 | % | | | 0.40 | % | | | 0.40 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.38 | % | | | 0.38 | % | | | 0.38 | % | | | 0.40 | % | | | 0.40 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 6.89 | % | | | 5.52 | % | | | 5.39 | % | | | 6.29 | % | | | 6.22 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(e) | | | 22 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 56 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 43 | % |
(a) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the year. |
(b) | The per share amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments does not directly correlate to the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of portfolio share transactions in relation to fluctuating market values. |
(c) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each year reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM High Yield Fund 71
Notes to Financial Statements
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 (the “Registered Investment Company” or “RIC”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The RIC is organized as a Maryland Corporation. These financial statements relate only to the PGIM High Yield Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the RIC. The Fund is classified as a diversified fund for purposes of the 1940 Act.
The investment objective of the Fund is to maximize current income. As a secondary investment objective, the Fund seeks capital appreciation but only when consistent with the Fund’s primary objective of current income.
The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Fund consistently follows such policies in the preparation of its financial statements.
Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets and liabilities that are fair valued as of the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. As described in further detail below, the Fund’s investments are valued daily based on a number of factors, including the type of investment and whether market quotations are readily available. The RIC’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures for security valuation and designated PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or the “Manager”) as the “Valuation Designee,” as defined by Rule 2a-5(b) under the 1940 Act, to perform the fair value determination relating to all Fund investments. Pursuant to the Board’s oversight, the Valuation Designee has established a Valuation Committee to perform the duties and responsibilities as Valuation Designee under Rule 2a-5. The valuation procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. Fair value is the estimated price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
For the fiscal reporting year-end, securities and other assets and liabilities were fair valued at the close of the last U.S. business day. Trading in certain foreign securities may occur when
72
the NYSE is closed (including weekends and holidays). Because such foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot purchase or redeem Fund shares.
Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the Schedule of Investments and referred to herein as the “fair value hierarchy” in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 — Fair Value Measurement.
Common or preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and derivative instruments, if applicable, that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. In the event that no sale or official closing price on a valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in the absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Investments in open-end funds (other than ETFs) are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.
Fixed income securities traded in the OTC market are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such fixed income securities are typically valued using the market approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The Fund utilizes the market approach as the primary method to value securities when market prices of identical or comparable instruments are available. The third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated bid price are based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations and reported trades. Certain Level 3 securities are also valued using the market approach when obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing transaction prices for identical securities that have been used in excess of five business days. During the reporting period, there were no changes to report with respect to the valuation approach and/or valuation techniques discussed above.
Floating rate and other loans are generally valued at prices provided by approved independent pricing vendors. The pricing vendors utilize broker/dealer quotations and provide prices based on the average of such quotations. Floating rate and other loans valued using such vendor prices are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
PGIM High Yield Fund 73
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Floating rate and other loans valued based on a single broker quote or at the original transaction price in excess of five business days are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
OTC and centrally cleared derivative instruments are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such derivative instruments are typically valued using the market approach and/or income approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The Fund utilizes the market approach when quoted prices in broker-dealer markets are available but also includes consideration of alternative valuation approaches, including the income approach. In the absence of reliable market quotations, the income approach is typically utilized for purposes of valuing derivatives such as interest rate swaps based on a discounted cash flow analysis whereby the value of the instrument is equal to the present value of its future cash inflows or outflows. Such analysis includes projecting future cash flows and determining the discount rate (including the present value factors that affect the discount rate) used to discount the future cash flows. In addition, the third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated derivative price is based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, underlying asset prices, indices, spreads, interest rates and exchange rates. Certain derivatives may be classified as Level 3 when valued using the market approach by obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing unobservable inputs in the income approach. During the reporting period, there were no changes to report with respect to the valuation approach and/or valuation techniques discussed above.
Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on policies and procedures approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Altering one or more unobservable inputs may result in a significant change to a Level 3 security’s fair value measurement.
When determining the fair value of securities, some of the factors influencing the valuation include: the nature of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; assessment of the general liquidity of the securities; the issuer’s financial condition and the markets in which it does business; the cost of the investment; the size of the holding and the capitalization of the issuer; the prices of any recent transactions or bids/offers for such securities or any comparable securities; and any available analyst media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the Valuation Designee regarding the issuer or the markets or industry in which it operates. Using fair value to price securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent closing price and from the price used by other unaffiliated mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.
74
Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities — at the exchange rate as of the valuation date;
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses — at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not generally isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities held at the end of the period. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities sold during the period. Accordingly, holding period unrealized and realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions on the Statements of Operations. Notwithstanding the above, the Fund does isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when determining the gain (loss) upon the sale or maturity of foreign currency denominated debt obligations; such amounts are included in net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions.
Additionally, net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from the disposition of holdings of foreign currencies, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest, dividends and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains (losses) arise from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities (other than investments) at period end exchange rates.
Forward and Cross Currency Contracts: A forward currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The Fund enters into forward currency contracts, as defined in the prospectus, in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings or on specific receivables and payables denominated in a foreign currency and to gain exposure to certain currencies. The contracts are valued daily at current forward exchange rates and any unrealized gain (loss) is included in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on forward and cross currency contracts. Gain (loss) is realized on the settlement date of the contract equal to the difference between the settlement value of the original and negotiated forward contracts. This gain (loss), if any, is included in net realized gain (loss) on forward and cross currency contract transactions. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the
PGIM High Yield Fund 75
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
terms of their contracts. Forward currency contracts involve risks from currency exchange rate and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty at the end of the contract’s life. A cross currency contract is a forward contract where a specified amount of one foreign currency will be exchanged for a specified amount of another foreign currency.
Financial Futures Contracts: A financial futures contract is an agreement to purchase (long) or sell (short) an agreed amount of securities at a set price for delivery on a future date. Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying security. Such variation margin is recorded for financial statement purposes on a daily basis as unrealized gain (loss). When the contract expires or is closed, the gain (loss) is realized and is presented in the Statement of Operations as net realized gain (loss) on futures transactions.
The Fund invested in financial futures contracts in order to hedge its existing portfolio securities, or securities the Fund intends to purchase, against fluctuations in value caused by changes in prevailing interest rates. Should interest rates move unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the financial futures contracts and may realize a loss. The use of futures transactions involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts, interest rates and the underlying hedged assets. Since futures contracts are exchange-traded, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchanges’ clearinghouse acts as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures and guarantees the futures contracts against default.
Swap Agreements: The Fund entered into certain types of swap agreements detailed in the disclosures below. A swap agreement is an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. Swap agreements are negotiated in the OTC market and may be executed either directly with a counterparty (“OTC-traded”) or through a central clearing facility, such as a registered exchange. Swap agreements are valued daily at current market value and any change in value is included in the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on swap agreements. Centrally cleared swaps pay or receive an amount known as “variation margin”, based on daily changes in the valuation of the swap contract. For OTC-traded, upfront premiums paid and received are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Swap agreements outstanding at period end, if any, are listed on the Schedule of Investments.
76
Credit Default Swaps (“CDS”): CDS involve one party (the protection buyer) making a stream of payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for the right to receive a specified payment in the event of a default or as a result of a default (collectively a “credit event”) for the referenced entity (typically corporate issues or sovereign issues of an emerging country) on its obligation; or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index.
The Fund is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives, and as such, has entered into CDS contracts to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be “short the credit” because the higher the contract value rises, the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk for purchased CDS is the inability of the counterparty to honor the contract up to the notional value due to a credit event.
As a seller of protection on credit default swap agreements, the Fund generally receives an agreed upon payment from the buyer of protection throughout the term of the swap, provided no credit event occurs. As the seller, the Fund effectively increases its investment risk because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund may be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
The maximum amount of the payment that the Fund, as a seller of protection, could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be equal to the notional amount of the underlying security or index contract as a result of a credit event. This potential amount will be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements which the Fund entered into for the same referenced entity or index. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.
Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements where the Fund is the seller of protection as of period end are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments, if applicable. These spreads serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of default risk for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads and increased market value in absolute terms, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement.
PGIM High Yield Fund 77
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Total Return Swaps: In a total return swap, one party receives payments based on the market value of the security or the commodity involved, or total return of a specific referenced asset, such as an equity, index or bond, and in return pays a defined amount. The Fund is subject to risk exposures associated with the referenced asset in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund entered into total return swaps to manage its exposure to a security or an index. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the change in the value of the security, in the Fund’s favor, from the point of entering into the contract.
Floating Rate and Other Loans: The Fund invested in floating rate and other loans. Floating rate and other loans include loans that are privately negotiated between a corporate borrower and one or more financial institutions, including, but not limited to, term loans, revolvers, and other instruments issued in the floating rate and other loans market. The Fund acquire interests in loans directly (by way of assignment from the selling institution) and/or indirectly (by way of the purchase of a participation interest from the selling institution). Under a floating rate and other loans assignment, the Fund generally will succeed to all the rights and obligations of an assigning lending institution and become a lender under the loan agreement with the relevant borrower in connection with that loan. Under a floating rate and other loans participation, the Fund generally will have a contractual relationship only with the lender, not with the relevant borrower. As a result, the Fund generally will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest, and any fees to which they are entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the relevant borrower. The Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which they have purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation to the Fund.
Master Netting Arrangements: The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of all or a portion of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts, the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off and the right of set-off is enforceable by law.
78
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, is a party to International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreements with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the Fund is held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian and with respect to those amounts which can be sold or re-pledged, is presented in the Schedule of Investments. Collateral pledged by the Fund is segregated by the Fund’s custodian and identified in the Schedule of Investments. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the Fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the Fund’s net position with each counterparty. Termination events applicable to the Fund may occur upon a decline in the Fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the Fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the Fund’s future derivative activity.
In addition to each instrument’s primary underlying risk exposure (e.g. interest rate, credit, equity or foreign exchange, etc.), swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that no liquid market for these agreements will exist, the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree on the contractual terms of the agreement, and changes in net interest rates will be unfavorable. In connection with these agreements, securities in the portfolio may be identified or received as collateral from the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide or receive assets of value and to serve as recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency of either party. Such OTC derivative agreements include conditions which, when materialized, give the counterparty the right to cause an early termination of the transactions under those agreements. Any election by the counterparty for early termination of the contract(s) may impact the amounts reported on financial statements.
Short sales and OTC contracts, including forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swaps, forward rate agreements and written options involve elements of both market and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, if applicable. Such risks may be mitigated by engaging in master netting arrangements.
Warrants and Rights: The Fund held warrants and rights acquired either through a direct purchase or pursuant to corporate actions. Warrants and rights entitle the holder to buy a proportionate amount of common stock, or such other security that the issuer may specify, at a specific price and time through the expiration dates. Such warrants and rights are held
PGIM High Yield Fund 79
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
as long positions by the Fund until exercised, sold or expired. Warrants and rights are valued at fair value in accordance with the Board approved fair valuation procedures.
Payment-In-Kind: The Fund invested in the open market or received pursuant to debt restructuring securities that pay-in-kind (PIK) the interest due on such debt instruments. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified, is added to the existing principal balance of the debt when issued bonds have the same terms as the bond or recorded as a separate bond when terms are different from the existing debt, and is recorded as interest income.
Securities Lending: The Fund lends its portfolio securities to banks and broker-dealers. The loans are secured by collateral at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Collateral pledged by each borrower is invested in an affiliated money market fund and is marked to market daily, based on the previous day’s market value, such that the value of the collateral exceeds the value of the loaned securities. In the event of significant appreciation in value of the securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the financial statements may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities. Such shortfall is remedied as described above. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower will return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. The remaining open loans of the securities lending transactions are considered overnight and continuous. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund has the right to repurchase the securities in the open market using the collateral.
The Fund recognizes income, net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees, for lending its securities in the form of fees or interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The borrower receives all interest and dividends from the securities loaned and such payments are passed back to the lender in amounts equivalent thereto, which are reflected in interest income or unaffiliated dividend income based on the nature of the payment on the Statement of Operations. The Fund also continues to recognize any unrealized gain (loss) in the market price of the securities loaned and on the change in the value of the collateral invested that may occur during the term of the loan. In addition, realized gain (loss) is recognized on changes in the value of the collateral invested upon liquidation of the collateral. Net earnings from securities lending are disclosed in the Statement of Operations.
Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date, or for certain foreign securities, when the Fund becomes aware of such dividends. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt
80
securities, as required, is recorded on the accrual basis. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual expense amounts. Net investment income or loss (other than class specific expenses and waivers, which are allocated as noted below) and unrealized and realized gains (losses) are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of adjusted net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Class specific expenses and waivers, where applicable, are charged to the respective share classes. Such class specific expenses and waivers include distribution fees and distribution fee waivers, shareholder servicing fees, transfer agent’s fees and expenses, registration fees and fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, as applicable.
Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to continue to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable net investment income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, interest and capital gains, if any, are recorded, net of reclaimable amounts, at the time the related income is earned.
Dividends and Distributions: Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified between total distributable earnings (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate. The chart below sets forth the expected frequency of dividend and capital gains distributions to shareholders. Various factors may impact the frequency of dividend distributions to shareholders, including but not limited to adverse market conditions or portfolio holding-specific events.
| | |
| |
Expected Distribution Schedule to Shareholders* | | Frequency |
| |
Net Investment Income | | Monthly |
| |
Short-Term Capital Gains | | Annually |
| |
Long-Term Capital Gains | | Annually |
* | Under certain circumstances, the Fund may make more than one distribution of short-term and/or long-term capital gains during a fiscal year. |
Estimates: The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a management agreement with the Manager pursuant to which it has responsibility for all investment advisory services, including supervision of the subadviser’s performance of such services, and for rendering administrative services.
PGIM High Yield Fund 81
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Manager has entered into a subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc., which provides subadvisory services to the Fund through its business unit PGIM Fixed Income and PGIM Limited (collectively the “subadviser”). The Manager pays for the services of the subadviser.
Fees payable under the management agreement are computed daily and paid monthly. For the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, the contractual and effective management fee rates were as follows:
| | | | |
| |
Contractual Management Rate | | Effective Management Fee, before any waivers and/or expense reimbursements | |
0.50% of average daily net assets up to and including $250 million; | | | 0.36% | |
0.475% on next $500 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.45% of next $750 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.425% on next $500 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.40% on next $500 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.375% on next $500 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.35% on average daily net assets over $3 billion | | | | |
The Manager has contractually agreed, through December 31, 2024, to limit transfer agency, shareholder servicing, sub-transfer agency, and blue sky fees, as applicable. This contractual expense limitation excludes interest, brokerage, taxes (such as income and foreign withholding taxes, stamp duty and deferred tax expenses), acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, and certain other Fund expenses such as dividend and interest expense and broker charges on short sales.
Where applicable, the Manager agrees to waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class. In addition, total annual fund operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual operating expenses for Class Z shares. Fees and/or expenses waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager for the purpose of preventing the expenses from exceeding a certain expense ratio limit may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver and/or reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year. The expense limitations attributable to each class are as follows:
| | | | | |
| |
Class | | Expense Limitations |
A | | | | — | % |
C | | | | — | |
R | | | | — | |
Z | | | | — | |
R2 | | | | 0.91 | |
R4 | | | | 0.66 | |
82
| | | | | |
| |
Class | | Expense Limitations |
R6 | | | | — | % |
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class C, Class R, Class Z, Class R2, Class R4 and Class R6 shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class R and Class R2 shares, pursuant to the plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS.
Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate based on average daily net assets per class. PIMS has contractually agreed through December 31, 2023 to limit such fees on certain classes based on the average daily net assets. The distribution fees are accrued daily and payable monthly.
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan with respect to Class R2 and Class R4 shares. Under the terms of the Shareholder Services Plan, Class R2 and Class R4 shares are authorized to compensate Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (“PMFS”), its affiliates or third-party service providers for services rendered to the shareholders of such Class R2 or Class R4 shares. The shareholder service fee is accrued daily and paid monthly, as applicable.
The Fund’s annual gross and net distribution rates and maximum shareholder service fee, where applicable, are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class | | Gross Distribution Fee | | Net Distribution Fee | | Shareholder Service Fee |
A | | 0.25% | | 0.25% | | N/A% |
C | | 1.00 | | 1.00 | | N/A |
R | | 0.75 | | 0.50 | | N/A |
Z | | N/A | | N/A | | N/A |
R2 | | 0.25 | | 0.25 | | 0.10 |
R4 | | N/A | | N/A | | 0.10 |
R6 | | N/A | | N/A | | N/A |
For the year ended August 31, 2023, PIMS received front-end sales charges (“FESL”) resulting from sales of certain class shares and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) imposed upon redemptions by certain shareholders. From these fees, PIMS paid such sales charges to broker-dealers, who in turn paid commissions to salespersons and incurred other distribution costs. The sales charges are as follows where applicable:
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class | | FESL | | | CDSC | |
A | | $ | 798,371 | | | $ | 15,933 | |
C | | | — | | | | 19,558 | |
PGIM Investments, PGIM, Inc., PMFS, PGIM Limited and PIMS are indirect, wholly-owned
PGIM High Yield Fund 83
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).
4. | Other Transactions with Affiliates |
PMFS serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and shareholder servicing agent. Transfer agent’s and shareholder servicing agent’s fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations include certain out-of-pocket expenses paid to non-affiliates, where applicable.
The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund (the “Core Government Fund”), a fund of the Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc., and its securities lending cash collateral in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (the “Money Market Fund”), a fund of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, each registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. The Fund may also invest in the PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund (together with the Core Government Fund, the “Core Funds”), a fund of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments, pursuant to an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). PGIM Investments and/or its affiliates are paid fees or reimbursed for providing their services to the Core Funds and the Money Market Fund. In addition to the realized and unrealized gains on investments in the Core Funds and the Money Market Fund, earnings from such investments are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.
The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act that, subject to certain conditions, permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors/trustees, and/or common officers. For the year ended August 31, 2023, no Rule 17a-7 transactions were entered into by the Fund.
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments, in-kind transactions and U.S. Government securities) for the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, were as follows:
| | |
| |
Cost of Purchases | | Proceeds from Sales |
$3,350,861,048 | | $3,963,901,376 |
A summary of the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of shares of affiliated mutual funds for the year ended August 31, 2023, is presented as follows:
84
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Value, Beginning of Year | | Cost of Purchases | | | Proceeds from Sales | | | Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | Realized Gain (Loss) | | | Value, End of Year | | | Shares, End of Year | | | Income | |
| | | |
Short-Term Investments - Affiliated Mutual Funds: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(1)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ — | | | $2,194,841,401 | | | | $1,666,005,308 | | | | $ — | | | | $ — | | | | $ 528,836,093 | | | | 528,836,093 | | | | $ 7,577,563 | |
| | | | |
PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund(1)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
306,026,153 | | | 14,730,921 | | | | — | | | | 691,948 | | | | — | | | | 321,449,022 | | | | 35,169,477 | | | | 14,730,922 | |
| | | | |
PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(1)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
203,987,905 | | | 217,396,419 | | | | 421,384,324 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,610,272 | |
| | | | |
PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund(1)(b)(wl) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2,848,915,122 | | | 3,545,139,918 | | | | 3,912,417,865 | | | | 195,039 | | | | 84,630 | | | | 2,481,916,844 | | | | 2,483,158,423 | | | | 10,058,129 | (2) |
$3,358,929,180 | | | $5,972,108,659 | | | | $5,999,807,497 | | | | $886,987 | | | | $84,630 | | | | $3,332,201,959 | | | | | | | | $40,976,886 | |
(1) | The Fund did not have any capital gain distributions during the reporting period. |
(2) | The amount, or a portion thereof, represents the affiliated securities lending income shown on the Statement of Operations. |
(b) | Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment. |
(wl) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund, PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund, PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund, if applicable. |
6. | Distributions and Tax Information |
Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date.
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Tax Return of Capital | | Total Dividends and Distributions |
$1,306,974,153 | | $— | | $— | | $1,306,974,153 |
For the year ended August 31, 2022, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Tax Return of Capital | | Total Dividends and Distributions |
$1,521,099,602 | | $24,114,201 | | $— | | $1,545,213,803 |
PGIM High Yield Fund 85
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund had the following amounts of accumulated undistributed earnings on a tax basis:
| | |
| |
Undistributed Ordinary Income | | Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains |
$110,175,467 | | $— |
The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized depreciation as of August 31, 2023 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Tax Basis | | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | | Gross Unrealized Depreciation | | Net Unrealized Depreciation |
$22,690,520,545 | | | $ | 256,600,669 | | | | $ | (2,741,247,513 | ) | | | $ | (2,484,646,844 | ) |
The difference between GAAP basis and tax basis is primarily attributable to deferred losses on wash sales, differences in the treatment of premium amortization for GAAP and tax purposes, securities in default and other GAAP to tax differences.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund had an approximated capital loss carryforward as of August 31, 2023 which can be carried forward for an unlimited period. No capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such losses.
| | |
| |
Capital Loss Carryforward | | Capital Loss Carryforward Utilized |
$588,181,000 | | $— |
The Manager has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed tax returns, the Fund’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the four fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 are subject to such review.
The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class R, Class Z, Class R2, Class R4 and Class R6 shares. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 3.25%. Investors who purchase $500,000 or more of Class A shares and sell those shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a CDSC of 1% on sales although these purchases are not subject to a front-end sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for certain retirement and/or benefit plans. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who qualified to
86
purchase Class A shares at net asset value. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase. Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a monthly basis approximately eight years (ten years prior to January 22, 2021) after purchase. Class R, Class Z, Class R2, Class R4 and Class R6 shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charges and are available exclusively for sale to a limited group of investors.
Under certain circumstances, an exchange may be made from specified share classes of the Fund to one or more other share classes of the Fund as presented in the table of transactions in shares of common stock, below.
The RIC is authorized to issue 96,525,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 86,450,000,000 of which are designated as shares of the Fund. The shares are currently classified and designated as follows:
| | | | | |
Class | | Number of Shares |
A | | | | 6,000,000,000 | |
B | | | | 50,000,000 | |
C | | | | 1,000,000,000 | |
R | | | | 500,000,000 | |
Z | | | | 41,000,000,000 | |
T | | | | 300,000,000 | |
R2 | | | | 300,000,000 | |
R4 | | | | 300,000,000 | |
R6 | | | | 37,000,000,000 | |
The Fund currently does not have any Class B or Class T shares outstanding.
As of August 31, 2023, Prudential, through its affiliated entities, including affiliated funds (if applicable), owned shares of the Fund as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Class | | Number of Shares | | Percentage of Outstanding Shares |
A | | | | 10,936 | | | | | 0.1 | % |
Z | | | | 97,928 | | | | | 0.1 | |
At the reporting period end, the number of shareholders holding greater than 5% of the Fund are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Number of Shareholders | | Percentage of Outstanding Shares |
Affiliated | | | | — | | | | | — | % |
Unaffiliated | | | | 6 | | | | | 60.1 | |
PGIM High Yield Fund 87
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Class A | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 40,798,579 | | | $ | 187,663,921 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 19,183,979 | | | | 87,964,455 | |
Shares purchased | | | (76,642,358) | | | | (351,818,390) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (16,659,800) | | | | (76,190,014) | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 5,859,109 | | | | 26,910,491 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (4,161,772) | | | | (19,166,922) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (14,962,463) | | | $ | (68,446,445) | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 61,237,475 | | | $ | 321,563,033 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 19,457,206 | | | | 101,013,006 | |
Shares purchased | | | (96,577,441) | | | | (500,013,944) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (15,882,760) | | | | (77,437,905) | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 7,387,056 | | | | 38,138,968 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (5,642,035) | | | | (29,600,757) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (14,137,739) | | | $ | (68,899,694) | |
| | |
Class C | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 6,534,148 | | | $ | 29,866,331 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 2,732,098 | | | | 12,517,484 | |
Shares purchased | | | (10,347,337) | | | | (47,420,411) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (1,081,091) | | | | (5,036,596) | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (3,594,674) | | | | (16,494,509) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (4,675,765) | | | $ | (21,531,105) | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 7,838,533 | | | $ | 41,385,872 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 2,809,553 | | | | 14,578,084 | |
Shares purchased | | | (9,451,759) | | | | (48,232,154) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | 1,196,327 | | | | 7,731,802 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (3,617,064) | | | | (18,613,183) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (2,420,737) | | | $ | (10,881,381) | |
88
| | | | | | | | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Class R | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 1,419,609 | | | $ | 6,533,767 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 890,430 | | | | 4,080,987 | |
Shares purchased | | | (2,747,609) | | | | (12,603,464) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (437,570) | | | $ | (1,988,710) | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 2,162,763 | | | $ | 11,395,848 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 902,244 | | | | 4,678,986 | |
Shares purchased | | | (3,505,263) | | | | (18,044,529) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (440,256) | | | $ | (1,969,695) | |
| | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 660,076,349 | | | $ | 3,037,995,940 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 130,846,124 | | | | 601,477,883 | |
Shares purchased | | | (919,106,804) | | | | (4,227,314,616) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (128,184,331) | | | | (587,840,793) | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 6,538,560 | | | | 30,153,572 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (14,738,064) | | | | (67,540,653) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (136,383,835) | | | $ | (625,227,874) | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 837,126,833 | | | $ | 4,391,796,095 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 150,617,328 | | | | 784,872,806 | |
Shares purchased | | | (1,298,474,112) | | | | (6,644,443,872) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | (310,729,951) | | | | (1,467,774,971) | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 8,422,926 | | | | 44,112,504 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (12,516,094) | | | | (67,904,125) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (314,823,119) | | | $ | (1,491,566,592) | |
| | |
Class R2 | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 1,848,346 | | | $ | 8,500,940 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 494,223 | | | | 2,267,665 | |
Shares purchased | | | (5,429,984) | | | | (24,893,573) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (3,087,415) | | | $ | (14,124,968) | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 2,198,934 | | | $ | 11,549,913 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 534,247 | | | | 2,772,447 | |
Shares purchased | | | (2,488,512) | | | | (12,756,278) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 244,669 | | | $ | 1,566,082 | |
PGIM High Yield Fund 89
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Class R4 | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 2,380,952 | | | $ | 10,932,215 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 338,988 | | | | 1,556,926 | |
Shares purchased | | | (2,714,046) | | | | (12,441,734) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 5,894 | | | $ | 47,407 | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 3,536,709 | | | $ | 18,627,660 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 270,731 | | | | 1,397,821 | |
Shares purchased | | | (2,371,991) | | | | (12,151,541) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 1,435,449 | | | $ | 7,873,940 | |
| | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 608,673,783 | | | $ | 2,797,671,446 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 100,505,725 | | | | 461,124,295 | |
Shares purchased | | | (640,402,963) | | | | (2,940,709,978) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | 68,776,545 | | | | 318,085,763 | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 12,009,890 | | | | 54,847,768 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (1,898,012) | | | | (8,709,747) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 78,888,423 | | | $ | 364,223,784 | |
| | |
Year ended August 31, 2022: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 621,579,180 | | | $ | 3,219,720,029 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 82,624,234 | | | | 427,791,873 | |
Shares purchased | | | (671,057,418) | | | | (3,402,182,484) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion | | | 33,145,996 | | | | 245,329,418 | |
Shares issued upon conversion from other share class(es) | | | 8,263,910 | | | | 45,725,501 | |
Shares purchased upon conversion into other share class(es) | | | (2,284,280) | | | | (11,858,908) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 39,125,626 | | | $ | 279,196,011 | |
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Participating Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary
90
funding for capital share redemptions. The table below provides details of the current SCA in effect at the reporting period-end as well as the prior SCA.
| | | | |
| | Current SCA | | Prior SCA |
Term of Commitment | | 9/30/2022 - 9/28/2023 | | 10/1/2021 – 9/29/2022 |
Total Commitment | | $ 1,200,000,000 | | $ 1,200,000,000 |
Annualized Commitment Fee on the Unused Portion of the SCA | | 0.15% | | 0.15% |
Annualized Interest Rate on Borrowings | | 1.00% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the daily SOFR rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero percent | | 1.20% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the one-month LIBOR rate or (3) zero percent |
Subsequent to the reporting period end, the SCA has been renewed and effective September 29, 2023 will provide a commitment of $1,200,000,000 through September 26, 2024. The commitment fee paid by the Participating Funds will continue to be 0.15% of the unused portion of the SCA. The interest on borrowings under the renewed SCA will be paid monthly and at a per annum interest rate of 1.00% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the daily SOFR rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero percent.
Certain affiliated registered investment companies that are parties to the SCA include portfolios that are subject to a predetermined mathematical formula used to manage certain benefit guarantees offered under variable annuity contracts. The formula may result in large scale asset flows into and out of these portfolios. Consequently, these portfolios may be more likely to utilize the SCA for purposes of funding redemptions. It may be possible for those portfolios to fully exhaust the committed amount of the SCA, thereby requiring the Manager to allocate available funding per a Board-approved methodology designed to treat the Participating Funds in the SCA equitably.
The Fund did not utilize the SCA during the year ended August 31, 2023.
9. | Risks of Investing in the Fund |
The Fund’s risks include, but are not limited to, some or all of the risks discussed below. For further information on the Fund’s risks, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Covenant-Lite Risk: Some of the loans or debt obligations in which the Fund may invest or get exposure to may be “covenant-lite”, which means the loans or obligations contain fewer financial maintenance covenants than other loans or obligations (in some cases, none) and do not include terms which allow the lender to monitor the borrower’s performance and declare a default if certain criteria are breached. An investment by the Fund in a covenant-lite loan may potentially hinder the ability to reprice credit risk associated with the issuer and reduce the ability to restructure a problematic loan and mitigate potential loss. The Fund may also experience difficulty, expenses or delays in enforcing its rights on its holdings of covenant-lite loans or obligations. As a result of these risks, the Fund’s exposure
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Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
to losses may be increased, which could result in an adverse impact on the Fund’s net income and NAV.
Credit Risk: This is the risk that the issuer, the guarantor or the insurer of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. Additionally, fixed income securities could lose value due to a loss of confidence in the ability of the issuer, guarantor, insurer or counterparty to pay back debt. The lower the credit quality of a bond, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Debt Obligations Risk: Debt obligations are subject to credit risk, market risk and interest rate risk. The Fund’s holdings, share price, yield and total return may also fluctuate in response to bond market movements. The value of bonds may decline for issuer-related reasons, including management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services. Certain types of fixed income obligations also may be subject to “call and redemption risk,” which is the risk that the issuer may call a bond held by the Fund for redemption before it matures and the Fund may not be able to reinvest at the same rate of interest and therefore would earn less income.
Derivatives Risk: Derivatives involve special risks and costs and may result in losses to the Fund. The successful use of derivatives requires sophisticated management, and, to the extent that derivatives are used, the Fund will depend on the subadviser’s ability to analyze and manage derivatives transactions. The prices of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in abnormal market conditions. Some derivatives are “leveraged” or may create economic leverage for the Fund and therefore may magnify or otherwise increase investment losses to the Fund. The Fund’s use of derivatives may also increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
Other risks arise from the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivatives positions. In fact, many over-the-counter derivative instruments will not have liquidity beyond the counterparty to the instrument. Over-the-counter derivative instruments also involve the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations to the Fund. The use of derivatives also exposes the Fund to operational issues, such as documentation and settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate control and human error.
Derivatives may also involve legal risks, such as insufficient documentation, the lack of capacity or authority of a counterparty to execute or settle a transaction, and the legality and enforceability of derivatives contracts. The U.S. Government and foreign governments have adopted (and may adopt further) regulations governing derivatives markets, including mandatory clearing of certain derivatives, margin and reporting requirements, and risk
92
exposure limitations. Regulation of derivatives may make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility to the Fund, or otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets
Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth or the functioning of the securities markets, or otherwise reduce inflation, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Governmental efforts to curb inflation often have negative effects on the level of economic activity. Relatively reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide.
Emerging Markets Risk: The risks of foreign investments are greater for investments in or exposed to emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation. Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by non-U.S. investors, or that prevent non-U.S. investors from withdrawing their money at will.
The Fund may invest in some emerging markets that subject it to risks such as those associated with illiquidity, custody of assets, different settlement and clearance procedures and asserting legal title under a developing legal and regulatory regime to a greater degree than in developed markets or even in other emerging markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (including those denominated in U.S. dollars) may involve more risk than investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign political, economic and legal systems, especially those in developing and emerging market countries, may be less stable and more volatile than in the United States. Foreign legal systems generally have fewer regulatory requirements than the U.S. legal system, particularly those of emerging markets. In general, less information is publicly available with respect to non-U.S. companies than U.S. companies. Non-U.S. companies generally are not subject to the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards as are U.S. companies. Additionally, the changing value of foreign currencies and changes in exchange rates could also affect the value of the assets the Fund holds and the Fund’s performance. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of foreign securities to make payment of principal and interest or dividends to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise. Investments in emerging markets are subject to greater volatility and price declines.
In addition, the Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currency, confiscatory taxation and adverse diplomatic developments. Special U.S. tax considerations may apply.
PGIM High Yield Fund 93
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Increase in Expenses Risk: Your actual cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the expenses shown in the expense table in the Fund’s prospectus for a variety of reasons. For example, expense ratios may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and Fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile. Active and frequent trading of Fund securities can increase expenses.
Interest Rate Risk: The value of your investment may go down when interest rates rise. A rise in rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term or duration debt securities. Similarly, a rise in interest rates may also have a greater negative impact on the value of equity securities whose issuers expect earnings further out in the future. For example, a fixed income security with a duration of three years is expected to decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest rates increase by 1%. This is referred to as “duration risk.” When interest rates fall, the issuers of debt obligations may prepay principal more quickly than expected, and the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate. This is referred to as “prepayment risk.” When interest rates rise, debt obligations may be repaid more slowly than expected, and the value of the Fund’s holdings may fall sharply. This is referred to as “extension risk.” The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply or in a manner not anticipated by the subadviser.
Junk Bonds Risks: High-yield, high-risk bonds have predominantly speculative characteristics, including particularly high credit risk. Junk bonds tend to have lower market liquidity than higher-rated securities. The liquidity of particular issuers or industries within a particular investment category may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning. The non-investment grade bond market can experience sudden and sharp price swings and become illiquid due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, a high profile default or a change in the market’s psychology.
Large Shareholder and Large Scale Redemption Risk: Certain individuals, accounts, funds (including funds affiliated with the Manager) or institutions, including the Manager and its affiliates, may from time to time own or control a substantial amount of the Fund’s shares. There is no requirement that these entities maintain their investment in the Fund. There is a risk that such large shareholders or that the Fund’s shareholders generally may redeem all or a substantial portion of their investments in the Fund in a short period of time, which could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s NAV, liquidity, and brokerage costs. Large redemptions could also result in tax consequences to shareholders and impact the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy. The Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective after one or more large scale redemptions may be impaired and, as a result, the Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalents.
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Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Fund may invest in instruments that trade in lower volumes and are more illiquid than other investments. If the Fund is forced to sell these investments to pay redemption proceeds or for other reasons, the Fund may lose money. In addition, when there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the instrument at all. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.
Management Risk: Actively managed funds are subject to management risk. The subadviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but the subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry or sector or about market movements may be incorrect. Additionally, the investments selected for the Fund may underperform the markets in general, the Fund’s benchmark and other funds with similar investment objectives.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risks: Market disruption can be caused by economic, financial or political events and factors, including but not limited to, international wars or conflicts (including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine), geopolitical developments (including trading and tariff arrangements, sanctions and cybersecurity attacks), instability in regions such as Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, terrorism, natural disasters and public health epidemics (including the outbreak of COVID-19 globally).
The extent and duration of such events and resulting market disruptions cannot be predicted, but could be substantial and could magnify the impact of other risks to the Fund. These and other similar events could adversely affect the U.S. and foreign financial markets and lead to increased market volatility, reduced liquidity in the securities markets, significant negative impacts on issuers and the markets for certain securities and commodities and/or government intervention. They may also cause short- or long-term economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted. Further, due to closures of certain markets and restrictions on trading certain securities, the value of certain securities held by the Fund could be significantly impacted, which could lead to such securities being valued at zero.
COVID-19 and the related governmental and public responses have had, and future public health epidemics may have an impact on the Fund’s investments and net asset value, and have led and may lead to increased market volatility and the potential for illiquidity in certain classes of securities and sectors of the market. Future public health epidemics may result in periods of business disruption, business closures, inability to obtain raw materials, supplies and component parts, and reduced or disrupted operations for the issuers in which the
PGIM High Yield Fund 95
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Fund invests. The occurrence, reoccurrence and pendency of public health epidemics could adversely affect the economies and financial markets either in specific countries or worldwide.
Market Risk: Securities markets may be volatile and the market prices of the Fund’s securities may decline. Securities fluctuate in price based on changes in an issuer’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. If the market prices of the securities owned by the Fund fall, the value of your investment in the Fund will decline.
Reference Rate Risk: The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from using or continue to use the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or synthetic version thereof to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) announced a phase out of LIBOR such that after June 30, 2023, the overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings ceased to be published or are no longer representative. All other LIBOR settings and certain other interbank offered rates, such as the Euro Overnight Index Average (“EONIA”), ceased to be published after December 31, 2021. On December 16, 2022, the Federal Reserve Board adopted regulations implementing the Adjustable Interest Rate Act by identifying benchmark rates based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate that replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts after June 30, 2023. These regulations apply only to contracts governed by U.S. law, among other limitations. The FCA will permit the use of synthetic U.S. dollar LIBOR rates for non-U.S. contracts through September 30, 2024, but any such rates would be considered non-representative of the underlying market.
Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of applicable transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.
10. | Recent Regulatory Developments |
Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information deemed important for retail investors to assess and monitor their fund investments (the “Rule”). Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in the funds’ streamlined shareholder
96
reports but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The Rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the Rule and its impact to the Fund.
PGIM High Yield Fund 97
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 and Shareholders of PGIM High Yield Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of PGIM High Yield Fund (one of the funds constituting Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2023, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2023, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2023 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2023 and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended August 31, 2020 and the financial highlights for each of the periods ended on or prior to August 31, 2020 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated October 15, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
October 17, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the PGIM Retail Funds complex since 2020.
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Tax Information (unaudited)
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable but not less than 64.93% as interest related dividends in accordance with Section 871(k)(1) and 881(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
For the tax year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable but not less than 79.68% of interest dividends that are eligible to be treated as interest income in accordance with Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In January 2024, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV, as to the federal tax status of the dividends received by you in calendar year 2023.
We are required by Massachusetts, Missouri and Oregon to inform you that dividends which have been derived from interest on federal obligations are not taxable to shareholders provided that the Fund meets certain requirements mandated by the respective state’s taxing authorities. We are pleased to report that 1.79% of the dividends paid by the Fund qualify for such deduction.
In January 2024, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV, as to the federal tax status of the dividends received by you in calendar year 2023.
PGIM High Yield Fund 99
Liquidity Risk Management Program (unaudited)
Consistent with Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “LRMP”). The Fund’s LRMP seeks to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is defined as the risk that the Fund is unable to meet investor redemption requests without significantly diluting the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board has approved PGIM Investments, the Fund’s investment manager, to serve as the administrator of the Fund’s LRMP. As part of its responsibilities as administrator, PGIM Investments has retained a third party to perform certain functions, including providing market data and liquidity classification model information.
The Fund’s LRMP includes a number of processes designed to support the assessment and management of its liquidity risk. In particular, the Fund’s LRMP includes no less than annual assessments of factors that influence the Fund’s liquidity risk; no less than monthly classifications of the Fund’s investments into one of four liquidity classifications provided for in the Liquidity Rule; a 15% of net assets limit on the acquisition of “illiquid investments” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule); establishment of a minimum percentage of the Fund’s assets to be invested in investments classified as “highly liquid” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule) if the Fund does not invest primarily in highly liquid investments; and regular reporting to the Board.
At a meeting of the Board on March 7-9, 2023, PGIM Investments provided a written report (“LRMP Report”) to the Board addressing the operation, adequacy, and effectiveness of the Fund’s LRMP, including any material changes to the LRMP for the period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 (“Reporting Period”). The LRMP Report concluded that the Fund’s LRMP was reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk and was adequately and effectively implemented during the Reporting Period. There were no material changes to the LRMP during the Reporting Period. The LRMP Report further concluded that the Fund’s investment strategies continue to be appropriate given the Fund’s status as an open-end fund.
There can be no assurance that the LRMP will achieve its objectives in the future. Additional information regarding risks of investing in the Fund, including liquidity risks presented by the Fund’s investment portfolio, is found in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
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INFORMATION ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS (unaudited)
Information about Board Members and Officers of the Fund is set forth below. Board Members who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Board Members.” Board Members who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund are referred to as “Interested Board Members.” The Board Members are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Board in turn elects the Officers, who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund.
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Ellen S. Alberding 1958 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 99 | | Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President, The Joyce Foundation (charitable foundation) (since 2002); formerly Vice Chair, City Colleges of Chicago (community college system) (2011-2015); formerly Trustee, National Park Foundation (charitable foundation for national park system) (2009-2018); formerly Trustee, Economic Club of Chicago (2009-2016); Trustee, Loyola University (since 2018). | | None. | | Since September 2013 |
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Kevin J. Bannon 1952 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Managing Director (April 2008-May 2015) and Chief Investment Officer (October 2008-November 2013) of Highmount Capital LLC (registered investment adviser); formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (April 1993-August 2007) of Bank of New York Company; formerly President (May 2003-May 2007) of BNY Hamilton Family of Mutual Funds. | | Director of Urstadt Biddle Properties (equity real estate investment trust) (since September 2008). | | Since July 2008 |
PGIM High Yield Fund
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Linda W. Bynoe 1952 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 97 | | President and Chief Executive Officer (since March 1995) and formerly Chief Operating Officer (December 1989-February 1995) of Telemat Limited LLC (formerly Telemat Ltd) (management consulting); formerly Vice President (January 1985-June 1989) at Morgan Stanley & Co. (broker-dealer). | | Trustee of Equity Residential (residential real estate) (since December 2009); Director of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services) (since April 2006); formerly Director of Anixter International, Inc. (communication products distributor) (January 2006-June 2020). | | Since March 2005 |
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Barry H. Evans 1960 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly President (2005-2016), Global Chief Operating Officer (2014-2016), Chief Investment Officer - Global Head of Fixed Income (1998-2014), and various portfolio manager roles (1986-2006), Manulife Asset Management (asset management). | | Formerly Director, Manulife Trust Company (2011-2018); formerly Director, Manulife Asset Management Limited (2015-2017); formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of Manulife Asset Management U.S. (2005-2016); formerly Chairman of the Board, Declaration Investment Management and Research (2008-2016). | | Since September 2017 |
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Keith F. Hartstein 1956 Board Member & Independent Chair Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Member (November 2014-September 2022) of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC) (organization of independent mutual fund directors); formerly Executive Committee of the IDC Board of Governors (October 2019-December 2021); formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (2005-2012), Senior Vice President (2004-2005), Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (1997-2004), and various executive management positions (1990-1997), John Hancock Funds, LLC (asset management); formerly Chairman, Investment Company Institute’s Sales Force Marketing Committee (2003-2008). | | None. | | Since September 2013 |
Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Laurie Simon Hodrick 1962 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 97 | | A. Barton Hepburn Professor Emerita of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (since 2018); Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University (since 2015); Sole Member, ReidCourt LLC (since 2008) (a consulting firm); formerly Visiting Professor of Law, Stanford Law School (2015-2021); formerly A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (1996-2017); formerly Managing Director, Global Head of Alternative Investment Strategies, Deutsche Bank (2006-2008). | | Independent Director, Andela (since January 2022) (global talent network); Independent Director, Roku (since December 2020) (communication services); formerly Independent Director, Synnex Corporation (2019-2021) (information technology); formerly Independent Director, Kabbage, Inc. (2018-2020) (financial services); formerly Independent Director, Corporate Capital Trust (2017-2018) (a business development company). | | Since September 2017 |
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Brian K. Reid 1961 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Chief Economist for the Investment Company Institute (ICI) (2005-2017); formerly Senior Economist and Director of Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1998-2004); formerly Senior Economist, Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1996-1998); formerly Staff Economist at the Federal Reserve Board (1989-1996); formerly Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2012-2017). | | None. | | Since March 2018 |
PGIM High Yield Fund
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Grace C. Torres 1959 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential Variable Contract Accounts and The Prudential Series Fund (1998-June 2014); Assistant Treasurer (March 1999-June 2014) and Senior Vice President (September 1999-June 2014) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) and Vice President (June 2005-June 2014) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) of Prudential Annuities Advisory Services, Inc. | | Director (since January 2018) of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank; formerly Director (July 2015-January 2018) of Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. and Sun National Bank. | | Since November 2014 |
Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
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Interested Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Stuart S. Parker 1962 Board Member & President Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Officer in Charge of PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC) (since January 2012); President and Principal Executive Officer ("PEO") (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; President and PEO (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Executive Vice President of Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June 2005-December 2011); Investment Company Institute - Board of Governors (since May 2012). | | None. | | Since January 2012 |
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Scott E. Benjamin 1973 Board Member & Vice President Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Executive Vice President (since May 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President (since June 2012) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Executive Vice President (since September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, PGIM Investments (since February 2006); Vice President (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Vice President (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, PGIM Investments LLC (2003-2006). | | None. | | Since March 2010 |
PGIM High Yield Fund
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Fund Officers(a) | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Claudia DiGiacomo 1974 Chief Legal Officer | | Chief Legal Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Chief Legal Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of PIFM Holdco, LLC (since August 2020); Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since August 2020); formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (2005-2020); formerly Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004). | | Since December 2005 |
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Andrew Donohue 1972 Chief Compliance Officer | | Chief Compliance Officer (since May 2023) of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since October 2022); Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer of PGIM Investments LLC (since September 2022); formerly various senior compliance roles within Principal Global Investors, LLC., global asset management for Principal Financial (2011-2022), most recently as Global Chief Compliance Officer (2016-2022). | | Since May 2023 |
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Andrew R. French 1962 Secretary | | Vice President (since December 2018) of PGIM Investments LLC; Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President and Corporate Counsel (2010-2018) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC. | | Since October 2006 |
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Melissa Gonzalez 1980 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2018) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (March 2014-September 2018) of Prudential. | | Since March 2020 |
Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
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Fund Officers(a) | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Patrick E. McGuinness 1986 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Director and Corporate Counsel (since February 2017) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. | | Since June 2020 |
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Debra Rubano 1975 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since November 2020) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc; formerly Director and Senior Counsel of Allianz Global Investors U.S. Holdings LLC (2010-2020) and Assistant Secretary of numerous funds in the Allianz fund complex (2015-2020). | | Since December 2020 |
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Kelly A. Coyne 1968 Assistant Secretary | | Director, Investment Operations of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since 2010); Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. | | Since March 2015 |
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Christian J. Kelly 1975 Chief Financial Officer | | Vice President, Global Head of Fund Administration of PGIM Investments LLC (since November 2018); Chief Financial Officer (since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Credit Fund (since September 2022); Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. (since July 2022); formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (January 2019- March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director of Fund Administration of Lord Abbett & Co. LLC (2009-2018), Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds (2017-2018); Director of Accounting, Avenue Capital Group (2008-2009); Senior Manager, Investment Management Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP (1998-2007). | | Since January 2019 |
PGIM High Yield Fund
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Fund Officers(a) | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Russ Shupak 1973 Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; formerly Assistant Treasurer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since October 2019); formerly Director (2013-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Lana Lomuti 1967 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Assistant Treasurer (December 2007-February 2014) of The Greater China Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2005-2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since April 2014 |
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Deborah Conway 1969 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2007-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Elyse M. McLaughlin 1974 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Advanced Series Trust, the Prudential Series Fund and the Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since October 2019); formerly Director (2011-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Robert W. McCormack 1973 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (Since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2016-2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Vice President within Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Management Controllers (2008- 2016), Assistant Treasurer of Goldman Sachs Family of Funds (2015-2016). | | Since March 2023 |
Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
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Fund Officers(a) | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Kelly Florio 1978 Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer | | Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Global Compliance Programs and Compliance Risk Management (since December 2021) of Prudential; formerly Head of Fraud Risk Management (October 2019 to December 2021) at New York Life Insurance Company; formerly Head of Key Risk Area Operations (November 2018 to October 2019), Director of the US Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (2009-2018) and Bank Loss Prevention Associate (2006 -2009) at MetLife. | | Since June 2022 |
(a) | Excludes Mr. Parker and Mr. Benjamin, interested Board Members who also serve as President and Vice President, respectively. |
Explanatory Notes to Tables:
∎ | | Board Members are deemed to be “Interested,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with PGIM Investments LLC and/or an affiliate of PGIM Investments LLC. |
∎ | | Unless otherwise noted, the address of all Board Members and Officers is c/o PGIM Investments LLC, 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4410. |
∎ | | There is no set term of office for Board Members or Officers. The Board Members have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Board Members on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 75. |
∎ | | “Other Directorships Held” includes all directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the 1934 Act (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
∎ | | “Portfolios Overseen” includes such applicable investment companies managed by PGIM Investments LLC and overseen by the trustee/director. The investment companies for which PGIM Investments LLC serves as manager include the PGIM Mutual Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust. |
∎ | | As used in the Fund Officers table “Prudential” means The Prudential Insurance Company of America. |
PGIM High Yield Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (unaudited)
The Fund’s Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of PGIM High Yield Fund1 (the “Fund”) consists of ten individuals, eight of whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the "Independent Directors”). The Board is responsible for the oversight of the Fund and its operations, and performs the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Directors have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of the Board is an Independent Director. The Board has established five standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Compliance Committee and two Investment Committees. Each committee is chaired by, and composed of, Independent Directors.
Annual Approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreements
As required under the 1940 Act, the Board determines annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with PGIM Limited (“PGIML”) and PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM”) on behalf of its PGIM Fixed Income unit (“PGIM Fixed Income”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, met on May 25 and June 6-8, 2023 (the “Board Meeting”) and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2024, after concluding that the renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
In advance of the meetings, the Board requested and received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration. Among other things, the Board considered comparative fee information from PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income. Also, the Board considered comparisons with other mutual funds in relevant Peer Universes and Peer Groups, as is further discussed below.
In approving the agreements, the Board, including the Independent Directors advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisers, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders as the Fund’s assets grow. In their deliberations, the Directors did not identify any single factor which alone was responsible for the Board’s decision to approve the agreements with respect to the Fund. In connection with its deliberations, the Board considered information provided by PGIM Investments throughout the year at regular Board meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the Board Meeting.
1 | PGIM High Yield Fund is a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15. |
PGIM High Yield Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)
The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PGIM Investments, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, which serve as the Fund’s subadvisers pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PGIM Investments, are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.
The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Directors’ reaching their determinations to approve the continuance of the agreements are separately discussed below.
Nature, Quality and Extent of Services
The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Fund by PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income. The Board noted that PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income are affiliated with PGIM Investments. The Board considered the services provided by PGIM Investments, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadvisers for the Fund, as well as the provision of fund recordkeeping, compliance and other services to the Fund, and PGIM Investments’ role as administrator for the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. With respect to PGIM Investments’ oversight of the subadvisers, the Board noted that PGIM Investments’ Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PGIM Investments, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PGIM Investments’ senior management on the performance and operations of the subadvisers. The Board also considered that PGIM Investments pays the salaries of all of the officers and interested Directors of the Fund who are part of Fund management. The Board also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, including investment research and security selection, as well as adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable Fund policies and procedures. The Board considered PGIM Investments’ evaluation of the subadvisers, as well as PGIM Investments’ recommendation, based on its review of the subadvisers, to renew the subadvisory agreement.
The Board considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PGIM Investments’ senior management responsible for the oversight of the Fund, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, and also considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Board was provided with information pertaining to PGIML’s, PGIM Investments’ and PGIM Fixed Income’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income. The Board also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as to each of PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income.
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The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisory services provided to the Fund by PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income under the management and subadvisory agreement.
Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PGIM Investments
The Board was provided with information on the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Board discussed with PGIM Investments the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from fund management contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocations and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. Taking these factors into account, the Board concluded that the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board received and discussed information concerning economies of scale that PGIM Investments may realize as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Board noted that the management fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints, which have the effect of decreasing the fee rate as assets increase. During the course of time, the Board has considered information regarding the launch date of the Fund, the management fees of the Fund compared to those of similarly managed funds and PGIM Investments’ investment in the Fund over time. The Board noted that economies of scale can be shared with the Fund in other ways, including low management fees from inception, additional technological and personnel investments to enhance shareholder services, and maintaining existing expense structures in the face of a rising cost environment. The Board also considered PGIM Investments’ assertion that it continually evaluates the management fee schedule of the Fund and the potential to share economies of scale through breakpoints or fee waivers as asset levels increase.
The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of PGIM Investments’ costs are not specific to individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
Other Benefits to PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income
The Board considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PGIM Investments, PGIML, PGIM Fixed Income and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Investments included transfer agency fees received by the Fund’s transfer agent
PGIM High Yield Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)
(which is affiliated with PGIM Investments), as well as benefits to its reputation or other intangible benefits resulting from PGIM Investments association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income included the ability to use soft dollar credits, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and benefits to its reputation. The Board concluded that the benefits derived by PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.
Performance of the Fund /Fees and Expenses
The Board considered certain additional factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of the Fund for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2022.
The Board also considered the Fund’s actual management fee, as well as the Fund’s net total expense ratio, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022. The Board considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PGIM Investments to other funds and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds in a Peer Group. The actual management fee represents the fee rate actually paid by Fund shareholders and includes any fee waivers or reimbursements. The net total expense ratio for the Fund represents the actual expense ratio incurred by Fund shareholders.
The mutual funds included in the Peer Universe, which was used to consider performance, and the Peer Group, which was used to consider fees and expenses, were objectively determined by Broadridge, an independent provider of mutual fund data. In certain circumstances, PGIM Investments also provided supplemental Peer Universe or Peer Group information, for reasons addressed with the Board. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles over various periods, with the first quartile being the best 25% of the mutual funds (for performance, the best performing mutual funds and, for expenses, the lowest cost mutual funds).
The section below summarizes key factors considered by the Board and the Board’s conclusions regarding the Fund’s performance, fees and overall expenses. The table sets forth net performance comparisons (which reflect the impact on performance of fund expenses, or any subsidies, expense caps or waivers that may be applicable) with the Peer Universe, actual management fees with the Peer Group (which reflect the impact of any subsidies or fee waivers), and net total expenses with the Peer Group, each of which were key factors considered by the Board.
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Net Performance | | 1 Year | | 3 Years | | 5 Years | | 10 Years |
| 3rd Quartile | | 2nd Quartile | | 1st Quartile | | 1st Quartile |
Actual Management Fees: 1st Quartile | | | | |
Net Total Expenses: 1st Quartile | | |
| · | | The Board noted that the Fund outperformed its benchmark index over the five-and ten-year periods, and underperformed over the one- and three-year periods. |
| · | | The Board also noted that the Fund outperformed its benchmark index in six out of the last ten calendar years. |
| · | | The Board and PGIM Investments agreed to retain the Fund’s existing contractual expense cap, which (exclusive of certain fees and expenses) limits transfer agency, shareholder servicing, sub-transfer agency and blue sky fees to the extent that such fees cause total annual operating expenses to exceed 0.91% for Class R2 shares and 0.66% for Class R4 shares through December 31, 2023. |
| · | | In addition, PGIM Investments will waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class and has agreed that total annual fund operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual fund operating expenses for Class Z shares. |
| · | | The Board concluded that, in light of the above, it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to renew the agreements. |
| · | | The Board concluded that the management fees (including subadvisory fees) and total expenses were reasonable in light of the services provided. |
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After full consideration of these factors, the Board concluded that approval of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
PGIM High Yield Fund
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∎ MAIL 655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 | | ∎ TELEPHONE (800) 225-1852 | | ∎ WEBSITE pgim.com/investments |
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PROXY VOTING The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated to the Fund’s subadvisers the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to the Fund. A description of these proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852 or by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the Fund’s website and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website. |
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DIRECTORS Ellen S. Alberding ● Kevin J. Bannon ● Scott E. Benjamin ● Linda W. Bynoe ● Barry H. Evans ● Keith F. Hartstein ● Laurie Simon Hodrick ● Stuart S. Parker ● Brian K. Reid ● Grace C. Torres |
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OFFICERS Stuart S. Parker, President ● Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President ● Christian J. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer ● Claudia DiGiacomo, Chief Legal Officer ● Andrew Donohue, Chief Compliance Officer ● Russ Shupak, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer ● Kelly Florio, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer ● Andrew R. French, Secretary ● Melissa Gonzalez, Assistant Secretary ● Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Secretary ● Patrick E. McGuinness, Assistant Secretary ● Debra Rubano, Assistant Secretary ● Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer ● Elyse M. McLaughlin, Assistant Treasurer ● Deborah Conway, Assistant Treasurer ● Robert W. McCormack, Assistant Treasurer |
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MANAGER | | PGIM Investments LLC | | 655 Broad Street |
| | | | Newark, NJ 07102 |
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SUBADVISERS | | PGIM Fixed Income | | 655 Broad Street |
| | | | Newark, NJ 07102 |
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| | PGIM Limited | | Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand |
| | | | Trafalgar Square |
| | | | London, WC2N 5HR |
| | | | United Kingdom |
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DISTRIBUTOR | | Prudential Investment | | 655 Broad Street |
| | Management Services LLC | | Newark, NJ 07102 |
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CUSTODIAN | | The Bank of New York | | 240 Greenwich Street |
| | Mellon | | New York, NY 10286 |
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TRANSFER AGENT | | Prudential Mutual Fund | | PO Box 534432 |
| | Services LLC | | Pittsburgh, PA 15253 |
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED | | PricewaterhouseCoopers | | 300 Madison Avenue |
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | | LLP | | New York, NY 10017 |
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FUND COUNSEL | | Willkie Farr & Gallagher | | 787 Seventh Avenue |
| | LLP | | New York, NY 10019 |
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An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. An investor may obtain the prospectus and summary prospectus by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852. The prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing. |
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E-DELIVERY To receive your mutual fund documents online, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery and enroll. Instead of receiving printed documents by mail, you will receive notification via email when new materials are available. You can cancel your enrollment or change your email address at any time by visiting the website address above. |
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SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS Shareholders can communicate directly with the Board of Directors by writing to the Chair of the Board, PGIM High Yield Fund, PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Directors, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Director by writing to that Director at the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee. |
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AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT filings are available on the Commission’s website at sec.gov. |
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The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852. |
Mutual Funds:
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ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY | | MAY LOSE VALUE | | ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK OR ANY BANK AFFILIATE |
PGIM HIGH YIELD FUND
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SHARE CLASS | | A | | C | | R | | Z | | R2 | | R4 | | R6 |
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NASDAQ | | PBHAX | | PRHCX | | JDYRX | | PHYZX | | PHYEX | | PHYGX | | PHYQX |
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CUSIP | | 74440Y108 | | 74440Y306 | | 74440Y603 | | 74440Y801 | | 74442J604 | | 74442J703 | | 74440Y884 |
MF110E
PGIM ESG HIGH YIELD FUND
ANNUAL REPORT
AUGUST 31, 2023
To enroll in e-delivery, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery
Table of Contents
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
The views expressed in this report and information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings are for the period covered by this report and are subject to change thereafter.
Mutual funds are distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC. PGIM Fixed Income is a unit of PGIM, Inc. (PGIM), a registered investment adviser. PIMS and PGIM are Prudential Financial companies © 2023 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. PGIM and the PGIM logo are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.
2 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
Letter from the President
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| | Dear Shareholder: |
| We hope you find the annual report for the PGIM ESG High Yield Fund informative and useful. The report covers performance for the 12-month period that ended August 31, 2023. |
| Although central banks raised interest rates aggressively to tame surging inflation during the period, the global economy and financial markets demonstrated resilience. Employers continued to hire, consumers continued to spend, home prices rose, and recession fears receded. |
Stocks fell early in the period, bottomed in October, and then began a rally that eventually ended a bear market. Despite a banking industry crisis in March, stocks have continued to rise globally throughout 2023 as inflation cooled and the Federal Reserve slowed the pace of its rate hikes. Equities in both US and international markets posted gains during the period.
Bond market returns were mixed during the period as rising interest rates lifted yields to their highest level in two decades. US and global investment-grade bonds fell, while US high yield corporate bonds and emerging-market debt rose.
Regarding your investments with PGIM, we believe it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio of funds consistent with your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals. Your financial advisor can help you create a diversified investment plan that may include funds covering all the basic asset classes and that reflects your personal investor profile and risk tolerance. However, diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
At PGIM Investments, we provide access to active investment strategies across the global markets in the pursuit of consistent outperformance for investors. PGIM is the world’s 14th-largest investment manager with more than $1.3 trillion in assets under management. Our scale and investment expertise allow us to deliver a diversified suite of actively managed solutions across a broad spectrum of asset classes and investment styles.
Thank you for choosing our family of funds.
Sincerely,
Stuart S. Parker, President
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
October 16, 2023
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 3
Your Fund’s Performance (unaudited)
Performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the past performance data quoted. An investor may obtain performance data as of the most recent month-end by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852.
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| | Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 |
| | One Year (%) | | Since Inception (%) |
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Class A | | | | | | |
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(with sales charges) | | | | 2.89 | | -5.54 (12/8/2021) |
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(without sales charges) | | | | 6.34 | | -3.72 (12/8/2021) |
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Class C | | | | | | |
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(with sales charges) | | | | 4.74 | | -4.38 (12/8/2021) |
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(without sales charges) | | | | 5.74 | | -4.38 (12/8/2021) |
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Class Z | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | | | 6.62 | | -3.46 (12/8/2021) |
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Class R6 | | | | | | |
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(without sales charges) | | | | 6.88 | | -3.34 (12/8/2021) |
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Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index | | | | | | |
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| | | | 7.23 | | -1.70 |
Since Inception returns are provided since the Fund has less than 10 fiscal years of returns. Since Inception returns for the Index are measured from the closest month-end to the funds inception date.
4 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
Growth of a $10,000 Investment (unaudited)
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class Z shares with a similar investment in the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index by portraying the initial account values at the commencement of operations (December 8, 2021) and the account values at the end of the current fiscal year (August 31, 2023) as measured on a quarterly basis. For purposes of the graph, and unless otherwise indicated, it has been assumed that (a) all recurring fees (including management fees) were deducted and (b) all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The line graph provides information for Class Z shares only. As indicated in the tables provided earlier, performance for other share classes will vary due to the differing fees and expenses applicable to each share class (as indicated in the following paragraphs). Without waiver of fees and/or expense reimbursements, if any, the returns would have been lower.
Past performance does not predict future performance. Total returns and the ending account values in the graphs include changes in share price and reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions in a hypothetical investment for the periods shown. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect the deduction of income taxes on an individual’s investment. Taxes may reduce your actual investment returns on income or gains paid by the Fund or any gains you may realize if you sell your shares.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 5
Your Fund’s Performance (continued)
The returns in the tables do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or following the redemption of Fund shares. The average annual total returns take into account applicable sales charges, which are described for each share class in the table below.
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| | Class A | | Class C | | Class Z | | Class R6 |
| | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge | | 3.25% of the public offering price | | None | | None | | None |
| | | | |
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) (as a percentage of the lower of the original purchase price or the net asset value at redemption) | | 1.00% on sales of $500,000 or more made within 12 months of purchase | | 1.00% on sales made within 12 months of purchase | | None | | None |
| | | | |
Annual distribution and service (12b-1) fees (shown as a percentage of average daily net assets) | | 0.25% | | 1.00% | | None | | None |
Benchmark Definition
Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index—The Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index (the Index) is an unmanaged index which covers the universe of US dollar denominated, non-convertible, fixed rate, non-investment grade debt. Issuers are capped at 1% of the Index. Index holdings must have at least one year to final maturity, at least $150 million par amount outstanding, and be publicly issued with a rating of Ba1 or lower.
Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The returns for the Index would be lower if they included the effects of sales charges, operating expenses of a mutual fund, or taxes that may be paid by an investor.
6 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
| | | | |
| |
Credit Quality expressed as a percentage of total investments as of 8/31/23 (%) | | | |
| |
AAA | | | 7.8 | |
| |
BBB | | | 7.2 | |
| |
BB | | | 42.9 | |
| |
B | | | 25.5 | |
| |
CCC | | | 10.2 | |
| |
CC | | | 0.2 | |
| |
Not Rated | | | 0.2 | |
| |
Cash/Cash Equivalents | | | 6.0 | |
| |
Total | | | 100.0 | |
Credit ratings reflect the highest rating assigned by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) such as Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s), S&P Global Ratings (S&P), or Fitch Ratings Inc. (Fitch). Credit ratings reflect the common nomenclature used by both S&P and Fitch. Where applicable, ratings are converted to the comparable S&P/Fitch rating tier nomenclature. These rating agencies are independent and are widely used. The Not Rated category consists of securities that have not been rated by an NRSRO. Credit ratings are subject to change.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Distributions and Yields as of 8/31/23 | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Total Distributions Paid for One Year ($) | | SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield* (%) | | SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield** (%) |
| | | |
Class A | | | | 0.53 | | | | | 7.66 | | | | | 69.55 | |
| | | |
Class C | | | | 0.47 | | | | | 6.96 | | | | | 892.44 | |
| | | |
Class Z | | | | 0.56 | | | | | 7.94 | | | | | 42.02 | |
| | | |
Class R6 | | | | 0.55 | | | | | 8.09 | | | | | 7.69 | |
*SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s net expenses (net of any expense waivers or reimbursements). The investor experience is represented by the SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield.
**SEC 30-Day Unsubsidized Yield (%)—A standardized yield calculation created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it reflects the income earned during a 30-day period, after the deduction of the Fund’s gross expenses. The investor experience is represented by the SEC 30-Day Subsidized Yield.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 7
Strategy and Performance Overview* (unaudited)
How did the Fund perform?
The PGIM ESG High Yield Fund’s Class Z shares returned 6.62% in the 12-month reporting period that ended August 31, 2023, underperforming the 7.23% return of the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield 1% Issuer Capped Index (the Index).
What were the market conditions?
· | | US high yield bonds posted gains over the reporting period amid limited new issuance, resilient economic data, and an ongoing supply deficit fueled by a high volume of calls, tenders, maturities, and coupon payments. |
· | | Spreads on the Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield Bond Index tightened 113 basis points (bps) to 372 bps as of the end of the reporting period. (One basis point equals 0.01%.) Meanwhile, fundamentals remained solid, with leverage remaining low and coverage ratios remaining strong despite recession concerns and a series of rolling crises, including a string of regional bank failures, the debt ceiling debate, and still-high inflation. |
· | | After posting outflows of $47 billion during 2022, high yield bond mutual funds saw $11.7 billion of outflows during the first eight months of 2023. However, technicals remained supportive as subdued primary activity helped to offset the headwinds from negative fund flows. After totaling just $106.5 billion in 2022, high yield gross issuance totaled $111.2 billion through the first eight months of 2023, or just $40.8 billion excluding refinancing activity. |
· | | By quality, all credit tiers posted positive returns over the reporting period, with CCC-rated credits outperforming their B-rated and BB-rated peers. Meanwhile, the par-weighted US high yield default rate, including distressed exchanges, ended the reporting period at 2.40%, which was below its long-term historical average but 75 bps higher than the beginning of the year and 119 bps higher than a year earlier, according to J.P.Morgan. |
What worked?
· | | Overall security selection was the largest contributor to the Fund’s performance during the reporting period, with selection in healthcare &pharmaceuticals, retailers &restaurants, and finance & insurance contributing the most. |
· | | In individual security selection, positioning in Lumen Technologies Inc. (telecom), Altice France Holding SA (telecom),and Bausch Health Americas Inc. (healthcare & pharmaceuticals) were among the largest contributors to performance. |
· | | While overall sector allocation detracted from performance, an overweight relative to the Index to building materials &home construction, along with underweights relative to the Index to telecom and media &entertainment, contributed. |
What didn’t work?
· | | While overall security selection contributed to the Fund’s performance during the reporting period, selections in media &entertainment, cable &satellite, and chemicals detracted. |
8 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
· | | Within sector allocation, underweights relative to the Index to gaming/lodging/leisure and upstream energy, along with an overweight relative to the Index to cable & satellite, detracted. |
· | | In individual security selection, positioning in Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (telecom), Diamond Sports Group LLC (media & entertainment), and CSC Holdings LLC (cable & satellite) detracted from results. |
· | | Having less beta, on average, in the Fund relative to the Index over the reporting period had a negative impact on returns. (Beta is a measure of the volatility or risk of a security or portfolio compared to the market or index.) |
Did the Fund use derivatives?
The Fund used credit index derivatives and interest rate futures to manage its overall risk profile during the reporting period, the aggregate impact of which was positive.
Current outlook
· | | While PGIM Fixed Income expects to see some deterioration of fundamentals, some mitigating factors will likely keep US high yield spreads from widening sharply from current levels. The market is of a higher quality than prior cycles, with BB-rated credits comprising nearly 50% of the market, net leverage remaining near all-time lows, and interest coverage near all-time highs. Meanwhile, the technical backdrop remains supportive due to a variety of factors, including lower gross new issuance and sizeable rising stars leading to a meaningful supply deficit and an overall shrinking high yield market. |
· | | PGIM Fixed Income does not expect defaults to be as severe as in previous downturns due to the strength of most issuers’ balance sheets and the absence of a near-term maturity wall, as many issuers have already termed out debt at low interest rates. Should the economy follow its base-case recession scenario, PGIM Fixed Income expects defaults to remain manageable, rising to 5% over the next 12 months. |
· | | While the short-term outlook is somewhat positive, PGIM Fixed Income forecasts a flat excess return over the next 12 months. In terms of positioning, PGIM Fixed Income remains defensive but is looking to opportunistically add higher-quality and short-duration risk on pullbacks from here. |
*This strategy and performance overview, which discusses what strategies or holdings (including derivatives, if applicable) affected the Fund’s performance, is compiled based on how the Fund performed relative to the Fund’s benchmark index and is viewed for performance attribution purposes at the aggregate Fund level, which in most instances will not directly correlate to the amounts disclosed in the Statement of Operations which conform to US generally accepted accounting principles.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 9
Fees and Expenses (unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemptions, as applicable, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses, as applicable. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 held through the six-month period ended August 31, 2023. The example is for illustrative purposes only; you should consult the Prospectus for information on initial and subsequent minimum investment requirements.
Actual Expenses
The first line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information on this line, 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 ÷ $1,000 =8.6), then multiply the result by the number on the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line for each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual 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 the 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.
The Fund’s transfer agent may charge additional fees to holders of certain accounts that are not included in the expenses shown in the table on the following page. These fees apply to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Section 403(b) accounts. As of the close of the six-month period covered by the table, IRA fees included an annual maintenance fee of $15 per account (subject to a maximum annual maintenance fee of $25 for all accounts held by the same shareholder). Section 403(b) accounts are charged an annual $25 fiduciary maintenance fee. Some of the fees may vary in amount, or may be waived, based on your total account balance or the number of PGIM funds, including the Fund, that you own. You should consider the additional fees that were charged to your Fund account over the six-month period when you estimate the total ongoing expenses paid over the period and the impact of these fees on your ending account value, as these additional expenses are not reflected in the information
10 Visit our website at pgim.com/investments
provided in the expense table. Additional fees have the effect of reducing investment returns.
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 sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class in 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 have been higher.
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund | | Beginning Account Value March 1, 2023 | | Ending Account Value August 31, 2023 | | Annualized Expense Ratio Based on the Six-Month Period | | Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period* |
| | | | | |
Class A | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,050.30 | | 0.85% | | $4.39 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,020.92 | | 0.85% | | $4.33 |
Class C | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,046.60 | | 1.52% | | $7.84 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,017.54 | | 1.52% | | $7.73 |
Class Z | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,051.60 | | 0.56% | | $2.90 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,022.38 | | 0.56% | | $2.85 |
Class R6 | | Actual | | $1,000.00 | | $1,052.30 | | 0.43% | | $2.22 |
| | | | | |
| | Hypothetical | | $1,000.00 | | $1,023.04 | | 0.43% | | $2.19 |
*Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) for each share class are equal to the annualized expense ratio for each share class (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 184 days in the six-month period ended August 31, 2023, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 11
Schedule of Investments
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Principal | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS 91.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 3.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2015-05A, Class A1RR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.342% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.080%) | | 6.668%(c) | | 01/20/32 | | | 249 | | | $ | 247,858 | |
KKR Static CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2022-02A, Class A1, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 2.220% (Cap N/A, Floor 2.220%) | | 7.546(c) | | 10/20/31 | | | 221 | | | | 221,381 | |
Race Point CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2013-08A, Class AR2, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.302% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.040%) | | 6.681(c) | | 02/20/30 | | | 194 | | | | 193,065 | |
Voya CLO Ltd. (Cayman Islands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series 2014-02A, Class A1RR, 144A, 3 Month SOFR + 1.282% (Cap N/A, Floor 1.020%) | | 6.590(c) | | 04/17/30 | | | 189 | | | | 188,661 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (cost $847,031) | | | | | | | | | | | 850,965 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CONVERTIBLE BOND 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), Sub. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 7.000% (original cost $762; purchased 03/21/23 - 04/03/23)(f) (cost $762) | | 7.000 | | 09/18/23(oo) | | | 5 | | | | 492 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS 82.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Advertising 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CMG Media Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 8.875 | | 12/15/27 | | | 100 | | | | 78,591 | |
| | | | |
Aerospace & Defense 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Bombardier, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 02/15/28 | | | 50 | | | | 46,578 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.125 | | 06/15/26 | | | 50 | | | | 49,011 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 02/01/29 | | | 25 | | | | 24,531 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.875 | | 04/15/27 | | | 175 | | | | 174,562 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 294,682 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 13
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Airlines 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
American Airlines, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.250% | | 02/15/28 | | | 25 | | | $ | 24,539 | |
American Airlines, Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 04/20/29 | | | 100 | | | | 95,605 | |
United Airlines, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.375 | | 04/15/26 | | | 50 | | | | 47,148 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 04/15/29 | | | 50 | | | | 44,519 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 211,811 | |
| | | | |
Apparel 1.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Hanesbrands, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.875 | | 05/15/26 | | | 25 | | | | 23,373 | |
Kontoor Brands, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 11/15/29 | | | 75 | | | | 63,734 | |
Levi Strauss & Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.500 | | 03/01/31 | | | 75 | | | | 60,991 | |
William Carter Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | 03/15/27 | | | 100 | | | | 96,949 | |
Wolverine World Wide, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.000 | | 08/15/29 | | | 100 | | | | 74,846 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 319,893 | |
| | | | |
Auto Manufacturers 1.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Allison Transmission, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.750 | | 01/30/31 | | | 50 | | | | 41,822 | |
Ford Motor Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 3.250 | | 02/12/32 | | | 325 | | | | 253,617 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.750 | | 01/15/43 | | | 100 | | | | 74,779 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 370,218 | |
| | | | |
Auto Parts & Equipment 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Adient Global Holdings Ltd., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.000 | | 04/15/28 | | | 25 | | | | 25,000 | |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.500 | | 04/01/27 | | | 75 | | | | 71,146 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Auto Parts & Equipment (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Dana, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.250% | | 09/01/30 | | | 175 | | | $ | 144,471 | |
Tenneco, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.000 | | 11/17/28 | | | 50 | | | | 41,176 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 281,793 | |
| | | | |
Banks 0.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Freedom Mortgage Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.625 | | 05/01/26 | | | 25 | | | | 22,998 | |
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (Italy), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sub. Notes, 144A | | 4.198(ff) | | 06/01/32 | | | 200 | | | | 152,008 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 175,006 | |
| | | | |
Building Materials 1.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.125 | | 01/15/29 | | | 125 | | | | 101,458 | |
Eco Material Technologies, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.875 | | 01/31/27 | | | 25 | | | | 24,470 | |
JELD-WEN, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 12/15/25 | | | 24 | | | | 23,248 | |
Masonite International Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | 02/01/28 | | | 25 | | | | 23,562 | |
MIWD Holdco II LLC/MIWD Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 02/01/30 | | | 25 | | | | 21,184 | |
Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 11/01/28 | | | 75 | | | | 72,004 | |
Standard Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.375 | | 01/15/31 | | | 25 | | | | 19,941 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.375 | | 07/15/30 | | | 25 | | | | 21,427 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.750 | | 01/15/28 | | | 75 | | | | 69,040 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 376,334 | |
| | | | |
Chemicals 0.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ASP Unifrax Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.250 | | 09/30/28 | | | 125 | | | | 84,362 | |
SK Invictus Intermediate II Sarl, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 10/30/29 | | | 100 | | | | 81,934 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 166,296 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 15
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Commercial Services 8.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Adtalem Global Education, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.500% | | 03/01/28 | | | 50 | | | $ | 46,755 | |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.625 | | 07/15/26 | | | 200 | | | | 190,393 | |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp./Atlas Luxco 4 Sarl, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 06/01/28 | | | 200 | | | | 168,000 | |
Alta Equipment Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | 04/15/26 | | | 125 | | | | 115,717 | |
AMN Healthcare, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 10/01/27 | | | 225 | | | | 207,416 | |
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | 03/01/29 | | | 75 | | | | 68,903 | |
Brink’s Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 10/15/27 | | | 75 | | | | 69,777 | |
Gartner, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.750 | | 10/01/30 | | | 100 | | | | 86,369 | |
Herc Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 07/15/27 | | | 50 | | | | 48,053 | |
Hertz Corp. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 12/01/29 | | | 125 | | | | 103,015 | |
Metis Merger Sub LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.500 | | 05/15/29 | | | 150 | | | | 129,998 | |
MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 09/01/28 | | | 150 | | | | 127,627 | |
NESCO Holdings II, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 04/15/29 | | | 100 | | | | 91,059 | |
Service Corp. International, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.000 | | 05/15/31 | | | 75 | | | | 63,572 | |
United Rentals North America, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 3.750 | | 01/15/32 | | | 475 | | | | 398,560 | |
Verscend Escrow Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 9.750 | | 08/15/26 | | | 150 | | | | 149,346 | |
VT Topco, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.500 | | 08/15/30 | | | 25 | | | | 25,348 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2,089,908 | |
| | | | |
Computers 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
CA Magnum Holdings (India), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | 10/31/26 | | | 200 | | | | 178,288 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Computers (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
McAfee Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.375% | | 02/15/30 | | | 75 | | | $ | 65,616 | |
NCR Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 10/01/28 | | | 125 | | | | 114,795 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 09/01/27 | | | 75 | | | | 75,675 | |
Tempo Acquisition LLC/Tempo Acquisition Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 06/01/25 | | | 100 | | | | 98,390 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 532,764 | |
| | | | |
Distribution/Wholesale 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
H&E Equipment Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 12/15/28 | | | 200 | | | | 174,668 | |
Ritchie Bros Holdings, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.750 | | 03/15/31 | | | 25 | | | | 25,770 | |
Windsor Holdings III LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.500 | | 06/15/30 | | | 50 | | | | 50,229 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 250,667 | |
| | | | |
Diversified Financial Services 5.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Jefferies Finance LLC/JFIN Co-Issuer Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 08/15/28 | | | 200 | | | | 171,505 | |
LD Holdings Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.125 | | 04/01/28 | | | 75 | | | | 48,948 | |
LFS Topco LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 10/15/26 | | | 75 | | | | 65,080 | |
LPL Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.375 | | 05/15/31 | | | 125 | | | | 110,056 | |
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | 12/15/30 | | | 225 | | | | 190,885 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 08/15/28 | | | 200 | | | | 182,007 | |
Navient Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.500 | | 03/15/29 | | | 50 | | | | 42,849 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.875 | | 10/25/24 | | | 25 | | | | 24,625 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 6.750 | | 06/25/25 | | | 25 | | | | 24,887 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 9.375 | | 07/25/30 | | | 25 | | | | 25,120 | |
OneMain Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.625 | | 01/15/28 | | | 75 | | | | 70,609 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.125 | | 03/15/26 | | | 75 | | | | 73,947 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 17
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Diversified Financial Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375% | | 10/15/25 | | | 125 | | | $ | 120,915 | |
Rocket Mortgage LLC/Rocket Mortgage Co-Issuer, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.000 | | 10/15/33 | | | 75 | | | | 59,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1,210,933 | |
| | | | |
Electrical Components & Equipment 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Energizer Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.750 | | 06/15/28 | | | 50 | | | | 44,348 | |
WESCO Distribution, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.250 | | 06/15/28 | | | 100 | | | | 101,920 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 146,268 | |
| | | | |
Electronics 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Likewize Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $26,839; purchased 01/13/22)(f) | | 9.750 | | 10/15/25 | | | 25 | | | | 24,413 | |
| | | | |
Engineering & Construction 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
TopBuild Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.625 | | 03/15/29 | | | 125 | | | | 107,600 | |
| | | | |
Environmental Control 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Covanta Holding Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.875 | | 12/01/29 | | | 50 | | | | 43,239 | |
GFL Environmental, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.000 | | 08/01/28 | | | 125 | | | | 111,141 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.375 | | 08/15/29 | | | 100 | | | | 88,006 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 242,386 | |
| | | | |
Foods 2.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Albertson’s Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New Albertson’s LP/Albertson’s LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.500 | | 03/15/29 | | | 50 | | | | 43,293 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.500 | | 02/15/28 | | | 25 | | | | 24,878 | |
B&G Foods, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.250 | | 04/01/25 | | | 75 | | | | 73,240 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.250 | | 09/15/27 | | | 75 | | | | 66,418 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Foods (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chobani LLC/Chobani Finance Corp., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.500% | | 04/15/25 | | | 100 | | | $ | 99,910 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 11/15/28 | | | 25 | | | | 22,521 | |
Kraft Heinz Foods Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.375 | | 06/01/46 | | | 25 | | | | 20,678 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.200 | | 07/15/45 | | | 25 | | | | 22,990 | |
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 01/31/30 | | | 25 | | | | 22,004 | |
Post Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 04/15/30 | | | 50 | | | | 44,276 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | 09/15/31 | | | 75 | | | | 64,638 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 504,846 | |
| | | | |
Gas 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.750 | | 05/20/27 | | | 75 | | | | 69,376 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.875 | | 08/20/26 | | | 50 | | | | 47,409 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 116,785 | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Products 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Embecta Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 02/15/30 | | | 50 | | | | 41,117 | |
Medline Borrower LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 04/01/29 | | | 125 | | | | 108,875 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.250 | | 10/01/29 | | | 125 | | | | 110,999 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 260,991 | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Services 3.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
DaVita, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.750 | | 02/15/31 | | | 100 | | | | 79,625 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 06/01/30 | | | 125 | | | | 107,226 | |
Prime Healthcare Services, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.250 | | 11/01/25 | | | 150 | | | | 140,752 | |
RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc./LifePoint Health, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 9.750 | | 12/01/26 | | | 225 | | | | 210,467 | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.125 | | 10/01/28 | | | 75 | | | | 72,237 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | 4.250 | | 06/01/29 | | | 150 | | | | 133,967 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 19
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Healthcare-Services (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp., (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.750% | | 05/15/31 | | | 50 | | | $ | 49,847 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 6.875 | | 11/15/31 | | | 125 | | | | 125,373 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 919,494 | |
| | | | |
Home Builders 7.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Ashton Woods USA LLC/Ashton Woods Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.625 | | 01/15/28 | | | 125 | | | | 119,557 | |
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.875 | | 10/15/27 | | | 150 | | | | 141,512 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.250 | | 10/15/29 | | | 75 | | | | 72,717 | |
Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield Residential US LLC (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.250 | | 09/15/27 | | | 50 | | | | 45,813 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 06/15/29 | | | 75 | | | | 62,250 | |
Century Communities, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 6.750 | | 06/01/27 | | | 200 | | | | 199,452 | |
Empire Communities Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.000 | | 12/15/25 | | | 25 | | | | 24,156 | |
Forestar Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 03/01/28 | | | 125 | | | | 116,004 | |
KB Home, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.000 | | 06/15/31 | | | 150 | | | | 126,308 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.800 | | 11/15/29 | | | 25 | | | | 22,552 | |
M/I Homes, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.950 | | 02/01/28 | | | 150 | | | | 139,353 | |
Mattamy Group Corp. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 03/01/30 | | | 200 | | | | 175,000 | |
Meritage Homes Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.125 | | 06/06/27 | | | 75 | | | | 72,048 | |
Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.750 | | 02/15/28 | | | 25 | | | | 23,005 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.750 | | 04/01/29 | | | 100 | | | | 89,025 | |
STL Holding Co. LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 02/15/26 | | | 50 | | | | 46,802 | |
Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 01/15/28 | | | 50 | | | | 48,452 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 06/15/27 | | | 75 | | | | 73,699 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | 08/01/30 | | | 25 | | | | 23,025 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Home Builders (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Tri Pointe Homes, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.700% | | 06/15/28 | | | 150 | | | $ | 142,160 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1,762,890 | |
| | | | |
Household Products/Wares 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
ACCO Brands Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.250 | | 03/15/29 | | | 75 | | | | 64,114 | |
| | | | |
Housewares 0.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.000 | | 04/01/31 | | | 125 | | | | 98,302 | |
SWF Escrow Issuer Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.500 | | 10/01/29 | | | 100 | | | | 64,953 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 163,255 | |
| | | | |
Internet 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Gen Digital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 04/15/25 | | | 125 | | | | 122,587 | |
| | | | |
Iron/Steel 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Big River Steel LLC/BRS Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.625 | | 01/31/29 | | | 100 | | | | 99,588 | |
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.750 | | 04/15/30 | | | 50 | | | | 47,634 | |
Commercial Metals Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.125 | | 01/15/30 | | | 25 | | | | 22,070 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 4.375 | | 03/15/32 | | | 25 | | | | 21,436 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 190,728 | |
| | | | |
Lodging 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.625 | | 02/15/32 | | | 100 | | | | 83,015 | |
| | | | |
Machinery-Construction & Mining 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Terex Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 05/15/29 | | | 75 | | | | 68,821 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 21
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Machinery-Diversified 1.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Chart Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 9.500% | | 01/01/31 | | | 25 | | | $ | 26,974 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 01/01/30 | | | 100 | | | | 102,550 | |
GrafTech Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 12/15/28 | | | 50 | | | | 39,263 | |
Maxim Crane Works Holdings Capital LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 10.125 | | 08/01/24 | | | 125 | | | | 125,228 | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 11.500 | | 09/01/28 | | | 25 | | | | 25,073 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 319,088 | |
| | | | |
Media 9.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AMC Networks, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.000 | | 04/01/24 | | | 50 | | | | 49,501 | |
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.250 | | 02/01/31 | | | 475 | | | | 389,586 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 02/01/28 | | | 225 | | | | 207,355 | |
CSC Holdings LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | �� | 4.125 | | 12/01/30 | | | 200 | | | | 142,602 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.250 | | 06/01/24 | | | 25 | | | | 23,721 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 12/01/30 | | | 200 | | | | 104,584 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 04/01/28 | | | 200 | | | | 126,704 | |
Diamond Sports Group LLC/Diamond Sports Finance Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $69,525; purchased 01/19/22 - 06/03/22)(f) | | 6.625 | | 08/15/27(d) | | | 285 | | | | 7,559 | |
Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $107,009; purchased 01/10/22 - 08/30/22)(f) | | 5.375 | | 08/15/26(d) | | | 299 | | | | 8,722 | |
DISH DBS Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.125 | | 06/01/29 | | | 85 | | | | 45,909 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.375 | | 07/01/28 | | | 50 | | | | 31,259 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.750 | | 07/01/26 | | | 125 | | | | 93,402 | |
DISH Network Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 11.750 | | 11/15/27 | | | 125 | | | | 126,920 | |
Gray Television, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 07/15/26 | | | 100 | | | | 91,197 | |
iHeartCommunications, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | 6.375 | | 05/01/26 | | | 75 | | | | 65,434 | |
Midcontinent Communications/Midcontinent Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | 08/15/27 | | | 105 | | | | 99,451 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
22
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Media (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Nexstar Media, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625% | | 07/15/27 | | | 75 | | | $ | 70,510 | |
Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | 09/15/26 | | | 125 | | | | 97,366 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.500 | | 09/15/28 | | | 125 | | | | 68,048 | |
Sinclair Television Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | 02/15/27 | | | 100 | | | | 82,081 | |
Univision Communications, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | 02/15/25 | | | 70 | | | | 69,039 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.625 | | 06/01/27 | | | 100 | | | | 96,817 | |
Videotron Ltd. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | 04/15/27 | | | 100 | | | | 95,500 | |
VZ Secured Financing BV (Netherlands), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 01/15/32 | | | 200 | | | | 162,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2,355,267 | |
| | | | |
Mining 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Hudbay Minerals, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.125 | | 04/01/29 | | | 125 | | | | 117,500 | |
| | | | |
Miscellaneous Manufacturing 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Amsted Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | 07/01/27 | | | 50 | | | | 48,551 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 05/15/30 | | | 125 | | | | 110,191 | |
Trinity Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.750 | | 07/15/28 | | | 25 | | | | 25,508 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 184,250 | |
| | | | |
Oil & Gas 3.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Antero Resources Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | 03/01/30 | | | 75 | | | | 70,196 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.625 | | 02/01/29 | | | 100 | | | | 102,272 | |
Chesapeake Energy Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.500 | | 02/01/26 | | | 50 | | | | 48,898 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 02/01/29 | | | 100 | | | | 95,831 | |
CNX Resources Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.250 | | 03/14/27 | | | 75 | | | | 74,921 | |
Comstock Resources, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 01/15/30 | | | 125 | | | | 110,412 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.750 | | 03/01/29 | | | 25 | | | | 23,366 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 23
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Oil & Gas (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Range Resources Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.875% | | 05/15/25 | | | 25 | | | $ | 24,379 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.750 | | 02/15/30 | | | 25 | | | | 22,581 | |
Southwestern Energy Co., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.375 | | 03/15/30 | | | 125 | | | | 117,010 | |
Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.500 | | 04/30/30 | | | 150 | | | | 133,837 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 823,703 | |
| | | | |
Packaging & Containers 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Graphic Packaging International LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.125 | | 08/15/24 | | | 25 | | | | 24,526 | |
Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Finco, Inc./Intelligent Packaging Ltd. Co-Issuer LLC (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 09/15/28 | | | 50 | | | | 45,000 | |
LABL, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.875 | | 11/01/28 | | | 150 | | | | 136,592 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.250 | | 11/01/29 | | | 25 | | | | 20,952 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 10.500 | | 07/15/27 | | | 50 | | | | 47,738 | |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.625 | | 05/13/27 | | | 19 | | | | 18,799 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.250 | | 05/15/31 | | | 25 | | | | 25,230 | |
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 12.750 | | 12/31/28 | | | 50 | | | | 52,136 | |
TriMas Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 04/15/29 | | | 50 | | | | 43,670 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 414,643 | |
| | | | |
Pharmaceuticals 2.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AdaptHealth LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 08/01/29 | | | 125 | | | | 102,163 | |
Bausch Health Cos., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 01/30/28 | | | 200 | | | | 89,000 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.250 | | 01/30/30 | | | 300 | | | | 126,000 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 9.000 | | 12/15/25 | | | 25 | | | | 23,000 | |
Organon & Co./Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer BV, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.125 | | 04/30/28 | | | 200 | | | | 180,934 | |
P&L Development LLC/PLD Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.750 | | 11/15/25 | | | 50 | | | | 43,209 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 564,306 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
24
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Pipelines 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375% | | 06/15/29 | | | 125 | | | $ | 117,182 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 03/01/27 | | | 50 | | | | 48,425 | |
Cheniere Energy Partners LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.000 | | 03/01/31 | | | 150 | | | | 132,262 | |
Cheniere Energy, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | 4.625 | | 10/15/28 | | | 125 | | | | 117,710 | |
CNX Midstream Partners LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.750 | | 04/15/30 | | | 50 | | | | 43,199 | |
EQM Midstream Partners LP, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 06/01/27 | | | 50 | | | | 50,450 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 06/01/30 | | | 25 | | | | 25,631 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 534,859 | |
| | | | |
Real Estate 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Five Point Operating Co. LP/Five Point Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.875 | | 11/15/25 | | | 75 | | | | 70,207 | |
Howard Hughes Corp. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.375 | | 08/01/28 | | | 150 | | | | 135,441 | |
Hunt Cos., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 5.250 | | 04/15/29 | | | 75 | | | | 57,475 | |
Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.750 | | 01/15/29 | | | 25 | | | | 17,902 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 281,025 | |
| | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 2.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Diversified Healthcare Trust, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.375 | | 03/01/31 | | | 75 | | | | 56,598 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 9.750 | | 06/15/25 | | | 125 | | | | 123,000 | |
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 4.625 | | 08/01/29 | | | 50 | | | | 36,137 | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.000 | | 10/15/27 | | | 100 | | | | 79,084 | |
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC/PK Domestic Property LLC/PK Finance Co-Issuer, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.500 | | 06/01/25 | | | 100 | | | | 100,377 | |
SBA Communications Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 3.125 | | 02/01/29 | | | 225 | | | | 192,615 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 587,811 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 25
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Retail 4.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.875% | | 01/15/28 | | | 100 | | | $ | 90,250 | |
Arko Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.125 | | 11/15/29 | | | 25 | | | | 20,548 | |
At Home Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.125 | | 07/15/29 | | | 52 | | | | 26,180 | |
BCPE Ulysses Intermediate, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 7.750% or PIK 8.500% | | 7.750 | | 04/01/27 | | | 25 | | | | 23,176 | |
Brinker International, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.000 | | 10/01/24 | | | 50 | | | | 49,214 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 8.250 | | 07/15/30 | | | 50 | | | | 49,125 | |
eG Global Finance PLC (United Kingdom), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes | | 6.250 | | 10/30/25 | | EUR | 92 | | | | 97,477 | |
Foundation Building Materials, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 03/01/29 | | | 50 | | | | 42,376 | |
Gap, Inc. (The), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 10/01/31 | | | 100 | | | | 72,479 | |
LBM Acquisition LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.250 | | 01/15/29 | | | 75 | | | | 66,022 | |
LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.875 | | 05/01/29 | | | 50 | | | | 43,443 | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 8.250 | | 08/01/31 | | | 25 | | | | 25,036 | |
Park River Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 5.625 | | 02/01/29 | | | 100 | | | | 78,269 | |
Patrick Industries, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.750 | | 05/01/29 | | | 55 | | | | 47,088 | |
Sally Holdings LLC/Sally Capital, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 5.625 | | 12/01/25 | | | 125 | | | | 124,110 | |
SRS Distribution, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 6.000 | | 12/01/29 | | | 50 | | | | 43,029 | |
Suburban Propane Partners LP/Suburban Energy Finance Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes | | 5.875 | | 03/01/27 | | | 100 | | | | 98,325 | |
Superior Plus LP/Superior General Partner, Inc. (Canada), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | 03/15/29 | | | 150 | | | | 131,395 | |
White Cap Buyer LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.875 | | 10/15/28 | | | 50 | | | | 45,778 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1,173,320 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
26
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Software 1.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Black Knight InfoServ LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 3.625% | | 09/01/28 | | | 150 | | | $ | 138,387 | |
Boxer Parent Co., Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 7.125 | | 10/02/25 | | | 72 | | | | 72,073 | |
Camelot Finance SA, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 4.500 | | 11/01/26 | | | 75 | | | | 70,406 | |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.875 | | 07/01/29 | | | 75 | | | | 65,196 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.875 | | 07/01/28 | | | 50 | | | | 44,193 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 390,255 | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications 3.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Digicel Group Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 5.000% and PIK 3.000% (original cost $72,221; purchased 12/09/21)(f) | | 8.000 | | 04/01/25(d) | | | 77 | | | | 17,813 | |
Digicel International Finance Ltd./Digicel | | | | | | | | | | | | |
International Holdings Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $7,350; purchased 03/15/23)(f) | | 8.000 | | 12/31/26(d) | | | 35 | | | | 1,706 | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A, Cash coupon 6.000% and PIK 7.000% (original cost $3,150; purchased 03/17/23)(f) | | 13.000 | | 12/31/25(d) | | | 5 | | | | 3,537 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A (original cost $184,500; purchased 03/15/23)(f) | | 8.750 | | 05/25/24 | | | 200 | | | | 181,738 | |
Digicel Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A (original cost $42,000; purchased 03/15/23)(f) | | 6.750 | | 12/31/23(d) | | | 200 | | | | 9,750 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.500 | | 03/15/30 | | | 100 | | | | 91,500 | |
Level 3 Financing, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 4.625 | | 09/15/27 | | | 50 | | | | 37,523 | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 3.400 | | 03/01/27 | | | 75 | | | | 69,185 | |
Sprint Capital Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 8.750 | | 03/15/32 | | | 50 | | | | 59,577 | |
Sprint LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes | | 7.625 | | 02/15/25 | | | 275 | | | | 280,486 | |
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Unsec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.125 | | 03/01/28 | | | 35 | | | | 22,868 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 775,683 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 27
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Transportation 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
XPO Escrow Sub LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gtd. Notes, 144A | | 7.500% | | 11/15/27 | | | 100 | | | $ | 102,139 | |
XPO, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sr. Sec’d. Notes, 144A | | 6.250 | | 06/01/28 | | | 50 | | | | 48,999 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 151,138 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (cost $22,506,806) | | | | | | | | | | | 19,809,937 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Computers 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
McAfee Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tranche B-1 Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 3.850% | | 9.168(c) | | 03/01/29 | | | 15 | | | | 14,581 | |
| | | | |
Housewares 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
SWF Holdings I Corp., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 4.114% | | 9.446(c) | | 10/06/28 | | | 99 | | | | 81,864 | |
| | | | |
Insurance 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acrisure LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021-1 Additional Term Loan, 1 Month LIBOR + 3.750% | | 9.196(c) | | 02/15/27 | | | 25 | | | | 24,425 | |
| | | | |
Media 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Diamond Sports Group LLC, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 10.100% | | 12.775(c) | | 05/25/26 | | | 34 | | | | 21,948 | |
| | | | |
Software 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Skillsoft Finance II, Inc., | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 1 Month SOFR + 5.364% | | 10.677(c) | | 07/14/28 | | | 117 | | | | 107,438 | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Digicel International Finance Ltd. (Jamaica), | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First Lien Initial Term B Loan, 3 Month LIBOR + 3.250% | | 8.981(c) | | 05/27/24 | | | 25 | | | | 22,614 | |
MLN US HoldCo LLC, 3L Term B Loans, 3 Month SOFR + 9.250%^ | | 14.660(c) | | 10/18/27 | | | 1 | | | | 120 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
28
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount (000)# | | | Value | |
| | | | |
FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Telecommunications (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
MLN US HoldCo LLC, (cont’d.) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Initial Term Loan, 3 Month SOFR + 6.440% | | 11.850%(c) | | 10/18/27 | | | 2 | | | $ | 1,406 | |
Initial Term Loan (Second Out (First Lien Roll-Up)), 3 Month SOFR + 6.700% | | 12.110(c) | | 10/18/27 | | | 4 | | | | 1,424 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 25,564 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL FLOATING RATE AND OTHER LOANS (cost $315,044) | | | | | | | | | | | 275,820 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS(k) 4.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | 2.750 | | 04/30/27 | | | 408 | | | | 385,114 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | 4.250 | | 09/30/24 | | | 615 | | | | 608,105 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (cost $1,019,929) | | | | | | | | | | | 993,219 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $24,689,572) | | | | | | | | | | | 21,930,433 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | | | Shares | | | | |
| | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 7.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(wm) | | | | | | | 1,431,308 | | | | 1,431,308 | |
PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund(wm) | | | | | | | 37,599 | | | | 343,654 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $1,773,864) | | | | | | | | | | | 1,774,962 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 98.9% (cost $26,463,436) | | | | | | | | | | | 23,705,395 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities(z) 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | 273,453 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS 100.0% | | | | | | | | | | $ | 23,978,848 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Below is a list of the abbreviation(s) used in the annual report:
EUR—Euro
USD—US Dollar
144A—Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and, pursuant to the requirements of Rule 144A, may not be resold except to qualified institutional buyers.
BNP—BNP Paribas S.A.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 29
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
BNYM—Bank of New York Mellon
CDX—Credit Derivative Index
CGM—Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
CLO—Collateralized Loan Obligation
iBoxx—Bond Market Indices
JPS—J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
LIBOR—London Interbank Offered Rate
LP—Limited Partnership
OTC—Over-the-counter
PIK—Payment-in-Kind
Q—Quarterly payment frequency for swaps
REITs—Real Estate Investment Trust
SOFR—Secured Overnight Financing Rate
SSB—State Street Bank & Trust Company
T—Swap payment upon termination
# | Principal or notional amount is shown in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. |
^ | Indicates a Level 3 instrument. The aggregate value of Level 3 instruments is $120 and 0.0% of net assets. |
(c) | Variable rate instrument. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at August 31, 2023. |
(d) | Represents issuer in default on interest payments and/or principal repayment. Non-income producing security. Such securities may be post-maturity. |
(f) | Indicates a restricted security that is acquired in unregistered, private sales from the issuing company or from an affiliate of the issuer and is considered restricted as to disposition under federal securities law; the aggregate original cost of such securities is $513,356. The aggregate value of $255,730 is 1.1% of net assets. |
(ff) | Variable rate security. Security may be issued at a fixed coupon rate, which converts to a variable rate at a specified date. Rate shown is the rate in effect as of period end. |
(k) | Represents security, or a portion thereof, segregated as collateral for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives. |
(oo) | Perpetual security. Maturity date represents next call date. |
(wm) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund, PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund and PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund, if applicable. |
(z) | Includes net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and/or market value of the below holdings which are excluded from the Schedule of Investments: |
Futures contracts outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of Contracts | | | | Type | | Expiration Date | | | Current Notional Amount | | | Value / Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | |
| | | | | |
Long Positions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1 | | | | 2 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | | Dec. 2023 | | | $ | 203,805 | | | | | | | $ | 585 | | | | | |
8 | | | | 5 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | | Dec. 2023 | | | | 855,375 | | | | | | | | 5,990 | | | | | |
1 | | | | 20 Year U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | Dec. 2023 | | | | 121,688 | | | | | | | | 1,272 | | | | | |
1 | | | | 30 Year U.S. Ultra Treasury Bonds | | | Dec. 2023 | | | | 129,469 | | | | | | | | 2,030 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9,877 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Short Position: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
5 | | | | 10 Year U.S. Treasury Notes | | | Dec. 2023 | | | | 555,156 | | | | | | | | (4,694 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 5,183 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
30
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase Contracts | | Counterparty | | Notional Amount (000) | | | Value at Settlement Date | | | Current Value | | | Unrealized Appreciation | | | Unrealized Depreciation | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Euro, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | SSB | | | EUR 87 | | | | | | | $ | 93,847 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 94,360 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 513 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Sale Contracts | | Counterparty | | Notional Amount (000) | | | Value at Settlement Date | | | Current Value | | | Unrealized Appreciation | | | Unrealized Depreciation | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Euro, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expiring 09/05/23 | | BNYM | | | EUR 87 | | | | | | | $ | 96,066 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 94,360 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,706 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
Expiring 10/03/23 | | SSB | | | EUR 87 | | | | | | | | 93,977 | | | | | | | | | | | | 94,489 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | (512 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 190,043 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 188,849 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,706 | | | | | | | | | | | | (512 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 2,219 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | (512 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Credit default swap agreements outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference Entity/ Obligation | | Termination Date | | Fixed Rate | | Notional Amount (000)#(3) | | Value at Trade Date | | Value at August 31, 2023 | | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
| |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement on credit indices - Buy Protection(1): | | | | | | |
CDX.NA.IG.40.V1 | | 06/20/28 | | | | 1.000 | %(Q) | | | | 810 | | | | $ | (10,467 | ) | | | $ | (14,191 | ) | | | | | | | | $ | (3,724 | ) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference Entity/ Obligation | | Termination Date | | Fixed Rate | | Notional Amount (000)#(3) | | Implied Credit Spread at August 31, 2023(4) | | Value at Trade Date | | | Value at August 31, 2023 | | | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | |
| | | | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement on credit indices - Sell Protection(2): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CDX.NA.HY.40.V1 | | 06/20/28 | | 5.000%(Q) | | 2,887 | | 4.257% | | | | | | $ | 38,164 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 110,836 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 72,672 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Fund entered into credit default swaps (“CDS”) to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be short the credit as the value of the contract rises the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases.
(1) | If the Fund is a buyer of protection, it pays the fixed rate. When a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and make delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 31
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| index or (ii) receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
(2) | If the Fund is a seller of protection, it receives the fixed rate. When a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
(3) | Notional amount represents the maximum potential amount the Fund could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement. |
(4) | Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the fair value of credit default swap agreements where the Fund is the seller of protection as of the reporting date serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/ performance risk and represent the likelihood of risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include up-front payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. |
Total return swap agreements outstanding at August 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference Entity | | Financing Rate | | Counterparty | | | Termination Date | | | Long (Short) Notional Amount (000)#(1) | | | Fair Value | | | Upfront Premiums Paid (Received) | | | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)(2) | |
OTC Total Return Swap Agreement: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
iBoxx US Dollar Liquid Investment Grade Index(T) | | 1 Day
SOFR(Q)/ 5.310% | | | BNP | | | | 12/20/23 | | | | (201) | | | $ | 5,869 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 5,869 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | On a long total return swap, the Fund receives payments for any positive return on the reference entity (makes payments for any negative return) and pays the financing rate. On a short total return swap, the Fund makes payments for any positive return on the reference entity (receives payments for any negative return) and receives the financing rate. |
(2) | Upfront/recurring fees or commissions, as applicable, are included in the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). |
Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for OTC Swap Agreements:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Premiums Paid | | Premiums Received | | Unrealized Appreciation | | Unrealized Depreciation |
| | | | |
OTC Swap Agreements | | $— | | $— | | $5,869 | | $— |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
32
Summary of Collateral for Centrally Cleared/Exchange-traded Derivatives:
Cash and securities segregated as collateral, including pending settlement for closed positions, to cover requirements for centrally cleared/exchange-traded derivatives are listed by broker as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Broker | | Cash and/or Foreign Currency | | Securities Market Value |
| | |
CGM | | | $ | — | | | | $ | 376,968 | |
JPS | | | | — | | | | | 157,632 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Total | | | $ | — | | | | $ | 534,600 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Fair Value Measurements:
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices generally in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2—quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, foreign currency exchange rates and other observable inputs.
Level 3—unobservable inputs for securities valued in accordance with Board approved fair valuation procedures.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of August 31, 2023 in valuing such portfolio securities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | $ | — | | | $ | 850,965 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
Convertible Bond | | | — | | | | 492 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds | | | — | | | | 19,809,937 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Floating Rate and Other Loans | | | — | | | | 275,700 | | | | | | | | 120 | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | | — | | | | 993,219 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds | | | 1,774,962 | | | | — | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 1,774,962 | | | $ | 21,930,313 | | | | | | | $ | 120 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | 9,877 | | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts | | | — | | | | 2,219 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | 72,672 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
OTC Total Return Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | 5,869 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 9,877 | | | $ | 80,760 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | (4,694 | ) | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 33
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | |
| | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments* (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities (continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
OTC Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | | $ | — | | | | $(512) | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreement | | | — | | | | (3,724) | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | (4,694 | ) | | $ | (4,236 | ) | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Schedule of Investments, such as futures, forwards and centrally cleared swap contracts, which are recorded at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument, and OTC swap contracts which are recorded at fair value. |
Industry Classification:
The industry classification of investments and other assets in excess of liabilities shown as a percentage of net assets as of August 31, 2023 were as follows:
| | | | |
Media | | | 9.9 | % |
Commercial Services | | | 8.7 | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds | | | 7.4 | |
Home Builders | | | 7.4 | |
Diversified Financial Services | | | 5.1 | |
Retail | | | 4.9 | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | | 4.1 | |
Healthcare-Services | | | 3.8 | |
Collateralized Loan Obligations | | | 3.6 | |
Oil & Gas | | | 3.4 | |
Telecommunications | | | 3.3 | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | | | 2.5 | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 2.4 | |
Computers | | | 2.3 | |
Pipelines | | | 2.2 | |
Foods | | | 2.1 | |
Software | | | 2.1 | |
Packaging & Containers | | | 1.7 | |
Building Materials | | | 1.6 | |
Auto Manufacturers | | | 1.5 | |
Apparel | | | 1.3 | |
Machinery-Diversified | | | 1.3 | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | 1.2 | |
Auto Parts & Equipment | | | 1.2 | |
Real Estate | | | 1.2 | |
Healthcare-Products | | | 1.1 | |
| | | | |
Distribution/Wholesale | | | 1.0 | % |
Housewares | | | 1.0 | |
Environmental Control | | | 1.0 | |
Airlines | | | 0.9 | |
Iron/Steel | | | 0.8 | |
Miscellaneous Manufacturing | | | 0.8 | |
Banks | | | 0.7 | |
Chemicals | | | 0.7 | |
Transportation | | | 0.6 | |
Electrical Components & Equipment | | | 0.6 | |
Internet | | | 0.5 | |
Mining | | | 0.5 | |
Gas | | | 0.5 | |
Engineering & Construction | | | 0.5 | |
Lodging | | | 0.4 | |
Advertising | | | 0.3 | |
Machinery-Construction & Mining | | | 0.3 | |
Household Products/Wares | | | 0.3 | |
Insurance | | | 0.1 | |
Electronics | | | 0.1 | |
| | | | |
| | | 98.9 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities | | | 1.1 | |
| | | | |
| | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Effects of Derivative Instruments on the Financial Statements and Primary Underlying Risk Exposure:
The Fund invested in derivative instruments during the reporting period. The primary types of risk associated with these derivative instruments are credit risk, foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk. See the Notes to Financial Statements for
See Notes to Financial Statements.
34
additional detail regarding these derivative instruments and their risks. The effect of such derivative instruments on the Fund’s financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Operations is presented in the summary below.
Fair values of derivative instruments as of August 31, 2023 as presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset Derivatives | | | Liability Derivatives | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | | | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | |
Credit contracts | | Due from/to broker-variation margin swaps | | $ | 72,672* | | | Due from/to broker-variation margin swaps | | | | | | | $3,724 | * |
| | | | | | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 2,219 | | | Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | | | | | 512 | |
| | | | | | |
Interest rate contracts | | Due from/to broker-variation margin futures | | | 9,877* | | | Due from/to broker-variation margin futures | | | | | | | 4,694 | * |
| | | | | | |
Interest rate contracts | | Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap agreements | | | 5,869 | | | — | | | | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | $ | 90,637 | | | | | | | | | | $ 8,930 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the schedule of open futures and centrally cleared swap contracts. Only unsettled variation margin receivable (payable) is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
The effects of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended August 31, 2023 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Futures | | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | Swaps | |
| | | |
Credit contracts | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 27,067 | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | | — | | | | (5,239 | ) | | | — | |
Interest rate contracts | | | (91,590 | ) | | | — | | | | 6,635 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | (91,590 | ) | | $ | (5,239 | ) | | $ | 33,702 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Futures | | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | Swaps | |
| | | |
Credit contracts | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 69,746 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 35
Schedule of Investments (continued)
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments, carried at fair value | | Futures | | | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | | | Swaps | |
| | | |
Foreign exchange contracts | | $ | — | | | $ | (478 | ) | | $ | — | |
Interest rate contracts | | | 11,060 | | | | — | | | | 5,869 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 11,060 | | | $ | (478 | ) | | $ | 75,615 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund’s average volume of derivative activities is as follows:
| | | | | |
Derivative Contract Type | | Average Volume of Derivative Activities* |
Futures Contracts - Long Positions (1) | | | $ | 1,478,818 | |
Futures Contracts - Short Positions (1) | | | | 225,987 | |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - Purchased (2) | | | | 101,313 | |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - Sold (2) | | | | 205,389 | |
Credit Default Swap Agreements - Buy Protection (1) | | | | 254,000 | |
Credit Default Swap Agreements - Sell Protection (1) | | | | 1,196,295 | |
Total Return Swap Agreements (1) | | | | 200,200 | |
* | Average volume is based on average quarter end balances as noted for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
(1) | Notional Amount in USD. |
(2) | Value at Settlement Date. |
Financial Instruments/Transactions—Summary of Offsetting and Netting Arrangements:
The Fund invested in OTC derivatives during the reporting period that are either offset in accordance with current requirements or are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements that permit offsetting. The information about offsetting and related netting arrangements for OTC derivatives where the legal right to set-off exists is presented in the summary below.
Offsetting of OTC derivative assets and liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Counterparty | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets(1) | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities(1) | | Net Amounts of Recognized Assets/(Liabilities) | | Collateral Pledged/(Received)(2) | | Net Amount |
| BNP | | | | $ | 5,869 | | | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | 5,869 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | 5,869 | | | |
| BNYM | | | | | 1,706 | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | 1,706 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | 1,706 | | | |
| SSB | | | | | 513 | | | | | | | | | | (512 | ) | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | $ | 8,088 | | | | | | | | | $ | (512 | ) | | | | | | $ | 7,576 | | | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | $ | 7,576 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Includes unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on swaps and forwards, premiums paid/(received) on swap agreements and market value of purchased and written options, as represented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
(2) | Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions and the Fund’s OTC derivative exposure by counterparty. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
36
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | |
| |
Assets | | | | |
| |
Investments at value: | | | | |
Unaffiliated investments (cost $24,689,572) | | $ | 21,930,433 | |
Affiliated investments (cost $1,773,864) | | | 1,774,962 | |
Cash | | | 198 | |
Foreign currency, at value (cost $553) | | | 547 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 369,941 | |
Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap agreements | | | 5,869 | |
Unrealized appreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 2,219 | |
Due from broker—variation margin futures | | | 1,055 | |
Prepaid expenses | | | 35 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total Assets | | | 24,085,259 | |
| | | | |
| |
Liabilities | | | | |
| |
Audit fee payable | | | 45,500 | |
Custodian and accounting fees payable | | | 17,606 | |
Management fee payable | | | 16,862 | |
Shareholders’ reports payable | | | 7,619 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 5,235 | |
Due to broker—variation margin swaps | | | 4,551 | |
Fund data service fees | | | 3,806 | |
Registration fees payable | | | 2,700 | |
Directors’ fees payable | | | 1,654 | |
Unrealized depreciation on OTC forward foreign currency exchange contracts | | | 512 | |
Affiliated transfer agent fee payable | | | 150 | |
Payable for Fund shares purchased | | | 111 | |
Dividends payable | | | 78 | |
Distribution fee payable | | | 27 | |
| | | | |
| |
Total Liabilities | | | 106,411 | |
| | | | |
| |
Net Assets | | $ | 23,978,848 | |
| | | | |
| |
| | | | |
| |
Net assets were comprised of: | | | | |
Common stock, at par | | $ | 28,283 | |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | | | 27,826,200 | |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | | | (3,875,635 | ) |
| | | | |
| |
Net assets, August 31, 2023 | | $ | 23,978,848 | |
| | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 37
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
as of August 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($90,851 ÷ 10,710 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 8.48 | | | | | |
Maximum sales charge (3.25% of offering price) | | | 0.28 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Maximum offering price to public | | $ | 8.76 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class C | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($12,037 ÷ 1,420 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 8.48 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($283,898 ÷ 33,475 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 8.48 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share, | | | | | | | | |
($23,592,062 ÷ 2,782,717 shares of common stock issued and outstanding) | | $ | 8.48 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
38
Statement of Operations
Year Ended August 31, 2023
| | | | | | |
Net Investment Income (Loss) | | | | | | |
| | |
Income | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | | $ | 1,336,533 | |
Affiliated dividend income | | | | | 44,512 | |
Unaffiliated dividend income | | | | | 16,092 | |
| | | | | | |
| | |
Total income | | | | | 1,397,137 | |
| | | | | | |
| | |
Expenses | | | | | | |
Management fee | | | | | 114,459 | |
Distribution fee(a) | | | | | 203 | |
Audit fee | | | | | 45,500 | |
Custodian and accounting fees | | | | | 39,994 | |
Registration fees(a) | | | | | 36,983 | |
Professional fees | | | | | 36,337 | |
Shareholders’ reports | | | | | 22,271 | |
Fund data services | | | | | 21,782 | |
Directors’ fees | | | | | 9,844 | |
Offering fees | | | | | 5,128 | |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses (including affiliated expense of $1,009)(a) | | | | | 1,547 | |
Miscellaneous | | | | | 14,328 | |
| | | | | | |
Total expenses | | | | | 348,376 | |
Less: Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement(a) | | | | | (250,881 | ) |
| | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | | | 97,495 | |
| | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | | 1,299,642 | |
| | | | | | |
| | |
Realized And Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Investment And Foreign Currency Transactions | | | | | | |
| | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | | | |
Investment transactions | | | | | (370,192 | ) |
Futures transactions | | | | | (91,590 | ) |
Forward currency contract transactions | | | | | (5,239 | ) |
Swap agreement transactions | | | | | 33,702 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | | | 66 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | (433,253 | ) |
| | | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | | | | | | |
Investments (including affiliated of $740) | | | | | 576,353 | |
Futures | | | | | 11,060 | |
Forward currency contracts | | | | | (478 | ) |
Swap agreements | | | | | 75,615 | |
Foreign currencies | | | | | 116 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | 662,666 | |
| | | | | | |
Net gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | | | 229,413 | |
| | | | | | |
Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | | | $ | 1,529,055 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) | Class specific expenses and waivers were as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | | | Class C | | | Class Z | | | Class R6 | |
Distribution fee | | | 88 | | | | 115 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Registration fees | | | 10,055 | | | | 8,906 | | | | 10,156 | | | | 7,866 | |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses | | | 467 | | | | 113 | | | | 783 | | | | 184 | |
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | | | (10,783 | ) | | | (9,115 | ) | | | (13,849 | ) | | | (217,134 | ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 39
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2023 | | | December 08, 2021* through August 31, 2022 | |
| | | | | | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Operations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | | | $ | 1,299,642 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 748,760 | | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | | | | | (433,253 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (374,601 | ) | | | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currencies | | | | | | | 662,666 | | | | | | | | | | | | (3,339,020 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | | | | | 1,529,055 | | | | | | | | | | | | (2,964,861 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Dividends and Distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions from distributable earnings | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | | | | | (2,199 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (1,583 | ) | | | | |
Class C | | | | | | | (645 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (376 | ) | | | | |
Class Z | | | | | | | (24,171 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (7,086 | ) | | | | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | (1,500,041 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (912,589 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | (1,527,056 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (921,634 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Fund share transactions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds from shares sold | | | | | | | 355,174 | | | | | | | | | | | | 25,433,669 | | | | | |
Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | | | | | 1,526,730 | | | | | | | | | | | | 921,441 | | | | | |
Cost of shares purchased | | | | | | | (307,734 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (65,936 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | | | | | | | 1,574,170 | | | | | | | | | | | | 26,289,174 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total increase (decrease) | | | | | | | 1,576,169 | | | | | | | | | | | | 22,402,679 | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | | | | | 22,402,679 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
End of period | | | | | | $ | 23,978,848 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 22,402,679 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Commencement of operations. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
40
Financial Highlights
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class A Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2023 | | December 08, 2021(a) through August 31, 2022 | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(b): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | | | $8.49 | | | | | $10.00 | | | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 0.45 | | | | | 0.27 | | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | | 0.07 | | | | | (1.45 | ) | | |
Total from investment operations | | | | 0.52 | | | | | (1.18 | ) | | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | | (0.53 | ) | | | | (0.33 | ) | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | | | $8.48 | | | | | $8.49 | | | |
Total Return(c): | | | | 6.34 | % | | | | (11.93 | )% | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000) | | | | $91 | | | | | $45 | | | |
Average net assets (000) | | | | $35 | | | | | $43 | | | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 0.83 | %(e) | | | | 0.80 | %(f) | | |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 31.62 | % | | | | 64.44 | %(f) | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 5.31 | % | | | | 4.07 | %(f) | | |
Portfolio turnover rate(g) | | | | 18 | % | | | | 24 | % | | |
(a) | Commencement of operations. |
(b) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
(c) | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | Includes certain non-recurring expenses of 0.03% which are being excluded from the Fund’s contractual waiver for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
(f) | Annualized, with the exception of certain non-recurring expenses. |
(g) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 41
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class C Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2023 | | December 08, 2021(a) through August 31, 2022 | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(b): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | | | $8.48 | | | | | $10.00 | | | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 0.38 | | | | | 0.22 | | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | | 0.09 | | | | | (1.45 | ) | | |
Total from investment operations | | | | 0.47 | | | | | (1.23 | ) | | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | | (0.47 | ) | | | | (0.29 | ) | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | | | $8.48 | | | | | $8.48 | | | |
Total Return(c): | | | | 5.74 | % | | | | (12.48 | )% | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000) | | | | $12 | | | | | $11 | | | |
Average net assets (000) | | | | $12 | | | | | $12 | | | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 1.51 | %(e) | | | | 1.50 | %(f) | | |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 80.49 | % | | | | 222.32 | %(f) | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 4.59 | % | | | | 3.28 | %(f) | | |
Portfolio turnover rate(g) | | | | 18 | % | | | | 24 | % | | |
(a) | Commencement of operations. |
(b) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
(c) | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | Includes certain non-recurring expenses of 0.01% which are being excluded from the Fund’s contractual waiver for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
(f) | Annualized, with the exception of certain non-recurring expenses. |
(g) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
42
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class Z Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2023 | | December 08, 2021(a) through August 31, 2022 | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(b): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | | | $8.49 | | | | | $10.00 | | | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | �� | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 0.46 | | | | | 0.29 | | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | | 0.09 | | | | | (1.45 | ) | | |
Total from investment operations | | | | 0.55 | | | | | (1.16 | ) | | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | | (0.56 | ) | | | | (0.35 | ) | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | | | $8.48 | | | | | $8.49 | | | |
Total Return(c): | | | | 6.62 | % | | | | (11.76 | )% | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000) | | | | $284 | | | | | $271 | | | |
Average net assets (000) | | | | $367 | | | | | $176 | | | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 0.55 | %(e) | | | | 0.54 | %(f) | | |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 4.33 | % | | | | 16.33 | %(f) | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 5.55 | % | | | | 4.52 | %(f) | | |
Portfolio turnover rate(g) | | | | 18 | % | | | | 24 | % | | |
(a) | Commencement of operations. |
(b) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
(c) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | Includes certain non-recurring expenses of 0.01% which are being excluded from the Fund’s contractual waiver for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
(f) | Annualized, with the exception of certain non-recurring expenses. |
(g) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 43
Financial Highlights (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
Class R6 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2023 | | December 08, 2021(a) through August 31, 2022 | | |
Per Share Operating Performance(b): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | | | $8.48 | | | | | $10.00 | | | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 0.48 | | | | | 0.29 | | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | | | | 0.07 | | | | | (1.45 | ) | | |
Total from investment operations | | | | 0.55 | | | | | (1.16 | ) | | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | | (0.55 | ) | | | | (0.36 | ) | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | | | $8.48 | | | | | $8.48 | | | |
Total Return(c): | | | | 6.88 | % | | | | (11.78 | )% | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (000) | | | | $23,592 | | | | | $22,076 | | | |
Average net assets (000) | | | | $22,479 | | | | | $23,304 | | | |
Ratios to average net assets(d): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 0.42 | %(e) | | | | 0.41 | %(f) | | |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | | 1.39 | % | | | | 1.34 | %(f) | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 5.68 | % | | | | 4.35 | %(f) | | |
Portfolio turnover rate(g) | | | | 18 | % | | | | 24 | % | | |
(a) | Commencement of operations. |
(b) | Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
(c) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized. |
(d) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | Includes certain non-recurring expenses of 0.01% which are being excluded from the Fund’s contractual waiver for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
(f) | Annualized, with the exception of certain non-recurring expenses. |
(g) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments, certain derivatives and in-kind transactions (if any). If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
44
Notes to Financial Statements
Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 (the “Registered Investment Company” or “RIC”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The RIC is organized as a Maryland Corporation. These financial statements relate only to the PGIM ESG High Yield Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the RIC. The Fund is classified as a diversified fund for purposes of the 1940 Act.
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek total return, through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.
The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Fund consistently follows such policies in the preparation of its financial statements.
Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets and liabilities that are fair valued as of the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. As described in further detail below, the Fund’s investments are valued daily based on a number of factors, including the type of investment and whether market quotations are readily available. The RIC’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures for security valuation and designated PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or the “Manager”) as the “Valuation Designee,” as defined by Rule 2a-5(b) under the 1940 Act, to perform the fair value determination relating to all Fund investments. Pursuant to the Board’s oversight, the Valuation Designee has established a Valuation Committee to perform the duties and responsibilities as Valuation Designee under Rule 2a-5. The valuation procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. Fair value is the estimated price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
For the fiscal reporting year-end, securities and other assets and liabilities were fair valued at the close of the last U.S. business day. Trading in certain foreign securities may occur when the NYSE is closed (including weekends and holidays). Because such foreign securities
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 45
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot purchase or redeem Fund shares.
Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the Schedule of Investments and referred to herein as the “fair value hierarchy” in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 — Fair Value Measurement.
Common or preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and derivative instruments, if applicable, that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. In the event that no sale or official closing price on a valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in the absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Investments in open-end funds (other than ETFs) are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.
Fixed income securities traded in the OTC market are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such fixed income securities are typically valued using the market approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The Fund utilizes the market approach as the primary method to value securities when market prices of identical or comparable instruments are available. The third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated bid price are based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations and reported trades. Certain Level 3 securities are also valued using the market approach when obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing transaction prices for identical securities that have been used in excess of five business days. During the reporting period, there were no changes to report with respect to the valuation approach and/or valuation techniques discussed above.
Floating rate and other loans are generally valued at prices provided by approved independent pricing vendors. The pricing vendors utilize broker/dealer quotations and provide prices based on the average of such quotations. Floating rate and other loans valued
46
using such vendor prices are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Floating rate and other loans valued based on a single broker quote or at the original transaction price in excess of five business days are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
OTC and centrally cleared derivative instruments are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Such derivative instruments are typically valued using the market approach and/or income approach which generally involves obtaining data from an approved independent third-party vendor source. The Fund utilizes the market approach when quoted prices in broker-dealer markets are available but also includes consideration of alternative valuation approaches, including the income approach. In the absence of reliable market quotations, the income approach is typically utilized for purposes of valuing derivatives such as interest rate swaps based on a discounted cash flow analysis whereby the value of the instrument is equal to the present value of its future cash inflows or outflows. Such analysis includes projecting future cash flows and determining the discount rate (including the present value factors that affect the discount rate) used to discount the future cash flows. In addition, the third-party vendors’ valuation techniques used to derive the evaluated derivative price is based on evaluating observable inputs, including but not limited to, underlying asset prices, indices, spreads, interest rates and exchange rates. Certain derivatives may be classified as Level 3 when valued using the market approach by obtaining a single broker quote or when utilizing unobservable inputs in the income approach. During the reporting period, there were no changes to report with respect to the valuation approach and/or valuation techniques discussed above.
Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on policies and procedures approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Altering one or more unobservable inputs may result in a significant change to a Level 3 security’s fair value measurement.
When determining the fair value of securities, some of the factors influencing the valuation include: the nature of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; assessment of the general liquidity of the securities; the issuer’s financial condition and the markets in which it does business; the cost of the investment; the size of the holding and the capitalization of the issuer; the prices of any recent transactions or bids/offers for such securities or any comparable securities; and any available analyst media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the Valuation Designee regarding the issuer or the markets or industry in which it operates. Using fair value to price securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent closing price and from the price used by other unaffiliated mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.
Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 47
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities — at the exchange rate as of the valuation date;
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses — at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not generally isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities held at the end of the period. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term portfolio securities sold during the period. Accordingly, holding period unrealized and realized foreign currency gains (losses) are included in the reported net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and net realized gains (losses) on investment transactions on the Statements of Operations. Notwithstanding the above, the Fund does isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when determining the gain (loss) upon the sale or maturity of foreign currency denominated debt obligations; such amounts are included in net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions.
Net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from the disposition of holdings of foreign currencies, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest, dividends and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains (losses) arise from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities (other than investments) at period end exchange rates.
Forward and Cross Currency Contracts: A forward currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The Fund enters into forward currency contracts, as defined in the prospectus, in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings or on specific receivables and payables denominated in a foreign currency and to gain exposure to certain currencies. The contracts are valued daily at current forward exchange rates and any unrealized gain (loss) is included in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on forward and cross currency contracts. Gain (loss) is realized on the settlement date of the contract equal to the difference between the settlement value of the original and negotiated forward contracts. This gain (loss), if any, is included in net realized gain (loss) on forward and cross currency contract transactions. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the
48
terms of their contracts. Forward currency contracts involve risks from currency exchange rate and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty at the end of the contract’s life. A cross currency contract is a forward contract where a specified amount of one foreign currency will be exchanged for a specified amount of another foreign currency.
Financial Futures Contracts: A financial futures contract is an agreement to purchase (long) or sell (short) an agreed amount of securities at a set price for delivery on a future date. Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying security. Such variation margin is recorded for financial statement purposes on a daily basis as unrealized gain (loss). When the contract expires or is closed, the gain (loss) is realized and is presented in the Statement of Operations as net realized gain (loss) on futures transactions.
The Fund invested in financial futures contracts in order to hedge its existing portfolio securities, or securities the Fund intends to purchase, against fluctuations in value caused by changes in prevailing interest rates. Should interest rates move unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the financial futures contracts and may realize a loss. The use of futures transactions involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts, interest rates and the underlying hedged assets. Since futures contracts are exchange-traded, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchanges’ clearinghouse acts as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures and guarantees the futures contracts against default.
Swap Agreements: The Fund entered into certain types of swap agreements detailed in the disclosures below. A swap agreement is an agreement to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. Swap agreements are negotiated in the OTC market and may be executed either directly with a counterparty (“OTC-traded”) or through a central clearing facility, such as a registered exchange. Swap agreements are valued daily at current market value and any change in value is included in the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on swap agreements. Centrally cleared swaps pay or receive an amount known as “variation margin”, based on daily changes in the valuation of the swap contract. For OTC-traded, upfront premiums paid and received are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Swap agreements outstanding at period end, if any, are listed on the Schedule of Investments.
Credit Default Swaps (“CDS”): CDS involve one party (the protection buyer) making a stream of payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for the right to receive a specified payment in the event of a default or as a result of a default (collectively a “credit
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 49
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
event”) for the referenced entity (typically corporate issues or sovereign issues of an emerging country) on its obligation; or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index.
The Fund is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives, and as such, has entered into CDS contracts to provide a measure of protection against defaults or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default or the reference entity’s credit soundness. CDS contracts generally trade based on a spread which represents the cost a protection buyer has to pay the protection seller. The protection buyer is said to be “short the credit” because the higher the contract value rises, the more the credit deteriorates. The value of the CDS contract increases for the protection buyer if the spread increases. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk for purchased CDS is the inability of the counterparty to honor the contract up to the notional value due to a credit event.
As a seller of protection on credit default swap agreements, the Fund generally receives an agreed upon payment from the buyer of protection throughout the term of the swap, provided no credit event occurs. As the seller, the Fund effectively increases its investment risk because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund may be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
The maximum amount of the payment that the Fund, as a seller of protection, could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be equal to the notional amount of the underlying security or index contract as a result of a credit event. This potential amount will be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements which the Fund entered into for the same referenced entity or index. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.
Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements where the Fund is the seller of protection as of period end are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments, if applicable. These spreads serve as indicators of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of default risk for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads and increased market value in absolute terms, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood of risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement.
50
Total Return Swaps: In a total return swap, one party receives payments based on the market value of the security or the commodity involved, or total return of a specific referenced asset, such as an equity, index or bond, and in return pays a defined amount. The Fund is subject to risk exposures associated with the referenced asset in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund entered into total return swaps to manage its exposure to a security or an index. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the change in the value of the security, in the Fund’s favor, from the point of entering into the contract.
Floating Rate and Other Loans: The Fund invested in floating rate and other loans. Floating rate and other loans include loans that are privately negotiated between a corporate borrower and one or more financial institutions, including, but not limited to, term loans, revolvers, and other instruments issued in the floating rate and other loans market. The Fund acquire interests in loans directly (by way of assignment from the selling institution) and/or indirectly (by way of the purchase of a participation interest from the selling institution). Under a floating rate and other loans assignment, the Fund generally will succeed to all the rights and obligations of an assigning lending institution and become a lender under the loan agreement with the relevant borrower in connection with that loan. Under a floating rate and other loans participation, the Fund generally will have a contractual relationship only with the lender, not with the relevant borrower. As a result, the Fund generally will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest, and any fees to which they are entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the relevant borrower. The Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which they have purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation to the Fund.
Master Netting Arrangements: The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of all or a portion of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts, the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off and the right of set-off is enforceable by law.
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, is a party to International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreements with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 51
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the Fund is held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian and with respect to those amounts which can be sold or re-pledged, is presented in the Schedule of Investments. Collateral pledged by the Fund is segregated by the Fund’s custodian and identified in the Schedule of Investments. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the Fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the Fund’s net position with each counterparty. Termination events applicable to the Fund may occur upon a decline in the Fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the Fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the Fund’s future derivative activity.
In addition to each instrument’s primary underlying risk exposure (e.g. interest rate, credit, equity or foreign exchange, etc.), swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that no liquid market for these agreements will exist, the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree on the contractual terms of the agreement, and changes in net interest rates will be unfavorable. In connection with these agreements, securities in the portfolio may be identified or received as collateral from the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide or receive assets of value and to serve as recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency of either party. Such OTC derivative agreements include conditions which, when materialized, give the counterparty the right to cause an early termination of the transactions under those agreements. Any election by the counterparty for early termination of the contract(s) may impact the amounts reported on financial statements.
Short sales and OTC contracts, including forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swaps, forward rate agreements and written options involve elements of both market and credit risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, if applicable. Such risks may be mitigated by engaging in master netting arrangements.
Payment-In-Kind: The Fund invested in the open market or received pursuant to debt restructuring securities that pay-in-kind (PIK) the interest due on such debt instruments. The PIK interest, computed at the contractual rate specified, is added to the existing principal balance of the debt when issued bonds have the same terms as the bond or
52
recorded as a separate bond when terms are different from the existing debt, and is recorded as interest income.
Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date, or for certain foreign securities, when the Fund becomes aware of such dividends. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual expense amounts. Net investment income or loss (other than class specific expenses and waivers, which are allocated as noted below) and unrealized and realized gains (losses) are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of adjusted net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Class specific expenses and waivers, where applicable, are charged to the respective share classes. Such class specific expenses and waivers include distribution fees and distribution fee waivers, shareholder servicing fees, transfer agent’s fees and expenses, registration fees and fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, as applicable.
Offering and Organization Costs: Offering costs paid in connection with the initial offering of shares of the Fund are being amortized on a straight-line basis over twelve months from the date of commencement of operations. Organization costs paid in connection with the organization of the Fund were expensed as incurred.
Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to continue to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable net investment income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, interest and capital gains, if any, are recorded, net of reclaimable amounts, at the time the related income is earned.
Dividends and Distributions: Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified between total distributable earnings (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate. The chart below sets forth the expected frequency of dividend and capital gains distributions to shareholders. Various factors may impact the frequency of dividend distributions to shareholders, including but not limited to adverse market conditions or portfolio holding-specific events.
| | |
| |
Expected Distribution Schedule to Shareholders* | | Frequency |
Net Investment Income | | Monthly |
Short-Term Capital Gains | | Annually |
Long-Term Capital Gains | | Annually |
* | Under certain circumstances, the Fund may make more than one distribution of short-term and/or long-term capital gains during a fiscal year. |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 53
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Estimates: The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a management agreement with the Manager pursuant to which it has responsibility for all investment advisory services, including supervision of the subadvisers’ performance of such services, and for rendering administrative services.
The Manager has entered into a subadvisory agreement with PGIM, Inc., which provides subadvisory services to the Fund through its business unit PGIM Fixed Income, and PGIM Limited (collectively the “subadviser”). The Manager pays for the services of the subadviser.
Fees payable under the management agreement are computed daily and paid monthly. For the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, the contractual and effective management fee rates were as follows:
| | | | |
| |
Contractual Management Rate | | Effective Management Fee, before any waivers and/or expense reimbursements | |
0.50% of average daily net assets up to and including $250 million; | | | 0.50% | |
0.475% on the next $500 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.45% on the next $750 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.425% on the next $500 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.40% on the next $500 million of average daily net assets; | | | | |
0.375% on the next $500 million of average daily net assets; and | | | | |
0.35% of average daily net assets over $3 billion. | | | | |
The Manager has contractually agreed, through December 31, 2024, to limit total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. This contractual waiver excludes interest, brokerage, taxes (such as income and foreign withholding taxes, stamp duty and deferred tax expenses), acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, and certain other Fund expenses such as dividend and interest expense and broker charges on short sales.
Where applicable, the Manager agrees to waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class. In addition, total annual operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual operating expenses for Class Z shares. Fees and/or expenses waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager for the purpose of preventing the expenses from exceeding a
54
certain expense ratio limit may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver and/or reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year. The expense limitations attributable to each class are as follows:
| | | | | |
| |
Class | | Expense Limitations |
A | | 0.80% |
C | | 1.50 |
Z | | 0.54 |
R6 | | 0.41 |
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the Class A, Class C, Class Z and Class R6 shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates PIMS for distributing and servicing the Fund’s Class A and Class C shares, pursuant to the plans of distribution (the “Distribution Plans”), regardless of expenses actually incurred by PIMS.
Pursuant to the Distribution Plans, the Fund compensates PIMS for distribution related activities at an annual rate based on average daily net assets per class. The distribution fees are accrued daily and payable monthly.
The Fund’s annual gross and net distribution rates, where applicable, are as follows:
| | | | |
| | |
Class | | Gross Distribution Fee | | Net Distribution Fee |
A | | 0.25% | | 0.25% |
C | | 1.00 | | 1.00 |
Z | | N/A | | N/A |
R6 | | N/A | | N/A |
For the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, PIMS received front-end sales charges (“FESL”) resulting from sales of certain class shares and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) imposed upon redemptions by certain shareholders. From these fees, PIMS paid such sales charges to broker-dealers, who in turn paid commissions to salespersons and incurred other distribution costs. The sales charges are as follows where applicable:
| | | | |
| | |
Class | | FESL | | CDSC |
A | | $153 | | $— |
C | | — | | — |
PGIM Investments, PGIM, Inc., PGIM Limited and PIMS are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).
4. | Other Transactions with Affiliates |
Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (“PMFS”), an affiliate of PGIM Investments and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential, serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 55
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
shareholder servicing agent. Transfer agent’s fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations include certain out-of-pocket expenses paid to non-affiliates, where applicable.
The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund (the “Core Government Fund”), a fund of the Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc., registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. The Fund may also invest in the PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund, pursuant to an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), a fund of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2 (together with PGIM Core Government Fund, the “Core Funds”) registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. PGIM Investments and/or its affiliates are paid fees or reimbursed for providing their services to the Core Funds. In addition to the realized and unrealized gains on investments in the Core Funds, earnings from such investments are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income”.
The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act that, subject to certain conditions, permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors/trustees, and/or common officers. For the year ended August 31, 2023, no Rule 17a-7 transactions were entered into by the Fund.
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) for the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, were as follows:
| | |
| |
Cost of Purchases | | Proceeds from Sales |
$5,313,004 | | $3,604,480 |
A summary of the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of shares of affiliated mutual funds for the reporting period ended August 31, 2023, is presented as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Value, Beginning of Year | | | | Cost of Purchases | | | | Proceeds from Sales | | | | Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | | | | Realized Gain (Loss) | | | | | Value, End of Year | | | Shares, End of Year | | | Income | |
| | | | |
Short-Term Investments - Affiliated Mutual Funds: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund(1)(wm) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$ — | | | | $3,645,850 | | | | $2,214,542 | | | | $ — | | | | | | $— | | | | | | | $1,431,308 | | | | 1,431,308 | | | | $19,220 | |
56
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Value, Beginning of Year | | | | Cost of Purchases | | | | Proceeds from Sales | | | | Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | | | | Realized Gain (Loss) | | | | | Value, End of Year | | | Shares, End of Year | | | Income | |
| | | | |
PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund(1)(wm) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
$327,166 | | | | $ 15,748 | | | | $ — | | | | $740 | | | | | | $— | | | | | | | $ 343,654 | | | | 37,599 | | | | $15,749 | |
| | | | |
PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(1)(wm) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
226,095 | | | | 240,957 | | | | 467,052 | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 9,543 | |
$553,261 | | | | $3,902,555 | | | | $2,681,594 | | | | $740 | | | | | | $— | | | | | | | $1,774,962 | | | | | | | | $44,512 | |
(1) | The Fund did not have any capital gain distributions during the reporting period. |
(wm) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Government Money Market Fund, PGIM Core Short-Term Bond Fund and PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund, if applicable. |
6. | Distributions and Tax Information |
Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date.
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Tax Return of Capital | | Total Dividends and Distributions |
$1,527,056 | | $— | | $— | | $1,527,056 |
For the year ended August 31, 2022, the tax character of dividends paid as reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Ordinary Income | | Long-Term Capital Gains | | Tax Return of Capital | | Total Dividends and Distributions |
$921,634 | | $— | | $— | | $921,634 |
For the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund had the following amounts of accumulated undistributed earnings on a tax basis:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Undistributed Ordinary Income | | Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains | | |
| | $30,378 | | $— | | |
The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized depreciation as of August 31, 2023 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | | |
Tax Basis | | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | | Gross Unrealized Depreciation | | Net Unrealized Depreciation |
$26,736,446 | | $167,850 | | $(3,155,875) | | $(2,988,025) |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 57
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The difference between GAAP and tax basis is primarily attributable to deferred losses on wash sales, swaps, differences in the treatment of premium amortization for book and tax purposes and other GAAP to tax differences.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund had an approximated capital loss carryforward as of August 31, 2023 which can be carried forward for an unlimited period. No capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such losses.
| | | | | | |
| | | |
| | Capital Loss Carryforward | | Capital Loss Carryforward Utilized | | |
| | $880,000 | | $— | | |
The Manager has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed tax returns, the Fund’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the two fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 are subject to such review.
The Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class Z and Class R6 shares. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 3.25%. Investors who purchase $500,000 or more of Class A shares and sell those shares within 12 months of purchase are subject to a CDSC of 1% on sales although these purchases are not subject to a front-end sales charge. The Class A CDSC is waived for certain retirement and/or benefit plans. A special exchange privilege is also available for shareholders who qualified to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. Class C shares are sold with a CDSC of 1% on sales made within 12 months of purchase. Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares on a monthly basis approximately eight years after purchase. Class Z and Class R6 shares are not subject to any sales or redemption charges and are available exclusively for sale to a limited group of investors.
Under certain circumstances, an exchange may be made from specified share classes of the Fund to one or more other share classes of the Fund as presented in the table of transactions in shares of common stock, below.
58
The RIC is authorized to issue 96,525,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 1,500,000,000 of which are designated as shares of the Fund. The authorized shares of the Fund are currently classified and designated as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | |
Class | | Number of Shares |
A | | 200,000,000 | | |
C | | 300,000,000 | | |
Z | | 600,000,000 | | |
R6 | | 400,000,000 | | |
As of August 31, 2023, Prudential, through its affiliated entities, including affiliated funds (if applicable), owned shares of the Fund as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Class | | Number of Shares | | Percentage of Outstanding Shares |
A | | | | 1,104 | | | | | 10.3 | % | | |
C | | | | 1,091 | | | | | 76.8 | | | |
Z | | | | 1,109 | | | | | 3.3 | | | |
R6 | | | | 2,780,899 | | | | | 99.9 | | | |
At the reporting period end, the number of shareholders holding greater than 5% of the Fund are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | Number of Shareholders | | Percentage of Outstanding Shares |
Affiliated | | | | 1 | | | | | 98.3 | % | | |
Unaffiliated | | | | — | | | | | — | | | |
Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Class A | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 8,945 | | | | $ 75,608 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 236 | | | | 1,978 | |
Shares purchased | | | (3,727 | ) | | | (31,328 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 5,454 | | | | $ 46,258 | |
| | |
Period ended August 31, 2022*: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 12,578 | | | | $ 118,125 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 155 | | | | 1,395 | |
Shares purchased | | | (7,477 | ) | | | (65,936 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 5,256 | | | | $ 53,584 | |
| | |
Class C | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 77 | | | | $ 645 | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 77 | | | | $ 645 | |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 59
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Share Class | | Shares | | | Amount | |
| | |
Period ended August 31, 2022*: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 1,301 | | | | $ 13,000 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 42 | | | | 376 | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 1,343 | | | | $ 13,376 | |
| | |
Class Z | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 31,771 | | | | $ 264,602 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 2,878 | | | | 24,066 | |
Shares purchased | | | (33,110 | ) | | | (276,406 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 1,539 | | | | $ 12,262 | |
| | |
Period ended August 31, 2022*: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 31,128 | | | | $ 292,554 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 808 | | | | 7,081 | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 31,936 | | | | $ 299,635 | |
| | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | |
Year ended August 31, 2023: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 1,774 | | | | $ 14,964 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 179,122 | | | | 1,500,041 | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 180,896 | | | | $ 1,515,005 | |
| | |
Period ended August 31, 2022*: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 2,501,000 | | | | $25,009,990 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 100,821 | | | | 912,589 | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 2,601,821 | | | | $25,922,579 | |
* | Commencement of operations was December 08, 2021. |
The RIC, on behalf of the Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Participating Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary funding for capital share redemptions. The table below provides details of the current SCA in effect at the reporting period-end as well as the prior SCA.
| | | | |
| | |
| | Current SCA | | Prior SCA |
Term of Commitment | | 9/30/2022 - 9/28/2023 | | 10/1/2021 – 9/29/2022 |
Total Commitment | | $1,200,000,000 | | $ 1,200,000,000 |
Annualized Commitment Fee on the Unused Portion of the SCA | | 0.15% | | 0.15% |
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| | | | |
| | |
| | Current SCA | | Prior SCA |
Annualized Interest Rate on Borrowings | | 1.00% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the daily SOFR rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero percent | | 1.20% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the one-month LIBOR rate or (3) zero percent |
Subsequent to the reporting period end, the SCA has been renewed and effective September 29, 2023 will provide a commitment of $1,200,000,000 through September 26, 2024. The commitment fee paid by the Participating Funds will continue to be 0.15% of the unused portion of the SCA. The interest on borrowings under the renewed SCA will be paid monthly and at a per annum interest rate of 1.00% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the daily SOFR rate plus 0.10% or (3) zero percent.
Certain affiliated registered investment companies that are parties to the SCA include portfolios that are subject to a predetermined mathematical formula used to manage certain benefit guarantees offered under variable annuity contracts. The formula may result in large scale asset flows into and out of these portfolios. Consequently, these portfolios may be more likely to utilize the SCA for purposes of funding redemptions. It may be possible for those portfolios to fully exhaust the committed amount of the SCA, thereby requiring the Manager to allocate available funding per a Board-approved methodology designed to treat the Participating Funds in the SCA equitably.
The Fund did not utilize the SCA during the year ended August 31, 2023.
9. | Risks of Investing in the Fund |
The Fund’s risks include, but are not limited to, some or all of the risks discussed below. For further information on the Fund’s risks, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Covenant-Lite Risk: Some of the loans or debt obligations in which the Fund may invest or get exposure to may be “covenant-lite”, which means the loans or obligations contain fewer financial maintenance covenants than other loans or obligations (in some cases, none) and do not include terms which allow the lender to monitor the borrower’s performance and declare a default if certain criteria are breached. An investment by the Fund in a covenant-lite loan may potentially hinder the ability to reprice credit risk associated with the issuer and reduce the ability to restructure a problematic loan and mitigate potential loss. The Fund may also experience difficulty, expenses or delays in enforcing its rights on its holdings of covenant-lite loans or obligations. As a result of these risks, the Fund’s exposure to losses may be increased, which could result in an adverse impact on the Fund’s net income and NAV.
Credit Risk: This is the risk that the issuer, the guarantor or the insurer of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. Additionally, fixed
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 61
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
income securities could lose value due to a loss of confidence in the ability of the issuer, guarantor, insurer or counterparty to pay back debt. The lower the credit quality of a bond, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Debt Obligations Risk: Debt obligations are subject to credit risk, market risk and interest rate risk. The Fund’s holdings, share price, yield and total return may also fluctuate in response to bond market movements. The value of bonds may decline for issuer-related reasons, including management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services. Certain types of fixed income obligations also may be subject to “call and redemption risk,” which is the risk that the issuer may call a bond held by the Fund for redemption before it matures and the Fund may not be able to reinvest at the same rate of interest and therefore would earn less income.
Derivatives Risk: Derivatives involve special risks and costs and may result in losses to the Fund. The successful use of derivatives requires sophisticated management, and, to the extent that derivatives are used, the Fund will depend on the subadviser’s ability to analyze and manage derivatives transactions. The prices of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in abnormal market conditions. Some derivatives are “leveraged” or may create economic leverage for the Fund. and therefore may magnify or otherwise increase investment losses to the Fund. The Fund’s use of derivatives may also increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
Other risks arise from the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the Fund’s derivatives positions. In fact, many over-the-counter derivative instruments will not have liquidity beyond the counterparty to the instrument. Over-the-counter derivative instruments also involve the risk that the other party will not meet its obligations to the Fund. The use of derivatives also exposes the Fund to operational issues, such as documentation and settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate control and human error.
Derivatives may also involve legal risks, such as insufficient documentation, the lack of capacity or authority of a counterparty to execute or settle a transaction, and the legality and enforceability of derivatives contracts. The U.S. Government and foreign governments have adopted (and may adopt further) regulations governing derivatives markets, including mandatory clearing of certain derivatives, margin and reporting requirements and risk exposure limitations. Regulation of derivatives may make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility to the Fund, or otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.
Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or
62
stabilize economic growth or the functioning of the securities markets, or otherwise reduce inflation, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. Governmental efforts to curb inflation often have negative effects on the level of economic activity. Relatively reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide.
Emerging Markets Risk: The risks of foreign investments are greater for investments in or exposed to emerging markets. Emerging market countries typically have economic and political systems that are less fully developed, and can be expected to be less stable, than those of more developed countries. For example, the economies of such countries can be subject to rapid and unpredictable rates of inflation or deflation. Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and price volatility. Emerging market countries may have policies that restrict investment by non-U.S. investors, or that prevent non-U.S. investors from withdrawing their money at will.
The Fund may invest in some emerging markets that subject it to risks such as those associated with illiquidity, custody of assets, different settlement and clearance procedures and asserting legal title under a developing legal and regulatory regime to a greater degree than in developed markets or even in other emerging markets.
ESG Methodology Risk: Because the subadviser utilizes screens and other exclusionary tools in its ESG methodology, this may result in the Fund forgoing opportunities to make certain investments when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so, or sell investments based on its ESG methodology criteria when it might be otherwise disadvantageous for it to do so. In evaluating an issuer, the subadviser is dependent upon information and data, including from third party data providers, that may be incomplete, inaccurate, or unavailable, or that may present conflicting information and data with respect to an issuer, which in each case could cause the subadviser to incorrectly assess an issuer’s business practices with respect to ESG. Issuers that are a assigned a higher ESG Impact Rating by the subadviser may underperform similar issuers that have a lower ESG Impact Rating and/or may underperform the market as a whole. As a result, the Fund may underperform funds that do not screen or score companies based on ESG factors or funds that use a different ESG methodology. ESG Impact Ratings are inherently subjective and the subadviser’s assessment of an issuer, based on the issuer’s level of involvement in a particular industry or the issuer’s ESG Impact Ratings may differ from that of other funds or an investor. As a result, the Fund may invest in issuers that do not reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor and may not be deemed to exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics if different metrics were used to evaluate them.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (including those denominated in U.S. dollars) may involve more risk than investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign political, economic and legal systems, especially those in developing and emerging market countries, may be less stable and more volatile than in the United States. Foreign legal systems generally have fewer regulatory requirements than the U.S. legal system, particularly those of emerging markets. In general, less information is publicly
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 63
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
available with respect to non-U.S. companies than U.S. companies. Non-U.S. companies generally are not subject to the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards as are U.S. companies. Additionally, the changing value of foreign currencies and changes in exchange rates could also affect the value of the assets the Fund holds and the Fund’s performance. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of foreign securities to make payment of principal and interest or dividends to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise.
Investments in emerging markets are subject to greater volatility and price declines.
In addition, the Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of non-U.S. currency, confiscatory taxation and adverse diplomatic developments. Special U.S. tax considerations may apply.
Increase in Expenses Risk: Your actual cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the expenses shown in the expense table in the Fund’s prospectus for a variety of reasons. For example, expense ratios may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and Fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile. Active and frequent trading of Fund securities can increase expenses.
Interest Rate Risk: The value of your investment may go down when interest rates rise. A rise in rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term or duration debt securities. Similarly, a rise in interest rates may also have a greater negative impact on the value of equity securities whose issuers expect earnings further out in the future. For example, a fixed income security with a duration of three years is expected to decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest rates increase by 1%. This is referred to as “duration risk.” When interest rates fall, the issuers of debt obligations may prepay principal more quickly than expected, and the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate. This is referred to as “prepayment risk.” When interest rates rise, debt obligations may be repaid more slowly than expected, and the value of the Fund’s holdings may fall sharply. This is referred to as “extension risk.” The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply or in a manner not anticipated by the subadviser.
Junk Bonds Risks: High-yield, high-risk bonds have predominantly speculative characteristics, including particularly high credit risk. Junk bonds tend to have lower market liquidity than higher-rated securities. The liquidity of particular issuers or industries within a particular investment category may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning. The non-investment grade bond market can experience sudden and sharp price swings and become illiquid due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock
64
market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, a high profile default or a change in the market’s psychology.
Large Shareholder and Large Scale Redemption Risk: Certain individuals, accounts, funds (including funds affiliated with the Manager) or institutions, including the Manager and its affiliates, may from time to time own or control a substantial amount of the Fund’s shares. There is no requirement that these entities maintain their investment in the Fund. There is a risk that such large shareholders or that the Fund’s shareholders generally may redeem all or a substantial portion of their investments in the Fund in a short period of time, which could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s NAV, liquidity, and brokerage costs. Large redemptions could also result in tax consequences to shareholders and impact the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy. The Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective after one or more large scale redemptions may be impaired and, as a result, the Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalents.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Fund may invest in instruments that trade in lower volumes and are more illiquid than other investments. If the Fund is forced to sell these investments to pay redemption proceeds or for other reasons, the Fund may lose money. In addition, when there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the instrument at all. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.
Management Risk: Actively managed funds are subject to management risk. The subadviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but the subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value or market trends affecting a particular security, industry or sector or about market movements may be incorrect. Additionally, the investments selected for the Fund may underperform the markets in general, the Fund’s benchmark and other funds with similar investment objectives.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risks: Market disruption can be caused by economic, financial or political events and factors, including but not limited to, international wars or conflicts (including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine), geopolitical developments (including trading and tariff arrangements, sanctions and cybersecurity attacks), instability in regions such as Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, terrorism, natural disasters and public health epidemics (including the outbreak of COVID-19 globally).
The extent and duration of such events and resulting market disruptions cannot be predicted, but could be substantial and could magnify the impact of other risks to the Fund. These and other similar events could adversely affect the U.S. and foreign financial markets and lead to increased market volatility, reduced liquidity in the securities markets, significant negative impacts on issuers and the markets for certain securities and commodities and/or
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 65
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
government intervention. They may also cause short- or long-term economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted. Further, due to closures of certain markets and restrictions on trading certain securities, the value of certain securities held by the Fund could be significantly impacted, which could lead to such securities being valued at zero.
COVID-19 and the related governmental and public responses have had, and future public health epidemics may have an impact on the Fund’s investments and net asset value, and have led and may lead to increased market volatility and the potential for illiquidity in certain classes of securities and sectors of the market. Future public health epidemics may result in periods of business disruption, business closures, inability to obtain raw materials, supplies and component parts, and reduced or disrupted operations for the issuers in which the Fund invests. The occurrence, reoccurrence and pendency of public health epidemics could adversely affect the economies and financial markets either in specific countries or worldwide.
Market Risk: Securities markets may be volatile and the market prices of the Fund’s securities may decline. Securities fluctuate in price based on changes in an issuer’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. If the market prices of the securities owned by the Fund fall, the value of your investment in the Fund will decline.
New Fund Risk: The Fund recently commenced operations. As a new and relatively small fund, the Fund’s performance may not represent how the Fund is expected to or may perform in the long term if it becomes larger and after it has fully implemented its investment strategies. Investment positions may have a disproportionate impact (negative or positive) on performance in new and smaller funds. New and smaller funds may also require a period of time before they are invested in securities that meet their investment objectives and policies and achieve a representative portfolio composition. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, and may not employ a successful investment strategy, either of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and/or at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such a liquidation could result in transaction costs and have negative tax consequences for shareholders.
Reference Rate Risk: The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from using or continue to use the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or synthetic version thereof to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value.
66
The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) announced a phase out of LIBOR such that after June 30, 2023, the overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings ceased to be published or are no longer representative.
All other LIBOR settings and certain other interbank offered rates, such as the Euro Overnight Index Average (“EONIA”), ceased to be published after December 31, 2021. On December 16, 2022, the Federal Reserve Board adopted regulations implementing the Adjustable Interest Rate Act by identifying benchmark rates based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate that replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts after June 30, 2023. These regulations apply only to contracts governed by U.S. law, among other limitations. The FCA will permit the use of synthetic U.S. dollar LIBOR rates for non-U.S. contracts through September 30, 2024, but any such rates would be considered non-representative of the underlying market.
Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of applicable transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.
10. | Recent Regulatory Developments |
Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information deemed important for retail investors to assess and monitor their fund investments (the “Rule”). Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in the funds’ streamlined shareholder reports but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The Rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the Rule and its impact to the Fund.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 67
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 and Shareholders of PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of PGIM ESG High Yield Fund (one of the funds constituting Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2023 and the statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for the year ended August 31, 2023 and for the period December 8, 2021 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2022, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year ended August 31, 2023, and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the year ended August 31, 2023 and for the period December 8, 2021 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
October 17, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the PGIM Retail Funds complex since 2020.
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Tax Information (unaudited)
For the period ended August 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable but not less than 61.13% as interest related dividends in accordance with Section 871(k)(1) and 881(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
For the tax year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund reports the maximum amount allowable but not less than 78.69% of interest dividends that are eligible to be treated as interest income in accordance with Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In January 2024, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV, as to the federal tax status of the dividends received by you in calendar year 2023.
We are required by Massachusetts, Missouri and Oregon to inform you that dividends which have been derived from interest on federal obligations are not taxable to shareholders provided that the Fund meets certain requirements mandated by the respective state’s taxing authorities. We are pleased to report that 2.17% of the dividends paid by the Fund qualify for such deduction.
In January 2024, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute 1099-DIV, as to the federal tax status of dividends received by you in calendar year 2023.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund 69
Liquidity Risk Management Program (unaudited)
Consistent with Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “LRMP”). The Fund’s LRMP seeks to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is defined as the risk that the Fund is unable to meet investor redemption requests without significantly diluting the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board has approved PGIM Investments, the Fund’s investment manager, to serve as the administrator of the Fund’s LRMP. As part of its responsibilities as administrator, PGIM Investments has retained a third party to perform certain functions, including providing market data and liquidity classification model information.
The Fund’s LRMP includes a number of processes designed to support the assessment and management of its liquidity risk. In particular, the Fund’s LRMP includes no less than annual assessments of factors that influence the Fund’s liquidity risk; no less than monthly classifications of the Fund’s investments into one of four liquidity classifications provided for in the Liquidity Rule; a 15% of net assets limit on the acquisition of “illiquid investments” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule); establishment of a minimum percentage of the Fund’s assets to be invested in investments classified as “highly liquid” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule) if the Fund does not invest primarily in highly liquid investments; and regular reporting to the Board.
At a meeting of the Board on March 7-9, 2023, PGIM Investments provided a written report (“LRMP Report”) to the Board addressing the operation, adequacy, and effectiveness of the Fund’s LRMP, including any material changes to the LRMP for the period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 (“Reporting Period”). The LRMP Report concluded that the Fund’s LRMP was reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk and was adequately and effectively implemented during the Reporting Period. There were no material changes to the LRMP during the Reporting Period. The LRMP Report further concluded that the Fund’s investment strategies continue to be appropriate given the Fund’s status as an open-end fund.
There can be no assurance that the LRMP will achieve its objectives in the future. Additional information regarding risks of investing in the Fund, including liquidity risks presented by the Fund’s investment portfolio, is found in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
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INFORMATION ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS (unaudited)
Information about Board Members and Officers of the Fund is set forth below. Board Members who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Board Members.” Board Members who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund are referred to as “Interested Board Members.” The Board Members are responsible for the overall supervision of the operations of the Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Board in turn elects the Officers, who are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund.
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Ellen S. Alberding 1958 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 99 | | Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President, The Joyce Foundation (charitable foundation) (since 2002); formerly Vice Chair, City Colleges of Chicago (community college system) (2011-2015); formerly Trustee, National Park Foundation (charitable foundation for national park system) (2009-2018); formerly Trustee, Economic Club of Chicago (2009-2016); Trustee, Loyola University (since 2018). | | None. | | Since September 2013 |
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Kevin J. Bannon 1952 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Managing Director (April 2008-May 2015) and Chief Investment Officer (October 2008-November 2013) of Highmount Capital LLC (registered investment adviser); formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (April 1993-August 2007) of Bank of New York Company; formerly President (May 2003-May 2007) of BNY Hamilton Family of Mutual Funds. | | Director of Urstadt Biddle Properties (equity real estate investment trust) (since September 2008). | | Since July 2008 |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Linda W. Bynoe 1952 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 97 | | President and Chief Executive Officer (since March 1995) and formerly Chief Operating Officer (December 1989-February 1995) of Telemat Limited LLC (formerly Telemat Ltd) (management consulting); formerly Vice President (January 1985-June 1989) at Morgan Stanley & Co. (broker-dealer). | | Trustee of Equity Residential (residential real estate) (since December 2009); Director of Northern Trust Corporation (financial services) (since April 2006); formerly Director of Anixter International, Inc. (communication products distributor) (January 2006-June 2020). | | Since March 2005 |
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Barry H. Evans 1960 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly President (2005-2016), Global Chief Operating Officer (2014-2016), Chief Investment Officer - Global Head of Fixed Income (1998-2014), and various portfolio manager roles (1986-2006), Manulife Asset Management (asset management). | | Formerly Director, Manulife Trust Company (2011-2018); formerly Director, Manulife Asset Management Limited (2015-2017); formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of Manulife Asset Management U.S. (2005-2016); formerly Chairman of the Board, Declaration Investment Management and Research (2008-2016). | | Since September 2017 |
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Keith F. Hartstein 1956 Board Member & Independent Chair Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Member (November 2014-September 2022) of the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC) (organization of independent mutual fund directors); formerly Executive Committee of the IDC Board of Governors (October 2019-December 2021); formerly President and Chief Executive Officer (2005-2012), Senior Vice President (2004-2005), Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (1997-2004), and various executive management positions (1990-1997), John Hancock Funds, LLC (asset management); formerly Chairman, Investment Company Institute’s Sales Force Marketing Committee (2003-2008). | | None. | | Since September 2013 |
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Laurie Simon Hodrick 1962 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 97 | | A. Barton Hepburn Professor Emerita of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (since 2018); Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University (since 2015); Sole Member, ReidCourt LLC (since 2008) (a consulting firm); formerly Visiting Professor of Law, Stanford Law School (2015-2021); formerly A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Columbia Business School (1996-2017); formerly Managing Director, Global Head of Alternative Investment Strategies, Deutsche Bank (2006-2008). | | Independent Director, Andela (since January 2022) (global talent network); Independent Director, Roku (since December 2020) (communication services); formerly Independent Director, Synnex Corporation (2019-2021) (information technology); formerly Independent Director, Kabbage, Inc. (2018-2020) (financial services); formerly Independent Director, Corporate Capital Trust (2017-2018) (a business development company). | | Since September 2017 |
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Brian K. Reid 1961 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Chief Economist for the Investment Company Institute (ICI) (2005-2017); formerly Senior Economist and Director of Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1998-2004); formerly Senior Economist, Industry and Financial Analysis at the ICI (1996-1998); formerly Staff Economist at the Federal Reserve Board (1989-1996); formerly Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2012-2017). | | None. | | Since March 2018 |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
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Independent Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Grace C. Torres 1959 Board Member Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Retired; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, Advanced Series Trust, Prudential Variable Contract Accounts and The Prudential Series Fund (1998-June 2014); Assistant Treasurer (March 1999-June 2014) and Senior Vice President (September 1999-June 2014) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) and Vice President (June 2005-June 2014) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (May 2003-June 2014) of Prudential Annuities Advisory Services, Inc. | | Director (since January 2018) of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank; formerly Director (July 2015-January 2018) of Sun Bancorp, Inc. N.A. and Sun National Bank. | | Since November 2014 |
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Interested Board Members | | | | |
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Name Year of Birth Position(s) Portfolios Overseen | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Other Directorships Held During Past Five Years | | Length of Board Service |
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Stuart S. Parker 1962 Board Member & President Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Officer in Charge of PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as Prudential Investments LLC) (since January 2012); President and Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; President and PEO (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Executive Vice President of Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June 2005-December 2011); Investment Company Institute - Board of Governors (since May 2012). | | None. | | Since January 2012 |
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Scott E. Benjamin 1973 Board Member & Vice President Portfolios Overseen: 100 | | Executive Vice President (since May 2009) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President (since June 2012) of Prudential Investment Management Services LLC; Executive Vice President (since September 2009) of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing, PGIM Investments (since February 2006); Vice President (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Vice President (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President of Product Development and Product Management, PGIM Investments LLC (2003-2006). | | None. | | Since March 2010 |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
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Fund Officers(a) | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Claudia DiGiacomo 1974 Chief Legal Officer | | Chief Legal Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Chief Legal Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since August 2020); Chief Legal Officer of PIFM Holdco, LLC (since August 2020); Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since January 2005) of Prudential; and Corporate Counsel of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since August 2020); formerly Vice President and Assistant Secretary of PGIM Investments LLC (2005-2020); formerly Associate at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP (1999-2004). | | Since December 2005 |
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Andrew Donohue 1972 Chief Compliance Officer | | Chief Compliance Officer (since May 2023) of the PGIM Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, Advanced Series Trust, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer of AST Investment Services, Inc. (since October 2022); Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer of PGIM Investments LLC (since September 2022); formerly various senior compliance roles within Principal Global Investors, LLC., global asset management for Principal Financial (2011-2022), most recently as Global Chief Compliance Officer (2016-2022). | | Since May 2023 |
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Andrew R. French 1962 Secretary | | Vice President (since December 2018) of PGIM Investments LLC; Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Vice President and Corporate Counsel (2010-2018) of Prudential; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (2006-2010) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of PGIM Investments LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since January 2007) of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC. | | Since October 2006 |
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Melissa Gonzalez 1980 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since September 2018) of Prudential; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director and Corporate Counsel (March 2014-September 2018) of Prudential. | | Since March 2020 |
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Fund Officers(a) | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Patrick E. McGuinness 1986 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since August 2020) of PGIM Investments LLC; Director and Corporate Counsel (since February 2017) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. | | Since June 2020 |
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Debra Rubano 1975 Assistant Secretary | | Vice President and Corporate Counsel (since November 2020) of Prudential; Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc; formerly Director and Senior Counsel of Allianz Global Investors U.S. Holdings LLC (2010-2020) and Assistant Secretary of numerous funds in the Allianz fund complex (2015-2020). | | Since December 2020 |
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Kelly A. Coyne 1968 Assistant Secretary | | Director, Investment Operations of Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (since 2010); Assistant Secretary (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Secretary (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. | | Since March 2015 |
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Christian J. Kelly 1975 Chief Financial Officer | | Vice President, Global Head of Fund Administration of PGIM Investments LLC (since November 2018); Chief Financial Officer (since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Credit Fund (since September 2022); Chief Financial Officer of PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc. (since July 2022); formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (January 2019- March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; formerly Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director of Fund Administration of Lord Abbett & Co. LLC (2009-2018), Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds (2017-2018); Director of Accounting, Avenue Capital Group (2008-2009); Senior Manager, Investment Management Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP (1998-2007). | | Since January 2019 |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
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Fund Officers(a) | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Russ Shupak 1973 Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; formerly Assistant Treasurer (March 2022 – July 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since October 2019); formerly Director (2013-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Lana Lomuti 1967 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Assistant Treasurer (December 2007-February 2014) of The Greater China Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2005-2007) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since April 2014 |
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Deborah Conway 1969 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2007-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Elyse M. McLaughlin 1974 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Advanced Series Trust, the Prudential Series Fund and the Prudential Gibraltar Fund (since March 2023); Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; Assistant Treasurer of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds and ETFs (since October 2019); formerly Director (2011-2017) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration. | | Since October 2019 |
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Robert W. McCormack 1973 Assistant Treasurer | | Vice President (since 2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; Assistant Treasurer (Since March 2023) of PGIM Investments mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs, Advanced Series Trust Portfolios, Prudential Series Funds and Prudential Gibraltar Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since September 2022) of the PGIM Private Credit Fund; Assistant Treasurer (since March 2022) of the PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc.; formerly Director (2016-2019) within PGIM Investments Fund Administration; formerly Vice President within Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Management Controllers (2008- 2016), Assistant Treasurer of Goldman Sachs Family of Funds (2015-2016). | | Since March 2023 |
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Fund Officers(a) | | |
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Name Year of Birth Fund Position | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | | Length of Service as Fund Officer |
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Kelly Florio 1978 Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer | | Vice President, Corporate Compliance, Global Compliance Programs and Compliance Risk Management (since December 2021) of Prudential; formerly Head of Fraud Risk Management (October 2019 to December 2021) at New York Life Insurance Company; formerly Head of Key Risk Area Operations (November 2018 to October 2019), Director of the US Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (2009-2018) and Bank Loss Prevention Associate (2006 -2009) at MetLife. | | Since June 2022 |
(a) Excludes Mr. Parker and Mr. Benjamin, interested Board Members who also serve as President and Vice President, respectively.
Explanatory Notes to Tables:
∎ | | Board Members are deemed to be “Interested,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of their affiliation with PGIM Investments LLC and/or an affiliate of PGIM Investments LLC. |
∎ | | Unless otherwise noted, the address of all Board Members and Officers is c/o PGIM Investments LLC, 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102-4410. |
∎ | | There is no set term of office for Board Members or Officers. The Board Members have adopted a retirement policy, which calls for the retirement of Board Members on December 31 of the year in which they reach the age of 75. |
∎ | | “Other Directorships Held” includes all directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the 1934 Act (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
∎ | | “Portfolios Overseen” includes such applicable investment companies managed by PGIM Investments LLC and overseen by the trustee/director. The investment companies for which PGIM Investments LLC serves as manager include the PGIM Mutual Funds, Target Funds, PGIM ETF Trust, PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, Inc., PGIM Private Credit Fund, PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc., PGIM Global High Yield Fund, Inc., PGIM Short Duration High Yield Opportunities Fund, The Prudential Series Fund, Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. and the Advanced Series Trust. |
∎ | | As used in the Fund Officers table “Prudential” means The Prudential Insurance Company of America. |
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
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Approval of Advisory Agreements (unaudited)
The Fund’s Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of PGIM ESG High Yield Fund1 (the “Fund”) consists of ten individuals, eight of whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Directors”). The Board is responsible for the oversight of the Fund and its operations, and performs the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Directors have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of the Board is an Independent Director. The Board has established five standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Compliance Committee and two Investment Committees. Each committee is chaired by, and composed of, Independent Directors.
Annual Approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreements
As required under the 1940 Act, the Board determines annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with PGIM Limited (“PGIML”) and PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM”) on behalf of its PGIM Fixed Income unit (“PGIM Fixed Income”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, met on May 25 and June 6-8, 2023 (the “Board Meeting”) and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2024, after concluding that the renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
In advance of the meetings, the Board requested and received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration. Among other things, the Board considered comparative fee information from PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income. Also, the Board considered comparisons with other mutual funds in relevant Peer Universes and Peer Groups, as is further discussed below.
In approving the agreements, the Board, including the Independent Directors advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisers, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders as the Fund’s assets grow. In their deliberations, the Directors did not identify any single factor which alone was responsible for the Board’s decision to approve the agreements with respect to the Fund. In connection with its deliberations, the Board considered information provided by PGIM Investments throughout the year at regular Board meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the Board Meeting.
1 PGIM ESG High Yield Fund is a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)
The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PGIM Investments, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, which serve as the Fund’s subadvisers pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PGIM Investments, are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.
The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Directors’ reaching their determinations to approve the continuance of the agreements are separately discussed below.
Nature, Quality and Extent of Services
The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Fund by PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income. The Board noted that PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income are affiliated with PGIM
Investments. The Board considered the services provided by PGIM Investments, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadvisers for the Fund, as well as the provision of fund record keeping, compliance and other services to the Fund, and PGIM Investments’ role as administrator for the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. With respect to PGIM Investments’ oversight of the subadvisers, the Board noted that PGIM Investments’ Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PGIM Investments, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PGIM Investments’ senior management on the performance and operations of the subadvisers. The Board also considered that PGIM Investments pays the salaries of all of the officers and interested Directors of the Fund who are part of Fund management. The Board also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, including investment research and security selection, as well as adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable Fund policies and procedures. The Board considered PGIM Investments’ evaluation of the subadvisers, as well as PGIM Investments’ recommendation, based on its review of the subadvisers, to renew the subadvisory agreement.
The Board considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PGIM Investments’ senior management responsible for the oversight of the Fund, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, and also considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Board was provided with information pertaining to PGIML’s, PGIM Investments’ and PGIM Fixed Income’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income. The Board also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as to each of PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income.
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The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisory services provided to the Fund by PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income under the management and subadvisory agreement.
Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PGIM Investments
The Board was provided with information on the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Board discussed with PGIM Investments the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from fund management contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocations and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. However, the Board considered that the cost of services provided by PGIM Investments for the year ended December 31, 2022 exceeded the management fees received by PGIM Investments, resulting in an operating loss to PGIM Investments. Taking these factors into account, the Board concluded that the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board received and discussed information concerning economies of scale that PGIM Investments may realize as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Board noted that the management fee schedule for the Fund includes breakpoints, which have the effect of decreasing the fee rate as assets increase. During the course of time, the Board has considered information regarding the launch date of the Fund, the management fees of the Fund compared to those of similarly managed funds and PGIM Investments’ investment in the Fund over time. The Board noted that economies of scale can be shared with the Fund in other ways, including low management fees from inception, additional technological and personnel investments to enhance shareholder services, and maintaining existing expense structures in the face of arising cost environment. The Board also considered PGIM Investments’ assertion that it continually evaluates the management fee schedule of the Fund and the potential to share economies of scale through breakpoints or fee waivers as asset levels increase.
The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of PGIM Investments’ costs are not specific to individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
Approval of Advisory Agreements (continued)
Other Benefits to PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income
The Board considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PGIM Investments, PGIML, PGIM Fixed Income and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Investments included transfer agency fees received by the Fund’s transfer agent (which is affiliated with PGIM Investments), as well as benefits to its reputation or other intangible benefits resulting from PGIM Investments association with the Fund. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income included the ability to use soft dollar credits, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and benefits to its reputation. The Board concluded that the benefits derived by PGIM Investments, PGIML and PGIM Fixed Income were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.
Performance of the Fund /Fees and Expenses
The Board considered certain additional factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of the Fund for the one-year period ended December 31, 2022. The Board considered that the Fund commenced operations in 2021 and that longer-term performance was not available.
The Board also considered the Fund’s actual management fee, as well as the Fund’s net total expense ratio, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022. The Board considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PGIM Investments to other funds and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds in a Peer Group. The actual management fee represents the fee rate actually paid by Fund shareholders and includes any fee waivers or reimbursements. The net total expense ratio for the Fund represents the actual expense ratio incurred by Fund shareholders.
The mutual funds included in the Peer Universe, which was used to consider performance, and the Peer Group, which was used to consider fees and expenses, were objectively determined by Broadridge, an independent provider of mutual fund data. In certain circumstances, PGIM Investments also provided supplemental Peer Universe or Peer Group information, for reasons addressed with the Board. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles over various periods, with the first quartile being the best 25% of the mutual funds (for performance, the best performing mutual funds and, for expenses, the lowest cost mutual funds).
The section below summarizes key factors considered by the Board and the Board’s conclusions regarding the Fund’s performance, fees and overall expenses. The table sets forth net performance comparisons (which reflect the impact on performance of fund expenses, or any subsidies, expense caps or waivers that may be applicable)with the Peer Universe, actual management fees with the Peer Group (which reflect the
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impact of any subsidies or fee waivers), and net total expenses with the Peer Group, each of which were key factors considered by the Board.
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Net Performance | | 1 Year | | 3 Years | | 5 Years | | 10 Years |
| 4th Quartile | | N/A | | N/A | | N/A |
Actual Management Fees: 1st Quartile |
Net Total Expenses: 1st Quartile |
| ● | | The Board noted that the Fund underperformed its benchmark index over the one-year period. |
| ● | | The Board also noted that the Fund outperformed its peer group average in the first quarter of 2023. |
| ● | | The Board considered that the Fund commenced operations on December 8, 2021 and that longer-term performance was not available. |
| ● | | The Board and PGIM Investments agreed to retain the Fund’s existing contractual expense cap, which (exclusive of certain fees and expenses) caps the Fund’s annual operating expenses at 0.80% for Class A shares, 1.50% for Class C shares, 0.54% for Class Z shares, and 0.41% for Class R6 shares through December 31, 2023. |
| ● | | In addition, PGIM Investments will waive management fees or shared operating expenses on any share class to the same extent that it waives such expenses on any other share class, and has agreed that total annual fund operating expenses for Class R6 shares will not exceed total annual fund operating expenses for Class Z shares. |
| ● | | The Board concluded that, in light of the above, it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to allow the Fund to develop a longer performance record and to renew the agreements. |
| ● | | The Board concluded that the management fees (including subadvisory fees) and total expenses were reasonable in light of the services provided. |
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After full consideration of these factors, the Board concluded that approval of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
PGIM ESG High Yield Fund
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∎ MAIL | | ∎ TELEPHONE | | ∎ WEBSITE |
655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 | | (800) 225-1852 | | pgim.com/investments |
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PROXY VOTING The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated to the Fund’s subadvisers the responsibility for voting any proxies and maintaining proxy recordkeeping with respect to the Fund. A description of these proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852 or by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec. gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the Fund’s website and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website. |
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DIRECTORS Ellen S. Alberding · Kevin J. Bannon · Scott E. Benjamin · Linda W. Bynoe · Barry H. Evans · Keith F. Hartstein · Laurie Simon Hodrick · Stuart S. Parker · Brian K. Reid · Grace C.Torres |
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OFFICERS Stuart S. Parker, President · Scott E. Benjamin, Vice President · Christian J. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer · Claudia DiGiacomo, Chief Legal Officer · Andrew Donohue, Chief Compliance Officer · Russ Shupak, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer · Kelly Florio, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer · Andrew R. French, Secretary · Melissa Gonzalez, Assistant Secretary · Kelly A. Coyne, Assistant Secretary · Patrick E. McGuinness, Assistant Secretary · Debra Rubano, Assistant Secretary · Lana Lomuti, Assistant Treasurer · Elyse M. McLaughlin, Assistant Treasurer · Deborah Conway, Assistant Treasurer · Robert W. McCormack, Assistant Treasurer |
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MANAGER | | PGIM Investments LLC | | 655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 |
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SUBADVISERS | | PGIM Fixed Income | | 655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 |
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| | PGIM Limited | | Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand Trafalgar Square London, WC2N 5HR United Kingdom |
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DISTRIBUTOR | | Prudential Investment Management Services LLC | | 655 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 |
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CUSTODIAN | | The Bank of New York Mellon | | 240 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10286 |
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TRANSFER AGENT | | Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC | | PO Box 534432 Pittsburgh, PA 15253 |
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | | 300 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10017 |
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FUND COUNSEL | | Willkie Farr &Gallagher LLP | | 787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 |
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An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. An investor may obtain the prospectus and summary prospectus by visiting our website at pgim.com/investments or by calling (800) 225-1852. The prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing. |
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E-DELIVERY To receive your mutual fund documents online, go to pgim.com/investments/resource/edelivery and enroll. Instead of receiving printed documents by mail, you will receive notification via email when new materials are available. You can cancel your enrollment or change your email address at any time by visiting the website address above. |
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SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS Shareholders can communicate directly with the Board of Directors by writing to the Chair of the Board, PGIM High Yield Fund, PGIM Investments, Attn: Board of Directors, 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Shareholders can communicate directly with an individual Director by writing to that Director at the same address. Communications are not screened before being delivered to the addressee. |
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AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT filings are available on the Commission’s website at sec.gov. |
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The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 225-1852. |
Mutual Funds:
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ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY | | MAY LOSE VALUE | | ARE NOT A DEPOSIT OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK OR ANY BANK AFFILIATE |
PGIM ESG HIGH YIELD FUND
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SHARE CLASS | | A | | C | | Z | | R6 |
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NASDAQ | | PGANX | | PGAUX | | PGAVX | | PGAQX |
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CUSIP | | 74442J802 | | 74442J885 | | 74442J877 | | 74442J869 |
MF249E
Item 2 – Code of Ethics — See Exhibit (a)
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the “Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies – Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers”) that applies to the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer; the registrant’s Principal Financial Officer also serves as the Principal Accounting Officer.
The registrant hereby undertakes to provide any person, without charge, upon request, a copy of the code of ethics. To request a copy of the code of ethics, contact the registrant 800-225-1852, and ask for a copy of the Section 406 Standards for Investment Companies - Ethical Standards for Principal Executive and Financial Officers.
Item 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert –
The registrant’s Board has determined that Ms. Grace C. Torres, member of the Board’s Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” and that she is “independent,” for purposes of this item.
Item 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services –
(a) Audit Fees
For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Registrant’s principal accountant, billed the Registrant $134,000 and $134,000, respectively, for professional services rendered for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.
(b) Audit-Related Fees
For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022: none.
(c) Tax Fees
For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022: none.
(d) All Other Fees
For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022: none.
(e) (1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
THE PGIM MUTUAL FUNDS
AUDIT COMMITTEE POLICY
on
Pre-Approval of Services Provided by the Independent Accountants
The Audit Committee of each PGIM Mutual Fund is charged with the responsibility to monitor the independence of the Fund’s independent accountants. As part of this responsibility, the Audit Committee must pre-approve the independent accounting firm’s engagement to render audit and/or permissible non-audit services, as required by law. In evaluating a proposed engagement of the independent accountants, the Audit Committee will assess the effect that the engagement might reasonably be expected to have on the accountant’s independence. The Committee’s evaluation will be based on:
| • | | a review of the nature of the professional services expected to be provided, |
| • | | a review of the safeguards put into place by the accounting firm to safeguard independence, and |
| • | | periodic meetings with the accounting firm. |
Policy for Audit and Non-Audit Services Provided to the Funds
On an annual basis, the scope of audits for each Fund, audit fees and expenses, and audit-related and non-audit services (and fees proposed in respect thereof) proposed to be performed by the Fund’s independent accountants will be presented by the Treasurer and the independent accountants to the Audit Committee for review and, as appropriate, approval prior to the initiation of such services.
Such presentation shall be accompanied by confirmation by both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed non-audit services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants. Such proposed non-audit services shall be described in sufficient detail to enable the Audit Committee to assess the appropriateness of such services and fees, and the compatibility of the provision of such services with the auditor’s independence. The Committee shall receive periodic reports on the progress of the audit and other services which are approved by the Committee or by the Committee Chair pursuant to authority delegated in this Policy.
The categories of services enumerated under “Audit Services”, “Audit-related Services”, and “Tax Services” are intended to provide guidance to the Treasurer and the independent accountants as to those categories of services which the Committee believes are generally consistent with the independence of the independent accountants and which the Committee (or the Committee Chair) would expect upon the presentation of specific proposals to pre-approve. The enumerated categories are not intended as an exclusive list of audit, audit-related or tax services, which the Committee (or the Committee Chair) would consider for pre-approval.
Audit Services
The following categories of audit services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:
| • | | Annual Fund financial statement audits |
| • | | Seed audits (related to new product filings, as required) |
| • | | SEC and regulatory filings and consents |
Audit-related Services
The following categories of audit-related services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:
| • | | Accounting consultations |
| • | | Fund merger support services |
| • | | Agreed Upon Procedure Reports |
| • | | Other Internal Control Reports |
Individual audit-related services that fall within one of these categories (except for fund merger support services) and are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process are subject to an authorized pre-approval by the Audit Committee so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Any services provided under such pre-approval will be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. Should the amount of such services exceed $30,000 any additional fees will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated). Fees related to fund merger support services are subject to a separate authorized
pre-approval by the Audit Committee with fees determined on a per occurrence and merger complexity basis.
Tax Services
The following categories of tax services are considered to be consistent with the role of the Fund’s independent accountants:
| • | | Tax compliance services related to the filing or amendment of the following: |
| • | | Federal, state and local income tax compliance; and, |
| • | | Sales and use tax compliance |
| • | | Timely RIC qualification reviews |
| • | | Tax distribution analysis and planning |
| • | | Tax authority examination services |
| • | | Tax appeals support services |
| • | | Accounting methods studies |
| • | | Fund merger support services |
| • | | Tax consulting services and related projects |
Individual tax services that fall within one of these categories and are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process are subject to an authorized pre-approval by the Audit Committee so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Any services provided under such pre-approval will be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. Should the amount of such services exceed $30,000 any additional fees will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated).
Other Non-Audit Services
Certain non-audit services that the independent accountants are legally permitted to render will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee or by one or more Committee members to whom the Committee has delegated this authority and who will report to the full Committee any pre-approval decisions made pursuant to this Policy. Non-audit services presented for pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a confirmation from both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.
Proscribed Services
The Fund’s independent accountants will not render services in the following categories of non-audit services:
| • | | Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund |
| • | | Financial information systems design and implementation |
| • | | Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports |
| • | | Internal audit outsourcing services |
| • | | Management functions or human resources |
| • | | Broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services |
| • | | Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit |
| • | | Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible. |
Pre-approval of Non-Audit Services Provided to Other Entities Within the PGIM Fund Complex
Certain non-audit services provided to PGIM Investments LLC or any of its affiliates that also provide ongoing services to the PGIM Mutual Funds will be subject to pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The only non-audit services provided to these entities that will require pre-approval are those related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds.
Individual projects that are not presented to the Audit Committee as part of the annual pre-approval process will be subject to pre-approval by the Committee Chair (or any other Committee member on whom this responsibility has been delegated) so long as the estimated fee for those services does not exceed $30,000. Services presented for pre-approval pursuant to this paragraph will be accompanied by a confirmation from both the Treasurer and the independent accountants that the proposed services will not adversely affect the independence of the independent accountants.
Although the Audit Committee will not pre-approve all services provided to PGIM Investments LLC and its affiliates, the Committee will receive an annual report from the Fund’s independent accounting firm showing the aggregate fees for all services provided to PGIM Investments and its affiliates.
(e) (2) | Percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X – |
| | | | |
| | Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
2023 | | Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
2022 |
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4(b) | | Not applicable. | | Not applicable. |
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4(c) | | Not applicable. | | Not applicable. |
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4(d) | | Not applicable. | | Not applicable. |
(f) Percentage of hours expended attributable to work performed by other than full time employees of principal accountant if greater than 50%.
The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%.
(g) Non-Audit Fees
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and August 31, 2022 was $0 and $0, respectively.
(h) Principal Accountant’s Independence
Not applicable as the Registrant’s principal accountant has not provided non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable.
Item 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants – Not applicable.
Item 6 – Schedule of Investments – The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
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 – There have been no material changes to these procedures.
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 has been no significant change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during 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 – Controls and Procedures - Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.
Item 13 – Exhibits
(a)(2)(1) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 – Not applicable.
(a)(2)(2) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant – Not applicable.
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.
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Registrant: | | Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15 |
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By: | | /s/ Andrew R. French |
| | Andrew R. French |
| | Secretary |
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Date: | | October 17, 2023 |
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/ Stuart S. Parker |
| | Stuart S. Parker |
| | President and Principal Executive Officer |
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Date: | | October 17, 2023 |
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By: | | /s/ Christian J. Kelly |
| | Christian J. Kelly |
| | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
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Date: | | October 17, 2023 |