<Page> 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: 811-08014 --------- Utilities Portfolio ------------------- (Exact Name of registrant as Specified in Charter) The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) Alan R. Dynner The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name and Address of Agent for Services) (617) 482-8260 -------------- (registrant's Telephone Number) December 31 ----------- Date of Fiscal Year End December 31, 2004 ----------------- Date of Reporting Period <Page> ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS <Page> UTILITIES PORTFOLIO as of December 31, 2004 PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS COMMON STOCKS -- 95.5% <Table> <Caption> SECURITY SHARES VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTO AND PARTS -- 2.8% Adesa, Inc. 825,000 $ 17,506,500 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 17,506,500 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BROADCASTING AND CABLE -- 0.2% Antena 3 Television SA(1) 845 $ 60,848 Ovation, Inc.(1)(2) 18,040 1,027,034 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 1,087,882 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ELECTRIC UTILITIES -- 29.3% ALLETE, Inc. 316,666 $ 11,637,475 Edison International 600,000 19,218,000 Enel SPA 500,000 4,915,083 Energy East Corp. 560,000 14,940,800 Entergy Corp. 305,000 20,614,950 Exelon Corp. 461,250 20,327,287 Fortis, Inc. 50,000 2,900,305 Fortum Oyj 450,000 8,308,023 FPL Group, Inc. 100,000 7,475,000 National Grid Transco PLC 563,810 5,368,850 Northeast Utilities 100,000 1,885,000 NSTAR 100,000 5,428,000 Pepco Holdings, Inc. 250,000 5,330,000 PPL Corp. 180,000 9,590,400 Public Power Corp. 65,000 1,818,655 Scottish and Southern Energy PLC 500,000 8,355,689 Terna SPA 2,250,000 6,453,039 TXU Corp. 325,000 20,982,000 Westar Energy, Inc. 181,500 4,150,905 Wisconsin Energy Corp. 100,000 3,371,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 183,070,461 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION -- 1.1% Bouygues SA 150,000 $ 6,929,482 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 6,929,482 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GAS UTILITIES -- 8.5% AGL Resources, Inc. 130,000 $ 4,321,200 Equitable Resources, Inc. 210,000 12,738,600 KeySpan Corp. 100,000 3,945,000 Kinder Morgan, Inc. 75,000 5,484,750 ONEOK, Inc. 272,600 $ 7,747,292 Questar Corp. 100,000 5,096,000 Williams Co., Inc. (The) 850,000 13,846,500 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 53,179,342 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEGRATED OIL -- 6.5% BP PLC ADR 175,000 $ 10,220,000 ChevronTexaco Corp. 70,000 3,675,700 ConocoPhillips 50,000 4,341,500 Exxon Mobil Corp. 150,000 7,689,000 Statoil ASA ADR 250,000 3,970,000 Total SA ADR 100,000 10,984,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 40,880,200 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OIL AND GAS-EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION -- 1.7% Occidental Petroleum Corp. 60,000 $ 3,501,600 Talisman Energy, Inc. 170,000 4,583,200 Whiting Petroleum Corp.(1) 85,000 2,571,250 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 10,656,050 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PUBLISHING -- 0.4% Pearson PLC 200,000 $ 2,408,633 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 2,408,633 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES -- 7.0% Alltel Corp. 50,000 $ 2,938,000 Belgacom SA(1) 100,000 4,314,917 China Netcom Group Corp. (Hong Kong), Ltd. ADR(1) 2,500 66,900 Deutsche Telekom AG(1) 350,000 7,914,258 Elisa Oyj(1) 130,000 2,086,219 Portugal Telecom, SGPS, SA 500,000 6,169,687 Sprint Corp. 250,000 6,212,500 Telecom Italia SPA 1,500,000 4,860,435 Telenor ASA 1,000,000 9,089,249 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 43,652,165 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELEPHONE UTILITIES -- 15.9% BCE, Inc. 525,400 $ 12,677,902 BellSouth Corp. 575,000 15,979,250 CenturyTel, Inc. 50,000 1,773,500 Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. ADR 154,800 3,258,540 </Table> See notes to financial statements 15 <Page> <Table> <Caption> SECURITY SHARES VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELEPHONE UTILITIES (CONTINUED) Citizens Communications Co. 600,000 $ 8,274,000 SBC Communications, Inc. 575,000 14,817,750 TDC A/S 335,600 14,219,337 Telefonos de Mexico SA de CV (Telmex) ADR 250,000 9,580,000 Verizon Communications, Inc. 470,000 19,039,700 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 99,619,979 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION -- 0.3% Societe des Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhone(1) 30,000 $ 1,812,560 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 1,812,560 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UTILITIES-ELECTRICAL AND GAS -- 17.2% CMS Energy Corp.(1) 1,100,000 $ 11,495,000 Dominion Resources, Inc. 60,000 4,064,400 E.ON AG 170,000 15,452,622 Energias de Portugal SA 100,000 303,113 FirstEnergy Corp. 150,000 5,926,500 MDU Resources Group, Inc. 163,350 4,358,178 NorthWestern Corp.(1) 225,000 6,300,000 NRG Energy, Inc.(1) 240,000 8,652,000 Ormat Technologies, Inc.(1) 316,400 5,150,992 PG&E Corp.(1) 575,000 19,136,000 RWE AG 160,000 8,856,794 Scottish Power PLC 1,054,290 8,152,458 Sempra Energy 270,000 9,903,600 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 107,751,657 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WATER UTILITIES -- 2.5% Aqua America, Inc. 325,000 $ 7,991,750 United Utilities PLC 630,207 7,601,350 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 15,593,100 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES -- 2.1% Centennial Communications Corp.(1) 101,200 $ 802,516 TELUS Corp. 250,000 7,225,000 Vodafone Group PLC ADR 200,000 5,476,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 13,503,516 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (IDENTIFIED COST $444,166,957) $ 597,651,527 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS -- 3.9% <Table> <Caption> SECURITY SHARES VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ELECTRIC UTILITIES -- 1.5% FPL Group, Inc. 150,000 $ 9,226,500 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 9,226,500 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GAS UTILITIES -- 0.8% KeySpan Corp. 100,000 $ 5,217,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 5,217,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OIL AND GAS-EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES -- 0.4% Williams Holdings of Delaware(3) 29,400 $ 2,469,600 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 2,469,600 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UTILITIES-ELECTRICAL AND GAS -- 1.2% Cinergy Corp. 120,000 $ 7,608,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 7,608,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (IDENTIFIED COST $19,973,200) $ 24,521,100 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> PREFERRED STOCKS -- 0.1% <Table> <Caption> SECURITY SHARES VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BROADCASTING AND CABLE -- 0.1% Ovation, Inc. (PIK)(1)(2) 807 $ 428,896 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 428,896 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (IDENTIFIED COST $3,595,225) $ 428,896 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> CONVERTIBLE BONDS -- 0.0% <Table> <Caption> PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SECURITY (000'S OMITTED) VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reliant Resources, Inc., 5.00%, 8/15/10(3) $ 100 $ 164,750 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL CONVERTIBLE BONDS (IDENTIFIED COST, $100,000) $ 164,750 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> See notes to financial statements 16 <Page> WARRANTS -- 0.0% <Table> <Caption> SECURITY SHARES VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT -- 0.0% Lucent Technologies, Inc., Exp. 12/10/07(1) 8,205 $ 12,964 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 12,964 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL WARRANTS (IDENTIFIED COST $0) $ 12,964 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS -- 0.3% <Table> <Caption> PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SECURITY (000'S OMITTED) VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investors Bank and Trust Company Time Deposit, 2.25%, 1/3/05 $ 1,532 $ 1,532,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (AT AMORTIZED COST, $1,532,000) $ 1,532,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL INVESTMENTS -- 99.8% (IDENTIFIED COST $469,367,382) $ 624,311,237 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES -- 0.2% $ 1,327,747 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET ASSETS -- 100.0% $ 625,638,984 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> ADR - American Depository Receipt PIK - Payment In Kind. (1) Non-income producing security. (2) Private Placement security valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees. (3) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be sold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2004, the aggregate value of the securities is $2,634,350 or 0.4% of the Portfolio's net assets. COUNTRY CONCENTRATION OF PORTFOLIO <Table> <Caption> PERCENTAGE COUNTRY OF NET ASSETS VALUE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belgium 0.7% $ 4,314,917 Canada 4.4 27,386,407 Denmark 2.3 14,219,337 Finland 1.7 10,394,242 France 3.1 19,726,042 Germany 5.1 32,223,673 Greece 0.3 1,818,655 Hong Kong 0.0 66,900 Italy 2.6 16,228,558 Mexico 1.5 9,580,000 Norway 2.1 13,059,248 Portugal 1.0 6,472,800 Spain 0.0 60,848 Taiwan 0.5 3,258,540 United Kingdom 7.6 47,582,980 United States 66.9 417,918,090 </Table> See notes to financial statements 17 <Page> UTILITIES PORTFOLIO as of December 31, 2004 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004 <Table> ASSETS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investments, at value (identified cost, $469,367,382) $ 624,311,237 Cash 79,714 Interest and dividends receivable 1,193,082 Tax reclaim receivable 83,255 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 625,667,288 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Payable to affiliate for Trustees' fees $ 4,337 Accrued expenses 23,967 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 28,304 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO INVESTORS' INTEREST IN PORTFOLIO $ 625,638,984 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCES OF NET ASSETS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net proceeds from capital contributions and withdrawals $ 470,686,541 Net unrealized appreciation (computed on the basis of identified cost) 154,952,443 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL $ 625,638,984 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 <Table> INVESTMENT INCOME - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dividends (net of foreign taxes, $896,199) $ 20,036,496 Interest 112,916 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME $ 20,149,412 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPENSES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment adviser fee $ 3,364,781 Trustees' fees and expenses 18,256 Custodian fee 298,412 Legal and accounting services 36,455 Interest expense 4,639 Miscellaneous 13,895 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL EXPENSES $ 3,736,438 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deduct -- Reduction of custodian fee $ 2 Reduction of investment adviser fee 8,889 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL EXPENSE REDUCTIONS $ 8,891 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET EXPENSES $ 3,727,547 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INVESTMENT INCOME $ 16,421,865 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) Net realized gain (loss) -- Investment transactions (identified cost basis) $ 30,487,383 Foreign currency transactions (42,078) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET REALIZED GAIN $ 30,445,305 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) -- Investments (identified cost basis) $ 76,938,505 Foreign currency 8,155 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) $ 76,946,660 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN $ 107,391,965 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS $ 123,813,830 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> See notes to financial statements 18 <Page> STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS <Table> <Caption> INCREASE (DECREASE) YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED IN NET ASSETS DECEMBER 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2003 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From operations-- Net investment income $ 16,421,865 $ 12,308,591 Net realized gain from investment and foreign currency transactions 30,445,305 14,168,280 Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments and foreign currency 76,946,660 66,337,801 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS $ 123,813,830 $ 92,814,672 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital transactions-- Contributions $ 132,359,731 $ 91,610,795 Withdrawals (88,873,138) (77,164,674) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS $ 43,486,593 $ 14,446,121 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS $ 167,300,423 $ 107,260,793 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET ASSETS At beginning of year $ 458,338,561 $ 351,077,768 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AT END OF YEAR $ 625,638,984 $ 458,338,561 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </Table> See notes to financial statements 19 <Page> SUPPLEMENTARY DATA <Table> <Caption> YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA+ Ratios (As a percentage of average daily net assets): Net expenses 0.72% 0.72% 0.73% 0.71% 0.71% Net expenses after custodian fee reduction 0.72% 0.72% 0.73% 0.71% 0.71% Interest expense --(1) --(1) --(1) 0.01% 0.01% Net investment income 3.16% 3.22% 3.40% 2.00% 1.54% Portfolio Turnover 59% 106% 146% 169% 149% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL RETURN(2) 25.57% 26.44% (12.13)% (18.61)% -- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR (000'S OMITTED) $ 625,639 $ 458,339 $ 351,078 $ 425,707 $ 574,586 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ </Table> + The operating expenses of the Portfolio reflect a reduction of the investment advisor fee. Had such actions not been taken, the ratios and net investment income per share would have been the same. (1) Represents less than 0.01%. (2) Total return is required to be disclosed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2000. See notes to financial statements 20 <Page> UTILITIES PORTFOLIO as of December 31, 2004 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Utilities Portfolio (the Portfolio) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified open-end management investment company. The Portfolio, which was organized as a trust under the laws of the State of New York on May 1, 1992, seeks to achieve total return by investing principally in dividend-paying common stocks and dividend-paying or interest-bearing securities that are convertible into common stock. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue beneficial interests in the Portfolio. At December 31, 2004, the Eaton Vance Utilities Fund held an approximate 99.9% interest in the Portfolio. Under normal circumstances the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of utilities companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies of the Portfolio. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A INVESTMENT VALUATION -- Securities listed on a U.S. securities exchange generally are valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation or, if no sales took place on such date, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices therefore on the exchange where such securities are principally traded. Equity securities listed on the NASDAQ National Market System generally are valued at the official NASDAQ closing price. Unlisted or listed securities for which closing sales prices or closing quotations are not available are valued at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices or, in the case of preferred equity securities that are not listed or traded in the over-the-counter market, by an independent pricing service. The value of preferred equity securities that are valued by a pricing service on a bond basis will be adjusted by an income factor, to be determined by the investment adviser, to reflect the next anticipated regular dividend. Exchange-traded options are valued at the last sale price for the day of valuation as quoted on the principal exchange or board of trade on which the options are traded or, in the absence of sales on such date, at the mean between the latest bid and asked prices therefore. Futures positions on securities and currencies generally are valued at closing settlement prices. Short-term debt securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost. If short-term debt securities were acquired with a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, their amortized cost value will be based on their value on the sixty-first day prior to maturity. Other fixed income and debt securities, including listed securities and securities for which price quotations are available, will normally be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service. The daily valuation of foreign securities generally is determined as of the close of trading on the principal exchange on which such securities trade. Events occurring after the close of trading on foreign exchanges may result in adjustments to the valuation of foreign securities to more accurately reflect their fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Portfolio may rely on an independent fair valuation service in adjusting the valuations of foreign securities. Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rate quotations supplied by an independent quotation service. Investments held by the Portfolio for which valuations or market quotations are unavailable are valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees of the Portfolio considering relevant factors, data and information including the market value of freely tradable securities of the same class in the principal market on which such securities are normally traded. B INCOME -- Interest income is determined on the basis of interest accrued, adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. However, if the ex-dividend date has passed, certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as the Portfolio is informed of the ex-dividend date. C INCOME TAXES -- The Portfolio is treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. No provision is made by the Portfolio for federal or state taxes on any taxable income of the Portfolio because each investor in the Portfolio is ultimately responsible for the payment of any taxes. Since one of the Portfolio's investors is a regulated investment company that invests all or substantially all of its assets in the Portfolio, the Portfolio normally must satisfy the applicable source of income and diversification requirements (under the Internal Revenue Code) in order for its investors to satisfy them. The Portfolio will allocate at least annually among its investors each investor's distributive share of the Portfolio's net investment income, net realized capital gains, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and capital gains have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio's understanding of the applicable countries' tax rules and rates. D FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION -- Investment valuations, other assets, and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of foreign investment securities and income and expenses are converted into U.S. dollars based upon 21 <Page> currency exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Realized gains or losses on investment transactions attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are recorded for financial statement purposes as net realized gains and losses on investments. That portion of unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed. E DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS -- The Portfolio may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. Payment and delivery may take place at a period in time after the date of the transaction. At the time the transaction is negotiated, the price of the security that will be delivered and paid for is fixed. Losses may arise due to changes in the market value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract. F EXPENSE REDUCTION -- Investors Bank & Trust Company (IBT) serves as custodian to the Portfolio. Pursuant to the custodian agreement, IBT receives a fee reduced by credits which are determined based on the average daily cash balances the Portfolio maintains with IBT. All credit balances used to reduce the Portfolio's custodian fees are reported as a reduction of expenses on the Statement of Operations. G OTHER -- Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses are computed based on the specific identification of the securities sold. H USE OF ESTIMATES -- The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. I INDEMNIFICATIONS -- Under the Portfolio's organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Portfolio. Interestholders in the Portfolio are jointly and severally liable for the liabilities and obligations of the Portfolio in the event that the Portfolio fails to satisfy such liabilities and obligations; provided, however, that, to the extent assets are available in the Portfolio, the Portfolio may, under certain circumstances, indemnify interestholders from and against any claim or liability to which such holder may become subject by reason of being or having been an interestholder in the Portfolio. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Portfolio enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Portfolio's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Portfolio that have not yet occurred. 2 INVESTMENT ADVISER FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES The investment adviser fee is earned by Boston Management and Research (BMR), a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Management (EVM), as compensation for management and investment advisory services rendered to the Portfolio. The fee is payable monthly at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets up to $500 million, 0.6875% from $500 million up to $1 billion, and at reduced rates as daily net assets exceed that level. However, BMR has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fee to 0.65% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets up to $500 million, 0.625% from $500 million up to $1 billion, and at reduced rates as daily net assets exceed that level. This contractual reduction, which cannot be terminated or modified without Trustee and shareholder consent, was accepted by a vote of the Trustees on June 14, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the fee was equivalent to 0.648% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets for such period and amounted to $3,364,781. Effective May 1, 2004, BMR has also agreed to reduce the investment adviser fee by an amount equal to that portion of commissions paid to broker dealers in execution of portfolio transactions that is consideration for third-party research services. For the period from May 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004, BMR waived $8,889 of its advisory fee. Except as to Trustees of the Portfolio who are not members of EVM's or BMR's organization, officers and Trustees receive remuneration for their services to the Portfolio out of such investment adviser fee. Certain officers and Trustees of the Portfolio are officers of the above organizations. Trustees of the Portfolio that are not affiliated with the investment adviser may elect to defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the terms of the Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan. For the year ended December 31, 2004, no significant amounts have been deferred. 3 INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS Purchases and sales of investments, other than short-term obligations, aggregated $365,518,810, and $302,795,473, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004. 22 <Page> 4 FEDERAL INCOME TAX BASIS OF INVESTMENTS The cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of the investments owned at December 31, 2004, as computed on a federal income tax basis, were as follows: <Table> AGGREGATE COST $ 469,444,823 ---------------------------------------------------------- Gross unrealized appreciation $ 160,271,028 Gross unrealized depreciation (5,404,614) ---------------------------------------------------------- NET UNREALIZED APPRECIATION $ 154,866,414 ---------------------------------------------------------- </Table> The net unrealized appreciation on foreign currency was $8,588 at December 31, 2004. 5 LINE OF CREDIT The Portfolio participates with other portfolios and funds managed by BMR and EVM and its affiliates in a $150 million unsecured line of credit agreement with a group of banks. Borrowings will be made by the Portfolio solely to facilitate the handling of unusual and/or unanticipated short-term cash requirements. Interest is charged to each portfolio or fund based on its borrowings at an amount above the Eurodollar rate or Federal Funds rate. In addition, a fee computed at an annual rate of 0.10% on the daily unused portion of the line of credit is allocated among the participating portfolios and funds at the end of each quarter. The Portfolio did not have any significant borrowings or allocated fees during the year ended December 31, 2004. 23 <Page> UTILITIES PORTFOLIO as of December 31, 2004 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM TO THE TRUSTEES AND INVESTORS OF UTILITIES PORTFOLIO: In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the supplementary data present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Utilities Portfolio (the "Portfolio") at December 31, 2004, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the supplementary data for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and supplementary data (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the Portfolio's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2004 by correspondence with the custodian, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Boston, Massachusetts February 18, 2005 24 <Page> EATON VANCE UTILITIES FUND MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION FUND MANAGEMENT. The Trustees of Eaton Vance Special Investment Trust (the Trust) and Utilities Portfolio (the Portfolio) are responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Trust's and Portfolio's affairs. The Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolio are listed below. Except as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years. Trustees and officers of the Trust and the Portfolio hold indefinite terms of office. The "noninterested Trustees" consist of those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust and the Portfolio, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The business address of each Trustee and officer is The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston Massachusetts 02109. As used below, "EVC" refers to Eaton Vance Corp., "EV" refers to Eaton Vance, Inc., "EVM" refers to Eaton Vance Management, "BMR" refers to Boston Management and Research and "EVD" refers to Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. and "Fox" refers to Fox Asset Management LLC. EVC and EV are the corporate parent and trustee, respectively, of EVM and BMR. EVD is the Fund's principal underwriter, the Portfolio's placement agent and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EVM. Fox is a majority owned subsidiary of EVC. <Table> <Caption> POSITION(S) TERM OF NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS WITH THE OFFICE AND IN FUND COMPLEX NAME AND TRUST AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) OVERSEEN BY DATE OF BIRTH THE PORTFOLIO SERVICE DURING PAST FIVE YEARS TRUSTEE(1) OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERESTED TRUSTEE James B. Hawkes Trustee Trustee of the Chairman, President and 195 Director of EVC 11/9/41 Trust since 1989; Chief Executive Officer of the Portfolio of BMR, EVC, EVM and EV; since 1992 Director of EV; Vice President and Director of EVD. Trustee and/or officer of 195 registered investment companies in the Eaton Vance Fund Complex. Mr. Hawkes is an interested person because of his positions with BMR, EVM, EVC and EV, which are affiliates of the Fund and the Portfolio. NONINTERESTED TRUSTEE(S) Samuel L. Hayes, III Chairman of the Trustee of the Jacob H. Schiff 195 Director of Tiffany& Co. 2/23/35 Board and Trust since 1989 Professor of Investment (specialty retailer) and Trustee and Chairman of Banking Emeritus, Telect, Inc. the Board since Harvard University (telecommunication 2005; of the Graduate School of services company) Portfolio since Business Administration. 1992 William H. Park Trustee Since 2003 President and Chief 195 None 9/19/47 Executive Officer, Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm) (since 2002). Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) (1982-2001). Ronald A. Pearlman Trustee Since 2003 Professor of Law, 195 None 7/10/40 Georgetown University Law Center (since 1999). Tax Partner, Covington & Burling, Washington, DC (1991-2000). Norton H. Reamer Trustee Trustee of the President, Chief 195 None 9/21/35 Trust since 1989; Executive Officer and a of the Portfolio Director of Asset since 1993 Management Finance Corp. (a specialty finance company serving the investment management industry) (since October 2003). President, Unicorn Corporation (an investment and financial advisory services company) (since September 2000). Formerly, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer,, Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Inc. (an investment management company) (2000-2003). Formerly, Advisory Director of Berkshire Capital Corporation (investment banking firm) (2002-2003). Formerly Chairman of the Board, United Asset Management Corporation (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms) and Chairman, President and Director, UAM Funds (mutual funds) (1980-2000). Lynn A. Stout Trustee Since 1998 Professor of Law, 195 None 9/14/57 University of California at Los Angeles School of Law (since July 2001). Formerly, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. </Table> 25 <Page> PRINCIPAL OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES <Table> <Caption> POSITION(S) TERM OF WITH THE OFFICE AND NAME AND TRUST AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DATE OF BIRTH THE PORTFOLIO SERVICE DURING PAST FIVE YEARS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thomas E. Faust Jr. President of the Trust Since 2002 Executive Vice President of EVM, BMR, EVC and EV; Chief 5/31/58 Investment Officer of EVM and BMR and Director of EVC. Chief Executive Officer of Belair Capital Fund LLC, Belcrest Capital Fund LLC, Belmar Capital Fund LLC, Belport Capital Fund LLC and Belrose Capital Fund LLC (private investment companies sponsored by EVM). Officer of 59 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. Duke E. Laflamme Vice President of Since 2001 Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 11 registered 7/8/69 the Trust investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. Thomas H. Luster Vice President of Since 2002 Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 16 registered 4/8/62 the Trust investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. George C. Pierides Vice President of Since 2004 Senior Managing Director of Fox. Officer of 12 registered 12/26/57 the Trust investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. Duncan W. Richardson President of Since 2002 Senior Vice President and Chief Equity Investment Officer of 10/26/57 the Portfolio EVM and BMR. Officer of 46 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. Judith A. Saryan Vice President of Since 1999 Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 28 registered 8/21/54 the Portfolio investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. William J. Austin, Jr. Treasurer of Since 2002(2) Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 53 registered 12/27/51 the Portfolio investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. Alan R. Dynner Secretary Since 1997 Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of BMR, EVM, 10/10/40 EVD, EV and EVC. Officer of 195 registered investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. James L. O'Connor Treasurer of the Trust Since 1989 Vice President of BMR, EVM and EVD. Officer of 117 registered 4/1/45 investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. Paul M. O'Neil Chief Since 2004 Vice President of EVM and BMR. Officer of 195 registered 7/11/53 Compliance Officer investment companies managed by EVM or BMR. </Table> (1) Includes both master and feeder funds in a master-feeder structure. (2) Prior to 2002, Mr. Austin served as Assistant Treasurer of the Portfolio since 1993. The SAI for the Fund includes additional information about the Trustees and officers of the Fund and the Portfolio and can be obtained without charge by calling 1-800-225-6265. 26 <Page> ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS The registrant has adopted a code of ethics applicable to its Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. The registrant undertakes to provide a copy of such code of ethics to any person upon request, without charge, by calling 1-800-262-1122. ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT The registrant's Board has designated William H. Park, Samuel L. Hayes, III and Norton H. Reamer, each an independent trustee, as its audit committee financial experts. Mr. Park is a certified public accountant who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Prizm Capital Management, LLC (investment management firm). Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Asset Management Corporation ("UAM") (a holding company owning institutional investment management firms). Mr. Hayes is the Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking Emeritus of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. Mr. Reamer is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Asset Management Finance Corp. (a specialty finance company serving the investment management industry) and is President of Unicorn Corporation (an investment and financial advisory services company). Formerly, Mr. Reamer was Chairman of Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Inc. (an investment management company) and Advisory Director of Berkshire Capital Corporation (an investment banking firm), Chairman of the Board of UAM and Chairman, President and Director of the UAM Funds (mutual funds). ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES (a)-(d) The following table presents aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, and December 31, 2004 by the registrant's principal accountant for professional services rendered for the audit of the registrant's annual financial statements and fees billed for other services rendered by the principal accountant during those periods. <Table> <Caption> FISCAL YEARS ENDED 12/31/03 12/31/04 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Audit Fees $ 30,975 $ 32,075 Audit-Related Fees(1) $ 0 $ 0 Tax Fees(2) $ 5,475 $ 5,600 All Other Fees(3) $ 0 $ 0 ---------- ---------- Total $ 36,450 $ 37,675 ========== ========== </Table> (1) Audit-related fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant's financial statements and are not reported under the category of audit fees. (2) Tax fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant relating to tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning and specifically include fees for tax return preparation. (3) All other fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the registrant's principal accountant other than audit, audit-related, and tax services. (e)(1) The registrant's audit committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the pre-approval of services provided by the registrant's principal accountant (the "Pre-Approval Policies"). The Pre-Approval Policies establish a framework intended to assist the audit committee in the proper discharge of its pre-approval responsibilities. As a general matter, the Pre-Approval Policies (i) specify certain types of audit, audit-related, tax, and other services determined to be pre-approved by the audit committee; and (ii) delineate specific procedures governing the mechanics <Page> of the pre-approval process, including the approval and monitoring of audit and non-audit service fees. Unless a service is specifically pre-approved under the Pre-Approval Policies, it must be separately pre-approved by the audit committee. The Pre-Approval Policies and the types of audit and non-audit services pre-approved therein must be reviewed and ratified by the registrant's audit committee at least annually. The registrant's audit committee maintains full responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the registrant's principal accountant. (e)(2) No services described in paragraphs (b)-(d) above were approved by the registrant's audit committee pursuant to the "de minimis exception" set forth in Rule 2-01 (c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X. (f) Not applicable. (g) The following table presents (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the registrant by the registrant's principal accountant for the registrant's fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the Eaton Vance organization by the registrant's principal accountant for the last two fiscal years of the registrant. <Table> <Caption> FISCAL YEARS ENDED 12/31/03 12/31/04 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Registrant $ 5,475 $ 5,600 Eaton Vance (1) $ 0 $ 84,490 </Table> (1) The investment adviser to the registrant, as well as any of its affiliates that provide ongoing services to the registrant, are subsidiaries of Eaton Vance Corp. (h) The registrant's audit committee has considered whether the provision by the registrant's principal accountant of non-audit services to the registrant's investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence. ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS Not required in this filing. ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS Please see schedule of investments contained in the Report to Stockholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR. ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES Not required in this filing. ITEM 8. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. Not required in this filing. <Page> ITEM 9. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. Effective February 7, 2005, the Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees revised the procedures by which a Fund's shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's Board of Trustees to add the following (highlighted): The Governance Committee shall, when identifying candidates for the position of Independent Trustee, consider any such candidate recommended by a shareholder of a Fund if such recommendation contains (i)sufficient background information concerning the candidate, INCLUDING EVIDENCE THE CANDIDATE IS WILLING TO SERVE AS AN INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE IF SELECTED FOR THE POSITION; AND (ii) is received in a sufficiently timely manner (and in any event no later than the date specified for receipt of shareholder proposals in any applicable proxy statement with respect to a Fund). Shareholders shall be directed to address any such recommendations IN WRITING to the attention of the Governance Committee, c/o the Secretary of the Fund. THE SECRETARY SHALL RETAIN COPIES OF ANY SHAREHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH MEET THE FOREGOING REQUIREMENTS FOR A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN 12 MONTHS FOLLOWING RECEIPT. THE SECRETARY SHALL HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF ANY SHAREHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS ITEM 10. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES (a) It is the conclusion of the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant's current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission's rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. (b) There have been no changes in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 11. EXHIBITS (a)(1) Registrant's Code of Ethics - Not applicable (please see Item 2). (a)(2)(i) Treasurer's Section 302 certification. (a)(2)(ii) President's Section 302 certification. (b) Combined Section 906 certification. <Page> 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. UTILITIES PORTFOLIO By: /s/Duncan W. Richardson ----------------------- Duncan W. Richardson President Date: February 16, 2005 ----------------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By: /s/William J. Austin, Jr. ------------------------- William J. Austin, Jr. Treasurer Date: February 16, 2005 ----------------- By: /s/Duncan W. Richardson ----------------------- Duncan W. Richardson President Date: February 16, 2005 -----------------