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 | 811-05447 | |||||||||||||||||||
AMERICAN CENTURY QUANTITATIVE EQUITY FUNDS, INC. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) | ||||||||||||||||||||
4500 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI | 64111 | |||||||||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||||||||
JOHN PAK 4500 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64111 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Name and address of agent for service) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 816-531-5575 | |||||||||||||||||||
Date of fiscal year end: | 06-30 | |||||||||||||||||||
Date of reporting period: | 06-30-2023 |
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) Provided under separate cover.
Annual Report | |||||
June 30, 2023 | |||||
Disciplined Core Value Fund | |||||
Investor Class (BIGRX) | |||||
I Class (AMGIX) | |||||
A Class (AMADX) | |||||
C Class (ACGCX) | |||||
R Class (AICRX) | |||||
R5 Class (AICGX) |
Table of Contents |
President's Letter | |||||
Performance | |||||
Portfolio Commentary | |||||
Fund Characteristics | |||||
Shareholder Fee Example | |||||
Schedule of Investments | |||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||
Statement of Operations | |||||
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |||||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||||
Financial Highlights | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
Management | |||||
Approval of Management Agreement | |||||
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |||||
Additional Information |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
President’s Letter |
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2023. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Second-Half Rally Generated Strong Fiscal-Year Returns
After ending 2022 with modest six-month gains, stocks rallied in the first half of 2023. This bounce back, which occurred despite ongoing volatility and rising interest rates, led to strong 12-month performance for most stock indices. Investor expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to conclude its rate-hike campaign largely fueled the optimism.
Inflation’s pace steadily slowed during the period, which, combined with mounting recession worries, prompted investors to regularly recalibrate their monetary policy outlooks. However, with inflation still above target and the labor market resilient, policymakers continued to raise rates.
A new challenge emerged in March when several high-profile banks failed. Market unrest escalated, but quick action from regulators helped restore order. Nevertheless, heightened uncertainty surrounding the banking industry and credit availability further fueled recession fears. These worries strengthened investor expectations for a near-term end to central bank tightening and potential rate cuts later in the year.
The Fed, which announced its 10th-consecutive rate hike in May, paused its tightening campaign in June. However, citing still-high inflation and still-strong economic data, policymakers hinted the pause wasn’t permanent. Expectations for rate cuts faded, but many market participants shifted their focus to a potential soft-landing scenario.
Overall, robust performance in the second half of the period propelled the S&P 500 Index to a 12-month return of nearly 20%. U.S. stocks outpaced non-U.S. stocks, large-cap stocks generally outperformed small caps, and growth significantly outperformed value.
Remaining Diligent in Uncertain Times
We expect market volatility to linger as investors navigate a complex environment of persistent inflation, tighter financial conditions, banking industry turbulence and recession risk. In addition, increasingly tense geopolitical considerations complicate the market backdrop.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. American Century Investments has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable and volatile markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
2
Performance |
Total Returns as of June 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Annual Returns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticker Symbol | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | Inception Date | |||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | BIGRX | 4.45% | 6.87% | 9.12% | — | 12/17/90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Russell 1000 Value Index | — | 11.54% | 8.10% | 9.21% | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
I Class | AMGIX | 4.68% | 7.09% | 9.34% | — | 1/28/98 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Class | AMADX | 12/15/97 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
No sales charge | 4.20% | 6.61% | 8.85% | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With sales charge | -1.79% | 5.35% | 8.21% | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C Class | ACGCX | 3.43% | 5.81% | 8.04% | — | 6/28/01 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R Class | AICRX | 3.93% | 6.35% | 8.58% | — | 8/29/03 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R5 Class | AICGX | 4.64% | 7.09% | — | 8.28% | 4/10/17 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
3
Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years | ||
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2013 | ||
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
Value on June 30, 2023 | |||||
Investor Class — $23,939 | |||||
Russell 1000 Value Index — $24,155 | |||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class | ||||||||||||
0.65% | 0.45% | 0.90% | 1.65% | 1.15% | 0.45% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
4
Portfolio Commentary |
Portfolio Managers: Arun Daniel and Yulin Long
In March 2023, Arun Daniel joined the fund’s management team. Steve Rossi is no longer with the firm.
Performance Summary
Disciplined Core Value returned 4.45%* for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2023. The fund’s benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index, returned 11.54% for the same time period. The fund’s return reflects operating expenses, while the index’s return does not.
Financials, Health Care and Consumer Staples Detracted
The market’s performance during this period was heavily influenced by declining inflation, tightening monetary policy and anticipation of the end of the Federal Reserve’s rate-hiking program. Uncertainty about the direction of the economy and the likelihood of a soft landing also played a role.
Stock selection drove the fund’s underperformance in the financials, health care and consumer staples sectors. In financials, the regional bank crisis early in 2023 resulted in a loss of confidence in the banking industry, leading to widespread declines in share prices. The fund’s positions in SVB Financial Group, First Citizens Bancshares and KeyCorp weighed most heavily on relative returns. We eliminated these holdings. In addition, positioning in the capital markets and financial services industries proved to be detrimental to performance compared with the benchmark.
In the health care sector, CVS Health hindered performance in the health care providers and services industry, and Amgen hampered returns in the biotechnology industry. We no longer hold CVS Health as it continues to face headwinds in the form of rising costs in its insurance unit and potential regulation of the pharmacy benefits managers. At Amgen, in addition to facing regulatory and pricing headwinds, the company has seen sales of its first-generation biologics come under pressure from competing products. Lower volumes, revenues and profits have hindered the stock’s performance.
Consumer staples was also an area of weakness. Tyson Foods and Archer-Daniels-Midland were key detractors in the food products industry. Although Tyson has posted rising revenues, margins have come under pressure due to higher input costs, so we exited this position. While Archer-Daniels-Midland has posted strong results, the stock’s price declined through most of the reporting period as commodities prices have come down.
Utilities and Real Estate Contributed
An underweight to the lagging utilities sector was a primary contributor to relative performance. Within this sector, underweights in the electric utilities and multi-utilities industries contributed most to performance compared with the benchmark. In electric utilities, a lack of exposure to NextEra Energy and Duke Energy was particularly beneficial. In multi-utilities, not owning Dominion Energy was especially helpful. The contribution of the real estate sector came largely from a decision to avoid poor-performing residential, office and health care real estate investment trusts (REITs). An underweight in specialized REITs also contributed.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
5
Fund Characteristics |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets | ||||
Common Stocks | 99.3% | ||||
Short-Term Investments | 0.4% | ||||
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.3% | ||||
Top Five Industries | % of net assets | ||||
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels | 6.7% | ||||
Pharmaceuticals | 6.5% | ||||
Banks | 6.2% | ||||
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 4.6% | ||||
Capital Markets | 4.5% |
6
Shareholder Fee Example |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then 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 under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments mutual fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s 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 your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, 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.
7
Beginning Account Value 1/1/23 | Ending Account Value 6/30/23 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) | |||||||||||
Actual | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,014.20 | $3.30 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,015.40 | $2.30 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,013.00 | $4.54 | 0.91% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,009.20 | $8.27 | 1.66% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,011.80 | $5.79 | 1.16% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,015.10 | $2.30 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
Hypothetical | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.52 | $3.31 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,022.51 | $2.31 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,020.28 | $4.56 | 0.91% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,016.56 | $8.30 | 1.66% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,019.04 | $5.81 | 1.16% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,022.51 | $2.31 | 0.46% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
8
Schedule of Investments |
JUNE 30, 2023
Shares | Value | |||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.3% | ||||||||
Aerospace and Defense — 2.5% | ||||||||
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 32,922 | $ | 7,493,048 | |||||
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 42,274 | 19,462,104 | ||||||
Parsons Corp.(1) | 98,330 | 4,733,606 | ||||||
Textron, Inc. | 316,516 | 21,405,977 | ||||||
53,094,735 | ||||||||
Air Freight and Logistics — 1.0% | ||||||||
FedEx Corp. | 66,133 | 16,394,371 | ||||||
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 28,745 | 5,152,541 | ||||||
21,546,912 | ||||||||
Automobile Components — 0.4% | ||||||||
BorgWarner, Inc. | 158,934 | 7,773,462 | ||||||
Banks — 6.2% | ||||||||
Bank of America Corp. | 423,726 | 12,156,699 | ||||||
Citigroup, Inc. | 366,645 | 16,880,336 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 494,943 | 71,984,510 | ||||||
Truist Financial Corp. | 314,847 | 9,555,606 | ||||||
U.S. Bancorp | 252,512 | 8,342,996 | ||||||
Wells Fargo & Co. | 328,726 | 14,030,026 | ||||||
132,950,173 | ||||||||
Beverages — 1.5% | ||||||||
Coca-Cola Co. | 134,775 | 8,116,150 | ||||||
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B | 131,195 | 8,637,879 | ||||||
PepsiCo, Inc. | 79,659 | 14,754,440 | ||||||
31,508,469 | ||||||||
Biotechnology — 4.2% | ||||||||
Amgen, Inc. | 76,952 | 17,084,883 | ||||||
Exelixis, Inc.(1) | 324,285 | 6,197,087 | ||||||
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 422,444 | 32,557,759 | ||||||
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 19,869 | 14,276,671 | ||||||
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 57,697 | 20,304,151 | ||||||
90,420,551 | ||||||||
Building Products — 2.3% | ||||||||
Johnson Controls International PLC | 128,051 | 8,725,395 | ||||||
Masco Corp. | 251,892 | 14,453,563 | ||||||
Owens Corning | 202,980 | 26,488,890 | ||||||
49,667,848 | ||||||||
Capital Markets — 4.5% | ||||||||
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. | 66,617 | 9,985,222 | ||||||
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 31,412 | 10,433,810 | ||||||
BlackRock, Inc. | 5,196 | 3,591,163 | ||||||
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | 152,292 | 21,017,819 | ||||||
Franklin Resources, Inc. | 328,034 | 8,761,788 | ||||||
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A | 132,469 | 11,004,200 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley | 113,749 | 9,714,165 | ||||||
Raymond James Financial, Inc. | 66,303 | 6,880,262 | ||||||
S&P Global, Inc. | 29,203 | 11,707,191 |
9
Shares | Value | |||||||
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | 30,796 | $ | 3,449,768 | |||||
96,545,388 | ||||||||
Chemicals — 3.7% | ||||||||
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | 30,679 | 9,189,281 | ||||||
Dow, Inc. | 310,445 | 16,534,301 | ||||||
Huntsman Corp. | 177,652 | 4,800,157 | ||||||
Linde PLC | 31,767 | 12,105,768 | ||||||
LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A | 196,975 | 18,088,214 | ||||||
Olin Corp. | 172,151 | 8,846,840 | ||||||
Westlake Corp. | 86,180 | 10,295,925 | ||||||
79,860,486 | ||||||||
Communications Equipment — 1.8% | ||||||||
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 662,738 | 34,290,064 | ||||||
Juniper Networks, Inc. | 167,109 | 5,235,525 | ||||||
39,525,589 | ||||||||
Construction and Engineering — 0.1% | ||||||||
EMCOR Group, Inc. | 12,303 | 2,273,348 | ||||||
Construction Materials — 0.2% | ||||||||
Eagle Materials, Inc. | 22,570 | 4,207,499 | ||||||
Consumer Finance — 0.9% | ||||||||
American Express Co. | 110,115 | 19,182,033 | ||||||
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 2.7% | ||||||||
Costco Wholesale Corp. | 11,422 | 6,149,376 | ||||||
Kroger Co. | 241,625 | 11,356,375 | ||||||
Target Corp. | 7,095 | 935,831 | ||||||
US Foods Holding Corp.(1) | 260,118 | 11,445,192 | ||||||
Walmart, Inc. | 179,422 | 28,201,550 | ||||||
58,088,324 | ||||||||
Containers and Packaging — 0.4% | ||||||||
Packaging Corp. of America | 70,792 | 9,355,871 | ||||||
Distributors — 0.4% | ||||||||
LKQ Corp. | 143,775 | 8,377,769 | ||||||
Diversified Consumer Services — 0.2% | ||||||||
H&R Block, Inc. | 140,099 | 4,464,955 | ||||||
Electric Utilities — 1.4% | ||||||||
Constellation Energy Corp. | 77,978 | 7,138,886 | ||||||
Edison International | 29,439 | 2,044,539 | ||||||
Evergy, Inc. | 230,472 | 13,464,174 | ||||||
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | 27,617 | 2,249,681 | ||||||
Xcel Energy, Inc. | 93,577 | 5,817,682 | ||||||
30,714,962 | ||||||||
Electrical Equipment — 0.9% | ||||||||
Atkore, Inc.(1) | 16,445 | 2,564,433 | ||||||
Hubbell, Inc. | 33,436 | 11,086,040 | ||||||
nVent Electric PLC | 130,996 | 6,768,564 | ||||||
20,419,037 | ||||||||
Energy Equipment and Services — 0.6% | ||||||||
Baker Hughes Co. | 414,718 | 13,109,236 | ||||||
Entertainment — 0.7% | ||||||||
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 118,006 | 15,305,378 | ||||||
Financial Services — 4.2% | ||||||||
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(1) | 210,276 | 71,704,116 |
10
Shares | Value | |||||||
Euronet Worldwide, Inc.(1) | 77,931 | $ | 9,146,761 | |||||
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(1) | 134,967 | 9,006,348 | ||||||
89,857,225 | ||||||||
Food Products — 1.7% | ||||||||
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | 198,676 | 15,011,959 | ||||||
Conagra Brands, Inc. | 297,795 | 10,041,647 | ||||||
General Mills, Inc. | 144,433 | 11,078,011 | ||||||
36,131,617 | ||||||||
Gas Utilities — 0.7% | ||||||||
Atmos Energy Corp. | 99,326 | 11,555,587 | ||||||
ONE Gas, Inc. | 42,705 | 3,280,171 | ||||||
UGI Corp. | 35,780 | 964,986 | ||||||
15,800,744 | ||||||||
Ground Transportation — 0.5% | ||||||||
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. | 106,336 | 5,908,028 | ||||||
Schneider National, Inc., Class B | 164,415 | 4,721,999 | ||||||
10,630,027 | ||||||||
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 2.4% | ||||||||
Abbott Laboratories | 228,786 | 24,942,250 | ||||||
DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc. | 168,568 | 6,746,091 | ||||||
GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc.(1) | 39,191 | 3,183,877 | ||||||
Hologic, Inc.(1) | 132,198 | 10,704,072 | ||||||
Medtronic PLC | 71,398 | 6,290,164 | ||||||
51,866,454 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers and Services — 3.5% | ||||||||
Cardinal Health, Inc. | 74,465 | 7,042,155 | ||||||
Cigna Group | 60,546 | 16,989,208 | ||||||
Elevance Health, Inc. | 50,637 | 22,497,513 | ||||||
Henry Schein, Inc.(1) | 59,694 | 4,841,183 | ||||||
McKesson Corp. | 56,212 | 24,019,950 | ||||||
75,390,009 | ||||||||
Hotel & Resort REITs — 0.7% | ||||||||
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | 852,732 | 14,351,480 | ||||||
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 1.2% | ||||||||
Boyd Gaming Corp. | 91,392 | 6,339,863 | ||||||
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 38,205 | 6,383,291 | ||||||
Yum! Brands, Inc. | 95,081 | 13,173,473 | ||||||
25,896,627 | ||||||||
Household Durables — 0.3% | ||||||||
Mohawk Industries, Inc.(1) | 57,821 | 5,964,814 | ||||||
Household Products — 3.0% | ||||||||
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | 278,141 | 21,427,982 | ||||||
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | 100,112 | 13,821,463 | ||||||
Procter & Gamble Co. | 195,797 | 29,710,237 | ||||||
64,959,682 | ||||||||
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 0.6% | ||||||||
Vistra Corp. | 527,574 | 13,848,818 | ||||||
Industrial REITs — 0.6% | ||||||||
Prologis, Inc. | 97,393 | 11,943,304 | ||||||
Insurance — 3.1% | ||||||||
Allstate Corp. | 64,015 | 6,980,196 |
11
Shares | Value | |||||||
Everest Re Group Ltd. | 26,615 | $ | 9,098,604 | |||||
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. | 95,279 | 3,430,044 | ||||||
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | 118,661 | 8,545,965 | ||||||
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 73,445 | 13,813,535 | ||||||
Progressive Corp. | 97,238 | 12,871,394 | ||||||
Travelers Cos., Inc. | 66,254 | 11,505,670 | ||||||
66,245,408 | ||||||||
Interactive Media and Services — 2.4% | ||||||||
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(1) | 172,191 | 20,611,262 | ||||||
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A(1) | 109,812 | 31,513,848 | ||||||
52,125,110 | ||||||||
IT Services — 1.4% | ||||||||
Accenture PLC, Class A | 19,303 | 5,956,520 | ||||||
Amdocs Ltd. | 94,532 | 9,344,488 | ||||||
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A | 234,961 | 15,338,254 | ||||||
30,639,262 | ||||||||
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 1.2% | ||||||||
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A(1) | 23,285 | 8,827,809 | ||||||
Danaher Corp. | 61,672 | 14,801,280 | ||||||
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 4,629 | 2,415,181 | ||||||
26,044,270 | ||||||||
Machinery — 4.0% | ||||||||
AGCO Corp. | 105,538 | 13,869,804 | ||||||
Cummins, Inc. | 114,073 | 27,966,137 | ||||||
Kennametal, Inc. | 96,221 | 2,731,714 | ||||||
Mueller Industries, Inc. | 67,288 | 5,872,897 | ||||||
Oshkosh Corp. | 59,544 | 5,155,915 | ||||||
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 40,364 | 15,743,574 | ||||||
Snap-on, Inc. | 52,900 | 15,245,251 | ||||||
86,585,292 | ||||||||
Media — 1.9% | ||||||||
Comcast Corp., Class A | 864,360 | 35,914,158 | ||||||
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. | 121,009 | 4,668,527 | ||||||
40,582,685 | ||||||||
Metals and Mining — 0.9% | ||||||||
Nucor Corp. | 124,867 | 20,475,691 | ||||||
Multi-Utilities — 0.6% | ||||||||
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | 135,094 | 12,212,498 | ||||||
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 6.7% | ||||||||
APA Corp. | 173,235 | 5,919,440 | ||||||
Cheniere Energy, Inc. | 86,547 | 13,186,301 | ||||||
Chevron Corp. | 58,053 | 9,134,640 | ||||||
EQT Corp. | 184,956 | 7,607,240 | ||||||
Exxon Mobil Corp. | 665,821 | 71,409,302 | ||||||
Marathon Petroleum Corp. | 179,320 | 20,908,712 | ||||||
Phillips 66 | 142,880 | 13,627,894 | ||||||
Valero Energy Corp. | 24,180 | 2,836,314 | ||||||
144,629,843 | ||||||||
Pharmaceuticals — 6.5% | ||||||||
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 579,186 | 37,038,945 | ||||||
Johnson & Johnson | 386,260 | 63,933,755 | ||||||
Merck & Co., Inc. | 203,745 | 23,510,135 |
12
Shares | Value | |||||||
Pfizer, Inc. | 435,122 | $ | 15,960,275 | |||||
140,443,110 | ||||||||
Professional Services — 1.1% | ||||||||
CACI International, Inc., Class A(1) | 51,976 | 17,715,500 | ||||||
Leidos Holdings, Inc. | 76,094 | 6,732,797 | ||||||
24,448,297 | ||||||||
Real Estate Management and Development — 1.1% | ||||||||
CBRE Group, Inc., Class A(1) | 291,922 | 23,561,025 | ||||||
Retail REITs — 0.9% | ||||||||
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 158,968 | 18,357,625 | ||||||
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 4.6% | ||||||||
Amkor Technology, Inc. | 261,985 | 7,794,054 | ||||||
Analog Devices, Inc. | 58,387 | 11,374,371 | ||||||
Broadcom, Inc. | 23,830 | 20,670,857 | ||||||
Intel Corp. | 510,802 | 17,081,219 | ||||||
KLA Corp. | 40,031 | 19,415,836 | ||||||
Marvell Technology, Inc. | 160,469 | 9,592,837 | ||||||
Microchip Technology, Inc. | 77,875 | 6,976,821 | ||||||
NXP Semiconductors NV | 27,896 | 5,709,753 | ||||||
98,615,748 | ||||||||
Software — 2.9% | ||||||||
Adobe, Inc.(1) | 22,800 | 11,148,972 | ||||||
Aspen Technology, Inc.(1) | 36,847 | 6,175,926 | ||||||
Microsoft Corp. | 31,227 | 10,634,042 | ||||||
Oracle Corp. (New York) | 134,903 | 16,065,598 | ||||||
Salesforce, Inc.(1) | 41,572 | 8,782,501 | ||||||
Synopsys, Inc.(1) | 22,065 | 9,607,322 | ||||||
62,414,361 | ||||||||
Specialized REITs — 0.5% | ||||||||
Equinix, Inc. | 13,632 | 10,686,670 | ||||||
Specialty Retail — 2.4% | ||||||||
AutoNation, Inc.(1) | 48,613 | 8,002,186 | ||||||
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. | 77,205 | 10,205,729 | ||||||
Lithia Motors, Inc. | 12,519 | 3,807,153 | ||||||
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 67,053 | 15,133,862 | ||||||
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | 33,746 | 5,623,096 | ||||||
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 77,979 | 9,758,292 | ||||||
52,530,318 | ||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 0.5% | ||||||||
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | 584,224 | 9,814,963 | ||||||
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 0.5% | ||||||||
Tapestry, Inc. | 246,089 | 10,532,609 | ||||||
Trading Companies and Distributors — 0.1% | ||||||||
United Rentals, Inc. | 5,839 | 2,600,515 | ||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $1,899,050,326) | 2,138,578,126 | |||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.4% | ||||||||
Money Market Funds† | ||||||||
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 12,183 | 12,183 |
13
Shares | Value | |||||||
Repurchase Agreements — 0.4% | ||||||||
BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 4.25% - 4.50%, 5/15/38 - 11/15/40, valued at $1,192,112), in a joint trading account at 5.02%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $1,162,027) | $ | 1,161,541 | ||||||
Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.50%, 5/15/46, valued at $6,424,028), at 5.04%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $6,300,645) | 6,298,000 | |||||||
7,459,541 | ||||||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $7,471,724) | 7,471,724 | |||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.7% (Cost $1,906,522,050) | 2,146,049,850 | |||||||
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.3% | 7,075,462 | |||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 2,153,125,312 |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
†Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets.
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Assets | |||||
Investment securities, at value (cost of $1,906,522,050) | $ | 2,146,049,850 | |||
Receivable for investments sold | 9,415,063 | ||||
Receivable for capital shares sold | 722,483 | ||||
Dividends and interest receivable | 1,811,642 | ||||
2,157,999,038 | |||||
Liabilities | |||||
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 3,750,424 | ||||
Accrued management fees | 1,078,835 | ||||
Distribution and service fees payable | 44,467 | ||||
4,873,726 | |||||
Net Assets | $ | 2,153,125,312 | |||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 2,160,525,133 | |||
Distributable earnings (loss) | (7,399,821) | ||||
$ | 2,153,125,312 |
Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share* | |||||||||
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $1,606,519,260 | 51,982,382 | $30.91 | ||||||||
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $309,724,205 | 9,997,285 | $30.98 | ||||||||
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $165,051,491 | 5,354,615 | $30.82 | ||||||||
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $5,892,437 | 191,855 | $30.71 | ||||||||
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $15,447,030 | 500,163 | $30.88 | ||||||||
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $50,490,889 | 1,628,978 | $31.00 |
*Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except A Class, for which the maximum offering price per share was $32.70 (net asset value divided by 0.9425). A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of A Class and C Class.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
15
Statement of Operations |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Investment Income (Loss) | |||||
Income: | |||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $433,756) | $ | 58,598,253 | |||
Interest | 511,186 | ||||
59,109,439 | |||||
Expenses: | |||||
Management fees | 14,385,409 | ||||
Distribution and service fees: | |||||
A Class | 425,473 | ||||
C Class | 75,446 | ||||
R Class | 77,909 | ||||
Directors' fees and expenses | 160,923 | ||||
Other expenses | 1,201 | ||||
15,126,361 | |||||
Net investment income (loss) | 43,983,078 | ||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |||||
Investment transactions | (185,422,714) | ||||
Futures contract transactions | 106,752 | ||||
Foreign currency translation transactions | (122,343) | ||||
(185,438,305) | |||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |||||
Investments | 241,063,575 | ||||
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 5,736 | ||||
241,069,311 | |||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 55,631,006 | ||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 99,614,084 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND JUNE 30, 2022 | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 43,983,078 | $ | 38,397,269 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) | (185,438,305) | 35,070,398 | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 241,069,311 | (337,515,053) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 99,614,084 | (264,047,386) | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
From earnings: | ||||||||
Investor Class | (29,718,696) | (475,933,439) | ||||||
I Class | (7,906,866) | (138,393,623) | ||||||
A Class | (2,599,248) | (47,316,315) | ||||||
C Class | (60,405) | (2,761,020) | ||||||
R Class | (201,207) | (4,304,355) | ||||||
R5 Class | (995,965) | (12,366,658) | ||||||
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (41,482,387) | (681,075,410) | ||||||
Capital Share Transactions | ||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | (356,844,216) | 485,745,933 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (298,712,519) | (459,376,863) | ||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 2,451,837,831 | 2,911,214,694 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 2,153,125,312 | $ | 2,451,837,831 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
17
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2023
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Disciplined Core Value Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth by investing in common stocks. Income is a secondary objective.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The value of investments of the fund is determined by American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor), as the valuation designee, pursuant to its valuation policies and procedures. The Board of Directors oversees the valuation designee and reviews its valuation policies and procedures at least annually.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the valuation designee determines that the market price for a portfolio security is not readily available or is believed by the valuation designee to be unreliable, such security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the valuation designee, in accordance with its policies and procedures. Circumstances that may cause the fund to determine that market quotations are not available or reliable include, but are not limited to: when there is a significant event subsequent to the market quotation; trading in a security has been halted during the trading day; or trading in a security is insufficient or did not take place due to a closure or holiday.
The valuation designee monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; regulatory news, governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The valuation designee also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that it deems appropriate. The valuation designee may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
18
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that ACIM has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund's policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation's investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation's transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
19
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund's assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all funds in the American Century Investments family of funds that have the same investment advisor and distributor as the fund. For purposes of determining the Investment Category Fee and Complex Fee, the assets of funds managed by the investment advisor that invest exclusively in the shares of other funds (funds of funds) are not included.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2023 are as follows:
Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee | |||||||||
Investor Class | 0.3380% to 0.5200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | ||||||||
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% | |||||||||
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2023 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund's officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $14,713,840 and $22,857,546, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $(1,387,032) in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended June 30, 2023 were $4,152,589,555 and $4,500,350,021, respectively.
20
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
Year ended June 30, 2023 | Year ended June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 700,000,000 | 700,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 2,177,888 | $ | 66,707,663 | 4,669,254 | $ | 177,517,658 | ||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 931,606 | 28,163,136 | 13,120,782 | 455,216,474 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (8,884,091) | (270,666,480) | (8,107,702) | (306,438,060) | ||||||||||
(5,774,597) | (175,795,681) | 9,682,334 | 326,296,072 | |||||||||||
I Class/Shares Authorized | 210,000,000 | 210,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 1,837,662 | 56,513,025 | 4,843,587 | 188,303,380 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 252,368 | 7,642,308 | 3,822,669 | 132,978,335 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (7,557,068) | (230,747,800) | (6,700,140) | (252,251,987) | ||||||||||
(5,467,038) | (166,592,467) | 1,966,116 | 69,029,728 | |||||||||||
A Class/Shares Authorized | 50,000,000 | 50,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 735,867 | 22,479,252 | 1,593,304 | 64,416,812 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 75,089 | 2,266,393 | 1,191,186 | 41,206,941 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (1,178,420) | (35,713,525) | (1,251,911) | (46,543,599) | ||||||||||
(367,464) | (10,967,880) | 1,532,579 | 59,080,154 | |||||||||||
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 20,645 | 628,759 | 63,050 | 2,365,086 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,805 | 54,560 | 72,480 | 2,499,126 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (113,045) | (3,420,157) | (155,116) | (5,643,676) | ||||||||||
(90,595) | (2,736,838) | (19,586) | (779,464) | |||||||||||
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 114,097 | 3,495,582 | 149,780 | 5,779,473 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 6,348 | 192,141 | 118,390 | 4,104,295 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (127,413) | (3,878,970) | (183,609) | (6,791,311) | ||||||||||
(6,968) | (191,247) | 84,561 | 3,092,457 | |||||||||||
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 296,817 | 9,053,869 | 668,304 | 26,897,892 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 31,594 | 957,428 | 341,060 | 11,862,144 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (345,029) | (10,571,400) | (252,932) | (9,733,050) | ||||||||||
(16,618) | (560,103) | 756,432 | 29,026,986 | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) | (11,723,280) | $ | (356,844,216) | 14,002,436 | $ | 485,745,933 |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund's investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
21
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Investment Securities | |||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 2,138,578,126 | — | — | |||||||
Short-Term Investments | 12,183 | $ | 7,459,541 | — | |||||||
$ | 2,138,590,309 | $ | 7,459,541 | — |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). A fund may incur charges or earn income on cash deposit balances, which are reflected in interest expenses or interest income, respectively. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $23,837,547 futures contracts sold.
At period end, the fund did not have any derivative instruments disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $106,752 in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, war, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund's investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
22
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 were as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Distributions Paid From | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 41,482,387 | $ | 384,667,461 | ||||
Long-term capital gains | — | $ | 296,407,949 |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 1,911,338,146 | |||
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 260,550,049 | |||
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (25,838,345) | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | 234,711,704 | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) on derivatives and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 4,536 | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) | $ | 234,716,240 | |||
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 3,241,362 | |||
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (245,357,423) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an unlimited period. Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
23
Financial Highlights |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $30.12 | 0.57 | 0.76 | 1.33 | (0.54) | — | (0.54) | $30.91 | 4.45% | 0.66% | 1.86% | 179% | $1,606,519 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $43.20 | 0.50 | (3.51) | (3.01) | (0.50) | (9.57) | (10.07) | $30.12 | (9.84)% | 0.65% | 1.31% | 234% | $1,739,617 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $35.99 | 0.58 | 12.52 | 13.10 | (0.58) | (5.31) | (5.89) | $43.20 | 39.42% | 0.66% | 1.44% | 240% | $2,076,714 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $36.82 | 0.76 | (0.07) | 0.69 | (0.77) | (0.75) | (1.52) | $35.99 | 1.70% | 0.67% | 2.08% | 100% | $1,588,537 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $39.61 | 0.78 | 0.63 | 1.41 | (0.73) | (3.47) | (4.20) | $36.82 | 4.43% | 0.67% | 2.07% | 72% | $1,707,536 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $30.19 | 0.64 | 0.75 | 1.39 | (0.60) | — | (0.60) | $30.98 | 4.68% | 0.46% | 2.06% | 179% | $309,724 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $43.28 | 0.58 | (3.53) | (2.95) | (0.57) | (9.57) | (10.14) | $30.19 | (9.67)% | 0.45% | 1.51% | 234% | $466,890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $36.05 | 0.65 | 12.55 | 13.20 | (0.66) | (5.31) | (5.97) | $43.28 | 39.70% | 0.46% | 1.64% | 240% | $584,160 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $36.88 | 0.83 | (0.07) | 0.76 | (0.84) | (0.75) | (1.59) | $36.05 | 1.90% | 0.47% | 2.28% | 100% | $272,307 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $39.66 | 0.85 | 0.65 | 1.50 | (0.81) | (3.47) | (4.28) | $36.88 | 4.65% | 0.47% | 2.27% | 72% | $306,583 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $30.04 | 0.49 | 0.76 | 1.25 | (0.47) | — | (0.47) | $30.82 | 4.20% | 0.91% | 1.61% | 179% | $165,051 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $43.11 | 0.40 | (3.50) | (3.10) | (0.40) | (9.57) | (9.97) | $30.04 | (10.07)% | 0.90% | 1.06% | 234% | $171,905 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $35.93 | 0.48 | 12.49 | 12.97 | (0.48) | (5.31) | (5.79) | $43.11 | 39.04% | 0.91% | 1.19% | 240% | $180,616 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $36.76 | 0.67 | (0.07) | 0.60 | (0.68) | (0.75) | (1.43) | $35.93 | 1.46% | 0.92% | 1.83% | 100% | $130,398 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $39.55 | 0.69 | 0.63 | 1.32 | (0.64) | (3.47) | (4.11) | $36.76 | 4.18% | 0.92% | 1.82% | 72% | $152,312 |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $29.93 | 0.26 | 0.76 | 1.02 | (0.24) | — | (0.24) | $30.71 | 3.43% | 1.66% | 0.86% | 179% | $5,892 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $43.00 | 0.10 | (3.48) | (3.38) | (0.12) | (9.57) | (9.69) | $29.93 | (10.76)% | 1.65% | 0.31% | 234% | $8,455 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $35.84 | 0.17 | 12.48 | 12.65 | (0.18) | (5.31) | (5.49) | $43.00 | 38.05% | 1.66% | 0.44% | 240% | $12,987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $36.68 | 0.39 | (0.08) | 0.31 | (0.40) | (0.75) | (1.15) | $35.84 | 0.68% | 1.67% | 1.08% | 100% | $7,452 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $39.48 | 0.41 | 0.63 | 1.04 | (0.37) | (3.47) | (3.84) | $36.68 | 3.40% | 1.67% | 1.07% | 72% | $9,107 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $30.10 | 0.41 | 0.76 | 1.17 | (0.39) | — | (0.39) | $30.88 | 3.93% | 1.16% | 1.36% | 179% | $15,447 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $43.18 | 0.31 | (3.51) | (3.20) | (0.31) | (9.57) | (9.88) | $30.10 | (10.30)% | 1.15% | 0.81% | 234% | $15,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $35.97 | 0.38 | 12.51 | 12.89 | (0.37) | (5.31) | (5.68) | $43.18 | 38.73% | 1.16% | 0.94% | 240% | $18,245 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $36.81 | 0.58 | (0.09) | 0.49 | (0.58) | (0.75) | (1.33) | $35.97 | 1.18% | 1.17% | 1.58% | 100% | $14,218 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $39.59 | 0.60 | 0.64 | 1.24 | (0.55) | (3.47) | (4.02) | $36.81 | 3.95% | 1.17% | 1.57% | 72% | $24,676 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R5 Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $30.21 | 0.63 | 0.76 | 1.39 | (0.60) | — | (0.60) | $31.00 | 4.64% | 0.46% | 2.06% | 179% | $50,491 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $43.29 | 0.58 | (3.52) | (2.94) | (0.57) | (9.57) | (10.14) | $30.21 | (9.64)% | 0.45% | 1.51% | 234% | $49,707 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $36.06 | 0.63 | 12.57 | 13.20 | (0.66) | (5.31) | (5.97) | $43.29 | 39.68% | 0.46% | 1.64% | 240% | $38,493 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $36.89 | 0.83 | (0.07) | 0.76 | (0.84) | (0.75) | (1.59) | $36.06 | 1.90% | 0.47% | 2.28% | 100% | $16,388 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $39.66 | 0.88 | 0.63 | 1.51 | (0.81) | (3.47) | (4.28) | $36.89 | 4.68% | 0.47% | 2.27% | 72% | $13,615 |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
*The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations or precisely reflect the class expense differentials due to the timing of transactions in shares of the fund in relation to income earned and/or fluctuations in the fair value of the fund's investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Disciplined Core Value Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for the two 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 Disciplined Core Value Fund of the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, and the results of its operations for the year then ended and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, were audited by other auditors, whose report, dated August 17, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
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 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 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 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 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 June 30, 2023, 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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 16, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Century investment companies since 1997.
27
Management |
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Jonathan S. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Jeremy I. Bulow, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Jonathan S. Thomas is 3945 Freedom Circle, Suite #800, Santa Clara, California 95054. The mailing address for Jonathan S. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director and Board Chair | Since 2011 (Board Chair since 2022) | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 32 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd. | ||||||||||||
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 83 | None | ||||||||||||
Jennifer Cabalquinto (1968) | Director | Since 2021 | Chief Financial Officer, EMPIRE (digital media distribution) (2023 to present); Chief Financial Officer, 2K (interactive entertainment) (2021 to 2023); Special Advisor, GSW Sports, LLC (2020 to 2021); Chief Financial Officer, GSW Sports, LLC (2013 to 2020) | 32 | Sabio Holdings Inc. |
28
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 32 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines | ||||||||||||
Interested Director | |||||||||||||||||
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 148 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
29
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for 16 investment companies in the American Century family of funds. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | ||||||
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries | ||||||
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018 | Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present) | ||||||
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS | ||||||
John Pak (1968) | General Counsel and Senior Vice President since 2021 | General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACC (2021 to present). Also serves as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACIM, ACS and ACIS. Chief Legal Officer of Investment and Wealth Management, The Bank of New York Mellon (2014 to 2021) | ||||||
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS | ||||||
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
30
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 14, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent data providers concerning the Fund.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, distribution services, and other services provided to the Fund;
•the wide range of programs and services the Advisor and other service providers provide to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance compared to appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similarly-managed funds;
•the Advisor’s compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience and those of certain other service providers;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, generally, and with respect to areas of heightened interest in the mutual fund industry and certain recent geopolitical and other issues;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans, vendor management practices, and information security practices;
•the cost of services provided to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the Advisor’s financial results of operation;
•possible economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
31
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including but not limited to
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•liquidity monitoring and management
•risk management, including information security
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results and any actions being taken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
32
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including information security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, and its financial results of operation. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the terms of the current management agreement. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its fee structure and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage and other transaction fees and expenses relating to acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fund litigation expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Investment Company Act Rule 12b-1. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
33
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board also noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and received over time, concluded that the terms of the management agreement are fair and reasonable and that the management fee charged to the Fund is reasonable in light of the services provided and that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor should be renewed for an additional one-year period.
34
Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates, including members of ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments, conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to the program.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of certain investments held by the Fund is supported by a third-party liquidity assessment vendor.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
35
Additional Information |
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding at the IRS default rate of 10%.* Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
You may elect a different withholding rate, or request zero withholding, by submitting an acceptable IRS Form W-4R election with your distribution request. You may notify us of your W-4R election by telephone, on our distribution forms, on IRS Form W-4R, or through other acceptable electronic means. If your withholding election is for an automatic withdrawal plan, you have the right to revoke your election at any time and any election you make will remain in effect until revoked by filing a new election.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld according to state regulations if, at the time of your distribution, your tax residency is within one of the mandatory withholding states.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
36
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $41,482,387, or up to the maximum amount
allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as
qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
37
Notes |
38
Notes |
39
Notes |
40
Contact Us | americancentury.com | |||||||
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |||||||
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |||||||
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |||||||
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |||||||
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |||||||
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |||||||
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | ||||||||
Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | ||||||||
This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | ||||||||
©2023 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92991 2308 |
Annual Report | |||||
June 30, 2023 | |||||
Disciplined Growth Fund | |||||
Investor Class (ADSIX) | |||||
I Class (ADCIX) | |||||
Y Class (ADCYX) | |||||
A Class (ADCVX) | |||||
C Class (ADCCX) | |||||
R Class (ADRRX) | |||||
R5 Class (ADGGX) | |||||
G Class (ACDFX) |
Table of Contents |
President's Letter | |||||
Performance | |||||
Portfolio Commentary | |||||
Fund Characteristics | |||||
Shareholder Fee Example | |||||
Schedule of Investments | |||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||
Statement of Operations | |||||
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |||||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||||
Financial Highlights | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
Management | |||||
Approval of Management Agreement | |||||
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |||||
Additional Information |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
President’s Letter |
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2023. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Second-Half Rally Generated Strong Fiscal-Year Returns
After ending 2022 with modest six-month gains, stocks rallied in the first half of 2023. This bounce back, which occurred despite ongoing volatility and rising interest rates, led to strong 12-month performance for most stock indices. Investor expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to conclude its rate-hike campaign largely fueled the optimism.
Inflation’s pace steadily slowed during the period, which, combined with mounting recession worries, prompted investors to regularly recalibrate their monetary policy outlooks. However, with inflation still above target and the labor market resilient, policymakers continued to raise rates.
A new challenge emerged in March when several high-profile banks failed. Market unrest escalated, but quick action from regulators helped restore order. Nevertheless, heightened uncertainty surrounding the banking industry and credit availability further fueled recession fears. These worries strengthened investor expectations for a near-term end to central bank tightening and potential rate cuts later in the year.
The Fed, which announced its 10th-consecutive rate hike in May, paused its tightening campaign in June. However, citing still-high inflation and still-strong economic data, policymakers hinted the pause wasn’t permanent. Expectations for rate cuts faded, but many market participants shifted their focus to a potential soft-landing scenario.
Overall, robust performance in the second half of the period propelled the S&P 500 Index to a 12-month return of nearly 20%. U.S. stocks outpaced non-U.S. stocks, large-cap stocks generally outperformed small caps, and growth significantly outperformed value.
Remaining Diligent in Uncertain Times
We expect market volatility to linger as investors navigate a complex environment of persistent inflation, tighter financial conditions, banking industry turbulence and recession risk. In addition, increasingly tense geopolitical considerations complicate the market backdrop.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. American Century Investments has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable and volatile markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
2
Performance |
Total Returns as of June 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Average Annual Returns | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ticker Symbol | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | Inception Date | |||||||||||||||
Investor Class | ADSIX | 22.74% | 11.05% | 12.48% | — | 9/30/05 | ||||||||||||||
Russell 1000 Growth Index | — | 27.11% | 15.13% | 15.74% | — | — | ||||||||||||||
I Class | ADCIX | 22.96% | 11.27% | 12.70% | — | 9/30/05 | ||||||||||||||
Y Class | ADCYX | 23.02% | 11.32% | — | 12.64% | 4/10/17 | ||||||||||||||
A Class | ADCVX | 9/30/05 | ||||||||||||||||||
No sales charge | 22.43% | 10.77% | 12.20% | — | ||||||||||||||||
With sales charge | 15.39% | 9.47% | 11.54% | — | ||||||||||||||||
C Class | ADCCX | 21.48% | 9.95% | 11.36% | — | 9/28/07 | ||||||||||||||
R Class | ADRRX | 22.14% | 10.49% | 11.92% | — | 9/30/05 | ||||||||||||||
R5 Class | ADGGX | 23.01% | 11.27% | — | 12.59% | 4/10/17 | ||||||||||||||
G Class | ACDFX | 23.94% | — | — | 9.58% | 5/5/22 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
3
Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years | ||
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2013 | ||
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
Value on June 30, 2023 | |||||
Investor Class — $32,422 | |||||
Russell 1000 Growth Index — $43,154 | |||||
Ending value of Investor Class would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived.
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | I Class | Y Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class | G Class | ||||||||||||||||
1.00% | 0.80% | 0.75% | 1.25% | 2.00% | 1.50% | 0.80% | 0.80% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
4
Portfolio Commentary |
Portfolio Managers: Arun Daniel and Yulin Long
Performance Summary
Disciplined Growth returned 22.74%* for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2023. The fund’s benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index, returned 27.11% for the same time period. The fund’s return reflects operating expenses, while the index’s return does not.
Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Health Care Detracted
The market’s performance during this period was heavily influenced by declining inflation, tightening monetary policy and anticipation of the end of the Federal Reserve’s rate-hiking program. Uncertainty about the direction of the economy and the likelihood of a soft landing also played a role.
Stock selection drove the fund’s underperformance in the information technology, consumer discretionary and health care sectors. In information technology, selections in the software industry detracted most from relative performance, where positions in CrowdStrike Holdings and Datadog hurt performance. High-growth technology stocks were generally hit hard in the first half of the reporting period as rising interest rates hurt valuations, then lagged in 2023 so far, when the largest technology stocks did best. We exited our position in Datadog during the period. Holdings in the semiconductors and semiconductor equipment industry also hurt relative returns. Exposure to Enphase Energy and Qualcomm was particularly disadvantageous, as was an underweight to NVIDIA. Shares of NVIDIA benefited from enthusiasm for artificial intelligence-related stocks. We sold our position in Qualcomm.
Consumer discretionary was also an area of weakness. An underweight to the automobiles industry and unfavorable stock selection in the broadline retail industry were the primary detractors. An overweight to specialty retail also hampered returns. In the sector, two notable detractors from relative performance were Tesla and Amazon. We had some exposure to these strong-performing stocks but less than the benchmark.
In the health care sector, overweights in the biotechnology and health care technology industries were the primary reasons for underperformance. In biotechnology, shares of Incyte and Exelixis were the leading detractors, while Veeva Systems was the main detriment in health care technology. Veeva, which provides cloud-based software solutions to life sciences companies, lagged, primarily due to economic weakness among its customer base, which led the company to lower forward guidance early in the period. We sold our holdings of Incyte.
Real Estate and Communication Services Contributed
An underweight to the poor-performing real estate sector was a primary contributor to relative performance. The contribution came largely from a decision to underweight specialized real estate investment trusts (REITs), where avoiding American Tower and Crown Castle proved beneficial. REITs were generally hindered by high inflation, slowing growth and rising interest rates, which challenged REIT fundamentals and drew income-oriented investors away from the sector. In communication services, the portfolio’s underweight position was beneficial, as were stock selection decisions. A position in Meta Platforms was especially helpful. The company benefited from cost-cutting and restructuring efforts and from new investor interest in artificial intelligence.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Investor Class returns would
have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
5
Fund Characteristics |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets | ||||
Common Stocks | 99.5% | ||||
Short-Term Investments | —* | ||||
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.5% | ||||
*Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets. | |||||
Top Five Industries | % of net assets | ||||
Software | 19.8% | ||||
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals | 14.5% | ||||
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 10.4% | ||||
Interactive Media and Services | 7.6% | ||||
Specialty Retail | 5.1% |
6
Shareholder Fee Example |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then 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 under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments mutual fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s 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 your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, 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.
7
Beginning Account Value 1/1/23 | Ending Account Value 6/30/23 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) | |||||||||||
Actual | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,285.50 | $5.67 | 1.00% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,286.50 | $4.54 | 0.80% | ||||||||||
Y Class | $1,000 | $1,287.00 | $4.25 | 0.75% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,284.00 | $7.08 | 1.25% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,278.90 | $11.30 | 2.00% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,282.20 | $8.49 | 1.50% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,286.20 | $4.53 | 0.80% | ||||||||||
G Class | $1,000 | $1,292.00 | $0.06 | 0.01% | ||||||||||
Hypothetical | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,019.84 | $5.01 | 1.00% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,020.83 | $4.01 | 0.80% | ||||||||||
Y Class | $1,000 | $1,021.08 | $3.76 | 0.75% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,018.60 | $6.26 | 1.25% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,014.88 | $9.99 | 2.00% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,017.36 | $7.50 | 1.50% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,020.83 | $4.01 | 0.80% | ||||||||||
G Class | $1,000 | $1,024.75 | $0.05 | 0.01% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
8
Schedule of Investments |
JUNE 30, 2023
Shares | Value | |||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.5% | ||||||||
Aerospace and Defense — 1.1% | ||||||||
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 20,669 | $ | 9,515,594 | |||||
Air Freight and Logistics — 0.6% | ||||||||
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc. | 23,503 | 2,217,508 | ||||||
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | 25,225 | 3,055,504 | ||||||
5,273,012 | ||||||||
Automobiles — 1.9% | ||||||||
Tesla, Inc.(1) | 63,778 | 16,695,167 | ||||||
Beverages — 0.8% | ||||||||
Monster Beverage Corp.(1) | 108,680 | 6,242,579 | ||||||
PepsiCo, Inc. | 6,833 | 1,265,609 | ||||||
7,508,188 | ||||||||
Biotechnology — 2.6% | ||||||||
Exelixis, Inc.(1) | 77,981 | 1,490,217 | ||||||
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.(1) | 36,362 | 3,428,937 | ||||||
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 5,934 | 4,263,816 | ||||||
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 40,781 | 14,351,242 | ||||||
23,534,212 | ||||||||
Broadline Retail — 4.3% | ||||||||
Amazon.com, Inc.(1) | 295,568 | 38,530,245 | ||||||
Building Products — 0.4% | ||||||||
Builders FirstSource, Inc.(1) | 24,840 | 3,378,240 | ||||||
Capital Markets — 1.0% | ||||||||
Moody's Corp. | 11,784 | 4,097,533 | ||||||
S&P Global, Inc. | 11,852 | 4,751,348 | ||||||
8,848,881 | ||||||||
Chemicals — 0.5% | ||||||||
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | 6,144 | 1,840,312 | ||||||
Linde PLC | 6,945 | 2,646,601 | ||||||
4,486,913 | ||||||||
Commercial Services and Supplies — 0.5% | ||||||||
Cintas Corp. | 1,866 | 927,551 | ||||||
Rollins, Inc. | 87,276 | 3,738,031 | ||||||
4,665,582 | ||||||||
Communications Equipment — 0.8% | ||||||||
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 134,141 | 6,940,455 | ||||||
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 2.0% | ||||||||
Costco Wholesale Corp. | 32,718 | 17,614,717 | ||||||
Electrical Equipment — 0.5% | ||||||||
ABB Ltd. | 22,642 | 890,755 | ||||||
nVent Electric PLC | 45,654 | 2,358,942 | ||||||
Schneider Electric SE | 4,917 | 893,304 | ||||||
4,143,001 | ||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 0.3% | ||||||||
Keysight Technologies, Inc.(1) | 13,656 | 2,286,697 | ||||||
Entertainment — 0.5% | ||||||||
Netflix, Inc.(1) | 9,286 | 4,090,390 |
9
Shares | Value | |||||||
Financial Services — 4.4% | ||||||||
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 58,732 | $ | 23,099,296 | |||||
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(1) | 20,181 | 1,346,678 | ||||||
Visa, Inc., Class A | 62,546 | 14,853,424 | ||||||
39,299,398 | ||||||||
Food Products — 0.3% | ||||||||
Hershey Co. | 9,801 | 2,447,310 | ||||||
Ground Transportation — 1.6% | ||||||||
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | 15,744 | 5,821,344 | ||||||
Uber Technologies, Inc.(1) | 196,271 | 8,473,019 | ||||||
14,294,363 | ||||||||
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 2.0% | ||||||||
Abbott Laboratories | 61,615 | 6,717,267 | ||||||
Dexcom, Inc.(1) | 25,279 | 3,248,604 | ||||||
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(1) | 10,158 | 5,101,653 | ||||||
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(1) | 8,203 | 2,804,934 | ||||||
17,872,458 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers and Services — 1.5% | ||||||||
Humana, Inc. | 9,501 | 4,248,182 | ||||||
Molina Healthcare, Inc.(1) | 9,919 | 2,988,000 | ||||||
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 12,677 | 6,093,073 | ||||||
13,329,255 | ||||||||
Health Care Technology — 0.6% | ||||||||
Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A(1) | 29,474 | 5,827,894 | ||||||
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 2.9% | ||||||||
Airbnb, Inc., Class A(1) | 25,279 | 3,239,756 | ||||||
Booking Holdings, Inc.(1) | 4,602 | 12,426,919 | ||||||
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.(1) | 671 | 1,435,269 | ||||||
Expedia Group, Inc.(1) | 48,070 | 5,258,377 | ||||||
Starbucks Corp. | 38,663 | 3,829,957 | ||||||
26,190,278 | ||||||||
Household Durables — 0.2% | ||||||||
NVR, Inc.(1) | 228 | 1,447,941 | ||||||
Household Products — 0.6% | ||||||||
Clorox Co. | 13,068 | 2,078,335 | ||||||
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | 43,144 | 3,323,814 | ||||||
5,402,149 | ||||||||
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.1% | ||||||||
Siemens AG | 4,971 | 828,670 | ||||||
Insurance — 1.0% | ||||||||
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. | 2,470 | 924,274 | ||||||
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 43,187 | 8,122,611 | ||||||
9,046,885 | ||||||||
Interactive Media and Services — 7.6% | ||||||||
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(1) | 326,091 | 39,033,093 | ||||||
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1) | 63,687 | 7,704,216 | ||||||
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A(1) | 68,808 | 19,746,520 | ||||||
Pinterest, Inc., Class A(1) | 61,347 | 1,677,227 | ||||||
68,161,056 | ||||||||
IT Services — 0.7% | ||||||||
Accenture PLC, Class A | 4,888 | 1,508,339 | ||||||
Gartner, Inc.(1) | 13,439 | 4,707,816 | ||||||
6,216,155 |
10
Shares | Value | |||||||
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 1.1% | ||||||||
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 18,125 | $ | 2,179,531 | |||||
Danaher Corp. | 13,719 | 3,292,560 | ||||||
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.(1) | 3,436 | 4,506,795 | ||||||
9,978,886 | ||||||||
Machinery — 1.2% | ||||||||
Caterpillar, Inc. | 20,564 | 5,059,772 | ||||||
Donaldson Co., Inc. | 22,113 | 1,382,284 | ||||||
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | 7,145 | 1,419,212 | ||||||
Otis Worldwide Corp. | 10,118 | 900,603 | ||||||
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 6,053 | 2,360,912 | ||||||
11,122,783 | ||||||||
Metals and Mining — 0.2% | ||||||||
Nucor Corp. | 11,818 | 1,937,916 | ||||||
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 1.9% | ||||||||
Cheniere Energy, Inc. | 26,257 | 4,000,517 | ||||||
Chevron Corp. | 25,375 | 3,992,756 | ||||||
ConocoPhillips | 21,303 | 2,207,204 | ||||||
Exxon Mobil Corp. | 66,309 | 7,111,640 | ||||||
17,312,117 | ||||||||
Pharmaceuticals — 1.6% | ||||||||
Eli Lilly & Co. | 26,509 | 12,432,191 | ||||||
Novo Nordisk A/S, ADR | 13,925 | 2,253,483 | ||||||
14,685,674 | ||||||||
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 10.4% | ||||||||
Analog Devices, Inc. | 22,747 | 4,431,343 | ||||||
Applied Materials, Inc. | 25,045 | 3,620,004 | ||||||
ASML Holding NV | 4,826 | 3,500,437 | ||||||
Broadcom, Inc. | 11,361 | 9,854,872 | ||||||
Enphase Energy, Inc.(1) | 16,953 | 2,839,288 | ||||||
KLA Corp. | 9,084 | 4,405,922 | ||||||
Lam Research Corp. | 13,776 | 8,856,039 | ||||||
Microchip Technology, Inc. | 94,407 | 8,457,923 | ||||||
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 8,949 | 4,834,518 | ||||||
NVIDIA Corp. | 92,933 | 39,312,518 | ||||||
ON Semiconductor Corp.(1) | 9,510 | 899,456 | ||||||
Power Integrations, Inc. | 25,061 | 2,372,525 | ||||||
93,384,845 | ||||||||
Software — 19.8% | ||||||||
Adobe, Inc.(1) | 42,361 | 20,714,105 | ||||||
Atlassian Corp., Class A(1) | 6,221 | 1,043,946 | ||||||
Autodesk, Inc.(1) | 12,538 | 2,565,400 | ||||||
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(1) | 26,494 | 6,213,373 | ||||||
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A(1) | 11,656 | 1,711,917 | ||||||
Fair Isaac Corp.(1) | 4,580 | 3,706,182 | ||||||
Fortinet, Inc.(1) | 111,060 | 8,395,025 | ||||||
Intuit, Inc. | 14,985 | 6,865,977 | ||||||
Microsoft Corp. | 288,095 | 98,107,871 | ||||||
Oracle Corp. (New York) | 21,329 | 2,540,071 | ||||||
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(1) | 21,349 | 5,454,883 | ||||||
Salesforce, Inc.(1) | 12,212 | 2,579,907 | ||||||
ServiceNow, Inc.(1) | 31,539 | 17,723,972 | ||||||
177,622,629 |
11
Shares | Value | |||||||
Specialty Retail — 5.1% | ||||||||
Home Depot, Inc. | 36,044 | $ | 11,196,708 | |||||
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 61,779 | 13,943,520 | ||||||
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.(1) | 7,504 | 7,168,571 | ||||||
TJX Cos., Inc. | 86,810 | 7,360,620 | ||||||
Ulta Beauty, Inc.(1) | 12,114 | 5,700,788 | ||||||
45,370,207 | ||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 14.5% | ||||||||
Apple, Inc. | 655,233 | 127,095,545 | ||||||
Pure Storage, Inc., Class A(1) | 88,161 | 3,246,088 | ||||||
130,341,633 | ||||||||
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 1.1% | ||||||||
Deckers Outdoor Corp.(1) | 6,787 | 3,581,228 | ||||||
lululemon athletica, Inc.(1) | 16,455 | 6,228,218 | ||||||
9,809,446 | ||||||||
Trading Companies and Distributors — 1.3% | ||||||||
Fastenal Co. | 87,692 | 5,172,951 | ||||||
Watsco, Inc. | 13,418 | 5,118,565 | ||||||
WW Grainger, Inc. | 2,304 | 1,816,911 | ||||||
12,108,427 | ||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $515,708,756) | 891,549,669 | |||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS† | ||||||||
Money Market Funds† | ||||||||
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 1,116 | 1,116 | ||||||
Repurchase Agreements† | ||||||||
BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 4.25% - 4.50%, 5/15/38 - 11/15/40, valued at $48,195), in a joint trading account at 5.02%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $46,979) | 46,959 | |||||||
Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 3.625%, 5/15/53, valued at $259,145), at 5.04%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $254,107) | 254,000 | |||||||
300,959 | ||||||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $302,075) | 302,075 | |||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.5% (Cost $516,010,831) | 891,851,744 | |||||||
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.5% | 4,043,165 | |||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 895,894,909 |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS | ||||||||
ADR | – | American Depositary Receipt |
†Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets.
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Assets | |||||
Investment securities, at value (cost of $516,010,831) | $ | 891,851,744 | |||
Receivable for investments sold | 5,745,887 | ||||
Receivable for capital shares sold | 262,722 | ||||
Dividends and interest receivable | 119,815 | ||||
897,980,168 | |||||
Liabilities | |||||
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 1,757,848 | ||||
Accrued management fees | 310,469 | ||||
Distribution and service fees payable | 16,942 | ||||
2,085,259 | |||||
Net Assets | $ | 895,894,909 | |||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 575,026,102 | |||
Distributable earnings (loss) | 320,868,807 | ||||
$ | 895,894,909 |
Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share* | |||||||||
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $277,356,930 | 12,781,214 | $21.70 | ||||||||
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $66,362,747 | 3,015,867 | $22.00 | ||||||||
Y Class, $0.01 Par Value | $516,232 | 23,398 | $22.06 | ||||||||
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $42,946,955 | 2,037,771 | $21.08 | ||||||||
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $3,736,501 | 208,317 | $17.94 | ||||||||
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $13,312,181 | 662,744 | $20.09 | ||||||||
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $510,044 | 23,158 | $22.02 | ||||||||
G Class, $0.01 Par Value | $491,153,319 | 22,314,317 | $22.01 |
*Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except A Class, for which the maximum offering price per share was $22.37 (net asset value divided by 0.9425). A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of A Class and C Class.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
13
Statement of Operations |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Investment Income (Loss) | |||||
Income: | |||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $14,325) | $ | 8,763,631 | |||
Interest | 241,425 | ||||
9,005,056 | |||||
Expenses: | |||||
Management fees | 7,438,139 | ||||
Distribution and service fees: | |||||
A Class | 93,164 | ||||
C Class | 55,109 | ||||
R Class | 57,265 | ||||
Directors' fees and expenses | 58,248 | ||||
Other expenses | 2,510 | ||||
7,704,435 | |||||
Fees waived(1) | (3,856,147) | ||||
3,848,288 | |||||
Net investment income (loss) | 5,156,768 | ||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |||||
Investment transactions | 454,018 | ||||
Futures contract transactions | (101,126) | ||||
Foreign currency translation transactions | (8,575) | ||||
344,317 | |||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 172,753,975 | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 173,098,292 | ||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 178,255,060 |
(1)Amount consists of $24,619, $7,406, $32, $3,727, $551, $1,145, $96 and $3,818,571 for Investor Class, I Class, Y Class, A Class, C Class, R Class, R5 Class and G Class, respectively.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND JUNE 30, 2022 | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 5,156,768 | $ | (258,336) | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) | 344,317 | 6,079,098 | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 172,753,975 | (125,297,390) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 178,255,060 | (119,476,628) | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
From earnings: | ||||||||
Investor Class | — | (52,277,622) | ||||||
I Class | (103,214) | (27,316,430) | ||||||
Y Class | (1,156) | (24,224) | ||||||
A Class | — | (9,510,169) | ||||||
C Class | — | (3,087,061) | ||||||
R Class | — | (2,743,879) | ||||||
R5 Class | (2,177) | (345,987) | ||||||
G Class | (5,038,511) | — | ||||||
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (5,145,058) | (95,305,372) | ||||||
Capital Share Transactions | ||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | (134,101,002) | 570,318,229 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 39,009,000 | 355,536,229 | ||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 856,885,909 | 501,349,680 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 895,894,909 | $ | 856,885,909 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
15
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2023
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Disciplined Growth Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, Y Class, A Class, C Class, R Class, R5 Class and G Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Sale of the G Class commenced on May 5, 2022.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The value of investments of the fund is determined by American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor), as the valuation designee, pursuant to its valuation policies and procedures. The Board of Directors oversees the valuation designee and reviews its valuation policies and procedures at least annually.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the valuation designee determines that the market price for a portfolio security is not readily available or is believed by the valuation designee to be unreliable, such security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the valuation designee, in accordance with its policies and procedures. Circumstances that may cause the fund to determine that market quotations are not available or reliable include, but are not limited to: when there is a significant event subsequent to the market quotation; trading in a security has been halted during the trading day; or trading in a security is insufficient or did not take place due to a closure or holiday.
16
The valuation designee monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; regulatory news, governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The valuation designee also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that it deems appropriate. The valuation designee may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that ACIM has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund's policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid semiannually. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
17
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation's investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation's transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC. Various funds issued by American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc. own, in aggregate, 35% of the shares of the fund. Related parties do not invest in the fund for the purpose of exercising management or control.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund's assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all funds in the American Century Investments family of funds that have the same investment advisor and distributor as the fund. For purposes of determining the Investment Category Fee and Complex Fee, the assets of funds managed by the investment advisor that invest exclusively in the shares of other funds (funds of funds) are not included. During the period ended June 30, 2023, the investment advisor agreed to waive 0.01% of the fund's management fee. The investment advisor expects this waiver to continue until July 31, 2024 and cannot terminate it prior to such date without the approval of the Board of Directors. The investment advisor agreed to waive the G Class's management fee in its entirety. The investment advisor expects this waiver to remain in effect permanently and cannot terminate it without the approval of the Board of Directors.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee before and after waiver for each class for the period ended June 30, 2023 are as follows:
Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee | ||||||||||||
Before Waiver | After Waiver | |||||||||||||
Investor Class | 0.6880% to 0.8700% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% | ||||||||||
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.80% | 0.79% | |||||||||||
Y Class | 0.0000% to 0.0600% | 0.75% | 0.74% | |||||||||||
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% | |||||||||||
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% | |||||||||||
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% | |||||||||||
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.80% | 0.79% | |||||||||||
G Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.80% | 0.00% |
18
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2023 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund's officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $14,976,317 and $5,793,822, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $165,145 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended June 30, 2023 were $1,200,343,456 and $1,322,836,969, respectively.
19
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
Year ended June 30, 2023 | Year ended June 30, 2022(1) | |||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 480,000,000 | 480,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 940,132 | $ | 17,704,070 | 1,078,949 | $ | 26,627,251 | ||||||||
Issued in connection with reorganization (Note 10) | — | — | 3,195,700 | 60,476,875 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | — | — | 2,133,990 | 51,194,431 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (2,205,471) | (40,593,144) | (2,550,844) | (59,802,171) | ||||||||||
(1,265,339) | (22,889,074) | 3,857,795 | 78,496,386 | |||||||||||
I Class/Shares Authorized | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 377,447 | 7,126,295 | 694,404 | 16,374,409 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 5,907 | 103,188 | 1,119,687 | 27,197,206 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (2,813,361) | (50,886,281) | (1,883,997) | (45,277,547) | ||||||||||
(2,430,007) | (43,656,798) | (69,906) | (1,705,932) | |||||||||||
Y Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 52,397 | 1,015,973 | 310 | 7,499 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 66 | 1,156 | 995 | 24,224 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (34,364) | (673,108) | (1,853) | (51,553) | ||||||||||
18,099 | 344,021 | (548) | (19,830) | |||||||||||
A Class/Shares Authorized | 50,000,000 | 50,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 342,653 | 6,162,417 | 430,919 | 10,224,570 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | — | — | 391,802 | 9,164,238 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (429,301) | (7,716,853) | (490,219) | (11,512,442) | ||||||||||
(86,648) | (1,554,436) | 332,502 | 7,876,366 | |||||||||||
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 5,253 | 81,073 | 11,052 | 248,239 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | — | — | 152,345 | 3,066,714 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (326,671) | (4,962,521) | (350,086) | (7,178,279) | ||||||||||
(321,418) | (4,881,448) | (186,689) | (3,863,326) | |||||||||||
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 145,767 | 2,518,092 | 205,732 | 4,649,298 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | — | — | 122,604 | 2,743,879 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (120,233) | (2,100,491) | (200,931) | (4,296,667) | ||||||||||
25,534 | 417,601 | 127,405 | 3,096,510 | |||||||||||
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 12,195 | 225,338 | 30,500 | 748,335 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 124 | 2,177 | 14,232 | 345,987 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (66,641) | (1,149,713) | (23,648) | (538,472) | ||||||||||
(54,322) | (922,198) | 21,084 | 555,850 | |||||||||||
G Class/Shares Authorized | 550,000,000 | 550,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 2,159,845 | 40,026,333 | 587,679 | 11,315,451 | ||||||||||
Issued in connection with reorganization (Note 10) | — | — | 24,740,187 | 474,621,833 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 281,495 | 5,038,511 | — | — | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (5,451,825) | (106,023,514) | (3,064) | (55,079) | ||||||||||
(3,010,485) | (60,958,670) | 25,324,802 | 485,882,205 | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) | (7,124,586) | $ | (134,101,002) | 29,406,445 | $ | 570,318,229 |
(1)May 5, 2022 (commencement of sale) through June 30, 2022 for the G Class.
20
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund's investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Investment Securities | |||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 885,436,503 | $ | 6,113,166 | — | ||||||
Short-Term Investments | 1,116 | 300,959 | — | ||||||||
$ | 885,437,619 | $ | 6,414,125 | — |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). A fund may incur charges or earn income on cash deposit balances, which are reflected in interest expenses or interest income, respectively. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $9,927,060 futures contracts sold.
At period end, the fund did not have any derivative instruments disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $(101,126) in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, war, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
21
The fund's investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 were as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Distributions Paid From | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 5,145,058 | $ | 27,571,995 | ||||
Long-term capital gains | — | $ | 67,733,377 |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 521,177,733 | |||
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 372,707,069 | |||
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (2,033,058) | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 370,674,011 | |||
Undistributed ordinary income | — | ||||
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (49,805,204) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an unlimited period. Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
10. Reorganization
On December 16, 2021, the Board of Directors approved an agreement and plan of reorganization (the reorganization), whereby the net assets of NT Disciplined Growth Fund, one fund in a series issued by the corporation, were transferred to Disciplined Growth Fund in exchange for shares of Disciplined Growth Fund. The purpose of the transaction was to combine two funds with substantially similar investment objectives and strategies. The financial statements and performance history of Disciplined Growth Fund survived after the reorganization. The reorganization was effective at the close of the NYSE on May 13, 2022.
The reorganization was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of shares. On May 13, 2022, NT Disciplined Growth Fund exchanged its shares for shares of Disciplined Growth Fund as follows:
Original Fund/Class | Shares Exchanged | New Fund/Class | Shares Received | ||||||||
NT Disciplined Growth Fund – Investor Class | 4,895,760 | Disciplined Growth Fund – Investor Class | 3,195,700 | ||||||||
NT Disciplined Growth Fund – G Class | 37,810,103 | Disciplined Growth Fund – G Class | 24,740,187 |
The net assets of NT Disciplined Growth Fund and Disciplined Growth Fund immediately before the reorganization were $535,098,708 and $381,181,403, respectively. NT Disciplined Growth Fund's unrealized appreciation of $122,396,274 was combined with that of Disciplined Growth Fund. Immediately after the reorganization, the combined net assets were $916,280,111.
22
Financial Highlights |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $17.68 | 0.01 | 4.01 | 4.02 | — | — | — | $21.70 | 22.74% | 1.00% | 1.01% | 0.06% | 0.05% | 142% | $277,357 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $26.83 | (0.06) | (3.76) | (3.82) | — | (5.33) | (5.33) | $17.68 | (19.47)% | 0.99% | 1.00% | (0.14)% | (0.15)% | 205% | $248,369 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $24.39 | (0.07) | 7.17 | 7.10 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $26.83 | 31.26% | 1.00% | 1.01% | (0.28)% | (0.29)% | 189% | $273,391 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $21.76 | (0.02) | 4.59 | 4.57 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.39 | 22.13% | 1.01% | 1.02% | (0.10)% | (0.11)% | 142% | $238,408 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $24.05 | 0.05 | 1.08 | 1.13 | (0.04) | (3.38) | (3.42) | $21.76 | 6.61% | 1.02% | 1.02% | 0.24% | 0.24% | 105% | $250,920 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $17.92 | 0.05 | 4.06 | 4.11 | (0.03) | — | (0.03) | $22.00 | 22.96% | 0.80% | 0.81% | 0.26% | 0.25% | 142% | $66,363 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $27.08 | (0.02) | (3.81) | (3.83) | — | (5.33) | (5.33) | $17.92 | (19.31)% | 0.79% | 0.80% | 0.06% | 0.05% | 205% | $97,606 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $24.54 | (0.02) | 7.22 | 7.20 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $27.08 | 31.50% | 0.80% | 0.81% | (0.08)% | (0.09)% | 189% | $149,388 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $21.84 | 0.02 | 4.62 | 4.64 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.54 | 22.38% | 0.81% | 0.82% | 0.10% | 0.09% | 142% | $136,351 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $24.13 | 0.10 | 1.08 | 1.18 | (0.09) | (3.38) | (3.47) | $21.84 | 6.82% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.44% | 0.44% | 105% | $213,805 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Y Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $17.97 | 0.02 | 4.11 | 4.13 | (0.04) | — | (0.04) | $22.06 | 23.02% | 0.75% | 0.76% | 0.31% | 0.30% | 142% | $516 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $27.13 | (0.01) | (3.82) | (3.83) | — | (5.33) | (5.33) | $17.97 | (19.27)% | 0.74% | 0.75% | 0.11% | 0.10% | 205% | $95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $24.56 | (0.01) | 7.24 | 7.23 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $27.13 | 31.61% | 0.75% | 0.76% | (0.03)% | (0.04)% | 189% | $159 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $21.85 | 0.04 | 4.61 | 4.65 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.56 | 22.42% | 0.76% | 0.77% | 0.15% | 0.14% | 142% | $232 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $24.14 | 0.12 | 1.07 | 1.19 | (0.10) | (3.38) | (3.48) | $21.85 | 6.87% | 0.77% | 0.77% | 0.49% | 0.49% | 105% | $579 |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $17.22 | (0.04) | 3.90 | 3.86 | — | — | — | $21.08 | 22.43% | 1.25% | 1.26% | (0.19)% | (0.20)% | 142% | $42,947 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $26.31 | (0.12) | (3.64) | (3.76) | — | (5.33) | (5.33) | $17.22 | (19.69)% | 1.24% | 1.25% | (0.39)% | (0.40)% | 205% | $36,573 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $24.05 | (0.13) | 7.05 | 6.92 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $26.31 | 30.93% | 1.25% | 1.26% | (0.53)% | (0.54)% | 189% | $47,150 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $21.53 | (0.08) | 4.54 | 4.46 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.05 | 21.84% | 1.26% | 1.27% | (0.35)% | (0.36)% | 142% | $34,139 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $23.87 | —(3) | 1.06 | 1.06 | (0.02) | (3.38) | (3.40) | $21.53 | 6.32% | 1.27% | 1.27% | (0.01)% | (0.01)% | 105% | $31,650 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $14.76 | (0.14) | 3.32 | 3.18 | — | — | — | $17.94 | 21.48% | 2.00% | 2.01% | (0.94)% | (0.95)% | 142% | $3,737 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $23.41 | (0.27) | (3.05) | (3.32) | — | (5.33) | (5.33) | $14.76 | (20.27)% | 1.99% | 2.00% | (1.14)% | (1.15)% | 205% | $7,820 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $21.99 | (0.29) | 6.37 | 6.08 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $23.41 | 29.92% | 2.00% | 2.01% | (1.28)% | (1.29)% | 189% | $16,775 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $19.98 | (0.22) | 4.17 | 3.95 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $21.99 | 20.94% | 2.01% | 2.02% | (1.10)% | (1.11)% | 142% | $22,346 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $22.55 | (0.16) | 0.97 | 0.81 | — | (3.38) | (3.38) | $19.98 | 5.57% | 2.02% | 2.02% | (0.76)% | (0.76)% | 105% | $26,088 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $16.45 | (0.08) | 3.72 | 3.64 | — | — | — | $20.09 | 22.14% | 1.50% | 1.51% | (0.44)% | (0.45)% | 142% | $13,312 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $25.42 | (0.17) | (3.47) | (3.64) | — | (5.33) | (5.33) | $16.45 | (19.93)% | 1.49% | 1.50% | (0.64)% | (0.65)% | 205% | $10,481 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $23.42 | (0.19) | 6.85 | 6.66 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $25.42 | 30.63% | 1.50% | 1.51% | (0.78)% | (0.79)% | 189% | $12,958 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $21.06 | (0.13) | 4.43 | 4.30 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $23.42 | 21.56% | 1.51% | 1.52% | (0.60)% | (0.61)% | 142% | $9,548 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $23.47 | (0.06) | 1.03 | 0.97 | — | (3.38) | (3.38) | $21.06 | 6.03% | 1.52% | 1.52% | (0.26)% | (0.26)% | 105% | $9,948 |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R5 Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $17.94 | 0.07 | 4.04 | 4.11 | (0.03) | — | (0.03) | $22.02 | 23.01% | 0.80% | 0.81% | 0.26% | 0.25% | 142% | $510 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $27.10 | (0.01) | (3.82) | (3.83) | — | (5.33) | (5.33) | $17.94 | (19.34)% | 0.79% | 0.80% | 0.06% | 0.05% | 205% | $1,390 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $24.55 | (0.02) | 7.23 | 7.21 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $27.10 | 31.53% | 0.80% | 0.81% | (0.08)% | (0.09)% | 189% | $1,528 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $21.85 | 0.02 | 4.62 | 4.64 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.55 | 22.37% | 0.81% | 0.82% | 0.10% | 0.09% | 142% | $1,153 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $24.14 | 0.10 | 1.08 | 1.18 | (0.09) | (3.38) | (3.47) | $21.85 | 6.82% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.44% | 0.44% | 105% | $957 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
G Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $17.95 | 0.20 | 4.05 | 4.25 | (0.19) | — | (0.19) | $22.01 | 23.94% | 0.01% | 0.81% | 1.05% | 0.25% | 142% | $491,153 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022(4) | $20.02 | 0.05 | (2.12) | (2.07) | — | — | — | $17.95 | (10.34)% | 0.01%(5) | 0.80%(5) | 1.72%(5) | 0.93%(5) | 205%(6) | $454,553 |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
(4)May 5, 2022 (commencement of sale) through June 30, 2022.
(5)Annualized.
(6)Portfolio turnover is calculated at the fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated for the year ended June 30, 2022.
*The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations or precisely reflect the class expense differentials due to the timing of transactions in shares of the fund in relation to income earned and/or fluctuations in the fair value of the fund's investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Disciplined Growth Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for the two 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 Disciplined Growth Fund of the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, and the results of its operations for the year then ended and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, were audited by other auditors, whose report, dated August 17, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
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 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 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 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 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 June 30, 2023, 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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 16, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Century investment companies since 1997.
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Management |
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Jonathan S. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Jeremy I. Bulow, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Jonathan S. Thomas is 3945 Freedom Circle, Suite #800, Santa Clara, California 95054. The mailing address for Jonathan S. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director and Board Chair | Since 2011 (Board Chair since 2022) | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 32 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd. | ||||||||||||
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 83 | None | ||||||||||||
Jennifer Cabalquinto (1968) | Director | Since 2021 | Chief Financial Officer, EMPIRE (digital media distribution) (2023 to present); Chief Financial Officer, 2K (interactive entertainment) (2021 to 2023); Special Advisor, GSW Sports, LLC (2020 to 2021); Chief Financial Officer, GSW Sports, LLC (2013 to 2020) | 32 | Sabio Holdings Inc. |
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Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 32 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines | ||||||||||||
Interested Director | |||||||||||||||||
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 148 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
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Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for 16 investment companies in the American Century family of funds. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | ||||||
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries | ||||||
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018 | Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present) | ||||||
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS | ||||||
John Pak (1968) | General Counsel and Senior Vice President since 2021 | General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACC (2021 to present). Also serves as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACIM, ACS and ACIS. Chief Legal Officer of Investment and Wealth Management, The Bank of New York Mellon (2014 to 2021) | ||||||
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS | ||||||
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
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Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 14, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent data providers concerning the Fund.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, distribution services, and other services provided to the Fund;
•the wide range of programs and services the Advisor and other service providers provide to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance compared to appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similarly-managed funds;
•the Advisor’s compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience and those of certain other service providers;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, generally, and with respect to areas of heightened interest in the mutual fund industry and certain recent geopolitical and other issues;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans, vendor management practices, and information security practices;
•the cost of services provided to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the Advisor’s financial results of operation;
•possible economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
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Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including but not limited to
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•liquidity monitoring and management
•risk management, including information security
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results and any actions being taken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
32
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including information security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, and its financial results of operation. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the terms of the current management agreement. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its fee structure and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage and other transaction fees and expenses relating to acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fund litigation expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Investment Company Act Rule 12b-1. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was above the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board and the Advisor agreed to an extension of the current temporary reduction of the Fund's annual unified management fee of 0.01% (e.g., the Investor Class unified fee will be reduced from 0.99% to 0.98%) for at least one year, beginning August 1, 2023. The Board concluded that the
33
management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board also noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and received over time, concluded that the terms of the management agreement are fair and reasonable and that the management fee charged to the Fund is reasonable in light of the services provided and that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor should be renewed for an additional one-year period.
34
Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates, including members of ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments, conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to the program.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of certain investments held by the Fund is supported by a third-party liquidity assessment vendor.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
35
Additional Information |
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding at the IRS default rate of 10%.* Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
You may elect a different withholding rate, or request zero withholding, by submitting an acceptable IRS Form W-4R election with your distribution request. You may notify us of your W-4R election by telephone, on our distribution forms, on IRS Form W-4R, or through other acceptable electronic means. If your withholding election is for an automatic withdrawal plan, you have the right to revoke your election at any time and any election you make will remain in effect until revoked by filing a new election.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld according to state regulations if, at the time of your distribution, your tax residency is within one of the mandatory withholding states.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
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Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $5,145,058, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
37
Notes | ||||||||||||||
38
Notes | ||||||||||||||
39
Notes |
40
Contact Us | americancentury.com | |||||||
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |||||||
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |||||||
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |||||||
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |||||||
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |||||||
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |||||||
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | ||||||||
Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | ||||||||
This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | ||||||||
©2023 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92989 2308 |
Annual Report | |||||
June 30, 2023 | |||||
Equity Growth Fund | |||||
Investor Class (BEQGX) | |||||
I Class (AMEIX) | |||||
A Class (BEQAX) | |||||
C Class (AEYCX) | |||||
R Class (AEYRX) | |||||
R5 Class (AEYGX) |
Table of Contents |
President's Letter | |||||
Performance | |||||
Portfolio Commentary | |||||
Fund Characteristics | |||||
Shareholder Fee Example | |||||
Schedule of Investments | |||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||
Statement of Operations | |||||
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |||||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||||
Financial Highlights | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
Management | |||||
Approval of Management Agreement | |||||
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |||||
Additional Information |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
President’s Letter |
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2023. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Second-Half Rally Generated Strong Fiscal-Year Returns
After ending 2022 with modest six-month gains, stocks rallied in the first half of 2023. This bounce back, which occurred despite ongoing volatility and rising interest rates, led to strong 12-month performance for most stock indices. Investor expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to conclude its rate-hike campaign largely fueled the optimism.
Inflation’s pace steadily slowed during the period, which, combined with mounting recession worries, prompted investors to regularly recalibrate their monetary policy outlooks. However, with inflation still above target and the labor market resilient, policymakers continued to raise rates.
A new challenge emerged in March when several high-profile banks failed. Market unrest escalated, but quick action from regulators helped restore order. Nevertheless, heightened uncertainty surrounding the banking industry and credit availability further fueled recession fears. These worries strengthened investor expectations for a near-term end to central bank tightening and potential rate cuts later in the year.
The Fed, which announced its 10th-consecutive rate hike in May, paused its tightening campaign in June. However, citing still-high inflation and still-strong economic data, policymakers hinted the pause wasn’t permanent. Expectations for rate cuts faded, but many market participants shifted their focus to a potential soft-landing scenario.
Overall, robust performance in the second half of the period propelled the S&P 500 Index to a 12-month return of nearly 20%. U.S. stocks outpaced non-U.S. stocks, large-cap stocks generally outperformed small caps, and growth significantly outperformed value.
Remaining Diligent in Uncertain Times
We expect market volatility to linger as investors navigate a complex environment of persistent inflation, tighter financial conditions, banking industry turbulence and recession risk. In addition, increasingly tense geopolitical considerations complicate the market backdrop.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. American Century Investments has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable and volatile markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Performance |
Total Returns as of June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Annual Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticker Symbol | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | Inception Date | ||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | BEQGX | 12.34% | 8.11% | 9.99% | — | 5/9/91 | |||||||||||||||||
S&P 500 Index | — | 19.59% | 12.30% | 12.86% | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
I Class | AMEIX | 12.59% | 8.33% | 10.21% | — | 1/2/98 | |||||||||||||||||
A Class | BEQAX | 10/9/97 | |||||||||||||||||||||
No sales charge | 12.09% | 7.84% | 9.71% | — | |||||||||||||||||||
With sales charge | 5.64% | 6.57% | 9.07% | — | |||||||||||||||||||
C Class | AEYCX | 11.23% | 7.03% | 8.90% | — | 7/18/01 | |||||||||||||||||
R Class | AEYRX | 11.80% | 7.57% | 9.44% | — | 7/29/05 | |||||||||||||||||
R5 Class | AEYGX | 12.59% | 8.32% | — | 9.63% | 4/10/17 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years | ||
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2013 | ||
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
Value on June 30, 2023 | |||||
Investor Class — $25,912 | |||||
S&P 500 Index — $33,535 | |||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class | ||||||||||||
0.65% | 0.45% | 0.90% | 1.65% | 1.15% | 0.45% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
4
Portfolio Commentary |
Portfolio Managers: Yulin Long and Arun Daniel
In March 2023, Yulin Long joined the fund’s management team. Steven Rossi and Guan Wang are no longer with the firm.
Performance Summary
Equity Growth returned 12.34%* for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, compared with the 19.59% return of its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. The fund’s return reflects operating expenses, while the index’s return does not.
Stocks in the Financials Sector Detracted Most
The market’s performance during this period was heavily influenced by declining inflation, tightening monetary policy and anticipation of the end of the Federal Reserve’s rate-hiking program. Uncertainty about the direction of the economy and the likelihood of a soft landing also played a role. Stock choices in the financials sector detracted most from the fund’s 12-month results. Positioning in the banking industry was most detrimental to relative performance as the banking crisis in early 2023 meant these shares underperformed. Positions in Popular, Western Alliance Bancorp, KeyCorp, Zions Bancorp and SVB Financial Group were the leading detractors. We exited these positions during the reporting period. Elsewhere in the sector, PayPal Holdings in the financial services industry also hampered relative returns, as did an underweight in the capital markets industry. In the consumer discretionary sector, stock selection decisions hindered relative returns. An underweight to Amazon in the broadline retail industry was a detractor, while in the automobiles industry, an underweight to Tesla was detrimental.
Selections in the health care sector also hindered performance compared with the benchmark in part due to an investor shift out of more defensive sectors in favor of a handful of the largest growth stocks. Shares of Incyte, a biotechnology firm, were a leading detractor. Incyte’s recent quarterly revenues and earnings were disappointing because of mixed results for some of its leading cancer drugs. We exited this position. Health care providers and services firm CVS Health’s shares declined during the period. The company continues to face a number of headwinds, including rising costs for its insurance unit and concerns around the potential regulation of pharmacy benefit managers. We exited this position.
Utilities and Real Estate Contributed to Relative Returns
An underweight to the utilities sector was a primary contributor to performance. Within this sector, underweights in the electric utilities and multi-utilities industries contributed most to results compared with the benchmark. In these industries, a lack of exposure to NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy, respectively, was particularly beneficial. The contribution of the real estate sector came largely from positioning in the specialized REITs industry. Avoiding shares of American Tower and Crown Castle proved beneficial to relative returns. In addition, not owning residential real estate investment trusts (REITs) improved relative performance as well.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
5
Fund Characteristics |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets | ||||
Common Stocks | 99.5% | ||||
Short-Term Investments | 0.3% | ||||
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.2% | ||||
Top Five Industries | % of net assets | ||||
Software | 11.8% | ||||
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 8.7% | ||||
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals | 7.4% | ||||
Interactive Media and Services | 6.2% | ||||
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels | 5.3% |
6
Shareholder Fee Example |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then 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 under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments mutual fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s 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 your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, 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.
7
Beginning Account Value 1/1/23 | Ending Account Value 6/30/23 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) | |||||||||||
Actual | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,136.70 | $3.50 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,138.00 | $2.44 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,135.20 | $4.82 | 0.91% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,131.60 | $8.77 | 1.66% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,133.80 | $6.14 | 1.16% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,138.00 | $2.44 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
Hypothetical | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.52 | $3.31 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,022.51 | $2.31 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,020.28 | $4.56 | 0.91% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,016.56 | $8.30 | 1.66% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,019.04 | $5.81 | 1.16% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,022.51 | $2.31 | 0.46% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
8
Schedule of Investments |
JUNE 30, 2023
Shares | Value | |||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.5% | ||||||||
Aerospace and Defense — 2.0% | ||||||||
General Dynamics Corp. | 18,122 | $ | 3,898,948 | |||||
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 56,994 | 26,238,898 | ||||||
Textron, Inc. | 62,550 | 4,230,257 | ||||||
34,368,103 | ||||||||
Air Freight and Logistics — 1.1% | ||||||||
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | 22,415 | 2,715,129 | ||||||
FedEx Corp. | 6,985 | 1,731,582 | ||||||
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | 78,721 | 14,110,739 | ||||||
18,557,450 | ||||||||
Automobiles — 1.0% | ||||||||
Tesla, Inc.(1) | 68,247 | 17,865,017 | ||||||
Banks — 2.7% | ||||||||
Bank of America Corp. | 199,785 | 5,731,832 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 182,559 | 26,551,381 | ||||||
U.S. Bancorp | 129,886 | 4,291,433 | ||||||
Wells Fargo & Co. | 267,340 | 11,410,071 | ||||||
47,984,717 | ||||||||
Beverages — 2.0% | ||||||||
Coca-Cola Co. | 381,299 | 22,961,826 | ||||||
PepsiCo, Inc. | 66,034 | 12,230,817 | ||||||
35,192,643 | ||||||||
Biotechnology — 3.2% | ||||||||
AbbVie, Inc. | 69,251 | 9,330,187 | ||||||
Amgen, Inc. | 21,189 | 4,704,382 | ||||||
Exelixis, Inc.(1) | 170,644 | 3,261,007 | ||||||
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 92,982 | 7,166,122 | ||||||
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 11,187 | 8,038,307 | ||||||
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 67,179 | 23,640,962 | ||||||
56,140,967 | ||||||||
Broadline Retail — 2.0% | ||||||||
Amazon.com, Inc.(1) | 262,805 | 34,259,260 | ||||||
Building Products — 1.2% | ||||||||
Builders FirstSource, Inc.(1) | 45,375 | 6,171,000 | ||||||
Carlisle Cos., Inc. | 23,984 | 6,152,616 | ||||||
Johnson Controls International PLC | 26,428 | 1,800,804 | ||||||
Masco Corp. | 60,885 | 3,493,581 | ||||||
Owens Corning | 22,960 | 2,996,280 | ||||||
20,614,281 | ||||||||
Capital Markets — 1.5% | ||||||||
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | 44,372 | 6,123,780 | ||||||
Franklin Resources, Inc. | 135,560 | 3,620,808 | ||||||
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc. | 15,581 | 3,387,777 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley | 101,094 | 8,633,427 | ||||||
MSCI, Inc. | 5,902 | 2,769,749 | ||||||
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | 20,503 | 2,296,746 | ||||||
26,832,287 |
9
Shares | Value | |||||||
Chemicals — 1.9% | ||||||||
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | 23,970 | $ | 7,179,734 | |||||
Dow, Inc. | 164,588 | 8,765,957 | ||||||
Linde PLC | 17,994 | 6,857,154 | ||||||
LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A | 110,435 | 10,141,246 | ||||||
32,944,091 | ||||||||
Commercial Services and Supplies — 0.6% | ||||||||
Republic Services, Inc. | 30,671 | 4,697,877 | ||||||
Waste Management, Inc. | 34,162 | 5,924,374 | ||||||
10,622,251 | ||||||||
Communications Equipment — 1.0% | ||||||||
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 330,447 | 17,097,328 | ||||||
Consumer Finance — 1.2% | ||||||||
American Express Co. | 82,228 | 14,324,118 | ||||||
Capital One Financial Corp. | 26,653 | 2,915,039 | ||||||
Synchrony Financial | 101,682 | 3,449,053 | ||||||
20,688,210 | ||||||||
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 1.2% | ||||||||
Kroger Co. | 190,391 | 8,948,377 | ||||||
Walmart, Inc. | 76,716 | 12,058,221 | ||||||
21,006,598 | ||||||||
Containers and Packaging — 0.2% | ||||||||
Graphic Packaging Holding Co. | 129,001 | 3,099,894 | ||||||
Distributors — 0.6% | ||||||||
Genuine Parts Co. | 28,108 | 4,756,717 | ||||||
LKQ Corp. | 84,092 | 4,900,041 | ||||||
9,656,758 | ||||||||
Diversified Consumer Services — 0.1% | ||||||||
H&R Block, Inc. | 45,349 | 1,445,273 | ||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.2% | ||||||||
AT&T, Inc. | 208,939 | 3,332,577 | ||||||
Electric Utilities — 0.7% | ||||||||
Edison International | 40,337 | 2,801,405 | ||||||
FirstEnergy Corp. | 153,205 | 5,956,610 | ||||||
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | 37,816 | 3,080,491 | ||||||
11,838,506 | ||||||||
Electrical Equipment — 0.4% | ||||||||
Acuity Brands, Inc. | 18,983 | 3,095,747 | ||||||
Atkore, Inc.(1) | 24,438 | 3,810,862 | ||||||
6,906,609 | ||||||||
Entertainment — 1.4% | ||||||||
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 77,877 | 10,100,647 | ||||||
Netflix, Inc.(1) | 33,454 | 14,736,152 | ||||||
24,836,799 | ||||||||
Financial Services — 3.6% | ||||||||
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(1) | 49,033 | 16,720,253 | ||||||
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 16,605 | 6,530,747 | ||||||
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(1) | 168,476 | 11,242,403 | ||||||
Visa, Inc., Class A | 121,236 | 28,791,125 | ||||||
63,284,528 | ||||||||
Food Products — 0.7% | ||||||||
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | 53,680 | 4,056,061 |
10
Shares | Value | |||||||
General Mills, Inc. | 94,674 | $ | 7,261,496 | |||||
11,317,557 | ||||||||
Gas Utilities — 0.1% | ||||||||
Atmos Energy Corp. | 21,783 | 2,534,234 | ||||||
Ground Transportation — 0.6% | ||||||||
Uber Technologies, Inc.(1) | 255,849 | 11,045,001 | ||||||
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 2.3% | ||||||||
Abbott Laboratories | 251,535 | 27,422,346 | ||||||
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(1) | 47,061 | 4,439,264 | ||||||
Hologic, Inc.(1) | 63,606 | 5,150,178 | ||||||
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | 24,309 | 3,539,390 | ||||||
40,551,178 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers and Services — 3.3% | ||||||||
AmerisourceBergen Corp. | 22,085 | 4,249,816 | ||||||
Cardinal Health, Inc. | 101,947 | 9,641,128 | ||||||
Centene Corp.(1) | 41,908 | 2,826,695 | ||||||
Elevance Health, Inc. | 12,385 | 5,502,532 | ||||||
Henry Schein, Inc.(1) | 39,783 | 3,226,401 | ||||||
Humana, Inc. | 19,891 | 8,893,863 | ||||||
McKesson Corp. | 26,627 | 11,377,983 | ||||||
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. | 11,822 | 1,661,700 | ||||||
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 20,606 | 9,904,068 | ||||||
57,284,186 | ||||||||
Health Care Technology — 0.3% | ||||||||
Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A(1) | 26,178 | 5,176,176 | ||||||
Hotel & Resort REITs — 0.2% | ||||||||
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | 244,715 | 4,118,553 | ||||||
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 2.2% | ||||||||
Booking Holdings, Inc.(1) | 5,828 | 15,737,523 | ||||||
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 38,536 | 6,438,595 | ||||||
Expedia Group, Inc.(1) | 95,814 | 10,481,094 | ||||||
Starbucks Corp. | 36,412 | 3,606,973 | ||||||
Yum! Brands, Inc. | 21,619 | 2,995,312 | ||||||
39,259,497 | ||||||||
Household Durables — 0.2% | ||||||||
Lennar Corp., Class A | 23,084 | 2,892,656 | ||||||
Household Products — 2.9% | ||||||||
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | 214,429 | 16,519,610 | ||||||
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | 78,444 | 10,829,979 | ||||||
Procter & Gamble Co. | 148,433 | 22,523,223 | ||||||
49,872,812 | ||||||||
Industrial REITs — 0.3% | ||||||||
Prologis, Inc. | 40,242 | 4,934,876 | ||||||
Insurance — 1.4% | ||||||||
Chubb Ltd. | 10,882 | 2,095,438 | ||||||
Everest Re Group Ltd. | 5,284 | 1,806,388 | ||||||
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | 24,109 | 1,736,330 | ||||||
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 70,259 | 13,214,313 | ||||||
Travelers Cos., Inc. | 30,741 | 5,338,482 | ||||||
24,190,951 |
11
Shares | Value | |||||||
Interactive Media and Services — 6.2% | ||||||||
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(1) | 285,069 | $ | 34,122,760 | |||||
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1) | 269,992 | 32,660,932 | ||||||
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A(1) | 143,987 | 41,321,389 | ||||||
108,105,081 | ||||||||
IT Services — 0.9% | ||||||||
Accenture PLC, Class A | 53,647 | 16,554,391 | ||||||
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 2.1% | ||||||||
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 55,696 | 6,697,444 | ||||||
Danaher Corp. | 89,055 | 21,373,200 | ||||||
Illumina, Inc.(1) | 28,341 | 5,313,654 | ||||||
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 5,364 | 2,798,667 | ||||||
36,182,965 | ||||||||
Machinery — 2.8% | ||||||||
Caterpillar, Inc. | 22,871 | 5,627,410 | ||||||
Cummins, Inc. | 18,596 | 4,558,995 | ||||||
Mueller Industries, Inc. | 55,528 | 4,846,484 | ||||||
Otis Worldwide Corp. | 137,222 | 12,214,130 | ||||||
PACCAR, Inc. | 33,886 | 2,834,564 | ||||||
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 35,781 | 13,956,021 | ||||||
Snap-on, Inc. | 17,821 | 5,135,834 | ||||||
49,173,438 | ||||||||
Media — 0.8% | ||||||||
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A(1) | 4,226 | 1,552,506 | ||||||
Comcast Corp., Class A | 305,189 | 12,680,603 | ||||||
14,233,109 | ||||||||
Metals and Mining — 0.2% | ||||||||
Nucor Corp. | 19,868 | 3,257,955 | ||||||
Multi-Utilities — 0.4% | ||||||||
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | 51,899 | 4,691,669 | ||||||
DTE Energy Co. | 14,333 | 1,576,917 | ||||||
Sempra Energy | 10,415 | 1,516,320 | ||||||
7,784,906 | ||||||||
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 5.3% | ||||||||
Cheniere Energy, Inc. | 17,299 | 2,635,676 | ||||||
Chevron Corp. | 33,653 | 5,295,299 | ||||||
ConocoPhillips | 172,634 | 17,886,609 | ||||||
Exxon Mobil Corp. | 357,435 | 38,334,904 | ||||||
Marathon Petroleum Corp. | 97,678 | 11,389,255 | ||||||
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | 51,745 | 10,720,529 | ||||||
Valero Energy Corp. | 58,054 | 6,809,734 | ||||||
93,072,006 | ||||||||
Pharmaceuticals — 3.4% | ||||||||
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 91,594 | 5,857,436 | ||||||
Eli Lilly & Co. | 24,399 | 11,442,643 | ||||||
Johnson & Johnson | 85,568 | 14,163,216 | ||||||
Merck & Co., Inc. | 245,492 | 28,327,322 | ||||||
59,790,617 | ||||||||
Professional Services — 0.1% | ||||||||
TriNet Group, Inc.(1) | 23,238 | 2,206,913 | ||||||
Real Estate Management and Development — 0.3% | ||||||||
CBRE Group, Inc., Class A(1) | 69,144 | 5,580,612 |
12
Shares | Value | |||||||
Retail REITs — 0.5% | ||||||||
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 71,001 | $ | 8,199,195 | |||||
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 8.7% | ||||||||
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(1) | 126,619 | 14,423,170 | ||||||
Analog Devices, Inc. | 35,413 | 6,898,807 | ||||||
Broadcom, Inc. | 35,143 | 30,484,093 | ||||||
KLA Corp. | 27,051 | 13,120,276 | ||||||
Marvell Technology, Inc. | 35,726 | 2,135,700 | ||||||
Microchip Technology, Inc. | 211,045 | 18,907,522 | ||||||
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 7,693 | 4,155,989 | ||||||
NVIDIA Corp. | 102,891 | 43,524,951 | ||||||
NXP Semiconductors NV | 66,887 | 13,690,431 | ||||||
ON Semiconductor Corp.(1) | 53,106 | 5,022,765 | ||||||
152,363,704 | ||||||||
Software — 11.8% | ||||||||
Adobe, Inc.(1) | 55,668 | 27,221,095 | ||||||
Autodesk, Inc.(1) | 29,556 | 6,047,453 | ||||||
Fortinet, Inc.(1) | 48,601 | 3,673,750 | ||||||
Intuit, Inc. | 25,446 | 11,659,103 | ||||||
Microsoft Corp. | 301,008 | 102,505,264 | ||||||
Oracle Corp. (New York) | 109,125 | 12,995,696 | ||||||
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(1) | 22,294 | 5,696,340 | ||||||
Salesforce, Inc.(1) | 86,257 | 18,222,654 | ||||||
ServiceNow, Inc.(1) | 26,805 | 15,063,606 | ||||||
Synopsys, Inc.(1) | 6,409 | 2,790,543 | ||||||
205,875,504 | ||||||||
Specialized REITs — 0.2% | ||||||||
Equinix, Inc. | 3,455 | 2,708,513 | ||||||
Specialty Retail — 3.2% | ||||||||
Home Depot, Inc. | 52,980 | 16,457,707 | ||||||
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 74,397 | 16,791,403 | ||||||
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.(1) | 12,622 | 12,057,797 | ||||||
TJX Cos., Inc. | 50,807 | 4,307,925 | ||||||
Ulta Beauty, Inc.(1) | 13,944 | 6,561,977 | ||||||
56,176,809 | ||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 7.4% | ||||||||
Apple, Inc. | 666,930 | 129,364,412 | ||||||
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 0.2% | ||||||||
Tapestry, Inc. | 73,746 | 3,156,329 | ||||||
Trading Companies and Distributors — 0.7% | ||||||||
Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.(1) | 36,796 | 3,053,332 | ||||||
United Rentals, Inc. | 22,139 | 9,860,047 | ||||||
12,913,379 | ||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $1,286,810,505) | 1,738,451,662 | |||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.3% | ||||||||
Money Market Funds† | ||||||||
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 10,596 | 10,596 | ||||||
Repurchase Agreements — 0.3% | ||||||||
BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 4.25% - 4.50%, 5/15/38 - 11/15/40, valued at $956,982), in a joint trading account at 5.02%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $932,830) | 932,440 |
13
Shares | Value | |||||||
Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 1.875%, 2/15/32, valued at $5,156,182), at 5.04%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $5,057,123) | $ | 5,055,000 | ||||||
5,987,440 | ||||||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $5,998,036) | 5,998,036 | |||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.8% (Cost $1,292,808,541) | 1,744,449,698 | |||||||
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.2% | 3,086,043 | |||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 1,747,535,741 |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
†Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets.
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Assets | |||||
Investment securities, at value (cost of $1,292,808,541) | $ | 1,744,449,698 | |||
Receivable for investments sold | 3,453,948 | ||||
Receivable for capital shares sold | 309,793 | ||||
Dividends and interest receivable | 1,262,114 | ||||
1,749,475,553 | |||||
Liabilities | |||||
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 1,054,870 | ||||
Accrued management fees | 865,753 | ||||
Distribution and service fees payable | 19,189 | ||||
1,939,812 | |||||
Net Assets | $ | 1,747,535,741 | |||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 1,551,460,021 | |||
Distributable earnings (loss) | 196,075,720 | ||||
$ | 1,747,535,741 |
Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share* | |||||||||
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $1,366,593,817 | 54,897,161 | $24.89 | ||||||||
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $306,157,094 | 12,275,901 | $24.94 | ||||||||
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $49,322,597 | 1,986,212 | $24.83 | ||||||||
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $2,040,559 | 84,599 | $24.12 | ||||||||
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $18,677,060 | 751,902 | $24.84 | ||||||||
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $4,744,614 | 190,203 | $24.95 |
*Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except A Class, for which the maximum offering price per share was $26.34 (net asset value divided by 0.9425). A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of A Class and C Class.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
15
Statement of Operations |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Investment Income (Loss) | |||||
Income: | |||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $390,249) | $ | 49,825,818 | |||
Interest | 580,217 | ||||
50,406,035 | |||||
Expenses: | |||||
Management fees | 13,076,020 | ||||
Distribution and service fees: | |||||
A Class | 121,629 | ||||
C Class | 26,545 | ||||
R Class | 95,665 | ||||
Directors' fees and expenses | 156,998 | ||||
Other expenses | 9,926 | ||||
13,486,783 | |||||
Fees waived - G Class | (1,958,867) | ||||
11,527,916 | |||||
Net investment income (loss) | 38,878,119 | ||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |||||
Investment transactions | (33,714,925) | ||||
Futures contract transactions | (7,731,597) | ||||
Foreign currency translation transactions | 13,378 | ||||
(41,433,144) | |||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |||||
Investments | 230,449,675 | ||||
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 41,243 | ||||
230,490,918 | |||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 189,057,774 | ||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 227,935,893 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND JUNE 30, 2022 | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 38,878,119 | $ | 22,398,008 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) | (41,433,144) | 115,904,296 | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 230,490,918 | (538,940,047) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 227,935,893 | (400,637,743) | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
From earnings: | ||||||||
Investor Class | (127,015,055) | (468,693,602) | ||||||
I Class | (25,537,540) | (110,801,988) | ||||||
A Class | (3,994,179) | (16,884,842) | ||||||
C Class | (217,827) | (1,066,880) | ||||||
R Class | (1,571,464) | (5,841,970) | ||||||
R5 Class | (437,889) | (1,288,263) | ||||||
G Class | (77,289,590) | (3,423,529) | ||||||
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (236,063,544) | (608,001,074) | ||||||
Capital Share Transactions | ||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | (1,208,655,291) | 1,314,783,106 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (1,216,782,942) | 306,144,289 | ||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 2,964,318,683 | 2,658,174,394 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 1,747,535,741 | $ | 2,964,318,683 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
17
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2023
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Equity Growth Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth by investing in common stocks.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Sale of the G Class commenced on May 5, 2022. On December 19, 2022, there were no outstanding G Class shares and the fund discontinued offering G Class.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The value of investments of the fund is determined by American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor), as the valuation designee, pursuant to its valuation policies and procedures. The Board of Directors oversees the valuation designee and reviews its valuation policies and procedures at least annually.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the valuation designee determines that the market price for a portfolio security is not readily available or is believed by the valuation designee to be unreliable, such security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the valuation designee, in accordance with its policies and procedures. Circumstances that may cause the fund to determine that market quotations are not available or reliable include, but are not limited to: when there is a significant event subsequent to the market quotation; trading in a security has been halted during the trading day; or trading in a security is insufficient or did not take place due to a closure or holiday.
18
The valuation designee monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; regulatory news, governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The valuation designee also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that it deems appropriate. The valuation designee may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that ACIM has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund's policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
19
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation's investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation's transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund's assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all funds in the American Century Investments family of funds that have the same investment advisor and distributor as the fund. For purposes of determining the Investment Category Fee and Complex Fee, the assets of funds managed by the investment advisor that invest exclusively in the shares of other funds (funds of funds) are not included. During the period, the investment advisor waived the G Class's management fee in its entirety.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2023 are as follows:
Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee | |||||||||
Investor Class | 0.3380% to 0.5200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | ||||||||
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% | |||||||||
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% | |||||||||
G Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.00%(1) |
(1)Effective annual management fee before waiver was 0.45%.
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2023 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
20
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund's officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $34,615,451 and $153,983,802, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $32,157,692 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended June 30, 2023 were $3,769,158,822 and $5,136,919,828, respectively.
21
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
Year ended June 30, 2023 | Year ended June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 850,000,000 | 850,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 1,753,291 | $ | 41,540,272 | 2,162,223 | $ | 69,900,163 | ||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 5,260,468 | 123,460,216 | 15,083,960 | 455,919,413 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (16,581,216) | (388,132,087) | (7,436,309) | (237,154,442) | ||||||||||
(9,567,457) | (223,131,599) | 9,809,874 | 288,665,134 | |||||||||||
I Class/Shares Authorized | 140,000,000 | 140,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 1,043,527 | 24,680,467 | 1,113,201 | 36,247,854 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,076,037 | 25,296,991 | 3,627,606 | 109,816,974 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (5,258,972) | (122,798,567) | (4,310,476) | (150,952,424) | ||||||||||
(3,139,408) | (72,821,109) | 430,331 | (4,887,596) | |||||||||||
A Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 197,824 | 4,676,284 | 251,391 | 7,912,937 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 159,562 | 3,734,444 | 525,462 | 15,858,419 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (522,827) | (12,426,415) | (687,012) | (21,744,508) | ||||||||||
(165,441) | (4,015,687) | 89,841 | 2,026,848 | |||||||||||
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 5,122 | 116,676 | 14,076 | 431,480 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 8,400 | 191,371 | 33,111 | 975,417 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (73,601) | (1,665,269) | (40,328) | (1,309,186) | ||||||||||
(60,079) | (1,357,222) | 6,859 | 97,711 | |||||||||||
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 160,903 | 3,767,016 | 149,641 | 4,863,355 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 67,124 | 1,571,363 | 193,595 | 5,841,930 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (289,406) | (6,780,601) | (211,365) | (6,698,922) | ||||||||||
(61,379) | (1,442,222) | 131,871 | 4,006,363 | |||||||||||
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 58,002 | 1,388,428 | 50,658 | 1,614,330 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 14,804 | 348,099 | 33,525 | 1,014,588 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (70,777) | (1,627,963) | (62,490) | (2,140,726) | ||||||||||
2,029 | 108,564 | 21,693 | 488,192 | |||||||||||
G Class(1)/Shares Authorized | 1,300,000,000 | 1,300,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 758,320 | 18,614,646 | 675,115 | 17,485,107 | ||||||||||
Issued in connection with reorganization (Note 10) | — | — | 38,668,740 | 1,003,951,333 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 3,277,978 | 77,289,590 | 141,176 | 3,423,529 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (43,502,799) | (1,001,900,252) | (18,530) | (473,515) | ||||||||||
(39,466,501) | (905,996,016) | 39,466,501 | 1,024,386,454 | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) | (52,458,236) | $ | (1,208,655,291) | 49,956,970 | $ | 1,314,783,106 |
(1)May 5, 2022 (commencement of sale) through June 30, 2022, and July 1, 2022 through December 19, 2022 (liquidation date).
22
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund's investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Investment Securities | |||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 1,738,451,662 | — | — | |||||||
Short-Term Investments | 10,596 | $ | 5,987,440 | — | |||||||
$ | 1,738,462,258 | $ | 5,987,440 | — |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). A fund may incur charges or earn income on cash deposit balances, which are reflected in interest expenses or interest income, respectively. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $69,861,992 futures contracts sold.
At period end, the fund did not have any derivative instruments disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $(7,731,597) in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, war, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
23
The fund's investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 were as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Distributions Paid From | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 37,539,997 | $ | 251,529,979 | ||||
Long-term capital gains | $ | 198,523,547 | $ | 356,471,095 |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 1,308,178,751 | |||
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 452,295,220 | |||
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (16,024,273) | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | 436,270,947 | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) on derivatives and translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 7,400 | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) | $ | 436,278,347 | |||
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 638,196 | |||
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (240,840,823) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an unlimited period. Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
10. Reorganization
On December 16, 2021, the Board of Directors approved an agreement and plan of reorganization (the reorganization), whereby the net assets of NT Equity Growth Fund, one fund in a series issued by the corporation, were transferred to Equity Growth Fund in exchange for shares of Equity Growth Fund. The purpose of the transaction was to combine two funds with substantially similar investment objectives and strategies. The financial statements and performance history of Equity Growth Fund survived after the reorganization. The reorganization was effective at the close of the NYSE on May 13, 2022.
The reorganization was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of shares. On May 13, 2022, NT Equity Growth Fund exchanged its shares for shares of Equity Growth Fund as follows:
Original Fund/Class | Shares Exchanged | New Fund/Class | Shares Received | ||||||||
NT Equity Growth Fund – G Class | 103,917,236 | Equity Growth Fund – G Class | 38,668,740 |
The net assets of NT Equity Growth Fund and Equity Growth Fund immediately before the reorganization were $1,003,951,333 and $2,177,347,539, respectively. NT Equity Growth Fund's unrealized appreciation of $120,051,030 was combined with that of Equity Growth Fund. Immediately after the reorganization, the combined net assets were $3,181,298,872.
24
Financial Highlights |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $24.15 | 0.36 | 2.47 | 2.83 | (0.37) | (1.72) | (2.09) | $24.89 | 12.34% | 0.66% | 1.60% | 169% | $1,366,594 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $36.56 | 0.24 | (3.83) | (3.59) | (0.22) | (8.60) | (8.82) | $24.15 | (14.48)% | 0.65% | 0.80% | 238% | $1,556,896 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $30.41 | 0.29 | 9.82 | 10.11 | (0.29) | (3.67) | (3.96) | $36.56 | 35.42% | 0.66% | 0.84% | 186% | $1,998,353 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $31.73 | 0.34 | 1.58 | 1.92 | (0.33) | (2.91) | (3.24) | $30.41 | 5.86% | 0.67% | 1.09% | 113% | $1,789,426 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $33.36 | 0.39 | 1.56 | 1.95 | (0.37) | (3.21) | (3.58) | $31.73 | 7.21% | 0.67% | 1.23% | 80% | $2,289,532 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $24.19 | 0.39 | 2.50 | 2.89 | (0.42) | (1.72) | (2.14) | $24.94 | 12.59% | 0.46% | 1.80% | 169% | $306,157 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $36.61 | 0.30 | (3.84) | (3.54) | (0.28) | (8.60) | (8.88) | $24.19 | (14.32)% | 0.45% | 1.00% | 238% | $372,948 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $30.45 | 0.34 | 9.85 | 10.19 | (0.36) | (3.67) | (4.03) | $36.61 | 35.68% | 0.46% | 1.04% | 186% | $548,632 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $31.76 | 0.40 | 1.59 | 1.99 | (0.39) | (2.91) | (3.30) | $30.45 | 6.10% | 0.47% | 1.29% | 113% | $419,610 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $33.39 | 0.45 | 1.56 | 2.01 | (0.43) | (3.21) | (3.64) | $31.76 | 7.41% | 0.47% | 1.43% | 80% | $445,933 |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $24.10 | 0.29 | 2.47 | 2.76 | (0.31) | (1.72) | (2.03) | $24.83 | 12.09% | 0.91% | 1.35% | 169% | $49,323 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $36.50 | 0.15 | (3.81) | (3.66) | (0.14) | (8.60) | (8.74) | $24.10 | (14.73)% | 0.90% | 0.55% | 238% | $51,847 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $30.36 | 0.20 | 9.81 | 10.01 | (0.20) | (3.67) | (3.87) | $36.50 | 35.10% | 0.91% | 0.59% | 186% | $75,252 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $31.69 | 0.26 | 1.57 | 1.83 | (0.25) | (2.91) | (3.16) | $30.36 | 5.57% | 0.92% | 0.84% | 113% | $61,504 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $33.32 | 0.31 | 1.57 | 1.88 | (0.30) | (3.21) | (3.51) | $31.69 | 6.96% | 0.92% | 0.98% | 80% | $81,086 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $23.48 | 0.12 | 2.39 | 2.51 | (0.15) | (1.72) | (1.87) | $24.12 | 11.23% | 1.66% | 0.60% | 169% | $2,041 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $35.92 | (0.09) | (3.71) | (3.80) | (0.04) | (8.60) | (8.64) | $23.48 | (15.34)% | 1.65% | (0.20)% | 238% | $3,397 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $29.98 | (0.05) | 9.66 | 9.61 | —(3) | (3.67) | (3.67) | $35.92 | 34.07% | 1.66% | (0.16)% | 186% | $4,950 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $31.34 | 0.03 | 1.55 | 1.58 | (0.03) | (2.91) | (2.94) | $29.98 | 4.80% | 1.67% | 0.09% | 113% | $5,880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $33.00 | 0.07 | 1.55 | 1.62 | (0.07) | (3.21) | (3.28) | $31.34 | 6.17% | 1.67% | 0.23% | 80% | $7,378 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $24.10 | 0.23 | 2.48 | 2.71 | (0.25) | (1.72) | (1.97) | $24.84 | 11.80% | 1.16% | 1.10% | 169% | $18,677 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $36.53 | 0.07 | (3.82) | (3.75) | (0.08) | (8.60) | (8.68) | $24.10 | (14.92)% | 1.15% | 0.30% | 238% | $19,602 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $30.38 | 0.12 | 9.81 | 9.93 | (0.11) | (3.67) | (3.78) | $36.53 | 34.77% | 1.16% | 0.34% | 186% | $24,891 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $31.71 | 0.18 | 1.57 | 1.75 | (0.17) | (2.91) | (3.08) | $30.38 | 5.31% | 1.17% | 0.59% | 113% | $21,394 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $33.34 | 0.23 | 1.57 | 1.80 | (0.22) | (3.21) | (3.43) | $31.71 | 6.69% | 1.17% | 0.73% | 80% | $21,413 |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R5 Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $24.20 | 0.40 | 2.49 | 2.89 | (0.42) | (1.72) | (2.14) | $24.95 | 12.59% | 0.46% | 1.80% | 169% | $4,745 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $36.62 | 0.30 | (3.84) | (3.54) | (0.28) | (8.60) | (8.88) | $24.20 | (14.34)% | 0.45% | 1.00% | 238% | $4,553 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $30.45 | 0.34 | 9.86 | 10.20 | (0.36) | (3.67) | (4.03) | $36.62 | 35.72% | 0.46% | 1.04% | 186% | $6,096 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $31.77 | 0.40 | 1.58 | 1.98 | (0.39) | (2.91) | (3.30) | $30.45 | 6.06% | 0.47% | 1.29% | 113% | $2,302 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $33.39 | 0.45 | 1.57 | 2.02 | (0.43) | (3.21) | (3.64) | $31.77 | 7.44% | 0.47% | 1.43% | 80% | $2,069 |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
*The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations or precisely reflect the class expense differentials due to the timing of transactions in shares of the fund in relation to income earned and/or fluctuations in the fair value of the fund's investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Equity Growth Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for the two 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 Equity Growth Fund of the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, and the results of its operations for the year then ended and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, were audited by other auditors, whose report, dated August 17, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
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 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 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 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 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 June 30, 2023, 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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 16, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Century investment companies since 1997.
28
Management |
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Jonathan S. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Jeremy I. Bulow, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Jonathan S. Thomas is 3945 Freedom Circle, Suite #800, Santa Clara, California 95054. The mailing address for Jonathan S. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director and Board Chair | Since 2011 (Board Chair since 2022) | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 32 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd. | ||||||||||||
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 83 | None | ||||||||||||
Jennifer Cabalquinto (1968) | Director | Since 2021 | Chief Financial Officer, EMPIRE (digital media distribution) (2023 to present); Chief Financial Officer, 2K (interactive entertainment) (2021 to 2023); Special Advisor, GSW Sports, LLC (2020 to 2021); Chief Financial Officer, GSW Sports, LLC (2013 to 2020) | 32 | Sabio Holdings Inc. |
29
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 32 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines | ||||||||||||
Interested Director | |||||||||||||||||
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 148 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
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Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for 16 investment companies in the American Century family of funds. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | ||||||
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries | ||||||
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018 | Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present) | ||||||
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS | ||||||
John Pak (1968) | General Counsel and Senior Vice President since 2021 | General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACC (2021 to present). Also serves as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACIM, ACS and ACIS. Chief Legal Officer of Investment and Wealth Management, The Bank of New York Mellon (2014 to 2021) | ||||||
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS | ||||||
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
31
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 14, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent data providers concerning the Fund.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, distribution services, and other services provided to the Fund;
•the wide range of programs and services the Advisor and other service providers provide to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance compared to appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similarly-managed funds;
•the Advisor’s compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience and those of certain other service providers;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, generally, and with respect to areas of heightened interest in the mutual fund industry and certain recent geopolitical and other issues;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans, vendor management practices, and information security practices;
•the cost of services provided to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the Advisor’s financial results of operation;
•possible economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
32
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including but not limited to
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•liquidity monitoring and management
•risk management, including information security
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results and any actions being taken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
33
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including information security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, and its financial results of operation. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the terms of the current management agreement. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its fee structure and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage and other transaction fees and expenses relating to acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fund litigation expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Investment Company Act Rule 12b-1. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
34
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board also noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and received over time, concluded that the terms of the management agreement are fair and reasonable and that the management fee charged to the Fund is reasonable in light of the services provided and that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor should be renewed for an additional one-year period.
35
Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates, including members of ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments, conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to the program.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of certain investments held by the Fund is supported by a third-party liquidity assessment vendor.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
36
Additional Information |
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding at the IRS default rate of 10%.* Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
You may elect a different withholding rate, or request zero withholding, by submitting an acceptable IRS Form W-4R election with your distribution request. You may notify us of your W-4R election by telephone, on our distribution forms, on IRS Form W-4R, or through other acceptable electronic means. If your withholding election is for an automatic withdrawal plan, you have the right to revoke your election at any time and any election you make will remain in effect until revoked by filing a new election.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld according to state regulations if, at the time of your distribution, your tax residency is within one of the mandatory withholding states.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
37
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $37,539,997, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $198,523,547, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
38
Notes |
39
Notes |
40
Contact Us | americancentury.com | |||||||
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |||||||
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |||||||
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |||||||
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |||||||
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |||||||
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |||||||
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | ||||||||
Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | ||||||||
This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | ||||||||
©2023 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92990 2308 |
Annual Report | |||||
June 30, 2023 | |||||
Global Gold Fund | |||||
Investor Class (BGEIX) | |||||
I Class (AGGNX) | |||||
A Class (ACGGX) | |||||
C Class (AGYCX) | |||||
R Class (AGGWX) |
Table of Contents |
President's Letter | |||||
Performance | |||||
Portfolio Commentary | |||||
Fund Characteristics | |||||
Shareholder Fee Example | |||||
Schedule of Investments | |||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||
Statement of Operations | |||||
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |||||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||||
Financial Highlights | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
Management | |||||
Approval of Management Agreement | |||||
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |||||
Additional Information |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
President’s Letter |
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2023. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Second-Half Rally Generated Strong Fiscal-Year Returns
After ending 2022 with modest six-month gains, stocks rallied in the first half of 2023. This bounce back, which occurred despite ongoing volatility and rising interest rates, led to strong 12-month performance for most stock indices. Investor expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to conclude its rate-hike campaign largely fueled the optimism.
Inflation’s pace steadily slowed during the period, which, combined with mounting recession worries, prompted investors to regularly recalibrate their monetary policy outlooks. However, with inflation still above target and the labor market resilient, policymakers continued to raise rates.
A new challenge emerged in March when several high-profile banks failed. Market unrest escalated, but quick action from regulators helped restore order. Nevertheless, heightened uncertainty surrounding the banking industry and credit availability further fueled recession fears. These worries strengthened investor expectations for a near-term end to central bank tightening and potential rate cuts later in the year.
The Fed, which announced its 10th-consecutive rate hike in May, paused its tightening campaign in June. However, citing still-high inflation and still-strong economic data, policymakers hinted the pause wasn’t permanent. Expectations for rate cuts faded, but many market participants shifted their focus to a potential soft-landing scenario.
Overall, robust performance in the second half of the period propelled the S&P 500 Index to a 12-month return of nearly 20%. U.S. stocks outpaced non-U.S. stocks, large-cap stocks generally outperformed small caps, and growth significantly outperformed value.
Remaining Diligent in Uncertain Times
We expect market volatility to linger as investors navigate a complex environment of persistent inflation, tighter financial conditions, banking industry turbulence and recession risk. In addition, increasingly tense geopolitical considerations complicate the market backdrop.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. American Century Investments has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable and volatile markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
2
Performance |
Total Returns as of June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Annual Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticker Symbol | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Inception Date | |||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | BGEIX | 5.94% | 4.70% | 2.49% | 8/17/88 | ||||||||||||||||||
NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index | — | 11.83% | 7.95% | 3.62% | — | ||||||||||||||||||
MSCI World Index | — | 18.51% | 9.07% | 9.50% | — | ||||||||||||||||||
I Class | AGGNX | 6.18% | 4.90% | 2.69% | 9/28/07 | ||||||||||||||||||
A Class | ACGGX | 5/6/98 | |||||||||||||||||||||
No sales charge | 5.81% | 4.47% | 2.25% | ||||||||||||||||||||
With sales charge | -0.27% | 3.24% | 1.64% | ||||||||||||||||||||
C Class | AGYCX | 4.84% | 3.65% | 1.47% | 9/28/07 | ||||||||||||||||||
R Class | AGGWX | 5.39% | 4.19% | 1.99% | 9/28/07 |
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
3
Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years | ||
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2013 | ||
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
Value on June 30, 2023 | |||||
Investor Class — $12,785 | |||||
NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index — $14,272 | |||||
MSCI World Index — $24,792 | |||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | ||||||||||
0.66% | 0.46% | 0.91% | 1.66% | 1.16% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
4
Portfolio Commentary |
Portfolio Managers: Arun Daniel and Yulin Long
In August 2022, Arun Daniel joined the fund’s management team. Guan Wang is no longer with the firm.
Performance Summary
Global Gold rose 5.94%* for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2023. The fund’s benchmark, the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, rose 11.83% for the same time period. The fund’s return reflects operating expenses, while the index’s return does not.
Gold Made Gains Amid Market Volatility
Gold’s price rose overall but was very volatile. The price volatility can be explained by changes in the landscape for inflation, interest rates, financial markets and the U.S. dollar during the period. For example, inflation, as measured by the U.S. consumer price index, tumbled from a more than 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3% in June 2023. That change reflects in part the Federal Reserve’s attempt to tame inflation by raising rates at the fastest pace since the 1980s. Unfortunately, falling inflation and higher Treasury yields reduced the precious metal’s appeal.
Nevertheless, demand for gold from central banks and as a hedge against uncertainty remained strong. Central banks bought a record amount of gold in calendar year 2022 according to the World Gold Council and continued to add gold reserves at an aggressive pace in early 2023. Investment demand also hit the highest level in the last four quarters during the first three months of 2023. Gold was attractive because of worries about financial stability related to several high-profile bank failures in the U.S. In addition, the U.S. dollar was volatile but ultimately declined in value. The weaker the dollar, the more affordable gold is for non-U.S. buyers.
Turning to gold mining stocks, the all-in sustaining cost of production for an ounce of gold jumped to an all-time high of $1,358 in the first quarter of 2023. That reflects the effect of inflation on mining input costs, in addition to weather- and maintenance-related effects in the first quarter of 2023. However, there’s reason to believe these cost increases are temporary. That’s because the two biggest gold producers in the world, Newmont and Barrick Gold, both forecast full-year 2023 costs closer to those of 2022, which were around $1,210 to $1,220, down from around $1,370 or so in early 2023.
Notable Detractors from Relative Results
Many of the leading detractors from relative performance were strong-performing stocks to which we had some exposure, but less than the benchmark. Good examples are South African miner AngloGold Ashanti, Canada-based Alamos Gold and China-based Zhaojin Mining Industry. In general, these companies all forecast expanded output and/or lower costs going forward. Another group of detractors were those whose financial and stock performance disappointed, and in which we were overweight relative to the benchmark. Examples here include South African companies Anglo American Platinum and Pan African Resources. Both reported production shortfalls and disappointing earnings. We eliminated our stake in Anglo American Platinum.
Key Contributors to Relative Performance
Among the leading individual contributors to relative performance were portfolio-only stakes in Australian miner Pilbara Minerals and Canada-based Lundin Gold. Pilbara operates the world’s largest lithium mine. Lithium is a key ingredient in batteries for electric vehicles. Lundin reported higher output and higher-grade gold ore as conditions continued to improve at its Ecuadorian operation. Our decision to underweight or entirely avoid Pan American Silver, First Majestic Silver and Sandstorm Gold, among others, also benefited performance compared with the benchmark.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structures; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
5
Fund Characteristics |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets | ||||
Common Stocks | 99.3% | ||||
Short-Term Investments | 2.0% | ||||
Other Assets and Liabilities | (1.3)% | ||||
Top Five Countries | % of net assets | ||||
Canada | 49.2% | ||||
Australia | 19.0% | ||||
South Africa | 14.3% | ||||
United States | 8.8% | ||||
China | 5.7% |
6
Shareholder Fee Example |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then 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 under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments mutual fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s 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 your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, 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.
7
Beginning Account Value 1/1/23 | Ending Account Value 6/30/23 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) | |||||||||||
Actual | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,019.70 | $3.31 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,020.50 | $2.30 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,018.90 | $4.56 | 0.91% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,013.90 | $8.29 | 1.66% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,016.90 | $5.80 | 1.16% | ||||||||||
Hypothetical | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.52 | $3.31 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,022.51 | $2.31 | 0.46% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,020.28 | $4.56 | 0.91% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,016.56 | $8.30 | 1.66% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,019.04 | $5.81 | 1.16% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
8
Schedule of Investments |
JUNE 30, 2023
Shares | Value | |||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.3% | ||||||||
Australia — 19.0% | ||||||||
Alkane Resources Ltd.(1) | 3,594,900 | $ | 1,702,847 | |||||
Allkem Ltd.(1) | 161,000 | 1,731,402 | ||||||
Capricorn Metals Ltd.(1) | 3,200,600 | 8,692,813 | ||||||
Emerald Resources NL(1)(2) | 3,779,500 | 5,178,863 | ||||||
Evolution Mining Ltd. | 3,754,000 | 8,173,143 | ||||||
Newcrest Mining Ltd. (Sydney) | 1,381,213 | 24,638,643 | ||||||
Northern Star Resources Ltd. | 2,957,917 | 24,097,764 | ||||||
Perseus Mining Ltd. | 8,004,800 | 8,892,346 | ||||||
Pilbara Minerals Ltd. | 520,900 | 1,712,023 | ||||||
Ramelius Resources Ltd. | 7,269,300 | 6,181,159 | ||||||
Regis Resources Ltd.(1) | 2,122,300 | 2,616,386 | ||||||
Resolute Mining Ltd.(1)(2) | 17,843,600 | 4,691,264 | ||||||
West African Resources Ltd.(1) | 5,180,100 | 3,026,289 | ||||||
Westgold Resources Ltd.(1) | 6,577,200 | 6,383,060 | ||||||
107,718,002 | ||||||||
Canada — 49.2% | ||||||||
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. | 197,634 | 9,868,646 | ||||||
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (New York) | 598,773 | 29,926,674 | ||||||
Alamos Gold, Inc. (New York), Class A | 942,400 | 11,233,408 | ||||||
Aris Mining Corp. | 720,400 | 1,734,724 | ||||||
B2Gold Corp. (New York) | 5,204,200 | 18,578,994 | ||||||
Barrick Gold Corp. | 1,563,120 | 26,463,622 | ||||||
Calibre Mining Corp.(1) | 4,072,800 | 4,273,404 | ||||||
China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. | 417,100 | 1,577,408 | ||||||
Dundee Precious Metals, Inc. | 1,497,500 | 9,891,017 | ||||||
Eldorado Gold Corp.(1) | 151,800 | 1,533,180 | ||||||
Endeavour Mining PLC | 1,123,004 | 26,914,797 | ||||||
Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc.(1)(2) | 2,207,900 | 7,153,596 | ||||||
Franco-Nevada Corp. (New York) | 233,200 | 33,254,320 | ||||||
IAMGOLD Corp.(1)(2) | 3,412,700 | 8,975,401 | ||||||
K92 Mining, Inc.(1) | 423,000 | 1,836,007 | ||||||
Karora Resources, Inc.(1) | 430,600 | 1,316,422 | ||||||
Kinross Gold Corp. (New York) | 2,674,257 | 12,756,206 | ||||||
Lundin Gold, Inc. | 411,500 | 4,923,401 | ||||||
New Gold, Inc.(1) | 2,035,400 | 2,198,232 | ||||||
Novagold Resources, Inc.(1) | 280,600 | 1,112,021 | ||||||
OceanaGold Corp. | 5,291,200 | 10,424,633 | ||||||
Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.(2) | 322,200 | 4,952,214 | ||||||
Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ) | 349,563 | 5,096,628 | ||||||
Silvercorp Metals, Inc.(2) | 956,500 | 2,722,027 | ||||||
SSR Mining, Inc. | 91,100 | 1,291,798 | ||||||
Torex Gold Resources, Inc.(1) | 689,464 | 9,794,839 | ||||||
Victoria Gold Corp.(1) | 727,300 | 4,238,351 | ||||||
Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.(1) | 276,800 | 1,441,721 | ||||||
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. | 534,300 | 23,092,446 | ||||||
278,576,137 |
9
Shares | Value | |||||||
China — 5.7% | ||||||||
Zhaojin Mining Industry Co. Ltd., H Shares | 5,404,500 | $ | 6,819,390 | |||||
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd., H Shares | 17,334,000 | 25,669,579 | ||||||
32,488,969 | ||||||||
South Africa — 14.3% | ||||||||
AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., ADR | 1,485,176 | 31,322,362 | ||||||
DRDGOLD Ltd., ADR | 812,100 | 8,624,502 | ||||||
Gold Fields Ltd., ADR | 2,600,000 | 35,958,000 | ||||||
Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd., ADR | 1,280,500 | 5,378,100 | ||||||
81,282,964 | ||||||||
United Kingdom — 2.3% | ||||||||
Centamin PLC | 6,201,000 | 7,194,701 | ||||||
Hochschild Mining PLC | 3,930,000 | 3,542,291 | ||||||
Pan African Resources PLC | 14,295,500 | 2,283,480 | ||||||
13,020,472 | ||||||||
United States — 8.8% | ||||||||
Hecla Mining Co. | 535,200 | 2,756,280 | ||||||
Newmont Corp. | 654,380 | 27,915,851 | ||||||
Royal Gold, Inc. | 168,421 | 19,331,362 | ||||||
50,003,493 | ||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $417,912,338) | 563,090,037 | |||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 2.0% | ||||||||
Money Market Funds — 1.3% | ||||||||
State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio(3) | 7,173,977 | 7,173,977 | ||||||
Repurchase Agreements — 0.7% | ||||||||
BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 4.25% - 4.50%, 5/15/38 - 11/15/40, valued at $607,179), in a joint trading account at 5.02%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $591,855) | 591,608 | |||||||
Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 1.375%, 11/15/31, valued at $3,271,222), at 5.04%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $3,208,347) | 3,207,000 | |||||||
3,798,608 | ||||||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $10,972,585) | 10,972,585 | |||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 101.3% (Cost $428,884,923) | 574,062,622 | |||||||
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — (1.3)% | (7,152,019) | |||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 566,910,603 |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS | ||||||||
ADR | – | American Depositary Receipt |
(1)Non-income producing.
(2)Security, or a portion thereof, is on loan. At the period end, the aggregate value of securities on loan was $10,310,579. The amount of securities on loan indicated may not correspond with the securities on loan identified because securities with pending sales are in the process of recall from the brokers.
(3)Investment of cash collateral from securities on loan. At the period end, the aggregate value of the collateral held by the fund was $10,888,801, which includes securities collateral of $3,714,824.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
10
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Assets | |||||
Investment securities, at value (cost of $421,710,946) — including $10,310,579 of securities on loan | $ | 566,888,645 | |||
Investment made with cash collateral received for securities on loan, at value (cost of $7,173,977) | 7,173,977 | ||||
Total investment securities, at value (cost of $428,884,923) | 574,062,622 | ||||
Foreign currency holdings, at value (cost of $470,760) | 470,895 | ||||
Receivable for capital shares sold | 158,587 | ||||
Dividends and interest receivable | 65,096 | ||||
Securities lending receivable | 4,428 | ||||
574,761,628 | |||||
Liabilities | |||||
Disbursements in excess of demand deposit cash | 80,554 | ||||
Payable for collateral received for securities on loan | 7,173,977 | ||||
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 279,612 | ||||
Accrued management fees | 308,781 | ||||
Distribution and service fees payable | 8,101 | ||||
7,851,025 | |||||
Net Assets | $ | 566,910,603 | |||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 567,534,394 | |||
Distributable earnings (loss) | (623,791) | ||||
$ | 566,910,603 |
Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share* | |||||||||
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $496,570,570 | 48,578,200 | $10.22 | ||||||||
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $45,797,339 | 4,427,238 | $10.34 | ||||||||
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $15,750,270 | 1,577,314 | $9.99 | ||||||||
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $2,284,361 | 241,639 | $9.45 | ||||||||
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $6,508,063 | 659,941 | $9.86 |
*Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except A Class, for which the maximum offering price per share was $10.60 (net asset value divided by 0.9425). A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of A Class and C Class.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
11
Statement of Operations |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Investment Income (Loss) | |||||
Income: | |||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $1,165,132) | $ | 11,675,501 | |||
Interest | 185,853 | ||||
Securities lending, net | 58,740 | ||||
11,920,094 | |||||
Expenses: | |||||
Management fees | 3,497,020 | ||||
Distribution and service fees: | |||||
A Class | 39,932 | ||||
C Class | 26,521 | ||||
R Class | 33,855 | ||||
Directors' fees and expenses | 37,072 | ||||
Other expenses | 181 | ||||
3,634,581 | |||||
Net investment income (loss) | 8,285,513 | ||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |||||
Investment transactions | (5,992,207) | ||||
Foreign currency translation transactions | (19,939) | ||||
(6,012,146) | |||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |||||
Investments | 30,058,094 | ||||
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (3,135) | ||||
30,054,959 | |||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 24,042,813 | ||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 32,328,326 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND JUNE 30, 2022 | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 8,285,513 | $ | 9,546,398 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) | (6,012,146) | (27,369,744) | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 30,054,959 | (116,701,832) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 32,328,326 | (134,525,178) | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
From earnings: | ||||||||
Investor Class | (6,742,091) | (10,533,623) | ||||||
I Class | (751,697) | (1,020,391) | ||||||
A Class | (180,378) | (301,763) | ||||||
C Class | (11,256) | (37,861) | ||||||
R Class | (59,822) | (125,151) | ||||||
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (7,745,244) | (12,018,789) | ||||||
Capital Share Transactions | ||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | 12,289,237 | (17,012,253) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 36,872,319 | (163,556,220) | ||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 530,038,284 | 693,594,504 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 566,910,603 | $ | 530,038,284 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
13
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2023
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Global Gold Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek to realize a total return (capital growth and dividends) consistent with investment in securities of companies that are engaged in mining, processing, fabricating or distributing gold or other precious metals throughout the world.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class and R Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The value of investments of the fund is determined by American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor), as the valuation designee, pursuant to its valuation policies and procedures. The Board of Directors oversees the valuation designee and reviews its valuation policies and procedures at least annually.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
If the valuation designee determines that the market price for a portfolio security is not readily available or is believed by the valuation designee to be unreliable, such security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the valuation designee, in accordance with its policies and procedures. Circumstances that may cause the fund to determine that market quotations are not available or reliable include, but are not limited to: when there is a significant event subsequent to the market quotation; trading in a security has been halted during the trading day; or trading in a security is insufficient or did not take place due to a closure or holiday.
The valuation designee monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; regulatory news, governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The valuation designee also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that it deems appropriate. The valuation designee may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
14
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Securities lending income is net of fees and rebates earned by the lending agent for its services.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that ACIM has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund's policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid semiannually. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
15
Securities Lending — Securities are lent to qualified financial institutions and brokers. State Street Bank & Trust Co. serves as securities lending agent to the fund pursuant to a Securities Lending Agreement. The lending of securities exposes the fund to risks such as: the borrowers may fail to return the loaned securities, the borrowers may not be able to provide additional collateral, the fund may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or delays in access to collateral, or the fund may experience losses related to the investment collateral. To minimize certain risks, loan counterparties pledge collateral in the form of cash and/or securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the fund in the case of default of any securities borrowed. Cash collateral received is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, a money market mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act. The loans may also be secured by U.S. government securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted accordingly. By lending securities, the fund seeks to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest and fees. Such income is reflected separately within the Statement of Operations. The value of loaned securities and related collateral outstanding at period end, if any, are shown on a gross basis within the Schedule of Investments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The following table reflects a breakdown of transactions accounted for as secured borrowings, the gross obligation by the type of collateral pledged, and the remaining contractual maturity of those transactions as of June 30, 2023.
Remaining Contractual Maturity of Agreements | |||||||||||||||||
Overnight and Continuous | <30 days | Between 30 & 90 days | >90 days | Total | |||||||||||||
Securities Lending Transactions(1) | |||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 7,173,977 | — | — | — | $ | 7,173,977 | ||||||||||
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | $ | 7,173,977 |
(1)Amount represents the payable for cash collateral received for securities on loan. This will generally be in the Overnight and Continuous column as the securities are typically callable on demand.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation's investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation's transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund's assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all funds in the American Century Investments family of funds that have the same investment advisor and distributor as the fund. For purposes of determining the Investment Category Fee and Complex Fee, the assets of funds managed by the investment advisor that invest exclusively in the shares of other funds (funds of funds) are not included.
16
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2023 are as follows:
Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee | |||||||||
Investor Class | 0.3380% to 0.5200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | ||||||||
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% | |||||||||
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2023 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund's officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. There were no interfund transactions during the period.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended June 30, 2023 were $336,439,095 and $320,054,270, respectively.
17
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
Year ended June 30, 2023 | Year ended June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 800,000,000 | 800,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 10,247,857 | $ | 102,413,453 | 10,330,701 | $ | 127,710,014 | ||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 630,885 | 6,484,010 | 910,785 | 10,126,967 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (9,475,487) | (95,100,250) | (11,844,177) | (140,869,540) | ||||||||||
1,403,255 | 13,797,213 | (602,691) | (3,032,559) | |||||||||||
I Class/Shares Authorized | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 2,085,278 | 20,330,920 | 1,557,246 | 19,232,819 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 72,262 | 751,583 | 90,755 | 1,020,232 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (1,834,291) | (18,086,323) | (2,980,620) | (35,853,961) | ||||||||||
323,249 | 2,996,180 | (1,332,619) | (15,600,910) | |||||||||||
A Class/Shares Authorized | 30,000,000 | 30,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 546,533 | 5,391,474 | 848,416 | 10,535,940 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 17,502 | 175,531 | 27,028 | 293,579 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (810,531) | (7,730,151) | (873,378) | (10,171,868) | ||||||||||
(246,496) | (2,163,146) | 2,066 | 657,651 | |||||||||||
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 21,299 | 189,816 | 43,140 | 490,131 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,192 | 11,256 | 3,651 | 37,861 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (98,626) | (937,509) | (63,996) | (726,632) | ||||||||||
(76,135) | (736,437) | (17,205) | (198,640) | |||||||||||
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 232,351 | 2,261,873 | 503,491 | 5,808,594 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 6,040 | 59,771 | 11,634 | 125,141 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (416,114) | (3,926,217) | (420,019) | (4,771,530) | ||||||||||
(177,723) | (1,604,573) | 95,106 | 1,162,205 | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) | 1,226,150 | $ | 12,289,237 | (1,855,343) | $ | (17,012,253) |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund's investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
18
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Investment Securities | |||||||||||
Common Stocks | |||||||||||
Australia | — | $ | 107,718,002 | — | |||||||
Canada | $ | 186,506,719 | 92,069,418 | — | |||||||
China | — | 32,488,969 | — | ||||||||
United Kingdom | — | 13,020,472 | — | ||||||||
Other Countries | 131,286,457 | — | — | ||||||||
Short-Term Investments | 7,173,977 | 3,798,608 | — | ||||||||
$ | 324,967,153 | $ | 249,095,469 | — |
7. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, war, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
There are certain risks involved in investing in foreign securities. These risks include those resulting from political events (such as civil unrest, national elections and imposition of exchange controls), social and economic events (such as labor strikes and rising inflation), and natural disasters. Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid and more volatile. Investing in emerging markets or a significant portion of assets in one country or region may accentuate these risks.
The fund concentrates its investments in a narrow segment of the total market. Because of this, the fund may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio representing a broader range of industries. Gold stocks are generally considered speculative because of high share price volatility. The price of gold will likely impact the value of the companies in which the fund invests. The price of gold will fluctuate, sometimes considerably. Though many investors believe that gold investments hedge against inflation, currency devaluations and stock market declines, there is no guarantee that these historical inverse relationships will continue.
8. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 were as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Distributions Paid From | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 7,745,244 | $ | 12,018,789 | ||||
Long-term capital gains | — | — |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
19
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 431,551,093 | |||
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 157,493,655 | |||
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (14,982,126) | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | 142,511,529 | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 65 | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) | $ | 142,511,594 | |||
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 682,762 | |||
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (130,726,751) | |||
Accumulated long-term capital losses | $ | (13,091,396) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an unlimited period. Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
20
Financial Highlights |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Distributions From Net Investment Income | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $9.78 | 0.15 | 0.43 | 0.58 | (0.14) | $10.22 | 5.94% | 0.66% | 1.51% | 59% | $496,571 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $12.37 | 0.17 | (2.54) | (2.37) | (0.22) | $9.78 | (19.33)% | 0.65% | 1.46% | 57% | $461,236 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $13.64 | 0.13 | (1.26) | (1.13) | (0.14) | $12.37 | (8.30)% | 0.66% | 0.96% | 105% | $590,853 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $9.76 | 0.04 | 3.94 | 3.98 | (0.10) | $13.64 | 41.12% | 0.67% | 0.35% | 50% | $644,946 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $8.58 | 0.07 | 1.11 | 1.18 | — | $9.76 | 13.75% | 0.67% | 0.84% | 47% | $398,804 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
I Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $9.89 | 0.17 | 0.44 | 0.61 | (0.16) | $10.34 | 6.18% | 0.46% | 1.71% | 59% | $45,797 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $12.51 | 0.20 | (2.57) | (2.37) | (0.25) | $9.89 | (19.20)% | 0.45% | 1.66% | 57% | $40,601 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $13.79 | 0.16 | (1.27) | (1.11) | (0.17) | $12.51 | (8.10)% | 0.46% | 1.16% | 105% | $68,014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $9.88 | 0.06 | 3.98 | 4.04 | (0.13) | $13.79 | 41.34% | 0.47% | 0.55% | 50% | $74,730 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $8.67 | 0.08 | 1.13 | 1.21 | — | $9.88 | 13.96% | 0.47% | 1.04% | 47% | $30,608 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $9.55 | 0.12 | 0.44 | 0.56 | (0.12) | $9.99 | 5.81% | 0.91% | 1.26% | 59% | $15,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $12.09 | 0.14 | (2.48) | (2.34) | (0.20) | $9.55 | (19.57)% | 0.90% | 1.21% | 57% | $17,423 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $13.33 | 0.10 | (1.23) | (1.13) | (0.11) | $12.09 | (8.51)% | 0.91% | 0.71% | 105% | $22,022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $9.54 | 0.01 | 3.85 | 3.86 | (0.07) | $13.33 | 40.72% | 0.92% | 0.10% | 50% | $15,798 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $8.40 | 0.05 | 1.09 | 1.14 | — | $9.54 | 13.57% | 0.92% | 0.59% | 47% | $10,311 |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Distributions From Net Investment Income | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
C Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $9.05 | 0.05 | 0.39 | 0.44 | (0.04) | $9.45 | 4.84% | 1.66% | 0.51% | 59% | $2,284 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $11.46 | 0.05 | (2.34) | (2.29) | (0.12) | $9.05 | (20.13)% | 1.65% | 0.46% | 57% | $2,875 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $12.63 | (0.01) | (1.15) | (1.16) | (0.01) | $11.46 | (9.18)% | 1.66% | (0.04)% | 105% | $3,838 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $9.04 | (0.07) | 3.66 | 3.59 | — | $12.63 | 39.71% | 1.67% | (0.65)% | 50% | $4,628 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $8.03 | (0.01) | 1.02 | 1.01 | — | $9.04 | 12.58% | 1.67% | (0.16)% | 47% | $2,994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $9.44 | 0.10 | 0.41 | 0.51 | (0.09) | $9.86 | 5.39% | 1.16% | 1.01% | 59% | $6,508 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $11.94 | 0.11 | (2.44) | (2.33) | (0.17) | $9.44 | (19.69)% | 1.15% | 0.96% | 57% | $7,904 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $13.17 | 0.06 | (1.22) | (1.16) | (0.07) | $11.94 | (8.79)% | 1.16% | 0.46% | 105% | $8,868 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $9.42 | (0.01) | 3.80 | 3.79 | (0.04) | $13.17 | 40.44% | 1.17% | (0.15)% | 50% | $10,464 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $8.32 | 0.02 | 1.08 | 1.10 | — | $9.42 | 13.22% | 1.17% | 0.34% | 47% | $5,573 |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
*The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations or precisely reflect the class expense differentials due to the timing of transactions in shares of the fund in relation to income earned and/or fluctuations in the fair value of the fund's investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Global Gold Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for the two 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 Global Gold Fund of the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, and the results of its operations for the year then ended and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, were audited by other auditors, whose report, dated August 17, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
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 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 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 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 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 June 30, 2023, 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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 16, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Century investment companies since 1997.
23
Management |
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Jonathan S. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Jeremy I. Bulow, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Jonathan S. Thomas is 3945 Freedom Circle, Suite #800, Santa Clara, California 95054. The mailing address for Jonathan S. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director and Board Chair | Since 2011 (Board Chair since 2022) | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 32 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd. | ||||||||||||
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 83 | None | ||||||||||||
Jennifer Cabalquinto (1968) | Director | Since 2021 | Chief Financial Officer, EMPIRE (digital media distribution) (2023 to present); Chief Financial Officer, 2K (interactive entertainment) (2021 to 2023); Special Advisor, GSW Sports, LLC (2020 to 2021); Chief Financial Officer, GSW Sports, LLC (2013 to 2020) | 32 | Sabio Holdings Inc. |
24
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 32 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines | ||||||||||||
Interested Director | |||||||||||||||||
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 148 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
25
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for 16 investment companies in the American Century family of funds. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | ||||||
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries | ||||||
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018 | Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present) | ||||||
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS | ||||||
John Pak (1968) | General Counsel and Senior Vice President since 2021 | General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACC (2021 to present). Also serves as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACIM, ACS and ACIS. Chief Legal Officer of Investment and Wealth Management, The Bank of New York Mellon (2014 to 2021) | ||||||
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS | ||||||
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
26
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 14, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent data providers concerning the Fund.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, distribution services, and other services provided to the Fund;
•the wide range of programs and services the Advisor and other service providers provide to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance compared to appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similarly-managed funds;
•the Advisor’s compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience and those of certain other service providers;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, generally, and with respect to areas of heightened interest in the mutual fund industry and certain recent geopolitical and other issues;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans, vendor management practices, and information security practices;
•the cost of services provided to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the Advisor’s financial results of operation;
•possible economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
27
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including but not limited to
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•liquidity monitoring and management
•risk management, including information security
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results and any actions being taken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was above its benchmark for the ten-year period and below its benchmark for the one-, three-, and five-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
28
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including information security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, and its financial results of operation. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the terms of the current management agreement. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its fee structure and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage and other transaction fees and expenses relating to acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fund litigation expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Investment Company Act Rule 12b-1. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer universe. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
29
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board also noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and received over time, concluded that the terms of the management agreement are fair and reasonable and that the management fee charged to the Fund is reasonable in light of the services provided and that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor should be renewed for an additional one-year period.
30
Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates, including members of ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments, conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to the program.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of certain investments held by the Fund is supported by a third-party liquidity assessment vendor.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
31
Additional Information |
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding at the IRS default rate of 10%.* Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
You may elect a different withholding rate, or request zero withholding, by submitting an acceptable IRS Form W-4R election with your distribution request. You may notify us of your W-4R election by telephone, on our distribution forms, on IRS Form W-4R, or through other acceptable electronic means. If your withholding election is for an automatic withdrawal plan, you have the right to revoke your election at any time and any election you make will remain in effect until revoked by filing a new election.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld according to state regulations if, at the time of your distribution, your tax residency is within one of the mandatory withholding states.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
32
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $2,444,686, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the fund intends to pass through to shareholders foreign source income of $9,888,281 and foreign taxes paid of $1,054,502, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as a foreign tax credit. Foreign source income and foreign tax expense per outstanding share on June 30, 2023 are $0.1782 and $0.0190, respectively.
33
Notes |
34
Notes |
35
Notes |
36
Contact Us | americancentury.com | |||||||
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |||||||
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |||||||
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |||||||
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |||||||
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |||||||
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |||||||
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | ||||||||
Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | ||||||||
This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | ||||||||
©2023 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92988 2308 |
Annual Report | |||||
June 30, 2023 | |||||
Small Company Fund | |||||
Investor Class (ASQIX) | |||||
I Class (ASCQX) | |||||
A Class (ASQAX) | |||||
C Class (ASQCX) | |||||
R Class (ASCRX) | |||||
R5 Class (ASQGX) |
Table of Contents |
President's Letter | |||||
Performance | |||||
Portfolio Commentary | |||||
Fund Characteristics | |||||
Shareholder Fee Example | |||||
Schedule of Investments | |||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||
Statement of Operations | |||||
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |||||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||||
Financial Highlights | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
Management | |||||
Approval of Management Agreement | |||||
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |||||
Additional Information |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
President’s Letter |
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2023. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Second-Half Rally Generated Strong Fiscal-Year Returns
After ending 2022 with modest six-month gains, stocks rallied in the first half of 2023. This bounce back, which occurred despite ongoing volatility and rising interest rates, led to strong 12-month performance for most stock indices. Investor expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to conclude its rate-hike campaign largely fueled the optimism.
Inflation’s pace steadily slowed during the period, which, combined with mounting recession worries, prompted investors to regularly recalibrate their monetary policy outlooks. However, with inflation still above target and the labor market resilient, policymakers continued to raise rates.
A new challenge emerged in March when several high-profile banks failed. Market unrest escalated, but quick action from regulators helped restore order. Nevertheless, heightened uncertainty surrounding the banking industry and credit availability further fueled recession fears. These worries strengthened investor expectations for a near-term end to central bank tightening and potential rate cuts later in the year.
The Fed, which announced its 10th-consecutive rate hike in May, paused its tightening campaign in June. However, citing still-high inflation and still-strong economic data, policymakers hinted the pause wasn’t permanent. Expectations for rate cuts faded, but many market participants shifted their focus to a potential soft-landing scenario.
Overall, robust performance in the second half of the period propelled the S&P 500 Index to a 12-month return of nearly 20%. U.S. stocks outpaced non-U.S. stocks, large-cap stocks generally outperformed small caps, and growth significantly outperformed value.
Remaining Diligent in Uncertain Times
We expect market volatility to linger as investors navigate a complex environment of persistent inflation, tighter financial conditions, banking industry turbulence and recession risk. In addition, increasingly tense geopolitical considerations complicate the market backdrop.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. American Century Investments has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable and volatile markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
2
Performance |
Total Returns as of June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Annual Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticker Symbol | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | Inception Date | ||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | ASQIX | 12.72% | 3.26% | 6.90% | — | 7/31/98 | |||||||||||||||||
Russell 2000 Index | — | 12.31% | 4.21% | 8.25% | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
I Class | ASCQX | 12.93% | 3.48% | 7.12% | — | 10/1/99 | |||||||||||||||||
A Class | ASQAX | 9/7/00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
No sales charge | 12.37% | 3.01% | 6.65% | — | |||||||||||||||||||
With sales charge | 5.91% | 1.80% | 6.02% | — | |||||||||||||||||||
C Class | ASQCX | 11.52% | 2.24% | 5.84% | — | 3/1/10 | |||||||||||||||||
R Class | ASCRX | 12.14% | 2.76% | 6.38% | — | 8/29/03 | |||||||||||||||||
R5 Class | ASQGX | 12.92% | 3.47% | — | 5.12% | 4/10/17 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
3
Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years | ||
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2013 | ||
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
Value on June 30, 2023 | |||||
Investor Class — $19,492 | |||||
Russell 2000 Index — $22,106 | |||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class | ||||||||||||
0.85% | 0.65% | 1.10% | 1.85% | 1.35% | 0.65% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
4
Portfolio Commentary |
Portfolio Managers: Yulin Long and Arun Daniel
In March 2023, Yulin Long joined the fund’s management team. Steven Rossi and Guan Wang are no longer with the firm.
Performance Summary
Small Company returned 12.72%* for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2023. The fund’s benchmark, the Russell 2000 Index, returned 12.31% for the same time period. The fund’s return reflects operating expenses, while the index’s return does not.
Financials and Industrials Contributed
The market’s performance during this period was heavily influenced by declining inflation, tightening monetary policy and anticipation of the end of the Federal Reserve’s rate-hiking program. Uncertainty about the direction of the economy and the likelihood of a soft landing also played a role.
Stock selection drove the fund’s outperformance in the financials and industrials sectors. In financials, favorable stock decisions were supplemented by an underweight to the banking industry, which was hurt by the crisis in regional banks early in 2023. Not owning a number of the poorest-performing banks was especially beneficial. In the insurance industry, the fund’s position in Kinsale Capital Group, a specialty property and casualty insurer, was advantageous. The company has posted healthy earnings growth due in part to its disciplined underwriting and accelerating premium growth.
In industrials, Atkore and Encore Wire contributed most in the electrical equipment industry. Atkore delivered better-than-expected margins on solid pricing execution. It also benefited from data center and chip fabrication projects and from a rebound in metal electrical conduit product volumes in the U.S. Builders FirstSource, which is not in the benchmark, was the primary contributor in the building products industry. The company benefited from increased sales due to remodeling demand and from cost synergies, and this resulted in positive earnings surprises and rising estimates of future earnings.
Health Care and Information Technology Hampered Relative Returns
Stock selection in the health care and information technology sectors was the leading detractor from performance. A lack of exposure to Prometheus Biosciences in the biotechnology industry hurt returns as shares benefited from an announcement that the company would be acquired by Merck & Co. The fund’s position in Exelixis also detracted. Stock selection in the pharmaceuticals industry was detrimental as well, with shares of Corcept Therapeutics hampering relative returns most. The company’s revenues have continued to grow, but expenses, including research and development and sales and marketing, have hurt the bottom line.
In the information technology sector, stock selection in the semiconductors and semiconductor equipment industry was the leading detractor. A position in Semtech hurt returns most as the company has posted losses in recent quarters due largely to rising costs. An underweight to the electronic equipment, instruments and components industry was also detrimental to performance compared with the benchmark.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
5
Fund Characteristics |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets | ||||
Common Stocks | 99.4% | ||||
Short-Term Investments | 1.0% | ||||
Other Assets and Liabilities | (0.4)% | ||||
Top Five Industries | % of net assets | ||||
Software | 6.9% | ||||
Banks | 6.0% | ||||
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels | 4.9% | ||||
Professional Services | 4.8% | ||||
Biotechnology | 4.2% |
6
Shareholder Fee Example |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then 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 under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments mutual fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s 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 your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, 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.
7
Beginning Account Value 1/1/23 | Ending Account Value 6/30/23 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) | |||||||||||
Actual | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,087.20 | $4.45 | 0.86% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,088.40 | $3.42 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,085.70 | $5.74 | 1.11% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,081.90 | $9.60 | 1.86% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,084.80 | $7.03 | 1.36% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,087.50 | $3.42 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
Hypothetical | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,020.53 | $4.31 | 0.86% | ||||||||||
I Class | $1,000 | $1,021.52 | $3.31 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
A Class | $1,000 | $1,019.29 | $5.56 | 1.11% | ||||||||||
C Class | $1,000 | $1,015.57 | $9.30 | 1.86% | ||||||||||
R Class | $1,000 | $1,018.05 | $6.81 | 1.36% | ||||||||||
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,021.52 | $3.31 | 0.66% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
8
Schedule of Investments |
JUNE 30, 2023
Shares | Value | |||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.4% | ||||||||
Aerospace and Defense — 0.3% | ||||||||
AAR Corp.(1) | 8,185 | $ | 472,766 | |||||
Automobile Components — 0.4% | ||||||||
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.(1) | 14,077 | 116,417 | ||||||
Dorman Products, Inc.(1) | 2,056 | 162,075 | ||||||
Fox Factory Holding Corp.(1) | 2,726 | 295,798 | ||||||
574,290 | ||||||||
Automobiles — 0.4% | ||||||||
Winnebago Industries, Inc.(2) | 9,875 | 658,564 | ||||||
Banks — 6.0% | ||||||||
Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp. | 9,678 | 251,144 | ||||||
Bancorp, Inc.(1) | 15,897 | 519,037 | ||||||
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son Ltd. | 8,459 | 231,438 | ||||||
Bank OZK | 7,590 | 304,814 | ||||||
Banner Corp. | 4,115 | 179,702 | ||||||
Eagle Bancorp, Inc. | 5,754 | 121,755 | ||||||
East West Bancorp, Inc. | 7,002 | 369,636 | ||||||
Enterprise Financial Services Corp. | 5,833 | 228,070 | ||||||
First BanCorp | 29,018 | 354,600 | ||||||
First Financial Bancorp | 17,005 | 347,582 | ||||||
Hilltop Holdings, Inc. | 13,668 | 429,995 | ||||||
Home BancShares, Inc. | 17,757 | 404,860 | ||||||
Independent Bank Corp. | 9,635 | 428,854 | ||||||
International Bancshares Corp. | 7,291 | 322,262 | ||||||
National Bank Holdings Corp., Class A | 7,148 | 207,578 | ||||||
Northwest Bancshares, Inc. | 36,751 | 389,561 | ||||||
OFG Bancorp | 28,213 | 735,795 | ||||||
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. | 20,652 | 427,083 | ||||||
Pathward Financial, Inc. | 10,629 | 492,760 | ||||||
Popular, Inc. | 8,249 | 499,230 | ||||||
Premier Financial Corp. | 9,132 | 146,295 | ||||||
Renasant Corp. | 11,771 | 307,576 | ||||||
SouthState Corp. | 8,457 | 556,471 | ||||||
Stellar Bancorp, Inc. | 9,115 | 208,642 | ||||||
TriCo Bancshares | 7,201 | 239,073 | ||||||
United Community Banks, Inc. | 5,407 | 135,121 | ||||||
Veritex Holdings, Inc. | 6,729 | 120,651 | ||||||
Wintrust Financial Corp. | 5,273 | 382,925 | ||||||
9,342,510 | ||||||||
Beverages — 1.4% | ||||||||
Celsius Holdings, Inc.(1) | 5,934 | 885,293 | ||||||
Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 2,096 | 1,333,098 | ||||||
2,218,391 | ||||||||
Biotechnology — 4.2% | ||||||||
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 16,004 | 383,296 | ||||||
Alkermes PLC(1) | 14,929 | 467,278 | ||||||
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.(1) | 31,296 | 393,078 |
9
Shares | Value | |||||||
Biohaven Ltd.(1) | 10,578 | $ | 253,026 | |||||
Exelixis, Inc.(1) | 59,946 | 1,145,568 | ||||||
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.(1) | 11,292 | 407,302 | ||||||
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 87,370 | 929,617 | ||||||
Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.(1) | 2,702 | 585,928 | ||||||
PTC Therapeutics, Inc.(1) | 13,567 | 551,770 | ||||||
Veracyte, Inc.(1) | 11,560 | 294,433 | ||||||
Vericel Corp.(1) | 6,647 | 249,728 | ||||||
Vir Biotechnology, Inc.(1) | 37,678 | 924,241 | ||||||
6,585,265 | ||||||||
Broadline Retail — 0.7% | ||||||||
Dillard's, Inc., Class A(2) | 1,251 | 408,176 | ||||||
Nordstrom, Inc. | 32,269 | 660,547 | ||||||
1,068,723 | ||||||||
Building Products — 2.8% | ||||||||
American Woodmark Corp.(1) | 4,247 | 324,344 | ||||||
Builders FirstSource, Inc.(1) | 4,935 | 671,160 | ||||||
Masonite International Corp.(1) | 1,669 | 170,972 | ||||||
PGT Innovations, Inc.(1) | 10,411 | 303,481 | ||||||
Quanex Building Products Corp. | 14,987 | 402,401 | ||||||
Resideo Technologies, Inc.(1) | 30,764 | 543,292 | ||||||
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. | 1,316 | 182,266 | ||||||
UFP Industries, Inc. | 18,804 | 1,824,928 | ||||||
4,422,844 | ||||||||
Capital Markets — 2.3% | ||||||||
BGC Partners, Inc., Class A | 57,061 | 252,780 | ||||||
Cohen & Steers, Inc. | 7,522 | 436,201 | ||||||
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A | 14,829 | 1,186,023 | ||||||
Open Lending Corp., Class A(1) | 43,423 | 456,376 | ||||||
PJT Partners, Inc., Class A(2) | 14,029 | 976,980 | ||||||
Victory Capital Holdings, Inc., Class A | 10,137 | 319,721 | ||||||
3,628,081 | ||||||||
Chemicals — 1.4% | ||||||||
AdvanSix, Inc. | 13,185 | 461,211 | ||||||
Ingevity Corp.(1) | 4,922 | 286,264 | ||||||
Livent Corp.(1)(2) | 43,382 | 1,189,968 | ||||||
Mativ Holdings, Inc. | 12,867 | 194,549 | ||||||
2,131,992 | ||||||||
Commercial Services and Supplies — 1.1% | ||||||||
ABM Industries, Inc. | 11,238 | 479,301 | ||||||
Brink's Co. | 5,181 | 351,427 | ||||||
Clean Harbors, Inc.(1) | 1,618 | 266,048 | ||||||
Enviri Corp.(1) | 15,603 | 154,002 | ||||||
MillerKnoll, Inc. | 19,085 | 282,076 | ||||||
Steelcase, Inc., Class A | 20,072 | 154,755 | ||||||
1,687,609 | ||||||||
Communications Equipment — 1.5% | ||||||||
Extreme Networks, Inc.(1) | 40,681 | 1,059,740 | ||||||
Infinera Corp.(1) | 114,336 | 552,243 | ||||||
Viavi Solutions, Inc.(1) | 70,762 | 801,733 | ||||||
2,413,716 | ||||||||
Construction and Engineering — 2.2% | ||||||||
EMCOR Group, Inc. | 4,287 | 792,152 |
10
Shares | Value | |||||||
Primoris Services Corp. | 17,837 | $ | 543,493 | |||||
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.(1) | 19,064 | 1,063,771 | ||||||
WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.(1) | 20,745 | 991,404 | ||||||
3,390,820 | ||||||||
Consumer Finance — 1.0% | ||||||||
Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 7,593 | 238,344 | ||||||
Credit Acceptance Corp.(1) | 645 | 327,615 | ||||||
Green Dot Corp., Class A(1) | 10,556 | 197,820 | ||||||
Navient Corp. | 31,314 | 581,814 | ||||||
OneMain Holdings, Inc. | 4,993 | 218,144 | ||||||
1,563,737 | ||||||||
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 2.4% | ||||||||
Andersons, Inc. | 12,742 | 588,043 | ||||||
Ingles Markets, Inc., Class A | 15,512 | 1,282,067 | ||||||
SpartanNash Co. | 10,628 | 239,236 | ||||||
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.(1) | 31,757 | 1,166,435 | ||||||
United Natural Foods, Inc.(1) | 5,713 | 111,689 | ||||||
Weis Markets, Inc. | 6,087 | 390,846 | ||||||
3,778,316 | ||||||||
Diversified Consumer Services — 1.1% | ||||||||
Frontdoor, Inc.(1) | 33,238 | 1,060,292 | ||||||
Graham Holdings Co., Class B | 1,112 | 635,486 | ||||||
1,695,778 | ||||||||
Diversified REITs — 0.1% | ||||||||
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., Class A | 19,021 | 142,467 | ||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.6% | ||||||||
Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. | 4,930 | 331,740 | ||||||
EchoStar Corp., Class A(1) | 13,716 | 237,835 | ||||||
Liberty Latin America Ltd., Class C(1) | 33,952 | 292,666 | ||||||
862,241 | ||||||||
Electric Utilities — 0.3% | ||||||||
Otter Tail Corp.(2) | 5,386 | 425,279 | ||||||
Electrical Equipment — 2.1% | ||||||||
Atkore, Inc.(1) | 13,679 | 2,133,103 | ||||||
Encore Wire Corp. | 4,350 | 808,796 | ||||||
Vicor Corp.(1) | 5,922 | 319,788 | ||||||
3,261,687 | ||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 1.5% | ||||||||
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. | 2,416 | 269,263 | ||||||
Arlo Technologies, Inc.(1) | 44,694 | 487,611 | ||||||
Avnet, Inc. | 8,253 | 416,364 | ||||||
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. | 15,607 | 403,129 | ||||||
ScanSource, Inc.(1) | 8,653 | 255,783 | ||||||
TTM Technologies, Inc.(1) | 32,360 | 449,804 | ||||||
2,281,954 | ||||||||
Energy Equipment and Services — 2.6% | ||||||||
Archrock, Inc. | 22,891 | 234,633 | ||||||
ChampionX Corp. | 28,460 | 883,398 | ||||||
NexTier Oilfield Solutions, Inc.(1) | 25,836 | 230,974 | ||||||
Oceaneering International, Inc.(1) | 38,408 | 718,230 | ||||||
RPC, Inc. | 45,846 | 327,799 | ||||||
Tidewater, Inc.(1) | 4,771 | 264,504 |
11
Shares | Value | |||||||
US Silica Holdings, Inc.(1) | 25,576 | $ | 310,237 | |||||
Weatherford International PLC(1) | 17,308 | 1,149,597 | ||||||
4,119,372 | ||||||||
Entertainment — 0.1% | ||||||||
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. | 1,217 | 228,857 | ||||||
Financial Services — 1.6% | ||||||||
Essent Group Ltd. | 15,039 | 703,825 | ||||||
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., Class C | 2,850 | 409,659 | ||||||
International Money Express, Inc.(1) | 4,866 | 119,363 | ||||||
NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A(1) | 16,133 | 416,554 | ||||||
Radian Group, Inc. | 34,502 | 872,211 | ||||||
2,521,612 | ||||||||
Food Products — 1.0% | ||||||||
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. | 7,664 | 344,880 | ||||||
Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc. | 12,669 | 325,720 | ||||||
Lancaster Colony Corp. | 1,994 | 400,973 | ||||||
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.(1) | 10,973 | 552,820 | ||||||
1,624,393 | ||||||||
Gas Utilities — 0.5% | ||||||||
Brookfield Infrastructure Corp., Class A | 7,759 | 353,655 | ||||||
ONE Gas, Inc. | 4,732 | 363,465 | ||||||
717,120 | ||||||||
Ground Transportation — 0.6% | ||||||||
ArcBest Corp. | 4,106 | 405,673 | ||||||
Ryder System, Inc. | 5,463 | 463,208 | ||||||
868,881 | ||||||||
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 3.6% | ||||||||
Avanos Medical, Inc.(1) | 11,888 | 303,857 | ||||||
Haemonetics Corp.(1) | 6,894 | 586,955 | ||||||
Inari Medical, Inc.(1) | 11,751 | 683,203 | ||||||
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.(1) | 1,447 | 469,754 | ||||||
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.(1) | 1,726 | 180,056 | ||||||
Lantheus Holdings, Inc.(1) | 14,727 | 1,235,890 | ||||||
LivaNova PLC(1) | 6,121 | 314,803 | ||||||
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.(1) | 4,155 | 347,524 | ||||||
Shockwave Medical, Inc.(1) | 3,845 | 1,097,402 | ||||||
STAAR Surgical Co.(1) | 7,210 | 379,030 | ||||||
5,598,474 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers and Services — 3.4% | ||||||||
Accolade, Inc.(1) | 10,000 | 134,700 | ||||||
Addus HomeCare Corp.(1) | 3,584 | 332,237 | ||||||
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.(1) | 9,374 | 1,022,891 | ||||||
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.(1) | 11,400 | 320,112 | ||||||
Enhabit, Inc.(1) | 12,460 | 143,290 | ||||||
Fulgent Genetics, Inc.(1) | 3,790 | 140,344 | ||||||
HealthEquity, Inc.(1) | 7,337 | 463,258 | ||||||
National HealthCare Corp. | 7,850 | 485,287 | ||||||
Option Care Health, Inc.(1) | 39,247 | 1,275,135 | ||||||
Progyny, Inc.(1) | 19,589 | 770,631 | ||||||
R1 RCM, Inc.(1) | 10,264 | 189,371 | ||||||
5,277,256 | ||||||||
Health Care REITs — 0.5% | ||||||||
CareTrust REIT, Inc. | 22,120 | 439,303 |
12
Shares | Value | |||||||
Community Healthcare Trust, Inc. | 10,120 | $ | 334,163 | |||||
773,466 | ||||||||
Health Care Technology — 0.3% | ||||||||
Evolent Health, Inc., Class A(1) | 6,338 | 192,041 | ||||||
Teladoc Health, Inc.(1) | 12,756 | 322,982 | ||||||
515,023 | ||||||||
Hotel & Resort REITs — 0.8% | ||||||||
DiamondRock Hospitality Co. | 52,075 | 417,121 | ||||||
Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | 23,400 | 299,988 | ||||||
RLJ Lodging Trust | 27,017 | 277,464 | ||||||
Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. | 30,513 | 198,640 | ||||||
1,193,213 | ||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 3.5% | ||||||||
Bloomin' Brands, Inc. | 38,022 | 1,022,412 | ||||||
Brinker International, Inc.(1) | 9,236 | 338,038 | ||||||
Golden Entertainment, Inc.(1) | 6,934 | 289,841 | ||||||
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. | 7,166 | 504,845 | ||||||
Red Rock Resorts, Inc., Class A | 20,266 | 948,043 | ||||||
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.(1) | 14,591 | 817,242 | ||||||
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | 6,247 | 701,413 | ||||||
Wingstop, Inc. | 3,768 | 754,203 | ||||||
5,376,037 | ||||||||
Household Durables — 2.3% | ||||||||
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.(1) | 6,405 | 181,197 | ||||||
La-Z-Boy, Inc. | 14,182 | 406,173 | ||||||
M/I Homes, Inc.(1) | 5,593 | 487,654 | ||||||
MDC Holdings, Inc. | 5,820 | 272,201 | ||||||
Meritage Homes Corp. | 4,128 | 587,291 | ||||||
Skyline Champion Corp.(1) | 6,129 | 401,143 | ||||||
Taylor Morrison Home Corp.(1) | 12,618 | 615,380 | ||||||
Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.(1) | 18,355 | 603,145 | ||||||
3,554,184 | ||||||||
Industrial REITs — 0.1% | ||||||||
Plymouth Industrial REIT, Inc. | 7,120 | 163,902 | ||||||
Insurance — 3.9% | ||||||||
Ambac Financial Group, Inc.(1) | 15,075 | 214,668 | ||||||
American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. | 18,555 | 966,901 | ||||||
Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A(1) | 56,823 | 284,115 | ||||||
Goosehead Insurance, Inc., Class A(1) | 6,257 | 393,503 | ||||||
James River Group Holdings Ltd. | 9,325 | 170,275 | ||||||
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. | 5,544 | 2,074,565 | ||||||
Palomar Holdings, Inc.(1) | 9,837 | 570,939 | ||||||
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. | 2,079 | 288,337 | ||||||
Stewart Information Services Corp. | 6,775 | 278,723 | ||||||
Unum Group | 16,422 | 783,329 | ||||||
6,025,355 | ||||||||
Interactive Media and Services — 0.9% | ||||||||
Cargurus, Inc.(1) | 19,548 | 442,371 | ||||||
Yelp, Inc.(1) | 24,917 | 907,228 | ||||||
1,349,599 | ||||||||
IT Services — 0.1% | ||||||||
Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc.(1) | 14,775 | 136,669 |
13
Shares | Value | |||||||
Leisure Products — 0.4% | ||||||||
Malibu Boats, Inc., Class A(1) | 6,769 | $ | 397,070 | |||||
Vista Outdoor, Inc.(1) | 8,702 | 240,784 | ||||||
637,854 | ||||||||
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 1.5% | ||||||||
10X Genomics, Inc., Class A(1) | 13,404 | 748,479 | ||||||
Medpace Holdings, Inc.(1) | 3,232 | 776,230 | ||||||
Repligen Corp.(1) | 5,690 | 804,907 | ||||||
2,329,616 | ||||||||
Machinery — 1.9% | ||||||||
Hillenbrand, Inc. | 12,035 | 617,155 | ||||||
Manitowoc Co., Inc.(1) | 7,683 | 144,671 | ||||||
Mueller Industries, Inc. | 20,511 | 1,790,200 | ||||||
Proto Labs, Inc.(1) | 3,447 | 120,507 | ||||||
Titan International, Inc.(1) | 25,141 | 288,619 | ||||||
2,961,152 | ||||||||
Marine Transportation — 1.1% | ||||||||
Golden Ocean Group Ltd. (NASDAQ) | 32,706 | 246,930 | ||||||
Matson, Inc. | 19,783 | 1,537,733 | ||||||
1,784,663 | ||||||||
Media — 0.6% | ||||||||
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.(1) | 211,609 | 289,904 | ||||||
Magnite, Inc.(1) | 13,174 | 179,825 | ||||||
Scholastic Corp. | 3,699 | 143,854 | ||||||
TEGNA, Inc. | 21,581 | 350,476 | ||||||
964,059 | ||||||||
Metals and Mining — 1.9% | ||||||||
Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc. | 5,268 | 865,849 | ||||||
Constellium SE(1) | 8,373 | 144,016 | ||||||
Ryerson Holding Corp. | 10,911 | 473,319 | ||||||
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Class A | 11,807 | 354,092 | ||||||
SunCoke Energy, Inc. | 29,516 | 232,291 | ||||||
TimkenSteel Corp.(1) | 29,100 | 627,687 | ||||||
Warrior Met Coal, Inc. | 6,871 | 267,625 | ||||||
2,964,879 | ||||||||
Office REITs — 1.2% | ||||||||
Corporate Office Properties Trust | 12,344 | 293,170 | ||||||
Easterly Government Properties, Inc. | 23,404 | 339,358 | ||||||
Equity Commonwealth | 31,746 | 643,174 | ||||||
Highwoods Properties, Inc. | 16,368 | 391,359 | ||||||
Paramount Group, Inc. | 59,659 | 264,289 | ||||||
1,931,350 | ||||||||
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 4.9% | ||||||||
Arch Resources, Inc. | 2,408 | 271,526 | ||||||
CVR Energy, Inc. | 35,766 | 1,071,549 | ||||||
Delek US Holdings, Inc. | 6,459 | 154,693 | ||||||
Kinetik Holdings, Inc. | 3,176 | 111,605 | ||||||
Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A | 22,946 | 479,571 | ||||||
Murphy Oil Corp. | 12,376 | 474,001 | ||||||
Ovintiv, Inc. | 13,873 | 528,145 | ||||||
PBF Energy, Inc., Class A | 27,114 | 1,110,047 | ||||||
Peabody Energy Corp. | 21,902 | 474,397 |
14
Shares | Value | |||||||
Permian Resources Corp. | 32,833 | $ | 359,850 | |||||
REX American Resources Corp.(1) | 15,123 | 526,432 | ||||||
SM Energy Co. | 29,159 | 922,299 | ||||||
Talos Energy, Inc.(1) | 31,289 | 433,978 | ||||||
Vital Energy, Inc.(1)(2) | 6,492 | 293,114 | ||||||
World Kinect Corp. | 17,232 | 356,358 | ||||||
7,567,565 | ||||||||
Paper and Forest Products — 0.4% | ||||||||
Clearwater Paper Corp.(1) | 4,225 | 132,327 | ||||||
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. | 6,987 | 523,885 | ||||||
656,212 | ||||||||
Pharmaceuticals — 2.5% | ||||||||
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.(1)(2) | 3,893 | 279,751 | ||||||
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.(1) | 14,715 | 316,225 | ||||||
Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.(1) | 44,191 | 983,250 | ||||||
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(1) | 8,937 | 1,107,920 | ||||||
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 38,540 | 1,158,512 | ||||||
3,845,658 | ||||||||
Professional Services — 4.8% | ||||||||
Conduent, Inc.(1) | 43,897 | 149,250 | ||||||
CRA International, Inc. | 1,191 | 121,482 | ||||||
ExlService Holdings, Inc.(1) | 2,588 | 390,943 | ||||||
Franklin Covey Co.(1) | 7,611 | 332,448 | ||||||
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. | 5,218 | 138,120 | ||||||
Insperity, Inc. | 13,656 | 1,624,518 | ||||||
Kelly Services, Inc., Class A | 13,998 | 246,505 | ||||||
Kforce, Inc. | 8,718 | 546,270 | ||||||
Maximus, Inc. | 3,990 | 337,195 | ||||||
Resources Connection, Inc. | 49,512 | 777,833 | ||||||
TriNet Group, Inc.(1) | 16,449 | 1,562,162 | ||||||
Upwork, Inc.(1) | 27,828 | 259,914 | ||||||
Verra Mobility Corp.(1) | 45,901 | 905,168 | ||||||
7,391,808 | ||||||||
Real Estate Management and Development — 0.8% | ||||||||
Compass, Inc., Class A(1) | 31,628 | 110,698 | ||||||
eXp World Holdings, Inc.(2) | 25,007 | 507,142 | ||||||
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.(1) | 4,077 | 635,197 | ||||||
1,253,037 | ||||||||
Retail REITs — 0.4% | ||||||||
Macerich Co. | 41,344 | 465,947 | ||||||
NNN REIT, Inc. | 2,216 | 94,823 | ||||||
560,770 | ||||||||
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 2.9% | ||||||||
Amkor Technology, Inc. | 15,468 | 460,173 | ||||||
FormFactor, Inc.(1) | 9,523 | 325,877 | ||||||
MaxLinear, Inc.(1) | 32,120 | 1,013,707 | ||||||
Onto Innovation, Inc.(1) | 4,585 | 534,015 | ||||||
Power Integrations, Inc. | 7,678 | 726,876 | ||||||
Rambus, Inc.(1) | 8,509 | 546,023 | ||||||
Semtech Corp.(1) | 17,002 | 432,871 | ||||||
Veeco Instruments, Inc.(1) | 18,528 | 475,799 | ||||||
4,515,341 |
15
Shares | Value | |||||||
Software — 6.9% | ||||||||
8x8, Inc.(1) | 83,086 | $ | 351,454 | |||||
Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.(1) | 14,756 | 762,590 | ||||||
Appfolio, Inc., Class A(1) | 3,115 | 536,216 | ||||||
Box, Inc., Class A(1) | 54,450 | 1,599,741 | ||||||
CommVault Systems, Inc.(1) | 16,368 | 1,188,644 | ||||||
Dropbox, Inc., Class A(1) | 25,922 | 691,340 | ||||||
Ebix, Inc. | 6,377 | 160,700 | ||||||
LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.(1) | 12,708 | 362,941 | ||||||
Model N, Inc.(1) | 12,801 | 452,643 | ||||||
Nutanix, Inc., Class A(1) | 12,005 | 336,740 | ||||||
Qualys, Inc.(1) | 1,983 | 256,144 | ||||||
Rapid7, Inc.(1) | 9,605 | 434,914 | ||||||
Sprout Social, Inc., Class A(1) | 9,459 | 436,628 | ||||||
SPS Commerce, Inc.(1) | 7,417 | 1,424,509 | ||||||
Tenable Holdings, Inc.(1) | 19,981 | 870,173 | ||||||
Teradata Corp.(1) | 7,003 | 374,030 | ||||||
Varonis Systems, Inc.(1) | 21,179 | 564,420 | ||||||
10,803,827 | ||||||||
Specialized REITs — 0.1% | ||||||||
Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. | 5,283 | 134,188 | ||||||
Specialty Retail — 3.4% | ||||||||
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | 30,975 | 365,505 | ||||||
America's Car-Mart, Inc.(1) | 1,701 | 169,726 | ||||||
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.(1) | 2,737 | 658,029 | ||||||
AutoNation, Inc.(1) | 2,970 | 488,892 | ||||||
Chico's FAS, Inc.(1) | 61,078 | 326,767 | ||||||
Foot Locker, Inc.(2) | 5,491 | 148,861 | ||||||
Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | 4,809 | 1,241,203 | ||||||
Murphy USA, Inc. | 3,109 | 967,241 | ||||||
Signet Jewelers Ltd. | 8,707 | 568,219 | ||||||
Upbound Group, Inc. | 10,162 | 316,343 | ||||||
5,250,786 | ||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 1.2% | ||||||||
Pure Storage, Inc., Class A(1) | 38,717 | 1,425,560 | ||||||
Xerox Holdings Corp. | 26,904 | 400,600 | ||||||
1,826,160 | ||||||||
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 0.8% | ||||||||
Crocs, Inc.(1) | 9,220 | 1,036,697 | ||||||
G-III Apparel Group Ltd.(1) | 8,617 | 166,049 | ||||||
1,202,746 | ||||||||
Trading Companies and Distributors — 1.8% | ||||||||
BlueLinx Holdings, Inc.(1) | 5,143 | 482,311 | ||||||
Boise Cascade Co. | 22,344 | 2,018,780 | ||||||
DXP Enterprises, Inc.(1) | 2,274 | 82,796 | ||||||
Titan Machinery, Inc.(1) | 5,654 | 166,793 | ||||||
2,750,680 | ||||||||
Water Utilities — 0.2% | ||||||||
California Water Service Group | 5,262 | 271,677 | ||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.1% | ||||||||
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc. | 19,215 | 158,139 | ||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $133,197,895) | 154,412,610 |
16
Shares | Value | |||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 1.0% | ||||||||
Money Market Funds — 0.5% | ||||||||
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 2,098 | $ | 2,098 | |||||
State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio(3) | 802,228 | 802,228 | ||||||
804,326 | ||||||||
Repurchase Agreements — 0.5% | ||||||||
BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 4.25% - 4.50%, 5/15/38 - 11/15/40, valued at $110,911), in a joint trading account at 5.02%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $108,111) | 108,066 | |||||||
Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 3.625%, 5/15/53, valued at $596,777), at 5.04%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $585,246) | 585,000 | |||||||
693,066 | ||||||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $1,497,392) | 1,497,392 | |||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 100.4% (Cost $134,695,287) | 155,910,002 | |||||||
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — (0.4)% | (557,254) | |||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 155,352,748 |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
(1)Non-income producing.
(2)Security, or a portion thereof, is on loan. At the period end, the aggregate value of securities on loan was $4,122,708. The amount of securities on loan indicated may not correspond with the securities on loan identified because securities with pending sales are in the process of recall from the brokers.
(3)Investment of cash collateral from securities on loan. At the period end, the aggregate value of the collateral held by the fund was $4,182,349, which includes securities collateral of $3,380,121.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
17
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Assets | |||||
Investment securities, at value (cost of $133,893,059) — including $4,122,708 of securities on loan | $ | 155,107,774 | |||
Investment made with cash collateral received for securities on loan, at value (cost of $802,228) | 802,228 | ||||
Total investment securities, at value (cost of $134,695,287) | 155,910,002 | ||||
Receivable for investments sold | 444,171 | ||||
Receivable for capital shares sold | 5,894 | ||||
Dividends and interest receivable | 75,997 | ||||
Securities lending receivable | 989 | ||||
156,437,053 | |||||
Liabilities | |||||
Payable for collateral received for securities on loan | 802,228 | ||||
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 174,178 | ||||
Accrued management fees | 105,027 | ||||
Distribution and service fees payable | 2,872 | ||||
1,084,305 | |||||
Net Assets | $ | 155,352,748 | |||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 158,037,874 | |||
Distributable earnings (loss) | (2,685,126) | ||||
$ | 155,352,748 |
Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share* | |||||||||
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $137,734,672 | 9,885,916 | $13.93 | ||||||||
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $6,387,213 | 455,352 | $14.03 | ||||||||
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $8,017,130 | 595,466 | $13.46 | ||||||||
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $373,200 | 30,356 | $12.29 | ||||||||
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $2,415,792 | 186,571 | $12.95 | ||||||||
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $424,741 | 30,242 | $14.04 |
*Maximum offering price per share was equal to the net asset value per share for all share classes, except A Class, for which the maximum offering price per share was $14.28 (net asset value divided by 0.9425). A contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on redemptions of A Class and C Class.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18
Statement of Operations |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Investment Income (Loss) | |||||
Income: | |||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $4,567) | $ | 2,050,958 | |||
Interest | 40,289 | ||||
Securities lending, net | 8,740 | ||||
2,099,987 | |||||
Expenses: | |||||
Management fees | 1,306,272 | ||||
Distribution and service fees: | |||||
A Class | 21,065 | ||||
C Class | 3,704 | ||||
R Class | 11,822 | ||||
Directors' fees and expenses | 10,545 | ||||
Other expenses | 93 | ||||
1,353,501 | |||||
Net investment income (loss) | 746,486 | ||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |||||
Investment transactions | (1,775,982) | ||||
Futures contract transactions | (120,013) | ||||
(1,895,995) | |||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 19,435,767 | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 17,539,772 | ||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 18,286,258 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
19
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND JUNE 30, 2022 | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 746,486 | $ | 654,040 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) | (1,895,995) | 1,580,019 | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 19,435,767 | (50,083,673) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 18,286,258 | (47,849,614) | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
From earnings: | ||||||||
Investor Class | (562,664) | (30,335,909) | ||||||
I Class | (37,276) | (1,428,164) | ||||||
A Class | (14,932) | (2,023,235) | ||||||
C Class | — | (122,842) | ||||||
R Class | (2,308) | (560,014) | ||||||
R5 Class | (2,625) | (71,696) | ||||||
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (619,805) | (34,541,860) | ||||||
Capital Share Transactions | ||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | (14,537,736) | 10,957,555 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 3,128,717 | (71,433,919) | ||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 152,224,031 | 223,657,950 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 155,352,748 | $ | 152,224,031 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2023
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Small Company Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of small companies.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The value of investments of the fund is determined by American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor), as the valuation designee, pursuant to its valuation policies and procedures. The Board of Directors oversees the valuation designee and reviews its valuation policies and procedures at least annually.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the valuation designee determines that the market price for a portfolio security is not readily available or is believed by the valuation designee to be unreliable, such security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the valuation designee, in accordance with its policies and procedures. Circumstances that may cause the fund to determine that market quotations are not available or reliable include, but are not limited to: when there is a significant event subsequent to the market quotation; trading in a security has been halted during the trading day; or trading in a security is insufficient or did not take place due to a closure or holiday.
The valuation designee monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; regulatory news, governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The valuation designee also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that it deems appropriate. The valuation designee may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
21
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Securities lending income is net of fees and rebates earned by the lending agent for its services.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that ACIM has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund's policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
22
Securities Lending — Securities are lent to qualified financial institutions and brokers. State Street Bank & Trust Co. serves as securities lending agent to the fund pursuant to a Securities Lending Agreement. The lending of securities exposes the fund to risks such as: the borrowers may fail to return the loaned securities, the borrowers may not be able to provide additional collateral, the fund may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or delays in access to collateral, or the fund may experience losses related to the investment collateral. To minimize certain risks, loan counterparties pledge collateral in the form of cash and/or securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the fund in the case of default of any securities borrowed. Cash collateral received is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, a money market mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act. The loans may also be secured by U.S. government securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted accordingly. By lending securities, the fund seeks to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest and fees. Such income is reflected separately within the Statement of Operations. The value of loaned securities and related collateral outstanding at period end, if any, are shown on a gross basis within the Schedule of Investments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The following table reflects a breakdown of transactions accounted for as secured borrowings, the gross obligation by the type of collateral pledged, and the remaining contractual maturity of those transactions as of June 30, 2023.
Remaining Contractual Maturity of Agreements | |||||||||||||||||
Overnight and Continuous | <30 days | Between 30 & 90 days | >90 days | Total | |||||||||||||
Securities Lending Transactions(1) | |||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 802,228 | — | — | — | $ | 802,228 | ||||||||||
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | $ | 802,228 |
(1)Amount represents the payable for cash collateral received for securities on loan. This will generally be in the Overnight and Continuous column as the securities are typically callable on demand.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation's investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation's transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund's assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all funds in the American Century Investments family of funds that have the same investment advisor and distributor as the fund. For purposes of determining the Investment Category Fee and Complex Fee, the assets of funds managed by the investment advisor that invest exclusively in the shares of other funds (funds of funds) are not included.
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The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2023 are as follows:
Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee | |||||||||
Investor Class | 0.5380% to 0.7200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% | ||||||||
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.65% | |||||||||
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% | |||||||||
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% | |||||||||
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% | |||||||||
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.65% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2023 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund's officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund sales were $472,537 and there were no interfund purchases. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $(16,609) in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended June 30, 2023 were $182,800,554 and $195,672,560, respectively.
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5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
Year ended June 30, 2023 | Year ended June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 400,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 404,821 | $ | 5,351,168 | 566,125 | $ | 9,898,901 | ||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 41,460 | 540,646 | 1,815,552 | 28,979,901 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (1,394,755) | (18,314,182) | (1,687,634) | (28,391,812) | ||||||||||
(948,474) | (12,422,368) | 694,043 | 10,486,990 | |||||||||||
I Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 91,978 | 1,226,793 | 76,265 | 1,426,742 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 2,834 | 37,225 | 88,710 | 1,426,219 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (120,088) | (1,597,192) | (162,319) | (2,777,438) | ||||||||||
(25,276) | (333,174) | 2,656 | 75,523 | |||||||||||
A Class/Shares Authorized | 30,000,000 | 30,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 65,906 | 840,292 | 113,792 | 1,873,187 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,146 | 14,458 | 128,136 | 1,976,088 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (196,165) | (2,476,479) | (209,401) | (3,378,446) | ||||||||||
(129,113) | (1,621,729) | 32,527 | 470,829 | |||||||||||
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 4,161 | 47,523 | 1,655 | 23,705 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | — | — | 8,639 | 122,842 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (12,466) | (141,371) | (24,810) | (383,151) | ||||||||||
(8,305) | (93,848) | (14,516) | (236,604) | |||||||||||
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 43,027 | 526,683 | 44,763 | 688,058 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 190 | 2,294 | 37,192 | 553,411 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (56,130) | (686,367) | (73,681) | (1,130,139) | ||||||||||
(12,913) | (157,390) | 8,274 | 111,330 | |||||||||||
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | ||||||||||||
Sold | 17,268 | 226,907 | 5,737 | 109,361 | ||||||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 200 | 2,625 | 4,453 | 71,696 | ||||||||||
Redeemed | (10,032) | (138,759) | (8,087) | (131,570) | ||||||||||
7,436 | 90,773 | 2,103 | 49,487 | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) | (1,116,645) | $ | (14,537,736) | 725,087 | $ | 10,957,555 |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund's investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
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The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Investment Securities | |||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 154,412,610 | — | — | |||||||
Short-Term Investments | 804,326 | $ | 693,066 | — | |||||||
$ | 155,216,936 | $ | 693,066 | — |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). A fund may incur charges or earn income on cash deposit balances, which are reflected in interest expenses or interest income, respectively. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $2,236,665 futures contracts sold.
At period end, the fund did not have any derivative instruments disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $(120,013) in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, war, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund invests in common stocks of small companies. Because of this, the fund may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a fund investing in larger, more established companies.
The fund's investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
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9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 were as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Distributions Paid From | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 619,805 | $ | 1,773,346 | ||||
Long-term capital gains | — | $ | 32,768,514 |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-
basis were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 135,638,660 | |||
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 25,819,498 | |||
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (5,548,156) | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 20,271,342 | |||
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 31,415 | |||
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (22,987,883) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an unlimited period. Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
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Financial Highlights |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $12.41 | 0.07 | 1.51 | 1.58 | (0.06) | — | (0.06) | $13.93 | 12.72% | 0.86% | 0.50% | 119% | $137,735 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $19.38 | 0.06 | (3.92) | (3.86) | (0.05) | (3.06) | (3.11) | $12.41 | (23.44)% | 0.85% | 0.35% | 205% | $134,507 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $12.10 | 0.02 | 7.29 | 7.31 | (0.03) | — | (0.03) | $19.38 | 60.46% | 0.86% | 0.13% | 142% | $196,473 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $13.28 | 0.06 | (1.14) | (1.08) | (0.10) | — | (0.10) | $12.10 | (8.19)% | 0.87% | 0.45% | 140% | $133,205 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $16.17 | 0.04 | (1.39) | (1.35) | (0.01) | (1.53) | (1.54) | $13.28 | (7.66)% | 0.87% | 0.30% | 99% | $566,025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $12.50 | 0.09 | 1.52 | 1.61 | (0.08) | — | (0.08) | $14.03 | 12.93% | 0.66% | 0.70% | 119% | $6,387 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $19.49 | 0.09 | (3.94) | (3.85) | (0.08) | (3.06) | (3.14) | $12.50 | (23.27)% | 0.65% | 0.55% | 205% | $6,007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $12.16 | 0.05 | 7.33 | 7.38 | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $19.49 | 60.82% | 0.66% | 0.33% | 142% | $9,315 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $13.36 | 0.08 | (1.14) | (1.06) | (0.14) | — | (0.14) | $12.16 | (7.97)% | 0.67% | 0.65% | 140% | $8,376 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $16.26 | 0.07 | (1.40) | (1.33) | (0.04) | (1.53) | (1.57) | $13.36 | (7.50)% | 0.67% | 0.50% | 99% | $18,293 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $12.00 | 0.03 | 1.45 | 1.48 | (0.02) | — | (0.02) | $13.46 | 12.37% | 1.11% | 0.25% | 119% | $8,017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $18.83 | 0.02 | (3.78) | (3.76) | (0.01) | (3.06) | (3.07) | $12.00 | (23.61)% | 1.10% | 0.10% | 205% | $8,693 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $11.77 | (0.02) | 7.09 | 7.07 | (0.01) | — | (0.01) | $18.83 | 60.14% | 1.11% | (0.12)% | 142% | $13,031 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $12.89 | 0.02 | (1.10) | (1.08) | (0.04) | — | (0.04) | $11.77 | (8.38)% | 1.12% | 0.20% | 140% | $8,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $15.78 | —(3) | (1.36) | (1.36) | — | (1.53) | (1.53) | $12.89 | (7.90)% | 1.12% | 0.05% | 99% | $14,960 |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $11.02 | (0.06) | 1.33 | 1.27 | — | — | — | $12.29 | 11.52% | 1.86% | (0.50)% | 119% | $373 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $17.66 | (0.11) | (3.47) | (3.58) | — | (3.06) | (3.06) | $11.02 | (24.14)% | 1.85% | (0.65)% | 205% | $426 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $11.11 | (0.13) | 6.68 | 6.55 | — | — | — | $17.66 | 58.87% | 1.86% | (0.87)% | 142% | $939 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $12.22 | (0.07) | (1.04) | (1.11) | — | — | — | $11.11 | (9.08)% | 1.87% | (0.55)% | 140% | $762 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $15.16 | (0.10) | (1.31) | (1.41) | — | (1.53) | (1.53) | $12.22 | (8.60)% | 1.87% | (0.70)% | 99% | $1,508 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $11.56 | —(3) | 1.40 | 1.40 | (0.01) | — | (0.01) | $12.95 | 12.14% | 1.36% | 0.00%(4) | 119% | $2,416 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $18.29 | (0.02) | (3.65) | (3.67) | — | (3.06) | (3.06) | $11.56 | (23.81)% | 1.35% | (0.15)% | 205% | $2,306 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $11.45 | (0.05) | 6.89 | 6.84 | — | — | — | $18.29 | 59.74% | 1.36% | (0.37)% | 142% | $3,497 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $12.55 | (0.01) | (1.07) | (1.08) | (0.02) | — | (0.02) | $11.45 | (8.59)% | 1.37% | (0.05)% | 140% | $7,401 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $15.45 | (0.03) | (1.34) | (1.37) | — | (1.53) | (1.53) | $12.55 | (8.15)% | 1.37% | (0.20)% | 99% | $10,525 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R5 Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $12.51 | 0.09 | 1.52 | 1.61 | (0.08) | — | (0.08) | $14.04 | 12.92% | 0.66% | 0.70% | 119% | $425 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $19.51 | 0.09 | (3.95) | (3.86) | (0.08) | (3.06) | (3.14) | $12.51 | (23.26)% | 0.65% | 0.55% | 205% | $285 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $12.17 | 0.05 | 7.34 | 7.39 | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $19.51 | 60.77% | 0.66% | 0.33% | 142% | $404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $13.37 | 0.08 | (1.14) | (1.06) | (0.14) | — | (0.14) | $12.17 | (7.97)% | 0.67% | 0.65% | 140% | $164 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $16.27 | 0.07 | (1.40) | (1.33) | (0.04) | (1.53) | (1.57) | $13.37 | (7.49)% | 0.67% | 0.50% | 99% | $282 |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
(4)Ratio was less than 0.005%.
*The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations or precisely reflect the class expense differentials due to the timing of transactions in shares of the fund in relation to income earned and/or fluctuations in the fair value of the fund's investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Small Company Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for the two 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 Small Company Fund of the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, and the results of its operations for the year then ended and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, were audited by other auditors, whose report, dated August 17, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
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 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 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 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 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 June 30, 2023, 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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 16, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Century investment companies since 1997.
31
Management |
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Jonathan S. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Jeremy I. Bulow, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Jonathan S. Thomas is 3945 Freedom Circle, Suite #800, Santa Clara, California 95054. The mailing address for Jonathan S. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director and Board Chair | Since 2011 (Board Chair since 2022) | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 32 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd. | ||||||||||||
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 83 | None | ||||||||||||
Jennifer Cabalquinto (1968) | Director | Since 2021 | Chief Financial Officer, EMPIRE (digital media distribution) (2023 to present); Chief Financial Officer, 2K (interactive entertainment) (2021 to 2023); Special Advisor, GSW Sports, LLC (2020 to 2021); Chief Financial Officer, GSW Sports, LLC (2013 to 2020) | 32 | Sabio Holdings Inc. |
32
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 32 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines | ||||||||||||
Interested Director | |||||||||||||||||
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 148 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
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Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for 16 investment companies in the American Century family of funds. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | ||||||
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries | ||||||
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018 | Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present) | ||||||
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS | ||||||
John Pak (1968) | General Counsel and Senior Vice President since 2021 | General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACC (2021 to present). Also serves as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACIM, ACS and ACIS. Chief Legal Officer of Investment and Wealth Management, The Bank of New York Mellon (2014 to 2021) | ||||||
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS | ||||||
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
34
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 14, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent data providers concerning the Fund.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, distribution services, and other services provided to the Fund;
•the wide range of programs and services the Advisor and other service providers provide to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance compared to appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similarly-managed funds;
•the Advisor’s compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience and those of certain other service providers;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, generally, and with respect to areas of heightened interest in the mutual fund industry and certain recent geopolitical and other issues;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans, vendor management practices, and information security practices;
•the cost of services provided to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the Advisor’s financial results of operation;
•possible economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
35
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including but not limited to
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•liquidity monitoring and management
•risk management, including information security
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results and any actions being taken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was above its benchmark for the three-year period and below its benchmark for the one-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
36
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including information security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, and its financial results of operation. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the terms of the current management agreement. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its fee structure and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage and other transaction fees and expenses relating to acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fund litigation expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Investment Company Act Rule 12b-1. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer universe. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
37
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board also noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and received over time, concluded that the terms of the management agreement are fair and reasonable and that the management fee charged to the Fund is reasonable in light of the services provided and that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor should be renewed for an additional one-year period.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates, including members of ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments, conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to the program.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of certain investments held by the Fund is supported by a third-party liquidity assessment vendor.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
39
Additional Information |
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding at the IRS default rate of 10%.* Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
You may elect a different withholding rate, or request zero withholding, by submitting an acceptable IRS Form W-4R election with your distribution request. You may notify us of your W-4R election by telephone, on our distribution forms, on IRS Form W-4R, or through other acceptable electronic means. If your withholding election is for an automatic withdrawal plan, you have the right to revoke your election at any time and any election you make will remain in effect until revoked by filing a new election.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld according to state regulations if, at the time of your distribution, your tax residency is within one of the mandatory withholding states.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
40
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $619,805, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
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Notes |
42
Notes |
43
Notes |
44
Contact Us | americancentury.com | |||||||
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |||||||
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |||||||
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |||||||
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |||||||
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |||||||
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |||||||
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | ||||||||
Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | ||||||||
This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | ||||||||
©2023 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92992 2308 |
Annual Report | |||||
June 30, 2023 | |||||
Utilities Fund | |||||
Investor Class (BULIX) |
Table of Contents |
President's Letter | |||||
Performance | |||||
Portfolio Commentary | |||||
Fund Characteristics | |||||
Shareholder Fee Example | |||||
Schedule of Investments | |||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||
Statement of Operations | |||||
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |||||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||||
Financial Highlights | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
Management | |||||
Approval of Management Agreement | |||||
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |||||
Additional Information |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
President’s Letter |
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2023. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Second-Half Rally Generated Strong Fiscal-Year Returns
After ending 2022 with modest six-month gains, stocks rallied in the first half of 2023. This bounce back, which occurred despite ongoing volatility and rising interest rates, led to strong 12-month performance for most stock indices. Investor expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to conclude its rate-hike campaign largely fueled the optimism.
Inflation’s pace steadily slowed during the period, which, combined with mounting recession worries, prompted investors to regularly recalibrate their monetary policy outlooks. However, with inflation still above target and the labor market resilient, policymakers continued to raise rates.
A new challenge emerged in March when several high-profile banks failed. Market unrest escalated, but quick action from regulators helped restore order. Nevertheless, heightened uncertainty surrounding the banking industry and credit availability further fueled recession fears. These worries strengthened investor expectations for a near-term end to central bank tightening and potential rate cuts later in the year.
The Fed, which announced its 10th-consecutive rate hike in May, paused its tightening campaign in June. However, citing still-high inflation and still-strong economic data, policymakers hinted the pause wasn’t permanent. Expectations for rate cuts faded, but many market participants shifted their focus to a potential soft-landing scenario.
Overall, robust performance in the second half of the period propelled the S&P 500 Index to a 12-month return of nearly 20%. U.S. stocks outpaced non-U.S. stocks, large-cap stocks generally outperformed small caps, and growth significantly outperformed value.
Remaining Diligent in Uncertain Times
We expect market volatility to linger as investors navigate a complex environment of persistent inflation, tighter financial conditions, banking industry turbulence and recession risk. In addition, increasingly tense geopolitical considerations complicate the market backdrop.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. American Century Investments has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable and volatile markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Performance |
Total Returns as of June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Annual Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ticker Symbol | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Inception Date | |||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | BULIX | -4.65% | 3.60% | 5.59% | 3/1/93 | ||||||||||||||||||
S&P 500 Utilities Index | — | -3.68% | 8.23% | 9.39% | — | ||||||||||||||||||
S&P 500 Index | — | 19.59% | 12.30% | 12.86% | — |
Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years | ||
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2013 |
Value on June 30, 2023 | |||||
Investor Class — $17,230 | |||||
S&P 500 Utilities Index — $24,547 | |||||
S&P 500 Index — $33,535 | |||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||||
Investor Class | 0.65% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
3
Portfolio Commentary |
Portfolio Managers: Arun Daniel and Yulin Long
Performance Summary
Utilities returned -4.65% for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2023. The fund’s benchmark, the S&P 500 Utilities Index, returned -3.68% for the same period. The fund’s return reflects operating expenses, while the index’s return does not. By comparison, the S&P 500 Index, a broad market measure, returned 19.59%.
Compared with the S&P 500 Utilities Index, the fund’s underperformance primarily reflects its positioning among electric and gas utilities. Our out-of-benchmark holdings in utility-related information technology and energy stocks benefited relative performance.
Utilities’ stocks performance relative to the broader market needs to be put into context. Utilities have historically tended to be a highly regulated industry with dependable cash flows, earnings growth and dividend payments. As a result, utilities stocks have historically been attractive for their defensive and income-paying characteristics. Their defensive nature meant utilities actually produced double-digit gains in the reporting period ended June 2022, when the S&P 500 Index was down more than 10%. But conditions reversed in the last 12 months, when investors rotated out of more defensive shares and growth-oriented stocks rebounded.
That performance reflects changing economic and financial conditions in recent years, when we witnessed a 40-year high in inflation, the most rapid Federal Reserve rate increases since the 1980s, the war in Ukraine and stress on the energy grid from record-high temperatures. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and inflation are related because the sanctions and other disruptions to global energy markets meant oil and natural gas prices soared. An estimated 40% of U.S. electric power generation relies on natural gas, so surging input prices hurt utilities’ earnings and flowed through to consumers. The sudden rise in interest rates is important because utilities’ dividends become less attractive relative to bonds. Higher rates also mean higher financing costs for utilities’ capital expenditure plans, required to build out and maintain infrastructure.
Financing costs are important because pressure on the U.S. energy grid from the hottest summer on record underscored the need for spending to build out a more dependable and resilient transmission network. Indeed, the so-called electrification of everything, an umbrella term that includes such notions as transitioning the automotive fleet away from combustion engines toward electric vehicles, will require commitments of time, capital and political will. The trillion-dollar infrastructure bill passed in 2021 is just the first step toward meeting stated electrification and decarbonization goals. Add it all up, and these trends have made for an uncharacteristically volatile few years for utilities stocks.
Electric Utilities Detracted the Most
The main source of weakness was positioning among electric utilities. It hurt relative performance to have less exposure than the benchmark in Constellation Energy, PG&E and NextEra Energy. Constellation was a spinout from Exelon in 2022, making it the largest producer of clean energy. PG&E benefited from regulator’s decision to support $9 billion in investment toward upgrading its network. NextEra Energy is a leading renewable energy producer. All three benefited from the infrastructure spending bill and increased focus on renewable energy. Our overweight position in gas utility National Fuel Gas was another key detractor because of the dramatic decline in natural gas prices. We eliminated the position.
Contributors to Return Broad Based
The largest contribution to performance compared with the benchmark came from an underweight position in Virginia-based utility Dominion Energy. The company continues to work toward its transition to cleaner energy sources, divesting older, less-desirable assets and investing in new, renewable power generation. Another source of strength was our out-of-benchmark position in solar technology company Enphase Energy. We took our profits and eliminated the stock after significant outperformance through late 2022. Other key contributors to relative results were regulated electric utilities Pinnacle West Capital and Edison International. Arizona-based Pinnacle’s stock rebounded during the period from an unfavorable late 2021 regulatory rate decision. Edison benefited from an earlier favorable decision by the California Public Utilities Commission to increase rates to help fund improvements in its electrical grid and reduce wildfire risk.
4
Fund Characteristics |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets | ||||
Common Stocks | 99.3% | ||||
Short-Term Investments | 0.7% | ||||
Other Assets and Liabilities | —* | ||||
*Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets. | |||||
Top Five Sub-Industries | % of net assets | ||||
Electric Utilities | 67.0% | ||||
Multi-Utilities | 23.5% | ||||
Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders | 3.3% | ||||
Gas Utilities | 1.2% | ||||
Electrical Components and Equipment | 1.1% |
5
Shareholder Fee Example |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then 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 under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments mutual fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s 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 your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, 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.
6
Beginning Account Value 1/1/23 | Ending Account Value 6/30/23 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) | |||||||||||
Actual | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $932.30 | $3.16 | 0.66% | ||||||||||
Hypothetical | ||||||||||||||
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.52 | $3.31 | 0.66% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the fund's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
7
Schedule of Investments |
JUNE 30, 2023
Shares | Value | |||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.3% | ||||||||
Building Products — 0.3% | ||||||||
Cie de Saint-Gobain | 10,841 | $ | 660,069 | |||||
Construction and Engineering — 0.7% | ||||||||
EMCOR Group, Inc. | 3,009 | 556,003 | ||||||
Valmont Industries, Inc. | 1,856 | 540,189 | ||||||
Vinci SA | 5,656 | 657,201 | ||||||
1,753,393 | ||||||||
Data Centers — 0.2% | ||||||||
Equinix, Inc. | 678 | 531,511 | ||||||
Electric Utilities — 67.0% | ||||||||
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 154,019 | 12,968,400 | ||||||
Avangrid, Inc. | 257 | 9,684 | ||||||
Constellation Energy Corp. | 68,410 | 6,262,935 | ||||||
Duke Energy Corp. | 213,712 | 19,178,515 | ||||||
Edison International | 188,473 | 13,089,450 | ||||||
Entergy Corp. | 109,838 | 10,694,926 | ||||||
Evergy, Inc. | 178,630 | 10,435,565 | ||||||
Eversource Energy | 109,203 | 7,744,677 | ||||||
Exelon Corp. | 298,280 | 12,151,927 | ||||||
FirstEnergy Corp. | 319,681 | 12,429,197 | ||||||
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 470,435 | 34,906,277 | ||||||
NRG Energy, Inc. | 7,611 | 284,575 | ||||||
PG&E Corp.(1) | 528,593 | 9,134,087 | ||||||
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | 119,836 | 9,761,840 | ||||||
Southern Co. | 233,479 | 16,401,900 | ||||||
Xcel Energy, Inc. | 31,788 | 1,976,260 | ||||||
177,430,215 | ||||||||
Electrical Components and Equipment — 1.1% | ||||||||
ABB Ltd. | 14,199 | 558,601 | ||||||
Atkore, Inc.(1) | 3,649 | 569,025 | ||||||
Eaton Corp. PLC | 2,934 | 590,027 | ||||||
Hubbell, Inc. | 2,286 | 757,946 | ||||||
Schneider Electric SE | 2,990 | 543,213 | ||||||
3,018,812 | ||||||||
Environmental and Facilities Services — 1.0% | ||||||||
Clean Harbors, Inc.(1) | 4,576 | 752,432 | ||||||
GFL Environmental, Inc. | 14,168 | 550,143 | ||||||
Waste Connections, Inc. | 4,884 | 698,009 | ||||||
Waste Management, Inc. | 4,033 | 699,403 | ||||||
2,699,987 | ||||||||
Gas Utilities — 1.2% | ||||||||
Brookfield Infrastructure Corp., Class A | 41,723 | 1,901,735 | ||||||
Spire, Inc. | 20,557 | 1,304,136 | ||||||
3,205,871 | ||||||||
Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders — 3.3% | ||||||||
AES Corp. | 354,427 | 7,347,272 | ||||||
Vistra Corp. | 56,315 | 1,478,269 | ||||||
8,825,541 |
8
Shares | Value | |||||||
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.2% | ||||||||
Siemens AG | 3,115 | $ | 519,273 | |||||
Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components — 0.3% | ||||||||
Ingersoll Rand, Inc. | 11,291 | 737,980 | ||||||
Multi-Utilities — 23.5% | ||||||||
Ameren Corp. | 78,892 | 6,443,110 | ||||||
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | 138,885 | 12,555,204 | ||||||
Dominion Energy, Inc. | 203,321 | 10,529,995 | ||||||
DTE Energy Co. | 10,787 | 1,186,786 | ||||||
NiSource, Inc. | 363,561 | 9,943,393 | ||||||
NorthWestern Corp. | 80,769 | 4,584,448 | ||||||
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | 64,017 | 4,008,104 | ||||||
Sempra Energy | 89,754 | 13,067,285 | ||||||
62,318,325 | ||||||||
Renewable Electricity — 0.2% | ||||||||
NextEra Energy Partners LP | 10,693 | 627,038 | ||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.3% | ||||||||
T-Mobile U.S., Inc.(1) | 4,726 | 656,441 | ||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $232,422,657) | 262,984,456 | |||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.7% | ||||||||
Money Market Funds† | ||||||||
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 4,246 | 4,246 | ||||||
Repurchase Agreements — 0.7% | ||||||||
BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 4.25% - 4.50%, 5/15/38 - 11/15/40, valued at $319,499), in a joint trading account at 5.02%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $311,436) | 311,305 | |||||||
Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 1.875%, 2/15/32, valued at $1,720,824), at 5.04%, dated 6/30/23, due 7/3/23 (Delivery value $1,687,709) | 1,687,000 | |||||||
1,998,305 | ||||||||
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $2,002,551) | 2,002,551 | |||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 100.0% (Cost $234,425,208) | 264,987,007 | |||||||
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES† | (108,852) | |||||||
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 264,878,155 |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
†Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets.
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
9
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Assets | |||||
Investment securities, at value (cost of $234,425,208) | $ | 264,987,007 | |||
Cash | 15,415 | ||||
Receivable for capital shares sold | 27,598 | ||||
Dividends and interest receivable | 64,366 | ||||
Securities lending receivable | 65 | ||||
265,094,451 | |||||
Liabilities | |||||
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 74,217 | ||||
Accrued management fees | 142,079 | ||||
216,296 | |||||
Net Assets | $ | 264,878,155 | |||
Investor Class Capital Shares, $0.01 Par Value | |||||
Shares authorized | 300,000,000 | ||||
Shares outstanding | 17,797,382 | ||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 14.88 | |||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 244,005,659 | |||
Distributable earnings (loss) | 20,872,496 | ||||
$ | 264,878,155 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
10
Statement of Operations |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 | |||||
Investment Income (Loss) | |||||
Income: | |||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $23,513) | $ | 8,765,859 | |||
Interest | 100,158 | ||||
Securities lending, net | 2,957 | ||||
8,868,974 | |||||
Expenses: | |||||
Management fees | 1,941,316 | ||||
Directors' fees and expenses | 20,369 | ||||
Other expenses | 1,871 | ||||
1,963,556 | |||||
Net investment income (loss) | 6,905,418 | ||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |||||
Investment transactions | (5,968,130) | ||||
Foreign currency translation transactions | 28,086 | ||||
(5,940,044) | |||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |||||
Investments | (14,241,121) | ||||
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 309 | ||||
(14,240,812) | |||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (20,180,856) | ||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | (13,275,438) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
11
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND JUNE 30, 2022 | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||
Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 6,905,418 | $ | 6,037,546 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) | (5,940,044) | 15,569,320 | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (14,240,812) | (5,696,780) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (13,275,438) | 15,910,086 | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
From earnings | (20,877,198) | (23,897,603) | ||||||
Capital Share Transactions | ||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 21,500,251 | 32,763,217 | ||||||
Proceeds from reinvestment of distributions | 19,892,541 | 22,718,447 | ||||||
Payments for shares redeemed | (52,249,387) | (51,706,838) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions | (10,856,595) | 3,774,826 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (45,009,231) | (4,212,691) | ||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 309,887,386 | 314,100,077 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 264,878,155 | $ | 309,887,386 | ||||
Transactions in Shares of the Fund | ||||||||
Sold | 1,294,605 | 1,851,064 | ||||||
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,233,257 | 1,299,477 | ||||||
Redeemed | (3,256,608) | (2,921,663) | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in shares of the fund | (728,746) | 228,878 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2023
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Utilities Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objectives are to seek current income and long-term growth of capital and income. The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies engaged in the utilities industry. The fund offers the Investor Class.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The value of investments of the fund is determined by American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor), as the valuation designee, pursuant to its valuation policies and procedures. The Board of Directors oversees the valuation designee and reviews its valuation policies and procedures at least annually.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
If the valuation designee determines that the market price for a portfolio security is not readily available or is believed by the valuation designee to be unreliable, such security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the valuation designee, in accordance with its policies and procedures. Circumstances that may cause the fund to determine that market quotations are not available or reliable include, but are not limited to: when there is a significant event subsequent to the market quotation; trading in a security has been halted during the trading day; or trading in a security is insufficient or did not take place due to a closure or holiday.
The valuation designee monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; regulatory news, governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The valuation designee also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that it deems appropriate. The valuation designee may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
13
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Securities lending income is net of fees and rebates earned by the lending agent for its services.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that ACIM has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund's policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
14
Securities Lending — Securities are lent to qualified financial institutions and brokers. State Street Bank & Trust Co. serves as securities lending agent to the fund pursuant to a Securities Lending Agreement. The lending of securities exposes the fund to risks such as: the borrowers may fail to return the loaned securities, the borrowers may not be able to provide additional collateral, the fund may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or delays in access to collateral, or the fund may experience losses related to the investment collateral. To minimize certain risks, loan counterparties pledge collateral in the form of cash and/or securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the fund in the case of default of any securities borrowed. Cash collateral received is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, a money market mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act. The loans may also be secured by U.S. government securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted accordingly. By lending securities, the fund seeks to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest and fees. Such income is reflected separately within the Statement of Operations. The value of loaned securities and related collateral outstanding at period end, if any, are shown on a gross basis within the Schedule of Investments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation's investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc., and the corporation's transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee). The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), and extraordinary expenses. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on the daily net assets of the fund and paid monthly in arrears. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all funds in the American Century Investments family of funds that have the same investment advisor and distributor as the fund. For purposes of determining the Investment Category Fee and Complex Fee, the assets of funds managed by the investment advisor that invest exclusively in the shares of other funds (funds of funds) are not included. The rates for the Investment Category Fee range from 0.3380% to 0.5200% and the rates for the Complex Fee range from 0.2500% to 0.3100%. The effective annual management fee for the period ended June 30, 2023 was 0.65%.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund's officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. There were no interfund transactions during the period.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended June 30, 2023 were $330,928,674 and $354,240,378, respectively.
15
5. Fair Value Measurements
The fund's investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Investment Securities | |||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 258,797,947 | $ | 4,186,509 | — | ||||||
Short-Term Investments | 4,246 | 1,998,305 | — | ||||||||
$ | 258,802,193 | $ | 6,184,814 | — |
6. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, war, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund's investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
The fund concentrates its investments in a narrow segment of the total market. Because of this, the fund may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio representing a broader range of industries.
7. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 were as follows:
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Distributions Paid From | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 6,188,854 | $ | 12,316,659 | ||||
Long-term capital gains | $ | 14,688,344 | $ | 11,580,944 |
16
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 233,926,955 | |||
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 34,888,117 | |||
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (3,828,065) | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 31,060,052 | |||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (924) | ||||
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) | $ | 31,059,128 | |||
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 664,242 | |||
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (4,044,429) | |||
Post-October capital loss deferral | $ | (6,806,445) |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and return of capital dividends received.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an unlimited period. Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
Loss deferrals represent certain qualified losses that the fund has elected to treat as having been incurred in the following fiscal year for federal income tax purposes.
.
17
Financial Highlights |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per-Share Data | Ratios and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations*: | Distributions From: | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $16.73 | 0.38 | (1.08) | (0.70) | (0.34) | (0.81) | (1.15) | $14.88 | (4.65)% | 0.66% | 2.32% | 113% | $264,878 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $17.17 | 0.33 | 0.56 | 0.89 | (0.31) | (1.02) | (1.33) | $16.73 | 4.98% | 0.65% | 1.86% | 140% | $309,887 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $15.91 | 0.41 | 2.08 | 2.49 | (0.39) | (0.84) | (1.23) | $17.17 | 15.95% | 0.66% | 2.34% | 108% | $314,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | $17.88 | 0.53 | (1.97) | (1.44) | (0.53) | — | (0.53) | $15.91 | (8.39)% | 0.67% | 2.95% | 102% | $321,917 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | $16.85 | 0.56 | 1.46 | 2.02 | (0.56) | (0.43) | (0.99) | $17.88 | 12.26% | 0.67% | 3.20% | 64% | $406,948 |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
*The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations due to the timing of transactions in shares of the fund in relation to income earned and/or fluctuations in the fair value of the fund's investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Utilities Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for the two 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 Utilities Fund of the American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., as of June 30, 2023, and the results of its operations for the year then ended and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, were audited by other auditors, whose report, dated August 17, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
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 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 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 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 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 June 30, 2023, 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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 16, 2023
We have served as the auditor of one or more American Century investment companies since 1997.
19
Management |
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Jonathan S. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Jeremy I. Bulow, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Jonathan S. Thomas is 3945 Freedom Circle, Suite #800, Santa Clara, California 95054. The mailing address for Jonathan S. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director and Board Chair | Since 2011 (Board Chair since 2022) | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 32 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd. | ||||||||||||
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 83 | None | ||||||||||||
Jennifer Cabalquinto (1968) | Director | Since 2021 | Chief Financial Officer, EMPIRE (digital media distribution) (2023 to present); Chief Financial Officer, 2K (interactive entertainment) (2021 to 2023); Special Advisor, GSW Sports, LLC (2020 to 2021); Chief Financial Officer, GSW Sports, LLC (2013 to 2020) | 32 | Sabio Holdings Inc. |
20
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Independent Directors | |||||||||||||||||
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 32 | None | ||||||||||||
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 32 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines | ||||||||||||
Interested Director | |||||||||||||||||
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 148 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
21
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for 16 investment companies in the American Century family of funds. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | ||||||
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries | ||||||
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018 | Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present) | ||||||
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS | ||||||
John Pak (1968) | General Counsel and Senior Vice President since 2021 | General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACC (2021 to present). Also serves as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, ACIM, ACS and ACIS. Chief Legal Officer of Investment and Wealth Management, The Bank of New York Mellon (2014 to 2021) | ||||||
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS | ||||||
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
22
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 14, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent data providers concerning the Fund.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, distribution services, and other services provided to the Fund;
•the wide range of programs and services the Advisor and other service providers provide to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance compared to appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similarly-managed funds;
•the Advisor’s compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience and those of certain other service providers;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, generally, and with respect to areas of heightened interest in the mutual fund industry and certain recent geopolitical and other issues;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans, vendor management practices, and information security practices;
•the cost of services provided to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the Advisor’s financial results of operation;
•possible economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
23
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including but not limited to
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•liquidity monitoring and management
•risk management, including information security
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and principal investment strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results and any actions being taken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
24
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including information security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, and its financial results of operation. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the terms of the current management agreement. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its fee structure and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage and other transaction fees and expenses relating to acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fund litigation expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Investment Company Act Rule 12b-1. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer universe. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
25
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board also noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and received over time, concluded that the terms of the management agreement are fair and reasonable and that the management fee charged to the Fund is reasonable in light of the services provided and that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor should be renewed for an additional one-year period.
26
Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates, including members of ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments, conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to the program.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of certain investments held by the Fund is supported by a third-party liquidity assessment vendor.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
27
Additional Information |
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding at the IRS default rate of 10%.* Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
You may elect a different withholding rate, or request zero withholding, by submitting an acceptable IRS Form W-4R election with your distribution request. You may notify us of your W-4R election by telephone, on our distribution forms, on IRS Form W-4R, or through other acceptable electronic means. If your withholding election is for an automatic withdrawal plan, you have the right to revoke your election at any time and any election you make will remain in effect until revoked by filing a new election.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld according to state regulations if, at the time of your distribution, your tax residency is within one of the mandatory withholding states.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
28
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $6,188,854, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $14,688,344, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
29
Notes | ||||||||||||||
30
Notes | ||||||||||||||
31
Notes |
32
Contact Us | americancentury.com | |||||||
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |||||||
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |||||||
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |||||||
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |||||||
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |||||||
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |||||||
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | ||||||||
Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | ||||||||
This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | ||||||||
©2023 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92986 2308 |
(b) None.
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
(a) The registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions.
(b) No response required.
(c) None.
(d) None.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) The registrant’s Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers was filed as Exhibit 12 (a)(1) to American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc.’s Annual Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, File No. 811-21591, on September 29, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
(a)(1) The registrant's board has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
(a)(2) Tanya S. Beder, Jennifer Cabalquinto, Anne Casscells and Peter F. Pervere are the registrant's designated audit committee financial experts. They are "independent" as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) No response required.
(c) No response required.
(d) No response required.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Audit Fees.
The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were as follows:
FY 2022: $120,934
FY 2023: $115,500
(b) Audit-Related Fees.
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were as follows:
For services rendered to the registrant:
FY 2022: $0
FY 2023: $0
Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):
FY 2022: $0
FY 2023: $0
(c) Tax Fees.
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were as follows:
For services rendered to the registrant:
FY 2022: $0
FY 2023: $0
Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):
FY 2022: $0
FY 2023: $0
(d) All Other Fees.
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were as follows:
For services rendered to the registrant:
FY 2022: $0
FY 2023: $0
Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):
FY 2022: $0
FY 2023: $0
(e)(1) In accordance with paragraph (c)(7)(i)(A) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, before the accountant is engaged by the registrant to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement is approved by the registrant’s audit committee. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, the registrant’s audit committee also pre-approves its accountant’s engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser, its parent company, and any entity 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.
(e)(2) All services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were pre-approved before the engagement by the registrant’s audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(A) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. Consequently, none of such services were required to be approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C).
(f) The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was less than 50%.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were as follows:
FY 2022: $2,832,126
FY 2023: $218,325
(h) The registrant’s investment adviser and accountant have notified the registrant’s audit committee of all non-audit services that were rendered by the registrant’s accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser, its parent company, and any entity controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides services to the registrant, which services were not required to be pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. The notification provided to the registrant’s audit committee included sufficient details regarding such services to allow the registrant’s audit committee to consider the continuing independence of its principal accountant.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS.
(a) The schedule of investments is included as part of the report to stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b) Not applicable.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
During the reporting period, there were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) Registrant’s Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 of Form N-CSR, was filed as Exhibit 12(a)(1) to American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc.’s Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, File No. 811-21591, on September 29, 2005.
(a)(2) Separate certifications by the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CERT.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(a)(4) Not applicable.
(b) A certification by the registrant’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, is furnished and attached hereto as EX-99.906CERT.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Registrant: | American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |||||||||||||
By: | /s/ Patrick Bannigan | |||||||||||||
Name: | Patrick Bannigan | |||||||||||||
Title: | President | |||||||||||||
Date: | August 23, 2023 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ Patrick Bannigan | ||||||||||
Name: | Patrick Bannigan | ||||||||||
Title: | President | ||||||||||
(principal executive officer) | |||||||||||
Date: | August 23, 2023 |
By: | /s/ R. Wes Campbell | ||||||||||
Name: | R. Wes Campbell | ||||||||||
Title: | Treasurer and | ||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||
(principal financial officer) | |||||||||||
Date: | August 23, 2023 |