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 | 811-06526 |
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The Boston Trust & Walden Funds |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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One Beacon Street, Boston MA | | 02108 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
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4400 Easton Commons, Columbus, OH 43219 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 1-800-282-8782 | |
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Date of fiscal year end: | December 31 | |
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Date of reporting period: | December 31, 2017 | |
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Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
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Annual Report December 31, 2017 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi01i002.jpg)
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Table of Contents
Economic and Market Summary | 3 |
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Boston Trust Asset Management Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 4 |
Investment Performance | 5 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 12 |
Financial Statements | 14 |
Financial Highlights | 16 |
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Boston Trust Equity Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 4 |
Investment Performance | 5 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 17 |
Financial Statements | 18 |
Financial Highlights | 20 |
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Boston Trust Midcap Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 6 |
Investment Performance | 7 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 21 |
Financial Statements | 22 |
Financial Highlights | 24 |
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Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 8 |
Investment Performance | 9 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 25 |
Financial Statements | 26 |
Financial Highlights | 28 |
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Boston Trust Small Cap Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 10 |
Investment Performance | 11 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 29 |
Financial Statements | 30 |
Financial Highlights | 32 |
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Environmental, Social, and Governance Research and Engagement Update (Annual Impact Report) | 34 |
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Walden Asset Management Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 42 |
Investment Performance | 43 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 52 |
Financial Statements | 54 |
Financial Highlights | 56 |
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Walden Equity Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 42 |
Investment Performance | 43 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 57 |
Financial Statements | 59 |
Financial Highlights | 60 |
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Walden Midcap Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 44 |
Investment Performance | 45 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 61 |
Financial Statements | 62 |
Financial Highlights | 64 |
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Walden SMID Cap Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 46 |
Investment Performance | 47 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 65 |
Financial Statements | 66 |
Financial Highlights | 68 |
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Walden Small Cap Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 48 |
Investment Performance | 49 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 69 |
Financial Statements | 70 |
Financial Highlights | 72 |
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Walden International Equity Fund | |
Manager Commentary | 50 |
Investment Performance | 51 |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | 73 |
Financial Statements | 75 |
Financial Highlights | 77 |
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Notes to Financial Statements | 78 |
Report of Independent Public Accounting Firm | 86 |
Supplementary Information | 87 |
Investment Adviser Contract Approval | 92 |
Information About Trustees and Officers | 94 |
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc. (BTIM), a subsidiary of Boston Trust & Investment Management Company, serves as investment adviser (the Adviser) to The Boston Trust & Walden Funds and receives a fee for its services. Boston Trust & Investment Management Company provides certain administrative, operational, and investment support functions for the Adviser and is paid a fee for these services by the Adviser.
Shares of the Funds are not deposits of, obligations of, or guaranteed by BTIM or its affiliates, nor are they federally insured by the FDIC. Investments in the Funds involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principal. Funds are distributed by Foreside Financial Services, LLC.
The foregoing information and opinions are for general information only. Boston Trust & Walden Funds and BTIM do not assume liability for any loss, which may result from the reliance by any person upon any such information or opinions. Such information and opinions are subject to change without notice, are for general information only, and are not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or offering individual or personalized investment advice. Portfolio composition is as of December 31, 2017 and is subject to change without notice.
The Boston Trust & Walden Funds may invest in foreign securities, which may involve risk not typically associated with U.S. investments.
To reduce expenses, we may only mail one copy of the Fund’s shareholder updates, such as prospectus, annual report, semi-annual report, to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you are a direct shareholder and wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call us at 800-282-8782;7050. If you are not a direct shareholder, please contact your financial institution to opt out of householding. We will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.
Photography credits:
· Cover: Bruce Field · Pages 1, 7, 45, 49 and 51: Jim Gallagher · Pages 5, 9, and 47: Rebecca Monette · Pages 11 and 43: Janet C. Dygert
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| The Boston Trust & Walden Funds A Registered Investment Company | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi01i004.gif)
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Boston Trust and Walden Funds | | Domenic Colasacco, CFA |
Economic and Market Summary | | Portfolio Manager |
(Unaudited) | | Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc. |
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2017, the S&P 500 Index posted a total return of 21.83%. Virtually all other primary domestic and international equity indices also posted double-digit gains for the year, while bond indices tallied modest total returns of just several percentage points.
A clear trend presented itself throughout 2017, as each completed quarter brought a new successive record high for all the primary domestic equity indices. Even with the benefit of hindsight, it is difficult to identify all of the factors that have led to rising stock values. We have little doubt, however, that generally positive economic reports, in both the United States and key global economies, provided substantive support to investor confidence. Domestically, the favorable economic news included rising employment levels, evidence of higher wages and better than forecast growth in corporate profits. Particularly welcome is that all of these favorable trends occurred within an environment of continued low inflation and interest rates. And we suspect the new Republican tax bill, which at its core included a sharp cut in corporate tax rates, also supported higher stock values for the simple reason that companies, in the aggregate, will be able to keep an additional 10 percentage points or so of their pre-tax profits beginning in 2018. The increment for most purely domestic companies will be even higher.
Here in the United States the favorable economic conditions included an unemployment rate that stayed below 5%, job gains at an annual pace of about two million, and continued evidence that wages have accelerated, particularly among lower paid workers, in response to both a tighter labor supply and higher minimum wage levels in several key labor markets. All of these helped support growth in consumer spending and overall gross domestic product (GDP)(1), and bode well for further gains in the year ahead. The economic news was similarly positive in many important international regions, especially Europe where most countries continue to report positive economic data. In Asia, economies in Japan and South Korea have been stable, and China continues to post GDP growth that is the envy of the planet. Taken together, real GDP growth of at least 2% still appears likely in the year ahead for the global economy.
Opinions differ about prospective 2018 GDP growth in the United States. Most economists who identify closely with the Republican Party have more optimistic GDP forecasts. Indeed, many suggest we will experience real growth exceeding 3% over the next few years due to the stimulative nature of the new tax bill. Conversely, many economists who are more closely aligned with Democrats have criticized the new tax bill as an unnecessary and ill-timed tax cut for the wealthy, which is likely to have limited, if any, positive economic benefits.
Our own take on the tax bill falls somewhere between the apparent politically biased economic forecasts. For sure, there are many factors far beyond tax policy that drive the pace of domestic economic growth, such as the size of the unemployed labor force, innovation, global competitiveness, and overall demographics. Currently, many of these items suggest that sustained growth in real GDP above 3%, as the President and many Republican economists have forecast, will be difficult to achieve. Yet to suggest that the new tax bill will not help accelerate whatever economic growth we were likely to have without it appears implausible to us. More importantly, our view is that we do not need an actual acceleration of GDP growth to sustain current stock values. Steady growth above 2% or so, with continued low interest rates, modest inflation, and cooperation in global trade should suffice. Such an economic environment in the year ahead appears probable to us at this time.
(1) The Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) is the value of goods and services produced in a given country in a given year.
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Boston Trust Asset Management Fund
Boston Trust Equity Fund
December 31, 2017
Domenic Colasacco, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Asset Management Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth and income through an actively managed portfolio of stocks, bonds, and money market instruments.
Equity Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Foreign investing involves risks not typically associated with U.S. investments, including adverse political, social and economic developments and differing auditing and legal standards. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.
Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate-term, higher quality bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.
Cash equivalents offer low risk and low return potential.
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) The Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) is the measure of the market value of the goods and services produced by labor and property in the United States.
(2) The Price-to-Earnings Ratio (“P/E Ratio”) is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price to its per-share earnings.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
As measured by the S&P 500 Index, stocks added another 21.83% of total return to their years-long rally for the period ended December 31, 2017. Bond indices were also in positive territory for the year, albeit to a far lesser extent with the total return of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index amounting to 4.00% for all of 2017. The Boston Trust Asset Management Fund was well positioned to participate in the strong stock market, and recorded a return of 16.23% for the year. The Fund’s performance was supported primarily by our decision to keep the equity allocation near the upper-end of the 40% to 80% policy range. The Boston Trust Equity Fund, whose investments closely mirror the equity segment of the Asset Management Fund, recorded a net return of 20.67% for the year.
As the market has continued to climb, so too have questions from shareholders in regard to their confidence in future prospects for both the economy and stock market. Among the frequently mentioned issues are above-average valuations of most stocks, inherent risks in global politics and general bewilderment with President Trump. As was the case a year ago, we do not rule out the possibility of a short duration drop in equity values. A full year of month-to-month increases in stock returns, as we had in 2017, was unusual. Two years of consecutive monthly gains would be extraordinary. At this time, though, market and economic conditions continue to suggest that stock values are more likely to rise than decline over the next year or two. Bull markets do not end at a pre-set time, nor do they simply die of old age. The usual culprits that hurt stock values for a more prolonged period include a sharp rise in inflation, prospects of much higher interest rates or an actual economic recession. None of these are apparent at this time. Of course a major adverse geopolitical event would not be good either, but these are always difficult to predict with certainty, and are far too costly to insure against.
Our asset allocation position in the Asset Management Fund has not changed much since 2010, with the equity position remaining near the upper-end of the policy range. Until the end of 2012 or so, the general economic environment remained fragile given the normal consequences of the recently experienced financial crisis, or as Paul Volker named it, the Great Recession. Our confidence in stocks at the time was driven primarily by a combination of gradually improving economic conditions, below average equity valuations and the paltry yields available in bonds and money market instruments. Investors started to lose much of their fear about another financial crisis and economic recession during 2013, a year in which the S&P 500 Index increased by approximately 30%. Stocks have not been undervalued by any of the usual historical metrics since then, but prices have continued to move higher, helped at least in part by rising corporate profits, low inflation, minimal interest rates and steady, if modest, growth in global gross domestic product (GDP)(1).
The past year’s increase in most domestic equity indices of 15-20% was well above the historic average. Noted less frequently in the media is that corporate profits during the past year had an increase that was nearly commensurate with the percentage gain in aggregate stock values. Accordingly, forward looking price-to-earnings ratios(2), if we include the benefits of the new tax act to after-tax profits, are not much higher today than they have been in recent years. Of course, valuations alone do not assure a continuation of the wonderful bull market we have enjoyed. For that, we also need the aforementioned prospects for further growth in GDP, low inflation and global economic and political cooperation.
To be clear, we believe an unexpected deterioration in the economy is likely to foster a decline in stock prices, and it will be difficult for the Funds to avoid such a decline. A lower equity allocation and holding a higher percentage of assets in short-term, high quality bonds would better safeguard the Asset Management Fund’s net asset value. Yet there is a significant potential opportunity cost in such a lower risk strategy, as there has been for many years. Stated differently, there are no safe investment options today that offer an attractive return while affording downside protection in the event of deterioration in the economic and market environment. By policy, we attempt to keep the Equity Fund close to 100% invested in stocks all the time. In the Asset Management Fund, we will strive to assume a more conservative asset allocation if we perceive higher investment risks. If we fail to do so, though, there is some comfort in the fact that the higher financial quality of the individual stock and bond securities held in both Funds have usually declined by below average amounts during adverse market conditions. We are not able to offer assurances or guarantees, however, because the future is always uncertain and difficult to forecast.*
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Investment Performance (Unaudited) | Boston Trust Asset Management Fund |
| Boston Trust Equity Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | | | Since | | Since | |
| | | | | | | | Inception | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 5 Years | | 10 Years | | (12/1/95) | | (10/1/03) | |
Boston Trust Asset Management Fund(1) | | 16.23 | % | 10.87 | % | 7.19 | % | 8.16 | % | — | |
Boston Trust Equity Fund(1) | | 20.67 | % | 13.33 | % | 7.74 | % | — | | 8.65 | % |
S&P 500 Index | | 21.83 | % | 15.79 | % | 8.50 | % | 8.99 | % | 9.24 | % |
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index | | 4.00 | % | 2.13 | % | 4.08 | % | 5.19 | % | — | |
Citigroup 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill Index | | 0.84 | % | 0.24 | % | 0.34 | % | 2.28 | % | — | |
Hypothetical Growth of a $100,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi01i005.jpg)
The above charts represent a hypothetical $100,000 investment in each of the Boston Trust Asset Management Fund and the Boston Trust Equity Fund, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Funds. The returns shown on the table and the graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Boston Trust Asset Management Fund is measured against a combination of equity and fixed income indices. The Boston Trust Equity Fund is measured against the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500”), which is widely regarded as a gauge of the U.S. equities market, includes 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. Although the S&P 500 focuses on the large-cap segment of the market, with approximately 75% coverage of U.S. equities, it is also widely viewed as a proxy for the total market. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Index includes Treasuries (i.e., public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have remaining maturities of more than one year), government-related issues (e.g., agency, sovereign, supranational, and local authority debt), and USD Corporates. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index is a component of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The Citigroup 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill Index reflects monthly return equivalents of yield averages that are not marked to the market. The index is an average of the last three-month treasury bill issues. The three-month treasury bills are the short-term debt obligations of the U.S. Government. The indexes are unmanaged and their performance does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi01i006.jpg)
Boston Trust Asset Management Fund
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 46.88 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 0.95 | % |
Boston Trust Equity Fund
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 23.63 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 0.96 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report.
5
Boston Trust Midcap Fund
December 31, 2017
Stephen J. Amyouny, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Belinda Cavazos, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Richard Q. Williams, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of middle capitalization (“midcap”) companies.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Mid capitalization funds typically carry additional risks since smaller companies generally have a higher risk of failure.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
Portfolio Review
The Boston Trust Midcap Fund posted a return of 20.01% for the year ended December 31, 2017, exceeding the benchmark Russell Midcap® Index return of 18.52%. These results reflect a continuation of the strong market returns that began at the end of the financial crisis in early 2009. A confluence of factors contributed to the continuing strong performance of U.S. midcap equities this year, including investor anticipation of tax reform (ultimately realized toward the end of the year), less restrictive regulation in several industries, robust economic data in the U.S., improving economic conditions globally, and decreasing risk aversion, despite global geopolitical uncertainties.
Our analysis suggests that more reasonably valued high quality stocks outperformed the broader midcap stock universe, to the benefit of the Fund. Favorable sector allocation and security selection also contributed positively to results.
Among sectors, the health care and Information Technology (“IT”) sectors produced the strongest absolute performance, while the energy and telecom sectors declined for the year. Higher dividend yielding stocks that have been used in recent years by some investors as alternatives to low yielding bonds also trailed the broader universe. These stocks included companies within the utilities, real estate investment trusts (REITs)(1), and consumer staples sectors. Relative performance was strongest among the Fund’s consumer staples and health care stocks and weakest in the consumer discretionary and IT sectors. Our assessment suggests that performance in all four sectors can be largely explained by the relative out- or underperformance of higher quality stocks. The Fund also benefited from M&A activity in the consumer staples, industrials, and health care sectors as certain Fund holdings in these sectors were acquired during the year, including Whole Foods Market, Rockwell Collins, and VCA.
While no one stock had an outsized impact on performance, IPG Photonics was the top contributor among individual stocks for the year. The company reported accelerating growth throughout the year. Among detractors, Advance Auto Parts and W.W. Grainger both declined on fears that e-commerce competitors would create pricing pressure and erode their gross profit margins.
Outlook
Fundamental trends for the U.S. midcap market remain healthy. Looking forward, the US economy is poised to continue expanding at a modest pace, and lower federal corporate tax rates may support continued gains. Global economic conditions also support continued growth for companies with international operations. Although interest rates have recently edged higher, interest rates and inflation remain at relatively low levels, well-below historical averages. All of these factors contribute to the benign economic backdrop presently supporting equity prices. However, we see signs of investor complacency, and hence, risk, as the bull market enters its tenth year. Some of these signs include elevated equity valuations relative to history, all-time low levels of volatility, historically low yields on risky debt, and increased speculative activity as evidenced by the sharp appreciation of crypto-assets. Taken individually, none of these signs may be of great concern; collectively they illustrate increasing investor appetite for risk. Consequently, the recent pace of midcap market appreciation may be difficult to sustain.
The Fund remains invested in higher quality, more reasonably valued stocks that we believe can generate superior risk-adjusted returns across a full market cycle.*
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) REITs (real estate investment trusts) are publicly traded entities that invest in office buildings, apartment complexes, industrial facilities, shopping centers and other real estate properties. Most REITs trade on major stock exchanges or over the counter. Investments in the Fund are subject to risks related to a direct investment in real estate such as regulatory risk, concentration risk, and diversification risk. By itself the Fund does not constitute a complete investment plan and should be considered a long-term investment for investors who can afford to weather changes in the value of their investments.
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Investment Performance (Unaudited) | Boston Trust Midcap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | | | Since | |
| | | | | | | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 5 Years | | 10 Years | | (9/24/07) | |
Boston Trust Midcap Fund(1) | | 20.01 | % | 14.07 | % | 9.46 | % | 9.50 | % |
Russell Midcap® Index | | 18.52 | % | 14.96 | % | 9.11 | % | 8.59 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $100,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi03i001.gif)
The above chart represents a 10-year hypothetical $100,000 investment in the Boston Trust Midcap Fund, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund. The returns shown on the table and the graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Boston Trust Midcap Fund is measured against the Russell Midcap® Index, which is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of the mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell Midcap® Index is a subset of the Russell 1000® Index. It includes approximately 800 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market capitalization and current index membership. The Russell Midcap® Index represents approximately 31% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 1000 companies. The performance of an index does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi03i002.gif)
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 17.26 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.02 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 1.00% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
7
Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund
December 31, 2017
Kenneth P. Scott, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Belinda Cavazos, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Richard Q. Williams, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of small to middle (“smid”) capitalization companies.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2017, the Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund returned 18.39%, outpacing the 16.81% return of the Russell 2500™ Index. This marked the third consecutive year the Fund has outperformed the benchmark.
Our analysis suggests that more reasonably valued stocks of higher quality companies outperformed the Russell 2500™ Index for the year, presenting a tailwind to the Fund’s relative performance. At a sector level, relative performance was strongest in consumer staples and real estate, and weakest in consumer discretionary. Our assessment suggests that performance in all three sectors, however, can be largely explained by the relative out-or underperformance of higher quality stocks. The Fund also benefited from merger and acquisition activity in consumer staples and real estate as certain Fund holdings in both sectors were acquired during the year, including Whole Foods Market and DuPont Fabros.
IPG Photonics was the top contributor among individual stocks for the year. The company reported accelerating growth throughout the year. Among detractors, two energy services companies, Forum Energy and TechnipFMC were among the top five worst performers as the entire energy services industry continued to suffer from the multi-year downturn in drilling activity.*
Outlook
Fundamental trends for the U.S. small-mid market remain healthy. Looking forward, the U.S. economy appears poised to continue expanding at a modest pace, and a more favorable tax environment may support continued gains among smid cap stocks. However, we see signs of investor complacency, and hence, risk, as the bull market enters its tenth year. Some of these signs include elevated equity valuations relative to history, all-time-low levels of volatility, historically low yields on risky debt, and increased speculative activity. Taken individually, none may be of great concern; collectively, they illustrate increasing investor appetite for risk. Consequently, the recent pace of smid cap market appreciation may be difficult to sustain.
We remain focused on constructing a well-diversified portfolio of higher quality, more reasonably valued companies that can potentially generate superior economic returns across macroeconomic environments. The Fund currently trades at an average operating price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio(1) of 24x, one third less than the Russell 2500™ operating P/E of 35x. This gives us confidence that the Fund has less valuation risk than the market, especially considering the Fund’s superior quality profile.
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) The Price-to-Earnings Ratio (“P/E Ratio”) is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price to its per-share earnings.
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Investment Performance (Unaudited) | Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | | | Since | |
| | | | | | | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 3 Years | | 5 Years | | (11/30/11) | |
Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund(1) | | 18.39 | % | 11.54 | % | 13.55 | % | 12.90 | % |
Russell 2500™ Index | | 16.81 | % | 10.07 | % | 14.33 | % | 14.74 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $1,000,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi03i003.gif)
The above chart represents a hypothetical $1,000,000 investment in the Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund from November 30, 2011 to December 31, 2017, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund. The returns shown on the table and the graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund is measured against the Russell 2500™ Index, which is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of the small- to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe, commonly referred to as “smid” cap. The Russell 2500 is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index. It includes approximately 2500 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. The performance of an index does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi03i004.gif)
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 15.79 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.61 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. Returns less than one year are not annualized. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 0.75% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
9
Boston Trust Small Cap Fund
December 31, 2017
Kenneth P. Scott, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Belinda Cavazos, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Richard Q. Williams, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of small capitalization companies.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Small capitalization funds typically carry additional risks since smaller companies generally have a higher risk of failure, and historically, their stocks have experienced a greater degree of market volatility than stocks on average.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2017, the Boston Trust Small Cap Fund returned 12.26%, trailing the 14.65% return of the Russell 2000® Index. For longer term time periods, those that cover at least one complete market cycle, the Fund has provided competitive returns with less volatility than the Index.
Our analysis suggests that stocks of higher quality firms sharply underperformed the Russell 2000® Index for the year, presenting a headwind to the Fund’s relative performance. Fund holdings in consumer discretionary and health care detracted most from relative performance, while holdings in financials and real estate contributed most positively for the year. Our underperformance in discretionary and health care was not surprising given that higher quality stocks underperformed within those two sectors during the year. For example, the lower quality biotechnology industry increased 54% in 2017. The Fund does not currently hold any biotech stocks because these companies fail to meet our selection criteria. This was a headwind to performance in 2017, but avoiding this lower quality industry has been additive to longer-term performance.
Coherent and IPG Photonics were two of the top contributors to Fund performance this year. Both companies manufacture components for industrial lasers, and benefitted from strong revenue growth and expanding margins. Chemed was another top contributor thanks to better than expected margins at its hospice division, and strong demand for its home services unit. Among detractors, Cato and Sally Beauty are exposed to specialty retail, which has been impacted by changes in consumers’ purchasing behavior.*
Outlook
Fundamental trends for the U.S. small-cap market remain healthy. Looking forward, the U.S. economy appears poised to continue expanding at a modest pace, and lower federal corporate tax rates may support continued gains among small-cap stocks. However, we see signs of investor complacency, and hence, risk, as the bull market enters its tenth year. Some of these signs include elevated equity valuations relative to history, all-time-low levels of volatility, historically low yields on risky debt, and increased speculative activity. Taken individually, none of these signs may be of great concern; collectively they illustrate increasing investor appetite for risk. Consequently, the recent pace of small-cap market appreciation may be difficult to sustain.
We remain focused on constructing a well-diversified portfolio of higher quality, more reasonably valued companies that can generate superior economic returns across macroeconomic environments. The Fund currently trades at an average operating price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio(1) of 23x, roughly half the Russell 2000® operating P/E of 49x. This gives us confidence that the Fund has less valuation risk than the market, especially considering the Fund’s superior quality profile.
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) The Price-to-Earnings Ratio (“P/E Ratio”) is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price to its per-share earnings.
10
Investment Performance (Unaudited) | Boston Trust Small Cap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | | | Since | |
| | | | | | | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 5 Years | | 10 Years | | (12/31/94) | |
Boston Trust Small Cap Fund(1) | | 12.26 | % | 11.76 | % | 8.66 | % | 11.05 | % |
Russell 2000® Index | | 14.65 | % | 14.12 | % | 8.71 | % | 9.68 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $100,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi05i001.jpg)
The above chart represents a 10-year hypothetical $100,000 investment in the Boston Trust Small Cap Fund and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund. The returns shown on the table and the graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Boston Trust Small Cap Fund is measured against the Russell 2000® Index, which is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. The performance of an index does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi05i002.jpg)
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 14.73 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.06 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 1.00% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
11
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Schedule of Portfolio Investments | Boston Trust Asset Management Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (78.3%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (7.4%) | | | | | |
Autoliv, Inc. | | 25,000 | | 3,177,000 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | | 300,000 | | 12,015,000 | |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | | 115,000 | | 7,193,250 | |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | | 60,000 | | 4,369,800 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 30,000 | | 2,407,500 | |
Starbucks Corp. | | 135,000 | | 7,753,050 | |
| | | | 36,915,600 | |
Consumer Staples (7.7%) | | | | | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 75,000 | | 3,762,750 | |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | | 20,000 | | 1,509,000 | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | 45,000 | | 8,375,400 | |
Diageo PLC, Sponsored ADR | | 30,000 | | 4,380,900 | |
McCormick & Co., Inc. | | 25,000 | | 2,547,750 | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | 40,000 | | 4,796,800 | |
Procter & Gamble Co. | | 35,000 | | 3,215,800 | |
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Sponsored ADR | | 100,000 | | 1,901,000 | |
Sysco Corp. | | 35,000 | | 2,125,550 | |
The Hershey Co. | | 50,000 | | 5,675,500 | |
| | | | 38,290,450 | |
Energy (2.9%) | | | | | |
Chevron Corp. | | 25,000 | | 3,129,750 | |
ConocoPhillips | | 50,000 | | 2,744,500 | |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | 75,000 | | 6,273,000 | |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | 30,000 | | 2,021,700 | |
| | | | 14,168,950 | |
Financials (16.0%) | | | | | |
American Express Co. | | 50,000 | | 4,965,500 | |
BB&T Corp. | | 100,000 | | 4,972,000 | |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B (a) | | 65,000 | | 12,884,300 | |
Chubb Ltd. | | 45,000 | | 6,575,850 | |
Cincinnati Financial Corp. | | 75,000 | | 5,622,750 | |
Comerica, Inc. | | 30,000 | | 2,604,300 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 31,906 | | 1,781,631 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 100,000 | | 10,694,000 | |
M&T Bank Corp. | | 10,000 | | 1,709,900 | |
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | | 10,000 | | 813,900 | |
Northern Trust Corp. | | 50,000 | | 4,994,500 | |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | | 45,000 | | 6,493,050 | |
State Street Corp. | | 40,000 | | 3,904,400 | |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | | 40,000 | | 4,197,200 | |
U.S. Bancorp | | 125,000 | | 6,697,500 | |
| | | | 78,910,781 | |
Health Care (10.6%) | | | | | |
Becton, Dickinson & Co. | | 61,423 | | 13,148,261 | |
DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc. | | 55,000 | | 3,620,650 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a) | | 50,000 | | 5,635,500 | |
Henry Schein, Inc. (a) | | 10,000 | | 698,800 | |
Johnson & Johnson, Inc. | | 55,000 | | 7,684,600 | |
Medtronic PLC | | 20,000 | | 1,615,000 | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 45,000 | | 2,532,150 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 7,500 | | 4,646,400 | |
Stryker Corp. | | 25,000 | | 3,871,000 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | 32,500 | | 7,164,950 | |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | | 20,000 | | 2,223,000 | |
| | | | 52,840,311 | |
Industrials (11.2%) | | | | | |
3M Co. | | 37,500 | | 8,826,375 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 40,000 | | 1,958,000 | |
Emerson Electric Co. | | 25,000 | | 1,742,250 | |
Honeywell International, Inc. | | 30,000 | | 4,600,800 | |
| | Shares or | | | |
| | Principal | | | |
Security Description | | Amount($) | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
Industrials, continued | | | | | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 40,000 | | 5,413,600 | |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | | 50,000 | | 8,342,500 | |
Rockwell Collins, Inc. | | 60,000 | | 8,137,200 | |
Union Pacific Corp. | | 50,000 | | 6,705,000 | |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | | 55,000 | | 6,553,250 | |
W.W. Grainger, Inc. | | 15,000 | | 3,543,750 | |
| | | | 55,822,725 | |
Information Technology (18.1%) | | | | | |
Accenture PLC, Class A | | 70,000 | | 10,716,300 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A (a) | | 2,000 | | 2,106,800 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a) | | 15,000 | | 15,696,000 | |
Apple, Inc. | | 100,000 | | 16,923,000 | |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | | 70,000 | | 8,203,300 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | 175,000 | | 6,702,500 | |
Dell Technologies, Inc., Class V (a) | | 4,458 | | 362,346 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | 155,000 | | 13,258,700 | |
Oracle Corp. | | 150,000 | | 7,092,000 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | | 75,000 | | 8,551,500 | |
| | | | 89,612,446 | |
Materials (2.7%) | | | | | |
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | | 20,000 | | 3,281,600 | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 30,000 | | 2,588,400 | |
PPG Industries, Inc. | | 65,000 | | 7,593,300 | |
| | | | 13,463,300 | |
Utilities (1.7%) | | | | | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | 45,000 | | 3,822,750 | |
Eversource Energy | | 75,000 | | 4,738,500 | |
| | | | 8,561,250 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $199,051,390) | | | | 388,585,813 | |
| | | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (3.3%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Financials (2.0%) | | | | | |
American Express Co., 2.65%, 12/2/22 | | 1,926,000 | | 1,914,788 | |
American Express Co., 7.00%, 3/19/18 | | 1,500,000 | | 1,516,147 | |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 3.13%, 3/15/26, Callable 12/15/25 @ 100 | | 2,000,000 | | 2,024,750 | |
John Deere Capital Corp., 5.35%, 4/3/18, MTN | | 1,000,000 | | 1,009,219 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.90%, 7/15/25, Callable 4/15/25 @ 100 | | 1,000,000 | | 1,049,340 | |
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., 10.38%, 11/1/18 | | 500,000 | | 534,227 | |
Wells Fargo & Co., 3.55%, 9/29/25, MTN | | 2,000,000 | | 2,055,009 | |
| | | | 10,103,480 | |
Health Care (0.2%) | | | | | |
Becton, Dickinson & Co., 3.13%, 11/8/21 | | 1,000,000 | | 1,009,341 | |
| | | | | |
Information Technology (1.1%) | | | | | |
Apple, Inc., 3.25%, 2/23/26, Callable 11/23/25 @ 100 | | 2,500,000 | | 2,554,064 | |
Oracle Corp., 5.75%, 4/15/18 | | 750,000 | | 758,629 | |
Visa, Inc., 3.15%, 12/14/25, Callable 9/14/25 @ 100 | | 2,000,000 | | 2,046,684 | |
| | | | 5,359,377 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (Cost $16,272,366) | | | | 16,472,198 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
12
| | Shares or | | | |
| | Principal | | | |
Security Description | | Amount($) | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
MUNICIPAL BONDS (1.0%) | | | | | |
Illinois (0.1%) | | | | | |
Illinois State, GO, 5.00%, 4/1/24, Callable 2/5/18 @ 100 | | 500,000 | | 500,900 | |
| | | | | |
Massachusetts (0.6%) | | | | | |
Massachusetts State, Series E, GO, 4.00%, 9/1/37, Callable 9/1/25 @ 100 | | 1,000,000 | | 1,067,250 | |
Massachusetts State, Series E, GO, 5.00%, 7/1/38, Callable 7/1/26 @ 100 | | 260,000 | | 309,686 | |
Massachusetts State Development Finance Agency Revenue, Series R-2, 5.00%, 7/1/28, Callable 7/1/20 @ 100 | | 460,000 | | 496,216 | |
Massachusetts State Health & Educational Facilities Authority Revenue, Series A, 5.00%, 12/15/26, Prerefunded 12/15/19 @100 | | 1,500,000 | | 1,598,714 | |
| | | | 3,471,866 | |
Washington (0.1%) | | | | | |
Washington State, Series C, GO, 5.00%, 2/1/26, Prerefunded 2/1/19 @100 | | 250,000 | | 259,263 | |
| | | | | |
Wisconsin (0.2%) | | | | | |
Wisconsin State, Series C, GO, 5.00%, 5/1/25, Prerefunded 5/1/18 @100 | | 200,000 | | 202,308 | |
Wisconsin State, Series D, GO, 5.50%, 5/1/26, Prerefunded 5/1/18 @100 | | 750,000 | | 759,998 | |
| | | | 962,306 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (Cost $5,300,351) | | | | 5,194,335 | |
| | | | | |
U.S. GOVERNMENT & U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (14.8%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Federal Farm Credit Bank | | | | | |
2.63%, 8/12/19 | | 10,000,000 | | 10,129,320 | |
2.85%, 3/2/28 | | 2,000,000 | | 2,009,450 | |
2.95%, 1/27/25 | | 2,000,000 | | 2,059,482 | |
3.14%, 12/5/29 | | 2,500,000 | | 2,539,485 | |
3.39%, 2/1/28 | | 2,000,000 | | 2,104,962 | |
3.85%, 12/26/25 | | 2,770,000 | | 3,016,555 | |
| | | | 21,859,254 | |
Federal Home Loan Bank | | | | | |
2.38%, 3/13/26 | | 6,000,000 | | 5,892,018 | |
2.50%, 12/10/27 | | 1,500,000 | | 1,466,378 | |
2.63%, 6/11/27 | | 1,500,000 | | 1,485,732 | |
2.88%, 9/13/24 | | 2,500,000 | | 2,565,933 | |
3.50%, 9/24/29 | | 2,000,000 | | 2,121,988 | |
| | | | 13,532,049 | |
U.S. Treasury Bill | | | | | |
1.10%, 1/18/18 | | 7,500,000 | | 7,495,888 | |
| | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Note | | | | | |
2.75%, 2/15/24 | | 30,000,000 | | 30,792,772 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT & U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (Cost $73,393,562) | | | | 73,679,963 | |
| | Shares | | | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (1.5%) | | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 7,467,822 | | 7,467,822 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $7,467,822) | | | | 7,467,822 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $301,485,491) — 98.9%(c) | | | | 491,400,131 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 1.1% | | | | 5,310,128 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 496,710,259 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
ADR American Depositary Receipt
GO General Obligation
MTN Medium Term Note
See Notes to Financial Statements
13
Financial Statements | Boston Trust Asset Management Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $301,485,491) | | $ | 491,400,131 | |
Interest and dividends receivable | | 1,222,119 | |
Receivable for investments sold | | 5,015,925 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 174,681 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 22,742 | |
Total Assets | | 497,835,598 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for investments purchased | | 704,039 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 1,360 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 313,919 | |
Administration and accounting | | 14,319 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 3,709 | |
Custodian | | 5,083 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 7,220 | |
Transfer agent | | 3,317 | |
Trustee | | 1,282 | |
Other | | 71,091 | |
Total Liabilities | | 1,125,339 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 496,710,259 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 299,875,837 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | — | |
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions | | 6,919,782 | |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 189,914,640 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 496,710,259 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 10,595,147 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 46.88 | |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Interest | | $ | 2,481,353 | |
Dividends | | 6,677,604 | |
Total Investment Income | | 9,158,957 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 3,349,764 | |
Administration and accounting | | 370,400 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 43,398 | |
Custodian | | 61,389 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 49,801 | |
Transfer agency | | 39,002 | |
Trustee | | 28,094 | |
Other | | 183,924 | |
Total expenses | | 4,125,772 | |
Net Expenses | | 4,125,772 | |
Net Investment Income | | 5,033,185 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 12,348,048 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 50,152,480 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 62,500,528 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 67,533,713 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
14
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 5,033,185 | | $ | 3,282,126 | | $ | 4,640,628 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 12,348,048 | | 3,089,611 | | 16,469,857 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 50,152,480 | | 16,305,132 | | (8,873,994 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 67,533,713 | | 22,676,869 | | 12,236,491 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (5,061,492 | ) | (4,258,937 | ) | (4,817,610 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (6,837,618 | ) | (15,310,863 | ) | (14,994,468 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (11,899,110 | ) | (19,569,800 | ) | (19,812,078 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 59,469,516 | | 46,031,672 | | 24,649,358 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 10,543,397 | | 17,913,751 | | 18,479,514 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (32,905,814 | ) | (17,489,284 | ) | (34,998,804 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 37,107,099 | | 46,456,139 | | 8,130,068 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 92,741,702 | | 49,563,208 | | 554,481 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 403,968,557 | | 354,405,349 | | 353,850,868 | |
End of period | | $ | 496,710,259 | | $ | 403,968,557 | | $ | 354,405,349 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 1,338,314 | | 1,094,293 | | 599,690 | |
Reinvested | | 224,998 | | 433,013 | | 463,610 | |
Redeemed | | (741,639 | ) | (415,414 | ) | (866,940 | ) |
Change in shares | | 821,673 | | 1,111,892 | | 196,360 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | — | | $ | 1 | | $ | 955,245 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
15
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 41.33 | | $ | 40.92 | | $ | 41.80 | | $ | 40.03 | | $ | 36.08 | | $ | 33.71 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.49 | | 0.35 | | 0.55 | | 0.50 | | 0.44 | | 0.51 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
transactions | | 6.22 | | 2.18 | | 0.92 | | 2.77 | | 4.28 | | 2.41 | |
Total from investment activities | | 6.71 | | 2.53 | | 1.47 | | 3.27 | | 4.72 | | 2.92 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.49 | ) | (0.46 | ) | (0.57 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.51 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (0.67 | ) | (1.66 | ) | (1.78 | ) | (1.03 | ) | (0.33 | ) | (0.04 | ) |
Total dividends | | (1.16 | ) | (2.12 | ) | (2.35 | ) | (1.50 | ) | (0.77 | ) | (0.55 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 46.88 | | $ | 41.33 | | $ | 40.92 | | $ | 41.80 | | $ | 40.03 | | $ | 36.08 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 16.23 | % | 6.19 | %(a) | 3.65 | % | 8.21 | % | 13.13 | % | 8.77 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 496,710 | | $ | 403,969 | | $ | 354,405 | | $ | 353,851 | | $ | 340,963 | | $ | 288,673 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 0.92 | % | 0.95 | %(b) | 0.94 | % | 0.92 | % | 0.92 | % | 0.96 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 1.13 | % | 1.15 | %(b) | 1.32 | % | 1.19 | % | 1.17 | % | 1.51 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets | | 0.92 | % | 0.95 | %(b) | 0.94 | % | 0.93 | % | 0.93 | % | 0.96 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 6.96 | % | 8.42 | %(a) | 11.64 | % | 17.74 | % | 8.94 | % | 7.43 | % |
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
See Notes to Financial Statements
16
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | Boston Trust Equity Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (99.4%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (9.1%) | | | | | |
Autoliv, Inc. | | 10,000 | | 1,270,800 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | | 100,000 | | 4,005,000 | |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | | 30,000 | | 1,876,500 | |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | | 20,000 | | 1,456,600 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 10,000 | | 802,500 | |
Starbucks Corp. | | 49,000 | | 2,814,070 | |
| | | | 12,225,470 | |
| | | | | |
Consumer Staples (10.1%) | | | | | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 25,000 | | 1,254,250 | |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | | 2,500 | | 188,625 | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | 17,000 | | 3,164,040 | |
Diageo PLC, Sponsored ADR | | 7,500 | | 1,095,225 | |
McCormick & Co., Inc. | | 7,000 | | 713,370 | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | 10,000 | | 1,199,200 | |
Procter & Gamble Co. | | 12,500 | | 1,148,500 | |
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Sponsored ADR | | 50,000 | | 950,500 | |
Sysco Corp. | | 25,000 | | 1,518,250 | |
The Hershey Co. | | 20,000 | | 2,270,200 | |
| | | | 13,502,160 | |
| | | | | |
Energy (3.5%) | | | | | |
Chevron Corp. | | 12,500 | | 1,564,875 | |
ConocoPhillips | | 10,000 | | 548,900 | |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | 22,500 | | 1,881,900 | |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | 10,000 | | 673,900 | |
| | | | 4,669,575 | |
| | | | | |
Financials (21.1%) | | | | | |
American Express Co. | | 25,000 | | 2,482,750 | |
BB&T Corp. | | 30,000 | | 1,491,600 | |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B (a) | | 20,000 | | 3,964,400 | |
Chubb Ltd. | | 15,000 | | 2,191,950 | |
Cincinnati Financial Corp. | | 27,500 | | 2,061,675 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 9,570 | | 534,389 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 37,500 | | 4,010,250 | |
M&T Bank Corp. | | 5,000 | | 854,950 | |
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | | 5,000 | | 406,950 | |
Northern Trust Corp. | | 15,000 | | 1,498,350 | |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | | 20,000 | | 2,885,800 | |
State Street Corp. | | 20,000 | | 1,952,200 | |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | | 15,000 | | 1,573,950 | |
U.S. Bancorp | | 45,000 | | 2,411,100 | |
| | | | 28,320,314 | |
| | | | | |
Health Care (13.2%) | | | | | |
Becton, Dickinson & Co. | | 16,000 | | 3,424,960 | |
DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc. | | 25,000 | | 1,645,750 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a) | | 7,500 | | 845,325 | |
Henry Schein, Inc. (a) | | 2,500 | | 174,700 | |
Johnson & Johnson, Inc. | | 22,500 | | 3,143,700 | |
Medtronic PLC | | 10,000 | | 807,500 | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 17,500 | | 984,725 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 1,500 | | 929,280 | |
Stryker Corp. | | 12,000 | | 1,858,080 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | 14,000 | | 3,086,440 | |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | | 7,500 | | 833,625 | |
| | | | 17,734,085 | |
| | | | | |
Industrials (13.4%) | | | | | |
3M Co. | | 15,000 | | 3,530,550 | |
Deere & Co. | | 7,500 | | 1,173,825 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 10,000 | | 489,500 | |
Honeywell International, Inc. | | 12,000 | | 1,840,320 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 14,000 | | 1,894,760 | |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | | 15,000 | | 2,502,750 | |
Union Pacific Corp. | | 22,500 | | 3,017,250 | |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | | 15,000 | | 1,787,250 | |
W.W. Grainger, Inc. | | 7,000 | | 1,653,750 | |
| | | | 17,889,955 | |
| | | | | |
Information Technology (23.7%) | | | | | |
Accenture PLC, Class A | | 25,000 | | 3,827,249 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A (a) | | 750 | | 790,050 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a) | | 5,500 | | 5,755,200 | |
Apple, Inc. | | 35,000 | | 5,923,050 | |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | | 20,000 | | 2,343,800 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | 50,000 | | 1,915,000 | |
Dell Technologies, Inc., Class V (a) | | 1,114 | | 90,546 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | 55,000 | | 4,704,700 | |
Oracle Corp. | | 55,000 | | 2,600,400 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | | 32,500 | | 3,705,650 | |
| | | | 31,655,645 | |
| | | | | |
Materials (3.2%) | | | | | |
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | | 7,000 | | 1,148,560 | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 10,000 | | 862,800 | |
PPG Industries, Inc. | | 20,000 | | 2,336,400 | |
| | | | 4,347,760 | |
| | | | | |
Utilities (2.1%) | | | | | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | 15,000 | | 1,274,250 | |
Eversource Energy | | 25,000 | | 1,579,500 | |
| | | | 2,853,750 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $66,907,180) | | | | 133,198,714 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.6%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market | | | | | |
Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 767,602 | | 767,602 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $767,602) | | | | 767,602 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $67,674,782) — 100.0%(c) | | | | 133,966,316 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.0% | | | | 39,922 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 134,006,238 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
ADR American Depositary Receipt
See Notes to Financial Statements
17
Financial Statements | Boston Trust Equity Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $67,674,782) | | $ | 133,966,316 | |
Dividends receivable | | 148,546 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 31 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 5,966 | |
Total Assets | | 134,120,859 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 226 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 85,390 | |
Administration and accounting | | 3,790 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 1,006 | |
Custodian | | 1,458 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 232 | |
Transfer agent | | 2,994 | |
Trustee | | 346 | |
Other | | 19,179 | |
Total Liabilities | | 114,621 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 134,006,238 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 67,259,326 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | 3,532 | |
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions | | 451,846 | |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 66,291,534 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 134,006,238 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 5,671,375 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 23.63 | |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 2,475,571 | |
Total Investment Income | | 2,475,571 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 954,561 | |
Administration and accounting | | 105,652 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 12,515 | |
Custodian | | 17,563 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 941 | |
Transfer agency | | 34,598 | |
Trustee | | 8,137 | |
Other | | 46,755 | |
Total expenses | | 1,180,722 | |
Net Expenses | | 1,180,722 | |
Net Investment Income | | 1,294,849 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 2,840,996 | |
Net realized gains from redemptions in-kind(a) | | 3,996,730 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 15,897,512 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 22,735,238 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 24,030,087 | |
(a) See Note 3 in Notes to Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
18
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,294,849 | | $ | 872,730 | | $ | 1,234,257 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 6,837,726 | | 1,255,690 | | 6,530,280 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 15,897,512 | | 7,626,579 | | (4,850,098 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 24,030,087 | | 9,754,999 | | 2,914,439 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (1,291,316 | ) | (1,112,873 | ) | (1,284,508 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (2,118,848 | ) | (6,430,101 | ) | (6,393,088 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (3,410,164 | ) | (7,542,974 | ) | (7,677,596 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 3,018,404 | | 3,297,528 | | 4,569,753 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 2,546,279 | | 6,210,652 | | 7,044,804 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (5,651,405 | ) | (3,727,538 | ) | (6,684,699 | ) |
Cost of in-kind shares redeemed (a) | | (5,350,555 | ) | — | | — | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | (5,437,277 | ) | 5,780,642 | | 4,929,858 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 15,182,646 | | 7,992,667 | | 166,701 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 118,823,592 | | 110,830,925 | | 110,664,224 | |
End of period | | $ | 134,006,238 | | $ | 118,823,592 | | $ | 110,830,925 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 139,831 | | 162,084 | | 234,638 | |
Reinvested | | 107,802 | | 308,988 | | 365,964 | |
Redeemed | | (260,095 | ) | (182,322 | ) | (330,644 | ) |
Redeemed in-kind (a) | | (231,726 | ) | — | | — | |
Change in shares | | (244,188 | ) | 288,750 | | 269,958 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | 3,532 | | $ | — | | $ | 236,174 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) See Note 3 in Notes to Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
19
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 20.09 | | $ | 19.70 | | $ | 20.66 | | $ | 19.67 | | $ | 16.85 | | $ | 15.54 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.23 | | 0.16 | | 0.23 | | 0.19 | | 0.19 | | 0.20 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment transactions | | 3.92 | | 1.58 | | 0.27 | | 1.38 | | 2.81 | | 1.30 | |
Total from investment activities | | 4.15 | | 1.74 | | 0.50 | | 1.57 | | 3.00 | | 1.50 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.23 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.18 | ) | (0.19 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (0.38 | ) | (1.15 | ) | (1.22 | ) | (0.39 | ) | — | | — | |
Total dividends | | (0.61 | ) | (1.35 | ) | (1.46 | ) | (0.58 | ) | (0.18 | ) | (0.19 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 23.63 | | $ | 20.09 | | $ | 19.70 | | $ | 20.66 | | $ | 19.67 | | $ | 16.85 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 20.67 | % | 8.82 | %(a) | 2.59 | % | 8.01 | % | 17.84 | % | 9.76 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 134,006 | | $ | 118,824 | | $ | 110,831 | | $ | 110,664 | | $ | 98,408 | | $ | 81,154 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 0.93 | % | 0.96 | %(b) | 0.95 | % | 0.94 | % | 0.94 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 1.02 | % | 1.01 | %(b) | 1.14 | % | 0.96 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.28 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 0.93 | % | 0.96 | %(b) | 0.96 | % | 0.95 | % | 0.96 | % | 1.01 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 9.00 | % | 6.65 | %(a) | 18.04 | % | 19.49 | % | 6.29 | % | 5.69 | % |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods ending March 31, 2013 through December 31, 2016, certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
20
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Boston Trust Midcap Fund |
| | December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (99.4%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (13.0%) | | | | | |
Dollar General Corp. | | 11,575 | | 1,076,591 | |
Expedia, Inc. | | 5,000 | | 598,850 | |
Hasbro, Inc. | | 6,125 | | 556,701 | |
Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A (a) | | 15,850 | | 1,165,609 | |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | | 10,900 | | 793,847 | |
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a) | | 2,750 | | 661,485 | |
Polaris Industries, Inc. | | 5,125 | | 635,449 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 14,125 | | 1,133,531 | |
Service Corp. International | | 21,500 | | 802,380 | |
Williams Sonoma, Inc. | | 11,625 | | 601,013 | |
| | | | 8,025,456 | |
Consumer Staples (5.3%) | | | | | |
Brown-Forman Corp., Class B | | 14,850 | | 1,019,750 | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 18,750 | | 940,688 | |
McCormick & Co., Inc. | | 4,125 | | 420,379 | |
The Hershey Co. | | 7,675 | | 871,188 | |
| | | | 3,252,005 | |
Energy (2.8%) | | | | | |
Dril-Quip, Inc. (a) | | 12,300 | | 586,710 | |
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | | 7,025 | | 454,096 | |
Technipfmc PLC | | 21,150 | | 662,207 | |
| | | | 1,703,013 | |
Financials (16.3%) | | | | | |
American Financial Group, Inc. | | 6,500 | | 705,510 | |
Brown & Brown, Inc. | | 13,750 | | 707,575 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 14,900 | | 832,016 | |
Discover Financial Services | | 11,225 | | 863,427 | |
East West Bancorp, Inc. | | 9,700 | | 590,051 | |
Eaton Vance Corp. | | 11,425 | | 644,256 | |
FactSet Research Systems, Inc. | | 5,950 | | 1,146,922 | |
Moody’s Corp. | | 3,500 | | 516,635 | |
Northern Trust Corp. | | 11,875 | | 1,186,193 | |
SEI Investments Co. | | 10,500 | | 754,530 | |
Signature Bank (a) | | 6,000 | | 823,560 | |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | | 5,650 | | 592,855 | |
W. R. Berkley Corp. | | 8,295 | | 594,337 | |
| | | | 9,957,867 | |
Health Care (11.6%) | | | | | |
Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | | 10,200 | | 671,466 | |
Henry Schein, Inc. (a) | | 4,000 | | 279,520 | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (a) | | 4,950 | | 789,575 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 850 | | 526,592 | |
PerkinElmer, Inc. | | 9,150 | | 669,048 | |
ResMed, Inc. | | 7,375 | | 624,589 | |
Steris Plc | | 8,675 | | 758,801 | |
The Cooper Companies, Inc. | | 3,425 | | 746,238 | |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | | 4,350 | | 483,503 | |
Waters Corp. (a) | | 4,950 | | 956,291 | |
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | | 5,450 | | 657,652 | |
| | | | 7,163,275 | |
Industrials (15.2%) | | | | | |
AMETEK, Inc. | | 12,775 | | 925,804 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 11,650 | | 570,268 | |
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | | 6,800 | | 439,892 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 7,525 | | 1,018,434 | |
IDEX Corp. | | 4,200 | | 554,274 | |
Kansas City Southern | | 5,950 | | 626,059 | |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 6,925 | | 634,192 | |
Nordson Corp. | | 7,800 | | 1,141,919 | |
Roper Technologies, Inc. | | 2,325 | | 602,175 | |
Sensata Technologies Holding NV (a) | | 11,875 | | 606,931 | |
The Middleby Corp. (a) | | 5,600 | | 755,720 | |
Verisk Analytics, Inc. (a) | | 5,850 | | 561,600 | |
Wabtec Corp. | | 11,300 | | 920,159 | |
| | | | 9,357,427 | |
Information Technology (16.4%) | | | | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 8,900 | | 578,856 | |
Amdocs Ltd. | | 11,375 | | 744,835 | |
Amphenol Corp., Class A | | 9,400 | | 825,320 | |
ANSYS, Inc. (a) | | 4,325 | | 638,327 | |
Aspen Technology, Inc. (a) | | 10,700 | | 708,340 | |
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (a) | | 5,950 | | 616,539 | |
Citrix Systems, Inc. (a) | | 6,425 | | 565,400 | |
DST Systems, Inc. | | 6,275 | | 389,489 | |
F5 Networks, Inc. (a) | | 7,375 | | 967,747 | |
Fiserv, Inc. (a) | | 4,150 | | 544,190 | |
IPG Photonics Corp. (a) | | 4,575 | | 979,644 | |
Juniper Networks, Inc. | | 20,625 | | 587,813 | |
Paychex, Inc. | | 14,700 | | 1,000,775 | |
TE Connectivity Ltd. | | 9,500 | | 902,880 | |
| | | | 10,050,155 | |
Materials (7.2%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 10,400 | | 897,312 | |
Avery Dennison Corp. | | 9,000 | | 1,033,739 | |
Ball Corp. | | 14,350 | | 543,148 | |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | 6,925 | | 1,056,824 | |
RPM International, Inc. | | 17,675 | | 926,524 | |
| | | | 4,457,547 | |
Real Estate (5.7%) | | | | | |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | | 5,425 | | 617,908 | |
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | | 31,050 | | 616,343 | |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. | | 4,800 | | 714,864 | |
Lamar Advertising Co., Class A | | 10,000 | | 742,400 | |
Realty Income Corp. | | 14,850 | | 846,746 | |
| | | | 3,538,261 | |
Utilities (5.9%) | | | | | |
American Water Works Co., Inc. | | 5,900 | | 539,791 | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | 6,600 | | 560,670 | |
Edison International | | 9,600 | | 607,104 | |
Eversource Energy | | 13,700 | | 865,565 | |
ONE Gas, Inc. | | 7,925 | | 580,586 | |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. | | 7,425 | | 493,243 | |
| | | | 3,646,959 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $37,830,961) | | | | 61,151,965 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.6%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market | | | | | |
Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 370,168 | | 370,168 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $370,168) | | | | 370,168 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $38,201,129) — 100.0%(c) | | | | 61,522,133 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.0% | | | | 25,781 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 61,547,914 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
21
Financial Statements | Boston Trust Midcap Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $38,201,129) | | $ | 61,522,133 | |
Dividends receivable | | 69,814 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 15,000 | |
Receivable for tax reclaims | | 538 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 4,754 | |
Total Assets | | 61,612,239 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 6,402 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 42,372 | |
Administration and accounting | | 1,820 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 462 | |
Custodian | | 615 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 718 | |
Transfer agent | | 2,947 | |
Trustee | | 160 | |
Other | | 8,829 | |
Total Liabilities | | 64,325 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 61,547,914 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 37,395,527 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | — | |
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions | | 831,383 | |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 23,321,004 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 61,547,914 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 3,566,251 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 17.26 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 814,207 | |
Total Investment Income | | 814,207 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 419,370 | |
Administration and accounting | | 46,405 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 5,429 | |
Custodian | | 7,648 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 4,481 | |
Transfer agency | | 34,276 | |
Trustee | | 3,524 | |
Other | | 29,148 | |
Recoupment of prior expenses reimbursed by the investment | | | |
adviser | | 9,182 | |
Total expenses | | 559,463 | |
Net Expenses | | 559,463 | |
Net Investment Income | | 254,744 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 3,948,758 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from | | | |
investments | | 6,095,730 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 10,044,488 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 10,299,232 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
22
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 254,744 | | $ | 369,263 | | $ | 271,117 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 3,948,758 | | 2,227,310 | | 2,916,024 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 6,095,730 | | 924,493 | | (2,689,050 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 10,299,232 | | 3,521,066 | | 498,091 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (271,407 | ) | (412,131 | ) | (248,030 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (3,587,314 | ) | (2,991,609 | ) | (2,579,926 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (3,858,721 | ) | (3,403,740 | ) | (2,827,956 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 3,134,848 | | 1,824,768 | | 3,369,645 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 3,284,122 | | 2,967,431 | | 2,645,794 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (1,806,705 | ) | (2,355,862 | ) | (3,426,525 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 4,612,265 | | 2,436,337 | | 2,588,914 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 11,052,776 | | 2,553,663 | | 259,049 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 50,495,138 | | 47,941,475 | | 47,682,426 | |
End of period | | $ | 61,547,914 | | $ | 50,495,138 | | $ | 47,941,475 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 190,996 | | 116,182 | | 222,975 | |
Reinvested | | 191,942 | | 190,954 | | 179,742 | |
Redeemed | | (107,853 | ) | (152,012 | ) | (225,472 | ) |
Change in shares | | 275,085 | | 155,124 | | 177,245 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | — | | $ | 6,652 | | $ | 49,520 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
23
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 15.34 | | $ | 15.29 | | $ | 16.12 | | $ | 15.03 | | $ | 13.08 | | $ | 12.34 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.08 | | 0.12 | | 0.09 | | 0.05 | | 0.04 | | 0.08 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment transactions | | 2.98 | | 1.01 | | 0.05 | | 1.82 | | 2.30 | | 1.01 | |
Total from investment activities | | 3.06 | | 1.13 | | 0.14 | | 1.87 | | 2.34 | | 1.09 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.08 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.09 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.08 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (1.06 | ) | (0.95 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (0.73 | ) | (0.35 | ) | (0.27 | ) |
Total dividends | | (1.14 | ) | (1.08 | ) | (0.97 | ) | (0.78 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.35 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 17.26 | | $ | 15.34 | | $ | 15.29 | | $ | 16.12 | | $ | 15.03 | | $ | 13.08 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 20.01 | % | 7.29 | %(a) | 1.07 | % | 12.65 | % | 18.02 | % | 9.20 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 61,548 | | $ | 50,495 | | $ | 47,941 | | $ | 47,682 | | $ | 41,793 | | $ | 34,875 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 0.46 | % | 0.99 | %(b) | 0.58 | % | 0.34 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.68 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 0.98 | % | 1.02 | %(b) | 1.03 | % | 1.02 | % | 1.01 | % | 1.08 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 23.22 | % | 14.53 | %(a) | 21.02 | % | 15.76 | % | 16.09 | % | 16.44 | % |
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods, certain fees were reduced or recouped by the investment adviser. If such fee reductions/recoupments had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
24
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund |
| | December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (98.9%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (12.3%) | | | | | |
Big Lots, Inc. | | 11,700 | | 656,955 | |
Brinker International, Inc. | | 9,700 | | 376,748 | |
Cheesecake Factory, Inc. | | 13,050 | | 628,749 | |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | | 9,200 | | 713,920 | |
Dorman Products, Inc. (a) | | 8,250 | | 504,405 | |
Gentherm, Inc. (a) | | 5,900 | | 187,325 | |
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. | | 18,900 | | 381,024 | |
Nordstrom, Inc. | | 9,200 | | 435,896 | |
Polaris Industries, Inc. | | 3,575 | | 443,264 | |
Service Corp. International | | 22,500 | | 839,700 | |
Tenneco, Inc. | | 5,900 | | 345,386 | |
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | | 9,300 | | 489,924 | |
Tiffany & Co. | | 4,725 | | 491,164 | |
Williams Sonoma, Inc. | | 8,350 | | 431,695 | |
| | | | 6,926,155 | |
Consumer Staples (3.9%) | | | | | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 11,500 | | 576,955 | |
Flowers Foods, Inc. | | 29,600 | | 571,576 | |
Lancaster Colony Corp. | | 3,100 | | 400,551 | |
The Boston Beer Co., Inc., Class A (a) | | 1,600 | | 305,760 | |
Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. | | 10,100 | | 367,640 | |
| | | | 2,222,482 | |
Energy (2.7%) | | | | | |
Dril-Quip, Inc. (a) | | 10,500 | | 500,850 | |
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 19,750 | | 307,113 | |
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | | 7,200 | | 465,408 | |
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. | | 7,400 | | 266,548 | |
| | | | 1,539,919 | |
Financials (16.9%) | | | | | |
American Financial Group, Inc. | | 5,700 | | 618,678 | |
Bank of Hawaii Corp. | | 8,400 | | 719,880 | |
Brown & Brown, Inc. | | 11,600 | | 596,936 | |
Cohen & Steers, Inc. | | 10,375 | | 490,634 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 10,290 | | 574,594 | |
CVB Financial Corp. | | 17,675 | | 416,423 | |
East West Bancorp, Inc. | | 8,600 | | 523,138 | |
Eaton Vance Corp. | | 11,475 | | 647,075 | |
Everest Re Group Ltd. | | 2,000 | | 442,520 | |
FactSet Research Systems, Inc. | | 3,900 | | 751,764 | |
SEI Investments Co. | | 9,700 | | 697,042 | |
Signature Bank (a) | | 6,125 | | 840,717 | |
SVB Financial Group (a) | | 3,300 | | 771,440 | |
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (a) | | 4,600 | | 408,940 | |
UMB Financial Corp. | | 7,200 | | 517,824 | |
W. R. Berkley Corp. | | 7,400 | | 530,210 | |
| | | | 9,547,815 | |
Health Care (12.5%) | | | | | |
Chemed Corp. | | 2,300 | | 558,946 | |
Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | | 10,700 | | 704,381 | |
Masimo Corp. (a) | | 6,550 | | 555,440 | |
MEDNAX, Inc. (a) | | 11,000 | | 587,840 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 850 | | 526,592 | |
PerkinElmer, Inc. | | 9,700 | | 709,264 | |
ResMed, Inc. | | 7,500 | | 635,175 | |
Steris Plc | | 6,400 | | 559,808 | |
The Cooper Companies, Inc. | | 2,900 | | 631,852 | |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | | 5,400 | | 600,210 | |
Waters Corp. (a) | | 5,000 | | 965,950 | |
| | | | 7,035,458 | |
Industrials (16.7%) | | | | | |
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. | | 11,300 | | 769,530 | |
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. | | 6,300 | | 561,267 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 16,700 | | 817,465 | |
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | | 8,300 | | 536,927 | |
Franklin Electric Co., Inc. | | 7,250 | | 332,775 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 6,800 | | 920,312 | |
IDEX Corp. | | 3,900 | | 514,683 | |
Kansas City Southern | | 4,000 | | 420,880 | |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 7,950 | | 728,061 | |
Nordson Corp. | | 6,825 | | 999,179 | |
Sensata Technologies Holding NV (a) | | 11,800 | | 603,098 | |
The Middleby Corp. (a) | | 4,150 | | 560,043 | |
UniFirst Corp. | | 3,200 | | 527,680 | |
Valmont Industries, Inc. | | 3,200 | | 530,720 | |
Wabtec Corp. | | 7,425 | | 604,618 | |
| | | | 9,427,238 | |
Information Technology (16.7%) | | | | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 10,400 | | 676,416 | |
Amdocs Ltd. | | 11,500 | | 753,020 | |
ANSYS, Inc. (a) | | 4,800 | | 708,432 | |
Aspen Technology, Inc. (a) | | 11,100 | | 734,820 | |
DST Systems, Inc. | | 11,300 | | 701,391 | |
F5 Networks, Inc. (a) | | 6,700 | | 879,174 | |
InterDigital, Inc. | | 4,600 | | 350,290 | |
IPG Photonics Corp. (a) | | 4,500 | | 963,585 | |
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. | | 5,225 | | 611,116 | |
Juniper Networks, Inc. | | 22,400 | | 638,400 | |
NetApp, Inc. | | 11,500 | | 636,180 | |
NETGEAR, Inc. (a) | | 9,800 | | 575,750 | |
Tech Data Corp. (a) | | 6,250 | | 612,313 | |
Teradata Corp. (a) | | 14,500 | | 557,670 | |
| | | | 9,398,557 | |
Materials (6.1%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 9,100 | | 785,147 | |
Avery Dennison Corp. | | 6,300 | | 723,618 | |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | 5,300 | | 808,833 | |
RPM International, Inc. | | 12,525 | | 656,561 | |
Silgan Holdings, Inc. | | 15,450 | | 454,076 | |
| | | | 3,428,235 | |
Real Estate (7.5%) | | | | | |
American Campus Communities, Inc. | | 6,425 | | 263,618 | |
CoreSite Realty Corp. | | 7,500 | | 854,250 | |
CubeSmart | | 11,500 | | 332,580 | |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. | | 5,200 | | 774,436 | |
Lamar Advertising Co., Class A | | 8,800 | | 653,312 | |
LaSalle Hotel Properties | | 12,775 | | 358,594 | |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. | | 9,200 | | 634,984 | |
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. | | 14,300 | | 379,093 | |
| | | | 4,250,867 | |
Utilities (3.6%) | | | | | |
American States Water Co. | | 7,725 | | 447,355 | |
Atmos Energy Corp. | | 4,500 | | 386,505 | |
New Jersey Resources Corp. | | 12,500 | | 502,500 | |
ONE Gas, Inc. | | 9,800 | | 717,948 | |
| | | | 2,054,308 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $49,333,209) | | | | 55,831,034 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.9%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market | | | | | |
Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 522,951 | | 522,951 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $522,951) | | | | 522,951 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $49,856,160) — 99.8%(c) | | | | 56,353,985 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.2% | | | | 88,628 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 56,442,613 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
25
Financial Statements | Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $49,856,160) | | $ | 56,353,985 | |
Dividends receivable | | 60,339 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 46,738 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 12,588 | |
Total Assets | | 56,473,650 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 18,590 | |
Administration and accounting | | 1,630 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 382 | |
Custodian | | 184 | |
Transfer agent | | 2,886 | |
Trustee | | 135 | |
Other | | 7,230 | |
Total Liabilities | | 31,037 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 56,442,613 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 49,776,953 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | — | |
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions | | 167,835 | |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 6,497,825 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 56,442,613 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 3,575,188 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 15.79 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 477,032 | |
Total Investment Income | | 477,032 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 222,729 | |
Administration and accounting | | 23,138 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 2,484 | |
Custodian | | 3,847 | |
Transfer agency | | 33,689 | |
Trustee | | 1,467 | |
Interest | | 150 | |
Other | | 23,852 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 311,356 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (87,452 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 223,904 | |
Net Investment Income | | 253,128 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 511,700 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,147,292 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 5,658,992 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 5,912,120 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
26
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 253,128 | | $ | 58,192 | | $ | 26,277 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 511,700 | | 156,288 | | 390,976 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,147,292 | | 606,860 | | (553,723 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 5,912,120 | | 821,340 | | (136,470 | ) |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (261,257 | ) | (68,960 | ) | (16,526 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (327,372 | ) | (321,176 | ) | (350,500 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (588,629 | ) | (390,136 | ) | (367,026 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 49,339,156 | | 547,155 | | 1,339,502 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 574,905 | | 322,044 | | 294,835 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (5,305,384 | ) | (378,521 | ) | (928,394 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 44,608,677 | | 490,678 | | 705,943 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 49,932,168 | | 921,882 | | 202,447 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 6,510,445 | | 5,588,563 | | 5,386,116 | |
End of period | | $ | 56,442,613 | | $ | 6,510,445 | | $ | 5,588,563 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 3,417,299 | | 40,999 | | 102,400 | |
Reinvested | | 36,806 | | 23,472 | | 24,528 | |
Redeemed | | (361,781 | ) | (29,016 | ) | (72,027 | ) |
Change in shares | | 3,092,324 | | 35,455 | | 54,901 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | — | | $ | 2,560 | | $ | 12,819 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
27
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 13.48 | | $ | 12.49 | | $ | 13.72 | | $ | 13.49 | | $ | 12.05 | | $ | 11.09 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | 0.07 | | 0.13 | | 0.06 | | 0.01 | | (0.01 | ) | 0.04 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) from investment transactions | | 2.41 | | 1.72 | | (0.41 | ) | 0.97 | | 2.40 | | 1.05 | |
Total from investment activities | | 2.48 | | 1.85 | | (0.35 | ) | 0.98 | | 2.39 | | 1.09 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.08 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.04 | ) | — | | — | | (0.05 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (0.09 | ) | (0.71 | ) | (0.84 | ) | (0.75 | ) | (0.95 | ) | (0.08 | ) |
Total dividends | | (0.17 | ) | (0.86 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (0.75 | ) | (0.95 | ) | (0.13 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 15.79 | | $ | 13.48 | | $ | 12.49 | | $ | 13.72 | | $ | 13.49 | | $ | 12.05 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 18.39 | % | 14.67 | %(a) | (2.34 | )% | 7.69 | % | 20.05 | % | 10.00 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 56,443 | | $ | 6,510 | | $ | 5,589 | | $ | 5,386 | | $ | 4,808 | | $ | 4,719 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 0.75 | % | 0.75 | %(b) | 0.79 | %(c) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets | | 0.85 | % | 1.31 | %(b) | 0.49 | % | 0.09 | % | (0.06 | )% | 0.37 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(d) | | 1.04 | % | 1.61 | %(b) | 1.73 | % | 1.73 | % | 1.59 | % | 2.02 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 37.44 | % | 22.69 | %(a) | 50.15 | % | 33.07 | % | 35.97 | % | 33.83 | % |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) The net expense ratio shown for the period represents the blended ratio of the current expense limit in effect as of June 1, 2015 and the higher expense limit in effect prior to that date.
(d) During the periods, certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
28
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | Boston Trust Small Cap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
COMMON STOCKS (99.4%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (12.9%) | | | | | |
Big Lots, Inc. | | 84,500 | | 4,744,675 | |
Brinker International, Inc. | | 63,300 | | 2,458,572 | |
Cheesecake Factory, Inc. | | 82,000 | | 3,950,760 | |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | | 89,400 | | 6,937,440 | |
Dorman Products, Inc. (a) | | 67,000 | | 4,096,380 | |
Gentherm, Inc. (a) | | 56,400 | | 1,790,700 | |
ILG, Inc. | | 90,500 | | 2,577,440 | |
Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. | | 70,200 | | 3,997,890 | |
Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (a) | | 133,000 | | 2,495,080 | |
Tenneco, Inc. | | 72,500 | | 4,244,150 | |
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | | 85,600 | | 4,509,408 | |
Tupperware Brands Corp. | | 26,850 | | 1,683,495 | |
Williams Sonoma, Inc. | | 73,000 | | 3,774,100 | |
| | | | 47,260,090 | |
Consumer Staples (4.3%) | | | | | |
Flowers Foods, Inc. | | 194,700 | | 3,759,657 | |
Lancaster Colony Corp. | | 27,500 | | 3,553,275 | |
Sanderson Farms, Inc. | | 23,800 | | 3,302,964 | |
The Boston Beer Co., Inc., Class A (a) | | 14,900 | | 2,847,390 | |
Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. | | 66,000 | | 2,402,400 | |
| | | | 15,865,686 | |
Energy (2.2%) | | | | | |
Dril-Quip, Inc. (a) | | 55,000 | | 2,623,500 | |
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 152,500 | | 2,371,375 | |
Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (a) | | 65,400 | | 1,713,480 | |
Oceaneering International, Inc. | | 64,600 | | 1,365,644 | |
| | | | 8,073,999 | |
Financials (18.3%) | | | | | |
1st Source Corp. | | 48,600 | | 2,403,270 | |
Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A | | 79,200 | | 3,128,400 | |
Bank of Hawaii Corp. | | 71,550 | | 6,131,835 | |
Bridge BanCorp, Inc. | | 41,750 | | 1,461,250 | |
Camden National Corp. | | 51,400 | | 2,165,482 | |
Cohen & Steers, Inc. | | 88,500 | | 4,185,165 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 78,225 | | 4,368,084 | |
CVB Financial Corp. | | 124,200 | | 2,926,152 | |
Eaton Vance Corp. | | 112,000 | | 6,315,680 | |
German American BanCorp | | 41,500 | | 1,466,195 | |
Horace Mann Educators Corp. | | 51,000 | | 2,249,100 | |
Independent Bank Corp. | | 37,400 | | 2,612,390 | |
Infinity Property & Casualty Corp. | | 33,000 | | 3,498,000 | |
Lakeland Financial Corp. | | 62,775 | | 3,043,960 | |
Morningstar, Inc. | | 56,450 | | 5,473,957 | |
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (a) | | 36,700 | | 3,262,630 | |
Tompkins Financial Corp. | | 35,900 | | 2,920,465 | |
UMB Financial Corp. | | 56,400 | | 4,056,288 | |
Washington Federal, Inc. | | 96,400 | | 3,301,700 | |
Washington Trust BanCorp, Inc. | | 34,800 | | 1,853,100 | |
| | | | 66,823,103 | |
Health Care (15.7%) | | | | | |
Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | | 59,600 | | 3,213,036 | |
Atrion Corp. | | 3,800 | | 2,396,280 | |
Bio-Techne Corp. | | 34,500 | | 4,469,475 | |
Bruker Corp. | | 186,600 | | 6,404,112 | |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (a) | | 35,000 | | 3,830,750 | |
Chemed Corp. | | 30,900 | | 7,509,318 | |
CorVel Corp. (a) | | 32,700 | | 1,729,830 | |
Ensign Group, Inc. | | 111,000 | | 2,464,200 | |
Globus Medical, Inc., Class A (a) | | 89,100 | | 3,662,010 | |
Haemonetics Corp. (a) | | 68,600 | | 3,984,288 | |
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | | 56,500 | | 4,762,385 | |
Masimo Corp. (a) | | 60,400 | | 5,121,920 | |
MEDNAX, Inc. (a) | | 58,000 | | 3,099,520 | |
U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. | | 66,000 | | 4,765,200 | |
| | | | 57,412,324 | |
Industrials (14.4%) | | | | | |
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. | | 85,000 | | 5,788,500 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 110,300 | | 5,399,185 | |
Franklin Electric Co., Inc. | | 127,350 | | 5,845,365 | |
Herman Miller, Inc. | | 103,400 | | 4,141,170 | |
Hub Group, Inc., Class A (a) | | 117,000 | | 5,604,300 | |
Kadant, Inc. | | 23,900 | | 2,399,560 | |
Landstar System, Inc. | | 50,000 | | 5,205,000 | |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 45,900 | | 4,203,522 | |
Tennant Co. | | 42,000 | | 3,051,300 | |
UniFirst Corp. | | 34,000 | | 5,606,600 | |
Valmont Industries, Inc. | | 33,800 | | 5,605,730 | |
| | | | 52,850,232 | |
Information Technology (15.9%) | | | | | |
Aspen Technology, Inc. (a) | | 88,000 | | 5,825,600 | |
Coherent, Inc. (a) | | 20,000 | | 5,644,400 | |
DST Systems, Inc. | | 85,000 | | 5,275,950 | |
ExlService Holdings, Inc. (a) | | 57,600 | | 3,476,160 | |
InterDigital, Inc. | | 51,700 | | 3,936,955 | |
NETGEAR, Inc. (a) | | 84,600 | | 4,970,250 | |
NIC, Inc. | | 258,500 | | 4,291,100 | |
Plantronics, Inc. | | 81,500 | | 4,105,970 | |
Power Integrations, Inc. | | 52,700 | | 3,876,085 | |
Syntel, Inc. (a) | | 90,200 | | 2,073,698 | |
Tech Data Corp. (a) | | 59,000 | | 5,780,230 | |
Teradata Corp. (a) | | 146,000 | | 5,615,160 | |
WEX, Inc. (a) | | 23,800 | | 3,361,274 | |
| | | | 58,232,832 | |
Materials (5.4%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 69,200 | | 5,970,576 | |
Bemis Co., Inc. | | 94,400 | | 4,511,376 | |
Minerals Technologies, Inc. | | 46,500 | | 3,201,525 | |
Quaker Chemical Corp. | | 17,800 | | 2,684,062 | |
Silgan Holdings, Inc. | | 110,900 | | 3,259,351 | |
| | | | 19,626,890 | |
Real Estate (5.7%) | | | | | |
CoreSite Realty Corp. | | 52,000 | | 5,922,800 | |
CubeSmart | | 135,200 | | 3,909,984 | |
LaSalle Hotel Properties | | 111,900 | | 3,141,033 | |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. | | 66,600 | | 4,596,732 | |
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. | | 118,800 | | 3,149,388 | |
| | | | 20,719,937 | |
Utilities (4.6%) | | | | | |
American States Water Co. | | 44,700 | | 2,588,577 | |
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. | | 99,000 | | 3,578,850 | |
New Jersey Resources Corp. | | 105,000 | | 4,221,000 | |
ONE Gas, Inc. | | 90,000 | | 6,593,400 | |
| | | | 16,981,827 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $262,289,067) | | | | 363,846,920 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.5%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market | | | | | |
Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 1,981,117 | | 1,981,117 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $1,981,117) | | | | 1,981,117 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $264,270,184) — 99.9%(c) | | | | 365,828,037 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.1% | | | | 284,903 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 366,112,940 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
29
Financial Statements | Boston Trust Small Cap Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $264,270,184) | | $ | 365,828,037 | |
Dividends receivable | | 365,787 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 248,960 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 23,739 | |
Total Assets | | 366,466,523 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 54,450 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 156,784 | |
Administration and accounting | | 10,672 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 2,770 | |
Custodian | | 3,746 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 62,238 | |
Transfer agent | | 3,343 | |
Trustee | | 955 | |
Other | | 58,625 | |
Total Liabilities | | 353,583 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 366,112,940 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 264,848,169 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | 188,495 | |
Accumulated net realized losses from investment transactions | | (481,577 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 101,557,853 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 366,112,940 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 24,859,535 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 14.73 | |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 5,047,843 | |
Total Investment Income | | 5,047,843 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 2,600,013 | |
Administration and accounting | | 292,578 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 35,117 | |
Custodian | | 47,787 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 340,564 | |
Transfer agency | | 40,750 | |
Trustee | | 23,577 | |
Other | | 142,491 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 3,522,877 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (58,104 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 3,464,773 | |
Net Investment Income | | 1,583,070 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 16,055,505 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 22,621,553 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 38,677,058 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 40,260,128 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
30
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,583,070 | | $ | 3,360,551 | | $ | 1,652,936 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 16,055,505 | | 22,122,179 | | 35,027,795 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 22,621,553 | | 31,044,553 | | (44,598,483 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 40,260,128 | | 56,527,283 | | (7,917,752 | ) |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (1,854,467 | ) | (3,993,823 | ) | (1,493,172 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (28,816,187 | ) | (9,153,927 | ) | (58,309,973 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (30,670,654 | ) | (13,147,750 | ) | (59,803,145 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 48,805,738 | | 74,410,954 | | 20,953,558 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 30,030,732 | | 12,938,039 | | 58,903,085 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (49,906,454 | ) | (141,791,508 | ) | (113,160,602 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 28,930,016 | | (54,442,515 | ) | (33,303,959 | ) |
Change in Net Assets | | 38,519,490 | | (11,062,982 | ) | (101,024,856 | ) |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 327,593,450 | | 338,656,432 | | 439,681,288 | |
End of period | | $ | 366,112,940 | | $ | 327,593,450 | | $ | 338,656,432 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 3,318,058 | | 5,453,700 | | 1,559,272 | |
Reinvested | | 2,056,899 | | 884,955 | | 4,855,984 | |
Redeemed | | (3,373,765 | ) | (10,061,133 | ) | (8,756,963 | ) |
Change in shares | | 2,001,192 | | (3,722,478 | ) | (2,341,707 | ) |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | 188,495 | | $ | 195,458 | | $ | 621,907 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
31
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 14.33 | | $ | 12.74 | | $ | 15.20 | | $ | 15.73 | | $ | 14.25 | | $ | 13.24 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.07 | | 0.12 | | 0.06 | | 0.03 | | — | | 0.05 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) from investment transactions | | 1.67 | | 1.92 | | (0.25 | ) | 0.51 | | 2.66 | | 1.43 | |
Total from investment activities | | 1.74 | | 2.04 | | (0.19 | ) | 0.54 | | 2.66 | | 1.48 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.08 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.01 | ) | — | | (0.05 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (1.26 | ) | (0.31 | ) | (2.21 | ) | (1.06 | ) | (1.18 | ) | (0.42 | ) |
Total dividends | | (1.34 | ) | (0.45 | ) | (2.27 | ) | (1.07 | ) | (1.18 | ) | (0.47 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 14.73 | | $ | 14.33 | | $ | 12.74 | | $ | 15.20 | | $ | 15.73 | | $ | 14.25 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 12.26 | % | 15.94 | %(a) | (0.52 | )% | 3.81 | % | 18.74 | % | 11.61 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 366,113 | | $ | 327,593 | | $ | 338,656 | | $ | 439,681 | | $ | 536,292 | | $ | 502,789 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 0.46 | % | 1.21 | %(b) | 0.44 | % | 0.17 | % | 0.02 | % | 0.38 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 1.02 | % | 1.06 | %(b) | 1.08 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.07 | % | 0.99 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 23.78 | % | 51.92 | %(a) | 37.42 | % | 28.62 | % | 34.50 | % | 33.34 | % |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods, certain fees were reduced or recouped by the investment adviser. If such fee reductions/recoupments had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
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Environmental, Social, |
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi13i001.jpg)
|
and Governance Research |
and Engagement Update |
(Annual Impact Report) |
(Unaudited) |
In the early months of 2017, an onslaught of pronouncements and initiatives from the new Trump Administration raised a concern that many of our company engagement priorities—environmental stewardship, workplace equality, and transparent governance— might face significant headwinds in a dramatically changed political context. Notwithstanding significant challenges, as we look back on the year in this sixth annual report on the impact of Walden’s engagement, we are pleased to report substantial progress by companies held in client portfolios. On a range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics, Walden’s achievements continue to demonstrate that investors can be effective catalysts for improvement in corporate conduct and accountability.
Walden’s Reach & Impact In 2017
Walden engaged 46 percent of companies held in client portfolios across investment strategies in 2017 (Table 1). These initiatives include written communications, private conversations with company representatives, shareholder resolutions, outreach through ad hoc groups of investors with common holdings, and organized coalition actions that address pertinent ESG issues across sectors or industries. Walden’s primary engagement issues over the year, in order of frequency, were climate change, board diversity, sustainability (or ESG) reporting, equal employment opportunity (EEO) disclosure, LGBT EEO policies, and lobbying practices and disclosure.
More importantly, Table 2 presents the effectiveness or “impact” of this engagement—our assessment of positive corporate change observed subsequent to Walden’s involvement. Expressed as the percentage of companies demonstrating improvement relative to the companies reached through engagement, Walden achieved an impact rate of 34 percent in 2017. Table 2 also shows that impact rates by primary ESG topic areas ranged from 20 to 70 percent. (See Appendix 1 on page 39 for more details on impact measurement.)
What constitutes improvement in ESG performance? Unlike recording and counting the numbers of companies engaged and the issues addressed, assessing impact is a subjective process. We consider engagement to be successful when we observe progress toward one or more of three potential outcomes: better corporate policies (e.g., amending board nominating charters to include explicit consideration of gender and race), more sustainable business practices (e.g., adoption of science-based GHG goals), and increased transparency (e.g., initiating or substantially improving sustainability reports).
Table 1: Walden’s Reach in 2017 | | | |
Reach | | | |
# of Portfolio Companies Engaged | | 148 | |
Reach Rate: % of Portfolio Holdings Engaged* | | 46 | % |
| | | |
Most Frequent ESG Topics (# of Companies) | | | |
Climate Change | | 44 | |
Board Diversity | | 40 | |
Sustainability Reporting | | 23 | |
EEO Disclosure | | 11 | |
LGBT Equal Employment Opportunity | | 10 | |
Lobbying Practices and Disclosure | | 10 | |
Table 2: Walden’s Impact in 2017 | | | |
Impact | | | |
# of Portfolio Companies | | 51 | |
Impact Rate: % of Companies Engaged (148) | | 34 | % |
| | | |
Impact Rates for Most Frequent ESG Topics | | | |
Climate Change | | 23 | % |
Board Diversity | | 25 | % |
Sustainability Reporting | | 52 | % |
EEO Disclosure | | 36 | % |
LGBT Equal Employment Opportunity | | 70 | % |
Lobbying Practices and Disclosure | | 20 | % |
Tables 1 and 2 do not represent the entirety of Walden’s engagement activity as they exclude outreach to companies that are not held in Walden client portfolios. Such outreach often includes participation in collaborative engagements spanning entire sectors or industries (e.g., signatory to an investor coalition letter championing ethical recruitment practices among retailers). Walden also engages directly with companies not held in client portfolios if we believe there is a compelling reason to be involved. For example, helping to convince a major investment firm to consider thoughtfully environmental and social factors in their proxy voting sets the stage for other investment firms to follow suit (see page 37).
In addition, Walden’s frequent practice of engaging on multiple ESG issues at a single company is obscured in the summary metrics. For example, in 2017 we had meaningful discussions about energy efficiency and board diversity at Hubbell. While the company exhibited progress on both fronts, Hubbell is counted one
* There are 324 companies in the engagement universe this year. The universe includes companies held across all Boston Trust and Walden strategies and mutual funds in 2017, excluding companies that are unique to the Walden International Equity Fund. The latter holdings are currently excluded from the universe, pending an evaluation of the opportunities for engagement and strategy assets. In addition, the total includes private mutual fund company Vanguard Group since we filed and subsequently withdrew shareholder resolutions submitted for two of its mutual funds held in some client portfolios.
Read the 2016 Annual Impact Report here: http://bit.ly/2iJsv5F.
34
time in our overall reach (Table 1) and impact (Table 2) metrics. However, within impact rates by topic area in Table 2, Hubbell is counted under Climate Change and Board Diversity.
We also note the interplay between reach and impact that comes from participating in investor collaborations that involve numerous companies in a low touch approach. These partnerships, which oftentimes function to build corporate awareness, increase the reach reported in Table 1 but dilute the calculated impact rate in Table 2. For example, in 2017 we joined ShareAction’s new Workforce Disclosure Initiative, a signatory letter to nearly 80 companies to encourage comparable reporting of data related to human capital management. We believe it is important for investors to signal their interest and support of this and other group initiatives, but Walden does not intend to follow up individually with each company.
The positive impact at 51 companies in 2017 demonstrates a productive year of engagement.
EXAMPLES OF IMPACT IN 2017
Climate Change
The Trump Administration dramatically shifted federal policy on climate change in 2017 with its announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from the global Paris climate agreement and the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, the foundation of the former Obama Administration’s efforts to curb U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These actions and others underscore the importance of investor engagement to encourage companies to be a leading force for aggressive action to mitigate the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. Walden’s focus is two-fold: We encourage companies to adopt science-based GHG goals, entailing global reduction of GHG emissions by 55% by 2050 and reaching net zero emissions between 2050 and 2100. We also seek to influence companies to support effective climate-related public policy because we believe a vocal corporate constituency is crucial for continued progress.
Mitigation Goals: Walden, both individually in company dialogues and as the leader of a collaborative initiative with ICCR that advocated science-based GHG goals, is pleased to report substantial progress as a number of portfolio companies committed to new goals in 2017:
American Express—reduce absolute GHG emissions 31% and 85% by 2021 and 2040, respectively, from 2011 levels
ConocoPhillips—reduce GHG emissions intensity (per unit of output) 5-15% by 2030 from a 2017 baseline
Hubbell—increase energy efficiency 6% by 2020 relative to the 2016 level
Merck—reduce absolute GHG emissions 40% by 2025 from a 2015 baseline (and procuring 50% or greater of purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025 and 100% by 2040)
Reach and Impact Relative to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent 17 goals and 169 sub-targets that serve as a global framework for sustainable development through 2030. In a recent publication, Walden explained what the SDGs are, why they are important to our clients and to our role as an investment manager, and where opportunities exist for us to advance their mission. Company engagement is a central component to our approach to advancing the SDGs. In 2017, our engagement work touched on topics related to 11 out of the 17 goals. See Appendix 2 on page 40 for the full list of goals.
Chart 1: Number of Companies Engaged by SDG | | Chart 2: Impact Rate by Priority SDGs |
| | |
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi13i002.jpg)
| | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi13i003.jpg)
|
Impact Rate is expressed as the percentage of companies demonstrating improvement relative to the companies reached through engagement. Not all Walden engagements align with the SDGs. For instance, our work encouraging companies to have separate CEOs and Board Chairs—while good governance—does not directly relate to the SDGs.
35
Oracle—reduce absolute GHG emissions 20% by 2020 and 65% by 2050 from the 2015 level
PNC Financial Services—reduce absolute GHG emissions 75% by 2035 from a 2009 baseline (including a 50% renewable energy goal)
Climate Policy and Lobbying: Walden wrote and spoke with several corporate members of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), an organization of state legislators and stakeholders that have a history of promoting model legislation that hinders progress on climate change. We asked these firms to speak publicly against an ALEC member initiative to reverse the “Endangerment Finding” of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA’s finding that greenhouse gases endangered public health was backed by a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision that held greenhouse gases to be pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Exxon Mobil and United Parcel Services, among other companies, disagreed in a high profile manner and, fortunately, the initiative floundered.
Corporate Governance
Board Diversity: Despite an overwhelming investor consensus about the business benefits of diverse boards of directors, women and people of color collectively hold less than 31 percent of board seats among the largest U.S. companies (approximately 20 percent are seats held by women and 14 percent by people of color).(1) Fortunately, widespread investor engagement to foster greater board diversity has strengthened Walden’s interactions with portfolio companies, which focuses on those with the lowest representation of women and people of color on their boards of directors. Our conversations seek updates on efforts to add diverse directors to the board as well as the adoption of best practice governance policies, recruitment processes, and proxy statement disclosure to assure that board diversity will improve over time.
In 2017, five companies we engaged added gender or racial diversity to their boards of directors: Cabot Oil & Gas, Dorman Products, Eagle Bancorp, Monro, and O’Reilly Automotive. Four other companies—Anika Therapeutics, Dentsply Sirona, Dril-Quip, and Hubbell improved their corporate governance policies and proxy disclosure on director selection processes. This generally takes the form of governance policies or charters that explicitly reference gender and race as considerations in the director nomination process as well as a corporate commitment to a diverse candidate pool.
Equality
Workforce Composition Disclosure: In 2017, Walden returned to an engagement topic that was a previous area of focus— encouraging the disclosure of workforce composition statistics as a means to increase corporate accountability on recruitment, retention, and advancement of women and people of color. We ask companies to disclose publicly data that is already collected and reported annually to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the EEO-1 Report), a breakdown of employees according to specific gender, racial, and job categories. We further ask companies to provide context about their diversity and inclusion policies, programs, and challenges. We believe that this information enables investors to assess and monitor EEO progress.
The burgeoning #MeToo movement provided constructive context in many conversations with executives as there was broad agreement that greater gender equality in the workplace would foster cultural change helpful in preventing sexual harassment. Though no companies committed to disclose the full EEO-1 Report, Discover Financial Services, Morningstar, Omnicom, and SunTrust were receptive to improved reporting on diversity programs and EEO-1 metrics. (Our ongoing EEO conversation with Omnicom also addresses board diversity as the firm works its way through a multi-year refreshment process driven by its retirement age policy. In 2018, a majority of Omnicom’s directors are expected to be women and people of color—a rare occurrence in the U.S.).
LGBT Workplace Equality: New federal policies delivered significant setbacks for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights in 2017. Protections for transgender youth to use bathrooms of their choice in schools were rescinded; an executive order announced a military service ban for transgender individuals (later abandoned); and the Justice Department reversed the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s previous interpretation of Title VII that protected LGBT people from workplace discrimination on the basis of sex. In this environment, Walden has continued to advocate for inclusive company EEO policies that are public and explicitly protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Brown & Brown, The Ensign Group, and IPG Photonics adopted more inclusive policies and posted them to their websites. NetApp, Netgear, Paychex, and UniFirst also posted inclusive EEO policies to their websites. We are gratified that companies continue to be responsive.
Walden considers engagement to be successful when we observe progress toward one or more of three potential outcomes: better corporate policies, more sustainable business practices, and increased transparency.
Sustainability (or ESG) Reporting
Walden’s ongoing work to encourage meaningful measurement, management, and reporting of significant ESG risks and opportunities also bore fruit. Dril-Quip, Forum Energy Technologies, Oceaneering International, and SunTrust agreed to improve ESG disclosures and are in the early stages of reporting. Nordson’s inaugural report was published last October and we have already provided feedback to the company for round two.
As we look back on the year, we are generally heartened by the receptiveness of portfolio companies to Walden’s input. Like us, most appear to recognize the link between good ESG performance and long-term business prosperity. We hope to continue to demonstrate the veracity of this connection in 2018 and beyond.
(1) Missing Pieces Report: The 2016 Board Diversity Census of Women and Minorities on Fortune 500 Boards
The equities in bold-face in the above commentary were holdings of one or more of the Walden Funds during the calendar year 2017.
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A CLOSER LOOK: ENGAGING MAJOR INVESTMENT FIRMS
HEADLINE NEWS IN 2017
“Exxon Investors Defy Board on Climate Reporting,”
Financial Times, May 31
“Exxon Shareholders Pressure Company on Climate Risks,”
Wall Street Journal, May 31
On May 31, 2017, sixty-two percent of the shares voted at ExxonMobil’s annual meeting supported a shareholder resolution asking for more disclosure on the potential impact on its operations and the value of its assets of regulations and technology to address climate change. (Similar resolutions also received majority votes at Occidental Petroleum and PPL.) While Exxon had recommended a vote against the proposal, seven months later, the company essentially agreed to new disclosure. In a year filled with numerous notable events, we believe this majority vote is remarkable.
A substantially similar resolution filed by shareholders at Exxon in 2016 did not receive majority support. What changed? In 2017, in contrast to 2016, the resolution was supported by Exxon’s largest shareholders: BlackRock and Vanguard. The change of vote, of course, was the result of numerous factors.
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First, many of the world’s largest investment firms, including BlackRock and Vanguard, have joined the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). PRI members agree to six principles including a commitment to “be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.” The thoughtful exercise of proxy voting consistent with long-term ESG considerations is a primary means to fulfill this PRI principle. Fiona Reynolds, PRI Managing Director, has made it clear that members must meet their commitments. Asset managers systematically voting against ESG proposals are therefore under scrutiny and subject to reputational risk if found to not be complying.
Second, asset owners, including some of the largest U.S. pension funds that are also members of PRI, increasingly expect asset managers to demonstrate incorporation of ESG factors. Large investment firms, therefore, recognize it is in their direct interest to be involved in PRI and other ESG-related initiatives. Further, both asset owners and managers increasingly recognize the materiality of climate change. Turning a blind eye to climate risk could be construed as a breach of fiduciary duty.
Finally, major asset managers faced their own shareholder resolutions. Walden and several other investors filed resolutions with BlackRock and Vanguard, as well as Bank of New York Mellon, Franklin Resources, JPMorgan Chase, and T. Rowe Price Group, requesting that their board of directors initiate a review and issue a report on proxy voting policies and practices related to climate change.
Walden reached agreements with BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase and Vanguard and withdrew the resolutions. Subsequently, these asset managers announced important changes not only to their approach to proxy voting but also to engagement with companies, particularly on the topics of climate change and board diversity.
Walden believes 2017 represents an important turn in the road. We used our leverage to influence larger investors, and larger investors added their voices and votes to encourage companies to address environmental concerns. There is more work to be done. In the coming year, Walden will continue to engage BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Vanguard. We are pleased to see their active role in developing and promoting the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) recommendations as well as more public statements related to climate risk and ESG governance. However, we note that BlackRock and Vanguard, in particular, continue to vote against almost all environmental proposals.
We and our investor allies are in conversations with other asset managers to continue to develop a critical mass that will meaningfully consider and vote for shareholder proposals and engage on significant ESG risks and opportunities. The power of proxy voting and active ownership is substantial. Walden is working to translate that potential into transformative corporate change.
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Public Policy Advocacy
Walden believes that investors are a critical constituency to hold policymakers accountable on matters of social and environmental responsibility. In a year when the U.S. federal government has been repealing laws and regulations that protect workers, communities, and the environment, Walden remains committed to making our voice heard in the public policy arena. Despite the difficult federal policy environment, we continue to be a vocal advocate defending environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-related policies at the local, state, national, and international levels that we believe are good for society, business, and our clients’ investments.
Policy advocacy takes many forms including: participation in investor coalition letters or statements to governmental entities and standard-setting organizations; responding to requests for comment on new or proposed changes to policies; and in-person visits to legislators or agencies that have direct policy-making responsibilities.
In 2017, Walden participated in more than 40 public policy actions, many led by NGOs and other stakeholders. As examples, public policy initiatives we joined called for:
· Continued support for implementing the Paris climate agreement
· Ending the use of child labor in global cocoa supply chains
· Establishing strong renewable energy and carbon reduction policies at the state level (namely California and Massachusetts)
· Improved corporate disclosure of climate risk and human capital management
· Passage of a clean DREAM Act, legislation that is not tied to other immigration-related proposals
Protecting shareholders’ right to file proxy resolutions was a substantial focus of our public policy work in 2017. The Business Roundtable (BRT), an association of CEOs of major companies, called for substantial changes to the shareholder resolution process. These included increasing the requirement to file a proposal from a $2,000 minimum investment held for one year to one percent of a company’s outstanding shares held for three years—a provision that would effectively bar most investors from being able to file proposals at large companies. Some of the BRT’s recommendations were then included in Section 844 of the Financial CHOICE Act, which passed the House of Representatives in June but failed to gain traction in the Senate. Business groups also turned to the SEC to lobby for new, restrictive rules.
Early in the year we partnered with California pension fund CalSTRS to write numerous corporate members of BRT to explain our objections to the organization’s proposals and ask them to speak favorably about the positive value of shareholder engagement. PepsiCo told BRT it disagreed with its position and issued a statement about the value of shareholder proposals. In March, we joined investors representing $65 trillion in assets in a letter to the Director of the National Economic Council for the Trump Administration, emphasizing the importance and efficacy of the current shareholder proposal process. In July, Walden was among 166 institutional investors, coordinated by ICCR (the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility), who asked all U.S. Senators to vote against the Financial CHOICE Act. Also in July we participated in a US SIF and Ceres-organized “Lobby Day” during which we met with the offices of fifteen senators and two staff members of the Senate Banking Committee to communicate our position.
To further amplify our message and concern, Walden partnered with Pax World Management in a publication for the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation entitled “The Value of the Shareholder Proposal Process.” We also assisted Ceres in documenting for the SEC the positive impact of shareholder resolutions as well as counterpoints to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce petition to change the resolution process.
While investor advocates have held the line in 2017, we expect that defending shareholders’ right to file resolutions will be an ongoing battle in 2018.
The equities in bold-face in the above commentary were holdings of one or more of the Walden Funds as of December 31, 2017.
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APPENDIX 1: WALDEN’S MEASUREMENT OF IMPACT
Walden is committed to developing sound processes to record, monitor, and measure the impact of our company engagement. Best practice standards call for an assessment approach that is comparable, replicable, efficacious, and transparent. While there is no common industry approach to measure and report on the impact of company engagement, we continue to refine our own processes and hope that our approach can serve as a model for other investors. We also support efforts to develop an accepted industry-wide framework for measuring and reporting on impact.
CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS
With our commitment to measure and communicate impact comes the responsibility to describe significant challenges and limitations inherent in our approach. We have identified five primary challenges:
The Continuum of Progress
Corporate progress is often incremental and can span multiple years. For example, a successful engagement on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals may include the following company milestones: commit to set a science-based GHG goal, implement a process to obtain baseline data for analysis, establish and announce publicly a science-based GHG goal, and report on the progress toward achieving the goal. This continuum could proceed over the course of 2-3 years and then cycle through again. As long-term investors committed to report on our impact annually in calendar years, Walden “counts” significant advancements observed along this continuum (but no more than one per year), even while the engagement is expected to continue to progress in the future. The onus is on Walden to monitor and engage companies to ensure their continued progress.
The filing and withdrawal of shareholder resolutions presents a special challenge. Most shareholder resolutions are filed in the fall of the year preceding the annual general meeting in which they are introduced. For example, shareholder resolutions filed for the 2018 proxy season are generally submitted in the fall of 2017 (exceptions include companies with fiscal years that differ significantly from the calendar year). Shareholder resolutions that are withdrawn successfully through negotiated agreements sometimes occur in the final weeks of December. In these cases, we count the action and successful conclusion in both years in order to accurately reflect the results of the resolutions that we file.
Attribution
Cause and effect cannot always be isolated. While sometimes progress is primarily catalyzed by Walden’s engagement, observed improvement often represents the hard work of, and collaboration with, other investors and stakeholders. For example, one successful engagement on board diversity in 2017 involved direct, private conversations with Walden as well as separate conversations with other institutional investors and the Thirty Percent Coalition (Walden co-chairs its Institutional Investor Committee). Additionally, our input and encouragement sometimes supports corporate advocates who are already committed to continuous ESG improvement or are motivated to make changes for other business reasons.
A NOTE ON PROCESS
ESG professionals at Walden are responsible for tracking, monitoring, and assessing their engagement activity in a common platform on an ongoing basis. Recording company interactions—Walden’s engagement reach—is relatively straightforward. Assessment of impact in the form of improved policies, practices, or transparency is more subjective. In each reporting period, under the oversight of the Director of ESG Investing, ESG professionals review together these assessments to assure consistency. The final step is Executive Committee review and affirmation of all positive outcomes that are counted as impact.
Quality vs. Quantity
Our assessment and reporting of impact treats all forms of progress equivalently. In part this neutral context is reasonable because clients have different ESG priorities. Yet efforts required by companies to improve ESG practices vary substantially (e.g., amending a corporate governance policy is significantly less time and resource intensive than developing and implementing science-based GHG goals). Also, while most of our engagement involves multiple points of contact with company representatives, our metrics do not distinguish those efforts from one-time interactions. Moreover, some progress is more transformative (e.g., encouraging successfully one of the largest global investment firms to consider environmental and social factors in its proxy voting). Hence, simplistic interpretation of Walden’s reported results can blur distinctions regarding the magnitude of observed progress.
Transparency
Ideally, Walden would report publicly on each company for which we have identified progress. However, some conversations are confidential until a company announces new policies or practices. In other instances we believe that full transparency could detract from progress by jeopardizing the trust Walden has established with companies. In these annual reports, we respond to this challenge by providing a broad range of examples of impact that collectively represent the majority of positive outcomes observed over the year (companies counted appear in bold in this report).
Real World Progress vs. Corporate Change
We are mindful that corporate change defined as improvement in policies, practices, or transparency does not necessarily translate into real world impacts such as reduced GHG emissions (mitigation of global warming), fewer incidents of discrimination in the workplace, or the creation of well-paying jobs. However, we believe that corporate impact as we measure it is often a precursor to the broader progress we and our clients seek. Better ESG policies and practices should contribute to better real world outcomes. Greater transparency brings public accountability that, in turn, should also foster progress.
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APPENDIX 2: THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
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Walden Asset Management is the sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investing practice of Boston Trust & Investment Management Company. The information contained herein has been prepared from sources and data we believe to be reliable, but we make no guarantee as to its adequacy, accuracy, timeliness, or completeness. We cannot and do not guarantee the suitability or profitability of any particular investment. No information herein is intended as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, or as a sponsorship of any company, security, or fund. Neither Walden nor any of its contributors makes any representations about the suitability of the information contained herein. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
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Walden Asset Management Fund
Walden Equity Fund
December 31, 2017
William H. Apfel, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment
Management, Inc.
Asset Management Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth and income through an actively managed portfolio of stocks, bonds and money market instruments.
Equity Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital through an actively managed portfolio of stocks.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities. The net asset value per share of these Funds will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.
Foreign investing involves risks not typically associated with U.S. investments, including adverse political, social and economic developments and differing auditing and legal standards. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.
Bonds offer a relatively stable level of income, although bond prices will fluctuate, providing the potential for principal gain or loss. Intermediate term, higher quality bonds generally offer less risk than longer-term bonds and a lower rate of return.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
Stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, continued their rally in 2017, posting a calendar year total return of 21.83%. The Walden Asset Management Fund posted a total return of 14.88% for the year, benefiting from our decision to maintain an above average allocation to equities; the bond market, as measured by the Barclays Government/Credit Bond Index returned 4.00% for the period. The Walden Equity Fund posted a net total return of 20.77% for the year.
The market’s 2017 gains came with little interruption, as the S&P 500 Index posted positive returns in all 12 months of the year. Investors seemed to largely ignore the fierce controversies that dominated the political environment, presumably judging that none were likely to affect the growth of corporate profits. While recent market returns have been extraordinary, our long-term outlook has not changed since our last report. Absent an untoward geopolitical development, a sharp uptick in inflation, or a misstep by the Federal Reserve, we believe the long-term trend of rising equity markets is likely to continue.
Strong markets have frequently challenged our equity selection discipline, which emphasizes steady financial performance while seeking to avoid companies whose valuations, in our view, reflect a large measure of speculation. This was certainly true during the past three years as markets rose with few interruptions and low volatility was often cited as a marker of declining risk. This was not the case for all of 2017 though, as during some periods and particularly in the latter part of the year, stocks of companies we judge to be of high quality generally fared well. Even among high price-to-earnings(1) stocks, those with robust business models and track records of steady profitability typically fared best.
Both Funds benefitted during most of 2017 from a low allocation to the energy sector, one of only two sectors to post negative returns. Conversely, an overweight position in the market-trailing Consumer Staples sector (albeit still posting positive double-digit returns) detracted from Index-relative results.
Results in the health care sector often reflect trends among various industry groups. Holdings in the sector for both Funds emphasize the relatively stable medical device and health care services industries. These fared well throughout 2017. In contrast, the stocks of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies lagged. Among the latter group, several depend upon a single drug for the bulk of their revenues. Biotech stock prices often rise and fall sharply as investors make highly uncertain predictions regarding the odds of success for drugs still under development.
In the Walden Asset Management Fund, fixed income segment returns lagged the benchmark for the year. Once again, the long duration, lower quality issues we avoid performed best. Given the small current yield advantage of such securities over high-quality issues, we believe that portfolios are best served by incurring corporate related risks in equities rather than bonds.
Equity investing always entails substantial risks, so investors should not be lulled into complacency simply because stock markets have climbed so steadily in recent years. Nonetheless, we believe that economic conditions are likely to continue to support the favorable long-term market trend, even while we anticipate that low market volatility cannot be sustained indefinitely. In contrast, low interest rates make fixed income investments comparatively unappealing in all but the most adverse economic environments. As such, we expect the Walden Asset Management Fund to retain a higher-than-average allocation to the high quality, reasonably valued stocks we emphasize. Fixed income holdings remain of high quality and average duration.*
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) The Price-to-Earnings Ratio (“P/E Ratio”) is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price to its per-share earnings. A high P/E means high current earnings.
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Investment Performance (Unaudited) | | Walden Asset Management Fund |
| | Walden Equity Fund |
| | December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | | | Since Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 5 Years | | 10 Years | | (6/18/99) | |
Walden Asset Management Fund(1) | | 14.88 | % | 10.33 | % | 6.14 | % | 5.45 | % |
Walden Equity Fund(1) | | 20.77 | % | 13.97 | % | 8.02 | % | 6.46 | % |
S&P 500 Index | | 21.83 | % | 15.79 | % | 8.50 | % | 5.79 | % |
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/ Credit Bond Index | | 4.00 | % | 2.13 | % | 4.08 | % | 5.09 | % |
Citigroup 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill Index | | 0.84 | % | 0.24 | % | 0.34 | % | 1.75 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $100,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi17i001.gif)
The above charts represent a 10-year hypothetical $100,000 investment in each of the Walden Asset Management Fund and Walden Equity Fund, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Funds. The returns shown on the table and the graphs do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Walden Asset Management Fund is measured against a combination of equity and fixed income indices. The Walden Equity Fund is measured against the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500”), which is widely regarded as a gauge of the U.S. equities market. This index includes 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. Although the S&P 500 focuses on the large-cap segment of the market, with approximately 75% coverage of U.S. equities, it is also also widely viewed as a proxy for the total market. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index includes Treasuries (i.e., public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have remaining maturities of more than one year), government-related issues (i.e., agency, sovereign, supranational, and local authority debt), and USD Corporates. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index is a component of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The Citigroup 90-Day U.S. Treasury Bill Index reflects monthly return equivalents of yield averages that are not marked to the market. The index is an average of the last three-month treasury bill issues. The three-month treasury bills are the short-term debt obligations of the U.S. Government. The indexes are unmanaged and their performance does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
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Walden Asset Management Fund
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 17.76 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.05 | % |
Walden Equity Fund
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 21.61 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.09 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 1.00% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
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Walden Midcap Fund
December 31, 2017
Stephen J. Amyouny, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Belinda Cavazos, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Richard Q. Williams, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of middle capitalization (“midcap”) companies.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Mid capitalization funds typically carry additional risks since smaller companies generally have a higher risk of failure.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
Portfolio Review
The Walden Midcap Fund posted a return of 19.62% for the year ended December 31, 2017, exceeding the benchmark Russell Midcap® Index return of 18.52%. These results reflect a continuation of the strong market returns that began at the end of the financial crisis in early 2009. A confluence of factors contributed to the continuing strong performance of U.S. midcap equities this year, including investor anticipation of tax reform (ultimately realized toward the end of the year), less restrictive regulation in several industries, robust economic data in the U.S., improving economic conditions globally, and decreasing risk aversion, despite global geopolitical uncertainties.
Our analysis suggests that more reasonably valued high-quality stocks outperformed the broader midcap stock universe, to the benefit of the Fund. Favorable sector allocation and security selection also contributed positively to results.
Among sectors, the health care and Information Tachnology (“IT”) sectors produced the strongest absolute performance, while the energy and telecom sectors declined for the year. Higher dividend yielding stocks that have been used in recent years by some investors as alternatives to low yielding bonds also trailed the broader universe. These stocks included companies within the utilities, real estate investment trusts (REITs)(1), and consumer staples sectors. Relative performance was strongest among the Fund’s consumer staples and health care stocks and weakest in the consumer discretionary and IT sectors. Our assessment suggests that performance in all four sectors can be largely explained by the relative out- or underperformance of higher quality stocks. The Fund also benefited from M&A activity in the consumer staples and health care sectors as Fund holdings Whole Foods Market and VCA were acquired during the year.
While no one stock had an outsized impact on performance, IPG Photonics was the top contributor among individual stocks for the year. The company reported accelerating growth throughout the year. Among detractors, Advance Auto Parts and W.W. Grainger both declined on fears that e-commerce competitors would create pricing pressure and erode their gross profit margins.
Outlook:
Fundamental trends for the U.S. midcap market remain healthy. Looking forward, the U.S. economy is poised to continue expanding at a modest pace, and lower federal corporate tax rates may support continued gains. Global economic conditions also support continued growth for companies with international operations. Although interest rates have recently edged higher, interest rates and inflation remain at relatively low levels, well-below historical averages. All of these factors contribute to the benign economic backdrop presently supporting equity prices. However, we see signs of investor complacency, and hence, risk, as the bull market enters its tenth year. Some of these signs include elevated equity valuations relative to history, all-time low levels of volatility, historically low yields on risky debt, and increased speculative activity as evidenced by the sharp appreciation of crypto-assets. Taken individually, none of these signs may be of great concern; collectively they illustrate increasing investor appetite for risk. Consequently, the recent pace of midcap market appreciation may be difficult to sustain.
The Fund remains invested in higher quality, more reasonably valued stocks that we believe can generate superior risk-adjusted returns across a full market cycle.*
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) REITs (real estate investment trusts) are publicly traded entities that invest in office buildings, apartment complexes, industrial facilities, shopping centers and other commercial spaces. Most REITs trade on major stock exchanges or over-the-counter. Investments in the Fund is subject to the risk related to a direct investment in real estate, such as real estate risk, regulatory risks, concentration risk, and diversification risk. By itself the Fund does not constitute a complete investment plan and should be considered a long-term investment for investors who can afford to weather changes in the value of their investments.
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Investment Performance (Unaudited) | Walden Midcap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | Since | |
| | | | | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 5 Years | | (8/1/11) | |
Walden Midcap Fund(1) | | 19.62 | % | 13.95 | % | 12.14 | % |
Russell Midcap® Index | | 18.52 | % | 14.96 | % | 13.43 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $100,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi17i003.gif)
The above chart represents a hypothetical $100,000 investment in the Walden Midcap Fund from August 1, 2011 to December 31, 2017, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund. The returns shown on the table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Walden Midcap Fund is measured against the Russell Midcap® Index, which is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of the mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell Midcap® Index is a subset of the Russell 1000® Index. It includes approximately 800 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market capitalization and current index membership. The Russell Midcap® Index represents approximately 31% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 1000 companies. Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. The performance of an index does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi17i004.jpg)
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 17.24 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.04 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. Returns less than one year are not annualized. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 1.00% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
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Walden SMID Cap Fund
December 31, 2017
Kenneth P. Scott, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Belinda Cavazos, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Richard Q. Williams, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of small to middle (“smid”) capitalization companies.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Small- to mid-capitalization companies typically have a higher risk of failure and historically have experienced a greater degree of volatility.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2017, the Walden SMID Cap Fund returned 16.94%, outpacing the 16.81% return of the Russell 2500™ Index. This marked the third consecutive year the Fund has outperformed the benchmark.
Our analysis suggests that more reasonably valued stocks of higher quality companies outperformed the Russell 2500™ Index for the year, presenting a tailwind to the Fund’s relative performance. At a sector level, relative performance was strongest in consumer staples and real estate, and weakest in consumer discretionary. Our assessment suggests that performance in all three sectors, however, can be largely explained by the relative out-or underperformance of higher quality stocks. The Fund also benefited from merger and acquisition activity in consumer staples and real estate as certain Fund holdings in both sectors were acquired during the year, including Whole Foods Market and DuPont Fabros.
IPG Photonics was the top contributor among individual stocks for the year. The company reported accelerating growth throughout the year. Among detractors, two energy services companies, Forum Energy and TechnipFMC were among the top five worst performers as the entire energy services industry continued to suffer from the multi-year downturn in drilling activity.
Outlook
Fundamental trends for the U.S. small-mid cap market remain healthy. Looking forward, the U.S. economy appears poised to continue expanding at a modest pace, and a more favorable tax environment may support continued gains among smid cap stocks. However, we see signs of investor complacency, and hence, risk, as the bull market enters its tenth year. Some of these signs include elevated equity valuations relative to history, all-time-low levels of volatility, historically low yields on risky debt, and increased speculative activity. Taken individually, none may be of great concern; collectively, they illustrate increasing investor appetite for risk. Consequently, the recent pace of smid cap market appreciation may be difficult to sustain.
We remain focused on constructing a well-diversified portfolio of higher quality, more reasonably valued companies that can potentially generate superior economic returns across macroeconomic environments. The Fund currently trades at an average operating price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio(1) of 24x, one third less than the Russell 2500™ operating P/E of 35x. This gives us confidence that the Fund has less valuation risk than the market, especially considering the Fund’s superior quality profile.*
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) The Price-to-Earnings Ratio (“P/E Ratio”) is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price to its per-share earnings.
46
Investment Performance (Unaudited) | Walden SMID Cap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | | | Since | |
| | | | | | | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 3 Years | | 5 Years | | (6/28/12) | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund(1) | | 16.94 | % | 11.07 | % | 13.08 | % | 13.85 | % |
Russell 2500™ Index | | 16.81 | % | 10.07 | % | 14.33 | % | 15.27 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $100,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi17i005.gif)
The above chart represents a hypothetical $100,000 investment in the Walden SMID Cap Fund from June 28, 2012 to December 31, 2017, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund. The returns shown on the table and the graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Walden SMID Cap Fund is measured against the Russell 2500™ Index, which is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of the small- to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe, commonly referred to as “smid” cap. The Russell 2500 is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index. It includes approximately 2500 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. The performance of an index does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi17i006.jpg)
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 16.69 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.12 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 1.00% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
47
Walden Small Cap Fund
December 31, 2017
Kenneth P. Scott, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Belinda Cavazos, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Richard Q. Williams, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of small capitalization companies.
Investment Concerns
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Small capitalization funds typically carry additional risks since smaller companies generally have a higher risk of failure, and historically, their stocks have experienced a greater degree of market volatility than stocks on average.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, the Walden Small Cap Fund returned 11.50%, trailing the 14.65% return of the Russell 2000® Index. For longer term time periods, those that cover at least one complete market cycle, the Fund has provided competitive returns with less volatility than the Index.
Our analysis suggests that stocks of higher quality firms sharply underperformed the Russell 2000® Index for the year, presenting a headwind to the Fund’s relative performance. Fund holdings in consumer discretionary and health care detracted most from relative performance, while holdings in financials and real estate contributed most positively for the year. Our underperformance in discretionary and health care was not surprising given that higher quality stocks underperformed within those two sectors during the year. For example, the lower quality biotechnology industry increased 54% in 2017. The Fund does not currently hold any biotech stocks because these companies fail to meet our selection criteria. This was a headwind to performance in 2017, but avoiding this lower quality industry has been additive to longer-term performance.*
Coherent and IPG Photonics were two of the top contributors to Fund performance this year. Both companies manufacture components for industrial lasers, and benefitted from strong revenue growth and expanding margins. Chemed was another top contributor thanks to better than expected margins at its hospice division, and strong demand for its home services unit. Among detractors, Cato and Sally Beauty are exposed to specialty retail, which has been impacted by changes in consumers’ purchasing behavior.
Outlook
Fundamental trends for the U.S. small-cap market remain healthy. Looking forward, the U.S. economy appears poised to continue expanding at a modest pace, and lower federal corporate tax rates may support continued gains among small-cap stocks. However, we see signs of investor complacency, and hence, risk, as the bull market enters its tenth year. Some of these signs include elevated equity valuations relative to history, all-time-low levels of volatility, historically low yields on risky debt, and increased speculative activity. Taken individually, none of these signs may be of great concern; collectively they illustrate increasing investor appetite for risk. Consequently, the recent pace of small-cap market appreciation may be difficult to sustain.
We remain focused on constructing a well-diversified portfolio of higher quality, more reasonably valued companies that can generate superior economic returns across macroeconomic environments. The Fund currently trades at an average operating price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio(1) of 24x, roughly half the Russell 2000® operating P/E of 49x. This gives us confidence that the Fund has less valuation risk than the market, especially considering the Fund’s superior quality profile.
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
(1) The Price-to-Earnings Ratio (“P/E Ratio”) is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price to its per-share earnings.
48
Investment Performance (Unaudited) | | Walden Small Cap Fund |
| | December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | | | Since | |
| | | | | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | 5 Years | | (10/24/08) | |
Walden Small Cap Fund(1) | | 11.50 | % | 11.64 | % | 14.19 | % |
Russell 2000® Index | | 14.65 | % | 14.12 | % | 15.33 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $100,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi19i001.gif)
The above chart represents a hypothetical $100,000 investment in the Walden Small Cap Fund from October 24, 2008 to December 31, 2017, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund. The returns shown on the table and the graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Walden Small Cap Fund is measured against the Russell 2000® Index, which is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. The performance of an index does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi19i002.gif)
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 19.41 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.06 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 1.00% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
49
Walden International Equity Fund
December 31, 2017
William H. Apfel, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager
Nathanial J. Riley, CFA
Portfolio Manager
David A. Sandell, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
Fund Objective
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of equities of international companies.
Investment Concerns
International investing involves increased risk and volatility. An investment in international funds entails the special risks of international investing, including currency exchange fluctuation, government regulations and intervention, and the potential for political and economic instability.
Foreign investing involves risks not typically associated with U.S. investments, including adverse political, regulatory, social and economic developments and differing auditing and legal standards. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk and return potential than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed income securities.
Mid-capitalization funds typically carry additional risks since smaller companies generally have a higher risk of failure.
The net asset value per share of these Funds will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.
Cash equivalents offer low risk and low return potential.
Manager Commentary (Unaudited)
Management Discussion of Fund Performance
For the 12 month period ended December 31, 2017, the Walden International Equity Fund posted a total return of 19.92%. The Fund’s return trailed those of its primary benchmarks, the MSCI World ex-US Index (net) and Russell Global Developed ex-US Large Cap Index (net), which posted gains of 24.21% and 24.85%, respectively.
Returns in international markets were positive for the year. A favorable economic environment benefitted companies’ earnings and prospects, and investors’ optimism propelled the market forward with only modest volatility. The Fund’s returns were positive in ten of the twelve months, and the other two were each down less than 0.5%, which is remarkable consistency even for a strong market.
The strength or weakness of the dollar relative to other currencies, in particular the euro, yen, and pound, influence our reported returns in any given period. The returns of the Fund, which are reported in U.S. dollars, would have been lower during 2017 if measured in local currencies of the Fund’s holdings. MSCI reports their international indices in local returns as well as in U.S. dollar returns, and in local currency the return of the MSCI World ex-US was 14.6% rather than 24.2%. Given the similar currency exposure in the Walden International Equity Fund, we expect that currency accounted for roughly ten percentage points of the Fund’s return as well.
While the Fund’s absolute return was quite good, the benchmark-trailing relative return can be attributed to headwinds for our investment style. Stocks of companies we view as higher-than-average quality, a characteristic we emphasize, underperformed during the year. In particular, those companies which we view as more stable, in regard to both the volatility and cyclicality of sales and earnings, generally failed to keep pace with broad market indices. Our valuation discipline also detracted modestly. We avoid investing in stocks we view as particularly expensive, but during 2017 companies with the least attractive valuations tended to outperform those with reasonable valuations. Despite underperforming for these reasons over the past year, we remain committed to constructing a well-diversified portfolio comprised of companies with strong balance sheets, ample free cash flows, and sustainable business models that are trading at reasonable valuation levels. We believe such a portfolio offers an attractive risk-return profile over complete market cycles.*
* Portfolio composition is subject to change.
50
Investment Performance (Unaudited) | | Walden International Equity Fund |
| | December 31, 2017 |
| | For the year ended 12/31/17 | |
| | Average Annual Total Returns | |
| | | | Since | |
| | | | Inception | |
| | 1 Year | | (6/9/15) | |
Walden International Equity Fund(1) | | 19.92 | % | 5.44 | % |
MSCI World ex-USA Index (net) | | 24.21 | % | 6.50 | % |
Russell Global Developed ex-US Large Cap Index (net) | | 24.85 | % | 6.70 | % |
Hypothetical Growth of a $1,000,000 Investment
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi19i003.gif)
The above chart represents a hypothetical $1,000,000 investment in the Walden International Equity Fund from June 9, 2015 to December 31, 2017, and includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains in the Fund. The returns shown on the table and the graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
The Walden International Equity Fund is measured against the MSCI World ex-USA Index and the Russell Developed ex-US Large Cap Index. The MSCI World ex-USA Index captures large- and mid-cap representation of developed markets countries, excluding the United States. The Russell Developed ex-US Large Cap Index tracks the performance of the largest investable securities in developed countries globally, excluding companies assigned to the United States. The Russell Developed ex-US Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for this market segment and is completely reconstituted annually to accurately reflect the changes in the market over time. These indexes are unmanaged and the performance of an index does not reflect the deduction of expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The Fund’s performance reflects the deduction of fees for these services. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-18-016176/g27401bi19i004.gif)
Fund Net Asset Value: | | $ | 11.07 | |
Gross Expense Ratio(1): | | 1.86 | % |
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050.
(1) The Gross Expense Ratio is from the Fund’s most recent prospectus, dated May 1, 2017. The contractual fee limit under the Fund’s expense limitation agreement is 1.15% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, subject to certain limitations as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please see the Fund’s most recent prospectus for details. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratio as of December 31, 2017 can be found in the financial highlights included in this report. The investment performance may reflect fee reductions. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. The contractual fee waiver continues through May 1, 2018 and may be renewed thereafter.
51
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Walden Asset Management Fund |
| | December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (73.4%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (8.4%) | | | | | |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | | 2,500 | | 249,225 | |
Autoliv, Inc. | | 3,000 | | 381,240 | |
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A (a) | | 2,445 | | 821,422 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | | 29,500 | | 1,181,475 | |
Dollar General Corp. | | 9,600 | | 892,896 | |
McDonald’s Corp. | | 5,000 | | 860,600 | |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | | 18,000 | | 1,125,900 | |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | | 17,000 | | 1,238,110 | |
Priceline Group, Inc. (a) | | 400 | | 695,096 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 17,000 | | 1,364,250 | |
Starbucks Corp. | | 18,000 | | 1,033,740 | |
The Home Depot, Inc. | | 2,000 | | 379,060 | |
| | | | 10,223,014 | |
Consumer Staples (7.6%) | | | | | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 12,000 | | 602,040 | |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | | 15,000 | | 1,131,750 | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | 9,200 | | 1,712,304 | |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. | | 10,000 | | 1,272,400 | |
General Mills, Inc. | | 14,000 | | 830,060 | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | 12,000 | | 1,439,040 | |
Procter & Gamble Co. | | 5,000 | | 459,400 | |
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Sponsored ADR | | 40,000 | | 760,400 | |
The Hershey Co. | | 9,000 | | 1,021,590 | |
| | | | 9,228,984 | |
Energy (2.0%) | | | | | |
Apache Corp. | | 2,000 | | 84,440 | |
ConocoPhillips | | 34,000 | | 1,866,260 | |
Dril-Quip, Inc. (a) | | 10,000 | | 477,000 | |
| | | | 2,427,700 | |
Financials (13.9%) | | | | | |
American Express Co. | | 10,000 | | 993,100 | |
BB&T Corp. | | 24,000 | | 1,193,280 | |
Chubb Ltd. | | 6,500 | | 949,845 | |
Cincinnati Financial Corp. | | 16,500 | | 1,237,005 | |
Comerica, Inc. | | 9,000 | | 781,290 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 13,230 | | 738,763 | |
Discover Financial Services | | 13,000 | | 999,960 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 20,000 | | 2,138,800 | |
Northern Trust Corp. | | 14,000 | | 1,398,460 | |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | | 10,000 | | 1,442,900 | |
State Street Corp. | | 10,500 | | 1,024,905 | |
SunTrust Banks, Inc. | | 20,000 | | 1,291,800 | |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | | 10,000 | | 1,049,300 | |
U.S. Bancorp | | 31,500 | | 1,687,770 | |
| | | | 16,927,178 | |
Health Care (11.1%) | | | | | |
Becton, Dickinson & Co. | | 9,415 | | 2,015,461 | |
Danaher Corp. | | 10,000 | | 928,200 | |
Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | | 12,000 | | 789,960 | |
Johnson & Johnson, Inc. | | 16,000 | | 2,235,520 | |
Medtronic PLC | | 14,000 | | 1,130,500 | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 15,600 | | 877,812 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 1,800 | | 1,115,136 | |
Stryker Corp. | | 9,500 | | 1,470,980 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | 8,000 | | 1,763,680 | |
Waters Corp. (a) | | 6,000 | | 1,159,140 | |
| | | | 13,486,389 | |
| | Shares or | | | |
| | Principal | | | |
| | Amount($) | | | |
| | | | | |
Industrials (9.7%) | | | | | |
3M Co. | | 8,000 | | 1,882,960 | |
Deere & Co. | | 6,500 | | 1,017,315 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 12,000 | | 587,400 | |
Emerson Electric Co. | | 15,100 | | 1,052,319 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 8,000 | | 1,082,720 | |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | | 9,500 | | 1,585,075 | |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 9,000 | | 824,220 | |
Union Pacific Corp. | | 12,000 | | 1,609,200 | |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | | 10,000 | | 1,191,500 | |
W.W. Grainger, Inc. | | 4,000 | | 945,000 | |
| | | | 11,777,709 | |
Information Technology (16.2%) | | | | | |
Accenture PLC, Class A | | 12,500 | | 1,913,625 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A (a) | | 900 | | 948,060 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a) | | 2,400 | | 2,511,360 | |
Apple, Inc. | | 20,500 | | 3,469,215 | |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | | 13,800 | | 1,617,222 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | 41,000 | | 1,570,300 | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A | | 10,000 | | 710,200 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | 36,000 | | 3,079,440 | |
Oracle Corp. | | 38,000 | | 1,796,640 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | | 17,000 | | 1,938,340 | |
| | | | 19,554,402 | |
Materials (2.5%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 11,000 | | 949,080 | |
PPG Industries, Inc. | | 10,000 | | 1,168,200 | |
Praxair, Inc. | | 6,000 | | 928,080 | |
| | | | 3,045,360 | |
Utilities (2.0%) | | | | | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | 14,000 | | 1,189,300 | |
Eversource Energy | | 19,000 | | 1,200,420 | |
| | | | 2,389,720 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $49,444,164) | | | | 89,060,456 | |
| | | | | |
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT (0.1%) | | | | | |
Certificate of Deposit (0.1%) | | | | | |
Self Help Federal Credit Union, 1.30%, 6/21/19 (b) | | 100,000 | | 99,022 | |
TOTAL CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT (Cost $100,000) | | | | 99,022 | |
| | | | | |
CORPORATE BONDS (3.8%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (0.4%) | | | | | |
Leggett & Platt, Inc., 4.40%, 7/1/18 | | 200,000 | | 202,032 | |
Starbucks Corp., 2.45%, 6/15/26, Callable 3/15/26 @ 100 | | 350,000 | | 337,781 | |
| | | | 539,813 | |
Consumer Staples (0.1%) | | | | | |
Campbell Soup Co., 4.50%, 2/15/19 | | 150,000 | | 153,705 | |
| | | | | |
Financials (1.2%) | | | | | |
American Express Co., 2.65%, 12/2/22 | | 287,000 | | 285,330 | |
American Express Co., 7.00%, 3/19/18 | | 250,000 | | 252,691 | |
Export-Import Bank of Korea, 1.75%, 2/27/18 | | 250,000 | | 249,848 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
52
| | Shares or | | | |
| | Principal | | | |
Security Description | | Amount($) | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
Corporate Bonds, Continued | | | | | |
Financials, continued | | | | | |
KFW, 1.88%, 11/30/20 | | 250,000 | | 248,230 | |
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., 10.38%, 11/1/18 | | 250,000 | | 267,113 | |
North American Development Bank, 4.38%, 2/11/20 | | 100,000 | | 104,229 | |
| | | | 1,407,441 | |
Health Care (0.4%) | | | | | |
Abbott Laboratories, 2.95%, 3/15/25, Callable 12/15/24 @ 100 | | 100,000 | | 98,268 | |
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, 3.15%, 5/1/27, Callable 2/1/27 @ 100 | | 250,000 | | 250,537 | |
Merck & Co., Inc., 3.88%, 1/15/21, Callable 10/15/20 @ 100 | | 150,000 | | 156,702 | |
| | | | 505,507 | |
Industrials (0.4%) | | | | | |
Emerson Electric Co., 2.63%, 2/15/23, Callable 11/15/22 @ 100 | | 200,000 | | 199,651 | |
Hubbell, Inc., 3.35%, 3/1/26, Callable 12/1/25 @ 100 | | 145,000 | | 147,461 | |
Hubbell, Inc., 3.63%, 11/15/22 | | 75,000 | | 77,841 | |
| | | | 424,953 | |
Information Technology (1.2%) | | | | | |
Apple, Inc., 2.85%, 5/6/21 | | 350,000 | | 355,785 | |
Apple, Inc., 2.85%, 2/23/23, Callable 12/23/22 @ 100 | | 150,000 | | 152,137 | |
Apple, Inc., 3.00%, 6/20/27, Callable 3/20/27 @ 100 | | 200,000 | | 199,367 | |
Oracle Corp., 3.40%, 7/8/24, Callable 4/8/24 @ 100 | | 300,000 | | 311,340 | |
Oracle Corp., 5.75%, 4/15/18 | | 200,000 | | 202,301 | |
Visa, Inc., 3.15%, 12/14/25, Callable 9/14/25 @ 100 | | 275,000 | | 281,419 | |
| | | | 1,502,349 | |
Telecommunication Services (0.1%) | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc., 5.50%, 2/1/18 | | 100,000 | | 100,288 | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (Cost $4,583,627) | | | | 4,634,056 | |
| | | | | |
MUNICIPAL BONDS (0.4%) | | | | | |
New York (0.2%): | | | | | |
New York State Environmental Facilities Corp., Series C, 1.89%, 7/15/22 | | 190,000 | | 184,828 | |
| | | | | |
Wisconsin (0.2%): | | | | | |
Wisconsin State, Build America Bonds, GO, 4.60%, 5/1/26, Callable 5/1/21 @ 100 | | 250,000 | | 266,330 | |
TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (Cost $440,967) | | | | 451,158 | |
| | | | | |
U.S. GOVERNMENT & U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (20.6%) | | | | | |
Federal Farm Credit Bank | | | | | |
2.60%, 10/6/22 | | 250,000 | | 253,531 | |
2.75%, 7/16/27 | | 250,000 | | 250,164 | |
2.85%, 3/2/28 | | 750,000 | | 753,544 | |
5.38%, 11/10/20 | | 250,000 | | 272,923 | |
| | | | 1,530,162 | |
Federal Home Loan Bank | | | | | |
1.88%, 11/29/21 | | 1,000,000 | | 992,204 | |
2.13%, 3/10/23 | | 1,000,000 | | 988,640 | |
2.50%, 3/11/22 | | 200,000 | | 202,290 | |
2.88%, 6/14/24 | | 1,000,000 | | 1,028,920 | |
2.88%, 9/13/24 | | 1,000,000 | | 1,026,373 | |
3.25%, 6/9/23 | | 850,000 | | 893,867 | |
5.25%, 8/15/22 | | 1,000,000 | | 1,132,145 | |
5.50%, 7/15/36 | | 700,000 | | 961,876 | |
| | | | 7,226,315 | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. | | | | | |
2.38%, 1/13/22 | | 5,750,000 | | 5,805,033 | |
| | | | | |
Federal National Mortgage Association | | | | | |
1.38%, 2/26/21 | | 150,000 | | 146,910 | |
1.88%, 4/5/22 | | 1,000,000 | | 988,147 | |
1.88%, 9/24/26 | | 1,000,000 | | 943,763 | |
2.13%, 4/24/26 | | 1,250,000 | | 1,207,605 | |
2.63%, 9/6/24 | | 3,250,000 | | 3,296,287 | |
| | | | 6,582,712 | |
Government National Mortgage Association | | | | | |
4.00%, 9/15/40 | | 41,461 | | 43,363 | |
4.00%, 9/15/41 | | 176,059 | | 184,809 | |
6.50%, 5/15/32 | | 8,286 | | 9,197 | |
| | | | 237,369 | |
Housing & Urban Development | | | | | |
2.70%, 8/1/22 | | 491,000 | | 491,592 | |
| | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Inflation Index Note | | | | | |
0.63%, 7/15/21 | | 273,610 | | 278,917 | |
1.25%, 7/15/20 | | 848,295 | | 876,046 | |
| | | | 1,154,963 | |
U.S. Treasury Note | | | | | |
1.88%, 1/31/22 | | 1,500,000 | | 1,484,619 | |
2.75%, 11/15/23 | | 500,000 | | 513,633 | |
| | | | 1,998,252 | |
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT & U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (Cost $24,926,826) | | | | 25,026,398 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (1.2%) | | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(c) | | 1,450,882 | | 1,450,882 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $1,450,882) | | | | 1,450,882 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $80,946,466) — 99.5%(d) | | | | 120,721,972 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.5% | | | | 633,807 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 121,355,779 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) This security has been deemed illiquid and represents 0.08% of the Fund’s net assets.
(c) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(d) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
ADR American Depositary Receipt
GO General Obligation
See Notes to Financial Statements
53
Financial Statements | | Walden Asset Management Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $80,946,466) | | $ | 120,721,972 | |
Interest and dividends receivable | | 356,045 | |
Receivable for investments sold | | 445,860 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 2,838 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 13,877 | |
Total Assets | | 121,540,592 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 79,565 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 65,335 | |
Administration and accounting | | 3,830 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 904 | |
Custodian | | 1,289 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 12,906 | |
Transfer agent | | 3,188 | |
Trustee | | 312 | |
Other | | 17,484 | |
Total Liabilities | | 184,813 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 121,355,779 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 81,714,102 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | — | |
Accumulated net realized losses from investment transactions | | (133,829 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 39,775,506 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 121,355,779 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 6,834,470 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 17.76 | |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Interest | | $ | 742,298 | |
Dividends | | 1,579,206 | |
Total Investment Income | | 2,321,504 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 838,075 | |
Administration and accounting | | 96,934 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 10,928 | |
Custodian | | 15,463 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 78,529 | |
Transfer agency | | 39,770 | |
Trustee | | 7,082 | |
Other | | 59,797 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 1,146,578 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (28,580 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 1,117,998 | |
Net Investment Income | | 1,203,506 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 734,267 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 13,570,535 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 14,304,802 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 15,508,308 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
54
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,203,506 | | $ | 794,296 | | $ | 1,065,328 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 734,267 | | 608,726 | | 2,797,103 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 13,570,535 | | 3,962,515 | | (1,198,594 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 15,508,308 | | 5,365,537 | | 2,663,837 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (1,213,718 | ) | (1,023,297 | ) | (1,064,984 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (940,938 | ) | (1,937,592 | ) | (4,707,813 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (2,154,656 | ) | (2,960,889 | ) | (5,772,797 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 16,456,804 | | 17,594,347 | | 7,492,805 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 1,829,653 | | 2,556,856 | | 5,204,742 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (11,410,706 | ) | (8,320,463 | ) | (7,196,993 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 6,875,751 | | 11,830,740 | | 5,500,554 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 20,229,403 | | 14,235,388 | | 2,391,594 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 101,126,376 | | 86,890,988 | | 84,499,394 | |
End of period | | $ | 121,355,779 | | $ | 101,126,376 | | $ | 86,890,988 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 989,294 | | 1,115,592 | | 495,652 | |
Reinvested | | 103,312 | | 161,826 | | 348,143 | |
Redeemed | | (681,099 | ) | (525,988 | ) | (465,993 | ) |
Change in shares | | 411,507 | | 751,430 | | 377,802 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 217,915 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
55
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | For the year | | For the nine | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | months ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 15.74 | | $ | 15.32 | | $ | 15.96 | | $ | 15.17 | | $ | 13.53 | | $ | 12.82 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.18 | | 0.13 | | 0.20 | | 0.17 | | 0.13 | | 0.15 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment transactions | | 2.16 | | 0.77 | | 0.27 | | 0.89 | | 1.72 | | 0.71 | |
Total from investment activities | | 2.34 | | 0.90 | | 0.47 | | 1.06 | | 1.85 | | 0.86 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.18 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.16 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.15 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (0.14 | ) | (0.31 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.08 | ) | — | |
Total dividends | | (0.32 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (1.11 | ) | (0.27 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.15 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 17.76 | | $ | 15.74 | | $ | 15.32 | | $ | 15.96 | | $ | 15.17 | | $ | 13.53 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 14.88 | % | 5.87 | %(a) | 3.10 | % | 7.00 | % | 13.73 | % | 6.83 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 121,356 | | $ | 101,126 | | $ | 86,891 | | $ | 84,499 | | $ | 79,168 | | $ | 64,728 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 1.08 | % | 1.13 | %(b) | 1.29 | % | 1.06 | % | 0.95 | % | 1.25 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 1.03 | % | 1.05 | %(b) | 1.06 | % | 1.04 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.10 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 8.40 | % | 10.18 | %(a) | 15.56 | % | 21.62 | % | 6.50 | % | 15.93 | % |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods, certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
56
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | Walden Equity Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (99.4%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (11.3%) | | | | | |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | | 7,500 | | 747,675 | |
Autoliv, Inc. | | 5,500 | | 698,940 | |
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A (a) | | 4,879 | | 1,639,149 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | | 70,000 | | 2,803,500 | |
Dollar General Corp. | | 22,000 | | 2,046,220 | |
McDonald’s Corp. | | 11,500 | | 1,979,380 | |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | | 45,000 | | 2,814,750 | |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | | 31,500 | | 2,294,145 | |
Priceline Group, Inc. (a) | | 1,100 | | 1,911,514 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 41,000 | | 3,290,250 | |
Starbucks Corp. | | 33,000 | | 1,895,190 | |
The TJX Cos., Inc. | | 3,000 | | 229,380 | |
| | | | 22,350,093 | |
Consumer Staples (10.1%) | | | | | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 32,000 | | 1,605,440 | |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | | 36,000 | | 2,716,200 | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | 20,000 | | 3,722,400 | |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. | | 25,000 | | 3,181,000 | |
General Mills, Inc. | | 29,000 | | 1,719,410 | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | 26,000 | | 3,117,920 | |
Procter & Gamble Co. | | 5,000 | | 459,400 | |
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Sponsored ADR | | 79,500 | | 1,511,295 | |
The Hershey Co. | | 16,000 | | 1,816,160 | |
| | | | 19,849,225 | |
Energy (2.8%) | | | | | |
Apache Corp. | | 33,000 | | 1,393,260 | |
ConocoPhillips | | 70,000 | | 3,842,300 | |
Oceaneering International, Inc. | | 12,000 | | 253,680 | |
| | | | 5,489,240 | |
Financials (19.1%) | | | | | |
American Express Co. | | 24,000 | | 2,383,440 | |
BB&T Corp. | | 55,000 | | 2,734,600 | |
Chubb Ltd. | | 17,000 | | 2,484,210 | |
Cincinnati Financial Corp. | | 18,000 | | 1,349,460 | |
Comerica, Inc. | | 23,000 | | 1,996,630 | |
Discover Financial Services | | 33,000 | | 2,538,360 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | 46,000 | | 4,919,240 | |
Northern Trust Corp. | | 29,000 | | 2,896,810 | |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | | 28,500 | | 4,112,265 | |
State Street Corp. | | 28,000 | | 2,733,080 | |
SunTrust Banks, Inc. | | 45,000 | | 2,906,550 | |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | | 21,500 | | 2,255,995 | |
U.S. Bancorp | | 80,000 | | 4,286,400 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | 1,000 | | 60,670 | |
| | | | 37,657,710 | |
Health Care (14.3%) | | | | | |
Becton, Dickinson & Co. | | 17,000 | | 3,639,020 | |
Danaher Corp. | | 23,000 | | 2,134,860 | |
Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | | 22,000 | | 1,448,260 | |
Express Scripts Holding Co. (a) | | 500 | | 37,320 | |
Johnson & Johnson, Inc. | | 35,000 | | 4,890,200 | |
Medtronic PLC | | 27,000 | | 2,180,250 | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | 32,000 | | 1,800,640 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 4,500 | | 2,787,840 | |
Stryker Corp. | | 21,000 | | 3,251,640 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | 18,000 | | 3,968,280 | |
Waters Corp. (a) | | 11,000 | | 2,125,090 | |
| | | | 28,263,400 | |
Industrials (13.1%) | | | | | |
3M Co. | | 19,000 | | 4,472,030 | |
Deere & Co. | | 16,500 | | 2,582,415 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 25,000 | | 1,223,750 | |
Emerson Electric Co. | | 38,500 | | 2,683,065 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 22,000 | | 2,977,480 | |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | | 19,000 | | 3,170,150 | |
Union Pacific Corp. | | 32,000 | | 4,291,200 | |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | | 23,000 | | 2,740,450 | |
W.W. Grainger, Inc. | | 7,000 | | 1,653,750 | |
| | | | 25,794,290 | |
Information Technology (22.3%) | | | | | |
Accenture PLC, Class A | | 28,000 | | 4,286,520 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A (a) | | 2,800 | | 2,949,520 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a) | | 4,900 | | 5,127,360 | |
Apple, Inc. | | 48,500 | | 8,207,655 | |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | | 32,000 | | 3,750,080 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | 90,000 | | 3,447,000 | |
International Business Machines Corp. | | 2,000 | | 306,840 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | 88,000 | | 7,527,520 | |
Oracle Corp. | | 90,000 | | 4,255,200 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | | 38,000 | | 4,332,759 | |
| | | | 44,190,454 | |
Materials (3.8%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 26,000 | | 2,243,280 | |
PPG Industries, Inc. | | 25,000 | | 2,920,500 | |
Praxair, Inc. | | 15,000 | | 2,320,200 | |
| | | | 7,483,980 | |
Utilities (2.6%) | | | | | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | 30,000 | | 2,548,500 | |
Eversource Energy | | 40,000 | | 2,527,200 | |
| | | | 5,075,700 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $103,026,393) | | | | 196,154,092 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.6%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market | | | | | |
Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 1,203,139 | | 1,203,139 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $1,203,139) | | | | 1,203,139 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $104,229,532) — 100.0%(c) | | | | 197,357,231 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.0% | | | | 81,982 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 197,439,213 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
ADR American Depositary Receipt
See Notes to Financial Statements
57
Financial Statements | Walden Equity Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $104,229,532) | | $ | 197,357,231 | |
Dividends receivable | | 214,915 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 48,539 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 14,157 | |
Total Assets | | 197,634,842 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 20,372 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 86,910 | |
Administration and accounting | | 5,588 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 1,483 | |
Custodian | | 2,099 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 44,668 | |
Transfer agent | | 3,435 | |
Trustee | | 512 | |
Other | | 30,562 | |
Total Liabilities | | 195,629 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 197,439,213 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 104,811,332 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | — | |
Accumulated net realized losses from investment transactions | | (499,818 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 93,127,699 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 197,439,213 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 9,135,476 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 21.61 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 3,609,179 | |
Total Investment Income | | 3,609,179 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 1,403,605 | |
Administration and accounting | | 155,097 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 18,388 | |
Custodian | | 25,660 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 265,248 | |
Transfer agency | | 44,223 | |
Trustee | | 11,972 | |
Other | | 86,520 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 2,010,713 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (138,810 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 1,871,903 | |
Net Investment Income | | 1,737,276 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 7,172,343 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 26,282,872 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 33,455,215 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 35,192,491 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
58
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,737,276 | | $ | 1,330,065 | | $ | 1,815,115 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 7,172,343 | | 1,501,606 | | 7,214,050 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 26,282,872 | | 12,051,364 | | (3,912,669 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 35,192,491 | | 14,883,035 | | 5,116,496 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (1,740,760 | ) | (1,666,011 | ) | (1,870,888 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (8,052,912 | ) | (4,339,839 | ) | (7,516,146 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (9,793,672 | ) | (6,005,850 | ) | (9,387,034 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 25,865,919 | | 21,048,733 | | 22,257,331 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 8,724,992 | | 5,332,754 | | 8,562,564 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (44,380,575 | ) | (17,994,687 | ) | (19,482,695 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | (9,789,664 | ) | 8,386,800 | | 11,337,200 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 15,609,155 | | 17,263,985 | | 7,066,662 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 181,830,058 | | 164,566,073 | | 157,499,411 | |
End of period | | $ | 197,439,213 | | $ | 181,830,058 | | $ | 164,566,073 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 1,267,580 | | 1,143,143 | | 1,287,052 | |
Reinvested | | 405,060 | | 281,858 | | 489,010 | |
Redeemed | | (2,196,814 | ) | (968,060 | ) | (1,064,374 | ) |
Change in shares | | (524,174 | ) | 456,941 | | 711,688 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 333,842 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
59
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 18.82 | | $ | 17.88 | | $ | 18.55 | | $ | 18.19 | | $ | 15.41 | | $ | 14.39 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.20 | | 0.14 | | 0.23 | | 0.18 | | 0.16 | | 0.16 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment transactions | | 3.70 | | 1.44 | | 0.29 | | 1.29 | | 2.86 | | 1.01 | |
Total from investment activities | | 3.90 | | 1.58 | | 0.52 | | 1.47 | | 3.02 | | 1.17 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.20 | ) | (0.18 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.18 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.15 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (0.91 | ) | (0.46 | ) | (0.95 | ) | (0.93 | ) | (0.09 | ) | — | |
Total dividends | | (1.11 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (1.19 | ) | (1.11 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.15 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 21.61 | | $ | 18.82 | | $ | 17.88 | | $ | 18.55 | | $ | 18.19 | | $ | 15.41 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 20.77 | % | 8.80 | %(a) | 2.92 | % | 8.13 | % | 19.66 | % | 8.27 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 197,439 | | $ | 181,830 | | $ | 164,566 | | $ | 157,499 | | $ | 151,879 | | $ | 130,698 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 0.93 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.21 | % | 0.95 | % | 0.95 | % | 1.22 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 1.07 | % | 1.09 | %(b) | 1.10 | % | 1.09 | % | 1.08 | % | 1.14 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 9.88 | % | 9.94 | %(a) | 17.78 | % | 21.31 | % | 12.33 | % | 10.34 | % |
Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods, certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
60
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | Walden Midcap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (98.9%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (12.2%) | | | | | |
Dollar General Corp. | | 8,900 | | 827,789 | |
Expedia, Inc. | | 3,800 | | 455,126 | |
Hasbro, Inc. | | 4,775 | | 434,000 | |
Hyatt Hotels Corp., Class A (a) | | 11,975 | | 880,642 | |
Omnicom Group, Inc. | | 8,975 | | 653,649 | |
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a) | | 2,250 | | 541,215 | |
Polaris Industries, Inc. | | 3,975 | | 492,860 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | | 11,400 | | 914,850 | |
Williams Sonoma, Inc. | | 8,850 | | 457,545 | |
| | | | 5,657,676 | |
Consumer Staples (5.2%) | | | | | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 14,000 | | 702,379 | |
McCormick & Co., Inc. | | 3,600 | | 366,876 | |
The Clorox Co. | | 4,475 | | 665,612 | |
The Hershey Co. | | 6,150 | | 698,087 | |
| | | | 2,432,954 | |
Energy (2.8%) | | | | | |
Dril-Quip, Inc. (a) | | 9,600 | | 457,920 | |
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | | 5,200 | | 336,128 | |
Technipfmc PLC | | 16,475 | | 515,832 | |
| | | | 1,309,880 | |
Financials (16.4%) | | | | | |
American Financial Group, Inc. | | 4,475 | | 485,717 | |
Brown & Brown, Inc. | | 9,975 | | 513,313 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 10,141 | | 566,273 | |
Discover Financial Services | | 8,600 | | 661,512 | |
East West Bancorp, Inc. | | 8,175 | | 497,285 | |
Eaton Vance Corp. | | 9,100 | | 513,149 | |
FactSet Research Systems, Inc. | | 4,475 | | 862,601 | |
Moody’s Corp. | | 3,400 | | 501,874 | |
Northern Trust Corp. | | 9,050 | | 904,004 | |
SEI Investments Co. | | 8,450 | | 607,217 | |
Signature Bank (a) | | 4,550 | | 624,534 | |
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | | 4,400 | | 461,692 | |
W. R. Berkley Corp. | | 6,135 | | 439,573 | |
| | | | 7,638,744 | |
Health Care (11.2%) | | | | | |
Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | | 7,725 | | 508,537 | |
Henry Schein, Inc. (a) | | 4,500 | | 314,460 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 650 | | 402,688 | |
PerkinElmer, Inc. | | 9,050 | | 661,736 | |
ResMed, Inc. | | 5,575 | | 472,147 | |
Steris Plc | | 6,975 | | 610,102 | |
The Cooper Companies, Inc. | | 2,275 | | 495,677 | |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | | 5,225 | | 580,759 | |
Waters Corp. (a) | | 3,475 | | 671,335 | |
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | | 4,050 | | 488,714 | |
| | | | 5,206,155 | |
Industrials (16.4%) | | | | | |
Ametek, Inc. | | 10,975 | | 795,358 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 8,850 | | 433,208 | |
Dover Corp. | | 6,375 | | 643,811 | |
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | | 5,225 | | 338,005 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 5,975 | | 808,657 | |
IDEX Corp. | | 4,750 | | 626,858 | |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 6,275 | | 574,665 | |
Nordson Corp. | | 5,575 | | 816,179 | |
Roper Technologies, Inc. | | 1,775 | | 459,725 | |
Sensata Technologies Holding NV (a) | | 9,475 | | 484,267 | |
The Middleby Corp. (a) | | 4,275 | | 576,911 | |
Verisk Analytics, Inc. (a) | | 4,400 | | 422,400 | |
Wabtec Corp. | | 8,550 | | 696,226 | |
| | | | 7,676,270 | |
Information Technology (15.9%) | | | | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 6,475 | | 421,134 | |
Amdocs Ltd. | | 9,975 | | 653,163 | |
ANSYS, Inc. (a) | | 3,500 | | 516,565 | |
Aspen Technology, Inc. (a) | | 8,125 | | 537,875 | |
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (a) | | 4,975 | | 515,510 | |
Citrix Systems, Inc. (a) | | 5,475 | | 481,800 | |
DST Systems, Inc. | | 6,025 | | 373,972 | |
F5 Networks, Inc. (a) | | 5,575 | | 731,551 | |
Fiserv, Inc. (a) | | 3,000 | | 393,390 | |
IPG Photonics Corp. (a) | | 3,475 | | 744,102 | |
Juniper Networks, Inc. | | 15,825 | | 451,013 | |
Paychex, Inc. | | 10,975 | | 747,177 | |
TE Connectivity Ltd. | | 8,875 | | 843,480 | |
| | | | 7,410,732 | |
Materials (7.3%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 7,475 | | 644,943 | |
Avery Dennison Corp. | | 7,050 | | 809,763 | |
Ball Corp. | | 11,000 | | 416,350 | |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | 5,300 | | 808,833 | |
RPM International, Inc. | | 13,375 | | 701,118 | |
| | | | 3,381,007 | |
Real Estate (5.9%) | | | | | |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | | 3,975 | | 452,753 | |
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | | 23,275 | | 462,009 | |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. | | 3,875 | | 577,104 | |
Lamar Advertising Co., Class A | | 8,225 | | 610,624 | |
Realty Income Corp. | | 11,275 | | 642,900 | |
| | | | 2,745,390 | |
Utilities (5.6%) | | | | | |
American Water Works Co., Inc. | | 4,325 | | 395,694 | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | 7,825 | | 664,734 | |
Eversource Energy | | 12,930 | | 816,917 | |
ONE Gas, Inc. | | 9,875 | | 723,443 | |
| | | | 2,600,788 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $30,639,107) | | | | 46,059,596 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (1.1%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market | | | | | |
Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 496,773 | | 496,773 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $496,773) | | | | 496,773 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $31,135,880) — 100.0%(c) | | | | 46,556,369 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.0% | | | | 5,167 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 46,561,536 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
61
Financial Statements | Walden Midcap Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $31,135,880) | | $ | 46,556,369 | |
Dividends receivable | | 44,483 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 1,930 | |
Receivable for tax reclaims | | 555 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 4,658 | |
Total Assets | | 46,607,995 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 3,531 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 30,425 | |
Administration and accounting | | 1,355 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 346 | |
Custodian | | 456 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 629 | |
Transfer agent | | 2,922 | |
Trustee | | 120 | |
Other | | 6,675 | |
Total Liabilities | | 46,459 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 46,561,536 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 30,324,846 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | — | |
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions | | 816,201 | |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 15,420,489 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 46,561,536 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 2,700,955 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 17.24 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 621,591 | |
Total Investment Income | | 621,591 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 320,491 | |
Administration and accounting | | 35,643 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 4,165 | |
Custodian | | 5,835 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 3,712 | |
Transfer agency | | 33,948 | |
Trustee | | 2,693 | |
Other | | 25,051 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 431,538 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (4,010 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 427,528 | |
Net Investment Income | | 194,063 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 2,158,098 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,350,670 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 7,508,768 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 7,702,831 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
62
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 194,063 | | $ | 270,015 | | $ | 201,196 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 2,158,098 | | 1,060,526 | | 1,695,089 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,350,670 | | 1,336,027 | | (1,472,122 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 7,702,831 | | 2,666,568 | | 424,163 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (203,517 | ) | (298,358 | ) | (189,252 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (1,315,187 | ) | (1,581,320 | ) | (1,580,533 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (1,518,704 | ) | (1,879,678 | ) | (1,769,785 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 2,254,433 | | 1,818,727 | | 1,992,838 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 1,393,823 | | 1,735,400 | | 1,713,082 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (2,329,398 | ) | (825,866 | ) | (1,775,818 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 1,318,858 | | 2,728,261 | | 1,930,102 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 7,502,985 | | 3,515,151 | | 584,480 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 39,058,551 | | 35,543,400 | | 34,958,920 | |
End of period | | $ | 46,561,536 | | $ | 39,058,551 | | $ | 35,543,400 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 142,246 | | 121,921 | | 136,967 | |
Reinvested | | 81,701 | | 114,775 | | 122,014 | |
Redeemed | | (144,502 | ) | (55,474 | ) | (121,971 | ) |
Change in shares | | 79,445 | | 181,222 | | 137,010 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | — | | $ | 4,466 | | $ | 32,810 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
63
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 14.90 | | $ | 14.57 | | $ | 15.18 | | $ | 14.06 | | $ | 12.06 | | $ | 11.11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.07 | | 0.11 | | 0.09 | | 0.05 | | 0.04 | | 0.06 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains from investment transactions | | 2.85 | | 0.97 | | 0.07 | | 1.65 | | 2.08 | | 0.95 | |
Total from investment activities | | 2.92 | | 1.08 | | 0.16 | | 1.70 | | 2.12 | | 1.01 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.08 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.06 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (0.50 | ) | (0.63 | ) | (0.69 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.09 | ) | — | |
Total dividends | | (0.58 | ) | (0.75 | ) | (0.77 | ) | (0.58 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.06 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 17.24 | | $ | 14.90 | | $ | 14.57 | | $ | 15.18 | | $ | 14.06 | | $ | 12.06 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 19.62 | % | 7.36 | %(a) | 1.27 | % | 12.25 | % | 17.65 | % | 9.12 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 46,562 | | $ | 39,059 | | $ | 35,543 | | $ | 34,959 | | $ | 30,577 | | $ | 24,390 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 0.45 | % | 0.97 | %(b) | 0.59 | % | 0.35 | % | 0.30 | % | 0.58 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 1.01 | % | 1.04 | %(b) | 1.07 | % | 1.04 | % | 1.04 | % | 1.23 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 24.85 | % | 12.59 | %(a) | 20.10 | % | 16.06 | % | 14.86 | % | 12.32 | % |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods, certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
64
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | Walden SMID Cap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
| | | | | |
COMMON STOCKS (99.5%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (11.3%) | | | | | |
Big Lots, Inc. | | 10,100 | | 567,115 | |
Brinker International, Inc. | | 8,150 | | 316,546 | |
Cheesecake Factory, Inc. | | 10,300 | | 496,254 | |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | | 7,700 | | 597,519 | |
Dorman Products, Inc. (a) | | 6,775 | | 414,223 | |
Gentherm, Inc. (a) | | 8,350 | | 265,113 | |
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. | | 16,175 | | 326,088 | |
Nordstrom, Inc. | | 7,150 | | 338,767 | |
Polaris Industries, Inc. | | 2,850 | | 353,372 | |
Tenneco, Inc. | | 4,900 | | 286,846 | |
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | | 7,800 | | 410,904 | |
Tiffany & Co. | | 4,100 | | 426,195 | |
Williams Sonoma, Inc. | | 6,475 | | 334,758 | |
| | | | 5,133,700 | |
Consumer Staples (3.3%) | | | | | |
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | | 9,300 | | 466,581 | |
Flowers Foods, Inc. | | 24,900 | | 480,819 | |
Lancaster Colony Corp. | | 1,800 | | 232,578 | |
Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. | | 8,625 | | 313,950 | |
| | | | 1,493,928 | |
Energy (2.5%) | | | | | |
Dril-Quip, Inc. (a) | | 7,650 | | 364,905 | |
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 17,050 | | 265,128 | |
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | | 8,250 | | 533,280 | |
| | | | 1,163,313 | |
Financials (17.6%) | | | | | |
American Financial Group, Inc. | | 4,900 | | 531,845 | |
Bank of Hawaii Corp. | | 6,475 | | 554,908 | |
Brown & Brown, Inc. | | 9,700 | | 499,162 | |
Cohen & Steers, Inc. | | 8,525 | | 403,147 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 8,662 | | 483,686 | |
CVB Financial Corp. | | 14,700 | | 346,332 | |
East West Bancorp, Inc. | | 7,500 | | 456,225 | |
Eaton Vance Corp. | | 9,150 | | 515,969 | |
Everest Re Group Ltd. | | 1,775 | | 392,737 | |
FactSet Research Systems, Inc. | | 3,300 | | 636,108 | |
SEI Investments Co. | | 8,200 | | 589,252 | |
Signature Bank (a) | | 4,775 | | 655,416 | |
SVB Financial Group (a) | | 2,900 | | 677,932 | |
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (a) | | 3,925 | | 348,933 | |
UMB Financial Corp. | | 6,075 | | 436,914 | |
W. R. Berkley Corp. | | 6,175 | | 442,439 | |
| | | | 7,971,005 | |
Health Care (12.6%) | | | | | |
Chemed Corp. | | 1,900 | | 461,738 | |
Dentsply Sirona, Inc. | | 8,250 | | 543,098 | |
Masimo Corp. (a) | | 6,075 | | 515,160 | |
MEDNAX, Inc. (a) | | 8,800 | | 470,272 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) | | 700 | | 433,664 | |
PerkinElmer, Inc. | | 8,200 | | 599,584 | |
ResMed, Inc. | | 6,400 | | 542,016 | |
Steris Plc | | 5,500 | | 481,085 | |
The Cooper Companies, Inc. | | 2,400 | | 522,912 | |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a) | | 4,000 | | 444,600 | |
Waters Corp. (a) | | 3,900 | | 753,441 | |
| | | | 5,767,570 | |
Industrials (17.4%) | | | | | |
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. | | 9,300 | | 633,330 | |
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. | | 5,200 | | 463,268 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 13,425 | | 657,154 | |
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | | 9,300 | | 601,617 | |
Franklin Electric Co., Inc. | | 8,000 | | 367,200 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | | 5,400 | | 730,836 | |
IDEX Corp. | | 3,400 | | 448,698 | |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 6,525 | | 597,560 | |
Nordson Corp. | | 5,625 | | 823,499 | |
Sensata Technologies Holding NV (a) | | 9,700 | | 495,767 | |
The Middleby Corp. (a) | | 4,225 | | 570,164 | |
UniFirst Corp. | | 3,800 | | 626,620 | |
Valmont Industries, Inc. | | 2,700 | | 447,795 | |
Wabtec Corp. | | 5,875 | | 478,401 | |
| | | | 7,941,909 | |
Information Technology (16.9%) | | | | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 8,525 | | 554,466 | |
Amdocs Ltd. | | 9,125 | | 597,505 | |
ANSYS, Inc. (a) | | 4,000 | | 590,360 | |
Aspen Technology, Inc. (a) | | 9,100 | | 602,420 | |
DST Systems, Inc. | | 10,500 | | 651,734 | |
F5 Networks, Inc. (a) | | 5,500 | | 721,710 | |
InterDigital, Inc. | | 4,425 | | 336,964 | |
IPG Photonics Corp. (a) | | 3,650 | | 781,575 | |
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. | | 3,302 | | 386,202 | |
Juniper Networks, Inc. | | 17,850 | | 508,725 | |
NetApp, Inc. | | 9,700 | | 536,604 | |
NETGEAR, Inc. (a) | | 8,700 | | 511,125 | |
Tech Data Corp. (a) | | 4,900 | | 480,053 | |
Teradata Corp. (a) | | 11,475 | | 441,329 | |
| | | | 7,700,772 | |
Materials (6.2%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 7,600 | | 655,727 | |
Avery Dennison Corp. | | 5,200 | | 597,272 | |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | | 4,400 | | 671,484 | |
RPM International, Inc. | | 10,075 | | 528,132 | |
Silgan Holdings, Inc. | | 13,425 | | 394,561 | |
| | | | 2,847,176 | |
Real Estate (7.9%) | | | | | |
American Campus Communities, Inc. | | 4,900 | | 201,047 | |
CoreSite Realty Corp. | | 6,300 | | 717,569 | |
CubeSmart | | 9,375 | | 271,125 | |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. | | 4,200 | | 625,506 | |
Lamar Advertising Co., Class A | | 7,350 | | 545,664 | |
LaSalle Hotel Properties | | 13,825 | | 388,068 | |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. | | 7,600 | | 524,552 | |
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. | | 12,650 | | 335,352 | |
| | | | 3,608,883 | |
Utilities (3.8%) | | | | | |
American States Water Co. | | 6,500 | | 376,415 | |
Atmos Energy Corp. | | 3,700 | | 317,793 | |
New Jersey Resources Corp. | | 10,200 | | 410,040 | |
ONE Gas, Inc. | | 8,900 | | 652,014 | |
| | | | 1,756,262 | |
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $33,256,895) | | | | 45,384,518 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.5%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market | | | | | |
Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 230,142 | | 230,142 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $230,142) | | | | 230,142 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $33,487,037) — 100.0%(c) | | | | 45,614,660 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.0% | | | | 17,107 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 45,631,767 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
65
Financial Statements | Walden SMID Cap Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $33,487,037) | | $ | 45,614,660 | |
Dividends receivable | | 50,249 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 6,672 | |
Total Assets | | 45,671,581 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 24,191 | |
Administration and accounting | | 1,363 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 341 | |
Custodian | | 468 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 3,619 | |
Transfer agent | | 3,064 | |
Trustee | | 118 | |
Other | | 6,650 | |
Total Liabilities | | 39,814 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 45,631,767 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 32,992,539 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | — | |
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions | | 511,605 | |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 12,127,623 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 45,631,767 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 2,733,924 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 16.69 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 622,437 | |
Total Investment Income | | 622,437 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 315,162 | |
Administration and accounting | | 34,969 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 4,061 | |
Custodian | | 5,756 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 19,878 | |
Transfer agency | | 36,590 | |
Trustee | | 2,627 | |
Other | | 34,549 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 453,592 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (33,179 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 420,413 | |
Net Investment Income | | 202,024 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 1,342,837 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,029,481 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 6,372,318 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 6,574,342 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
66
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 202,024 | | $ | 287,328 | | $ | 85,801 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 1,342,837 | | 824,662 | | 2,067,072 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,029,481 | | 3,678,759 | | (2,573,638 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 6,574,342 | | 4,790,749 | | (420,765 | ) |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (234,490 | ) | (335,455 | ) | (46,429 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (788,833 | ) | (1,605,637 | ) | (1,794,699 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (1,023,323 | ) | (1,941,092 | ) | (1,841,128 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 8,072,991 | | 4,827,253 | | 7,159,481 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 777,475 | | 1,350,333 | | 1,419,506 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (6,898,171 | ) | (3,350,858 | ) | (2,234,323 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 1,952,295 | | 2,826,728 | | 6,344,664 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 7,503,314 | | 5,676,385 | | 4,082,771 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 38,128,453 | | 32,452,068 | | 28,369,297 | |
End of period | | $ | 45,631,767 | | $ | 38,128,453 | | $ | 32,452,068 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 519,460 | | 338,923 | | 543,712 | |
Reinvested | | 47,091 | | 90,687 | | 109,954 | |
Redeemed | | (445,035 | ) | (239,469 | ) | (161,080 | ) |
Change in shares | | 121,516 | | 190,141 | | 492,586 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | — | | $ | 14,094 | | $ | 53,299 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements
67
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | Period | |
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | June 28, | |
| | For the | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | 2012(d) | |
| | year ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | through | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 14.60 | | $ | 13.40 | | $ | 14.70 | | $ | 13.97 | | $ | 12.09 | | $ | 10.00 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss) | | 0.07 | | 0.12 | | 0.04 | | 0.01 | | (0.01 | ) | 0.03 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) from investment transactions | | 2.40 | | 1.87 | | (0.44 | ) | 1.03 | | 2.38 | | 2.09 | |
Total from investment activities | | 2.47 | | 1.99 | | (0.40 | ) | 1.04 | | 2.37 | | 2.12 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.09 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.01 | ) | — | | (0.03 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (0.29 | ) | (0.65 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.49 | ) | — | |
Total dividends | | (0.38 | ) | (0.79 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.31 | ) | (0.49 | ) | (0.03 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 16.69 | | $ | 14.60 | | $ | 13.40 | | $ | 14.70 | | $ | 13.97 | | $ | 12.09 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 16.94 | % | 14.73 | %(a) | (2.47 | )% | 7.60 | % | 19.68 | % | 21.28 | %(a) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 45,632 | | $ | 38,128 | | $ | 32,452 | | $ | 28,369 | | $ | 25,780 | | $ | 20,458 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) |
Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets | | 0.48 | % | 1.12 | %(b) | 0.30 | % | 0.08 | % | (0.05 | )% | 0.43 | %(b) |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 1.08 | % | 1.12 | %(b) | 1.15 | % | 1.12 | % | 1.12 | % | 1.60 | %(b) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 31.92 | % | 20.85 | %(a) | 43.24 | % | 33.61 | % | 51.57 | % | 13.31 | %(a) |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods, certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
(d) Commencement of operations on June 28, 2012.
See Notes to Financial Statements
68
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | Walden Small Cap Fund |
| December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
COMMON STOCKS (98.6%) | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (12.8%) | | | | | |
Big Lots, Inc. | | 22,400 | | 1,257,760 | |
Brinker International, Inc. | | 17,400 | | 675,816 | |
Cheesecake Factory, Inc. | | 21,800 | | 1,050,324 | |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | | 23,700 | | 1,839,120 | |
Dorman Products, Inc. (a) | | 17,900 | | 1,094,406 | |
Gentherm, Inc. (a) | | 14,700 | | 466,725 | |
ILG, Inc. | | 24,000 | | 683,520 | |
Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. | | 18,900 | | 1,076,355 | |
Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (a) | | 35,400 | | 664,104 | |
Tenneco, Inc. | | 19,400 | | 1,135,676 | |
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. | | 22,600 | | 1,190,568 | |
The Cato Corp., Class A | | 450 | | 7,164 | |
Tupperware Brands Corp. | | 6,700 | | 420,090 | |
Williams Sonoma, Inc. | | 19,200 | | 992,640 | |
| | | | 12,554,268 | |
Consumer Staples (3.8%) | | | | | |
Flowers Foods, Inc. | | 62,900 | | 1,214,599 | |
Lancaster Colony Corp. | | 11,200 | | 1,447,152 | |
Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. | | 30,500 | | 1,110,200 | |
| | | | 3,771,951 | |
Energy (2.2%) | | | | | |
Dril-Quip, Inc. (a) | | 14,800 | | 705,960 | |
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (a) | | 42,500 | | 660,875 | |
Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (a) | | 15,400 | | 403,480 | |
Oceaneering International, Inc. | | 17,700 | | 374,178 | |
| | | | 2,144,493 | |
Financials (18.2%) | | | | | |
1st Source Corp. | | 12,900 | | 637,905 | |
Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A | | 21,700 | | 857,150 | |
Bank of Hawaii Corp. | | 19,200 | | 1,645,440 | |
Bridge BanCorp, Inc. | | 11,300 | | 395,500 | |
Camden National Corp. | | 13,500 | | 568,755 | |
Cohen & Steers, Inc. | | 23,100 | | 1,092,399 | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | 20,610 | | 1,150,862 | |
CVB Financial Corp. | | 32,400 | | 763,344 | |
Eaton Vance Corp. | | 30,100 | | 1,697,339 | |
German American BanCorp | | 11,300 | | 399,229 | |
Horace Mann Educators Corp. | | 14,700 | | 648,270 | |
Independent Bank Corp. | | 10,200 | | 712,470 | |
Infinity Property & Casualty Corp. | | 8,500 | | 901,000 | |
Lakeland Financial Corp. | | 16,600 | | 804,934 | |
Morningstar, Inc. | | 15,100 | | 1,464,247 | |
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (a) | | 9,200 | | 817,880 | |
Tompkins Financial Corp. | | 9,600 | | 780,960 | |
UMB Financial Corp. | | 15,400 | | 1,107,568 | |
Washington Federal, Inc. | | 25,500 | | 873,375 | |
Washington Trust BanCorp, Inc. | | 9,300 | | 495,225 | |
| | | | 17,813,852 | |
Health Care (14.5%) | | | | | |
Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | | 16,200 | | 873,342 | |
Atrion Corp. | | 1,100 | | 693,660 | |
Bio-Techne Corp. | | 9,600 | | 1,243,680 | |
Bruker Corp. | | 50,700 | | 1,740,024 | |
Chemed Corp. | | 7,500 | | 1,822,650 | |
CorVel Corp. (a) | | 8,800 | | 465,520 | |
Ensign Group, Inc. | | 29,900 | | 663,780 | |
Globus Medical, Inc., Class A (a) | | 23,200 | | 953,520 | |
Haemonetics Corp. (a) | | 18,900 | | 1,097,712 | |
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | | 14,900 | | 1,255,921 | |
Masimo Corp. (a) | | 16,200 | | 1,373,760 | |
MEDNAX, Inc. (a) | | 15,200 | | 812,288 | |
U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. | | 17,700 | | 1,277,940 | |
| | | | 14,273,797 | |
Industrials (15.0%) | | | | | |
Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. | | 22,500 | | 1,532,250 | |
Donaldson Co., Inc. | | 29,400 | | 1,439,130 | |
Franklin Electric Co., Inc. | | 34,200 | | 1,569,780 | |
Herman Miller, Inc. | | 27,300 | | 1,093,365 | |
Hub Group, Inc., Class A (a) | | 31,100 | | 1,489,690 | |
Kadant, Inc. | | 6,100 | | 612,440 | |
Landstar System, Inc. | | 13,300 | | 1,384,530 | |
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | | 17,200 | | 1,575,176 | |
Tennant Co. | | 11,100 | | 806,415 | |
UniFirst Corp. | | 8,900 | | 1,467,610 | |
Valmont Industries, Inc. | | 10,500 | | 1,741,425 | |
| | | | 14,711,811 | |
Information Technology (16.1%) | | | | | |
Aspen Technology, Inc. (a) | | 23,000 | | 1,522,600 | |
Coherent, Inc. (a) | | 5,200 | | 1,467,544 | |
DST Systems, Inc. | | 22,500 | | 1,396,575 | |
ExlService Holdings, Inc. (a) | | 15,600 | | 941,460 | |
InterDigital, Inc. | | 13,800 | | 1,050,870 | |
NETGEAR, Inc. (a) | | 22,400 | | 1,316,000 | |
NIC, Inc. | | 68,000 | | 1,128,800 | |
Plantronics, Inc. | | 21,100 | | 1,063,018 | |
Power Integrations, Inc. | | 19,400 | | 1,426,870 | |
Syntel, Inc. (a) | | 24,200 | | 556,358 | |
Tech Data Corp. (a) | | 15,700 | | 1,538,129 | |
Teradata Corp. (a) | | 39,400 | | 1,515,324 | |
WEX, Inc. (a) | | 6,100 | | 861,503 | |
| | | | 15,785,051 | |
Materials (5.7%) | | | | | |
AptarGroup, Inc. | | 18,500 | | 1,596,180 | |
Bemis Co., Inc. | | 24,700 | | 1,180,413 | |
Minerals Technologies, Inc. | | 12,400 | | 853,740 | |
Quaker Chemical Corp. | | 4,800 | | 723,792 | |
Silgan Holdings, Inc. | | 41,900 | | 1,231,441 | |
| | | | 5,585,566 | |
Real Estate (5.6%) | | | | | |
CoreSite Realty Corp. | | 13,900 | | 1,583,210 | |
CubeSmart | | 36,400 | | 1,052,688 | |
LaSalle Hotel Properties | | 29,600 | | 830,872 | |
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. | | 17,800 | | 1,228,556 | |
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. | | 31,700 | | 840,367 | |
| | | | 5,535,693 | |
Utilities (4.7%) | | | | | |
American States Water Co. | | 12,000 | | 694,920 | |
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. | | 25,800 | | 932,670 | |
New Jersey Resources Corp. | | 28,100 | | 1,129,620 | |
ONE Gas, Inc. | | 24,700 | | 1,809,522 | |
| | | | 4,566,732 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $72,133,179) | | | | 96,743,214 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (1.4%) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 1,363,474 | | 1,363,474 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $1,363,474) | | | | 1,363,474 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $73,496,653) — 100.0%(c) | | | | 98,106,688 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 0.0% | | | | 36,754 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 98,143,442 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
69
Financial Statements | Walden Small Cap Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $73,496,653) | | $ | 98,106,688 | |
Dividends receivable | | 100,444 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 16,600 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 11,870 | |
Total Assets | | 98,235,602 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | 6,191 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 55,902 | |
Administration and accounting | | 2,784 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 709 | |
Custodian | | 931 | |
Shareholder servicing fees | | 8,591 | |
Transfer agent | | 3,068 | |
Trustee | | 245 | |
Other | | 13,739 | |
Total Liabilities | | 92,160 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 98,143,442 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 73,555,406 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | 45,161 | |
Accumulated net realized losses from investment transactions | | (67,160 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 24,610,035 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 98,143,442 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 5,056,203 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 19.41 | |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 1,282,681 | |
Total Investment Income | | 1,282,681 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 653,633 | |
Administration and accounting | | 72,459 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 8,534 | |
Custodian | | 11,906 | |
Shareholder servicing | | 62,972 | |
Transfer agency | | 36,605 | |
Trustee | | 5,519 | |
Other | | 47,201 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 898,829 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (26,962 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 871,867 | |
Net Investment Income | | 410,814 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 3,897,223 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,447,583 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 9,344,806 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 9,755,620 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
70
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | For the | | | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | For the year ended | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 410,814 | | $ | 655,028 | | $ | 338,961 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | 3,897,223 | | 1,896,069 | | 7,497,629 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 5,447,583 | | 9,644,974 | | (9,256,458 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 9,755,620 | | 12,196,071 | | (1,419,868 | ) |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (474,566 | ) | (784,955 | ) | (296,905 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (4,812,342 | ) | (2,494,801 | ) | (11,528,479 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (5,286,908 | ) | (3,279,756 | ) | (11,825,384 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 14,199,045 | | 6,739,873 | | 2,460,171 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 4,225,840 | | 2,655,254 | | 9,605,667 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (9,948,923 | ) | (2,866,880 | ) | (16,806,854 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 8,475,962 | | 6,528,247 | | (4,741,016 | ) |
Change in Net Assets | | 12,944,674 | | 15,444,562 | | (17,986,268 | ) |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 85,198,768 | | 69,754,206 | | 87,740,474 | |
End of period | | $ | 98,143,442 | | $ | 85,198,768 | | $ | 69,754,206 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 743,521 | | 398,334 | | 149,403 | |
Reinvested | | 219,867 | | 141,012 | | 612,606 | |
Redeemed | | (522,532 | ) | (164,119 | ) | (985,635 | ) |
Change in shares | | 440,856 | | 375,227 | | (223,626 | ) |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | $ | 45,161 | | $ | 49,717 | | $ | 140,930 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
71
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | For the nine | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the year | | months | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | | For the year | |
| | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | | ended | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | | March 31, | |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 18.46 | | $ | 16.45 | | $ | 19.66 | | $ | 20.43 | | $ | 18.48 | | $ | 16.92 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.09 | | 0.16 | | 0.08 | | 0.04 | | 0.01 | | 0.07 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) from investment transactions | | 2.02 | | 2.58 | | (0.38 | ) | 0.66 | | 3.42 | | 1.93 | |
Total from investment activities | | 2.11 | | 2.74 | | (0.30 | ) | 0.70 | | 3.43 | | 2.00 | |
Dividends: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.10 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (0.02 | ) | — | | (0.07 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | (1.06 | ) | (0.56 | ) | (2.84 | ) | (1.45 | ) | (1.48 | ) | (0.37 | ) |
Total dividends | | (1.16 | ) | (0.73 | ) | (2.91 | ) | (1.47 | ) | (1.48 | ) | (0.44 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 19.41 | | $ | 18.46 | | $ | 16.45 | | $ | 19.66 | | $ | 20.43 | | $ | 18.48 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 11.50 | % | 16.57 | %(a) | (0.80 | )% | 3.86 | % | 18.58 | % | 12.05 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 98,143 | | $ | 85,199 | | $ | 69,754 | | $ | 87,740 | | $ | 103,791 | | $ | 95,233 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | %(b) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 0.47 | % | 1.14 | %(b) | 0.45 | % | 0.17 | % | 0.03 | % | 0.40 | % |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(c) | | 1.03 | % | 1.06 | %(b) | 1.06 | % | 1.01 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.09 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 27.16 | % | 14.71 | %(a) | 38.05 | % | 28.74 | % | 36.60 | % | 31.98 | % |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(b) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) During the periods, certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
72
| | Walden International Equity Fund |
Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | December 31, 2017 |
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
COMMON STOCKS (98.5%) | | | | | |
Australia (6.0%) | | | | | |
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. | | 11,096 | | 247,493 | |
Brambles Ltd. | | 34,113 | | 267,294 | |
Commonwealth Bank of Australia | | 6,482 | | 404,452 | |
CSL Ltd. | | 2,877 | | 316,103 | |
Origin Energy Ltd.(a) | | 50,479 | | 369,697 | |
Telstra Corp. Ltd. | | 97,283 | | 274,951 | |
Westpac Banking Corp. | | 10,001 | | 243,212 | |
Woodside Petroleum Ltd. | | 13,364 | | 343,762 | |
| | | | 2,466,964 | |
Belgium (0.7%) | | | | | |
Colruyt SA | | 5,856 | | 304,602 | |
| | | | 304,602 | |
Canada (8.7%) | | | | | |
Bank of Montreal | | 4,444 | | 355,683 | |
BCE, Inc. | | 5,842 | | 280,665 | |
Canadian National Railway Co. | | 4,673 | | 385,389 | |
Great-West Lifeco, Inc. | | 9,126 | | 254,872 | |
Intact Financial Corp. | | 3,270 | | 273,167 | |
Magna International, Inc. | | 4,266 | | 241,812 | |
Metro, Inc. | | 8,019 | | 256,815 | |
Royal Bank of Canada | | 6,484 | | 529,585 | |
The Bank of Nova Scotia | | 6,900 | | 445,360 | |
The Toronto-Dominion Bank | | 9,285 | | 544,112 | |
| | | | 3,567,460 | |
Denmark (1.7%) | | | | | |
Novo Nordisk A/S | | 7,776 | | 417,928 | |
Novozymes A/S | | 4,918 | | 280,810 | |
| | | | 698,738 | |
Finland (0.8%) | | | | | |
Kone OYJ | | 6,517 | | 349,938 | |
| | | | 349,938 | |
France (8.6%) | | | | | |
Air Liquide SA | | 3,447 | | 433,284 | |
AXA SA | | 9,007 | | 266,874 | |
Danone SA | | 4,895 | | 410,106 | |
Dassault Systemes | | 3,315 | | 351,941 | |
Essilor International SA | | 2,119 | | 291,839 | |
Imerys SA | | 3,082 | | 290,201 | |
Legrand SA | | 3,700 | | 284,416 | |
L’Oreal SA | | 1,784 | | 395,252 | |
Publicis Groupe SA | | 4,098 | | 277,758 | |
Schneider Electric SE | | 3,001 | | 254,395 | |
Societe BIC SA | | 2,623 | | 288,222 | |
| | | | 3,544,288 | |
Germany (8.6%) | | | | | |
Allianz SE | | 2,165 | | 495,395 | |
Beiersdorf AG | | 2,649 | | 310,512 | |
Deutsche Boerse AG | | 3,056 | | 353,675 | |
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA | | 3,104 | | 241,374 | |
Fuchs Petrolub SE | | 4,952 | | 262,180 | |
Hannover Rueck SE | | 1,789 | | 224,427 | |
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA | | 2,115 | | 253,234 | |
Hugo Boss AG | | 2,890 | | 245,210 | |
Linde AG(a) | | 1,202 | | 280,694 | |
Merck KGaA | | 2,231 | | 239,439 | |
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG | | 1,010 | | 218,083 | |
SAP AG | | 3,792 | | 424,179 | |
| | | | 3,548,402 | |
Hong Kong (3.3%) | | | | | |
Hang Lung Properties Ltd. | | 132,400 | | 322,533 | |
Hang Seng Bank Ltd. | | 14,820 | | 367,680 | |
Hysan Development Co. Ltd. | | 62,000 | | 328,944 | |
MTR Corp. Ltd. | | 54,900 | | 321,347 | |
| | | | 1,340,504 | |
Ireland (1.7%) | | | | | |
Experian PLC | | 15,812 | | 348,472 | |
Kerry Group PLC | | 3,100 | | 348,582 | |
| | | | 697,054 | |
Israel (0.6%) | | | | | |
Nice Systems, Ltd. | | 2,738 | | 250,538 | |
| | | | 250,538 | |
Italy (2.2%) | | | | | |
Luxottica Group SpA | | 5,132 | | 314,924 | |
Snam SpA | | 63,657 | | 311,721 | |
Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale SpA | | 50,472 | | 293,361 | |
| | | | 920,006 | |
Japan (21.4%) | | | | | |
Astellas Pharma, Inc. | | 18,850 | | 239,489 | |
Benesse Holdings, Inc. | | 7,560 | | 266,025 | |
Canon, Inc. | | 10,775 | | 401,509 | |
Central Japan Railway Co. | | 1,415 | | 253,263 | |
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. | | 5,300 | | 270,912 | |
Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd. | | 9,890 | | 379,306 | |
East Japan Railway Co. | | 2,725 | | 265,773 | |
Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. | | 805 | | 320,122 | |
JSR Corp. | | 13,200 | | 259,339 | |
KDDI Corp. | | 9,600 | | 238,491 | |
Kurita Water Industries, Ltd. | | 8,200 | | 265,891 | |
Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd. | | 18,800 | | 326,469 | |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | 7,632 | | 358,859 | |
Nitto Denko Corp. | | 3,400 | | 300,766 | |
Nomura Research Institute Ltd. | | 6,688 | | 310,474 | |
NTT DOCOMO, Inc. | | 14,310 | | 338,391 | |
Oracle Corporation Japan | | 3,700 | | 306,257 | |
Oriental Land Co. Ltd. | | 4,225 | | 384,440 | |
Secom Co. Ltd. | | 3,835 | | 289,362 | |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | | 9,150 | | 394,459 | |
Terumo Corp. | | 6,800 | | 321,749 | |
The Chiba Bank Ltd. | | 40,245 | | 333,786 | |
The Hachijuni Bank Ltd. | | 54,240 | | 309,986 | |
The Shizuoka Bank Ltd. | | 27,180 | | 279,825 | |
Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. | | 5,950 | | 270,660 | |
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. | | 12,200 | | 278,788 | |
Toyota Motor Corp. | | 4,100 | | 261,328 | |
Yahoo Japan Corp. | | 61,835 | | 283,334 | |
Yamato Holdings Co. Ltd. | | 13,075 | | 262,520 | |
| | | | 8,771,573 | |
Luxembourg (0.7%) | | | | | |
Tenaris SA | | 19,307 | | 306,403 | |
| | | | 306,403 | |
Netherlands (4.3%) | | | | | |
Akzo Nobel NV | | 4,164 | | 365,326 | |
Core Laboratories NV | | 3,056 | | 334,785 | |
Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV | | 18,813 | | 413,515 | |
Koninklijke Vopak NV | | 7,029 | | 307,862 | |
Wolters Kluwer NV | | 6,754 | | 352,040 | |
| | | | 1,773,528 | |
Norway (0.7%) | | | | | |
Statoil ASA | | 12,949 | | 277,309 | |
| | | | 277,309 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
73
Security Description | | Shares | | Fair Value ($) | |
COMMON STOCKS, CONTINUED | | | | | |
Singapore (1.2%) | | | | | |
ComfortDelGro Corp. Ltd. | | 174,950 | | 258,555 | |
Singapore Exchange Ltd. | | 41,400 | | 229,950 | |
| | | | 488,505 | |
Spain (3.2%) | | | | | |
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA | | 50,988 | | 433,253 | |
Enagas SA | | 11,341 | | 324,307 | |
Gas Natural SDG SA | | 12,002 | | 276,954 | |
Inditex SA | | 8,595 | | 298,827 | |
| | | | 1,333,341 | |
Sweden (2.5%) | | | | | |
Atlas Copco AB | | 6,310 | | 272,418 | |
Hennes & Mauritz AB | | 9,986 | | 206,627 | |
Nordea Bank AB | | 24,459 | | 296,261 | |
Svenska Handelsbanken AB | | 20,076 | | 274,463 | |
| | | | 1,049,769 | |
Switzerland (7.3%) | | | | | |
ABB Ltd. | | 13,257 | | 355,171 | |
Cie Financiere Richemont SA | | 3,329 | | 301,578 | |
Givaudan SA | | 118 | | 272,641 | |
Nestle SA | | 7,548 | | 649,115 | |
Novartis AG | | 3,284 | | 276,428 | |
Roche Holding AG | | 2,473 | | 625,472 | |
SGS SA | | 96 | | 250,340 | |
Sonova Holding AG-REG | | 1,830 | | 285,902 | |
| | | | 3,016,647 | |
United Kingdom (14.3%) | | | | | |
Admiral Group PLC | | 9,911 | | 267,271 | |
Burberry Group PLC | | 12,989 | | 313,103 | |
Compass Group PLC | | 17,226 | | 371,360 | |
Croda International PLC | | 5,711 | | 340,383 | |
Investec PLC | | 34,827 | | 250,715 | |
ITV PLC | | 114,566 | | 255,949 | |
Johnson Matthey PLC | | 5,063 | | 209,762 | |
London Stock Exchange Group PLC | | 6,576 | | 336,277 | |
Marks & Spencer Group PLC | | 56,865 | | 241,211 | |
National Grid PLC | | 35,861 | | 422,667 | |
Next PLC | | 3,982 | | 242,653 | |
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC | | 5,118 | | 477,385 | |
RELX PLC | | 14,529 | | 340,614 | |
Sage Group PLC | | 27,645 | | 297,141 | |
Schroders PLC | | 6,790 | | 321,352 | |
Smith & Nephew PLC | | 13,802 | | 238,772 | |
Smiths Group PLC | | 12,557 | | 251,964 | |
Unilever PLC | | 8,526 | | 472,814 | |
WPP PLC | | 14,697 | | 265,461 | |
| | | | 5,916,854 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $36,735,748) | | | | 40,622,423 | |
| | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.3%) | | | | | |
JPMorgan U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Capital Shares, 1.17%(b) | | 134,897 | | 134,897 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT COMPANIES (Cost $134,897) | | | | 134,897 | |
| | | | | |
Total Investments (Cost $36,870,645) — 98.8%(c) | | | | 40,757,320 | |
Other assets in excess of liabilities — 1.2% | | | | 476,964 | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | $ | 41,234,284 | |
| | | | | | |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Rate disclosed is the seven day yield as of December 31, 2017.
(c) See Federal Tax Information listed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
The Fund invested, as a percentage of net assets at value, in the following industries as of December 31, 2017:
| | Percentage of Total | |
Industry | | Net Assets | |
Financials | | 22.4 | % |
Industrials | | 14.4 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 11.6 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 10.4 | % |
Health Care | | 9.1 | % |
Materials | | 8.0 | % |
Information Technology | | 6.4 | % |
Energy | | 6.2 | % |
Telecommunication Services | | 3.6 | % |
Real Estate | | 3.3 | % |
Utilities | | 3.1 | % |
Investment Companies | | 0.3 | % |
Other net assets | | 1.2 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
See Notes to Financial Statements
74
Financial Statements | | Walden International Equity Fund |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments, at fair value (cost $36,870,645) | | $ | 40,757,320 | |
Cash | | 245,285 | |
Dividends receivable | | 35,222 | |
Receivable for capital shares issued | | 210,700 | |
Receivable for tax reclaims | | 32,058 | |
Prepaid expenses | | 1,914 | |
Total Assets | | 41,282,499 | |
Liabilities: | | | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 26,516 | |
Administration and accounting | | 9,360 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 286 | |
Custodian | | 4,183 | |
Transfer agent | | 2,461 | |
Trustee | | 100 | |
Other | | 5,309 | |
Total Liabilities | | 48,215 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 41,234,284 | |
Composition of Net Assets: | | | |
Capital | | $ | 37,568,964 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(distributions in excess of net investment income) | | (2,142 | ) |
Accumulated net realized losses from investment transactions | | (221,096 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation from investments | | 3,888,558 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 41,234,284 | |
Shares outstanding (par value $0.01, unlimited number of shares authorized) | | 3,725,087 | |
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption price per share | | $ | 11.07 | |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Investment Income: | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 912,420 | |
Less: Foreign tax withholding | | (102,961 | ) |
Total Investment Income | | 809,459 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Investment adviser | | 222,425 | |
Administration and accounting | | 64,543 | |
Chief compliance officer | | 2,746 | |
Custodian | | 53,589 | |
Transfer agency | | 28,414 | |
Trustee | | 1,711 | |
Other | | 15,827 | |
Total expenses before fee reductions | | 389,255 | |
Fees contractually reduced by the investment adviser | | (47,374 | ) |
Net Expenses | | 341,881 | |
Net Investment Income | | 467,578 | |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) from Investments: | | | |
Net realized losses from investment securities and foreign currency transactions | | (91,800 | ) |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investment securities and foreign currency transactions | | 4,623,573 | |
Net realized/unrealized gains (losses) from investments | | 4,531,773 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 4,999,351 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
75
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | | | | For the period | |
| | | | For the | | Jun. 9, 2015(a) | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | through | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 467,578 | | $ | 192,131 | | $ | 97,506 | |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | (91,800 | ) | (73,089 | ) | (41,713 | ) |
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments | | 4,623,573 | | (67,327 | ) | (667,688 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | 4,999,351 | | 51,715 | | (611,895 | ) |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (471,514 | ) | (259,568 | ) | (39,886 | ) |
Net realized gains from investment transactions | | — | | — | | (4,339 | ) |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Shareholder Dividends | | (471,514 | ) | (259,568 | ) | (44,225 | ) |
Capital Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares issued | | 21,755,505 | | 1,896,830 | | 13,146,620 | |
Proceeds from shares issued in subscriptions in-kind(b) | | — | | — | | 251,381 | |
Dividends reinvested | | 335,788 | | 237,659 | | 44,225 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | (97,588 | ) | — | | — | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | | 21,993,705 | | 2,134,489 | | 13,442,226 | |
Change in Net Assets | | 26,521,542 | | 1,926,636 | | 12,786,106 | |
Net Assets: | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | 14,712,742 | | 12,786,106 | | — | |
End of period | | $ | 41,234,284 | | $ | 14,712,742 | | $ | 12,786,106 | |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | |
Issued | | 2,130,028 | | 196,549 | | 1,322,610 | |
Issued in subscriptions in-kind(b) | | — | | — | | 25,138 | |
Reinvested | | 30,582 | | 25,555 | | 4,690 | |
Redeemed | | (10,065 | ) | — | | — | |
Change in shares | | 2,150,545 | | 222,104 | | 1,352,438 | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income/(distributions in excess of net investment income) | | $ | (2,142 | ) | $ | (10,510 | ) | $ | 62,697 | |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Commencement of operations on June 9, 2015.
(b) See Note 3 in Notes to Financial Statements.
See Notes to Financial Statements
76
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated.
| | | | | | For the period | |
| | | | For the | | June 9, 2015(a) | |
| | For the year ended | | nine months ended | | through | |
| | December 31, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 | | March 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 9.34 | | $ | 9.45 | | $ | 10.00 | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment Activities: | | | | | | | |
Operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | 0.13 | | 0.12 | | 0.08 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) from investment transactions | | 1.73 | | (0.06 | ) | (0.59 | ) |
Total from investment activities | | 1.86 | | 0.06 | | (0.51 | ) |
Dividends: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | (0.13 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.04 | ) |
Net realized gains from investments | | — | | — | | — | |
Total dividends | | (0.13 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.04 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 11.07 | | $ | 9.34 | | $ | 9.45 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Return | | 19.92 | % | 0.62 | %(b) | (5.09 | )%(b) |
| | | | | | | |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 41,234 | | $ | 14,713 | | $ | 12,786 | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | 1.15 | % | 1.15 | %(c) | 1.15 | %(c) |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | 1.57 | % | 1.87 | %(c) | 1.22 | %(c) |
Ratio of expenses (before fee reductions or recoupment of fees previously reimbursed by the investment adviser) to average net assets(d) | | 1.31 | % | 1.86 | %(c) | 2.21 | %(c) |
Portfolio turnover rate | | 10.16 | % | 4.90 | %(b) | 5.11 | %(b) |
Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.
(a) Commencement of operations on June 9, 2015.
(b) Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(c) Annualized for periods less than one year.
(d) During the periods certain fees were reduced. If such fee reduction had not occurred, the ratio would have been as indicated.
See Notes to Financial Statements
77
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
1. Organization:
The Boston Trust & Walden Funds (the “Trust”) was organized on January 8, 1992 as a Massachusetts business trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust contains the following funds (individually a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”), each of which are registered as a diversified Fund under the 1940 Act:
Fund | | Short Name |
Boston Trust Asset Management Fund | | Asset Management Fund |
Boston Trust Equity Fund | | Equity Fund |
Boston Trust Midcap Fund | | Midcap Fund |
Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund | | SMID Cap Fund |
Boston Trust Small Cap Fund | | Small Cap Fund |
| | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | Walden Asset Management Fund |
Walden Equity Fund | | Walden Equity Fund |
Walden Midcap Fund | | Walden Midcap Fund |
Walden SMID Cap Fund (formerly Walden SMID Cap Innovations Fund) | | Walden SMID Cap Fund |
Walden Small Cap Fund (formerly Walden Small Cap Innovations Fund) | | Walden Small Cap Fund |
Walden International Equity Fund | | Walden International Equity Fund |
The investment objective of the Asset Management Fund and Walden Asset Management Fund is to seek long-term capital growth and income through an actively managed portfolio of stocks, bonds and money market instruments. The investment objective of the Equity Fund and Walden Equity Fund is to seek long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks. The investment objective of the Midcap Fund and Walden Midcap Fund is to seek long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of middle capitalization companies. The investment objective of the SMID Cap Fund and Walden SMID Cap Fund is to seek long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of small to middle capitalization companies. The investment objective of the Small Cap Fund and Walden Small Cap Fund is to seek long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of stocks of small capitalization companies. The investment objective of the Walden International Equity Fund is to seek long-term capital growth through an actively managed portfolio of equities of international companies.
Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with its vendors and others that provide for general indemnifications. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds. However, based on experience, the Funds expect risk of loss to be remote.
2. Significant Accounting Policies:
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
The Funds are investment companies and accordingly follow the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services - Investment Companies and ASU 2013-08.
Security Valuation:
The Funds record their investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques used to determine fair value are further described below.
The value of each equity security, including common stocks, is based either on the last sale price on a national securities exchange, or in the absence of recorded sales, at the closing bid prices on such exchanges, or at the quoted bid price in the over-the-counter market. Equity securities traded on the NASDAQ stock market are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S dollars using currency exchange rates. Prices for most securities held in the Funds are provided daily by a recognized independent pricing service.
Bonds and other fixed income securities (other than short-term obligations but including listed issues) are provided by an independent pricing service, the use of which has been approved by the Board. In making such valuations, the pricing service utilizes both dealer-supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques that take into account appropriate factors such as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, and trading characteristics other than market data and without exclusive reliance upon quoted prices or exchanges or over-the-counter prices, since such valuations are believed to reflect more accurately the fair value of such securities. All debt portfolio securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Under the amortized cost method, discount or premium, if any, is accreted or amortized, respectively, on a constant (straight-line) basis to the maturity of the security.
The Trust may use a pricing service to value certain portfolio securities where the prices provided are believed to reflect the fair value of such securities. If market prices are not readily available or, in the opinion of the Adviser, market prices do not reflect fair value, or if an event occurs after the close of trading on the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (but prior to the time the NAV is calculated) that materially affects fair value, the Adviser will value the Funds’ assets at their fair value according to policies approved by the Board. The Adviser believes that foreign security values may be affected by volatility that occurs in global markets on a trading day after the close of any given foreign securities markets. The fair valuation procedures, therefore, include a procedure whereby foreign security prices may be “fair valued” by an independent pricing service through the use of factors which take such volatility into account.
Investments in investment companies and money market funds are valued at net asset value per share.
Continued
78
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
Fair Value Measurements:
The valuation techniques employed by the Funds, as described above in Security Valuation, maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in determining fair value. The inputs used for valuing the Funds’ investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
The inputs or methodology used to value investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.
Pursuant to the valuation techniques described above in Security Valuation, equity securities are generally categorized as Level 1 securities in the fair value hierarchy (unless there is a fair valuation event, in which case affected securities are generally categorized as Level 2 securities). Debt securities, including those with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less, are generally categorized as Level 2 securities in the fair value hierarchy. Open-ended investment companies and money market funds are generally categorized as Level 1 securities in the fair value hierarchy.
Investments for which there are no such quotations, or for which quotations do not appear reliable, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser under the direction of the Board. These valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
The following is a summary of the valuation inputs used as of December 31, 2017 in valuing the Funds’ investments based on the three levels defined above:
| | | | Level 2 | | | |
| | Level 1 | | Other Significant | | Total Investments | |
Fund Name | | Quoted Prices | | Observable Inputs | | in Securities | |
Asset Management Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | $ | 388,585,813 | | $ | — | | $ | 388,585,813 | |
Corporate Bonds(1) | | — | | 16,472,198 | | 16,472,198 | |
Municipal Bonds(2) | | — | | 5,194,335 | | 5,194,335 | |
U.S. Government & U.S. Government Agency Obligations | | — | | 73,679,963 | | 73,679,963 | |
Investment Companies | | 7,467,822 | | — | | 7,467,822 | |
Total | | 396,053,635 | | 95,346,496 | | 491,400,131 | |
Equity Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 133,198,714 | | — | | 133,198,714 | |
Investment Companies | | 767,602 | | — | | 767,602 | |
Total | | 133,966,316 | | — | | 133,966,316 | |
Midcap Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 61,151,965 | | — | | 61,151,965 | |
Investment Companies | | 370,168 | | — | | 370,168 | |
Total | | 61,522,133 | | — | | 61,522,133 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 55,831,034 | | — | | 55,831,034 | |
Investment Companies | | 522,951 | | — | | 522,951 | |
Total | | 56,353,985 | | — | | 56,353,985 | |
Small Cap Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 363,846,920 | | — | | 363,846,920 | |
Investment Companies | | 1,981,117 | | — | | 1,981,117 | |
Total | | 365,828,037 | | — | | 365,828,037 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 89,060,456 | | — | | 89,060,456 | |
Certificate of Deposit | | — | | 99,022 | | 99,022 | |
Corporate Bonds(1) | | — | | 4,634,056 | | 4,634,056 | |
Municipal Bonds(2) | | — | | 451,158 | | 451,158 | |
U.S. Government & U.S. Government Agency Obligations | | — | | 25,026,398 | | 25,026,398 | |
Investment Companies | | 1,450,882 | | — | | 1,450,882 | |
Total | | 90,511,338 | | 30,210,634 | | 120,721,972 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 196,154,092 | | — | | 196,154,092 | |
Investment Companies | | 1,203,139 | | — | | 1,203,139 | |
Total | | 197,357,231 | | — | | 197,357,231 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 46,059,596 | | — | | 46,059,596 | |
Investment Companies | | 496,773 | | — | | 496,773 | |
Total | | 46,556,369 | | — | | 46,556,369 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 45,384,518 | | — | | 45,384,518 | |
Investment Companies | | 230,142 | | — | | 230,142 | |
Total | | 45,614,660 | | — | | 45,614,660 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(1) | | 96,743,214 | | — | | 96,743,214 | |
Investment Companies | | 1,363,474 | | — | | 1,363,474 | |
Total | | 98,106,688 | | — | | 98,106,688 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Continued
79
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
| | | | Level 2 | | | |
| | Level 1 | | Other Significant | | Total Investments | |
Fund Name | | Quoted Prices | | Observable Inputs | | in Securities | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks(3) | | | | | | | |
Auto Components | | $ | 241,812 | | $ | — | | $ | 241,812 | |
Banks | | 1,874,740 | | 3,584,870 | | 5,459,610 | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | | 280,665 | | 633,810 | | 914,475 | |
Energy Equipment & Service | | 334,785 | | 306,403 | | 641,188 | |
Food & Staples Retailing | | 256,815 | | 718,117 | | 974,932 | |
Insurance | | 528,039 | | 1,742,710 | | 2,270,749 | |
Road & Rail | | 385,389 | | 1,098,938 | | 1,484,327 | |
Other Common Stocks | | — | | 28,635,330 | | 28,635,330 | |
Investment Companies | | 134,897 | | — | | 134,897 | |
Total | | 4,037,142 | | 36,720,178 | | 40,757,320 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(1) For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Schedules of Portfolio Investments.
(2) For detailed State classifications, see the accompanying Schedules of Portfolio Investments.
(3) For detailed Country classifications, see the accompanying Schedules of Portfolio Investments.
The Funds recognize transfers, if any, between fair value hierarchy levels at the reporting period end. There were no transfers between levels as of December 31, 2017, from the valuation input levels used on December 31, 2016. The Funds did not hold any Level 3 securities as of the year ended December 31, 2017.
Investment Transactions and Related Income:
Investment transactions are accounted for no later than one business day after trade date. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are accounted for on trade date. Investment gains and losses are calculated on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis and includes, where applicable, the amortization or accretion of premium or discount based on effective yield. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except in the case of certain foreign securities, in which case dividends are recorded as soon as such information becomes available.
Real Estate Investment Trusts:
The Funds may own shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), which report information on the source of their distribution annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be return of capital, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REIT.
Expenses:
Expenses directly attributable to a Fund are charged directly to that Fund. Expenses relating to the Trust are allocated proportionately to each Fund within the Trust according to the relative net assets of each Fund or on another reasonable basis.
Dividends to Shareholders:
Dividends to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends to shareholders from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Funds. Dividends to shareholders from net realized gains, if any, are declared and distributed at least annually by the Funds.
Federal Income Taxes:
Each Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined in Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions from net investment income and from net realized capital gains sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
Management has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including Federal (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable) and believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken as of and during the year ended December 31, 2017. The Funds recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits, as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations as incurred.
Foreign Currency Transactions:
The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars denominated amounts are translated into U.S. dollars as follows, with the resultant exchange gains and losses recorded in the Statements of Operations:
i) value of investment securities and other assets and liabilities at the exchange rate on the valuation date; and
ii) purchases and sales of Investment securities and income and expenses at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective date of such transactions.
The Funds do not isolate realized and unrealized gains and losses attributable to changes in the exchange rates from gains and losses that arise from changes in the value of investments. Such fluctuations are included with net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.
Investment income from non-U.S. sources received by a Fund is generally subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes at rates ranging up to 30%. Such withholding taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of applicable U.S. income tax treaties. The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes on gains in investments or currency repatriation. The Funds accrue such taxes, as applicable, based on their current interpretation of tax rules in the foreign markets in which they invest.
Continued
80
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
New Accounting Pronouncements:
In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its Final Rules on Investment Company Reporting Modernization (the “Rules”). The Rules which introduce two new regulatory reporting forms for investment companies — Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN — also contains amendments to Regulation S-X which require standardized, enhanced disclosures about derivatives in investment company financial statements, as well as other amendments. The amendments to Regulation S-X became effective for filings made with the SEC after August 1, 2017. The Funds’ adoption of these amendments, effective with the schedules of investments prepared as of December 31, 2017, has no effect on the Funds’ net assets or results of operations.
In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-08 “Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities” (“ASU 2017-08”), which shortens the premium amortization period for purchased non-contingently callable debt securities. ASU 2017-08 specifies that the premium amortization period ends at the earliest call date, for purchased non-contingently callable debt securities. ASU 2017-08 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the implications of ASU 2017-08 and its impact on the financial statements and related disclosures has not yet been determined.
3. Related Party Transactions and Other Service Arrangements:
Investment Adviser:
The Trust, with respect to the Funds, and the Adviser are parties to an Investment Advisory Agreement under which the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual fee, computed daily and paid monthly, equal to the average daily net assets of each Fund, at the following annual percentage rates before contractual waivers:
Fund | | Fee Rate | |
Asset Management Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Equity Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Midcap Fund | | 0.75 | % |
SMID Cap Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Small Cap Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Fund | | Fee Rate | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Walden Equity Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 0.75 | % |
Additionally, two trustees of the Trust are officers of the Adviser or its affiliate, and an officer of the Trust is an officer of the Adviser. These persons are not paid directly by the Funds.
Administration and Fund Accounting:
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“Citi”) serves the Funds as administrator. Citi provides administrative and fund accounting services for a fee that is computed daily and paid monthly, based on the aggregate daily net assets of the Trust plus certain base fees.
Certain officers of the Trust are affiliated with Citi. Such persons were paid no fees directly by the Funds for serving as Officers of the Trust. Citi makes an employee available to serve as the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) under a Compliance Service Agreement between the Funds and Citi (the “CCO Agreement”). Under the CCO Agreement, Citi also provides infrastructure and support in implementing the written policies and procedures comprising the Funds’ compliance program, including support services to the CCO. For the services provided under the CCO Agreement, the Funds paid Citi $150,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017, plus certain out of pocket expenses. Citi pays the salary and other compensation earned by the CCO as an employee of Citi.
Distribution:
BHIL Distributors, LLC, which is not affiliated with Citi or the Adviser, serves as the Funds’ distribution agent during 2017. Effective February 28, 2018, BHIL Distributors, LLC changed its name to Foreside Financial Services, LLC (“Foreside”). Foreside is not affiliated with Citi or the Adviser. Fees for these services are paid monthly by the Adviser and not by the Funds.
Shareholder Services:
The Funds may enter into shareholder services agreements with investment advisers, banks, trust companies and other types of organizations (“Authorized Service Providers”), which may include affiliates of the Funds, for providing administrative services with respect to shares of the Funds attributable to or held in the name of the Authorized Service Provider for its clients or other parties with whom they have a servicing relationship. Affiliates of the Funds did not receive any fees during the year ended December 31, 2017.
Custodian and Transfer Agency:
Boston Trust & Investment Management Company (“Boston Trust”), the parent company of the Adviser, acts as the Funds transfer agent. Under the transfer agency agreement, Boston Trust receives a fixed fee of $18,000 annually per fund, accrued daily and paid monthly for its services. Under a sub-transfer agency agreement, FIS Investor Services, LLC receives a fixed annual fee accrued daily and paid monthly, plus annual per account fees and certain out of pocket expenses for its services to the Trust. Expenses incurred under the transfer agency agreement and sub-transfer agency agreement are presented collectively as “Transfer Agency” expenses on the Statements of Operations.
Boston Trust acts as the Funds’ custodian, with the exception of the Walden International Equity Fund. Under the custody agreement, Boston Trust receives an annual asset based fee of 0.014% of the value of securities held. Citibank, N.A. receives sub-custodian fees from Boston Trust for each Fund except the Walden International Equity Fund. Under a separate custody agreement, Citibank, N.A., an affiliate of Citi, serves as custodian for the Walden International Equity Fund and receives a fee based on a percentage of assets held on behalf of the Walden International Equity Fund, transaction fees and certain out of pocket expenses for its services. Such percentages vary by the jurisdiction in which the assets are held.
Fee Reductions:
The Adviser has agreed to reduce its fees payable by the Funds to the extent necessary, exclusive of brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation, indemnification, expenses associated with the investments in underlying investment companies and extraordinary expenses (as determined under generally accepted accounting principles) of each Fund, except the SMID Cap Fund and the Walden International Equity Fund, to 1.00% of the average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to reduce its fees payable by the SMID Cap Fund and the Walden International Equity Fund to the
Continued
81
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
extent necessary, subject to certain exclusions, to limit the aggregate annual operating expenses of the SMID Cap Fund to 0.75% of its average daily net assets and the Walden International Equity Fund to 1.15% of its average daily net assets. Any such reductions made by the Adviser in its fees or in the payment or reimbursement of expenses that are a Fund’s obligation may be subject to repayment by the Fund within three years provided the Fund receiving the reduction, payment or reimbursement is able to effect such repayment and remain in compliance with applicable expense limitations. The expense limitation agreement shall automatically renew effective May 1 of every year until the Adviser provides written notice of non-renewal to the Trust.
Pursuant to its agreement, for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016, the nine month period ended December 31, 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2017, the Adviser reimbursed, and has yet to recoup, fees in the following amounts:
Fund | | Amount | | Expires | |
Midcap Fund | | $ | 1,526 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 6,555 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | | | | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 29,670 | | 3/31/2018 | |
| | 44,650 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 37,894 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 87,452 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | |
Small Cap Fund | | 213,139 | | 3/31/2018 | |
| | 297,469 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 157,762 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 58,104 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | | |
Fund | | Amount | | Expires | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | $ | 25,881 | | 3/31/2018 | |
| | 40,670 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 34,372 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 28,580 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 124,593 | | 3/31/2018 | |
| | 151,560 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 124,204 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 138,810 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 7,376 | | 3/31/2018 | |
| | 17,571 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 12,415 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 4,010 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 25,541 | | 3/31/2018 | |
| | 37,277 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 31,322 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 33,179 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 2,313 | | 3/31/2018 | |
| | 42,280 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 36,830 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 26,962 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 85,178 | | 3/31/2019 | |
| | 73,099 | | 12/31/2019 | |
| | 47,374 | | 12/31/2020 | |
| | | | | | |
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Adviser recouped $9,182 from the Midcap Fund.
As of December 31, 2017, the Adviser may recoup amounts from the Funds as follows:
Total Potential Recoupment | | | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | — | |
Equity Fund | | — | |
Midcap Fund | | 8,081 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 199,666 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 726,474 | |
| | | | |
Total Potential Recoupment | | | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | $ | 129,503 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 539,167 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 41,372 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 127,319 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 108,385 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 205,651 | |
| | | | |
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Equity Fund delivered securities of the Fund in exchange for the redemption of shares. The total fair value of the in-kind redemptions was $5,350,555 for 231,726 shares of the Equity Fund.
During the year ended March 31, 2016, certain securities of an affiliated separately managed account were exchanged, at fair value, as in-kind transfers of the Walden International Equity Fund. The total fair value of the in-kind transfers was $251,381 for 25,138 shares of the Walden International Equity Fund in exchange for securities of an affiliated separately managed account.
Interfund Lending:
Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Funds may participate in an interfund lending program (the “Program”). This Program provides an alternative credit facility under which the Funds may lend to, or borrow from, one another, consistent with each Fund’s investment objectives, limitations and organization documents. Any open loans at period end are presented under the caption Payable for interfund lending in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. As of December 31, 2017, the Funds had no outstanding loans to or from another fund under the Program. The Funds’ activity in the Program during the period for which loans were outstanding was as follows:
| | | | | | | | Weighted Average | | | |
| | | | Weighted Average | | | | Annualized Interest | | Interest Income | |
Fund | | Borrower or Lender | | Loan Balance | | Days Outstanding | | Rate | | (Expense) | |
Asset Management Fund | | Lender | | $ | 1,888,461 | | 1 | | 2.89 | % | $ | 150 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | Borrower | | 1,888,461 | | 1 | | 2.89 | % | (150 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continued
82
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
4. Purchases and Sales of Securities:
Cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of securities, excluding short-term securities, U.S. Government securities and in-kind redemptions, for the Funds for the year ended December 31, 2017, totaled:
Fund | | Purchases | | Sales and Maturities | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 50,703,607 | | $ | 29,911,589 | |
Equity Fund | | 11,329,557 | | 12,584,966 | |
Midcap Fund | | 13,805,119 | | 12,810,486 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 54,513,282 | | 10,777,046 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 81,783,472 | | 84,013,879 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 11,727,862 | | 7,957,169 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 18,372,009 | | 35,436,825 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 10,463,022 | | 10,504,841 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 14,597,500 | | 13,284,637 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 26,883,706 | | 23,659,064 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 24,482,569 | | 2,948,904 | |
| | | | | | | |
Cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of U.S. Government Securities, excluding short-term securities, for the Funds for the year ended December 31, 2017, totaled:
Fund | | Purchases | | Sales and Maturities | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 7,822,852 | | $ | — | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 4,964,286 | | 1,248,862 | |
| | | | | | | |
5. Federal Income Tax Information:
At December 31, 2017, the cost, gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation on investments, for federal income tax purposes, were as follows:
| | | | Gross Tax Unrealized | | Gross Tax Unrealized | | Net Unrealized Appreciation | |
Fund | | Tax Cost | | Appreciation | | (Depreciation) | | (Depreciation) | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 301,532,895 | | $ | 190,541,572 | | $ | (674,336 | ) | $ | 189,867,236 | |
Equity Fund | | 67,767,291 | | 66,353,663 | | (154,638 | ) | 66,199,025 | |
Midcap Fund | | 38,201,455 | | 23,819,597 | | (498,919 | ) | 23,320,678 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 50,033,511 | | 6,798,171 | | (477,697 | ) | 6,320,474 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 264,308,870 | | 110,731,083 | | (9,211,916 | ) | 101,519,167 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 80,956,175 | | 40,279,399 | | (513,602 | ) | 39,765,797 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 104,586,321 | | 93,434,702 | | (663,792 | ) | 92,770,910 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 31,136,694 | | 15,813,877 | | (394,202 | ) | 15,419,675 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 33,603,319 | | 12,671,008 | | (659,667 | ) | 12,011,341 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 73,653,393 | | 26,873,174 | | (2,419,879 | ) | 24,453,295 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 36,871,123 | | 4,558,982 | | (672,785 | ) | 3,886,197 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:
| | Distributions paid from | | | | | |
| | | | Net Long Term | | Total Taxable | | Total Distributions | |
Fund | | Ordinary Income | | Capital Gains | | Distributions | | Paid(1) | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 5,033,185 | | $ | 6,865,925 | | $ | 11,899,110 | | $ | 11,899,110 | |
Equity Fund | | 1,291,316 | | 2,118,848 | | 3,410,164 | | 3,410,164 | |
Midcap Fund | | 729,312 | | 3,129,409 | | 3,858,721 | | 3,858,721 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 519,807 | | 68,822 | | 588,629 | | 588,629 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 3,371,093 | | 27,299,561 | | 30,670,654 | | 30,670,654 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 1,296,570 | | 858,086 | | 2,154,656 | | 2,154,656 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 1,932,721 | | 7,860,951 | | 9,793,672 | | 9,793,672 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 408,200 | | 1,110,504 | | 1,518,704 | | 1,518,704 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 594,253 | | 429,070 | | 1,023,323 | | 1,023,323 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 1,118,233 | | 4,168,675 | | 5,286,908 | | 5,286,908 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 471,514 | | — | | 471,514 | | 471,514 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Total distributions paid may differ from the amount reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because for tax purposes distributions are recognized when actually paid.
Continued
83
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
The tax character of distributions paid during the nine month fiscal period ended December 31, 2016 was as follows:
| | Distributions paid from | | | | | |
| | | | Net Long Term | | Total Taxable | | Total Distributions | |
Fund | | Ordinary Income | | Capital Gains | | Distributions | | Paid(1) | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 4,223,815 | | $ | 15,345,985 | | $ | 19,569,800 | | $ | 19,569,800 | |
Equity Fund | | 1,112,876 | | 6,430,098 | | 7,542,974 | | 7,542,974 | |
Midcap Fund | | 659,104 | | 2,744,636 | | 3,403,740 | | 3,403,740 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 118,839 | | 271,297 | | 390,136 | | 390,136 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 3,993,823 | | 9,153,927 | | 13,147,750 | | 13,147,750 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 1,044,552 | | 1,916,337 | | 2,960,889 | | 2,960,889 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 1,714,128 | | 4,291,722 | | 6,005,850 | | 6,005,850 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 464,829 | | 1,414,849 | | 1,879,678 | | 1,879,678 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 792,165 | | 1,148,927 | | 1,941,092 | | 1,941,092 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 732,553 | | 2,547,203 | | 3,279,756 | | 3,279,756 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 259,568 | | — | | 259,568 | | 259,568 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Total distributions paid may differ from the amount reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because for tax purposes distributions are recognized when actually paid.
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016 was as follows:
| | Distributions paid from | | | | | |
| | | | Net Long Term | | Total Taxable | | Total Distributions | |
Fund | | Ordinary Income | | Capital Gains | | Distributions | | Paid (1) | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 4,817,610 | | $ | 14,994,468 | | $ | 19,812,078 | | $ | 19,812,078 | |
Equity Fund | | 1,334,295 | | 6,343,300 | | 7,677,595 | | 7,677,595 | |
Midcap Fund | | 402,244 | | 2,425,712 | | 2,827,956 | | 2,827,956 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 42,783 | | 324,242 | | 367,025 | | 367,025 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 2,611,157 | | 57,191,988 | | 59,803,145 | | 59,803,145 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 1,069,344 | | 4,703,453 | | 5,772,797 | | 5,772,797 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 1,870,888 | | 7,516,146 | | 9,387,034 | | 9,387,034 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 341,785 | | 1,428,000 | | 1,769,785 | | 1,769,785 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 246,894 | | 1,594,235 | | 1,841,129 | | 1,841,129 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 428,898 | | 11,396,486 | | 11,825,384 | | 11,825,384 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 44,225 | | — | | 44,225 | | 44,225 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Total distributions paid may differ from the amount reported in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets because for tax purposes distributions are recognized when actually paid.
As of December 31, 2017, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
| | Undistributed | | Undistributed | | | | Accumulated | | Unrealized | | | |
| | Ordinary | | Long-Term Capital | | Accumulated | | Capital and Other | | Appreciation | | Total Accumulated | |
Fund | | Income | | Gains | | Earnings | | Losses | | (Depreciation)(2) | | Earnings (Deficit) | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | — | | $ | 6,967,186 | | $ | 6,967,186 | | $ | — | | $ | 189,867,236 | | $ | 196,834,422 | |
Equity Fund | | 3,532 | | 544,355 | | 547,887 | | — | | 66,199,025 | | 66,746,912 | |
Midcap Fund | | 81,454 | | 750,255 | | 831,709 | | — | | 23,320,678 | | 24,152,387 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 278,278 | | 66,908 | | 345,186 | | — | | 6,320,474 | | 6,665,660 | |
Small Cap Fund | | — | | — | | — | | (254,396 | ) | 101,519,167 | | 101,264,771 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | — | | — | | — | | (124,120 | ) | 39,765,797 | | 39,641,677 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | — | | — | | — | | (143,029 | ) | 92,770,910 | | 92,627,881 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 74,244 | | 742,771 | | 817,015 | | — | | 15,419,675 | | 16,236,690 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | — | | 627,887 | | 627,887 | | — | | 12,011,341 | | 12,639,228 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 21,482 | | 113,259 | | 134,741 | | — | | 24,453,295 | | 24,588,036 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | — | | — | | — | | (222,760 | ) | 3,888,080 | | 3,665,320 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(2) The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
As of the end of its tax year ended December 31, 2017, the Fund has net capital loss carry forwards (“CLCFs”) not subject to expiration as summarized in the table below. The Board does not intend to authorize a distribution of any realized gain for the Fund until any applicable CLCF has been offset or expires.
Fund | | Short Term | | Long Term | | Total | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | $ | 4,202 | | $ | 216,417 | | $ | 220,619 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the following Funds utilized capital loss carryforwards to offset realized capital gains:
Fund | | Amount | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | $ | 58,201 | |
| | | | |
Continued
84
Notes to Financial Statements | December 31, 2017 |
Under current tax law, net investment losses and capital losses realized after October 31 of a Fund’s fiscal year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first business day of the following fiscal year for tax purposes. The following Funds deferred losses as follows:
| | Late Year | | Post October | |
Fund | | Ordinary Loss | | Capital Losses | |
Small Cap Fund | | $ | — | | $ | 254,396 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | — | | 124,120 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | — | | 143,029 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 2,141 | | — | |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2017, the following reclassifications have been made to increase (decrease) such accounts with offsetting adjustments as indicated:
| | Accumulated Net | | Accumulated Net | | | |
Fund | | Investment Income | | Realized Gains | | Paid in Capital | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 28,306 | | $ | (28,306 | ) | $ | — | |
Equity Fund | | (1 | ) | (3,996,729 | ) | 3,996,730 | |
Midcap Fund | | 10,011 | | (10,011 | ) | — | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 5,569 | | (5,569 | ) | — | |
Small Cap Fund | | 264,434 | | (115,897 | ) | (148,537 | ) |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 10,212 | | (8,290 | ) | (1,922 | ) |
Walden Equity Fund | | 3,484 | | 14 | | (3,498 | ) |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 4,988 | | (4,988 | ) | — | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 18,372 | | (18,372 | ) | — | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 59,196 | | (59,194 | ) | (2 | ) |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 12,304 | | (11,287 | ) | (1,017 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
The amounts of dividends to shareholders from net investment income and of distributions from net realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature (e.g. return of capital, net operating loss, reclassification of certain market discounts, gain/ loss on paydowns, and distribution),such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment: temporary differences (e.g. wash sales and post October losses) do not require reclassification. To the extent dividends to shareholders exceed net investment income and net realized gains for tax purposes, they are reported as distributions of capital.
6. Control Ownership and Principal Holders:
The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund creates presumptions of control of the Fund, under section 2 (a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2017, the Funds had individual shareholder accounts and/or omnibus shareholder accounts (comprised of a group of individual shareholders), owning more than 25% of the total shares outstanding of the Fund as detailed below.
Fund | | Control Ownership | | % of Ownership | |
Asset Management Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 87.29 | |
Equity Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 93.45 | |
Midcap Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 94.33 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | Fidelity Investments | | 44.82 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | SEI Private Trust Company | | 27.93 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 61.81 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 31.05 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 95.48 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 62.18 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 39.69 | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | US Bank N.A. | | 84.94 | |
7. Subsequent Events:
Management has evaluated events and transactions through the date these financial statements were issued and concluded no subsequent events required recognition or disclosure in these financial statements.
Continued
85
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
The Boston Trust & Walden Funds
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of portfolio investments, of The Boston Trust & Walden Funds, comprising the Boston Trust Asset Management Fund, Boston Trust Equity Fund, Boston Trust Midcap Fund, Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund, Boston Trust Small Cap Fund, Walden Asset Management Fund, Walden Equity Fund, Walden Midcap Fund, Walden SMID Cap Fund, Walden Small Cap Fund and Walden International Equity Fund (the “Funds”), as of December 31, 2017, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets and financial highlights for each of the periods presented, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of December 31, 2017, the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds 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 are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits include performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2017, by correspondence with the custodians and broker. 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. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the Funds’ auditor since 2008.
/s/ Cohen & Company, Ltd.
COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.
Cleveland, Ohio
February 27, 2018
86
Supplementary Information (Unaudited) | December 31, 2017 |
Federal Income Tax Information:
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Funds declared long-term realized gain distributions in the following amounts:
Fund | | 15% Capital Gains | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 6,865,925 | |
Equity Fund | | 2,118,848 | |
Midcap Fund | | 3,129,409 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 68,822 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 27,299,561 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 858,086 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 7,860,951 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 1,110,504 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 429,070 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 4,168,675 | |
| | | | |
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Funds declared short-term realized gain distributions in the following amounts:
Fund | | Short-Term Capital Gains | |
Midcap Fund | | $ | 467,916 | |
SMID Cap Fund | | 266,679 | |
Small Cap Fund | | 1,639,487 | |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 86,144 | |
Walden Equity Fund | | 191,948 | |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 209,672 | |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 392,229 | |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 707,418 | |
| | | | |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the following percentage of the total ordinary income distributions paid by the Funds qualify for the distributions received deduction available to corporate shareholders.
Fund | | Distributions Received Deduction | |
Asset Management Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Equity Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Midcap Fund | | 93.25 | % |
SMID Cap Fund | | 49.38 | % |
Small Cap Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden Equity Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 86.03 | % |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 90.99 | % |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, distributions paid by the Funds may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Funds intend to designate the maximum amount allowable as taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. Complete information will be reported in conjunction with your 2017 Form 1099-DIV.
Fund | | Qualified Dividend Income | |
Asset Management Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Equity Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Midcap Fund | | 96.03 | % |
SMID Cap Fund | | 44.78 | % |
Small Cap Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden Equity Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 100.00 | % |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 89.98 | % |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 96.09 | % |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 100.00 | % |
The following Funds intend to elect to pass through to shareholders the income tax credit for taxes paid to foreign countries. Foreign source income and foreign tax expense per outstanding share on December 31, 2017 are as follows:
| | Foreign Source | | Foreign Tax Expense | |
Fund | | Income Per Share ($) | | Per Share ($) | |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 0.25 | | 0.09 | |
The pass-through of this foreign tax credit will only affect those persons who are shareholders on the dividend record date in December 2017. These shareholders will receive more detailed information along with their 2017 Form 1099-DIV.
Continued
87
Table of Shareholder Expenses:
As a shareholder of the Trust, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Boston Trust & Walden Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.
Actual Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information below together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the table under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid during Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Please note that the expenses shown in the tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect the costs incurred by the Funds for buying and selling securities. The Funds do not charge transaction fees, such as redemption fees, nor do the Funds charge a sales charge (load). Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.
| | | | | | | | Annualized | |
| | Beginning | | Ending | | Expenses Paid | | Expense Ratio | |
| | Account Value | | Account Value | | During Period(1) | | During Period | |
| | 7/1/17 | | 12/31/17 | | 7/1/17 - 12/31/17 | | 7/1/17 - 12/31/17 | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 1,000.00 | | $ | 1,084.60 | | $ | 4.83 | | 0.92 | % |
Equity Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,113.10 | | 4.85 | | 0.91 | % |
Midcap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,104.40 | | 5.30 | | 1.00 | % |
SMID Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,099.10 | �� | 3.97 | | 0.75 | % |
Small Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,083.20 | | 5.25 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,078.20 | | 5.24 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Equity Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,111.40 | | 5.32 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,104.30 | | 5.30 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,091.70 | | 5.27 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,079.90 | | 5.24 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,066.70 | | 5.99 | | 1.15 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect the costs incurred by the Funds for buying and selling securities. The Funds do not charge transaction fees, such as redemption fees, nor do the Funds charge a sales charge (load). Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.
| | | | | | | | Annualized | |
| | Beginning | | Ending | | Expenses Paid | | Expense Ratio | |
| | Account Value | | Account Value | | During Period(1) | | During Period | |
| | 7/1/17 | | 12/31/17 | | 7/1/17 - 12/31/17 | | 7/1/17 - 12/31/17 | |
Asset Management Fund | | $ | 1,000.00 | | $ | 1,020.57 | | $ | 4.69 | | 0.92 | % |
Equity Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.62 | | 4.63 | | 0.91 | % |
Midcap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.16 | | 5.09 | | 1.00 | % |
SMID Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,021.42 | | 3.82 | | 0.75 | % |
Small Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.16 | | 5.09 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Asset Management Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.16 | | 5.09 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Equity Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.16 | | 5.09 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Midcap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.16 | | 5.09 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden SMID Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.16 | | 5.09 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden Small Cap Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,020.16 | | 5.09 | | 1.00 | % |
Walden International Equity Fund | | 1,000.00 | | 1,019.41 | | 5.85 | | 1.15 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
Continued
88
Tabular Summary of Schedules of Portfolio Investments:
The Boston Trust Funds invested, as a percentage of total net assets, in the following industries as of December 31, 2017.
Asset Management Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Information Technology | | 19.2 | % |
Financials | | 18.0 | % |
U.S. Government & U.S. Government Agency Obligations | | 14.8 | % |
Industrials | | 11.2 | % |
Health Care | | 10.8 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 7.7 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 7.4 | % |
Energy | | 2.9 | % |
Materials | | 2.7 | % |
Utilities | | 1.7 | % |
Investment Companies | | 1.5 | % |
Municipal Bonds | | 1.0 | % |
Other net assets | | 1.1 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Equity Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Information Technology | | 23.7 | % |
Financials | | 21.1 | % |
Industrials | | 13.4 | % |
Health Care | | 13.2 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 10.1 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 9.1 | % |
Energy | | 3.5 | % |
Materials | | 3.2 | % |
Utilities | | 2.1 | % |
Investment Companies | | 0.6 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Midcap Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Information Technology | | 16.4 | % |
Financials | | 16.3 | % |
Industrials | | 15.2 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 13.0 | % |
Health Care | | 11.6 | % |
Materials | | 7.2 | % |
Utilities | | 5.9 | % |
Real Estate | | 5.7 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 5.3 | % |
Energy | | 2.8 | % |
Investment Companies | | 0.6 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
SMID Cap Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Financials | | 16.9 | % |
Industrials | | 16.7 | % |
Information Technology | | 16.7 | % |
Health Care | | 12.5 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 12.3 | % |
Real Estate | | 7.5 | % |
Materials | | 6.1 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 3.9 | % |
Utilities | | 3.6 | % |
Energy | | 2.7 | % |
Investment Companies | | 0.9 | % |
Other net assets | | 0.2 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Small Cap Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Financials | | 18.3 | % |
Information Technology | | 15.9 | % |
Health Care | | 15.7 | % |
Industrials | | 14.4 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 12.9 | % |
Real Estate | | 5.7 | % |
Materials | | 5.4 | % |
Utilities | | 4.6 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 4.3 | % |
Energy | | 2.2 | % |
Investment Companies | | 0.5 | % |
Other net assets | | 0.1 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Continued
89
The Walden Funds invested, as a percentage of total net assets, in the following industries and countries as of December 31, 2017.
Walden Asset Management Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
U.S. Government & U.S. Government Agency Obligations | | 20.6 | % |
Information Technology | | 17.4 | % |
Financials | | 15.1 | % |
Health Care | | 11.5 | % |
Industrials | | 10.1 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 8.8 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 7.7 | % |
Materials | | 2.5 | % |
Energy | | 2.0 | % |
Utilities | | 2.0 | % |
Investment Companies | | 1.2 | % |
Municipal Bonds | | 0.4 | % |
Certificate of Deposit | | 0.1 | % |
Telecommunication Services | | 0.1 | % |
Other net assets | | 0.5 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Walden Equity Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Information Technology | | 22.3 | % |
Financials | | 19.1 | % |
Health Care | | 14.3 | % |
Industrials | | 13.1 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 11.3 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 10.1 | % |
Materials | | 3.8 | % |
Energy | | 2.8 | % |
Utilities | | 2.6 | % |
Investment Companies | | 0.6 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Walden Midcap Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Industrials | | 16.4 | % |
Financials | | 16.4 | % |
Information Technology | | 15.9 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 12.2 | % |
Health Care | | 11.2 | % |
Materials | | 7.3 | % |
Real Estate | | 5.9 | % |
Utilities | | 5.6 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 5.2 | % |
Energy | | 2.8 | % |
Investment Companies | | 1.1 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Walden SMID Cap Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Financials | | 17.6 | % |
Industrials | | 17.4 | % |
Information Technology | | 16.9 | % |
Health Care | | 12.6 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 11.3 | % |
Real Estate | | 7.9 | % |
Materials | | 6.2 | % |
Utilities | | 3.8 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 3.3 | % |
Energy | | 2.5 | % |
Investment Companies | | 0.5 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Walden Small Cap Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Financials | | 18.2 | % |
Information Technology | | 16.1 | % |
Industrials | | 15.0 | % |
Health Care | | 14.5 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | 12.8 | % |
Materials | | 5.7 | % |
Real Estate | | 5.6 | % |
Utilities | | 4.7 | % |
Consumer Staples | | 3.8 | % |
Energy | | 2.2 | % |
Investment Companies | | 1.4 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Walden International Equity Fund
| | Percentage of Total | |
Security Allocation for the Schedule of Portfolio Investments | | Net Assets | |
Japan | | 21.4 | % |
United Kingdom | | 14.3 | % |
Canada | | 8.7 | % |
Germany | | 8.6 | % |
France | | 8.6 | % |
Switzerland | | 7.3 | % |
Australia | | 6.0 | % |
Netherlands | | 4.3 | % |
Hong Kong | | 3.3 | % |
Spain | | 3.2 | % |
Sweden | | 2.5 | % |
Italy | | 2.2 | % |
Denmark | | 1.7 | % |
Ireland | | 1.7 | % |
Singapore | | 1.2 | % |
Finland | | 0.8 | % |
Luxembourg | | 0.7 | % |
Norway | | 0.7 | % |
Belgium | | 0.7 | % |
Israel | | 0.6 | % |
United States | | 0.3 | % |
Other net assets | | 1.2 | % |
Total | | 100.0 | % |
Continued
90
Other Information:
A description of the policies and guidelines that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050, and (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at http://www.sec.gov.
Proxy voting policies and guidelines as well as information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-282-8782 ext. 7050, (ii) on the Boston Trust & Investment Management, Inc. website at http://www.btim.com; and (iii) on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
The Funds file complete schedules of portfolio holdings for each Fund with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Form N-Q is available on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Funds’ Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.
Continued
91
The annual consideration by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the continuation of the investment advisory agreement between Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc., (the “Adviser”) and Boston Trust Asset Management Fund, Boston Trust Equity Fund, Boston Trust Midcap Fund, Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund, Boston Trust Small Cap Fund, Walden Asset Management Fund, Walden Equity Fund, Walden Midcap Fund, Walden SMID Cap Fund, Walden Small Cap Fund, and Walden International Equity Fund (the “Funds”).
Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) requires that the Investment Advisory Agreement with Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”) be renewed annually by the Board of Trustees of The Boston Trust & Walden Funds (the “Trust”), including a majority of the Board who are not “interested persons” of the Trust or of the Adviser (“Independent Trustees”). It is the duty of the Board to request as much information as is reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement and determine whether its continuance is fair to the Funds and their shareholders. The Board considered the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement at an in-person meeting held on August 11, 2017. The Board requested, and the Adviser provided, information and data relating to: (i) the investment performance of each series of the Trust (the “Funds”) and the Adviser; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Funds; (iii) the cost of the services to be provided and the profits to be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from the relationship with the Funds; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale will be realized as the Funds grow; (v) whether the fee levels reflect these economies of scale to the benefit of Funds’ shareholders; (vi) the advisory fees paid by other comparable funds advised by the Adviser or by a different investment adviser; (vii) the Funds’ expense ratios and the expense ratios of similar funds; and (viii) the effect of any fee waivers and expense reimbursements made by the Adviser.
At the meeting on August 11, 2017, the Board engaged in a thorough review process to determine whether to continue the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Board met directly with representatives of the Adviser and reviewed the information and data listed above, as supplemented by Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., the Trust’s administrator. As part of its deliberations, the Board also considered and relied upon the information about the Funds and the Adviser that it had received throughout the year as part of its ongoing oversight of the Funds and their operations.
The Board gave careful consideration to the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. The Trustees reviewed the organizational structure of the Adviser and its parent, Boston Trust & Investment Management Company (“Boston Trust”). The Board discussed Board of Director and management changes at the Adviser and Boston Trust, respectively, noting that the changes were part of a succession plan previous discussed with the Board. The Board considered the Adviser’s investment philosophy, its portfolio construction process and its fixed income approach, as well as the Adviser’s asset allocation, large cap, mid-cap, small-cap and SMID-cap investment process. The Board discussed the approach taken by Walden Asset Management, an affiliate of the Adviser, with respect to sustainable, responsible impact investing, including its environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) research framework and its portfolio screening guidelines. The Board reviewed the Adviser’s experience and the capabilities of its personnel, as well as the quality of the reports and other materials received from the Adviser. The Board reviewed biographical information about the employees of Boston Trust. The Board discussed with the Adviser the Adviser’s brokerage allocation and execution strategy, noting that the Adviser does not take into consideration sales of Fund shares in selecting brokers through which its affects Fund portfolio transactions. The Board considered the Adviser’s compliance program and its business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Finally, Taking into account the personnel involved in servicing the Funds, as well as the materials and services described above, the Board expressed satisfaction with the quality of the services received from the Adviser.
Next, the Board reviewed the performance of the Funds from inception through June 30, 2017, comparing the performance to peer groups and various indices, and also, in the case of the Boston Trust Asset Management Fund and the Walden Asset Management Fund, to a bond index, equity index and Treasury bills. The Board noted that as of June 30, 2017, each Fund, other than the Walden International Equity Fund, outperformed the index and is peer group at various times for the Year-to-date, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and Since Inception periods. Each Fund underperformed or performed consistent with its peer group during the same periods. The Board noted that for periods in which the Funds underperformed their benchmarks, they participated in the rising market and provided downside protection in falling markets. The Board noted that this downside protection is consistent with The Adviser’s approach to each Fund’s strategy and is routinely communicated to clients and investors.
The Board then turned to a review of the range of advisory fees paid by the Boston Trust Funds and Walden Funds to the Adviser and the total operating expenses of each Fund. The Board noted that, with the exception of the Boston Trust Equity Fund and the Walden Equity Fund, each Boston Trust Fund and Walden Fund has contractual advisory fees below one or both of their Lipper and Morningstar peer group averages. The contractual advisory fees charged by the Boston Trust Equity Fund and the Walden Equity Fund are 0.06% above the Lipper average and 0.20% above the Morningstar average. However, contractual advisory fees for the Boston Trust Equity Fund and the Walden Equity Fund are well below 1.00% and 1.49%, the highest fees, respectively, in the appropriate Lipper and Morningstar ranges.
Continued
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The Board noted that the Adviser has been operating under an Expense Limitation Agreement that requires the Adviser to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent total operating expenses of any Fund (other than the Walden International Equity Fund) exceed 1.00%. The expense limit for the Walden International Equity Fund is 1.15%. and the expense limit for the Boston Trust SMID Cap Fund is 0.75%. The actual advisory fees charged by each Fund, except the Boston Trust Equity Fund, after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, are below one or both of their Lipper and Morningstar peer group averages. The actual advisory fee charged by the Boston Trust Equity Fund after expense is 0.06% above the Lipper average and 0.20% above the Morningstar average after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.
Turning to total operating expenses, the Board noted that the expense ratios for all of the Funds, other than the Boston Trust Equity Fund and the Walden Equity Fund, are below one or both of their Lipper and Morningstar peer group averages. The expense ratios for the Boston Trust Equity Fund and the Walden Equity Fund are each lower r than the industry average after waivers and reimbursements. After considering the comparative data as described above, and the proposed renewal of the Expense Limitation Agreement, the Board concluded that the advisory fees and expense ratios were reasonable.
In reviewing the costs of the services to be provided and the profits to be realized by the Adviser, the Board reviewed the Adviser’s income statement for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and balance sheet for the 9 months ending December 31, 2016, as well as the gross and net profit margins realized on each Fund. The Board considered that the Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boston Trust & Investment Management Company and the payment of direct and indirect Trust expenses is governed by an Intercompany Services Agreement between the Adviser and Boston Trust. The Board noted that the Adviser’s relationship with the Funds was profitable even though the Adviser is operating under an Expense Limitation Agreement with the Trust. The Board discussed the custody and transfer agency fees earned by the Adviser for services provided to the Funds, which are reduced by amounts paid for sub-custody and sub-transfer agency services.
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Information about Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) | December 31, 2017 |
Overall responsibility for management of the Funds rests with the Board of Trustees. The names of the Trustees and Officers of the Funds, their addresses, ages and principal occupations during the past five years are provided in the tables below. The business address of the persons listed below is 4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43219, unless otherwise listed. Trustees who are deemed “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, are referred to as Interested Trustees. Trustees who are not interested persons are referred to as Independent Trustees. The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Funds’ Trustees and is available, without charge and upon request, by calling 1-800-282-8782 or by visiting www.btim.com.
| | | | | | | | | | Other |
| | | | | | | | Number of Funds | | Directorships |
| | Position(s) | | Term of Office* | | | | in Fund Complex | | Held by Trustee |
Name, | | Held with | | and Length of | | Principal Occupation(s) | | Overseen by | | during the past |
Date of Birth | | the Funds | | Time Served | | During Past Five Years | | Trustee | | five years |
INTERESTED TRUSTEES |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Lucia B. Santini One Beacon Street 33rd Floor Boston, MA 02108 Year of Birth: 1958 | | Trustee and President | | Since 2011 | | President, Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc., January, 2017 to present, Managing Director, February, 2001 to December 31, 2016; Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, Boston Trust & Investment Management Company (bank trust company), November, 1993 to present. | | 11 | | None |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Heidi Soumerai One Beacon Street 33rd Floor Boston, MA 02108 Year of Birth: 1957 | | Trustee | | Since 2013 | | Managing Director and Director of ESG Research, Boston Trust & Investment Management Company, August 2004 to present; Research Analyst, Boston Trust & Investment Management, January 1985 to present. | | 11 | | None |
| | | | | | | | | | |
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Michael M. Van Buskirk Year of Birth: 1947 | | Trustee and Chairman of the Board | | Since 1992 | | Retired since 2014. President and Chief Executive Officer, Ohio Bankers League, May 1991 to December 2013. | | 11 | | Advisers Investment Trust (2011 to present) (Chairman of the Board) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Diane E. Armstrong Year of Birth: 1964 | | Trustee | | Since 2005 | | President, Armstrong Financial Services (financial planning firm), November 2012 to present; Managing Director of Financial Planning Services. | | 11 | | None |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Elizabeth E. McGeveran Year of Birth: 1971 | | Trustee | | Since 2016 | | Director, Impact Investing, The McKnight Foundation, September 2014 to present. | | 11 | | None |
| | | | | | | | | | |
OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Jennifer Ellis One Beacon Street 33rd Floor Boston, MA 02108 Year of Birth: 1972 | | Treasurer | | Since 2011 | | Director of Finance/Treasurer, Boston Trust & Investment Management Company, May 2011 to present. | | N/A | | N/A |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Curtis Barnes 800 Boylston Street 24th Floor Boston, MA 02199 Year of Birth: 1953 | | Secretary | | Since 2007 | | Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (fund administrator), August 2007 to present. | | N/A | | N/A |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Charles Booth 4400 Easton Commons Suite 200 Columbus, OH 43219 Year of Birth: 1960 | | Chief Compliance Officer | | Since 2015 | | Director, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (fund administrator), May 2007 to present. | | N/A | | N/A |
* Trustees hold their position with the Funds until their resignation or removal. Officers hold their positions with the Funds until a successor has been duly elected and qualified.
Ms. Santini and Ms. Soumerai are considered “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act due to their employment with Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc., the Funds’ Investment Adviser.
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Investment Adviser
Boston Trust Investment Management, Inc.
One Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
Transfer Agent
Boston Trust & Investment Management Company
One Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
Administrator
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
4400 Easton Commons, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43219
Distributor
Foreside Financial Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Cohen & Company, Ltd.
1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800
Cleveland, OH 44115
Legal Counsel
Thompson Hine LLP
41 South High Street, Suite 1700
Columbus, OH 43215
This report is intended for the shareholders of the Funds and may not be used as sales literature unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
Past performance results shown should not be considered a representation of future performance. Share price and returns will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Statements and other information herein are dated and subject to change.
02/18
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. This code of ethics is included as an Exhibit.
(b) During the period covered by the report, with respect to the registrant’s code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions; there have been no amendments to, nor any waivers granted from, a provision that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this Item 2.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
3(a)(1) The registrant’s board of directors has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
3(a)(2) The audit committee financial expert is Diane Armstrong, who is “independent” for purposes of this Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
| | | December 2017 | | December 2016 | | March 2016 | |
(a) | Audit Fees | | $ | 114,500 | | $ | 106,500 | | $ | 98,500 | |
| | | | | | | | |
(b) | Audit-Related Fees | | $ | 17,250 | | $ | 17,250 | | $ | 17,250 | |
The fees for 2016 and 2017 relate to the consent issuance in three Form 17f-2 filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
| | | December 2017 | | December 2016 | | March 2016 | |
(c) | Tax Fees | | $ | 27,500 | | $ | 27,500 | | $ | 27,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Tax fees for both 2016 and 2017 relate to the preparation of the Funds’ federal and state income tax returns, federal excise tax return review and review of capital gain and income distribution calculations.
| | | December 2017 | | December 2016 | | March 2016 | |
(d) | All Other Fees | | $ | 0 | | $ | 0 | | $ | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(e)(1) The Audit Committee may pre-approve at any regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting audit, audit-related, tax and other non-audit services to be rendered or that may be rendered by the Auditor to the Funds and certain non-audit services to be rendered by the Auditor to the Advisor which require pre-approval by the Audit Committee. In connection with such pre-approvals, the Auditor, or a Fund officer, with the assistance of the Auditor, shall provide the Audit Committee with a report containing information about each type of service to be pre-approved at the meeting.
(e)(2) For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and March 31, 2016,100% of all the fees in paragraph (b) through (d) were approved by the Audit Committee.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. billed non-audit fees of $44,750.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. billed non-audit fees of $44,750.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. billed non-audit fees of $44,750.
(h) Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1.
(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.
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures are adequately designed and are operating effectively to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of 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) The code of ethics that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto.
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) are attached hereto.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) are furnished herewith
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) | The Boston Trust & Walden Funds | |
| | |
| |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Lucia Santini, President | |
| | |
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Date | 3/1/18 | |
| | | | | |
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 (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Lucia Santini, President | |
| | |
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Date | 3/1/18 | |
| |
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By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Jennifer Ellis, Treasurer | |
| | |
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Date | 3/1/18 | |
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