UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-3114
Fidelity Select Portfolios
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
245 Summer St., Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Marc Bryant, Secretary
245 Summer St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
617-563-7000
Date of fiscal year end: | January 31 |
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Date of reporting period: | January 31, 2018 |
Item 1.
Reports to Stockholders
Fidelity® Telecom and Utilities Fund Annual Report January 31, 2018 |
Contents
Board Approval of Investment Advisory Contracts and Management Fees | |
To view a fund's proxy voting guidelines and proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, visit http://www.fidelity.com/proxyvotingresults or visit the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) web site at http://www.sec.gov.
You may also call 1-800-544-8544 to request a free copy of the proxy voting guidelines.
Standard & Poor's, S&P and S&P 500 are registered service marks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by Fidelity Distributors Corporation.
Other third-party marks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.
All other marks appearing herein are registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of FMR LLC or an affiliated company. © 2018 FMR LLC. All rights reserved.
This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.
A fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. A fund's Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information regarding the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
For a complete list of a fund's portfolio holdings, view the most recent holdings listing, semiannual report, or annual report on Fidelity's web site at http://www.fidelity.com, http://www.institutional.fidelity.com, or http://www.401k.com, as applicable.
NOT FDIC INSURED •MAY LOSE VALUE •NO BANK GUARANTEE
Neither the Fund nor Fidelity Distributors Corporation is a bank.
Performance: The Bottom Line
Average annual total return reflects the change in the value of an investment, assuming reinvestment of distributions from dividend income and capital gains (the profits earned upon the sale of securities that have grown in value, if any) and assuming a constant rate of performance each year. The hypothetical investment and the average annual total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. During periods of reimbursement by Fidelity, a fund’s total return will be greater than it would be had the reimbursement not occurred. How a fund did yesterday is no guarantee of how it will do tomorrow.
Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended January 31, 2018 | Past 1 year | Past 5 years | Past 10 years |
Fidelity® Telecom and Utilities Fund | 9.88% | 10.40% | 6.79% |
$10,000 Over 10 Years
Let's say hypothetically that $10,000 was invested in Fidelity® Telecom and Utilities Fund on January 31, 2008.
The chart shows how the value of your investment would have changed, and also shows how the S&P 500® Index performed over the same period.
Period Ending Values | ||
$19,281 | Fidelity® Telecom and Utilities Fund | |
$25,422 | S&P 500® Index |
Management's Discussion of Fund Performance
Market Recap: U.S. equities gained 26.41% for the 12 months ending January 31, 2018, as the S&P 500® index closed the period near an all-time high after a strong start to the new year. Early on, stocks rallied on optimism for President Trump’s pro-business agenda but leveled off in March amid fading optimism and stalled efforts by Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The uptrend soon returned and continued until a brief cooldown in August, when geopolitical tension escalated and uncertainty grew regarding the future of health care, tax reform and the debt ceiling. With consumer sentiment and other market indicators staying positive, stocks picked up steam through year-end and carried momentum into 2018, with the index rising roughly 6% in January. Large-cap growth shares significantly outperformed this period, led by the information technology sector (+43%), amid strong earnings growth from several major index constituents. Financials (+30%) also stood out, riding the uptick in bond yields and a surge in banks (+33%). Consumer discretionary added 29%, driven by a 45% gain for retailers. Health care and industrials finished roughly in line with the index. Conversely, the defensive telecom and energy sectors rose about 2% and 7%, respectively. Rising interest rates held back real estate (+9%), while utilities (+7%) and consumer staples (+13%) lagged due to investors’ preference for risk assets.Comments from Portfolio Manager Douglas Simmons: For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2018, the fund gained 9.88%, easily topping of the 4.81% return of its sector benchmark, the Russell® 3000 Utilities Index, but trailing the broadly based S&P 500®. Relatively cheaper utility stocks backed by dividend growth and solid business fundamentals, a number of which were owned by the fund, outperformed. Successful stock picking was the main driver of relative performance, led by choices in electric utilities. Here, the fund’s large overweighting in Florida-based NextEra Energy contributed more on a relative basis than any other holding. NextEra executed well this period and also received a boost from the tax-reform legislation passed in December. Similarly, the fund’s stake in renewable energy leader Avangrid aided our relative return. This company is currently bidding for several offshore and onshore wind projects, including in Massachusetts. Stock selection and an overweighting in the independent power producers & energy traders segment also contributed. Conversely, an overweighted stake in California-based electric utility PG&E weighed our relative result. This stock declined mainly due to uncertainty about the company's liability for California's wildfires. Overweighting alternative carriers also hurt, although stock picks within this group contributed.The views expressed above reflect those of the portfolio manager(s) only through the end of the period as stated on the cover of this report and do not necessarily represent the views of Fidelity or any other person in the Fidelity organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and Fidelity disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Fidelity fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Fidelity fund.
Investment Summary (Unaudited)
Top Ten Stocks as of January 31, 2018
% of fund's net assets | |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 15.0 |
Sempra Energy | 10.0 |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 9.4 |
Exelon Corp. | 7.5 |
T-Mobile U.S., Inc. | 6.6 |
Time Warner, Inc. | 4.9 |
Comcast Corp. Class A | 4.9 |
NRG Energy, Inc. | 4.1 |
Avangrid, Inc. | 3.8 |
Eversource Energy | 3.6 |
69.8 |
Top Five Industries as of January 31, 2018
% of fund's net assets | |
Electric Utilities | 28.7 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 18.6 |
Multi-Utilities | 17.9 |
Media | 12.2 |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | 8.5 |
Asset Allocation (% of fund's net assets)
As of January 31, 2018 * | ||
Stocks | 98.1% | |
Short-Term Investments and Net Other Assets (Liabilities) | 1.9% |
* Foreign investments - 0.3%
Schedule of Investments January 31, 2018
Showing Percentage of Net Assets
Common Stocks - 98.1% | |||
Shares | Value (000s) | ||
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 12.6% | |||
Household Durables - 0.4% | |||
Roku, Inc. Class A (a) | 85,400 | $3,469 | |
Media - 12.2% | |||
Comcast Corp. Class A | 1,100,900 | 46,821 | |
DISH Network Corp. Class A (b) | 233,010 | 10,928 | |
Liberty Global PLC Class A (b) | 79,500 | 2,972 | |
Time Warner, Inc. | 493,885 | 47,092 | |
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. Class A | 262,600 | 9,690 | |
117,503 | |||
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | 120,972 | ||
ENERGY - 2.9% | |||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 2.9% | |||
Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings LLC | 968,700 | 27,579 | |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 0.2% | |||
Internet Software & Services - 0.2% | |||
j2 Global, Inc. | 25,800 | 2,064 | |
REAL ESTATE - 0.8% | |||
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - 0.8% | |||
Crown Castle International Corp. | 70,900 | 7,995 | |
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES - 27.1% | |||
Diversified Telecommunication Services - 18.6% | |||
Altice U.S.A., Inc. Class A (a) | 491,000 | 10,542 | |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 2,669,804 | 144,357 | |
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. (b) | 651,899 | 23,925 | |
178,824 | |||
Wireless Telecommunication Services - 8.5% | |||
T-Mobile U.S., Inc. (b) | 967,671 | 62,995 | |
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc. | 677,254 | 18,577 | |
81,572 | |||
TOTAL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES | 260,396 | ||
UTILITIES - 54.5% | |||
Electric Utilities - 28.7% | |||
Eversource Energy | 549,800 | 34,687 | |
Exelon Corp. | 1,869,925 | 72,011 | |
FirstEnergy Corp. | 317,177 | 10,435 | |
Great Plains Energy, Inc. | 777,443 | 24,194 | |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 573,837 | 90,907 | |
PG&E Corp. | 590,637 | 25,061 | |
Vistra Energy Corp. (b) | 446,200 | 8,701 | |
Westar Energy, Inc. | 205,900 | 10,637 | |
276,633 | |||
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers - 7.9% | |||
Dynegy, Inc. (b) | 776,291 | 9,719 | |
NextEra Energy Partners LP | 329,100 | 14,780 | |
NRG Energy, Inc. | 1,522,000 | 39,587 | |
The AES Corp. | 1,009,115 | 11,665 | |
75,751 | |||
Multi-Utilities - 17.9% | |||
Avangrid, Inc. | 755,433 | 36,805 | |
Dominion Resources, Inc. | 297,361 | 22,730 | |
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | 314,400 | 16,308 | |
Sempra Energy | 899,023 | 96,213 | |
172,056 | |||
TOTAL UTILITIES | 524,440 | ||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | |||
(Cost $782,930) | 943,446 | ||
Money Market Funds - 1.4% | |||
Fidelity Securities Lending Cash Central Fund 1.40% (c)(d) | |||
(Cost $13,411) | 13,409,816 | 13,411 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES - 99.5% | |||
(Cost $796,341) | 956,857 | ||
NET OTHER ASSETS (LIABILITIES) - 0.5% | 4,488 | ||
NET ASSETS - 100% | $961,345 |
Legend
(a) Security or a portion of the security is on loan at period end.
(b) Non-income producing
(c) Affiliated fund that is generally available only to investment companies and other accounts managed by Fidelity Investments. The rate quoted is the annualized seven-day yield of the fund at period end. A complete unaudited listing of the fund's holdings as of its most recent quarter end is available upon request. In addition, each Fidelity Central Fund's financial statements, which are not covered by the Fund's Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, are available on the SEC's website or upon request.
(d) Investment made with cash collateral received from securities on loan.
Affiliated Central Funds
Information regarding fiscal year to date income earned by the Fund from investments in Fidelity Central Funds is as follows:
Fund | Income earned |
(Amounts in thousands) | |
Fidelity Cash Central Fund | $164 |
Fidelity Securities Lending Cash Central Fund | 147 |
Total | $311 |
Amounts in the income column in the above table include any capital gain distributions from underlying funds, which are presented in the corresponding line-item in the Statement of Operations if applicable.
Investment Valuation
All investments are categorized as Level 1 under the Fair Value Hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs please refer to the Investment Valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Amounts in thousands (except per-share amount) | January 31, 2018 | |
Assets | ||
Investment in securities, at value (including securities loaned of $12,906) — See accompanying schedule: Unaffiliated issuers (cost $782,930) | $943,446 | |
Fidelity Central Funds (cost $13,411) | 13,411 | |
Total Investment in Securities (cost $796,341) | $956,857 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 17,559 | |
Receivable for fund shares sold | 198 | |
Dividends receivable | 1,976 | |
Distributions receivable from Fidelity Central Funds | 93 | |
Prepaid expenses | 4 | |
Other receivables | 95 | |
Total assets | 976,782 | |
Liabilities | ||
Payable to custodian bank | $42 | |
Payable for fund shares redeemed | 1,283 | |
Accrued management fee | 373 | |
Other affiliated payables | 157 | |
Other payables and accrued expenses | 173 | |
Collateral on securities loaned | 13,409 | |
Total liabilities | 15,437 | |
Net Assets | $961,345 | |
Net Assets consist of: | ||
Paid in capital | $778,376 | |
Undistributed net investment income | 1,460 | |
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain (loss) on investments | 20,993 | |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 160,516 | |
Net Assets, for 36,639 shares outstanding | $961,345 | |
Net Asset Value, offering price and redemption price per share ($961,345 ÷ 36,639 shares) | $26.24 |
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Operations
Amounts in thousands | Year ended January 31, 2018 | |
Investment Income | ||
Dividends | $26,487 | |
Income from Fidelity Central Funds | 311 | |
Total income | 26,798 | |
Expenses | ||
Management fee | ||
Basic fee | $4,414 | |
Performance adjustment | (1,077) | |
Transfer agent fees | 1,610 | |
Accounting and security lending fees | 332 | |
Custodian fees and expenses | 10 | |
Independent trustees' fees and expenses | 25 | |
Registration fees | 34 | |
Audit | 55 | |
Legal | 13 | |
Miscellaneous | 60 | |
Total expenses before reductions | 5,476 | |
Expense reductions | (70) | 5,406 |
Net investment income (loss) | 21,392 | |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | ||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | ||
Investment securities: | ||
Unaffiliated issuers | 61,692 | |
Fidelity Central Funds | 1 | |
Total net realized gain (loss) | 61,693 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | ||
Investment securities: | ||
Unaffiliated issuers | 10,377 | |
Fidelity Central Funds | (2) | |
Total change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 10,375 | |
Net gain (loss) | 72,068 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $93,460 |
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Amounts in thousands | Year ended January 31, 2018 | Year ended January 31, 2017 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | ||
Operations | ||
Net investment income (loss) | $21,392 | $23,641 |
Net realized gain (loss) | 61,693 | 10,527 |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 10,375 | 117,362 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 93,460 | 151,530 |
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (20,570) | (27,519) |
Distributions to shareholders from net realized gain | (37,192) | (5,934) |
Total distributions | (57,762) | (33,453) |
Share transactions | ||
Proceeds from sales of shares | 53,531 | 271,258 |
Reinvestment of distributions | 52,193 | 30,269 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (172,251) | (283,528) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from share transactions | (66,527) | 17,999 |
Total increase (decrease) in net assets | (30,829) | 136,076 |
Net Assets | ||
Beginning of period | 992,174 | 856,098 |
End of period | $961,345 | $992,174 |
Other Information | ||
Undistributed net investment income end of period | $1,460 | $638 |
Shares | ||
Sold | 2,045 | 11,065 |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,982 | 1,255 |
Redeemed | (6,566) | (11,523) |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,539) | 797 |
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Financial Highlights
Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund
Years ended January 31, | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Selected Per–Share Data | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $25.32 | $22.31 | $24.14 | $22.24 | $19.29 |
Income from Investment Operations | |||||
Net investment income (loss)A | .57 | .57 | .50 | .80B | .41 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.91 | 3.26 | (1.41) | 1.88 | 2.96 |
Total from investment operations | 2.48 | 3.83 | (.91) | 2.68 | 3.37 |
Distributions from net investment income | (.55) | (.67) | (.46) | (.78) | (.42) |
Distributions from net realized gain | (1.01) | (.15) | (.46) | – | – |
Total distributions | (1.56) | (.82) | (.92) | (.78) | (.42) |
Net asset value, end of period | $26.24 | $25.32 | $22.31 | $24.14 | $22.24 |
Total ReturnC | 9.88% | 17.41% | (3.67)% | 12.17% | 17.66% |
Ratios to Average Net AssetsD,E | |||||
Expenses before reductions | .55% | .57% | .76% | .81% | .76% |
Expenses net of fee waivers, if any | .55% | .57% | .75% | .81% | .76% |
Expenses net of all reductions | .54% | .56% | .74% | .79% | .76% |
Net investment income (loss) | 2.15% | 2.33% | 2.16% | 3.37%B | 1.99% |
Supplemental Data | |||||
Net assets, end of period (in millions) | $961 | $992 | $856 | $988 | $1,115 |
Portfolio turnover rateF | 63% | 41% | 65% | 94% | 88% |
A Calculated based on average shares outstanding during the period.
B Net Investment income per share reflects a large, non-recurring dividend which amounted to $.36 per share. Excluding this non-recurring dividend, the ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets would have been 1.86%.
C Total returns would have been lower if certain expenses had not been reduced during the applicable periods shown.
D Fees and expenses of any underlying Fidelity Central Funds are not included in the Fund's expense ratio. The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of any underlying Fidelity Central Funds.
E Expense ratios reflect operating expenses of the Fund. Expenses before reductions do not reflect amounts reimbursed by the investment adviser or reductions from brokerage service arrangements or reductions from other expense offset arrangements and do not represent the amount paid by the Fund during periods when reimbursements or reductions occur. Expenses net of fee waivers reflect expenses after reimbursement by the investment adviser but prior to reductions from brokerage service arrangements or other expense offset arrangements. Expenses net of all reductions represent the net expenses paid by the Fund.
F Amount does not include the portfolio activity of any underlying Fidelity Central Funds.
See accompanying notes which are an integral part of the financial statements.
Notes to Financial Statements
For the period ended January 31, 2018
(Amounts in thousands except percentages)
1. Organization.
Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund (the Fund) is a non-diversified fund of Fidelity Select Portfolios (the Trust) and is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares. Share transactions on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets may contain exchanges between affiliated funds. The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust.
2. Investments in Fidelity Central Funds.
The Fund invests in Fidelity Central Funds, which are open-end investment companies generally available only to other investment companies and accounts managed by the investment adviser and its affiliates. The Fund's Schedule of Investments lists each of the Fidelity Central Funds held as of period end, if any, as an investment of the Fund, but does not include the underlying holdings of each Fidelity Central Fund. As an Investing Fund, the Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the underlying Fidelity Central Funds.
The Money Market Central Funds seek preservation of capital and current income and are managed by Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (FIMM), an affiliate of the investment adviser. Annualized expenses of the Money Market Central Funds as of their most recent shareholder report date are less than .005%.
A complete unaudited list of holdings for each Fidelity Central Fund is available upon request or at the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the financial statements of the Fidelity Central Funds, which are not covered by the Fund's Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, are available on the SEC website or upon request.
3. Significant Accounting Policies.
The Fund is an investment company and applies the accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investments Companies. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events, if any, through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements. The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the Fund:
Investment Valuation. Investments are valued as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the last calendar day of the period. The Board of Trustees (the Board) has delegated the day to day responsibility for the valuation of the Fund's investments to the Fair Value Committee (the Committee) established by the Fund's investment adviser. In accordance with valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund attempts to obtain prices from one or more third party pricing vendors or brokers to value its investments. When current market prices, quotations or currency exchange rates are not readily available or reliable, investments will be fair valued in good faith by the Committee, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. Factors used in determining fair value vary by investment type and may include market or investment specific events. The frequency with which these procedures are used cannot be predicted and they may be utilized to a significant extent. The Committee oversees the Fund's valuation policies and procedures and reports to the Board on the Committee's activities and fair value determinations. The Board monitors the appropriateness of the procedures used in valuing the Fund's investments and ratifies the fair value determinations of the Committee.
The Fund categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value its investments into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three levels as shown below:
- Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
- Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, etc.)
- Level 3 – unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions based on the best information available)
Valuation techniques used to value the Fund's investments by major category are as follows:
Equity securities, including restricted securities, for which market quotations are readily available, are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by a third party pricing vendor on the primary market or exchange on which they are traded and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy. In the event there were no sales during the day or closing prices are not available, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price or may be valued using the last available price and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. For foreign equity securities, when market or security specific events arise, comparisons to the valuation of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), futures contracts, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and certain indexes as well as quoted prices for similar securities may be used and would be categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Utilizing these techniques may result in transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. For equity securities, including restricted securities, where observable inputs are limited, assumptions about market activity and risk are used and these securities may be categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy.
Investments in open-end mutual funds, including the Fidelity Central Funds, are valued at their closing net asset value (NAV) each business day and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy.
Investment Transactions and Income. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund's investment holdings and NAV include trades executed through the end of the last business day of the period. The NAV per share for processing shareholder transactions is calculated as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time and includes trades executed through the end of the prior business day. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost and includes proceeds received from litigation. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed, which are recorded as soon as the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Income and capital gain distributions from Fidelity Central Funds, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain distributions received by the Fund represent a return of capital or capital gain. The Fund determines the components of these distributions subsequent to the ex-dividend date, based upon receipt of tax filings or other correspondence relating to the underlying investment. These distributions are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain.
Expenses. Expenses directly attributable to a fund are charged to that fund. Expenses attributable to more than one fund are allocated among the respective funds on the basis of relative net assets or other appropriate methods. Expense estimates are accrued in the period to which they relate and adjustments are made when actual amounts are known.
Deferred Trustee Compensation. Under a Deferred Compensation Plan (the Plan), independent Trustees may elect to defer receipt of a portion of their annual compensation. Deferred amounts are invested in a cross-section of Fidelity funds, are marked-to-market and remain in the Fund until distributed in accordance with the Plan. The investment of deferred amounts and the offsetting payable to the Trustees are included in the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Income Tax Information and Distributions to Shareholders. Each year, the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, including distributing substantially all of its taxable income and realized gains. As a result, no provision for U.S. Federal income taxes is required. As of January 31, 2018, the Fund did not have any unrecognized tax benefits in the financial statements; nor is the Fund aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. The Fund files a U.S. federal tax return, in addition to state and local tax returns as required. The Fund's federal income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a period of three fiscal years after they are filed. State and local tax returns may be subject to examination for an additional fiscal year depending on the jurisdiction.
Distributions are declared and recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. In addition, the Fund claimed a portion of the payment made to redeeming shareholders as a distribution for income tax purposes.
Capital accounts within the financial statements are adjusted for permanent book-tax differences. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. Capital accounts are not adjusted for temporary book-tax differences which will reverse in a subsequent period.
Book-tax differences are primarily due to deferred trustees compensation and losses deferred due to wash sales.
As of period end, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in securities, and derivatives if applicable, for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
Gross unrealized appreciation | $180,748 |
Gross unrealized depreciation | (21,502) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | $159,246 |
Tax Cost | $797,611 |
The tax-based components of distributable earnings as of period end were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | $1,547 |
Undistributed long-term capital gain | $22,262 |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities and other investments | $159,246 |
The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:
January 31, 2018 | January 31, 2017 | |
Ordinary Income | $20,570 | $ 27,519 |
Long-term Capital Gains | 37,192 | 5,934 |
Total | $57,762 | $ 33,453 |
4. Purchases and Sales of Investments.
Purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, aggregated $611,333 and $711,564, respectively.
5. Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates.
Management Fee. Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (the investment adviser) and its affiliates provide the Fund with investment management related services for which the Fund pays a monthly management fee. The management fee is the sum of an individual fund fee rate that is based on an annual rate of .20% of the Fund's average net assets and an annualized group fee rate that averaged .24% during the period. The group fee rate is based upon the average net assets of all the mutual funds advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) and the investment adviser. The group fee rate decreases as assets under management increase and increases as assets under management decrease. In addition, the management fee is subject to a performance adjustment (up to a maximum of +/- .15% of the Fund's average net assets over a 36 month performance period). The upward or downward adjustment to the management fee is based on the Fund's relative investment performance as compared to its benchmark index, the Russell 3000 Utilities Index, over the same 36 month performance period. For the reporting period, the total annual management fee rate, including the performance adjustment, was .34% of the Fund's average net assets. The performance adjustment included in the management fee rate may be higher or lower than the maximum performance adjustment rate due to the difference between the average net assets for the reporting and performance periods.
Transfer Agent Fees. Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. (FIIOC), an affiliate of the investment adviser, is the Fund's transfer, dividend disbursing and shareholder servicing agent. FIIOC receives account fees and asset-based fees that vary according to account size and type of account. FIIOC pays for typesetting, printing and mailing of shareholder reports, except proxy statements. For the period, the transfer agent fees were equivalent to an annual rate of .16% of average net assets.
Accounting and Security Lending Fees. Fidelity Service Company, Inc. (FSC), an affiliate of the investment adviser, maintains the Fund's accounting records. The accounting fee is based on the level of average net assets for each month. Under a separate contract, FSC administers the security lending program. The security lending fee is based on the number and duration of lending transactions.
Brokerage Commissions. The Fund placed a portion of its portfolio transactions with brokerage firms which are affiliates of the investment adviser. Brokerage commissions are included in net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statement of Operations. The commissions paid to these affiliated firms were $29 for the period.
Interfund Trades. The Fund may purchase from or sell securities to other Fidelity Funds under procedures adopted by the Board. The procedures have been designed to ensure these interfund trades are executed in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. Interfund trades are included within the respective purchases and sales amounts shown in the Purchases and Sales of Investments note.
6. Committed Line of Credit.
The Fund participates with other funds managed by the investment adviser or an affiliate in a $4.25 billion credit facility (the "line of credit") to be utilized for temporary or emergency purposes to fund shareholder redemptions or for other short-term liquidity purposes. The Fund has agreed to pay commitment fees on its pro-rata portion of the line of credit, which amounted to $3 and is reflected in Miscellaneous expenses on the Statement of Operations. During the period, the Fund did not borrow on this line of credit.
7. Security Lending.
The Fund lends portfolio securities through a lending agent from time to time in order to earn additional income. On the settlement date of the loan, the Fund receives collateral (in the form of U.S. Treasury obligations, letters of credit and/or cash) against the loaned securities and maintains collateral in an amount not less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities during the period of the loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. The Fund or borrower may terminate the loan at any time, and if the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of insolvency or other reasons, the Fund may apply collateral received from the borrower against the obligation. The Fund may experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned. Any cash collateral received is invested in the Fidelity Securities Lending Cash Central Fund. The value of loaned securities and cash collateral at period end are disclosed on the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Security lending income represents the income earned on investing cash collateral, less rebates paid to borrowers and any lending agent fees associated with the loan, plus any premium payments received for lending certain types of securities. Security lending income is presented in the Statement of Operations as a component of income from Fidelity Central Funds. Total security lending income during the period amounted to $147.
8. Expense Reductions.
Commissions paid to certain brokers with whom the investment adviser, or its affiliates, places trades on behalf of the Fund include an amount in addition to trade execution, which may be rebated back to the Fund to offset certain expenses. This amount totaled $61 for the period.
In addition, during the period the investment adviser reimbursed and/or waived a portion of operating expenses in the amount of $9.
9. Other.
The Fund's organizational documents provide former and current trustees and officers with a limited indemnification against liabilities arising in connection with the performance of their duties to the Fund. In the normal course of business, the Fund may also enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would be dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Trustees of Fidelity Select Portfolios and Shareholders of Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Fidelity® Telecom and Utilities Fund (one of the funds constituting Fidelity Select Portfolios, referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of January 31, 2018, the related statement of operations for the year ended January 31, 2018, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended January 31, 2018, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended January 31, 2018 (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 January 31, 2018, 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 January 31, 2018 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended January 31, 2018 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 audits 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 January 31, 2018 by correspondence with the custodian 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.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
March 12, 2018
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Fidelity group of funds since 1932.
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees, Members of the Advisory Board (if any), and officers of the trust and fund, as applicable, are listed below. The Board of Trustees governs the fund and is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Trustees are experienced executives who meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the fund's activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the fund, oversee management of the risks associated with such activities and contractual arrangements, and review the fund's performance. Except for Michael E. Wiley, each of the Trustees oversees 281 funds. Mr. Wiley oversees 193 funds.
The Trustees hold office without limit in time except that (a) any Trustee may resign; (b) any Trustee may be removed by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal; (c) any Trustee who requests to be retired or who has become incapacitated by illness or injury may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees; and (d) any Trustee may be removed at any special meeting of shareholders by a two-thirds vote of the outstanding voting securities of the trust. Each Trustee who is not an interested person (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the trust and the fund is referred to herein as an Independent Trustee. Each Independent Trustee shall retire not later than the last day of the calendar year in which his or her 75th birthday occurs. The Independent Trustees may waive this mandatory retirement age policy with respect to individual Trustees. Officers and Advisory Board Members hold office without limit in time, except that any officer or Advisory Board Member may resign or may be removed by a vote of a majority of the Trustees at any regular meeting or any special meeting of the Trustees. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the past five years.
The fund’s Statement of Additional Information (SAI) includes more information about the Trustees. To request a free copy, call Fidelity at 1-800-544-8544.
Experience, Skills, Attributes, and Qualifications of the Trustees. The Governance and Nominating Committee has adopted a statement of policy that describes the experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that are necessary and desirable for potential Independent Trustee candidates (Statement of Policy). The Board believes that each Trustee satisfied at the time he or she was initially elected or appointed a Trustee, and continues to satisfy, the standards contemplated by the Statement of Policy. The Governance and Nominating Committee also engages professional search firms to help identify potential Independent Trustee candidates who have the experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills consistent with the Statement of Policy. From time to time, additional criteria based on the composition and skills of the current Independent Trustees, as well as experience or skills that may be appropriate in light of future changes to board composition, business conditions, and regulatory or other developments, have also been considered by the professional search firms and the Governance and Nominating Committee. In addition, the Board takes into account the Trustees' commitment and participation in Board and committee meetings, as well as their leadership of standing and ad hoc committees throughout their tenure.
In determining that a particular Trustee was and continues to be qualified to serve as a Trustee, the Board has considered a variety of criteria, none of which, in isolation, was controlling. The Board believes that, collectively, the Trustees have balanced and diverse experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills, which allow the Board to operate effectively in governing the fund and protecting the interests of shareholders. Information about the specific experience, skills, attributes, and qualifications of each Trustee, which in each case led to the Board's conclusion that the Trustee should serve (or continue to serve) as a trustee of the fund, is provided below.
Board Structure and Oversight Function. James C. Curvey is an interested person and currently serves as Chairman. The Trustees have determined that an interested Chairman is appropriate and benefits shareholders because an interested Chairman has a personal and professional stake in the quality and continuity of services provided to the fund. Independent Trustees exercise their informed business judgment to appoint an individual of their choosing to serve as Chairman, regardless of whether the Trustee happens to be independent or a member of management. The Independent Trustees have determined that they can act independently and effectively without having an Independent Trustee serve as Chairman and that a key structural component for assuring that they are in a position to do so is for the Independent Trustees to constitute a substantial majority for the Board. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet in executive session. Ned C. Lautenbach serves as Chairman of the Independent Trustees and as such (i) acts as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and management with respect to matters important to the Independent Trustees and (ii) with management prepares agendas for Board meetings.
Fidelity® funds are overseen by different Boards of Trustees. The fund's Board oversees Fidelity's high income and certain equity funds, and other Boards oversee Fidelity's investment-grade bond, money market, asset allocation, and other equity funds. The asset allocation funds may invest in Fidelity® funds overseen by the fund's Board. The use of separate Boards, each with its own committee structure, allows the Trustees of each group of Fidelity® funds to focus on the unique issues of the funds they oversee, including common research, investment, and operational issues. On occasion, the separate Boards establish joint committees to address issues of overlapping consequences for the Fidelity® funds overseen by each Board.
The Trustees operate using a system of committees to facilitate the timely and efficient consideration of all matters of importance to the Trustees, the fund, and fund shareholders and to facilitate compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and oversight of the fund's activities and associated risks. The Board, acting through its committees, has charged SelectCo and its affiliates with (i) identifying events or circumstances the occurrence of which could have demonstrably adverse effects on the fund's business and/or reputation; (ii) implementing processes and controls to lessen the possibility that such events or circumstances occur or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur; and (iii) creating and maintaining a system designed to evaluate continuously business and market conditions in order to facilitate the identification and implementation processes described in (i) and (ii) above. Because the day-to-day operations and activities of the fund are carried out by or through SelectCo, its affiliates, and other service providers, the fund's exposure to risks is mitigated but not eliminated by the processes overseen by the Trustees. While each of the Board's committees has responsibility for overseeing different aspects of the fund's activities, oversight is exercised primarily through the Operations, Audit, and Compliance Committees. In addition, the Independent Trustees have worked with Fidelity to enhance the Board's oversight of investment and financial risks, legal and regulatory risks, technology risks, and operational risks, including the development of additional risk reporting to the Board. Appropriate personnel, including but not limited to the fund's Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), SelectCo's internal auditor, the independent accountants, the fund's Treasurer and portfolio management personnel, make periodic reports to the Board's committees, as appropriate, including an annual review of Fidelity's risk management program for the Fidelity® funds. The responsibilities of each standing committee, including their oversight responsibilities, are described further under "Standing Committees of the Trustees."
Interested Trustees*:
Correspondence intended for a Trustee who is an interested person may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.
Name, Year of Birth; Principal Occupations and Other Relevant Experience+
James C. Curvey (1935)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Mr. Curvey also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Curvey is a Director of Fidelity Research & Analysis Co. (investment adviser firm, 2009-present), and Vice Chairman (2007-present) and Director of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company). In addition, Mr. Curvey serves as an Overseer for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a member of the board of Artis-Naples, Naples, Florida, and as a Trustee for Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Previously, Mr. Curvey served as a Director of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (investment adviser firm, 2009-2014) and a Director of FMR and FMR Co., Inc. (investment adviser firms, 2007-2014).
Charles S. Morrison (1960)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Morrison also serves as Trustee of other funds. He serves as President of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (investment adviser firm, 2017-present) and Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR) (investment adviser firm, 2016-present), a Director of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (FIMM) (investment adviser firm, 2014-present), Director of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (investment adviser firm, 2014-present), President, Asset Management (2014-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Mr. Morrison served as Vice President of Fidelity's Fixed Income and Asset Allocation Funds (2012-2014), President, Fixed Income (2011-2014), Vice President of Fidelity's Money Market Funds (2005-2009), President, Money Market Group Leader of FMR (investment adviser firm, 2009), and Senior Vice President, Money Market Group of FMR (2004-2009). Mr. Morrison also served as Vice President of Fidelity's Bond Funds (2002-2005), certain Balanced Funds (2002-2005), and certain Asset Allocation Funds (2002-2007), and as Senior Vice President (2002-2005) of Fidelity's Bond Division.
* Determined to be an "Interested Trustee" by virtue of, among other things, his or her affiliation with the trust or various entities under common control with SelectCo.
+ The information includes the Trustee's principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes, and skills relevant to the Trustee's qualifications to serve as a Trustee, which led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as a Trustee for the fund.
Independent Trustees:
Correspondence intended for an Independent Trustee may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235.
Name, Year of Birth; Principal Occupations and Other Relevant Experience+
Dennis J. Dirks (1948)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Dirks also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to his retirement in May 2003, Mr. Dirks was Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). He also served as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Board member of The Depository Trust Company (DTC) and President and Board member of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC). In addition, Mr. Dirks served as Chief Executive Officer and Board member of the Government Securities Clearing Corporation, Chief Executive Officer and Board member of the Mortgage-Backed Securities Clearing Corporation, as a Trustee and a member of the Finance Committee of Manhattan College (2005-2008), as a Trustee and a member of the Finance Committee of AHRC of Nassau County (2006-2008), as a member of the Independent Directors Council (IDC) Governing Council (2010-2015), and as a member of the Board of Directors for The Brookville Center for Children’s Services, Inc. (2009-2017). Mr. Dirks is a member of the Finance Committee (2016-present) and Board of Directors (2017-present) of the Asolo Repertory Theatre.
Donald F. Donahue (1950)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Donahue also serves as a Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Donahue is President and Chief Executive Officer of Miranda Partners, LLC (risk consulting for the financial services industry, 2012-present). Previously, Mr. Donahue served as a Member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® Funds (2015-2018) and Chief Executive Officer (2006-2012), Chief Operating Officer (2003-2006), and Managing Director, Customer Marketing and Development (1999-2003) of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (financial markets infrastructure). Mr. Donahue serves as a Member (2007-present) and Co-Chairman (2016-present) of the Board of Directors of United Way of New York, Member of the Board of Directors of NYC Leadership Academy (2012-present) and Member of the Board of Advisors of Ripple Labs, Inc. (financial services, 2015-present). He also served as Chairman (2010-2012) and Member of the Board of Directors (2012-2013) of Omgeo, LLC (financial services), Treasurer of United Way of New York (2012-2016), and Member of the Board of Directors of XBRL US (financial services non-profit, 2009-2012) and the International Securities Services Association (2009-2012).
Alan J. Lacy (1953)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Lacy also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Lacy serves as a Director of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (global pharmaceuticals, 2008-present). He is a Trustee of the California Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (2015-present) and a Director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University (2015-present). In addition, Mr. Lacy served as Senior Adviser (2007-2014) of Oak Hill Capital Partners, L.P. (private equity) and also served as Chief Executive Officer (2005) and Vice Chairman (2005-2006) of Sears Holdings Corporation (retail) and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Sears, Roebuck and Co. (retail, 2000-2005). Previously, Mr. Lacy served as Chairman (2014-2017) and a member (2010-2017) of the Board of Directors of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (restaurant and entertainment complexes), as Chairman (2008-2011) and a member (2006-2015) of the Board of Trustees of the National Parks Conservation Association, and as a member of the Board of Directors for The Hillman Companies, Inc. (hardware wholesalers, 2010-2014), Earth Fare, Inc. (retail grocery, 2010-2014), and The Western Union Company (global money transfer, 2006-2011).
Ned C. Lautenbach (1944)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Chairman of the Independent Trustees
Mr. Lautenbach also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Lautenbach currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, State University System of Florida (2013-present) and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (1994-present). He is also a member and has most recently served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Artis-Naples (2012-present). Previously, Mr. Lautenbach served as a member and then Lead Director of the Board of Directors of Eaton Corporation (diversified industrial, 1997-2016). He was also a Partner and Advisory Partner at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (private equity investment, 1998-2010), as well as a Director of Sony Corporation (2006-2007). In addition, Mr. Lautenbach also had a 30-year career with IBM (technology company) during which time he served as Senior Vice President and a member of the Corporate Executive Committee (1968-1998).
Joseph Mauriello (1944)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Mauriello also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to his retirement in January 2006, Mr. Mauriello served in numerous senior management positions including Deputy Chairman and Chief Operating Officer (2004-2005), and Vice Chairman of Financial Services (2002-2004) of KPMG LLP US (professional services, 1965-2005). Mr. Mauriello currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of XL Group plc. (global insurance and re-insurance, 2006-present) and the Independent Directors Council (IDC) Governing Council (2015-present). Previously, Mr. Mauriello served as a Director of the Hamilton Funds of the Bank of New York (2006-2007) and of Arcadia Resources Inc. (health care services and products, 2007-2012).
Cornelia M. Small (1944)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Ms. Small also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Ms. Small is a member of the Board of Directors (2009-present) and Chair of the Investment Committee (2010-present) of the Teagle Foundation. Ms. Small also serves on the Investment Committee of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (2008-present). Previously, Ms. Small served as Chairperson (2002-2008) and a member of the Investment Committee and Chairperson (2008-2012) and a member of the Board of Trustees of Smith College. In addition, Ms. Small served as Chief Investment Officer, Director of Global Equity Investments, and a member of the Board of Directors of Scudder, Stevens & Clark and Scudder Kemper Investments.
Garnett A. Smith (1947)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2013
Trustee
Mr. Smith also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Prior to Mr. Smith's retirement, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Inbrand Corp. (manufacturer of personal absorbent products, 1990-1997). He also served as President (1986-1990) of Inbrand Corp. Prior to his employment with Inbrand Corp., he was employed by a retail fabric chain and North Carolina National Bank. In addition, Mr. Smith served as a Member of the Advisory Board of certain Fidelity® funds (2012-2013) and as a board member of the Jackson Hole Land Trust (2009-2012).
David M. Thomas (1949)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Trustee
Mr. Thomas also serves as Trustee of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Thomas serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fortune Brands Home and Security (home and security products, 2011-present), as a member of the Board of Directors (2004-present) and Presiding Director (2013-present) of Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (marketing communication), and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Florida (2013-present). Previously, Mr. Thomas served as Executive Chairman (2005-2006) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2000-2005) of IMS Health, Inc. (pharmaceutical and healthcare information solutions), and a Director of Fortune Brands, Inc. (consumer products, 2000-2011).
Michael E. Wiley (1950)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2008
Trustee
Mr. Wiley also serves as Trustee or Member of the Advisory Board of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Wiley serves as a Director of Andeavor Corporation (independent oil refiner and marketer, 2005-present), a Director of Andeavor Logistics LP (natural resources logistics, 2015-present), and a Director of Bill Barrett Corporation (exploration and production, 2005-present). In addition, Mr. Wiley also serves as a Director of Post Oak Bank (privately-held bank, 2004-present). Previously, Mr. Wiley served as a Trustee of other Fidelity® funds (2008-2013), as a Director of Asia Pacific Exploration Consolidated (international oil and gas exploration and production, 2008-2013), as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Tulsa (2000-2006; 2007-2010), as a Senior Energy Advisor of Katzenbach Partners, LLC (consulting, 2006-2007), as an Advisory Director of Riverstone Holdings (private investment), Chairman, President, and CEO of Baker Hughes, Inc. (oilfield services, 2000-2004), and as Director of Spinnaker Exploration Company (exploration and production, 2001-2005).
+ The information includes the Trustee's principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes, and skills relevant to the Trustee's qualifications to serve as a Trustee, which led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as a Trustee for the fund.
Advisory Board Members and Officers:
Correspondence intended for a Member of the Advisory Board (if any) may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235. Correspondence intended for an officer or Peter S. Lynch may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Officers appear below in alphabetical order.
Name, Year of Birth; Principal Occupation
Peter S. Lynch (1944)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Member of the Advisory Board
Mr. Lynch also serves as Member of the Advisory Board of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Lynch is Vice Chairman and a Director of FMR (investment adviser firm) and FMR Co., Inc. (investment adviser firm). In addition, Mr. Lynch serves as a Trustee of Boston College and as the Chairman of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund. Previously, Mr. Lynch served on the Special Olympics International Board of Directors (1997-2006).
William S. Stavropoulos (1939)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Member of the Advisory Board
Mr. Stavropoulos also serves as Member of the Advisory Board of other Fidelity® funds. Mr. Stavropoulos serves as President and Founder of the Michigan Baseball Foundation, the Great Lakes Loons (2007-present). Mr. Stavropoulos is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors of The Dow Chemical Company, where he previously served in numerous senior management positions, including President, CEO (1995-2000; 2002-2004), Chairman of the Executive Committee (2000-2006), and as a member of the Board of Directors (1990-2006). Currently, Mr. Stavropoulos is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Univar Inc. (global distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals), a Director of Teradata Corporation (data warehousing and technology solutions), and a member of the Advisory Board for Metalmark Capital LLC (private equity investment, 2005-present). Mr. Stavropoulos is an operating advisor to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (private equity investment). In addition, Mr. Stavropoulos is a member of the University of Notre Dame Advisory Council for the College of Science, a Trustee of the Rollin L. Gerstacker Foundation, and a Director of Artis-Naples in Naples, Florida. Previously, Mr. Stavropoulos served as Trustee of certain Fidelity® funds (2001-2018) and as a Director of Chemical Financial Corporation (bank holding company, 1993-2012) and Tyco International, Ltd. (multinational manufacturing and services, 2007-2012).
Carol B. Tomé (1957)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2017
Member of the Advisory Board
Ms. Tomé also serves as Member of the Advisory Board of other Fidelity® funds. Ms. Tomé is Chief Financial Officer (2001-present) and Executive Vice President of Corporate Services (2007-present) of The Home Depot, Inc. (home improvement retailer) and a Director (2003-present) and Chair of the Audit Committee (2004-present) of United Parcel Service, Inc. (package delivery and supply chain management). Previously, Ms. Tomé served as Trustee of certain Fidelity® funds (2017), Senior Vice President of Finance and Accounting/Treasurer (2000-2007) and Vice President and Treasurer (1995-2000) of The Home Depot, Inc. and Chair of the Board (2010-2012), Vice Chair of the Board (2009 and 2013), and a Director (2008-2013) of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Ms. Tomé is also a director or trustee of many community and professional organizations.
Elizabeth Paige Baumann (1968)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2017
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Officer
Ms. Baumann also serves as AML Officer of other funds. She is Chief AML Officer (2012-present) and Senior Vice President (2014-present) of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Ms. Baumann served as AML Officer of the funds (2012-2016), and Vice President (2007-2014) and Deputy Anti-Money Laundering Officer (2007-2012) of FMR LLC.
Marc R. Bryant (1966)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2013
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (CLO)
Mr. Bryant also serves as Secretary and CLO of other funds. Mr. Bryant serves as CLO, Secretary, and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Management & Research Company (investment adviser firm, 2015-present) and FMR Co., Inc. (investment adviser firm, 2015-present); Secretary of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (investment adviser firm, 2015-present) and Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (investment adviser firm, 2015-present); and CLO of Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited and FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (investment adviser firms, 2015-present) and Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (investment adviser firm, 2016-present). He is Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company). Previously, Mr. Bryant served as Secretary and CLO of Fidelity Rutland Square Trust II (2010-2014) and Assistant Secretary of Fidelity's Fixed Income and Asset Allocation Funds (2013-2015). Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Mr. Bryant served as a Senior Vice President and the Head of Global Retail Legal for AllianceBernstein L.P. (2006-2010), and as the General Counsel for ProFund Advisors LLC (2001-2006).
William C. Coffey (1969)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2009
Assistant Secretary
Mr. Coffey also serves as Assistant Secretary of other funds. He is Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company, 2010-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Mr. Coffey served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of FMR LLC (2005-2009).
Jonathan Davis (1968)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2010
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Davis also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other funds. Mr. Davis serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Mr. Davis served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of FMR LLC (diversified financial services company, 2003-2010).
Adrien E. Deberghes (1967)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Deberghes also serves as an officer of other funds. He serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present), Executive Vice President of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (FIMM) (investment adviser firm, 2016-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2008-present). Previously, Mr. Deberghes served as President and Treasurer of certain Fidelity® funds (2013-2018). Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Mr. Deberghes was Senior Vice President of Mutual Fund Administration at State Street Corporation (2007-2008), Senior Director of Mutual Fund Administration at Investors Bank & Trust (2005-2007), and Director of Finance for Dunkin' Brands (2000-2005). Previously, Mr. Deberghes served in other fund officer roles.
Joseph DeSantis (1959)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2015
Vice President
Mr. DeSantis also serves as Vice President of other funds. Mr. DeSantis serves as a Director of Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited (investment adviser firm, 2016-present), Chief Investment Officer, Equities (2010-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments.
Stephanie J. Dorsey (1969)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2010
Assistant Treasurer
Ms. Dorsey also serves as an officer of other funds. Ms. Dorsey serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present), is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2008-present), and has served in other fund officer roles. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Ms. Dorsey served as Treasurer (2004-2008) of the JPMorgan Mutual Funds and Vice President (2004-2008) of JPMorgan Chase Bank.
Howard J. Galligan III (1966)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2014
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Galligan also serves as Chief Financial Officer of other funds. Mr. Galligan serves as President of Fidelity Pricing and Cash Management Services (FPCMS) (2014-present) and as a Director of Strategic Advisers, Inc. (investment adviser firm, 2008-present). Previously, Mr. Galligan served as Chief Administrative Officer of Asset Management (2011-2014) and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Investment Support for Strategic Advisers, Inc. (2003-2011).
Brian B. Hogan (1964)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2009
Vice President
Mr. Hogan also serves as Trustee or Vice President of other funds. Mr. Hogan serves as Head of Fidelity Investments’ Investment Solutions and Innovation organization (2018-present), and as a Director of FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited (investment adviser firm, 2015-present) and Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (investment adviser firm, 2014-present). Previously, Mr. Hogan served as Trustee of certain Fidelity funds® (2014-2018), President of the Equity Division of FMR (investment adviser firm, 2009-2018), Senior Vice President, Equity Research of FMR (2006-2009), and as a portfolio manager. Mr. Brian B. Hogan is not related to Mr. Colm A. Hogan.
Colm A. Hogan (1973)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Deputy Treasurer
Mr. Hogan also serves as an officer of other funds. Mr. Hogan serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2005-present). Previously, Mr. Hogan served as Assistant Treasurer of certain Fidelity® funds (2016-2018). Mr. Colm A. Hogan is not related to Mr. Brian B. Hogan.
Chris Maher (1972)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2013
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Maher serves as Assistant Treasurer of other funds. Mr. Maher is Vice President of Valuation Oversight, serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present), and is an employee of Fidelity Investments. Previously, Mr. Maher served as Vice President of Asset Management Compliance (2013), Vice President of the Program Management Group of FMR (investment adviser firm, 2010-2013), and Vice President of Valuation Oversight (2008-2010).
Rieco E. Mello (1969)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2017
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Mello also serves as Assistant Treasurer of other funds. Mr. Mello serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (1995-present).
Kenneth B. Robins (1969)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Robins also serves as an officer of other funds. Mr. Robins serves as Compliance Officer of Fidelity Management & Research Company and FMR Co., Inc. (investment adviser firms, 2016-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2004-present). Previously, Mr. Robins served as Executive Vice President of Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. (investment adviser firm, 2013-2016) and served in other fund officer roles.
Stacie M. Smith (1974)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2018
President and Treasurer
Ms. Smith also serves as an officer of other funds. Ms. Smith serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present), is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2009-present), and has served in other fund officer roles. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Ms. Smith served as Senior Audit Manager of Ernst & Young LLP (accounting firm, 1996-2009). Previously, Ms. Smith served as Assistant Treasurer (2013-2018) and Deputy Treasurer (2013-2016) of certain Fidelity® funds.
Marc L. Spector (1972)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2017
Assistant Treasurer
Mr. Spector also serves as an officer of other funds. Mr. Spector serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (2016-present). Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Mr. Spector served as Director at the Siegfried Group (accounting firm, 2013-2016), and prior to Siegfried Group as audit senior manager at Deloitte & Touche (accounting firm, 2005-2013).
Renee Stagnone (1975)
Year of Election or Appointment: 2016
Assistant Treasurer
Ms. Stagnone also serves as an officer of other funds. Ms. Stagnone serves as Assistant Treasurer of FMR Capital, Inc. (2017-present) and is an employee of Fidelity Investments (1997-present). Previously, Ms. Stagnone served as Deputy Treasurer of certain Fidelity® funds (2013-2016).
Shareholder Expense Example
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of 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 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (August 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018).
Actual Expenses
The first line of the accompanying table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000.00 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000.00 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. A small balance maintenance fee of $12.00 that is charged once a year may apply for certain accounts with a value of less than $2,000. This fee is not included in the table below. If it was, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher, and your ending account value lower, by this amount. In addition, the Fund, as a shareholder in the underlying Fidelity Central Funds, will indirectly bear its pro-rata share of the fees and expenses incurred by the underlying Fidelity Central Funds. These fees and expenses are not included in the Fund's annualized expense ratio used to calculate the expense estimate in the table below.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the accompanying table 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. A small balance maintenance fee of $12.00 that is charged once a year may apply for certain accounts with a value of less than $2,000. This fee is not included in the table below. If it was, the estimate of expenses you paid during the period would be higher, and your ending account value lower, by this amount. In addition, the Fund, as a shareholder in the underlying Fidelity Central Funds, will indirectly bear its pro-rata share of the fees and expenses incurred by the underlying Fidelity Central Funds. These fees and expenses are not included in the Fund's annualized expense ratio used to calculate the expense estimate in the table below.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.
Annualized Expense Ratio-A | Beginning Account Value August 1, 2017 | Ending Account Value January 31, 2018 | Expenses Paid During Period-B August 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018 | |
Actual | .58% | $1,000.00 | $1,021.45 | $2.96 |
Hypothetical-C | $1,000.00 | $1,022.28 | $2.96 |
A Annualized expense ratio reflects expenses net of applicable fee waivers.
B Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
C 5% return per year before expenses
Distributions (Unaudited)
The Board of Trustees of Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund voted to pay on March 12, 2018, to shareholders of record at the opening of business on March 9, 2018, a distribution of $0.617 per share derived from capital gains realized from sales of portfolio securities.
The fund hereby designates as a capital gain dividend with respect to the taxable year ended January 31, 2018, $57,380,742, or, if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gain of such year.
A total of 0.10% of the dividends distributed during the fiscal year was derived from interest on U.S. Government securities which is generally exempt from state income tax.
The fund designates 100% of the dividends distributed during the fiscal year as qualifying for the dividends–received deduction for corporate shareholders.
The fund designates 100% of the dividends distributed during the fiscal year as amounts which may be taken into account as a dividend for the purposes of the maximum rate under section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund will notify shareholders in January 2019 of amounts for use in preparing 2018 income tax returns.
Board Approval of Investment Advisory Contracts and Management Fees
Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund
Each year, the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees (together, the Board), votes on the renewal of the management contract with Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (SelectCo), an affiliate of Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR), and the sub-advisory agreements with affiliates of FMR (together, the Advisory Contracts) for the fund. SelectCo and the sub-advisers are collectively referred to herein as the Investment Advisers. The Board, assisted by the advice of fund counsel and Independent Trustees' counsel, requests and considers a broad range of information relevant to the renewal of the Advisory Contracts throughout the year.
The Board meets regularly and, at each of its meetings, covers an extensive agenda of topics and materials and considers factors that are relevant to its annual consideration of the renewal of the fund's Advisory Contracts, including the services and support provided to the fund and its shareholders. The Board has established four standing committees (Committees) — Operations, Audit, Fair Valuation, and Governance and Nominating — each composed of and chaired by Independent Trustees with varying backgrounds, to which the Board has assigned specific subject matter responsibilities in order to enhance effective decision-making by the Board. The Operations Committee, of which all of the Independent Trustees are members, meets regularly throughout the year and considers, among other matters, information specifically related to the annual consideration of the renewal of the fund's Advisory Contracts. The Board, acting directly and through its Committees, requests and receives information concerning the annual consideration of the renewal of the fund's Advisory Contracts. The Board also meets as needed to review matters specifically related to the Board's annual consideration of the renewal of the Advisory Contracts. Members of the Board may also meet with trustees of other Fidelity funds through ad hoc joint committees to discuss certain matters relevant to all of the Fidelity funds.
At its January 2018 meeting, the Board unanimously determined to renew the fund's Advisory Contracts. In reaching its determination, the Board considered all factors it believed relevant, including (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided to the fund and its shareholders (including the investment performance of the fund); (ii) the competitiveness of the fund's management fee and total expense ratio relative to peer funds; (iii) the total costs of the services to be provided by and the profits to be realized by Fidelity from its relationships with the fund; and (iv) the extent to which, if any, economies of scale exist and would be realized as the fund grows, and whether any economies of scale are appropriately shared with fund shareholders.
In considering whether to renew the Advisory Contracts for the fund, the Board reached a determination, with the assistance of fund counsel and Independent Trustees' counsel and through the exercise of its business judgment, that the renewal of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders and that the compensation payable under the Advisory Contracts was fair and reasonable. The Board's decision to renew the Advisory Contracts was not based on any single factor, but rather was based on a comprehensive consideration of all the information provided to the Board at its meetings throughout the year. The Board, in reaching its determination to renew the Advisory Contracts, was aware that shareholders of the fund have a broad range of investment choices available to them, including a wide choice among funds offered by Fidelity's competitors, and that the fund's shareholders, who have the opportunity to review and weigh the disclosure provided by the fund in its prospectus and other public disclosures, have chosen to invest in this fund, which is part of the Fidelity family of funds.
Amendment to Group Fee Rate. The Board also ratified an amendment to the management contract for the fund to add an additional breakpoint to the group fee schedule, which was effective October 1, 2017. The Board noted that the additional breakpoint would result in lower management fee rates to the extent that assets under management that are included in group fee calculations increase above the new breakpoint.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services Provided. The Board considered the staffing of the Investment Advisers as it relates to the fund, including the backgrounds of investment personnel of SelectCo, and also considered the fund's investment objective, strategies, and related investment philosophy. The Independent Trustees also had discussions with senior management of Fidelity's investment operations and investment groups. The Board considered the structure of the investment personnel compensation program and whether this structure provides appropriate incentives to act in the best interests of the fund. Additionally, the Board considered the portfolio managers' investments, if any, in the funds that they manage.Resources Dedicated to Investment Management and Support Services. The Board reviewed the general qualifications and capabilities of the Investment Advisers' investment staffs, including their size, education, experience, and resources, as well as Fidelity's approach to recruiting, training, managing, and compensating investment personnel. The Board noted that Fidelity has continued to increase the resources devoted to non-U.S. offices, including expansion of Fidelity's global investment organization. The Board also noted that Fidelity's analysts have extensive resources, tools and capabilities that allow them to conduct sophisticated quantitative and fundamental analysis, as well as credit analysis of issuers, counterparties and guarantors. Further, the Board considered that Fidelity's investment professionals have sufficient access to global information and data so as to provide competitive investment results over time, and that those professionals also have access to sophisticated tools that permit them to assess portfolio construction and risk and performance attribution characteristics continuously, as well as to transmit new information and research conclusions rapidly around the world. Additionally, in its deliberations, the Board considered Fidelity's trading, risk management, compliance, and technology and operations capabilities and resources, which are integral parts of the investment management process.Shareholder and Administrative Services. The Board considered (i) the nature, extent, quality, and cost of advisory, administrative, and shareholder services performed by the Investment Advisers and their affiliates under the Advisory Contracts and under separate agreements covering transfer agency, pricing and bookkeeping, and securities lending services for the fund; (ii) the nature and extent of the supervision of third party service providers, principally custodians, subcustodians, and pricing vendors; and (iii) the resources devoted to, and the record of compliance with, the fund's compliance policies and procedures. The Board also reviewed the allocation of fund brokerage, including allocations to brokers affiliated with the Investment Advisers, the use of brokerage commissions to pay fund expenses, and the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research services.The Board noted that the growth of fund assets over time across the complex allows Fidelity to reinvest in the development of services designed to enhance the value or convenience of the Fidelity funds as investment vehicles. These services include 24-hour access to account information and market information through telephone representatives and over the Internet, investor education materials and asset allocation tools, and the expanded availability of Fidelity Investor Centers.The Board noted that it and the boards of certain other Fidelity funds had formed an ad hoc Committee on Transfer Agency Fees to review the variety of transfer agency fee structures throughout the industry and Fidelity's competitive positioning with respect to industry participants.Investment in a Large Fund Family. The Board considered the benefits to shareholders of investing in a Fidelity fund, including the benefits of investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds offering a variety of investment disciplines and providing a large variety of mutual fund investor services. The Board noted that Fidelity had taken, or had made recommendations that resulted in the Fidelity funds taking, a number of actions over the previous year that benefited particular funds, including: (i) continuing to dedicate additional resources to Fidelity's investment research process, which includes meetings with management of issuers in which the funds invest, and to the support of the senior management team that oversees asset management; (ii) continuing efforts to enhance Fidelity's global research capabilities; (iii) launching new funds and making other enhancements to meet client needs; (iv) launching new share classes of existing funds; (v) eliminating purchase minimums and broadening eligibility requirements for certain lower-priced share classes; (vi) reducing management fees and total expenses for certain growth equity funds and index funds; (vii) lowering expense caps for certain existing funds and classes to reduce expenses borne by shareholders; (viii) eliminating short-term redemption fees for certain funds; (ix) introducing a new pricing structure for certain funds of funds that is expected to reduce overall expenses paid by shareholders; (x) rationalizing product lines and gaining increased efficiencies through proposals for fund mergers and share class consolidations; (xi) continuing to develop, acquire and implement systems and technology to improve services to the funds and shareholders, strengthen information security, and increase efficiency; and (xii) implementing enhancements to further strengthen Fidelity's product line to increase investors' probability of success in achieving their investment goals, including retirement income goals.Investment Performance. The Board considered whether the fund has operated in accordance with its investment objective, as well as its record of compliance with its investment restrictions and its performance history.The Board took into account discussions with representatives of SelectCo about fund investment performance that occur at Board meetings throughout the year. In this regard the Board noted that as part of regularly scheduled fund reviews and other reports to the Board on fund performance, the Board considers annualized return information for the fund for different time periods, measured against a securities market index ("benchmark index"). In its evaluation of fund investment performance at meetings throughout the year, the Board gave particular attention to information indicating underperformance of certain Fidelity funds for specific time periods and discussed with the Investment Advisers the reasons for such underperformance.In addition to reviewing absolute and relative fund performance, the Independent Trustees periodically consider the appropriateness of fund performance metrics in evaluating the results achieved. In general, the Independent Trustees believe that fund performance should be evaluated based on net performance (after fees and expenses) of both the highest performing and lowest performing fund share classes, where applicable, compared to appropriate benchmark indices, over appropriate time periods that may include full market cycles, taking into account relevant factors, including the following: general market conditions; issuer-specific information; and fund cash flows and other factors. Depending on the circumstances, the Independent Trustees may be satisfied with a fund's performance notwithstanding that it lags its benchmark index for certain periods.The Independent Trustees recognize that shareholders evaluate performance on a net basis over their own holding periods, for which one-, three-, and five-year periods are often used as a proxy. For this reason, the performance information reviewed by the Board also included net cumulative total return information for the fund and an appropriate benchmark index for the most recent one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2017.Based on its review, the Board concluded that the nature, extent, and quality of services provided to the fund under the Advisory Contracts should continue to benefit the shareholders of the fund.Competitiveness of Management Fee and Total Expense Ratio. The Board considered the fund's management fee and total expense ratio compared to "mapped groups" of competitive funds and classes created for the purpose of facilitating the Trustees' analysis of the competitiveness of management fees and total expenses. Fidelity creates "mapped groups" by combining similar Lipper investment objective categories that have comparable investment mandates. For this purpose, all sector focused equity funds are grouped in the same mapped group. Combining Lipper investment objective categories aids the Board's management fee and total expense ratio comparisons by broadening the competitive group used for comparison.Management Fee. The Board considered two proprietary management fee comparisons for the 12-month periods ended June 30 shown in basis points (BP) in the chart below. The group of Lipper funds used by the Board for management fee comparisons is referred to below as the "Total Mapped Group." The Total Mapped Group comparison focuses on a fund's standing in terms of gross management fees before expense reimbursements or caps, and without giving effect to the fund's performance adjustment, relative to the total universe of funds with comparable investment mandates (i.e., sector equities), regardless of whether their management fee structures also are comparable. Funds with comparable management fee structures have similar management fee contractual arrangements (e.g., flat rate charged for advisory services, all-inclusive fee rate, etc.). "TMG %" represents the percentage of funds in the Total Mapped Group that had management fees that were lower than the fund's. For example, a hypothetical TMG % of 20% would mean that 80% of the funds in the Total Mapped Group had higher, and 20% had lower, management fees than the fund. The fund's actual TMG %s and the number of funds in the Total Mapped Group are in the chart below. The "Asset-Size Peer Group" (ASPG) comparison focuses on a fund's standing relative to a subset of non-Fidelity funds within the Total Mapped Group that are similar in size and management fee structure without taking into account performance adjustments, if any. For example, if a fund is in the first quartile of the ASPG, the fund's management fee ranks in the least expensive or lowest 25% of funds in the ASPG. The ASPG represents at least 15% of the funds in the Total Mapped Group with comparable asset size and management fee structures, subject to a minimum of 50 funds (or all funds in the Total Mapped Group if fewer than 50). Additional information, such as the ASPG quartile in which the fund's management fee rate ranked and the impact of the fund's performance adjustment, is also included in the chart and considered by the Board.Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund
Proxy Voting Results
A special meeting of shareholders was held on December 8, 2017. The results of votes taken among shareholders on the proposals before them are reported below. Each vote reported represents one dollar of net asset value held on the record date for the meeting.
PROPOSAL 1
To elect a Board of Trustees.
# of Votes | % of Votes | |
James C. Curvey | ||
Affirmative | 40,874,579,146.19 | 94.146 |
Withheld | 2,541,618,753.48 | 5.854 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Dennis J. Dirks | ||
Affirmative | 41,093,243,800.03 | 94.650 |
Withheld | 2,322,954,099.64 | 5.350 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Donald F. Donahue | ||
Affirmative | 41,121,116,505.64 | 94.714 |
Withheld | 2,295,081,394.03 | 5.286 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Alan J. Lacy | ||
Affirmative | 41,091,494,851.72 | 94.646 |
Withheld | 2,324,703,047.95 | 5.354 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.00 |
Ned C. Lautenbach | ||
Affirmative | 40,970,733,721.42 | 94.368 |
Withheld | 2,445,464,178.25 | 5.632 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Joseph Mauriello | ||
Affirmative | 41,021,688,840.89 | 94.485 |
Withheld | 2,394,509,058.78 | 5.515 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Charles S. Morrison | ||
Affirmative | 41,163,534,997.01 | 94.812 |
Withheld | 2,252,662,902.66 | 5.188 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Cornelia M. Small | ||
Affirmative | 41,061,752,034.66 | 94.578 |
Withheld | 2,354,445,865.01 | 5.422 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Garnett A. Smith | ||
Affirmative | 41,061,939,407.02 | 94.578 |
Withheld | 2,354,258,492.65 | 5.422 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
David M. Thomas | ||
Affirmative | 41,102,875,738.06 | 94.672 |
Withheld | 2,313,322,161.61 | 5.328 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
Michael E. Wiley | ||
Affirmative | 41,112,279,187.11 | 94.694 |
Withheld | 2,303,918,712.56 | 5.306 |
TOTAL | 43,416,197,899.67 | 100.000 |
PROPOSAL 5
For the fund, a shareholder proposal requesting that the Board of Trustees institute procedures to avoid holding investments in companies that, in management's judgement, substantially contribute to genocide or crimes against humanity.
# of Votes | % of Votes | |
Affirmative | 156,446,676.51 | 25.499 |
Against | 350,974,458.08 | 57.203 |
Abstain | 42,672,717.43 | 6.954 |
Broker Non-Vote | 63,470,583.52 | 10.344 |
TOTAL | 613,564,435.54 | 100.000 |
Proposal 1 reflects trust wide proposal and voting results. | ||
Proposal 5 was not approved by shareholders. |
Corporate Headquarters
245 Summer St.
Boston, MA 02210
www.fidelity.com
UIF-ANN-0318
1.700458.120
Item 2.
Code of Ethics
As of the end of the period, January 31, 2018, Fidelity Select Portfolios (the trust) has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to its President and Treasurer and its Chief Financial Officer. A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.
Item 3.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Board of Trustees of the trust has determined that Joseph Mauriello is an audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR. Mr. Mauriello is independent for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Fees and Services
The following table presents fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) in each of the last two fiscal years for services rendered to Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund (the “Fund”):
Services Billed by PwC
January 31, 2018 FeesA
| Audit Fees | Audit-Related Fees | Tax Fees | All Other Fees |
Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund | $42,000 | $3,900 | $3,300 | $1,600 |
January 31, 2017 FeesA,B
| Audit Fees | Audit-Related Fees | Tax Fees | All Other Fees |
Fidelity Telecom and Utilities Fund | $42,000 | $4,400 | $5,700 | $1,600 |
A Amounts may reflect rounding.
B Certain amounts have been reclassified to align with current period presentation.
The following table presents fees billed by PwC that were required to be approved by the Audit Committee for services that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund and that are rendered on behalf of Fidelity SelectCo, LLC (“SelectCo”) and entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with SelectCo (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Fund Service Providers”):
Services Billed by PwC
| January 31, 2018A | January 31, 2017A,B |
Audit-Related Fees | $8,510,000 | $5,915,000 |
Tax Fees | $105,000 | $55,000 |
All Other Fees | $- | $- |
A Amounts may reflect rounding.
B Certain amounts have been reclassified to align with current period presentation.
“Audit-Related Fees” represent fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the fund audit or the review of the fund's financial statements and that are not reported under Audit Fees.
“Tax Fees” represent fees billed for tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the fund.
“All Other Fees” represent fees billed for services provided to the fund or Fund Service Provider, a significant portion of which are assurance related, that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the fund, excluding those services that are reported under Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees or Tax Fees.
Assurance services must be performed by an independent public accountant.
* * *
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by PwC for services rendered to the Fund, SelectCo (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any Fund Service Provider for each of the last two fiscal years of the Fund are as follows:
Billed By | January 31, 2018A | January 31, 2017A,B |
PwC | $10,880,000 | $7,275,000 |
A Amounts may reflect rounding.
B Certain amounts have been reclassified to align with current period presentation.
The trust's Audit Committee has considered non-audit services that were not pre-approved that were provided by PwC to Fund Service Providers to be compatible with maintaining the independence of PwC in its audit of the Fund, taking into account representations from PwC, in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules, regarding its independence from the Fund and its related entities and SelectCo’s review of the appropriateness and permissibility under applicable law of such non-audit services prior to their provision to the Fund Service Providers.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The trust’s Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by a fund’s independent registered public accounting firm relating to the operations or financial reporting of the fund. Prior to the commencement of any audit or non-audit services to a fund, the Audit Committee reviews the services to determine whether they are appropriate and permissible under applicable law.
The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures to, among other purposes, provide a framework for the Committee’s consideration of non-audit services by the audit firms that audit the Fidelity funds. The policies and procedures require that any non-audit service provided by a fund audit firm to a Fidelity fund and any non-audit service provided by a fund auditor to a Fund Service Provider that relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of a Fidelity fund (“Covered Service”) are subject to approval by the Audit Committee before such service is provided.
All Covered Services must be approved in advance of provision of the service either: (i) by formal resolution of the Audit Committee, or (ii) by oral or written approval of the service by the Chair of the Audit Committee (or if the Chair is unavailable, such other member of the Audit Committee as may be designated by the Chair to act in the Chair’s absence). The approval contemplated by (ii) above is permitted where the Treasurer determines that action on such an engagement is necessary before the next meeting of the Audit Committee.
Non-audit services provided by a fund audit firm to a Fund Service Provider that do not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of a Fidelity fund are reported to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis.
Non-Audit Services Approved Pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) and (ii) of Regulation S-X (“De Minimis Exception”)
There were no non-audit services approved or required to be approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the De Minimis Exception during the Fund’s last two fiscal years relating to services provided to (i) the Fund or (ii) any Fund Service Provider that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund.
Item 5.
Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable.
Item 6.
Investments
(a)
Not applicable.
(b)
Not applicable
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.
Purchase 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 were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the trust’s Board of Trustees.
Item 11.
Controls and Procedures
(a)(i) The President and Treasurer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) for the Fund provide reasonable assurances that material information relating to the Fund is made known to them by the appropriate persons, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
(a)(ii) There was no change in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12.
Exhibits
(a) | (1) | Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CODE ETH. |
(a) | (2) | Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT. |
(a) | (3) | Not applicable. |
(b) |
| Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT. |
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.
Fidelity Select Portfolios
By: | /s/Stacie M. Smith |
| Stacie M. Smith |
| President and Treasurer |
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Date: | March 28, 2018 |
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.
By: | /s/Stacie M. Smith |
| Stacie M. Smith |
| President and Treasurer |
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Date: | March 28, 2018 |
By: | /s/Howard J. Galligan III |
| Howard J. Galligan III |
| Chief Financial Officer |
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Date: | March 28, 2018 |