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: 811-00862
The Growth Fund of America
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
6455 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, California 92618
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (949) 975-5000
Date of fiscal year end: August 31
Date of reporting period: August 31, 2019
Brian D. Bullard
The Growth Fund of America
6455 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, California 92618
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders
The Growth Fund of America® Annual report
for the year ended
August 31, 2019 |  |
We believe in
discovering long-term
growth opportunities
around the world on
behalf of our investors.
Beginning January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we intend to no longer mail paper copies of the fund’s shareholder reports, unless specifically requested from American Funds or your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Capital Group website (capitalgroup.com); you will be notified by mail and provided with a website link to access the report each time a report is posted. If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and do not need to take any action. If you prefer to receive shareholder reports and other communications electronically, you may update your mailing preferences with your financial intermediary, or enroll in e-delivery at capitalgroup.com (for accounts held directly with the fund).
You may elect to receive paper copies of all future reports free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you may contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the fund, you may inform American Funds that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by contacting us at (800) 421-4225. Your election to receive paper reports will apply to all funds held with American Funds or through your financial intermediary.
The Growth Fund of America seeks to provide you with growth of capital.
This fund is one of more than 40 offered by Capital Group, home of American Funds, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families. For more than 85 years, Capital Group has invested with a long-term focus based on thorough research and attention to risk.
Fund results shown in this report, unless otherwise indicated, are for Class A shares at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, the results would have been lower. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. For current information and month-end results, visit capitalgroup.com.
Here are the average annual total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for periods ended September 30, 2019 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):
| Class A shares | | 1 year | | 5 years | | 10 years |
| | | | | | | |
| Reflecting 5.75% maximum sales charge | | –7.87% | | 9.32% | | 11.71% |
For other share class results, visit capitalgroup.com and americanfundsretirement.com.
The total annual fund operating expense ratio is 0.65% for Class A shares as of the prospectus dated November 1, 2019 (unaudited). The expense ratio is restated to reflect current fees.
Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. When applicable, investment results reflect fee waivers, without which results would have been lower. Visit capitalgroup.com for more information.
Investing outside the United States involves risks, such as currency fluctuations, periods of illiquidity and price volatility, as more fully described in the prospectus. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in developing countries. Refer to the fund prospectus and the Risk Factors section of this report for more information on these and other risks associated with investing in the fund.
Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
Contents
Fellow investors:
Increased market volatility and declines among some of the fund’s larger holdings led to a return of –1.31% for The Growth Fund of America for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019. This is a total return figure, including dividend payments of 30.5 cents per share. The fund also had a capital gains payment of $4.82 per share for the period. The negative number is a result of the timing of the fiscal year, which included the difficult period of the fourth quarter of 2018. To add another perspective, the fund’s total return for the calendar year 2019 through August 31 was 15.50%.
By way of comparison, the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index, a market capitalization-weighted index based on the results of approximately 500 widely held common stocks, gained 2.92% over the same fiscal-year period. Three of the fund’s four Lipper peer indexes also outpaced the fund’s return for the period.
While these short-term results are not gratifying, we are long-term investors, focused on long-term results. Furthermore, we believe the fund is well-positioned for a variety of future market environments over longer periods. As you can see in the table below, the fund’s lifetime results continue to surpass every benchmark. As we’ve done for decades, we remain committed to the value of investing for the long term, and continue to encourage investors and their financial advisors to take a similar approach in working toward their financial goals.
Investment results analysis
The Growth Fund of America’s investment professionals remain committed to seeking out investment opportunities in
Results at a glance
Total returns for periods ended August 31, 2019, with all distributions reinvested
| | | Cumulative total returns | | Average annual total returns |
| | | 1 year | | 5 years | | 10 years | | Lifetime1 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| The Growth Fund of America (Class A shares) | | | –1.31 | % | | | 10.23 | % | | | 12.89 | % | | | 13.43 | % |
| Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index2 | | | 2.92 | | | | 10.11 | | | | 13.45 | | | | 10.97 | |
| Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Index3 | | | 4.14 | | | | 11.82 | | | | 13.99 | | | | — | 4 |
| Lipper Growth Funds Index3 | | | –1.50 | | | | 9.86 | | | | 13.19 | | | | 10.02 | |
| Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Index3 | | | 1.89 | | | | 8.90 | | | | 12.03 | | | | — | 4 |
| Lipper Capital Appreciation Funds Index3 | | | -0.47 | | | | 7.87 | | | | 11.53 | | | | 10.72 | |
| 1 | Since Capital Research and Management Company (CRMC) began managing the fund on December 1, 1973. |
| 2 | The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. S&P 500 source: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. |
| 3 | Lipper indexes track the largest mutual funds (no more than 30), represented by one share class per fund, in the corresponding Lipper category. Lipper source: Thomson Reuters Lipper. |
| 4 | This index was not in existence when CRMC began managing the fund. |
| The Growth Fund of America | 1 |
The New Geography of Investing®
Where a company does business can be more important than where it’s located. The charts below show the countries and regions where The Growth Fund of America’s equity investments are located and where the revenue is generated.
Equity portion breakdown by domicile (%)
| | Region | | Fund | | Index |
| n | United States | | | 89 | % | | | 100 | % |
| n | Canada | | | 1 | | | | — | |
| n | Europe | | | 5 | | | | — | |
| n | Japan | | | 1 | | | | — | |
| n | Asia-Pacific ex. Japan | | | 1 | | | | — | |
| n | Emerging markets | | | 3 | | | | — | |
| | Total | | | 100 | % | | | 100 | % |
Equity portion breakdown by revenue (%)
| | Region | | Fund | | Index |
| n | United States | | | 60 | % | | | 62 | % |
| n | Canada | | | 2 | | | | 2 | |
| n | Europe | | | 12 | | | | 12 | |
| n | Japan | | | 3 | | | | 3 | |
| n | Asia-Pacific ex. Japan | | | 1 | | | | 1 | |
| n | Emerging markets | | | 22 | | | | 20 | |
| | Total | | | 100 | % | | | 100 | % |
Source: Capital Group (as of August 31, 2019).
Compared with the S&P 500 Index as a percent of net assets.
growth- or capital appreciation-oriented equity securities of companies domiciled in the United States, as well as select overseas equities. The fund’s holdings in the eurozone and Pacific ex-Japan, for example, were additive to the fund’s results over the fiscal year.
Among the fund’s top 10 holdings, results from Netflix (the fourth-largest holding, down 20.1%) detracted from the fund’s return for the period. Negative returns from Amazon, Google parent Alphabet, UnitedHealth Group and Berkshire Hathaway also impacted results. On the positive side, Broadcom (the seventh-largest holding, up 29.0%) helped the fund’s returns, as did results from Facebook, Microsoft, Mastercard and Home Depot.
Overall, the fund’s holdings in information technology, financials and industrial stocks were additive to returns on both an absolute basis as well as relative to the S&P 500, while communication services, health care and energy equities were among the fund’s largest detractors on both an absolute and relative basis.
As mentioned, the fund’s holdings in the eurozone and Pacific ex-Japan added to absolute and relative returns, while shares in U.S. equities, non-eurozone European shares and emerging markets were among those weighing against the fund’s return. Nearly 11% of the portfolio was invested in non-U.S. equities as of the fiscal year-end, relatively unchanged from a year ago.
As of August 31, the fund’s managers held roughly 6.6% of the portfolio in cash and other short-term instruments and assets less liabilities, which helped the fund’s relative return. This is down slightly from
| 2 | The Growth Fund of America |
7.4% a year ago. These percentages aren’t predetermined, but instead reflect the managers’ thinking about how much cash they wish to have on hand to allow for new investment opportunities and to buffer against uncertain markets.
The road ahead
In the current market environment, there are reasons for both optimism and caution. On the positive side, the U.S. Federal Reserve seems committed to a program of lowering its benchmark interest rate, which should keep lending prices low for both businesses and consumers. U.S. unemployment remains low and the economy continues to remain on a positive footing. In the equity market, we believe overall stock valuations are reasonable, especially compared to the alternative of bonds, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 17 to 18 times for the S&P 500. We continue to find investments we believe have strong fundamentals, and at attractive prices for the long term.
Among our concerns are the economic impacts of U.S. relations, which go beyond simply trade to more strategic issues. In addition, we’re watching local geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, India and Venezuela, which have the potential to spill over into broader regions and disrupt the global economy. The United Kingdom’s continued efforts to leave the European Union remain a potential concern for equities there, while the 2020 U.S. presidential election is likely to create added volatility in markets over the coming year.
In The Capital SystemSMof fund management, each portfolio manager invests according to his or her strongest convictions. Currently, our managers’ opinions as to the road ahead are varied; while a market downturn is certainly possible, there is room for debate as to whether market strength might continue.
We consider this diversity of opinion an asset to the fund, as the different approaches have historically strengthened the fund as a whole. We remain united by a long-term approach to research and investment, looking not at the next quarter or next year, but at companies with the potential to meaningfully impact peoples’ lives and investors’ trust for years to come.
As always, we deeply appreciate your continued support of The Growth Fund of America, and look forward to reporting to you again in six months.
Cordially,
Christopher D. Buchbinder
Co-President
Donald D. O’Neal
Co-President
Anne-Marie Peterson
Co-President
October 10, 2019
For current information about the fund, visit capitalgroup.com.
| The Growth Fund of America | 3 |
The value of a long-term perspective
Fund results shown are for Class A shares and reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge of 5.75% on the $10,000 investment.1 Thus, the net amount invested was $9,425.2Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. For current information and month-end results, visit capitalgroup.com.
The results shown are before taxes on fund distributions and sale of fund shares.
| 1 | As outlined in the prospectus, the sales charge is reduced for accounts (and aggregated investments) of $25,000 or more and is eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more. There is no sales charge on dividends or capital gain distributions that are reinvested in additional shares. |
| 2 | The maximum initial sales charge was 8.5% prior to July 1, 1988. |
| 3 | The S&P 500 is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. S&P 500 source: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. |
| 4 | Results of the Lipper Growth Funds Index do not reflect any sales charges. Lipper indexes track the largest mutual funds (no more than 30), represented by one share class per fund, in the corresponding Lipper category. Lipper source: Thomson Reuters Lipper. |
| 5 | For the period December 1, 1973 (when Capital Research and Management Company became the fund’s investment adviser), through August 31, 1974. |
| 4 | The Growth Fund of America |
How a $10,000 investment has grown
While notable for their volatility in recent years, financial markets have tended to reward investors over the long term. Active management — bolstered by experience and careful research — can add even more value. As the chart shows, over its lifetime, The Growth Fund of America has done demonstrably better than its relevant benchmark.
| The Growth Fund of America | 5 |
Summary investment portfolioAugust 31, 2019
| Industry sector diversification | Percent of net assets |
| Largest equity holdings | | | Percent of
net assets |
| Facebook | | | 5.42 | % |
| Microsoft | | | 4.97 | |
| Amazon | | | 3.97 | |
| Netflix | | | 3.83 | |
| Alphabet | | | 3.57 | |
| UnitedHealth Group | | | 2.43 | |
| Broadcom | | | 1.87 | |
| Mastercard | | | 1.68 | |
| Home Depot | | | 1.51 | |
| Berkshire Hathaway | | | 1.44 | |
| Common stocks 92.62% | | Shares | | | Value
(000) | |
| Information technology 23.12% | | | | | | | | |
| Microsoft Corp. | | | 67,562,100 | | | $ | 9,314,111 | |
| Broadcom Inc. | | | 12,432,884 | | | | 3,514,030 | |
| Mastercard Inc., Class A | | | 11,189,740 | | | | 3,148,457 | |
| ASML Holding NV1 | | | 6,782,295 | | | | 1,510,485 | |
| ASML Holding NV (New York registered) | | | 4,222,200 | | | | 939,904 | |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.1 | | | 188,916,000 | | | | 1,555,950 | |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ADR) | | | 8,743,800 | | | | 372,748 | |
| ServiceNow, Inc.2 | | | 7,136,200 | | | | 1,868,543 | |
| Visa Inc., Class A | | | 8,669,000 | | | | 1,567,529 | |
| Autodesk, Inc.2 | | | 10,349,210 | | | | 1,478,074 | |
| Fiserv, Inc.2 | | | 13,444,600 | | | | 1,437,766 | |
| Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | | | 10,001,634 | | | | 1,362,423 | |
| FleetCor Technologies, Inc.2 | | | 4,245,574 | | | | 1,266,879 | |
| Workday, Inc., Class A2 | | | 6,354,500 | | | | 1,126,526 | |
| PayPal Holdings, Inc.2 | | | 10,063,600 | | | | 1,097,436 | |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.1 | | | 27,721,176 | | | | 1,006,819 | |
| Atlassian Corp. PLC, Class A2 | | | 7,229,707 | | | | 972,468 | |
| Applied Materials, Inc. | | | 18,631,225 | | | | 894,671 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 8,925,230 | |
| | | | | | | | 43,360,049 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Communication services 16.66% | | | | | | | | |
| Facebook, Inc., Class A2 | | | 54,797,900 | | | | 10,174,326 | |
| Netflix, Inc.2,3 | | | 24,438,914 | | | | 7,178,931 | |
| Alphabet Inc., Class C2 | | | 3,523,107 | | | | 4,185,804 | |
| Alphabet Inc., Class A2 | | | 2,105,270 | | | | 2,506,387 | |
| Charter Communications, Inc., Class A2 | | | 6,238,200 | | | | 2,555,104 | |
| Activision Blizzard, Inc. | | | 33,571,200 | | | | 1,698,703 | |
| T-Mobile US, Inc.2 | | | 11,275,000 | | | | 880,014 | |
| Comcast Corp., Class A | | | 18,196,900 | | | | 805,395 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 1,259,142 | |
| | | | | | | | 31,243,806 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Health care 15.02% | | | | | | | | |
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | | | 19,492,205 | | | | 4,561,176 | |
| Abbott Laboratories | | | 30,276,425 | | | | 2,583,185 | |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | | | 7,460,800 | | | | 2,141,697 | |
| Humana Inc. | | | 5,334,100 | | | | 1,510,670 | |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.2 | | | 7,165,157 | | | | 1,289,872 | |
| Boston Scientific Corp.2 | | | 30,080,000 | | | | 1,285,318 | |
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2 | | | 3,710,300 | | | | 1,076,173 | |
| Illumina, Inc.2 | | | 3,631,400 | | | | 1,021,658 | |
| Edwards Lifesciences Corp.2 | | | 3,643,828 | | | | 808,347 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 11,894,168 | |
| | | | | | | | 28,172,264 | |
| 6 | The Growth Fund of America |
| | | Shares | | | Value
(000) | |
| Consumer discretionary 12.36% | | | | | | | | |
| Amazon.com, Inc.2 | | | 4,194,195 | | | $ | 7,450,107 | |
| Home Depot, Inc. | | | 12,429,443 | | | | 2,832,794 | |
| Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (ADR)2 | | | 9,542,000 | | | | 1,670,136 | |
| NIKE, Inc., Class B | | | 14,755,000 | | | | 1,246,797 | |
| Tesla, Inc.2 | | | 4,865,000 | | | | 1,097,593 | |
| Marriott International, Inc., Class A | | | 6,940,790 | | | | 874,956 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 7,994,792 | |
| | | | | | | | 23,167,175 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Industrials 7.92% | | | | | | | | |
| TransDigm Group Inc.3 | | | 3,106,300 | | | | 1,672,183 | |
| Airbus SE, non-registered shares1 | | | 11,646,249 | | | | 1,605,830 | |
| CSX Corp. | | | 22,983,000 | | | | 1,540,321 | |
| Boeing Co. | | | 2,987,400 | | | | 1,087,682 | |
| Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.3 | | | 5,974,023 | | | | 978,306 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 7,966,583 | |
| | | | | | | | 14,850,905 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Financials 7.16% | | | | | | | | |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class A2 | | | 6,595 | | | | 1,998,799 | |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class B2 | | | 3,427,000 | | | | 697,086 | |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 13,772,467 | | | | 1,513,043 | |
| CME Group Inc., Class A | | | 4,448,800 | | | | 966,680 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 8,243,705 | |
| | | | | | | | 13,419,313 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Consumer staples 3.46% | | | | | | | | |
| Costco Wholesale Corp. | | | 5,414,817 | | | | 1,596,072 | |
| Philip Morris International Inc. | | | 18,714,355 | | | | 1,349,118 | |
| Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A | | | 5,289,800 | | | | 1,080,971 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 2,452,139 | |
| | | | | | | | 6,478,300 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Energy 3.40% | | | | | | | | |
| EOG Resources, Inc. | | | 24,513,908 | | | | 1,818,687 | |
| Diamondback Energy, Inc.3 | | | 11,480,000 | | | | 1,125,958 | |
| Concho Resources Inc.3 | | | 13,140,553 | | | | 961,231 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 2,473,396 | |
| | | | | | | | 6,379,272 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Materials 1.93% | | | | | | | | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 3,620,168 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Real estate 1.59% | | | | | | | | |
| American Tower Corp. REIT | | | 5,152,192 | | | | 1,185,983 | |
| Equinix, Inc. REIT | | | 1,806,800 | | | | 1,005,087 | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 782,677 | |
| | | | | | | | 2,973,747 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total common stocks (cost: $103,361,579,000) | | | | | | | 173,664,999 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Preferred securities 0.75% | | | | | | | | |
| Financials 0.73% | | | | | | | | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 1,373,679 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Consumer discretionary 0.02% | | | | | | | | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 33,795 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total preferred securities (cost: $879,414,000) | | | | | | | 1,407,474 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Rights & warrants 0.01% | | | | | | | | |
| Financials 0.01% | | | | | | | | |
| Other securities | | | | | | | 22,260 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total rights & warrants (cost: $30,139,000) | | | | | | | 22,260 | |
| The Growth Fund of America | 7 |
| Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 0.05% | | Principal amount
(000) | | | Value
(000) | |
| Other 0.05% | | | | | | | | |
| Other securities | | | | | | $ | 88,075 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments (cost: $106,555,000) | | | | | | | 88,075 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Short-term securities 6.41% | | | Shares | | | | | |
| Money market investments 6.41% | | | | | | | | |
| Capital Group Central Cash Fund 2.16%3,4 | | | 120,293,690 | | | | 12,028,166 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total short-term securities(cost: $12,028,229,000) | | | | | | | 12,028,166 | |
| Total investment securities 99.84% (cost: $116,405,916,000) | | | | | | | 187,210,974 | |
| Other assets less liabilities 0.16% | | | | | | | 303,254 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net assets 100.00% | | | | | | $ | 187,514,228 | |
This summary investment portfolio is designed to streamline the report and help investors better focus on the fund’s principal holdings. See the inside back cover for details on how to obtain a complete schedule of portfolio holdings.
“Other securities” includes all issues that are not disclosed separately in the summary investment portfolio. Some securities in “Other securities” (with an aggregate value of $229,831,000, an aggregate cost of $218,750,000, and which represented .12% of the net assets of the fund) were acquired from 5/7/2015 to 4/8/2019 through private placement transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, which may subject them to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. “Other securities” also includes a security (with a value of $86,442,000, which represented .05% of the net assets of the fund) which was acquired in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
Investments in affiliates
A company is an affiliate of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 if the fund’s holdings represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of that company. The value of the fund’s affiliated-company holdings is either shown in the summary investment portfolio or included in the value of “Other securities” under the respective industry sectors. Further details on these holdings and related transactions during the year ended August 31, 2019, appear below.
| | | Beginning
shares | | Additions | | Reductions | | Ending
shares | | Net
realized
gain (loss)
(000) | | | Net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
(000) | | | Dividend
income
(000) | | Value of
affiliates at
8/31/2019
(000) | |
| Common stocks 8.60% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Information technology 0.00% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| FleetCor Technologies, Inc.2,5 | | | 4,369,700 | | | 289,574 | | | 413,700 | | | 4,245,574 | | $ | 10,964 | | | $ | 347,979 | | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
| CommScope Holding Co., Inc.2,5 | | | 12,327,945 | | | — | | | 12,327,945 | | | — | | | (204,220 | ) | | | 75,290 | | | | — | | | — | |
| Paycom Software, Inc.2,5 | | | 3,135,516 | | | — | | | 2,019,870 | | | 1,115,646 | | | 260,469 | | | | (102,798 | ) | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Communication services 3.83% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Netflix, Inc.2 | | | 22,453,371 | | | 8,299,512 | | | 6,313,969 | | | 24,438,914 | | | 448,743 | | | | (2,312,576 | ) | | | — | | | 7,178,931 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Health care 1.38% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.2 | | | 8,565,515 | | | 2,405,800 | | | 1,425,799 | | | 9,545,516 | | | (4,726 | ) | | | (205,144 | ) | | | — | | | 716,486 | |
| Seattle Genetics, Inc.2,6 | | | 1,353,679 | | | 7,497,021 | | | — | | | 8,850,700 | | | — | | | | 23,619 | | | | — | | | 642,915 | |
| Bluebird Bio, Inc.2 | | | 5,144,860 | | | 105,717 | | | — | | | 5,250,577 | | | — | | | | (338,056 | ) | | | — | | | 542,437 | |
| Allakos Inc.2 | | | — | | | 3,972,600 | | | — | | | 3,972,600 | | | — | | | | 139,324 | | | | — | | | 351,416 | |
| Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.2 | | | 4,322,964 | | | 1,241,382 | | | 950,000 | | | 4,614,346 | | | (75,681 | ) | | | (70,416 | ) | | | — | | | 251,343 | |
| Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2,6 | | | 681,005 | | | 138,400 | | | — | | | 819,405 | | | — | | | | (101,190 | ) | | | — | | | 75,959 | |
| Illumina, Inc.2,5 | | | 7,357,441 | | | 1,003,130 | | | 4,729,171 | | | 3,631,400 | | | 699,777 | | | | (1,103,640 | ) | | | — | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,580,556 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consumer discretionary 0.36% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc.2 | | | 5,438,000 | | | 3,663,591 | | | 1,321,077 | | | 7,780,514 | | | (898 | ) | | | 81,618 | | | | — | | | 443,801 | |
| Mattel, Inc.2,6 | | | 13,281,088 | | | 14,360,912 | | | 4,250,000 | | | 23,392,000 | | | (14,924 | ) | | | (97,956 | ) | | | — | | | 229,242 | |
| Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.5 | | | 932,460 | | | — | | | 932,460 | | | — | | | 5,961 | | | | (15,109 | ) | | | 193 | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 673,043 | |
| 8 | The Growth Fund of America |
| | | Beginning
shares | | Additions | | Reductions | | Ending
shares | | Net
realized
gain (loss)
(000) | | | Net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
(000) | | | Dividend
income
(000) | | Value of
affiliates at
8/31/2019
(000) | |
| Industrials 1.41% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| TransDigm Group Inc. | | | 2,661,000 | | | 570,200 | | | 124,900 | | | 3,106,300 | | $ | 21,209 | | | $ | 572,325 | | | $ | 92,700 | | $ | 1,672,183 | |
| Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | | | 2,783,623 | | | 3,274,400 | | | 84,000 | | | 5,974,023 | | | (143 | ) | | | 78,179 | | | | 2,403 | | | 978,306 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,650,489 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consumer staples 0.17% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.2 | | | 3,665,358 | | | 5,479,642 | | | — | | | 9,145,000 | | | — | | | | (185,001 | ) | | | — | | | 314,862 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Energy 1.11% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diamondback Energy, Inc. | | | 7,831,000 | | | 6,224,700 | | | 2,575,700 | | | 11,480,000 | | | (38,177 | ) | | | (164,595 | ) | | | 6,715 | | | 1,125,958 | |
| Concho Resources Inc. | | | 16,205,850 | | | 3,136,339 | | | 6,201,636 | | | 13,140,553 | | | (307,605 | ) | | | (810,907 | ) | | | 6,221 | | | 961,231 | |
| EOG Resources, Inc.5 | | | 26,445,908 | | | 6,633,700 | | | 8,565,700 | | | 24,513,908 | | | (126,983 | ) | | | (1,107,199 | ) | | | 26,910 | | | — | |
| Cimarex Energy Co.5 | | | 5,470,000 | | | 250,000 | | | 4,500,000 | | | 1,220,000 | | | (64,837 | ) | | | 803 | | | | 927 | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,087,189 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Materials 0.29% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| First Quantum Minerals Ltd. | | | 37,626,524 | | | — | | | 3,014,600 | | | 34,611,924 | | | (20,386 | ) | | | (217,362 | ) | | | 271 | | | 212,132 | |
| Alcoa Corp.2 | | | 15,950,000 | | | — | | | 6,107,000 | | | 9,843,000 | | | (193,304 | ) | | | (212,525 | ) | | | — | | | 176,485 | |
| Allegheny Technologies Inc.2 | | | — | | | 7,502,100 | | | — | | | 7,502,100 | | | — | | | | (32,893 | ) | | | — | | | 148,692 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 537,309 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Real estate 0.05% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Redfin Corp.2 | | | 5,765,790 | | | — | | | — | | | 5,765,790 | | | — | | | | (16,836 | ) | | | — | | | 97,384 | |
| Total common stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16,119,763 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Short-term securities 6.41% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Money market investments 6.41% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Capital Group Central Cash Fund 2.16%4 | | | — | | | 205,123,382 | | | 84,829,692 | | | 120,293,690 | | | 194 | | | | (63 | ) | | | 136,180 | | | 12,028,166 | |
| Total 15.01% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 395,433 | | | $ | (5,775,129 | ) | | $ | 272,520 | | $ | 28,147,929 | |
| 1 | Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of all such securities was $13,617,638,000, which represented 7.26% of the net assets of the fund. This amount includes $13,155,232,000 related to certain securities trading outside the U.S. whose values were adjusted as a result of significant market movements following the close of local trading. |
| 2 | Security did not produce income during the last 12 months. |
| 3 | Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
| 4 | Rate represents the seven-day yield at 8/31/2019. |
| 5 | Unaffiliated issuer at 8/31/2019. |
| 6 | This security was an unaffiliated issuer in its initial period of acquisition at 8/31/2018; it was not publicly disclosed. |
Key to abbreviation
ADR = American Depositary Receipts
See notes to financial statements.
| The Growth Fund of America | 9 |
Financial statements
Statement of assets and liabilities
at August 31, 2019 | | (dollars in thousands) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | |
| Investment securities, at value: | | | | | | | | |
| Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $92,731,118) | | $ | 159,063,045 | | | | | |
| Affiliated issuers (cost: $23,674,798) | | | 28,147,929 | | | $ | 187,210,974 | |
| Cash | | | | | | | 346 | |
| Receivables for: | | | | | | | | |
| Sales of investments | | | 530,850 | | | | | |
| Sales of fund’s shares | | | 138,133 | | | | | |
| Dividends and interest | | | 170,092 | | | | | |
| Other | | | 3,205 | | | | 842,280 | |
| | | | | | | | 188,053,600 | |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
| Payables for: | | | | | | | | |
| Purchases of investments | | | 238,674 | | | | | |
| Repurchases of fund’s shares | | | 193,383 | | | | | |
| Investment advisory services | | | 42,348 | | | | | |
| Services provided by related parties | | | 53,320 | | | | | |
| Trustees’ deferred compensation | | | 5,867 | | | | | |
| Other | | | 5,780 | | | | 539,372 | |
| Net assets at August 31, 2019 | | | | | | $ | 187,514,228 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net assets consist of: | | | | | | | | |
| Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest | | | | | | $ | 104,958,551 | |
| Total distributable earnings | | | | | | | 82,555,677 | |
| Net assets at August 31, 2019 | | | | | | $ | 187,514,228 | |
See notes to financial statements.
| 10 | The Growth Fund of America |
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)
Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (3,816,719 total shares outstanding)
| | | | Net assets | | | | Shares
outstanding | | | | Net asset value
per share | |
| Class A | | $ | 87,315,609 | | | | 1,767,938 | | | $ | 49.39 | |
| Class C | | | 4,133,620 | | | | 91,672 | | | | 45.09 | |
| Class T | | | 11 | | | | — | * | | | 49.39 | |
| Class F-1 | | | 7,539,312 | | | | 153,786 | | | | 49.02 | |
| Class F-2 | | | 22,264,512 | | | | 451,644 | | | | 49.30 | |
| Class F-3 | | | 5,795,986 | | | | 117,214 | | | | 49.45 | |
| Class 529-A | | | 8,568,561 | | | | 175,592 | | | | 48.80 | |
| Class 529-C | | | 988,898 | | | | 21,866 | | | | 45.23 | |
| Class 529-E | | | 305,363 | | | | 6,333 | | | | 48.22 | |
| Class 529-T | | | 13 | | | | — | * | | | 49.38 | |
| Class 529-F-1 | | | 445,140 | | | | 9,141 | | | | 48.69 | |
| Class R-1 | | | 359,314 | | | | 7,836 | | | | 45.86 | |
| Class R-2 | | | 1,970,221 | | | | 42,475 | | | | 46.39 | |
| Class R-2E | | | 203,316 | | | | 4,210 | | | | 48.30 | |
| Class R-3 | | | 5,355,938 | | | | 110,851 | | | | 48.32 | |
| Class R-4 | | | 6,860,207 | | | | 140,308 | | | | 48.89 | |
| Class R-5E | | | 731,502 | | | | 14,936 | | | | 48.97 | |
| Class R-5 | | | 2,648,303 | | | | 53,606 | | | | 49.40 | |
| Class R-6 | | | 32,028,402 | | | | 647,311 | | | | 49.48 | |
| * | Amount less than one thousand. |
See notes to financial statements.
| The Growth Fund of America | 11 |
Statement of operations
for the year ended August 31, 2019 | | (dollars in thousands) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Investment income: | | | | | | | | |
| Income: | | | | | | | | |
| Dividends (net of non-U.S. taxes of $46,407; also includes $272,520 from affiliates) | | $ | 2,145,832 | | | | | |
| Interest | | | 160,523 | | | $ | 2,306,355 | |
| Fees and expenses*: | | | | | | | | |
| Investment advisory services | | | 496,324 | | | | | |
| Distribution services | | | 376,969 | | | | | |
| Transfer agent services | | | 155,050 | | | | | |
| Administrative services | | | 57,916 | | | | | |
| Reports to shareholders | | | 3,147 | | | | | |
| Registration statement and prospectus | | | 6,438 | | | | | |
| Trustees’ compensation | | | 697 | | | | | |
| Auditing and legal | | | 122 | | | | | |
| Custodian | | | 3,452 | | | | | |
| Other | | | 7,907 | | | | | |
| Total fees and expenses before reimbursements | | | 1,108,022 | | | | | |
| Less transfer agent services reimbursements | | | 2 | | | | | |
| Total fees and expenses after reimbursements | | | | | | | 1,108,020 | |
| Net investment income | | | | | | | 1,198,335 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation: | | | | | | | | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | | | | | |
| Investment: | | | | | | | | |
| Unaffiliated issuers | | | 12,674,163 | | | | | |
| Affiliated issuers | | | 395,433 | | | | | |
| Currency transactions | | | (11,576 | ) | | | 13,058,020 | |
| Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation on: | | | | | | | | |
| Investments (net of non-U.S. taxes of $3,592): | | | | | | | | |
| Unaffiliated issuers | | | (11,464,992 | ) | | | | |
| Affiliated issuers | | | (5,775,129 | ) | | | | |
| Currency translations | | | 527 | | | | (17,239,594 | ) |
| Net realized gain and unrealized depreciation | | | | | | | (4,181,574 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations | | | | | | $ | (2,983,239 | ) |
| * | Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the notes to financial statements. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 12 | The Growth Fund of America |
| Statements of changes in net assets | | (dollars in thousands) |
| | | | |
| | | Year ended August 31, | |
| | | 2019 | | | 2018 | |
| Operations: | | | | | | |
| Net investment income | | $ | 1,198,335 | | | $ | 995,717 | |
| Net realized gain | | | 13,058,020 | | | | 18,940,963 | |
| Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation | | | (17,239,594 | ) | | | 18,440,901 | |
| Net (decrease) increase in net assets resulting from operations | | | (2,983,239 | ) | | | 38,377,581 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Distributions paid to shareholders | | | (18,047,821 | ) | | | (11,830,562 | )* |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net capital share transactions | | | 10,199,068 | | | | 5,389,151 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total (decrease) increase in net assets | | | (10,831,992 | ) | | | 31,936,170 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net assets: | | | | | | | | |
| Beginning of year | | | 198,346,220 | | | | 166,410,050 | |
| End of year | | $ | 187,514,228 | | | $ | 198,346,220 | |
| * | Prior year comparative amounts have been adjusted to reflect current presentation under new accounting standards. Prior year distributions were $893,740 from net investment income and $10,936,822 from net realized gain on investments. |
See notes to financial statements.
| The Growth Fund of America | 13 |
Notes to financial statements
1. Organization
The Growth Fund of America (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company. The fund seeks to provide growth of capital.
The fund has 19 share classes consisting of six retail share classes (Classes A, C, T, F-1, F-2 and F-3), five 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-C, 529-E, 529-T and 529-F-1) and eight retirement plan share classes (Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6). The 529 college savings plan share classes can be used to save for college education. The retirement plan share classes are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described further in the following table:
| Share class | | Initial sales charge | | Contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption | | Conversion feature | |
| Classes A and 529-A | | Up to 5.75% | | None (except 1% for certain redemptions within 18 months of purchase without an initial sales charge) | | None | |
| Class C | | None | | 1% for redemptions within one year of purchase | | Class C converts to Class F-1 after 10 years | |
| Class 529-C | | None | | 1% for redemptions within one year of purchase | | Class 529-C converts to Class 529-A after 10 years | |
| Class 529-E | | None | | None | | None | |
| Classes T and 529-T* | | Up to 2.50% | | None | | None | |
| Classes F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1 | | None | | None | | None | |
| Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6 | | None | | None | | None | |
| * | Class T and 529-T shares are not available for purchase. |
Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to the assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds of the fund. Each share class has identical voting rights, except for the exclusive right to vote on matters affecting only its class. Share classes have different fees and expenses (“class-specific fees and expenses”), primarily due to different arrangements for distribution, transfer agent and administrative services. Differences in class-specific fees and expenses will result in differences in net investment income and, therefore, the payment of different per-share dividends by each share class.
2. Significant accounting policies
The fund is an investment company that applies the accounting and reporting guidance issued in Topic 946 by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board. The fund’s financial statements have been prepared to comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles require the fund’s investment adviser to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events, if any, have been evaluated through the date of issuance in the preparation of the financial statements. The fund follows the significant accounting policies described in this section, as well as the valuation policies described in the next section on valuation.
Security transactions and related investment income — Security transactions are recorded by the fund as of the date the trades are executed with brokers. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities. In the event a security is purchased with a delayed payment date, the fund will segregate liquid assets sufficient to meet its payment obligations. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Market discounts, premiums and original issue discounts on fixed-income securities are amortized daily over the expected life of the security.
Class allocations — Income, fees and expenses (other than class-specific fees and expenses) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, transfer agent and administrative services, are charged directly to the respective share class.
Distributions paid to shareholders — Income dividends and capital gain distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
| 14 | The Growth Fund of America |
Currency translation — Assets and liabilities, including investment securities, denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates supplied by one or more pricing vendors on the valuation date. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the dates of such transactions. The effects of changes in exchange rates on investment securities are included with the net realized gain or loss and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments in the fund’s statement of operations. The realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation resulting from all other transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are disclosed separately.
3. Valuation
Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), the fund’s investment adviser, values the fund’s investments at fair value as defined by U.S. GAAP. The net asset value of each share class of the fund is generally determined as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.
Methods and inputs — The fund’s investment adviser uses the following methods and inputs to establish the fair value of the fund’s assets and liabilities. Use of particular methods and inputs may vary over time based on availability and relevance as market and economic conditions evolve.
Equity securities are generally valued at the official closing price of, or the last reported sale price on, the exchange or market on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last available bid price. Prices for each security are taken from the principal exchange or market on which the security trades.
Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities, are generally valued at prices obtained from one or more pricing vendors. Vendors value such securities based on one or more of the inputs described in the following table. The table provides examples of inputs that are commonly relevant for valuing particular classes of fixed-income securities in which the fund is authorized to invest. However, these classifications are not exclusive, and any of the inputs may be used to value any other class of fixed-income security.
| Fixed-income class | | Examples of standard inputs |
| All | | Benchmark yields, transactions, bids, offers, quotations from dealers and trading systems, new issues, spreads and other relationships observed in the markets among comparable securities; and proprietary pricing models such as yield measures calculated using factors such as cash flows, financial or collateral performance and other reference data (collectively referred to as “standard inputs”) |
| Corporate bonds & notes; convertible securities | | Standard inputs and underlying equity of the issuer |
| Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies | | Standard inputs and interest rate volatilities |
When the fund’s investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so (such as when vendor prices are unavailable or deemed to be not representative), fixed-income securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and ask prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if ask prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type.
Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics, or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are generally valued in the manner described for either equity or fixed-income securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser. The Capital Group Central Cash Fund (“CCF”), a fund within the Capital Group Central Fund Series (“Central Funds”), is valued based upon a floating net asset value, which fluctuates with changes in the value of CCF’s portfolio securities. The underlying securities are valued based on the policies and procedures in CCF’s statement of additional information.
| The Growth Fund of America | 15 |
Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the fund’s investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under fair valuation guidelines adopted by authority of the fund’s board of trustees as further described. The investment adviser follows fair valuation guidelines, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and guidance, to consider relevant principles and factors when making fair value determinations. The investment adviser considers relevant indications of value that are reasonably and timely available to it in determining the fair value to be assigned to a particular security, such as the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions. In addition, the closing prices of equity securities that trade in markets outside U.S. time zones may be adjusted to reflect significant events that occur after the close of local trading but before the net asset value of each share class of the fund is determined. Fair valuations and valuations of investments that are not actively trading involve judgment and may differ materially from valuations that would have been used had greater market activity occurred.
Processes and structure — The fund’s board of trustees has delegated authority to the fund’s investment adviser to make fair value determinations, subject to board oversight. The investment adviser has established a Joint Fair Valuation Committee (the “Fair Valuation Committee”) to administer, implement and oversee the fair valuation process, and to make fair value decisions. The Fair Valuation Committee regularly reviews its own fair value decisions, as well as decisions made under its standing instructions to the investment adviser’s valuation teams. The Fair Valuation Committee reviews changes in fair value measurements from period to period and may, as deemed appropriate, update the fair valuation guidelines to better reflect the results of back testing and address new or evolving issues. The Fair Valuation Committee reports any changes to the fair valuation guidelines to the board of trustees. The fund’s board and audit committee also regularly review reports that describe fair value determinations and methods.
The fund’s investment adviser has also established a Fixed-Income Pricing Review Group to administer and oversee the fixed-income valuation process, including the use of fixed-income pricing vendors. This group regularly reviews pricing vendor information and market data. Pricing decisions, processes and controls over security valuation are also subject to additional internal reviews, including an annual control self-evaluation program facilitated by the investment adviser’s compliance group.
Classifications — The fund’s investment adviser classifies the fund’s assets and liabilities into three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 values are based on significant observable market inputs, such as quoted prices for similar securities and quoted prices in inactive markets. Certain securities trading outside the U.S. may transfer between Level 1 and Level 2 due to valuation adjustments resulting from significant market movements following the close of local trading. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the investment adviser’s determination of assumptions that market participants might reasonably use in valuing the securities. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. For example, U.S. government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market. The following table presents the fund’s valuation levels as of August 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands):
| | | Investment securities | |
| | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
| Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Common stocks: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Information technology | | $ | 38,801,154 | | | $ | 4,558,895 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 43,360,049 | |
| Communication services | | | 30,887,860 | | | | 355,946 | | | | — | | | | 31,243,806 | |
| Health care | | | 27,440,757 | | | | 615,325 | | | | 116,182 | | | | 28,172,264 | |
| Consumer discretionary | | | 22,105,190 | | | | 966,985 | | | | 95,000 | | | | 23,167,175 | |
| Industrials | | | 11,430,098 | | | | 3,420,807 | | | | — | | | | 14,850,905 | |
| Financials | | | 12,147,036 | | | | 1,272,277 | | | | — | | | | 13,419,313 | |
| Consumer staples | | | 5,146,417 | | | | 1,218,234 | | | | 113,649 | | | | 6,478,300 | |
| Energy | | | 6,312,315 | | | | 66,957 | | | | — | | | | 6,379,272 | |
| Materials | | | 2,836,582 | | | | 783,586 | | | | — | | | | 3,620,168 | |
| Real estate | | | 2,973,747 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,973,747 | |
| Preferred securities | | | 1,373,679 | | | | 33,795 | | | | — | | | | 1,407,474 | |
| Rights & warrants | | | 22,260 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 22,260 | |
| Bonds, notes & other debt instruments | | | — | | | | 88,075 | | | | — | | | | 88,075 | |
| Short-term securities | | | 12,028,166 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12,028,166 | |
| Total | | $ | 173,505,261 | | | $ | 13,380,882 | | | $ | 324,831 | | | $ | 187,210,974 | |
| 16 | The Growth Fund of America |
4. Risk factors
Investing in the fund may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, those described below.
Market conditions — The prices of, and the income generated by, the common stocks and other securities held by the fund may decline — sometimes rapidly or unpredictably — due to various factors, including events or conditions affecting the general economy or particular industries; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental, governmental agency or central bank responses to economic conditions; and currency exchange rate, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.
Issuer risks — The prices of, and the income generated by, securities held by the fund may decline in response to various factors directly related to the issuers of such securities, including reduced demand for an issuer’s goods or services, poor management performance, major litigation related to the issuer, changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or its competitive environment and strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions or dispositions and the market response to any such initiatives.
Investing in growth-oriented stocks — Growth-oriented common stocks and other equity-type securities (such as preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds) may involve larger price swings and greater potential for loss than other types of investments.
Investing outside the U.S. — Securities of issuers domiciled outside the U.S., or with significant operations or revenues outside the U.S., may lose value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments (including social instability, regional conflicts, terrorism and war) in the countries or regions in which the issuers operate or generate revenue. These securities may also lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar and/or currencies of other countries. Issuers of these securities may be more susceptible to actions of foreign governments, such as nationalization, currency blockage or the imposition of price controls or punitive taxes, each of which could adversely impact the value of these securities. Securities markets in certain countries may be more volatile and/or less liquid than those in the U.S. Investments outside the U.S. may also be subject to different accounting practices and different regulatory, legal and reporting standards and practices, and may be more difficult to value, than those in the U.S. In addition, the value of investments outside the U.S. may be reduced by foreign taxes, including foreign withholding taxes on interest and dividends. Further, there may be increased risks of delayed settlement of securities purchased or sold by the fund. The risks of investing outside the U.S. may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets.
Management — The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund’s investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses, including models, tools and data, employed by the investment adviser in this process may be flawed or incorrect and may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
5. Taxation and distributions
Federal income taxation — The fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to mutual funds and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains each year. The fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
As of and during the period ended August 31, 2019, the fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the statement of operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any significant interest or penalties.
The fund’s tax returns are not subject to examination by federal, state and, if applicable, non-U.S. tax authorities after the expiration of each jurisdiction’s statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the date of filing but can be extended in certain jurisdictions.
Non-U.S. taxation — Dividend and interest income are recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. The fund may file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. As a result of rulings from European courts, the fund filed for additional reclaims related to prior years. These reclaims are recorded when the amount is known and there are no significant uncertainties on collectability. Gains realized by the fund on the sale of securities in certain countries, if any, may be subject to non-U.S. taxes. If applicable, the fund records an estimated deferred tax liability based on unrealized gains to provide for potential non-U.S. taxes payable upon the sale of these securities.
| The Growth Fund of America | 17 |
Distributions— Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to different treatment for items such as currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses; capital losses related to sales of certain securities within 30 days of purchase; unrealized appreciation of certain investments in securities outside the U.S.; cost of investments sold and income on certain investments. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes. The fund may also designate a portion of the amount paid to redeeming shareholders as a distribution for tax purposes.
During the year ended August 31, 2019, the fund reclassified $940,446,000 from total distributable earnings to capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest to align financial reporting with tax reporting.
As of August 31, 2019, the tax basis components of distributable earnings, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows (dollars in thousands):
| Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 1,250,467 | |
| Undistributed long-term capital gains | | | 12,185,233 | |
| Post-October capital loss deferral* | | | (1,463,421 | ) |
| Gross unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 75,081,089 | |
| Gross unrealized depreciation on investments | | | (4,492,034 | ) |
| Net unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 70,589,055 | |
| Cost of investments | | | 116,621,919 | |
| * | This deferral is considered incurred in the subsequent year. |
Distributions paid were characterized for tax purposes as follows (dollars in thousands):
| | | Year ended August 31, 2019 | | | Year ended August 31, 2018 | |
| Share class | | Ordinary
income | | | Long-term
capital gains | | | Total
distributions
paid | | | Ordinary
income | | | Long-term
capital gains | | | Total
distributions
paid | |
| Class A | | $ | 497,777 | | | $ | 7,865,736 | | | $ | 8,363,513 | | | $ | 405,167 | | | $ | 5,241,927 | | | $ | 5,647,094 | |
| Class C | | | — | | | | 440,173 | | | | 440,173 | | | | — | | | | 319,004 | | | | 319,004 | |
| Class T | | | — | * | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | — | * | | | 1 | | | | 1 | |
| Class F-1 | | | 37,792 | | | | 709,370 | | | | 747,162 | | | | 32,562 | | | | 524,945 | | | | 557,507 | |
| Class F-2 | | | 170,234 | | | | 1,954,761 | | | | 2,124,995 | | | | 123,484 | | | | 1,116,400 | | | | 1,239,884 | |
| Class F-3 | | | 40,800 | | | | 422,885 | | | | 463,685 | | | | 26,606 | | | | 209,182 | | | | 235,788 | |
| Class 529-A | | | 42,882 | | | | 780,334 | | | | 823,216 | | | | 36,563 | | | | 507,083 | | | | 543,646 | |
| Class 529-C | | | — | | | | 109,593 | | | | 109,593 | | | | — | | | | 81,098 | | | | 81,098 | |
| Class 529-E | | | 858 | | | | 30,214 | | | | 31,072 | | | | 642 | | | | 20,336 | | | | 20,978 | |
| Class 529-T | | | — | * | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | — | * | | | 1 | | | | 1 | |
| Class 529-F-1 | | | 3,216 | | | | 38,094 | | | | 41,310 | | | | 2,081 | | | | 19,943 | | | | 22,024 | |
| Class R-1 | | | — | | | | 37,952 | | | | 37,952 | | | | — | | | | 28,327 | | | | 28,327 | |
| Class R-2 | | | — | | | | 201,612 | | | | 201,612 | | | | — | | | | 142,367 | | | | 142,367 | |
| Class R-2E | | | 337 | | | | 16,716 | | | | 17,053 | | | | 245 | | | | 7,933 | | | | 8,178 | |
| Class R-3 | | | 10,897 | | | | 553,715 | | | | 564,612 | | | | 9,591 | | | | 416,332 | | | | 425,923 | |
| Class R-4 | | | 38,055 | | | | 692,125 | | | | 730,180 | | | | 36,447 | | | | 522,245 | | | | 558,692 | |
| Class R-5E | | | 3,211 | | | | 35,667 | | | | 38,878 | | | | 339 | | | | 3,036 | | | | 3,375 | |
| Class R-5 | | | 24,749 | | | | 276,347 | | | | 301,096 | | | | 26,711 | | | | 230,057 | | | | 256,768 | |
| Class R-6 | | | 265,234 | | | | 2,746,483 | | | | 3,011,717 | | | | 193,302 | | | | 1,546,605 | | | | 1,739,907 | |
| Total | | $ | 1,136,042 | | | $ | 16,911,779 | | | $ | 18,047,821 | | | $ | 893,740 | | | $ | 10,936,822 | | | $ | 11,830,562 | |
| * | Amount less than one thousand. |
| 18 | The Growth Fund of America |
6. Fees and transactions with related parties
CRMC, the fund’s investment adviser, is the parent company of American Funds Distributors,® Inc. (“AFD”), the principal underwriter of the fund’s shares, and American Funds Service Company® (“AFS”), the fund’s transfer agent. CRMC, AFD and AFS are considered related parties to the fund.
Investment advisory services — The fund has an investment advisory and service agreement with CRMC that provides for monthly fees accrued daily. These fees are based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.500% on the first $1 billion of daily net assets and decreasing to 0.233% on such assets in excess of $210 billion. For the year ended August 31, 2019, the investment advisory services fee was $496,324,000, which was equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.266% of average daily net assets.
Class-specific fees and expenses — Expenses that are specific to individual share classes are accrued directly to the respective share class. The principal class-specific fees and expenses are further described below:
Distribution services — The fund has plans of distribution for all share classes, except Class F-2, F-3, R-5E, R-5 and R-6 shares. Under the plans, the board of trustees approves certain categories of expenses that are used to finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares and service existing accounts. The plans provide for payments, based on an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% as noted in this section. In some cases, the board of trustees has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes with a plan may use up to 0.25% of average daily net assets to pay service fees, or to compensate AFD for paying service fees, to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD to provide certain shareholder services. The remaining amounts available to be paid under each plan are paid to dealers to compensate them for their sales activities.
| Share class | | Currently approved limits | | Plan limits |
| Class A | | | 0.25 | % | | | 0.25 | % |
| Class 529-A | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.50 | |
| Classes C, 529-C and R-1 | | | 1.00 | | | | 1.00 | |
| Class R-2 | | | 0.75 | | | | 1.00 | |
| Class R-2E | | | 0.60 | | | | 0.85 | |
| Classes 529-E and R-3 | | | 0.50 | | | | 0.75 | |
| Classes T, F-1, 529-T, 529-F-1 and R-4 | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.50 | |
For Class A and 529-A shares, distribution-related expenses include the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These share classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limits are not exceeded. As of August 31, 2019, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class A or 529-A shares.
Transfer agent services — The fund has a shareholder services agreement with AFS under which the fund compensates AFS for providing transfer agent services to each of the fund’s share classes. These services include recordkeeping, shareholder communications and transaction processing. In addition, the fund reimburses AFS for amounts paid to third parties for performing transfer agent services on behalf of fund shareholders.
Administrative services — The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC under which the fund compensates CRMC for providing administrative services to all share classes. Administrative services are provided by CRMC and its affiliates to help assist third parties providing non-distribution services to fund shareholders. These services include providing in depth information on the fund and market developments that impact fund investments. Administrative services also include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. The agreement provides the fund the ability to charge an administrative services fee at the annual rate of 0.05% of the daily net assets attributable to each share class of the fund. Prior to July 1, 2019, Class A shares paid CRMC an administrative services fee at the annual rate of 0.01% of daily net assets and all other share classes paid a fee at the annual rate of 0.05% of their respective daily net assets. The fund’s board of trustees authorized the fund to pay CRMC effective July 1, 2019, an administrative services fee at the annual rate of 0.03% of the average daily net assets attributable to each share class of the fund (which could increase as noted above) for CRMC’s provision of administrative services.
| The Growth Fund of America | 19 |
529 plan services — Each 529 share class is subject to service fees to compensate the Virginia College Savings Plan (“Virginia529”) for its oversight and administration of the CollegeAmerica 529 college savings plan. The fee is based on the combined net assets invested in Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds. Class ABLE shares are offered on other American Funds by Virginia529 through ABLEAmerica®, a tax-advantaged savings program for individuals with disabilities. The quarterly fee is based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.10% on the first $20 billion of the combined net assets invested in the American Funds and decreasing to 0.03% on such assets in excess of $100 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. The fee is included in other expenses in the fund’s statement of operations. Virginia529 is not considered a related party to the fund.
For the year ended August 31, 2019, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):
| Share class | | Distribution
services | | Transfer agent
services | | Administrative
services | | 529 plan
services | |
| Class A | | $214,918 | | $83,311 | | $11,722 | | Not applicable | |
| Class C | | 43,262 | | 4,164 | | 2,042 | | Not applicable | |
| Class T | | — | | — | * | — | * | Not applicable | |
| Class F-1 | | 19,087 | | 9,596 | | 3,576 | | Not applicable | |
| Class F-2 | | Not applicable | | 22,458 | | 10,027 | | Not applicable | |
| Class F-3 | | Not applicable | | 214 | | 2,362 | | Not applicable | �� |
| Class 529-A | | 19,850 | | 7,102 | | 3,989 | | $5,641 | |
| Class 529-C | | 10,520 | | 905 | | 505 | | 710 | |
| Class 529-E | | 1,572 | | 164 | | 149 | | 210 | |
| Class 529-T | | — | | — | * | — | * | — | * |
| Class 529-F-1 | | — | | 341 | | 194 | | 275 | |
| Class R-1 | | 3,850 | | 395 | | 180 | | Not applicable | |
| Class R-2 | | 15,382 | | 7,207 | | 959 | | Not applicable | |
| Class R-2E | | 1,139 | | 381 | | 88 | | Not applicable | |
| Class R-3 | | 29,009 | | 8,854 | | 2,720 | | Not applicable | |
| Class R-4 | | 18,380 | | 7,524 | | 3,439 | | Not applicable | |
| Class R-5E | | Not applicable | | 806 | | 261 | | Not applicable | |
| Class R-5 | | Not applicable | | 1,518 | | 1,363 | | Not applicable | |
| Class R-6 | | Not applicable | | 110 | | 14,340 | | Not applicable | |
| Total class-specific expenses | | $376,969 | | $155,050 | | $57,916 | | $6,836 | |
| * | Amount less than one thousand. |
Trustees’ deferred compensation — Trustees who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the cash payment of part or all of their compensation. These deferred amounts, which remain as liabilities of the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. Trustees’ compensation of $697,000 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects $506,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net increase of $191,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.
Affiliated officers and trustees — Officers and certain trustees of the fund are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFD and AFS. No affiliated officers or trustees received any compensation directly from the fund.
Investment in CCF — The fund holds shares of CCF, an institutional prime money market fund managed by CRMC. CCF invests in high-quality, short-term money market instruments. CCF is used as the primary investment vehicle for the fund’s short-term investments. CCF shares are only available for purchase by CRMC, its affiliates, and other funds managed by CRMC and are not available to the public. CRMC does not receive an investment advisory services fee from CCF.
Security transactions with related funds — The fund purchased securities from, and sold securities to, other funds managed by CRMC (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC) under procedures adopted by the fund’s board of trustees. The funds involved in such transactions are considered related by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers. Each transaction was executed at the current market price of the security and no brokerage commissions or fees were paid in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act. During the year ended August 31, 2019, the fund engaged in such purchase and sale transactions with related funds in the amounts of $1,611,563,000 and $14,652,810,000, respectively, which generated $127,688,000 of net realized losses from sales.
| 20 | The Growth Fund of America |
Interfund lending — Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund, along with other CRMC-managed funds (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC), may participate in an interfund lending program. The program provides an alternate credit facility that permits the funds to lend or borrow cash for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. The fund did not lend or borrow cash through the interfund lending program at any time during the year ended August 31, 2019.
7. Capital share transactions
Capital share transactions in the fund were as follows (dollars and shares in thousands):
| | | Sales* | | | Reinvestments of
distributions | | | Repurchases* | | | Net increase
(decrease) | |
| Share class | | Amount | | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Shares | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended August 31, 2019 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | | $ | 5,975,209 | | | | 121,093 | | | $ | 8,244,822 | | | | 201,339 | | | $ | (10,677,016 | ) | | | (217,484 | ) | | $ | 3,543,015 | | | | 104,948 | |
| Class C | | | 660,960 | | | | 14,547 | | | | 435,487 | | | | 11,585 | | | | (1,346,720 | ) | | | (29,788 | ) | | | (250,273 | ) | | | (3,656 | ) |
| Class T | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| Class F-1 | | | 954,187 | | | | 19,439 | | | | 730,867 | | | | 17,971 | | | | (1,633,228 | ) | | | (33,507 | ) | | | 51,826 | | | | 3,903 | |
| Class F-2 | | | 5,660,482 | | | | 114,175 | | | | 2,048,400 | | | | 50,181 | | | | (5,225,034 | ) | | | (107,813 | ) | | | 2,483,848 | | | | 56,543 | |
| Class F-3 | | | 2,126,710 | | | | 43,433 | | | | 451,237 | | | | 11,030 | | | | (1,007,018 | ) | | | (20,633 | ) | | | 1,570,929 | | | | 33,830 | |
| Class 529-A | | | 875,435 | | | | 17,939 | | | | 822,879 | | | | 20,328 | | | | (1,284,138 | ) | | | (26,292 | ) | | | 414,176 | | | | 11,975 | |
| Class 529-C | | | 118,079 | | | | 2,589 | | | | 109,525 | | | | 2,904 | | | | (336,375 | ) | | | (7,420 | ) | | | (108,771 | ) | | | (1,927 | ) |
| Class 529-E | | | 26,466 | | | | 546 | | | | 31,040 | | | | 775 | | | | (65,287 | ) | | | (1,357 | ) | | | (7,781 | ) | | | (36 | ) |
| Class 529-T | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | — | † | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | — | † |
| Class 529-F-1 | | | 133,942 | | | | 2,684 | | | | 41,305 | | | | 1,024 | | | | (71,109 | ) | | | (1,465 | ) | | | 104,138 | | | | 2,243 | |
| Class R-1 | | | 31,951 | | | | 688 | | | | 37,896 | | | | 991 | | | | (109,021 | ) | | | (2,338 | ) | | | (39,174 | ) | | | (659 | ) |
| Class R-2 | | | 371,598 | | | | 7,968 | | | | 201,369 | | | | 5,208 | | | | (648,226 | ) | | | (13,938 | ) | | | (75,259 | ) | | | (762 | ) |
| Class R-2E | | | 58,828 | | | | 1,220 | | | | 17,053 | | | | 424 | | | | (38,434 | ) | | | (797 | ) | | | 37,447 | | | | 847 | |
| Class R-3 | | | 691,593 | | | | 14,250 | | | | 563,121 | | | | 14,022 | | | | (1,914,275 | ) | | | (39,422 | ) | | | (659,561 | ) | | | (11,150 | ) |
| Class R-4 | | | 812,466 | | | | 16,565 | | | | 729,690 | | | | 17,995 | | | | (2,165,377 | ) | | | (44,663 | ) | | | (623,221 | ) | | | (10,103 | ) |
| Class R-5E | | | 538,766 | | | | 11,795 | | | | 38,877 | | | | 959 | | | | (147,400 | ) | | | (3,104 | ) | | | 430,243 | | | | 9,650 | |
| Class R-5 | | | 359,314 | | | | 7,220 | | | | 300,111 | | | | 7,339 | | | | (1,067,196 | ) | | | (21,829 | ) | | | (407,771 | ) | | | (7,270 | ) |
| Class R-6 | | | 5,136,743 | | | | 104,692 | | | | 3,009,806 | | | | 73,517 | | | | (4,411,293 | ) | | | (90,108 | ) | | | 3,735,256 | | | | 88,101 | |
| Total net increase (decrease) | | $ | 24,532,729 | | | | 500,843 | | | $ | 17,813,486 | | | | 437,592 | | | $ | (32,147,147 | ) | | | (661,958 | ) | | $ | 10,199,068 | | | | 276,477 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended August 31, 2018 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Class A | | $ | 5,502,651 | | | | 104,651 | | | $ | 5,561,150 | | | | 112,415 | | | $ | (11,378,834 | ) | | | (218,253 | ) | | $ | (315,033 | ) | | | (1,187 | ) |
| Class C | | | 656,864 | | | | 13,505 | | | | 315,027 | | | | 6,863 | | | | (1,429,390 | ) | | | (29,572 | ) | | | (457,499 | ) | | | (9,204 | ) |
| Class T | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| Class F-1 | | | 1,137,926 | | | | 21,902 | | | | 546,300 | | | | 11,115 | | | | (3,118,072 | ) | | | (60,006 | ) | | | (1,433,846 | ) | | | (26,989 | ) |
| Class F-2 | | | 6,547,853 | | | | 124,891 | | | | 1,192,783 | | | | 24,170 | | | | (4,343,650 | ) | | | (83,096 | ) | | | 3,396,986 | | | | 65,965 | |
| Class F-3 | | | 2,015,700 | | | | 38,596 | | | | 229,873 | | | | 4,647 | | | | (776,117 | ) | | | (14,813 | ) | | | 1,469,456 | | | | 28,430 | |
| Class 529-A | | | 1,262,352 | | | | 24,301 | | | | 543,452 | | | | 11,100 | | | | (1,116,517 | ) | | | (21,433 | ) | | | 689,287 | | | | 13,968 | |
| Class 529-C | | | 132,429 | | | | 2,725 | | | | 81,079 | | | | 1,761 | | | | (799,809 | ) | | | (16,373 | ) | | | (586,301 | ) | | | (11,887 | ) |
| Class 529-E | | | 29,284 | | | | 572 | | | | 20,975 | | | | 432 | | | | (54,582 | ) | | | (1,061 | ) | | | (4,323 | ) | | | (57 | ) |
| Class 529-T | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | — | † | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | — | † |
| Class 529-F-1 | | | 80,035 | | | | 1,544 | | | | 22,019 | | | | 451 | | | | (58,585 | ) | | | (1,123 | ) | | | 43,469 | | | | 872 | |
| Class R-1 | | | 37,007 | | | | 750 | | | | 28,287 | | | | 607 | | | | (97,053 | ) | | | (1,974 | ) | | | (31,759 | ) | | | (617 | ) |
| Class R-2 | | | 446,761 | | | | 8,975 | | | | 142,212 | | | | 3,021 | | | | (744,699 | ) | | | (15,087 | ) | | | (155,726 | ) | | | (3,091 | ) |
| Class R-2E | | | 76,446 | | | | 1,489 | | | | 8,178 | | | | 168 | | | | (28,331 | ) | | | (555 | ) | | | 56,293 | | | | 1,102 | |
| Class R-3 | | | 909,182 | | | | 17,751 | | | | 424,816 | | | | 8,749 | | | | (2,081,945 | ) | | | (40,689 | ) | | | (747,947 | ) | | | (14,189 | ) |
| Class R-4 | | | 1,066,828 | | | | 20,600 | | | | 558,360 | | | | 11,390 | | | | (2,544,799 | ) | | | (49,470 | ) | | | (919,611 | ) | | | (17,480 | ) |
| Class R-5E | | | 277,124 | | | | 5,263 | | | | 3,374 | | | | 69 | | | | (35,861 | ) | | | (682 | ) | | | 244,637 | | | | 4,650 | |
| Class R-5 | | | 519,521 | | | | 9,976 | | | | 256,038 | | | | 5,181 | | | | (1,532,293 | ) | | | (29,330 | ) | | | (756,734 | ) | | | (14,173 | ) |
| Class R-6 | | | 6,116,630 | | | | 117,235 | | | | 1,738,541 | | | | 35,136 | | | | (2,957,370 | ) | | | (56,457 | ) | | | 4,897,801 | | | | 95,914 | |
| Total net increase (decrease) | | $ | 26,814,593 | | | | 514,726 | | | $ | 11,672,465 | | | | 237,275 | | | $ | (33,097,907 | ) | | | (639,974 | ) | | $ | 5,389,151 | | | | 112,027 | |
| * | Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund. |
| † | Amount less than one thousand. |
| The Growth Fund of America | 21 |
8. Investment transactions
The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $63,257,978,000 and $65,365,602,000, respectively, during the year ended August 31, 2019.
| 22 | The Growth Fund of America |
Financial highlights
| | | | | | (Loss) income from
investment operations1 | | | Dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Period ended | | Net asset
value,
beginning
of period | | | Net
investment
income
(loss) | | | Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized) | | | Total from
investment
operations | | | Dividends
(from net
investment
income) | | | Distributions
(from capital
gains) | | | Total
dividends
and
distributions | | | Net asset
value,
end
of period | | | Total
return2 | | | Net assets,
end of period
(in millions) | | | Ratio of
expenses to
average
net assets | | | Ratio of
net income
(loss) to
average
net assets | |
| Class A: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | $ | 56.31 | | | $ | .30 | | | $ | (2.09 | ) | | $ | (1.79 | ) | | $ | (.31 | ) | | $ | (4.82 | ) | | $ | (5.13 | ) | | $ | 49.39 | | | | (1.31 | )% | | $ | 87,316 | | | | .63 | % | | | .61 | % |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.81 | | | | .28 | | | | 10.70 | | | | 10.98 | | | | (.25 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.48 | ) | | | 56.31 | | | | 23.49 | | | | 93,649 | | | | .62 | | | | .53 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.47 | | | | .29 | | | | 7.83 | | | | 8.12 | | | | (.25 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.78 | ) | | | 48.81 | | | | 19.60 | | | | 81,221 | | | | .64 | | | | .64 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 43.31 | | | | .24 | | | | 3.58 | | | | 3.82 | | | | (.27 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.66 | ) | | | 43.47 | | | | 9.31 | | | | 74,847 | | | | .66 | | | | .57 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.70 | | | | .23 | | | | .61 | | | | .84 | | | | (.17 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.23 | ) | | | 43.31 | | | | 2.12 | | | | 72,321 | | | | .65 | | | | .51 | |
| Class C: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 51.96 | | | | (.08 | ) | | | (1.97 | ) | | | (2.05 | ) | | | — | | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | 45.09 | | | | (2.09 | ) | | | 4,134 | | | | 1.41 | | | | (.17 | ) |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 45.39 | | | | (.13 | ) | | | 9.93 | | | | 9.80 | | | | — | | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | 51.96 | | | | 22.54 | | | | 4,953 | | | | 1.42 | | | | (.28 | ) |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 40.69 | | | | (.07 | ) | | | 7.30 | | | | 7.23 | | | | — | | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | 45.39 | | | | 18.63 | | | | 4,745 | | | | 1.44 | | | | (.17 | ) |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 40.80 | | | | (.09 | ) | | | 3.37 | | | | 3.28 | | | | — | | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | 40.69 | | | | 8.47 | | | | 5,009 | | | | 1.46 | | | | (.23 | ) |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 44.41 | | | | (.12 | ) | | | .57 | | | | .45 | | | | — | | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | 40.80 | | | | 1.29 | | | | 5,480 | | | | 1.45 | | | | (.29 | ) |
| Class T: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 56.34 | | | | .41 | | | | (2.12 | ) | | | (1.71 | ) | | | (.42 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.24 | ) | | | 49.39 | | | | (1.11 | )3 | | | — | 4 | | | .41 | 3 | | | .83 | 3 |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.84 | | | | .38 | | | | 10.72 | | | | 11.10 | | | | (.37 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.60 | ) | | | 56.34 | | | | 23.76 | 3 | | | — | 4 | | | .42 | 3 | | | .73 | 3 |
| 8/31/20175,6 | | | 45.38 | | | | .18 | | | | 3.28 | | | | 3.46 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 48.84 | | | | 7.62 | 3,7 | | | — | 4 | | | .18 | 3,7 | | | .38 | 3,7 |
| Class F-1: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 55.92 | | | | .27 | | | | (2.09 | ) | | | (1.82 | ) | | | (.26 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.08 | ) | | | 49.02 | | | | (1.40 | ) | | | 7,539 | | | | .69 | | | | .54 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.47 | | | | .24 | | | | 10.64 | | | | 10.88 | | | | (.20 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.43 | ) | | | 55.92 | | | | 23.43 | | | | 8,381 | | | | .69 | | | | .45 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.20 | | | | .26 | | | | 7.77 | | | | 8.03 | | | | (.23 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.76 | ) | | | 48.47 | | | | 19.50 | | | | 8,574 | | | | .70 | | | | .57 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 43.05 | | | | .22 | | | | 3.57 | | | | 3.79 | | | | (.25 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.64 | ) | | | 43.20 | | | | 9.28 | | | | 8,494 | | | | .71 | | | | .52 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.40 | | | | .20 | | | | .61 | | | | .81 | | | | (.10 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.16 | ) | | | 43.05 | | | | 2.07 | | | | 8,273 | | | | .70 | | | | .46 | |
| Class F-2: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 56.25 | | | | .40 | | | | (2.11 | ) | | | (1.71 | ) | | | (.42 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.24 | ) | | | 49.30 | | | | (1.10 | ) | | | 22,265 | | | | .42 | | | | .81 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.76 | | | | .39 | | | | 10.69 | | | | 11.08 | | | | (.36 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.59 | ) | | | 56.25 | | | | 23.76 | | | | 22,226 | | | | .42 | | | | .74 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.45 | | | | .38 | | | | 7.81 | | | | 8.19 | | | | (.35 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.88 | ) | | | 48.76 | | | | 19.83 | | | | 16,049 | | | | .43 | | | | .84 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 43.29 | | | | .33 | | | | 3.59 | | | | 3.92 | | | | (.37 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.76 | ) | | | 43.45 | | | | 9.57 | | | | 12,100 | | | | .44 | | | | .79 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.71 | | | | .33 | | | | .60 | | | | .93 | | | | (.29 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.35 | ) | | | 43.29 | | | | 2.35 | | | | 10,723 | | | | .43 | | | | .73 | |
| Class F-3: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 56.41 | | | | .46 | | | | (2.13 | ) | | | (1.67 | ) | | | (.47 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.29 | ) | | | 49.45 | | | | (1.01 | ) | | | 5,796 | | | | .32 | | | | .92 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.90 | | | | .44 | | | | 10.71 | | | | 11.15 | | | | (.41 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.64 | ) | | | 56.41 | | | | 23.86 | | | | 4,704 | | | | .33 | | | | .84 | |
| 8/31/20175,8 | | | 44.36 | | | | .30 | | | | 4.24 | | | | 4.54 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 48.90 | | | | 10.24 | 7 | | | 2,687 | | | | .34 | 9 | | | 1.08 | 9 |
| Class 529-A: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 55.70 | | | | .26 | | | | (2.07 | ) | | | (1.81 | ) | | | (.27 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.09 | ) | | | 48.80 | | | | (1.38 | ) | | | 8,569 | | | | .70 | | | | .54 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.33 | | | | .24 | | | | 10.59 | | | | 10.83 | | | | (.23 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.46 | ) | | | 55.70 | | | | 23.41 | | | | 9,114 | | | | .70 | | | | .46 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.08 | | | | .25 | | | | 7.75 | | | | 8.00 | | | | (.22 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.75 | ) | | | 48.33 | | | | 19.50 | | | | 7,233 | | | | .71 | | | | .57 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 42.95 | | | | .20 | | | | 3.56 | | | | 3.76 | | | | (.24 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.63 | ) | | | 43.08 | | | | 9.23 | | | | 6,229 | | | | .74 | | | | .48 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.35 | | | | .19 | | | | .61 | | | | .80 | | | | (.14 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.20 | ) | | | 42.95 | | | | 2.04 | | | | 5,849 | | | | .73 | | | | .43 | |
See end of table for footnotes.
| The Growth Fund of America | 23 |
Financial highlights (continued)
| | | | | | (Loss) income from
investment operations1 | | | Dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Period ended | | Net asset
value,
beginning
of period | | | Net
investment
income
(loss) | | | Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized) | | | Total from
investment
operations | | | Dividends
(from net
investment
income) | | | Distributions
(from capital
gains) | | | Total
dividends
and
distributions | | | Net asset
value,
end
of period | | | Total
return2 | | | Net assets,
end of period
(in millions) | | | Ratio of
expenses to
average
net assets | | | Ratio of
net income
(loss) to
average
net assets | |
| Class 529-C: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | $ | 52.11 | | | $ | (.10 | ) | | $ | (1.96 | ) | | $ | (2.06 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | (4.82 | ) | | $ | (4.82 | ) | | $ | 45.23 | | | | (2.11 | )% | | $ | 989 | | | | 1.45 | % | | | (.21 | )% |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 45.54 | | | | (.16 | ) | | | 9.96 | | | | 9.80 | | | | — | | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | 52.11 | | | | 22.46 | | | | 1,240 | | | | 1.46 | | | | (.34 | ) |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 40.83 | | | | (.09 | ) | | | 7.33 | | | | 7.24 | | | | — | | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | 45.54 | | | | 18.59 | | | | 1,625 | | | | 1.48 | | | | (.21 | ) |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 40.96 | | | | (.11 | ) | | | 3.37 | | | | 3.26 | | | | — | | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | 40.83 | | | | 8.39 | | | | 1,469 | | | | 1.52 | | | | (.29 | ) |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 44.58 | | | | (.15 | ) | | | .59 | | | | .44 | | | | — | | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | 40.96 | | | | 1.27 | | | | 1,421 | | | | 1.51 | | | | (.35 | ) |
| Class 529-E: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 55.07 | | | | .15 | | | | (2.04 | ) | | | (1.89 | ) | | | (.14 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (4.96 | ) | | | 48.22 | | | | (1.60 | ) | | | 305 | | | | .93 | | | | .30 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 47.81 | | | | .11 | | | | 10.48 | | | | 10.59 | | | | (.10 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.33 | ) | | | 55.07 | | | | 23.11 | | | | 351 | | | | .94 | | | | .21 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 42.65 | | | | .14 | | | | 7.67 | | | | 7.81 | | | | (.12 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.65 | ) | | | 47.81 | | | | 19.20 | | | | 307 | | | | .95 | | | | .32 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 42.54 | | | | .10 | | | | 3.53 | | | | 3.63 | | | | (.13 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.52 | ) | | | 42.65 | | | | 8.99 | | | | 272 | | | | .98 | | | | .25 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 45.94 | | | | .08 | | | | .60 | | | | .68 | | | | (.02 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.08 | ) | | | 42.54 | | | | 1.79 | | | | 260 | | | | .98 | | | | .18 | |
| Class 529-T: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 56.32 | | | | .39 | | | | (2.12 | ) | | | (1.73 | ) | | | (.39 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.21 | ) | | | 49.38 | | | | (1.15 | )3 | | | — | 4 | | | .45 | 3 | | | .79 | 3 |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.83 | | | | .35 | | | | 10.72 | | | | 11.07 | | | | (.35 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.58 | ) | | | 56.32 | | | | 23.70 | 3 | | | — | 4 | | | .47 | 3 | | | .68 | 3 |
| 8/31/20175,6 | | | 45.38 | | | | .17 | | | | 3.28 | | | | 3.45 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 48.83 | | | | 7.60 | 3,7 | | | — | 4 | | | .20 | 3,7 | | | .37 | 3,7 |
| Class 529-F-1: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 55.65 | | | | .38 | | | | (2.12 | ) | | | (1.74 | ) | | | (.40 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.22 | ) | | | 48.69 | | | | (1.18 | ) | | | 445 | | | | .47 | | | | .77 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.28 | | | | .35 | | | | 10.58 | | | | 10.93 | | | | (.33 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.56 | ) | | | 55.65 | | | | 23.69 | | | | 384 | | | | .47 | | | | .68 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.04 | | | | .35 | | | | 7.74 | | | | 8.09 | | | | (.32 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.85 | ) | | | 48.28 | | | | 19.76 | | | | 291 | | | | .49 | | | | .79 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 42.92 | | | | .29 | | | | 3.55 | | | | 3.84 | | | | (.33 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.72 | ) | | | 43.04 | | | | 9.46 | | | | 231 | | | | .52 | | | | .70 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.33 | | | | .29 | | | | .59 | | | | .88 | | | | (.23 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.29 | ) | | | 42.92 | | | | 2.26 | | | | 211 | | | | .51 | | | | .65 | |
| Class R-1: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 52.74 | | | | (.09 | ) | | | (1.97 | ) | | | (2.06 | ) | | | — | | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | 45.86 | | | | (2.08 | ) | | | 359 | | | | 1.42 | | | | (.19 | ) |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 46.04 | | | | (.14 | ) | | | 10.07 | | | | 9.93 | | | | — | | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | 52.74 | | | | 22.50 | | | | 448 | | | | 1.42 | | | | (.28 | ) |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 41.23 | | | | (.07 | ) | | | 7.41 | | | | 7.34 | | | | — | | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | 46.04 | | | | 18.65 | | | | 419 | | | | 1.43 | | | | (.16 | ) |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 41.29 | | | | (.08 | ) | | | 3.41 | | | | 3.33 | | | | — | | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | 41.23 | | | | 8.49 | | | | 438 | | | | 1.43 | | | | (.20 | ) |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 44.88 | | | | (.11 | ) | | | .58 | | | | .47 | | | | — | | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | 41.29 | | | | 1.33 | | | | 483 | | | | 1.42 | | | | (.27 | ) |
| Class R-2: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 53.29 | | | | (.09 | ) | | | (1.99 | ) | | | (2.08 | ) | | | — | | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | 46.39 | | | | (2.10 | ) | | | 1,970 | | | | 1.42 | | | | (.18 | ) |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 46.47 | | | | (.13 | ) | | | 10.18 | | | | 10.05 | | | | — | | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | 53.29 | | | | 22.55 | | | | 2,304 | | | | 1.41 | | | | (.27 | ) |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 41.60 | | | | (.07 | ) | | | 7.47 | | | | 7.40 | | | | — | | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | 46.47 | | | | 18.63 | | | | 2,153 | | | | 1.42 | | | | (.15 | ) |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 41.62 | | | | (.07 | ) | | | 3.44 | | | | 3.37 | | | | — | | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | 41.60 | | | | 8.53 | | | | 2,137 | | | | 1.40 | | | | (.18 | ) |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 45.17 | | | | (.08 | ) | | | .59 | | | | .51 | | | | — | | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | 41.62 | | | | 1.42 | | | | 2,246 | | | | 1.35 | | | | (.19 | ) |
| Class R-2E: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 55.21 | | | | .06 | | | | (2.05 | ) | | | (1.99 | ) | | | (.10 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (4.92 | ) | | | 48.30 | | | | (1.81 | ) | | | 203 | | | | 1.12 | | | | .12 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.00 | | | | .02 | | | | 10.52 | | | | 10.54 | | | | (.10 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.33 | ) | | | 55.21 | | | | 22.90 | | | | 185 | | | | 1.12 | | | | .04 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 42.92 | | | | .08 | | | | 7.70 | | | | 7.78 | | | | (.17 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.70 | ) | | | 48.00 | | | | 19.02 | | | | 108 | | | | 1.12 | | | | .18 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 43.09 | | | | .07 | | | | 3.55 | | | | 3.62 | | | | (.40 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.79 | ) | | | 42.92 | | | | 8.89 | | | | 34 | | | | 1.11 | | | | .17 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.70 | | | | .10 | | | | .65 | | | | .75 | | | | (.30 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.36 | ) | | | 43.09 | | | | 1.92 | 3 | | | — | 4 | | | .96 | 3 | | | .22 | 3 |
| 24 | The Growth Fund of America |
| | | | | | (Loss) income from
investment operations1 | | | Dividends and distributions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Period ended | | Net asset
value,
beginning
of period | | | Net
investment
income
(loss) | | | Net (losses)
gains on
securities
(both
realized and
unrealized) | | | Total from
investment
operations | | | Dividends
(from net
investment
income) | | | Distributions
(from capital
gains) | | | Total
dividends
and
distributions | | | Net asset
value,
end
of period | | | Total
return2 | | | Net assets,
end of period
(in millions) | | | Ratio of
expenses to
average
net assets | | | Ratio of
net income
(loss) to
average
net assets | |
| Class R-3: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | $ | 55.14 | | | $ | .13 | | | $ | (2.03 | ) | | $ | (1.90 | ) | | $ | (.10 | ) | | $ | (4.82 | ) | | $ | (4.92 | ) | | $ | 48.32 | | | | (1.64 | )% | | $ | 5,356 | | | | .97 | % | | | .26 | % |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 47.86 | | | | .09 | | | | 10.49 | | | | 10.58 | | | | (.07 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.30 | ) | | | 55.14 | | | | 23.06 | | | | 6,728 | | | | .97 | | | | .17 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 42.68 | | | | .13 | | | | 7.68 | | | | 7.81 | | | | (.10 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.63 | ) | | | 47.86 | | | | 19.18 | | | | 6,518 | | | | .98 | | | | .30 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 42.55 | | | | .10 | | | | 3.53 | | | | 3.63 | | | | (.11 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.50 | ) | | | 42.68 | | | | 8.99 | | | | 6,507 | | | | .98 | | | | .24 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 45.94 | | | | .08 | | | | .60 | | | | .68 | | | | (.01 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.07 | ) | | | 42.55 | | | | 1.79 | | | | 7,226 | | | | .97 | | | | .19 | |
| Class R-4: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 55.79 | | | | .28 | | | | (2.09 | ) | | | (1.81 | ) | | | (.27 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.09 | ) | | | 48.89 | | | | (1.38 | ) | | | 6,860 | | | | .67 | | | | .56 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.38 | | | | .24 | | | | 10.63 | | | | 10.87 | | | | (.23 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.46 | ) | | | 55.79 | | | | 23.46 | | | | 8,391 | | | | .67 | | | | .47 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.13 | | | | .27 | | | | 7.76 | | | | 8.03 | | | | (.25 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.78 | ) | | | 48.38 | | | | 19.54 | | | | 8,123 | | | | .68 | | | | .59 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 42.99 | | | | .22 | | | | 3.56 | | | | 3.78 | | | | (.25 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.64 | ) | | | 43.13 | | | | 9.29 | | | | 7,762 | | | | .68 | | | | .54 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.38 | | | | .22 | | | | .60 | | | | .82 | | | | (.15 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.21 | ) | | | 42.99 | | | | 2.11 | | | | 7,149 | | | | .67 | | | | .48 | |
| Class R-5E: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 55.97 | | | | .39 | | | | (2.14 | ) | | | (1.75 | ) | | | (.43 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.25 | ) | | | 48.97 | | | | (1.17 | ) | | | 732 | | | | .46 | | | | .80 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.55 | | | | .42 | | | | 10.59 | | | | 11.01 | | | | (.36 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.59 | ) | | | 55.97 | | | | 23.72 | | | | 296 | | | | .45 | | | | .79 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.34 | | | | .38 | | | | 7.77 | | | | 8.15 | | | | (.41 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.94 | ) | | | 48.55 | | | | 19.78 | | | | 31 | | | | .47 | | | | .83 | |
| 8/31/20165,10 | | | 45.73 | | | | .22 | | | | 1.21 | | | | 1.43 | | | | (.43 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.82 | ) | | | 43.34 | | | | 3.60 | 7 | | | — | 4 | | | .56 | 9 | | | .70 | 9 |
| Class R-5: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 56.35 | | | | .43 | | | | (2.13 | ) | | | (1.70 | ) | | | (.43 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.25 | ) | | | 49.40 | | | | (1.08 | ) | | | 2,648 | | | | .37 | | | | .86 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.84 | | | | .40 | | | | 10.72 | | | | 11.12 | | | | (.38 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.61 | ) | | | 56.35 | | | | 23.81 | | | | 3,430 | | | | .37 | | | | .77 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.50 | | | | .41 | | | | 7.82 | | | | 8.23 | | | | (.36 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.89 | ) | | | 48.84 | | | | 19.90 | | | | 3,665 | | | | .38 | | | | .90 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 43.33 | | | | .35 | | | | 3.60 | | | | 3.95 | | | | (.39 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.78 | ) | | | 43.50 | | | | 9.64 | | | | 3,551 | | | | .39 | | | | .84 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.73 | | | | .35 | | | | .60 | | | | .95 | | | | (.29 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.35 | ) | | | 43.33 | | | | 2.40 | | | | 4,982 | | | | .38 | | | | .78 | |
| Class R-6: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8/31/2019 | | | 56.44 | | | | .46 | | | | (2.13 | ) | | | (1.67 | ) | | | (.47 | ) | | | (4.82 | ) | | | (5.29 | ) | | | 49.48 | | | | (1.01 | ) | | | 32,028 | | | | .32 | | | | .92 | |
| 8/31/2018 | | | 48.91 | | | | .44 | | | | 10.72 | | | | 11.16 | | | | (.40 | ) | | | (3.23 | ) | | | (3.63 | ) | | | 56.44 | | | | 23.88 | | | | 31,562 | | | | .32 | | | | .83 | |
| 8/31/2017 | | | 43.57 | | | | .43 | | | | 7.83 | | | | 8.26 | | | | (.39 | ) | | | (2.53 | ) | | | (2.92 | ) | | | 48.91 | | | | 19.95 | | | | 22,661 | | | | .33 | | | | .95 | |
| 8/31/2016 | | | 43.40 | | | | .37 | | | | 3.60 | | | | 3.97 | | | | (.41 | ) | | | (3.39 | ) | | | (3.80 | ) | | | 43.57 | | | | 9.68 | | | | 16,299 | | | | .33 | | | | .89 | |
| 8/31/2015 | | | 46.80 | | | | .37 | | | | .61 | | | | .98 | | | | (.32 | ) | | | (4.06 | ) | | | (4.38 | ) | | | 43.40 | | | | 2.45 | | | | 13,594 | | | | .33 | | | | .83 | |
| | | Year ended August 31, |
| | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
| Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes11 | | 36% | | 28% | | 25% | | 31% | | 29% |
| 1 | Based on average shares outstanding. |
| 2 | Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges. |
| 3 | All or a significant portion of assets in this class consisted of seed capital invested by CRMC and/or its affiliates. Fees for distribution services are not charged or accrued on these seed capital assets. If such fees were paid by the fund on seed capital assets, fund expenses would have been higher and net income and total return would have been lower. |
| 4 | Amount less than $1 million. |
| 5 | Based on operations for a period that is less than a full year. |
| 6 | Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017. |
| 7 | Not annualized. |
| 8 | Class F-3 shares began investment operations on January 27, 2017. |
| 9 | Annualized. |
| 10 | Class R-5E shares began investment operations on November 20, 2015. |
| 11 | Rates do not include the fund’s portfolio activity with respect to any Central Funds. |
See notes to financial statements.
| The Growth Fund of America | 25 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of The Growth Fund of America:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of The Growth Fund of America (the “Fund”), including the summary investment portfolio, as of August 31, 2019, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2019, and 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 then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights 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 in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, 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 and financial highlights. 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 and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2019, 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.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Costa Mesa, California
October 10, 2019
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Funds investment companies since 1956.
| 26 | The Growth Fund of America |
As a fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as initial sales charges on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions (loads), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund so you can 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 six-month period (March 1, 2019, through August 31, 2019).
Actual expenses:
The first line of each share class in the table on the following page 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 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading titled “Expenses paid during period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical example for comparison purposes:
The second line of each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio for the share class and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the share class. 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 5.00% hypothetical example with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Notes:
Retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1 shareholders may be subject to fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% of assets annually depending on services offered. You can estimate the impact of these fees by adding the amount of the fees to the total estimated expenses you paid on your account during the period as calculated above. In addition, your ending account value would be lower by the amount of these fees.
Note that the expenses shown in the table on the following page are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line of each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| The Growth Fund of America | 27 |
| | | Beginning
account value
3/1/2019 | | | Ending
account value
8/31/2019 | | | Expenses paid
during period* | | | Annualized
expense ratio | |
| Class A – actual return | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,034.57 | | | $ | 3.23 | | | | .63 | % |
| Class A – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,022.03 | | | | 3.21 | | | | .63 | |
| Class C – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,030.40 | | | | 7.11 | | | | 1.39 | |
| Class C – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.20 | | | | 7.07 | | | | 1.39 | |
| Class T – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,035.66 | | | | 2.10 | | | | .41 | |
| Class T – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,023.14 | | | | 2.09 | | | | .41 | |
| Class F-1 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,033.98 | | | | 3.49 | | | | .68 | |
| Class F-1 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,021.78 | | | | 3.47 | | | | .68 | |
| Class F-2 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,035.50 | | | | 2.15 | | | | .42 | |
| Class F-2 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,023.09 | | | | 2.14 | | | | .42 | |
| Class F-3 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,036.03 | | | | 1.64 | | | | .32 | |
| Class F-3 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,023.59 | | | | 1.63 | | | | .32 | |
| Class 529-A – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,034.12 | | | | 3.54 | | | | .69 | |
| Class 529-A – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,021.73 | | | | 3.52 | | | | .69 | |
| Class 529-C – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,030.29 | | | | 7.32 | | | | 1.43 | |
| Class 529-C – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.00 | | | | 7.27 | | | | 1.43 | |
| Class 529-E – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,032.97 | | | | 4.71 | | | | .92 | |
| Class 529-E – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,020.57 | | | | 4.69 | | | | .92 | |
| Class 529-T – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,035.45 | | | | 2.31 | | | | .45 | |
| Class 529-T – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,022.94 | | | | 2.29 | | | | .45 | |
| Class 529-F-1 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,035.10 | | | | 2.36 | | | | .46 | |
| Class 529-F-1 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,022.89 | | | | 2.35 | | | | .46 | |
| Class R-1 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,030.57 | | | | 7.22 | | | | 1.41 | |
| Class R-1 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.10 | | | | 7.17 | | | | 1.41 | |
| Class R-2 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,030.41 | | | | 7.16 | | | | 1.40 | |
| Class R-2 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,018.15 | | | | 7.12 | | | | 1.40 | |
| Class R-2E – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,032.07 | | | | 5.69 | | | | 1.11 | |
| Class R-2E – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,019.61 | | | | 5.65 | | | | 1.11 | |
| Class R-3 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,032.70 | | | | 4.92 | | | | .96 | |
| Class R-3 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,020.37 | | | | 4.89 | | | | .96 | |
| Class R-4 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,034.07 | | | | 3.38 | | | | .66 | |
| Class R-4 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,021.88 | | | | 3.36 | | | | .66 | |
| Class R-5E – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,035.08 | | | | 2.36 | | | | .46 | |
| Class R-5E – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,022.89 | | | | 2.35 | | | | .46 | |
| Class R-5 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,035.62 | | | | 1.90 | | | | .37 | |
| Class R-5 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,023.34 | | | | 1.89 | | | | .37 | |
| Class R-6 – actual return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,036.01 | | | | 1.59 | | | | .31 | |
| Class R-6 – assumed 5% return | | | 1,000.00 | | | | 1,023.64 | | | | 1.58 | | | | .31 | |
| * | The “expenses paid during period” are equal to the “annualized expense ratio,” multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, and divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
| 28 | The Growth Fund of America |
We are required to advise you of the federal tax status of certain distributions received by shareholders during the fiscal year. The fund hereby designates the following amounts for the fund’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2019:
| Long-term capital gains | | | $17,852,021,000 | |
| Qualified dividend income | | | 100% | |
| Corporate dividends received deduction | | | 100% | |
| U.S. government income that may be exempt from state taxation | | | $77,314,000 | |
Individual shareholders should refer to their Form 1099 or other tax information, which will be mailed in January 2020, to determine thecalendar year amounts to be included on their 2019 tax returns. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors.
| The Growth Fund of America | 29 |
Approval of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement
The Growth Fund of America’s board has approved the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement (the “agreement”) with Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) for an additional one-year term through November 30, 2020. The board approved the agreement following the recommendation of the fund’s Contracts Committee (the “committee”), which is composed of all of the fund’s independent board members. The board and the committee determined in the exercise of their business judgment that the fund’s advisory fee structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that approving the agreement was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.
In reaching this decision, the board and the committee took into account information furnished to them throughout the year and otherwise provided to them, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with their review of the agreement, and were advised by their independent counsel with respect to the matters considered. They considered the following factors, among others, but did not identify any single issue or particular piece of information that, in isolation, was the controlling factor, and each board and committee member did not necessarily attribute the same weight to each factor.
1. Nature, extent and quality of services
The board and the committee considered the depth and quality of CRMC’s investment management process, including its global research capabilities; the experience, capability and integrity of its senior management and other personnel; the low turnover rates of its key personnel; the overall financial strength and stability of CRMC and the Capital Group organization; the resources and systems CRMC devotes to investment management (the manner in which the Fund’s assets are managed, including liquidity management), compliance, trading, portfolio accounting and other services; and the ongoing evolution of CRMC’s organizational structure designed to maintain and strengthen these qualities. The board and the committee also considered the nature, extent and quality of administrative, compliance and shareholder services provided by CRMC to the fund under the agreement and other agreements, as well as the benefits to fund shareholders from investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds. The board and the committee concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by CRMC have benefited and should continue to benefit the fund and its shareholders.
2. Investment results
The board and the committee considered the investment results of the fund in light of its objective to provide growth of capital. They compared the fund’s investment results with those of other funds (including funds that currently form the basis of the Lipper index for the category in which the fund is included), and data such as relevant market and fund indexes, over various periods through March 31, 2019. This report, including the letter to shareholders and related disclosures, contains certain information about the fund’s investment results. The board and the committee reviewed the fund’s investment results measured against various indexes, including the Lipper Growth Funds Index, the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Index, the Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Index and Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index. They reviewed the results for the one-year, three-year, five-year, 10-year, 20-year and lifetime periods, and placed greater emphasis on longer term periods. They noted that the investment results of the fund were satisfactory in comparison with the results of these indexes. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s investment results have been satisfactory for renewal of the agreement, and that CRMC’s record in managing the fund indicated that its continued management should benefit the fund and its shareholders.
3. Advisory fees and total expenses
The board and the committee compared the advisory fees and total expense levels of the fund to those of other relevant funds. They observed that the fund’s advisory fees and expenses generally compared favorably to those of other similar funds included in the Lipper Growth Funds category. The board and the committee also considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure that reduce the level of fees charged by CRMC to the fund as fund assets increase. In addition, they reviewed information regarding the effective advisory fees charged to non-mutual fund clients by CRMC and its affiliates. They noted that, to the extent there were differences between the advisory fees paid by the fund and the advisory fees paid by those clients, the differences appropriately reflected the investment, operational, regulatory and market differences between advising the fund and the other clients. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s cost structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that the fund’s shareholders receive reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.
| 30 | The Growth Fund of America |
4. Ancillary benefits
The board and the committee considered a variety of other benefits that CRMC and its affiliates receive as a result of CRMC’s relationship with the fund and other American Funds, including fees for administrative services provided to certain share classes; fees paid to CRMC’s affiliated transfer agent; sales charges and distribution fees received and retained by the fund’s principal underwriter, an affiliate of CRMC; and possible ancillary benefits to CRMC and its institutional management affiliates in managing other investment vehicles. The board and the committee reviewed CRMC’s portfolio trading practices, noting that through December 31, 2018, CRMC benefited from research obtained with commissions from portfolio transactions made on behalf of the fund and since that time has undertaken to bear the cost of obtaining such research. The board and the committee took these ancillary benefits into account in evaluating the reasonableness of the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.
5. Adviser financial information
The board and the committee reviewed information regarding CRMC’s costs of providing services to the American Funds, including personnel, systems and resources of investment, compliance, trading, accounting and other administrative operations. They considered CRMC’s costs and related cost allocation methodology as well as its track record of investing in technology, infrastructure and staff to maintain and expand services and capabilities, respond to industry and regulatory developments, and attract and retain qualified personnel. They noted information regarding the compensation structure for CRMC’s investment professionals. They reviewed information on the profitability of the investment adviser and its affiliates. The board and the committee also compared CRMC’s profitability and compensation data to the reported results and data of several large, publicly held investment management companies. The board and the committee noted the competitiveness and cyclicality of both the mutual fund industry and the capital markets, and the importance in that environment of CRMC’s long-term profitability for maintaining its independence, company culture and management continuity. They further considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure and CRMC’s sharing of potential economies of scale, or efficiencies, through breakpoints and other fee reductions and costs voluntarily absorbed. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s advisory fee structure reflected a reasonable sharing of benefits between CRMC and the fund’s shareholders.
| The Growth Fund of America | 31 |
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| 32 | The Growth Fund of America |
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| The Growth Fund of America | 33 |
Board of trustees and other officers
Independent trustees1
| Name and year of birth | | Year first
elected
a trustee
of the fund2 | | Principal occupation(s) during past five years | | Number of
portfolios in fund
complex overseen
by trustee3 | | Other directorships4
held by trustee |
| Joseph C. Berenato, 1946 | | 2003 | | Former Chairman and CEO, Ducommun Incorporated (aerospace components manufacturer) | | 16 | | None |
| Joseph J. Bonner, 1955 | | 2019 | | President and CEO, Solana Beach Capital LLC (real estate advisory); Global Head of Real Estate, Board Member, The Interlink Group (private merchant bank); former Chief Investment Officer, Mubadala Pramerica Real Estate Investors (real estate investment management) | | 3 | | Extra Space Storage |
| Louise H. Bryson, 1944 | | 2008 | | Chair Emerita of the Board of Trustees, J. Paul Getty Trust; former President, Distribution, Lifetime Entertainment Network (retired 2008); former Executive Vice President and General Manager, Lifetime Movie Network (retired 2008) | | 7 | | None |
Mary Anne Dolan, 1947
Chairman of the Board (Independent and Non-Executive) | | 2010 | | Founder and President, MAD Ink (communications company); former Editor-in-Chief,The Los Angeles Herald Examiner (retired 1989) | | 10 | | None |
| John G. Freund, MD, 1953 | | 2010 | | Founder and Managing Director, Skyline Ventures (a venture capital investor in health care companies) | | 6 | | Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.; SI – Bone, Inc.; Sutro Biopharma, Inc.; Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
| Yvonne L. Greenstreet, 1962 | | 2019 | | Chief Operating Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; Founder and Managing Director, Highgate LLC (consulting); former Senior Vice President, Pfizer | | 3 | | Pacira, Inc. (pharmaceuticals); Indivior PLC (pharmaceuticals) |
| Linda Griego, 1947 | | 2015 | | President and CEO, Griego Enterprises, Inc. (business management company) | | 7 | | AECOM; CBS Corporation |
| Leonade D. Jones, 1947 | | 1993 | | Retired; former Treasurer, The Washington Post Company (retired 1996) | | 10 | | None |
| Sharon I. Meers, 1965 | | 2017 | | Former Senior Director, Head of Strategic Partnerships, eBay Enterprise | | 3 | | None |
| Kenneth M. Simril, 1965 | | 2016 | | President and CEO, SCI Ingredients Holdings, Inc. (food manufacturing) | | 7 | | None |
| Christopher E. Stone, 1956 | | 2010 | | Professor of Practice of Public Integrity, University of Oxford, Blavatnik School of Government; former President, Open Society Foundations | | 6 | | None |
| 34 | The Growth Fund of America |
Interested trustees5,6
Name, year of birth and
position with fund | | Year first
elected
a trustee
or officer
of the fund2 | | Principal occupation(s) during past five years
and positions held with affiliated entities or
the principal underwriter of the fund | | Number of
portfolios in fund
complex overseen
by trustee3 | | Other directorships4
held by trustee |
Anne-Marie Peterson,1972
Co-President and Trustee | | 2016 | | Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7 | | 3 | | None |
Brady L. Enright,1967
Trustee | | 2019 | | Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Bank and Trust Company7; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7 | | 3 | | None |
The fund’s statement of additional information includes further details about fund trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling American Funds Service Company at (800) 421-4225 or by visiting the Capital Group website at capitalgroup.com. The address for all trustees and officers of the fund is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Secretary.
Other officers6
Name, year of birth and
position with fund | | Year first
elected
an officer
of the fund2 | | Principal occupation(s) during past five years and positions held with affiliated entities
or the principal underwriter of the fund |
Michael T. Kerr, 1959
Co-President | | 1998 | | Partner — Capital International Investors, Capital Research and Management Company |
Donald D. O’Neal, 1960
Co-President | | 1995 | | Partner — Capital International Investors, Capital Research and Management Company;
Partner — Capital International Investors, Capital Bank and Trust Company7; Director, Capital Research and Management Company |
Christopher D. Buchbinder, 1971
Co-President | | 2015 | | Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company |
Paul F. Roye, 1953
Executive Vice President | | 2012 | | Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research and Management Company |
Brad Barrett, 1977
Senior Vice President | | 2010 | | Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company |
Mark L. Casey, 1970
Senior Vice President | | 2016 | | Partner — Capital International Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7 |
Barry S. Crosthwaite, 1958
Senior Vice President | | 2010 | | Partner — Capital International Investors, Capital Research and Management Company |
J. Blair Frank, 1966
Senior Vice President | | 2019 | | Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company |
See page 36 for footnotes.
| The Growth Fund of America | 35 |
Other officers(continued)6
Name, year of birth and
position with fund | | Year first
elected
an officer
of the fund2 | | Principal occupation(s) during past five years and positions held with affiliated entities
or the principal underwriter of the fund |
Joanna F. Jonsson, 1963
Senior Vice President | | 2019 | | Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Vice Chair, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7 |
Carl M. Kawaja, 1964
Senior Vice President | | 2019 | | Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Chairman and Director, Capital Research and Management Company; Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Bank and Trust Company7; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7 |
Martin Romo, 1967
Senior Vice President | | 2010 | | Chairman and Principal Executive Officer, Capital Research Company7; Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7 |
Lawrence R. Solomon, 1962
Senior Vice President | | 2014 | | Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Chairman of the Board, President and Director, Capital Management Services, Inc.7 |
James Terrile, 1965
Senior Vice President | | 2019 | | Partner — Capital Research Global Investors, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, The Capital Group Companies, Inc.7 |
Alan J. Wilson, 1961
Senior Vice President | | 2019 | | Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company |
Walter R. Burkley, 1966
Vice President | | 2010 | | Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company; Director, Capital Research Company7 |
Jacinto J. Hernandez, 1978
Vice President | | 2015 | | Partner — Capital World Investors, Capital Research and Management Company |
Michael W. Stockton, 1967
Secretary | | 2014 | | Senior Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company |
Brian D. Bullard, 1969
Treasurer | | 2016 | | Senior Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company |
Julie E. Lawton, 1973
Assistant Secretary | | 2010 | | Assistant Vice President — Fund Business Management Group, Capital Research and Management Company; Secretary, Capital Research Company7 |
Sandra Chuon, 1972
Assistant Treasurer | | 2019 | | Assistant Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company |
Hong T. Le, 1978
Assistant Treasurer | | 2018 | | Vice President — Investment Operations, Capital Research and Management Company |
| 1 | The term independent trustee refers to a trustee who is not an “interested person” of the fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
| 2 | Trustees and officers of the fund serve until their resignation, removal or retirement. |
| 3 | Funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company or its affiliates. |
| 4 | This includes all directorships/trusteeships (other than those in the American Funds or other funds managed by Capital Research and Management Company or its affiliates) that are held by each trustee as a trustee or director of a public company or a registered investment company. |
| 5 | The term interested trustee refers to a trustee who is an “interested person” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, on the basis of their affiliation with the fund’s investment adviser, Capital Research and Management Company, or affiliated entities (including the fund’s principal underwriter). |
| 6 | All of the trustees and/or officers listed, with the exception of Brad Barrett, J. Blair Frank and Jacinto J. Hernandez, are officers and/or directors/trustees of one or more of the other funds for which Capital Research and Management Company serves as investment adviser. |
| 7 | Company affiliated with Capital Research and Management Company. |
| 36 | The Growth Fund of America |
Office of the fund
6455 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618-4518
Investment adviser
Capital Research and Management Company
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406
Transfer agent for shareholder accounts
American Funds Service Company
(Write to the address near you.)
P.O. Box 6007
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007
P.O. Box 2280
Norfolk, VA 23501-2280
Custodian of assets
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
Counsel
Dechert LLP
One Bush Street, Suite 1600
San Francisco, CA 94104-4446
Independent registered public accounting firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
695 Town Center Drive
Suite 1000
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7188
Principal underwriter
American Funds Distributors, Inc.
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406
Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at (800) 421-4225 or visit the Capital Group website at capitalgroup.com.
“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on our website or upon request by calling AFS. The fund files its proxy voting record with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the 12 months ended June 30 by August 31. The proxy voting record is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on our website.
A complete August 31, 2019, portfolio of The Growth Fund of America’s investments is available free of charge by calling AFS or visiting the SEC website (where it is part of Form N-CSR).
The Growth Fund of America files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT-EX. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. Additionally, the list of portfolio holdings is available by calling AFS.
This report is for the information of shareholders of The Growth Fund of America, but it also may be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus or summary prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after December 31, 2019, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index (“Index”) is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Capital Group. Copyright © 2019 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.
American Funds Distributors, Inc., member of FINRA.
The Capital Advantage®
Since 1931, Capital Group, home of American Funds, has helped investors pursue long-term investment success. Our consistent approach — in combination with The Capital SystemSM— has resulted in superior outcomes.
Aligned with investor success
We base our decisions on a long-term perspective, which we believe aligns our goals with the interests of our clients. Our portfolio managers average 27 years of investment experience, including 20 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1
The Capital System
The Capital System combines individual accountability with teamwork. Funds using The Capital System are divided into portions that are managed independently by investment professionals with diverse backgrounds, ages and investment approaches. An extensive global research effort is the backbone of our system.
American Funds’ superior outcomes
Equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 92% of 10-year periods and 99% of 20-year periods.2 Fixed income funds have helped investors achieve diversification through attention to correlation between bonds and equities.3 Fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.4
| 1 | Portfolio manager experience as of December 31, 2018. |
| 2 | Based on Class F-2 share results for rolling periods through December 31, 2018. Periods covered are the shorter of the fund’s lifetime or since the comparable Lipper index inception date (except Capital Income Builder and SMALLCAP World Fund, for which the Lipper average was used). Expenses differ for each share class, so results will vary. |
| 3 | Based on Class F-2 share results, as of December 31, 2018. Fourteen of our 15 American Funds fixed income funds that have been in existence for the three-year period showed a three-year correlation below 0.2. Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index was used as an equity market proxy. Correlation based on monthly total returns. Correlation is a statistical measure of how two securities move in relation to each other. A correlation ranges from –1 to 1. A positive correlation close to 1 implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in “lockstep,” in the same direction. A negative correlation close to –1 indicates that the securities have moved in the opposite direction. |
| 4 | On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 70% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2018, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds. |
Class F-2 shares were first offered on August 1, 2008. Class F-2 share results prior to the date of first sale are hypothetical based on Class A share results without a sales charge, adjusted for typical estimated expenses. Results for certain funds with an inception date after August 1, 2008, also include hypothetical returns because those funds’ Class F-2 shares sold after the funds’ date of first offering. Please see capitalgroup.com for more information on specific expense adjustments and the actual dates of first sale.
All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.
ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics
The Registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. The Registrant undertakes to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of the Code of Ethics. Such request can be made by calling 800/421-4225 or to the Secretary of the Registrant, 6455 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, California 92618.
ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Registrant’s board has determined that Linda Griego, a member of the Registrant’s audit committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” and "independent," as such terms are defined in this Item. This designation will not increase the designee’s duties, obligations or liability as compared to his or her duties, obligations and liability as a member of the audit committee and of the board, nor will it reduce the responsibility of the other audit committee members. There may be other individuals who, through education or experience, would qualify as "audit committee financial experts" if the board had designated them as such. Most importantly, the board believes each member of the audit committee contributes significantly to the effective oversight of the Registrant’s financial statements and condition.
ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services
| a) Audit Fees: |
| | 2018 | $116,000 |
| | 2019 | $8,000 |
| | |
| b) Audit-Related Fees: |
| | 2018 | $35,000 |
| | 2019 | $52,000 |
| | |
| c) Tax Fees: |
| | 2018 | $13,000 |
| | 2019 | $11,000 |
| | The tax fees consist of professional services relating to the preparation of the Registrant’s tax returns. |
| | |
| d) All Other Fees: |
| | 2018 | None |
| | 2019 | None |
| | |
| | Adviser and affiliates (includes only fees for non-audit services billed to the adviser and affiliates for engagements that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant and were subject to the pre-approval policies described below): |
| a) Audit Fees: |
| | Not Applicable |
| | |
| b) Audit-Related Fees: |
| | 2018 | $1,087,000 |
| | 2019 | $1,286,000 |
| | The audit-related fees consist of assurance and related services relating to the examination of the Registrant’s transfer agent, principal underwriter and investment adviser conducted in accordance with Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements Number 18 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. |
| | |
| c) Tax Fees: |
| | 2018 | $5,000 |
| | 2019 | $65,000 |
| | The tax fees consist of consulting services relating to the Registrant’s investments. |
| | | |
| | | |
| d) All Other Fees: |
| | 2018 | None |
| | 2019 | None |
| | The other fees consist of subscription services related to an accounting research tool. |
| | |
| | | |
| | All audit and permissible non-audit services that the Registrant’s audit committee considers compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence are required to be pre-approved by the committee. The pre-approval requirement will extend to all non-audit services provided to the Registrant, the investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant. The committee will not delegate its responsibility to pre-approve these services to the investment adviser. The committee may delegate to one or more committee members the authority to review and pre-approve audit and permissible non-audit services. Actions taken under any such delegation will be reported to the full committee at its next meeting. The pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to non-audit services if certain conditions are met. The pre-approval requirement was not waived for any of the non-audit services listed above provided to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates. |
| | | |
| | Aggregate non-audit fees paid to the Registrant’s auditors, including fees for all services billed to the Registrant, adviser and affiliates that provide ongoing services to the Registrant, were $1,242,000 for fiscal year 2018 and $1,414,000 for fiscal year 2019. The non-audit services represented by these amounts were brought to the attention of the committee and considered to be compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence. |
| | | | |
ITEM 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
ITEM 6 – Schedule of Investments
The Growth Fund of America®
Investment portfolio
August 31, 2019
Common stocks 92.62%
Information technology 23.12% | Shares | Value
(000) |
| Microsoft Corp. | 67,562,100 | $9,314,111 |
| Broadcom Inc. | 12,432,884 | 3,514,030 |
| Mastercard Inc., Class A | 11,189,740 | 3,148,457 |
| ASML Holding NV1 | 6,782,295 | 1,510,485 |
| ASML Holding NV (New York registered) | 4,222,200 | 939,904 |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.1 | 188,916,000 | 1,555,950 |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ADR) | 8,743,800 | 372,748 |
| ServiceNow, Inc.2 | 7,136,200 | 1,868,543 |
| Visa Inc., Class A | 8,669,000 | 1,567,529 |
| Autodesk, Inc.2 | 10,349,210 | 1,478,074 |
| Fiserv, Inc.2 | 13,444,600 | 1,437,766 |
| Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | 10,001,634 | 1,362,423 |
| FleetCor Technologies, Inc.2 | 4,245,574 | 1,266,879 |
| Workday, Inc., Class A2 | 6,354,500 | 1,126,526 |
| PayPal Holdings, Inc.2 | 10,063,600 | 1,097,436 |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.1 | 27,721,176 | 1,006,819 |
| Atlassian Corp. PLC, Class A2 | 7,229,707 | 972,468 |
| Applied Materials, Inc. | 18,631,225 | 894,671 |
| Intel Corp. | 16,273,500 | 771,527 |
| Micron Technology, Inc.2 | 14,027,000 | 635,002 |
| MongoDB, Inc., Class A2 | 4,148,540 | 631,864 |
| RingCentral, Inc., Class A2 | 4,151,627 | 585,919 |
| Arista Networks, Inc.2 | 2,066,698 | 468,355 |
| Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. | 3,100,000 | 449,376 |
| salesforce.com, inc.2 | 2,769,000 | 432,158 |
| QUALCOMM Inc. | 5,218,432 | 405,837 |
| Keyence Corp.1 | 537,000 | 318,773 |
| Paycom Software, Inc.2 | 1,115,646 | 279,045 |
| NetApp, Inc. | 5,308,360 | 255,120 |
| Adobe Inc.2 | 884,800 | 251,734 |
| Accenture PLC, Class A | 1,237,000 | 245,136 |
| Apple Inc. | 1,150,100 | 240,072 |
| Slack Technologies, Inc., Class A2 | 6,547,998 | 187,535 |
| Slack Technologies, Inc., Class B1,2 | 1,785,366 | 51,133 |
| Analog Devices, Inc. | 2,163,000 | 237,562 |
| DocuSign, Inc.2 | 5,042,000 | 235,411 |
| Zendesk, Inc.2 | 2,536,000 | 203,387 |
| Trimble Inc.2 | 5,194,219 | 194,887 |
| TE Connectivity Ltd. | 1,910,000 | 174,230 |
| Global Payments Inc. | 1,035,000 | 171,789 |
| Symantec Corp. | 6,500,000 | 151,125 |
| Qorvo, Inc.2 | 1,909,000 | 136,360 |
| HubSpot, Inc.2 | 593,200 | 118,450 |
| Guidewire Software, Inc.2 | 1,210,000 | 116,378 |
| Hexagon AB, Class B1 | 2,600,000 | 115,735 |
| Dell Technologies Inc., Class C2 | 2,151,000 | 110,841 |
| Elastic NV, non-registered shares2 | 1,224,899 | 107,656 |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 1 of 9
Common stocks (continued)
Information technology (continued) | Shares | Value
(000) |
| Amphenol Corp., Class A | 1,175,000 | $102,859 |
| Alteryx, Inc., Class A2 | 675,000 | 96,154 |
| Nice Ltd. (ADR)2 | 533,000 | 81,682 |
| Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Class A2 | 800,040 | 73,340 |
| Lam Research Corp. | 335,000 | 70,521 |
| VMware, Inc., Class A | 406,800 | 57,538 |
| Texas Instruments Inc. | 367,100 | 45,429 |
| KLA Corp. | 235,000 | 34,757 |
| CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc., Class A2 | 351,190 | 28,545 |
| SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. | 514,400 | 23,954 |
| ON Semiconductor Corp.2 | 1,292,800 | 23,012 |
| LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.2 | 119,016 | 5,042 |
| | | 43,360,049 |
| Communication services 16.66% | | |
| Facebook, Inc., Class A2 | 54,797,900 | 10,174,326 |
| Netflix, Inc.2,3 | 24,438,914 | 7,178,931 |
| Alphabet Inc., Class C2 | 3,523,107 | 4,185,804 |
| Alphabet Inc., Class A2 | 2,105,270 | 2,506,387 |
| Charter Communications, Inc., Class A2 | 6,238,200 | 2,555,104 |
| Activision Blizzard, Inc. | 33,571,200 | 1,698,703 |
| T-Mobile US, Inc.2 | 11,275,000 | 880,014 |
| Comcast Corp., Class A | 18,196,900 | 805,395 |
| CBS Corp., Class B | 6,734,000 | 283,232 |
| Fox Corp., Class A | 6,750,000 | 223,897 |
| SoftBank Group Corp.1 | 4,940,000 | 223,469 |
| Snap Inc., Class A2 | 9,200,000 | 145,636 |
| Nintendo Co., Ltd.1 | 350,000 | 132,477 |
| Pinterest, Inc., Class A2 | 3,434,760 | 118,224 |
| Altice USA, Inc., Class A2 | 3,035,763 | 87,673 |
| Spotify Technology SA2 | 330,000 | 44,534 |
| | | 31,243,806 |
| Health care 15.02% | | |
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | 19,492,205 | 4,561,176 |
| Abbott Laboratories | 30,276,425 | 2,583,185 |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 7,460,800 | 2,141,697 |
| Humana Inc. | 5,334,100 | 1,510,670 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.2 | 7,165,157 | 1,289,872 |
| Boston Scientific Corp.2 | 30,080,000 | 1,285,318 |
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2 | 3,710,300 | 1,076,173 |
| Illumina, Inc.2 | 3,631,400 | 1,021,658 |
| Edwards Lifesciences Corp.2 | 3,643,828 | 808,347 |
| Cigna Corp. | 5,197,482 | 800,256 |
| BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.2,3 | 9,545,516 | 716,486 |
| Amgen Inc. | 3,348,233 | 698,508 |
| Seattle Genetics, Inc.2,3 | 8,850,700 | 642,915 |
| Bluebird Bio, Inc.2,3 | 5,250,577 | 542,437 |
| AbbVie Inc. | 7,348,679 | 483,102 |
| Centene Corp.2 | 9,870,000 | 460,139 |
| Hologic, Inc.2 | 8,160,000 | 402,859 |
| Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.2 | 3,890,500 | 386,793 |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 5,992,140 | 380,741 |
| Stryker Corp. | 1,719,500 | 379,425 |
| DexCom, Inc.2 | 2,198,699 | 377,319 |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 2 of 9
Common stocks (continued)
Health care (continued) | Shares | Value
(000) |
| Allakos Inc.2,3 | 3,972,600 | $351,416 |
| Eli Lilly and Co. | 2,976,300 | 336,233 |
| Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.1 | 5,075,000 | 334,794 |
| WellCare Health Plans, Inc.2 | 1,200,000 | 324,888 |
| Sage Therapeutics, Inc.2 | 1,839,925 | 315,860 |
| Pfizer Inc. | 8,865,000 | 315,151 |
| Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)2 | 45,537,533 | 314,209 |
| ResMed Inc. | 2,010,000 | 279,993 |
| Biogen Inc.2 | 1,197,000 | 263,041 |
| Zoetis Inc., Class A | 2,000,000 | 252,840 |
| Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.2,3 | 4,614,346 | 251,343 |
| Mettler-Toledo International Inc.2 | 300,000 | 197,037 |
| NovoCure Ltd.2 | 2,100,000 | 190,806 |
| CVS Health Corp. | 3,103,354 | 189,056 |
| Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B1 | 3,084,434 | 160,810 |
| Johnson & Johnson | 1,219,296 | 156,509 |
| Cerner Corp. | 2,141,000 | 147,536 |
| Intuitive Surgical, Inc.2 | 285,200 | 145,834 |
| PerkinElmer, Inc. | 1,758,000 | 145,387 |
| Danaher Corp. | 910,000 | 129,302 |
| Anthem, Inc. | 445,900 | 116,612 |
| Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.2 | 4,238,253 | 115,408 |
| Molina Healthcare, Inc.2 | 814,500 | 106,113 |
| Incyte Corp.2 | 1,109,000 | 90,738 |
| Verily Life Sciences LLC1,2,4,5 | 673,374 | 83,000 |
| Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2,3 | 819,405 | 75,959 |
| Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.2 | 1,072,889 | 64,395 |
| Galapagos NV1,2 | 371,300 | 62,618 |
| AstraZeneca PLC1 | 640,000 | 57,103 |
| Acerta Pharma BV1,2,4,5 | 273,779,325 | 33,182 |
| BeiGene, Ltd. (ADR)2 | 95,000 | 13,656 |
| Insulet Corp.2 | 15,300 | 2,359 |
| | | 28,172,264 |
| Consumer discretionary 12.36% | | |
| Amazon.com, Inc.2 | 4,194,195 | 7,450,107 |
| Home Depot, Inc. | 12,429,443 | 2,832,794 |
| Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (ADR)2 | 9,542,000 | 1,670,136 |
| NIKE, Inc., Class B | 14,755,000 | 1,246,797 |
| Tesla, Inc.2 | 4,865,000 | 1,097,593 |
| Marriott International, Inc., Class A | 6,940,790 | 874,956 |
| Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. | 7,648,200 | 706,464 |
| Booking Holdings Inc.2 | 290,250 | 570,751 |
| General Motors Co. | 14,625,000 | 542,441 |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.2 | 623,700 | 522,923 |
| ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc.2,3 | 7,780,514 | 443,801 |
| Ross Stores, Inc. | 3,468,700 | 367,717 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.2 | 6,614,322 | 335,677 |
| D.R. Horton, Inc. | 6,670,000 | 329,965 |
| Ulta Beauty, Inc.2 | 1,345,000 | 319,747 |
| LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton SE1 | 694,000 | 276,830 |
| Lowe’s Companies, Inc. | 2,330,680 | 261,502 |
| Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.2 | 1,583,000 | 261,274 |
| MGM Resorts International | 8,343,087 | 234,107 |
| Mattel, Inc.2,3 | 23,392,000 | 229,242 |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 3 of 9
Common stocks (continued)
Consumer discretionary (continued) | Shares | Value
(000) |
| Hermès International1 | 326,000 | $222,705 |
| Grand Canyon Education, Inc.2 | 1,500,000 | 188,400 |
| Vail Resorts, Inc. | 750,000 | 177,210 |
| Restaurant Brands International Inc. | 2,240,000 | 175,728 |
| EssilorLuxottica1 | 1,146,284 | 169,298 |
| Lennar Corp., Class A | 2,616,528 | 133,443 |
| Wynn Resorts, Ltd. | 1,142,677 | 125,866 |
| Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A2 | 2,535,739 | 124,809 |
| Naspers Ltd., Class N1 | 536,000 | 122,027 |
| LKQ Corp.2 | 4,470,000 | 117,427 |
| Domino’s Pizza, Inc. | 500,000 | 113,420 |
| Industria de Diseño Textil, SA1 | 3,413,465 | 105,600 |
| GM Cruise Holdings LLC.1,2,4 | 5,205,500 | 95,000 |
| Caesars Entertainment Corp.2 | 8,083,585 | 93,042 |
| Etsy, Inc.2 | 1,650,000 | 87,104 |
| Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 806,100 | 84,060 |
| Five Below, Inc.2 | 625,000 | 76,794 |
| Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.2 | 1,380,000 | 76,521 |
| Toll Brothers, Inc. | 1,580,000 | 57,180 |
| YUM! Brands, Inc. | 483,000 | 56,405 |
| Valeo SA, non-registered shares1 | 1,925,000 | 52,657 |
| Las Vegas Sands Corp. | 800,000 | 44,376 |
| Canada Goose Holdings Inc., subordinate voting shares2 | 790,000 | 29,467 |
| Levi Strauss & Co., Class A2 | 1,500,000 | 25,350 |
| Chewy, Inc., Class A2 | 624,073 | 20,594 |
| Volkswagen AG1 | 109,519 | 17,868 |
| | | 23,167,175 |
| Industrials 7.92% | | |
| TransDigm Group Inc.3 | 3,106,300 | 1,672,183 |
| Airbus SE, non-registered shares1 | 11,646,249 | 1,605,830 |
| CSX Corp. | 22,983,000 | 1,540,321 |
| Boeing Co. | 2,987,400 | 1,087,682 |
| Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.3 | 5,974,023 | 978,306 |
| Safran SA1 | 5,458,670 | 793,597 |
| General Dynamics Corp. | 4,079,561 | 780,298 |
| Northrop Grumman Corp. | 1,856,800 | 683,061 |
| Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. | 7,409,420 | 512,806 |
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 1,088,000 | 417,912 |
| L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | 1,862,900 | 393,836 |
| Union Pacific Corp. | 2,423,000 | 392,429 |
| Uber Technologies, Inc.2 | 7,560,000 | 246,229 |
| Uber Technologies, Inc.1,2,6 | 2,884,815 | 86,442 |
| Equifax Inc. | 2,180,000 | 319,108 |
| Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC1,2 | 32,931,669 | 309,291 |
| Deere & Co. | 1,852,059 | 286,902 |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. | 4,284,000 | 247,872 |
| Norfolk Southern Corp. | 1,338,000 | 232,879 |
| MTU Aero Engines AG1 | 846,651 | 231,437 |
| IDEX Corp. | 1,400,000 | 230,594 |
| Nidec Corp.1 | 1,750,000 | 227,549 |
| Waste Management, Inc. | 1,870,000 | 223,185 |
| Middleby Corp.2 | 1,746,000 | 191,466 |
| Textron Inc. | 3,925,000 | 176,625 |
| Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 1,036,851 | 171,879 |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 4 of 9
Common stocks (continued)
Industrials (continued) | Shares | Value
(000) |
| Honeywell International Inc. | 955,000 | $157,212 |
| ASGN Inc.2 | 2,101,000 | 131,249 |
| BWX Technologies, Inc. | 2,168,400 | 128,369 |
| Fortive Corp. | 1,718,000 | 121,806 |
| Waste Connections, Inc. | 1,069,000 | 98,241 |
| International Consolidated Airlines Group, SA (CDI)1 | 12,750,000 | 65,482 |
| Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.1 | 1,285,000 | 51,116 |
| Epiroc AB, Class B1 | 4,366,004 | 43,312 |
| Epiroc AB, Class A1 | 650,692 | 6,751 |
| Armstrong World Industries, Inc. | 80,111 | 7,648 |
| | | 14,850,905 |
| Financials 7.16% | | |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class A2 | 6,595 | 1,998,799 |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class B2 | 3,427,000 | 697,086 |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 13,772,467 | 1,513,043 |
| CME Group Inc., Class A | 4,448,800 | 966,680 |
| PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 4,738,000 | 610,870 |
| Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 6,518,782 | 609,376 |
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 2,879,300 | 587,118 |
| American International Group, Inc. | 11,061,160 | 575,623 |
| First Republic Bank | 6,412,530 | 575,332 |
| Capital One Financial Corp. | 5,980,000 | 517,988 |
| AIA Group Ltd.1 | 49,395,088 | 478,234 |
| HDFC Bank Ltd.1 | 9,393,408 | 292,512 |
| HDFC Bank Ltd. (ADR) | 1,612,000 | 173,774 |
| Bank of America Corp. | 14,965,000 | 411,687 |
| Legal & General Group PLC1 | 111,984,892 | 299,618 |
| Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. | 2,817,750 | 281,465 |
| Wells Fargo & Co. | 5,860,000 | 272,900 |
| Fannie Mae2 | 93,414,983 | 263,430 |
| BlackRock, Inc. | 605,000 | 255,649 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.2 | 91,929,599 | 247,750 |
| Onex Corp. | 3,941,205 | 231,547 |
| Discover Financial Services | 2,878,000 | 230,154 |
| Chubb Ltd. | 1,300,000 | 203,164 |
| London Stock Exchange Group PLC1 | 2,384,505 | 201,913 |
| Moody’s Corp. | 897,500 | 193,483 |
| Arch Capital Group Ltd.2 | 3,900,000 | 154,050 |
| SVB Financial Group2 | 761,700 | 148,242 |
| Morgan Stanley | 2,225,000 | 92,315 |
| The Blackstone Group Inc., Class A | 1,668,195 | 83,009 |
| State Street Corp. | 1,546,108 | 79,331 |
| Royal Bank of Canada | 905,000 | 67,688 |
| Ares Management Corp., Class A | 1,626,300 | 47,325 |
| Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | 1,031,000 | 43,364 |
| Fifth Third Bancorp | 559,300 | 14,794 |
| | | 13,419,313 |
| Consumer staples 3.46% | | |
| Costco Wholesale Corp. | 5,414,817 | 1,596,072 |
| Philip Morris International Inc. | 18,714,355 | 1,349,118 |
| Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A | 5,289,800 | 1,080,971 |
| Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC1 | 4,521,000 | 352,679 |
| Altria Group, Inc. | 7,741,800 | 338,626 |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 5 of 9
Common stocks (continued)
Consumer staples (continued) | Shares | Value
(000) |
| Kerry Group PLC, Class A1 | 2,765,824 | $330,692 |
| Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.2,3 | 9,145,000 | 314,862 |
| Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. | 9,841,100 | 268,465 |
| Pernod Ricard SA1 | 800,000 | 152,813 |
| British American Tobacco PLC1 | 4,069,216 | 142,709 |
| British American Tobacco PLC (ADR) | 248,299 | 8,715 |
| Glanbia PLC1 | 10,918,860 | 119,744 |
| JUUL Labs, Inc., Class A1,2,4,5 | 433,213 | 113,649 |
| Coca-Cola European Partners PLC | 1,765,000 | 99,440 |
| Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV1 | 990,000 | 93,625 |
| Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | 567,600 | 45,283 |
| The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Class A | 226,600 | 44,865 |
| Danone SA1 | 290,000 | 25,972 |
| | | 6,478,300 |
| Energy 3.40% | | |
| EOG Resources, Inc. | 24,513,908 | 1,818,687 |
| Diamondback Energy, Inc.3 | 11,480,000 | 1,125,958 |
| Concho Resources Inc.3 | 13,140,553 | 961,231 |
| Noble Energy, Inc. | 17,807,534 | 402,094 |
| Chevron Corp. | 2,700,000 | 317,844 |
| Suncor Energy Inc. | 9,337,595 | 273,100 |
| Baker Hughes, a GE Co., Class A | 9,000,000 | 195,210 |
| Enbridge Inc. (CAD denominated) | 5,221,550 | 174,640 |
| Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | 1,394,328 | 172,088 |
| Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (CAD denominated) | 4,154,200 | 99,253 |
| Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. | 1,900,000 | 45,410 |
| Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B1 | 2,427,500 | 66,957 |
| Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class B (ADR) | 787,300 | 43,900 |
| Halliburton Co. | 5,339,000 | 100,587 |
| Hess Corp. | 1,400,000 | 88,130 |
| Schlumberger Ltd. | 2,667,484 | 86,507 |
| Murphy Oil Corp. | 4,474,500 | 81,570 |
| Viper Energy Partners LP | 2,625,000 | 76,046 |
| Cimarex Energy Co. | 1,220,000 | 52,192 |
| Equitrans Midstream Corp. | 3,302,900 | 44,556 |
| Williams Companies, Inc. | 1,730,000 | 40,828 |
| Centennial Resource Development, Inc., Class A2 | 8,457,000 | 40,763 |
| Occidental Petroleum Corp. | 928,800 | 40,384 |
| Chesapeake Energy Corp.2 | 21,762,000 | 31,337 |
| | | 6,379,272 |
| Materials 1.93% | | |
| Sherwin-Williams Co. | 1,198,000 | 631,046 |
| Linde PLC | 1,965,000 | 371,208 |
| Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.1 | 3,499,300 | 352,131 |
| Freeport-McMoRan Inc. | 37,470,164 | 344,351 |
| Celanese Corp. | 2,226,000 | 252,362 |
| Rio Tinto PLC1 | 4,280,000 | 215,852 |
| First Quantum Minerals Ltd.3 | 34,611,924 | 212,132 |
| Vale SA, ordinary nominative | 12,476,075 | 137,294 |
| Vale SA, ordinary nominative (ADR) | 5,202,712 | 57,230 |
| Alcoa Corp.2,3 | 9,843,000 | 176,485 |
| Barrick Gold Corp. | 8,768,000 | 169,924 |
| Allegheny Technologies Inc.2,3 | 7,502,100 | 148,692 |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 6 of 9
Common stocks (continued)
Materials (continued) | Shares | Value
(000) |
| Corteva, Inc. | 4,390,079 | $128,717 |
| Norsk Hydro ASA1 | 28,259,646 | 89,235 |
| Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.1 | 14,989,657 | 80,542 |
| Dow Inc. | 1,700,000 | 72,471 |
| DuPont de Nemours Inc. | 1,035,900 | 70,369 |
| Asahi Kasei Corp.1 | 5,075,800 | 45,826 |
| LyondellBasell Industries NV | 557,316 | 43,125 |
| Packaging Corp. of America | 210,542 | 21,176 |
| | | 3,620,168 |
| Real estate 1.59% | | |
| American Tower Corp. REIT | 5,152,192 | 1,185,983 |
| Equinix, Inc. REIT | 1,806,800 | 1,005,087 |
| Digital Realty Trust, Inc. REIT | 2,295,000 | 283,731 |
| SBA Communications Corp. REIT | 820,000 | 215,193 |
| Iron Mountain Inc. REIT | 3,650,000 | 116,252 |
| Redfin Corp.2,3 | 5,765,790 | 97,384 |
| Crown Castle International Corp. REIT | 483,000 | 70,117 |
| | | 2,973,747 |
| Total common stocks(cost: $103,361,579,000) | | 173,664,999 |
Preferred securities 0.75%
Financials 0.73% | | |
| Fannie Mae, Series S, 8.25% noncumulative, preferred shares2 | 36,922,107 | 447,496 |
| Fannie Mae, Series T, 8.25% noncumulative, preferred shares2 | 16,806,326 | 184,870 |
| Fannie Mae, Series O, 7.00% noncumulative, preferred shares2 | 6,592,272 | 136,460 |
| Fannie Mae, Series R, 7.625% noncumulative, preferred shares2 | 3,695,715 | 39,914 |
| Fannie Mae, Series P, 4.50% noncumulative, preferred shares2 | 755,000 | 7,859 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Series Z, 8.375% noncumulative, preferred shares2 | 44,320,623 | 533,620 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Series V, 5.57% preferred shares2 | 2,031,012 | 20,716 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Series X, 6.02% noncumulative, preferred shares2 | 239,000 | 2,744 |
| | | 1,373,679 |
| Consumer discretionary 0.02% | | |
| Volkswagen AG, nonvoting preferred shares1 | 210,481 | 33,795 |
| Total preferred securities(cost: $879,414,000) | | 1,407,474 |
Rights & warrants 0.01%
Financials 0.01% | | |
| American International Group, Inc., warrants, expire 20212 | 2,000,000 | 22,260 |
| Total rights & warrants(cost: $30,139,000) | | 22,260 |
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments 0.05%
Corporate bonds & notes 0.05%
Energy 0.05% | Principal amount
(000) | |
| Weatherford International LLC 9.875% 20257 | $15,995 | 6,798 |
| Weatherford International LLC 6.80% 20377 | 5,000 | 2,125 |
| Weatherford International PLC 5.125% 20207 | 15,389 | 6,579 |
| Weatherford International PLC 7.75% 20217 | 6,000 | 2,550 |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 7 of 9
Bonds, notes & other debt instruments (continued)
Corporate bonds & notes (continued)
Energy (continued) | Principal amount
(000) | Value
(000) |
| Weatherford International PLC 4.50% 20227 | $12,502 | $5,345 |
| Weatherford International PLC 8.25% 20237 | 44,220 | 18,904 |
| Weatherford International PLC 9.875% 20247 | 39,995 | 17,098 |
| Weatherford International PLC 6.50% 20367 | 1,000 | 425 |
| Weatherford International PLC 7.00% 20387 | 33,995 | 14,448 |
| Weatherford International PLC 6.75% 20407 | 32,479 | 13,803 |
| Total bonds, notes & other debt instruments(cost: $106,555,000) | | 88,075 |
Short-term securities 6.41%
Money market investments 6.41% | Shares | |
| Capital Group Central Cash Fund 2.16%3,8 | 120,293,690 | 12,028,166 |
| Total short-term securities(cost: $12,028,229,000) | | 12,028,166 |
| Total investment securities 99.84%(cost: $116,405,916,000) | | 187,210,974 |
| Other assets less liabilities 0.16% | | 303,254 |
| Net assets 100.00% | | $187,514,228 |
| 1 | Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of all such securities was $13,617,638,000, which represented 7.26% of the net assets of the fund. This amount includes $13,155,232,000 related to certain securities trading outside the U.S. whose values were adjusted as a result of significant market movements following the close of local trading. |
| 2 | Security did not produce income during the last 12 months. |
| 3 | Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
| 4 | Value determined using significant unobservable inputs. |
| 5 | Acquired through a private placement transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. May be subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Further details on these holdings appear below. |
| 6 | Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities was $86,442,000, which represented .05% of the net assets of the fund. |
| 7 | Scheduled interest and/or principal payment was not received. |
| 8 | Rate represents the seven-day yield at 8/31/2019. |
| Private placement securities | Acquisition
date | Cost
(000) | Value
(000) | Percent
of net
assets |
| JUUL Labs, Inc., Class A | 4/8/2019 | $120,000 | $113,649 | .06% |
| Verily Life Sciences LLC | 12/21/2018 | 83,000 | 83,000 | .04 |
| Acerta Pharma BV | 5/7/2015 | 15,750 | 33,182 | .02 |
| Total private placement securities | | $ 218,750 | $ 229,831 | .12% |
| Key to abbreviations |
| ADR = American Depositary Receipts |
| CAD = Canadian dollars |
| CDI = CREST Depository Interest |
The Growth Fund of America — Page 8 of 9
Additional financial disclosures are included in the fund’s current shareholder report and should be read in conjunction with this report.
Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at (800) 421-4225 or visit the Capital Group website at capitalgroup.com.
All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.
American Funds Distributors, Inc., member FINRA.
© 2019 Capital Group. All rights reserved.
| MFGEFPX-005-1019O-S73100 | The Growth Fund of America — Page 9 of 9 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of The Growth Fund of America:
Opinion on the Investment Portfolio
We have audited the accompanying investment portfolio of The Growth Fund of America (the “Fund”), as of August 31, 2019, and the related notes (“investment portfolio”) (included in Item 6 of this Form N-CSR). In our opinion, the investment portfolio presents fairly, in all material respects, the investments in securities of the Fund as of August 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
The investment portfolio is the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the investment portfolio based on our audit. 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the investment portfolio is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the investment portfolio, 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 investment portfolio. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the investment portfolio. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Costa Mesa, California
October 10, 2019
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Funds investment companies since 1956
ITEM 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.
ITEM 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.
ITEM 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers
Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.
ITEM 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of trustees since the Registrant last submitted a proxy statement to its shareholders. The procedures are as follows. The Registrant has a nominating and governance committee comprised solely of persons who are not considered ‘‘interested persons’’ of the Registrant within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The committee periodically reviews such issues as the board’s composition, responsibilities, committees, compensation and other relevant issues, and recommends any appropriate changes to the full board of trustees. While the committee normally is able to identify from its own resources an ample number of qualified candidates, it will consider shareholder suggestions of persons to be considered as nominees to fill future vacancies on the board. Such suggestions must be sent in writing to the nominating and governance committee of the Registrant, c/o the Registrant’s Secretary, and must be accompanied by complete biographical and occupational data on the prospective nominee, along with a written consent of the prospective nominee for consideration of his or her name by the nominating and governance committee.
ITEM 11 – Controls and Procedures
| (a) | The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940), that such controls and procedures are adequate and reasonably designed to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (c) of such rule. |
| | |
| (b) | There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the Registrant’s semi-annual period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
ITEM 12 – Exhibits
| (a)(1) | The Code of Ethics that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 is attached as an exhibit hereto. |
| | |
| (a)(2) | The certifications required by Rule 30a-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as exhibits hereto. |
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.
| | THE GROWTH FUND OF AMERICA |
| | |
| | By __/s/ Paul F. Roye________________ |
| | Paul F. Roye, Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer |
| | |
| | Date: October 31, 2019 |
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/ Paul F. Roye_____________ |
Paul F. Roye, Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer |
| |
| Date: October 31, 2019 |
| By___/s/ Brian D. Bullard__________________ |
Brian D. Bullard, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
| |
| Date: October 31, 2019 |
