UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
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Investment Company Act file number | 811-05447 |
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AMERICAN CENTURY QUANTITATIVE EQUITY FUNDS, INC. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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4500 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI | 64111 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
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JOHN PAK 4500 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64111 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 816-531-5575 |
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Date of fiscal year end: | 06-30 |
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Date of reporting period: | 06-30-2021 |
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) Provided under separate cover.
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| Annual Report |
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| June 30, 2021 |
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| Disciplined Core Value Fund |
| Investor Class (BIGRX) |
| I Class (AMGIX) |
| A Class (AMADX) |
| C Class (ACGCX) |
| R Class (AICRX) |
| R5 Class (AICGX) |
| | | | | |
President's Letter | |
Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
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Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2021. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Stocks Rallied as Optimism Prevailed
The reporting period began with global financial markets experiencing a sweeping recovery from the initial—and severe—effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift and significant action from central banks and federal governments in early 2020 helped reignite investor confidence in the markets and bolster the economic backdrop. These positive influences generally persisted through the second half of 2020, despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19 and the inconsistent lifting of virus-related restrictions.
In the U.S., improving data on manufacturing, employment and housing, along with a late-2020 federal coronavirus aid package and positive vaccine developments, helped sustain the optimism into the new year. Furthermore, political clarity emerged following the January U.S. Senate run-off elections in Georgia, setting the stage for another federal aid package, which passed in March. Outside the U.S., economies recovered but at a slower pace. Virus outbreaks and slower vaccine rollouts led to lingering lockdowns in some regions.
Overall, despite lingering challenges, corporate earnings generally rallied, and global stocks delivered stellar 12-month returns. The U.S. broadly outperformed other developed markets, with the S&P 500 Index returning more than 40% and small caps (Russell 2000 Index) gaining 62%. The broad economic recovery combined with ongoing monetary and fiscal support, reopenings and soaring commodity prices eventually drove inflation and government bond yields higher. U.S. Treasuries and other perceived safe-haven investments, including gold, declined for the period.
The Return to Normal Will Shape Market Dynamics
The return to pre-pandemic life is progressing. As the U.S. economy continues to rebuild from shutdown-related losses, investors likely will face renewed opportunities and challenges. Economic growth, inflation, the virus’s trajectory, supply chain normalization, and the effects of fiscal and monetary policy likely will be among the factors swaying market dynamics.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. Our firm has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| | | | Average Annual Returns | |
| Ticker Symbol | | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | | Inception Date |
Investor Class | BIGRX | | 39.42% | 14.43% | 12.57% | — | | 12/17/90 |
Russell 1000 Value Index | — | | 43.68% | 11.87% | 11.60% | — | | — |
I Class | AMGIX | | 39.70% | 14.66% | 12.80% | — | | 1/28/98 |
A Class | AMADX | | | | | — | | 12/15/97 |
No sales charge | | | 39.04% | 14.14% | 12.29% | — | | |
With sales charge | | | 31.06% | 12.80% | 11.63% | — | | |
C Class | ACGCX | | 38.05% | 13.29% | 11.46% | — | | 6/28/01 |
R Class | AICRX | | 38.73% | 13.86% | 12.01% | — | | 8/29/03 |
R5 Class | AICGX | | 39.68% | — | — | 13.93% | | 4/10/17 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
Extraordinary performance is attributable in part to unusually favorable market conditions and may not be repeated or consistently achieved in the future.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years |
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2011 |
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
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Value on June 30, 2021 |
| Investor Class — $32,718 |
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| Russell 1000 Value Index — $30,001 |
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class |
0.67% | 0.47% | 0.92% | 1.67% | 1.17% | 0.47% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Steven Rossi and Yulin Long
Performance Summary
Disciplined Core Value returned 39.42%* for the year ended June 30, 2021, compared with the 43.68% return of its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index.
Disciplined Core Value advanced during the fiscal year but underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index. Disciplined Core Value’s stock selection process incorporates factors of valuation, quality, growth and sentiment, while striving to minimize unintended risks along industries and other risk characteristics. The fund’s returns were primarily driven by positioning in the financials sector and security selection results among health care and industrials holdings. In contrast, stock selection in the information technology and materials sectors aided relative performance.
Financials Sector Detracted Most from Relative Performance
Positioning in the financials sector was a main source of the portfolio’s underperformance. An underweight position to banks, relative to the benchmark, detracted from relative performance, as banks such as Wells Fargo & Co. and Bank of America rallied sharply, driven by lower credit losses and rising optimism amid the economic rebound and strong gains in corporate and investment banking and wealth management revenue. Stock selection among capital markets companies, particularly underweight positions in Morgan Stanley, The Charles Schwab Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, were detrimental as the companies advanced amid several prominent acquisitions and higher revenues from increased trading activity and advisory services.
Stock choices in the health care sector also hampered relative performance. Overweight exposure in the biotechnology industry and pharmaceuticals holdings served as the largest sector headwinds. Among biotechnology holdings, overweights in Amgen and AbbVie detracted the most. Amgen’s stock price declined following disappointing late-stage clinical trial results of a heart treatment and disappointing earnings guidance as consumers delayed seeking medical care during the pandemic, leading to lower drug sales. We ultimately exited the position. AbbVie was pressured by patent expiration of its blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug and competition from biosimilars. In the pharmaceuticals industry, owning Merck & Co. was detrimental. The company lagged behind its competitors in developing a COVID-19 vaccine and was pressured by lower demand for medication during the pandemic’s closures. The investment team ultimately liquidated the position.
The industrials sector was also an area of weakness. Stock selection among industrial conglomerates detracted notably, particularly an overweight to 3M. Despite earnings and revenue growth, expectations that higher raw materials and logistics costs, along with lower demand for safety equipment like respirators, weighed on the company’s stock price. In the building products industry, an overweight position in Owens Corning detracted from returns, as the building materials maker’s stock declined amid uncertainty around the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on global construction activity and about the likelihood of a bipartisan infrastructure agreement.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
Information Technology Contributed the Most to Relative Performance
Stock choices in the information technology sector were the portfolio’s leading relative contributors. Holdings in the technology hardware, storage and peripherals industry were especially beneficial, particularly a portfolio-only position in Apple. Higher demand for products and services like iPhones and video and music streaming by consumers spending more time at home during the pandemic bolstered Apple’s stock price. The investment team opted to lock in gains and exited the position. Semiconductors and semiconductor equipment companies also aided the sector’s gains. A portfolio-only position in Applied Materials contributed notably as the semiconductor equipment maker posted strong earnings growth amid a sharp rise in demand and ongoing supply shortages of semiconductors following pandemic-driven surges in sales of devices such as PCs and gaming consoles.
Stock selection in the materials sector also contributed to relative performance. Rising demand for industrial metals amid the economic recovery boosted materials prices, benefiting the metals and mining industry, where the portfolio is overweight. Significant contribution came from overweight positions in several steel producers, including Nucor. Positioning among containers and packaging companies also served as a portfolio tailwind. Overweight positions in International Paper and WestRock benefited from pandemic-driven demand for corrugated cardboard packaging from e-commerce companies and strong sales of paper products, particularly to processed foods and beverages makers. The position in International Paper was liquidated.
A Look Ahead
Our disciplined, objective and systematic investment strategy is designed to take advantage of opportunities at the individual company level. We believe this approach is an effective way to capitalize on market inefficiencies that lead to the mispricing of individual stocks. Our strategy is designed to provide investors with well-diversified and risk-managed exposure to broad U.S. equity market exposure with strong current income. As such, we do not see significant deviations in sector weightings versus the Russell 1000 Value Index. Nevertheless, we can point to select sectors and industries where we are finding more or less investment opportunity.
At period-end, information technology was the portfolio’s largest absolute and relative weighting as the investment team’s screens identified a significant number of opportunities in the sector. The consumer discretionary and industrials sectors were also areas of notable active exposure based on compelling factor profiles. Conversely, the portfolio’s financials sector underweight reflects more limited opportunities that align with the team’s stock selection model. Likewise, the portfolio maintains relative underweight positions in utilities and communication services, reflecting less compelling factor scores based on our model.
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JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 94.1% |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 2.0% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 3.0% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.9% |
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Top Five Industries* | % of net assets |
Health Care Providers and Services | 6.7% |
Banks | 6.4% |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 6.0% |
IT Services | 5.1% |
Software | 5.1% |
*Exposure indicated excludes Exchange-Traded Funds. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings. |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25.00 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25.00 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
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| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,164.30 | $3.49 | 0.65% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,165.40 | $2.42 | 0.45% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,162.70 | $4.83 | 0.90% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,158.70 | $8.83 | 1.65% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,161.60 | $6.16 | 1.15% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,165.40 | $2.42 | 0.45% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.57 | $3.26 | 0.65% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,022.56 | $2.26 | 0.45% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,020.33 | $4.51 | 0.90% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,016.61 | $8.25 | 1.65% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,019.09 | $5.76 | 1.15% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,022.56 | $2.26 | 0.45% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 94.1% | | |
Aerospace and Defense — 2.2% | | |
Boeing Co. (The)(1) | 106,018 | | $ | 25,397,672 | |
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 44,899 | | 9,462,464 | |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | 78,930 | | 28,685,530 | |
| | 63,545,666 | |
Air Freight and Logistics — 1.1% | | |
FedEx Corp. | 108,129 | | 32,258,125 | |
Auto Components — 0.7% | | |
BorgWarner, Inc. | 113,450 | | 5,506,863 | |
Magna International, Inc. | 168,677 | | 15,626,237 | |
| | 21,133,100 | |
Automobiles — 2.5% | | |
Ford Motor Co.(1) | 3,746,875 | | 55,678,562 | |
General Motors Co.(1) | 284,835 | | 16,853,687 | |
| | 72,532,249 | |
Banks — 6.4% | | |
Bank of America Corp. | 938,094 | | 38,677,616 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | 446,529 | | 31,591,927 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 248,338 | | 11,391,264 | |
First Horizon Corp. | 778,142 | | 13,446,294 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 356,149 | | 55,395,415 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 789,102 | | 35,738,429 | |
| | 186,240,945 | |
Beverages — 0.7% | | |
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B(1) | 375,679 | | 20,170,206 | |
Biotechnology — 3.1% | | |
AbbVie, Inc. | 556,310 | | 62,662,758 | |
Exelixis, Inc.(1) | 199,650 | | 3,637,623 | |
Moderna, Inc.(1) | 104,655 | | 24,591,832 | |
| | 90,892,213 | |
Building Products — 1.4% | | |
Owens Corning | 417,668 | | 40,889,697 | |
Capital Markets — 4.9% | | |
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. | 75,614 | | 11,660,435 | |
Blackstone Group, Inc. (The), Class A | 449,400 | | 43,654,716 | |
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | 202,238 | | 24,076,434 | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | 133,579 | | 9,725,887 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 60,467 | | 22,949,040 | |
Morgan Stanley | 253,109 | | 23,207,564 | |
MSCI, Inc. | 12,685 | | 6,762,120 | |
| | 142,036,196 | |
Chemicals — 2.7% | | |
Celanese Corp. | 140,186 | | 21,252,198 | |
Chemours Co. (The) | 497,037 | | 17,296,888 | |
Dow, Inc. | 394,184 | | 24,943,963 | |
Eastman Chemical Co. | 122,465 | | 14,297,789 | |
| | 77,790,838 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Communications Equipment — 0.6% | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 315,617 | | $ | 16,727,701 | |
Construction and Engineering — 1.5% | | |
MasTec, Inc.(1) | 280,629 | | 29,774,737 | |
Quanta Services, Inc. | 169,890 | | 15,386,937 | |
| | 45,161,674 | |
Consumer Finance — 1.4% | | |
OneMain Holdings, Inc. | 275,124 | | 16,482,679 | |
Synchrony Financial | 492,072 | | 23,875,333 | |
| | 40,358,012 | |
Containers and Packaging — 0.7% | | |
WestRock Co. | 361,635 | | 19,246,215 | |
Distributors — 0.4% | | |
LKQ Corp.(1) | 230,422 | | 11,341,371 | |
Diversified Financial Services — 1.4% | | |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(1) | 151,732 | | 42,169,357 | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.7% | | |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | 1,604,229 | | 21,801,472 | |
Electric Utilities — 0.3% | | |
NRG Energy, Inc. | 221,247 | | 8,916,254 | |
Electrical Equipment — 2.5% | | |
Acuity Brands, Inc. | 60,550 | | 11,324,667 | |
Eaton Corp. plc | 175,778 | | 26,046,784 | |
Hubbell, Inc. | 71,239 | | 13,310,295 | |
nVent Electric plc | 317,337 | | 9,913,608 | |
Regal Beloit Corp. | 82,181 | | 10,971,985 | |
| | 71,567,339 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 0.4% | | |
SYNNEX Corp. | 107,135 | | 13,044,758 | |
Energy Equipment and Services — 0.9% | | |
Schlumberger NV | 789,112 | | 25,259,475 | |
Entertainment — 0.4% | | |
Walt Disney Co. (The)(1) | 71,190 | | 12,513,066 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.8% | | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 23,870 | | 1,010,179 | |
Prologis, Inc. | 293,734 | | 35,110,025 | |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 116,036 | | 15,140,377 | |
| | 51,260,581 | |
Food and Staples Retailing — 1.6% | | |
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. | 445,489 | | 23,437,176 | |
Walmart, Inc. | 167,972 | | 23,687,412 | |
| | 47,124,588 | |
Food Products — 2.0% | | |
General Mills, Inc. | 470,000 | | 28,637,100 | |
Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A | 407,022 | | 30,021,943 | |
| | 58,659,043 | |
Gas Utilities — 0.5% | | |
UGI Corp. | 301,980 | | 13,984,694 | |
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 0.6% | | |
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | 146,705 | | 16,664,221 | |
Health Care Providers and Services — 6.7% | | |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.(1) | 93,246 | | 9,042,997 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
CVS Health Corp. | 204,853 | | $ | 17,092,935 | |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 284,134 | | 58,741,863 | |
Humana, Inc. | 36,092 | | 15,978,650 | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(1) | 75,505 | | 20,828,054 | |
McKesson Corp. | 211,878 | | 40,519,549 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 82,805 | | 33,158,434 | |
| | 195,362,482 | |
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 1.0% | | |
Bloomin' Brands, Inc.(1) | 258,372 | | 7,012,216 | |
Brinker International, Inc.(1) | 119,477 | | 7,389,653 | |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | 118,967 | | 13,684,774 | |
| | 28,086,643 | |
Household Durables — 0.8% | | |
Mohawk Industries, Inc.(1) | 96,615 | | 18,568,437 | |
PulteGroup, Inc. | 78,748 | | 4,297,278 | |
| | 22,865,715 | |
Household Products — 0.3% | | |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | 35,640 | | 4,767,919 | |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | 35,903 | | 4,844,392 | |
| | 9,612,311 | |
Industrial Conglomerates — 1.4% | | |
3M Co. | 149,472 | | 29,689,623 | |
Carlisle Cos., Inc. | 54,096 | | 10,352,893 | |
| | 40,042,516 | |
Insurance — 1.3% | | |
Allstate Corp. (The) | 79,508 | | 10,371,024 | |
Mercury General Corp. | 47,123 | | 3,060,639 | |
Progressive Corp. (The) | 258,792 | | 25,415,962 | |
| | 38,847,625 | |
Interactive Media and Services — 0.8% | | |
Facebook, Inc., Class A(1) | 64,031 | | 22,264,219 | |
IT Services — 5.1% | | |
Accenture plc, Class A | 114,439 | | 33,735,473 | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc.(1) | 194,676 | | 22,699,222 | |
Amdocs Ltd. | 207,139 | | 16,024,273 | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A | 311,301 | | 21,560,707 | |
DXC Technology Co.(1) | 384,059 | | 14,955,257 | |
International Business Machines Corp. | 262,272 | | 38,446,453 | |
| | 147,421,385 | |
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 0.5% | | |
PerkinElmer, Inc. | 71,559 | | 11,049,425 | |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 9,264 | | 4,673,410 | |
| | 15,722,835 | |
Machinery — 2.4% | | |
AGCO Corp. | 136,643 | | 17,815,514 | |
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. | 123,043 | | 4,889,729 | |
Cummins, Inc. | 107,692 | | 26,256,386 | |
Timken Co. (The) | 246,406 | | 19,857,860 | |
| | 68,819,489 | |
Media — 3.2% | | |
Altice USA, Inc., Class A(1) | 590,487 | | 20,159,226 | |
AMC Networks, Inc., Class A(1) | 92,050 | | 6,148,940 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A(1) | 33,090 | | $ | 23,872,780 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 664,656 | | 37,898,685 | |
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The) | 187,238 | | 6,083,363 | |
| | 94,162,994 | |
Metals and Mining — 1.4% | | |
Nucor Corp. | 245,175 | | 23,519,638 | |
Steel Dynamics, Inc. | 293,202 | | 17,474,839 | |
| | 40,994,477 | |
Multiline Retail — 1.6% | | |
Target Corp. | 195,133 | | 47,171,451 | |
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 3.1% | | |
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. | 297,784 | | 5,199,309 | |
Chevron Corp. | 309,195 | | 32,385,084 | |
Diamondback Energy, Inc. | 117,124 | | 10,996,772 | |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | 268,150 | | 16,914,902 | |
Marathon Oil Corp. | 601,431 | | 8,191,490 | |
Marathon Petroleum Corp. | 176,217 | | 10,647,031 | |
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) | 266,134 | | 7,065,858 | |
| | 91,400,446 | |
Pharmaceuticals — 3.8% | | |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 410,327 | | 27,418,050 | |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc(1) | 57,941 | | 10,292,639 | |
Johnson & Johnson | 223,659 | | 36,845,584 | |
Pfizer, Inc. | 899,023 | | 35,205,741 | |
| | 109,762,014 | |
Professional Services — 0.2% | | |
Leidos Holdings, Inc. | 54,668 | | 5,526,935 | |
Real Estate Management and Development — 0.2% | | |
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.(1) | 24,861 | | 4,859,331 | |
Road and Rail — 1.2% | | |
Landstar System, Inc. | 112,734 | | 17,814,227 | |
Ryder System, Inc. | 235,274 | | 17,487,916 | |
| | 35,302,143 | |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 6.0% | | |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 174,691 | | 24,875,998 | |
Broadcom, Inc. | 55,634 | | 26,528,517 | |
Intel Corp. | 650,433 | | 36,515,309 | |
Micron Technology, Inc.(1) | 149,576 | | 12,710,968 | |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 108,243 | | 22,267,750 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 205,869 | | 29,424,856 | |
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. | 65,266 | | 12,514,755 | |
Synaptics, Inc.(1) | 63,327 | | 9,852,415 | |
| | 174,690,568 | |
Software — 5.1% | | |
j2 Global, Inc.(1) | 28,995 | | 3,988,262 | |
Microsoft Corp. | 222,695 | | 60,328,076 | |
Oracle Corp. (New York) | 339,901 | | 26,457,894 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(1) | 38,582 | | 14,315,851 | |
salesforce.com, Inc.(1) | 83,258 | | 20,337,432 | |
VMware, Inc., Class A(1) | 137,195 | | 21,947,084 | |
| | 147,374,599 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Specialty Retail — 2.9% | | |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 319,664 | | $ | 36,754,967 | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 35,510 | | 11,323,784 | |
Lithia Motors, Inc., Class A | 35,679 | | 12,260,731 | |
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 69,808 | | 13,540,658 | |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 71,374 | | 11,394,859 | |
| | 85,274,999 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 1.4% | | |
HP, Inc. | 522,311 | | 15,768,569 | |
Seagate Technology Holdings plc | 289,206 | | 25,429,884 | |
| | 41,198,453 | |
Thrifts and Mortgage Finance — 0.3% | | |
Radian Group, Inc. | 443,785 | | 9,874,216 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $2,408,338,042) | | 2,739,926,902 | |
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 2.0% |
|
|
iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (Cost $53,187,339) | 356,283 | 56,513,609 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 3.0% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $28,501,084), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $27,941,136) | | 27,941,128 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.75%, 11/15/42, valued at $47,515,744), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $46,584,026) | | 46,584,000 | |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 13,948,872 | | 13,948,872 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $88,474,000) | | 88,474,000 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.1% (Cost $2,549,999,381) |
| 2,884,914,511 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.9% |
| 26,300,183 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 2,911,214,694 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FUTURES CONTRACTS PURCHASED |
Reference Entity | Contracts | Expiration Date | Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)^ |
S&P 500 E-Mini | 320 | September 2021 | $ | 68,617,600 | | $ | 1,062,948 | |
^Amount represents value and unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
| | | | | | | | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Assets | |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $2,549,999,381) | $ | 2,884,914,511 | |
Deposits with broker for futures contracts | 3,520,000 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 136,282,136 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | 1,330,185 | |
Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts | 105,600 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 1,560,453 | |
| 3,027,712,885 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for investments purchased | 113,492,497 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 1,498,819 | |
Accrued management fees | 1,451,630 | |
Distribution and service fees payable | 55,245 | |
| 116,498,191 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 2,911,214,694 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 2,031,766,578 | |
Distributable earnings | 879,448,116 | |
| $ | 2,911,214,694 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share |
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $2,076,713,732 | 48,074,645 | $43.20 |
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $584,160,035 | 13,498,207 | $43.28 |
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $180,615,781 | 4,189,500 | $43.11* |
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $12,986,745 | 302,036 | $43.00 |
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $18,244,925 | 422,570 | $43.18 |
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $38,493,476 | 889,164 | $43.29 |
*Maximum offering price $45.74 (net asset value divided by 0.9425).
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends | $ | 51,648,138 | |
Interest | 21,903 | |
| 51,670,041 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 15,151,681 | |
Distribution and service fees: | |
A Class | 381,305 | |
C Class | 100,832 | |
R Class | 77,519 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 162,691 | |
Other expenses | 15,046 | |
| 15,889,074 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | 35,780,967 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 844,414,562 | |
Futures contract transactions | 14,347,852 | |
| 858,762,414 | |
| |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | (95,767,486) | |
Futures contracts | 178,921 | |
| (95,588,565) | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 763,173,849 | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 798,954,816 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 35,780,967 | | $ | 44,006,855 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 858,762,414 | | 45,991,109 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (95,588,565) | | (50,295,256) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 798,954,816 | | 39,702,708 | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings: | | |
Investor Class | (254,331,165) | | (67,946,479) | |
I Class | (54,034,778) | | (12,272,211) | |
A Class | (20,486,205) | | (5,399,427) | |
C Class | (1,325,433) | | (260,089) | |
R Class | (1,999,924) | | (665,352) | |
R5 Class | (3,500,888) | | (617,245) | |
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (335,678,393) | | (87,160,803) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | 418,638,776 | | (137,072,165) | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 881,915,199 | | (184,530,260) | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 2,029,299,495 | | 2,213,829,755 | |
End of period | $ | 2,911,214,694 | | $ | 2,029,299,495 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Disciplined Core Value Fund (formerly Income & Growth Fund) (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth by investing in common stocks. Income is a secondary objective.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of
Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually. The fund may elect to treat a portion of its payment to a redeeming shareholder, which represents the pro rata share of undistributed net investment income and net realized gains, as a distribution for federal income tax purposes (tax equalization).
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class's daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund's assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee |
Investor Class | 0.3380% to 0.5200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% |
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2021 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $105,960,090 and $68,578,457, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $25,620,859 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended
June 30, 2021 were $5,789,388,677 and $5,709,663,924, respectively.
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended June 30, 2021 | Year ended June 30, 2020 |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 700,000,000 | | | 370,000,000 | | |
Sold | 5,708,618 | | $ | 230,950,608 | | 2,749,247 | | $ | 97,021,684 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 6,583,099 | | 242,539,451 | | 1,711,370 | | 64,723,217 | |
Redeemed | (8,354,506) | | (340,087,595) | | (6,693,738) | | (242,453,016) | |
| 3,937,211 | | 133,402,464 | | (2,233,121) | | (80,708,115) | |
I Class/Shares Authorized | 140,000,000 | |
| 40,000,000 | | |
Sold | 7,751,329 | | 318,793,094 | | 1,482,368 | | 52,890,938 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,415,321 | | 52,333,909 | | 317,816 | | 12,031,531 | |
Redeemed | (3,222,185) | | (129,132,207) | | (2,559,456) | | (94,053,880) | |
| 5,944,465 | | 241,994,796 | | (759,272) | | (29,131,411) | |
A Class/Shares Authorized | 50,000,000 | |
| 50,000,000 | | |
Sold | 953,219 | | 38,326,670 | | 681,396 | | 24,560,801 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 481,393 | | 17,682,254 | | 129,109 | | 4,884,893 | |
Redeemed | (874,730) | | (34,463,198) | | (1,324,116) | | (48,422,778) | |
| 559,882 | | 21,545,726 | | (513,611) | | (18,977,084) | |
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | |
| 15,000,000 | | |
Sold | 171,319 | | 6,899,197 | | 45,917 | | 1,621,543 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 33,007 | | 1,205,196 | | 6,114 | | 232,367 | |
Redeemed | (110,192) | | (4,350,721) | | (92,408) | | (3,276,568) | |
| 94,134 | | 3,753,672 | | (40,377) | | (1,422,658) | |
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | |
| 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 186,216 | | 7,613,452 | | 134,521 | | 4,748,380 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 50,623 | | 1,860,231 | | 11,377 | | 431,716 | |
Redeemed | (209,542) | | (8,432,505) | | (421,061) | | (15,387,717) | |
| 27,297 | | 1,041,178 | | (275,163) | | (10,207,621) | |
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | |
| 50,000,000 | | |
Sold | 481,786 | | 19,037,581 | | 176,026 | | 6,570,965 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 91,088 | | 3,369,664 | | 16,359 | | 616,770 | |
Redeemed | (138,196) | | (5,506,305) | | (106,978) | | (3,813,011) | |
| 434,678 | | 16,900,940 | | 85,407 | | 3,374,724 | |
Net increase (decrease) | 10,997,667 | | $ | 418,638,776 | | (3,736,137) | | $ | (137,072,165) | |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 2,739,926,902 | | — | | — | |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 56,513,609 | | — | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 13,948,872 | | $ | 74,525,128 | | — | |
| $ | 2,810,389,383 | | $ | 74,525,128 | | — | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | |
Futures Contracts | $ | 1,062,948 | | — | | — | |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $33,449,306 futures contracts purchased.
The value of equity price risk derivative instruments as of June 30, 2021, is disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset of $105,600 in receivable for variation margin on futures contracts.* For the year ended June 30, 2021, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $14,347,852 in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and $178,921 in change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts.
*Included in the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 34,853,046 | | $ | 44,101,500 | |
Long-term capital gains | $ | 300,825,347 | | $ | 43,059,303 | |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
The reclassifications, which are primarily due to tax equalization, were made to capital $48,995,448 and distributable earnings $(48,995,448).
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 2,554,292,105 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 358,318,425 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (27,696,019) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 330,622,406 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 308,244,296 | |
Accumulated long-term gains | $ | 240,581,414 | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Investor Class | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $35.99 | 0.58 | 12.52 | 13.10 | (0.58) | (5.31) | (5.89) | $43.20 | 39.42% | 0.66% | 1.44% | 240% | $2,076,714 | |
2020 | $36.82 | 0.76 | (0.07) | 0.69 | (0.77) | (0.75) | (1.52) | $35.99 | 1.70% | 0.67% | 2.08% | 100% | $1,588,537 | |
2019 | $39.61 | 0.78 | 0.63 | 1.41 | (0.73) | (3.47) | (4.20) | $36.82 | 4.43% | 0.67% | 2.07% | 72% | $1,707,536 | |
2018 | $37.90 | 0.93 | 4.40 | 5.33 | (0.88) | (2.74) | (3.62) | $39.61 | 14.32% | 0.66% | 2.33% | 77% | $1,751,738 | |
2017 | $33.91 | 0.79 | 4.55 | 5.34 | (0.76) | (0.59) | (1.35) | $37.90 | 15.95% | 0.67% | 2.16% | 81% | $1,691,048 | |
I Class | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $36.05 | 0.65 | 12.55 | 13.20 | (0.66) | (5.31) | (5.97) | $43.28 | 39.70% | 0.46% | 1.64% | 240% | $584,160 | |
2020 | $36.88 | 0.83 | (0.07) | 0.76 | (0.84) | (0.75) | (1.59) | $36.05 | 1.90% | 0.47% | 2.28% | 100% | $272,307 | |
2019 | $39.66 | 0.85 | 0.65 | 1.50 | (0.81) | (3.47) | (4.28) | $36.88 | 4.65% | 0.47% | 2.27% | 72% | $306,583 | |
2018 | $37.94 | 0.99 | 4.43 | 5.42 | (0.96) | (2.74) | (3.70) | $39.66 | 14.55% | 0.46% | 2.53% | 77% | $274,687 | |
2017 | $33.95 | 0.86 | 4.55 | 5.41 | (0.83) | (0.59) | (1.42) | $37.94 | 16.16% | 0.47% | 2.36% | 81% | $181,620 | |
A Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $35.93 | 0.48 | 12.49 | 12.97 | (0.48) | (5.31) | (5.79) | $43.11 | 39.04% | 0.91% | 1.19% | 240% | $180,616 | |
2020 | $36.76 | 0.67 | (0.07) | 0.60 | (0.68) | (0.75) | (1.43) | $35.93 | 1.46% | 0.92% | 1.83% | 100% | $130,398 | |
2019 | $39.55 | 0.69 | 0.63 | 1.32 | (0.64) | (3.47) | (4.11) | $36.76 | 4.18% | 0.92% | 1.82% | 72% | $152,312 | |
2018 | $37.85 | 0.83 | 4.39 | 5.22 | (0.78) | (2.74) | (3.52) | $39.55 | 14.03% | 0.91% | 2.08% | 77% | $155,233 | |
2017 | $33.87 | 0.69 | 4.55 | 5.24 | (0.67) | (0.59) | (1.26) | $37.85 | 15.65% | 0.92% | 1.91% | 81% | $156,863 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
C Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $35.84 | 0.17 | 12.48 | 12.65 | (0.18) | (5.31) | (5.49) | $43.00 | 38.05% | 1.66% | 0.44% | 240% | $12,987 | |
2020 | $36.68 | 0.39 | (0.08) | 0.31 | (0.40) | (0.75) | (1.15) | $35.84 | 0.68% | 1.67% | 1.08% | 100% | $7,452 | |
2019 | $39.48 | 0.41 | 0.63 | 1.04 | (0.37) | (3.47) | (3.84) | $36.68 | 3.40% | 1.67% | 1.07% | 72% | $9,107 | |
2018 | $37.79 | 0.53 | 4.39 | 4.92 | (0.49) | (2.74) | (3.23) | $39.48 | 13.18% | 1.66% | 1.33% | 77% | $8,557 | |
2017 | $33.82 | 0.42 | 4.53 | 4.95 | (0.39) | (0.59) | (0.98) | $37.79 | 14.77% | 1.67% | 1.16% | 81% | $7,368 | |
R Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $35.97 | 0.38 | 12.51 | 12.89 | (0.37) | (5.31) | (5.68) | $43.18 | 38.73% | 1.16% | 0.94% | 240% | $18,245 | |
2020 | $36.81 | 0.58 | (0.09) | 0.49 | (0.58) | (0.75) | (1.33) | $35.97 | 1.18% | 1.17% | 1.58% | 100% | $14,218 | |
2019 | $39.59 | 0.60 | 0.64 | 1.24 | (0.55) | (3.47) | (4.02) | $36.81 | 3.95% | 1.17% | 1.57% | 72% | $24,676 | |
2018 | $37.89 | 0.73 | 4.40 | 5.13 | (0.69) | (2.74) | (3.43) | $39.59 | 13.73% | 1.16% | 1.83% | 77% | $25,298 | |
2017 | $33.91 | 0.60 | 4.55 | 5.15 | (0.58) | (0.59) | (1.17) | $37.89 | 15.34% | 1.17% | 1.66% | 81% | $28,052 | |
R5 Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $36.06 | 0.63 | 12.57 | 13.20 | (0.66) | (5.31) | (5.97) | $43.29 | 39.68% | 0.46% | 1.64% | 240% | $38,493 | |
2020 | $36.89 | 0.83 | (0.07) | 0.76 | (0.84) | (0.75) | (1.59) | $36.06 | 1.90% | 0.47% | 2.28% | 100% | $16,388 | |
2019 | $39.66 | 0.88 | 0.63 | 1.51 | (0.81) | (3.47) | (4.28) | $36.89 | 4.68% | 0.47% | 2.27% | 72% | $13,615 | |
2018 | $37.95 | 0.91 | 4.50 | 5.41 | (0.96) | (2.74) | (3.70) | $39.66 | 14.52% | 0.46% | 2.53% | 77% | $4,241 | |
2017(3) | $37.51 | 0.20 | 0.43 | 0.63 | (0.19) | — | (0.19) | $37.95 | 1.68% | 0.47%(4) | 2.37%(4) | 81%(5) | $175 | |
| | |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)April 10, 2017 (commencement of sale) through June 30, 2017.
(4)Annualized.
(5)Portfolio turnover is calculated at the fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated for the year ended June 30, 2017.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of Disciplined Core Value Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Disciplined Core Value Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended
June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
|
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
| | |
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was at the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board concluded that the
management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $34,853,046, or up to the maximum amount
allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as
qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $325,539,361, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term
capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund hereby designates $16,441,699 as qualified short-term capital gain distributions for purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 871 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund utilized earnings and profits of $41,269,838 distributed to shareholders on redemption of
shares as part of the dividends paid deduction (tax equalization).
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92991 2108 | |
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| |
| Annual Report |
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| June 30, 2021 |
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| Disciplined Growth Fund |
| Investor Class (ADSIX) |
| I Class (ADCIX) |
| Y Class (ADCYX) |
| A Class (ADCVX) |
| C Class (ADCCX) |
| R Class (ADRRX) |
| R5 Class (ADGGX) |
| | | | | |
President's Letter | |
Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
| |
Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2021. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Stocks Rallied as Optimism Prevailed
The reporting period began with global financial markets experiencing a sweeping recovery from the initial—and severe—effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift and significant action from central banks and federal governments in early 2020 helped reignite investor confidence in the markets and bolster the economic backdrop. These positive influences generally persisted through the second half of 2020, despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19 and the inconsistent lifting of virus-related restrictions.
In the U.S., improving data on manufacturing, employment and housing, along with a late-2020 federal coronavirus aid package and positive vaccine developments, helped sustain the optimism into the new year. Furthermore, political clarity emerged following the January U.S. Senate run-off elections in Georgia, setting the stage for another federal aid package, which passed in March. Outside the U.S., economies recovered but at a slower pace. Virus outbreaks and slower vaccine rollouts led to lingering lockdowns in some regions.
Overall, despite lingering challenges, corporate earnings generally rallied, and global stocks delivered stellar 12-month returns. The U.S. broadly outperformed other developed markets, with the S&P 500 Index returning more than 40% and small caps (Russell 2000 Index) gaining 62%. The broad economic recovery combined with ongoing monetary and fiscal support, reopenings and soaring commodity prices eventually drove inflation and government bond yields higher. U.S. Treasuries and other perceived safe-haven investments, including gold, declined for the period.
The Return to Normal Will Shape Market Dynamics
The return to pre-pandemic life is progressing. As the U.S. economy continues to rebuild from shutdown-related losses, investors likely will face renewed opportunities and challenges. Economic growth, inflation, the virus’s trajectory, supply chain normalization, and the effects of fiscal and monetary policy likely will be among the factors swaying market dynamics.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. Our firm has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| | | | Average Annual Returns | |
| Ticker Symbol | | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | Inception Date |
Investor Class | ADSIX | | 31.26% | 19.66% | 14.98% | — | 9/30/05 |
Russell 1000 Growth Index | — | | 42.50% | 23.64% | 17.85% | — | — |
I Class | ADCIX | | 31.50% | 19.90% | 15.21% | — | 9/30/05 |
Y Class | ADCYX | | 31.61% | — | — | 19.37% | 4/10/17 |
A Class | ADCVX | | | | | | 9/30/05 |
No sales charge | | | 30.93% | 19.36% | 14.69% | — | |
With sales charge | | | 23.39% | 17.95% | 14.02% | — | |
C Class | ADCCX | | 29.92% | 18.47% | 13.84% | — | 9/28/07 |
R Class | ADRRX | | 30.63% | 19.07% | 14.41% | — | 9/30/05 |
R5 Class | ADGGX | | 31.53% | — | — | 19.31% | 4/10/17 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Extraordinary performance is attributable in part to unusually favorable market conditions and may not be repeated or consistently achieved in the future.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C
Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years |
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2011 |
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
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Value on June 30, 2021 |
| Investor Class — $40,418 |
|
| Russell 1000 Growth Index — $51,748 |
|
Ending value of Investor Class would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived.
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |
Investor Class | I Class | Y Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class |
1.02% | 0.82% | 0.77% | 1.27% | 2.02% | 1.52% | 0.82% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Yulin Long and Tsuyoshi Ozaki
Performance Summary
Disciplined Growth returned 31.26%* for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, compared with the 42.50% return of its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
The fund advanced during the fiscal year, but underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Disciplined Growth’s stock selection process incorporates factors of valuation, quality, growth and sentiment, while striving to minimize unintended risks along industries and other risk characteristics. The fund’s relative returns were primarily driven by stock selection decisions in the information technology and health care sectors. Consumer discretionary and communication services sector holdings also weighed on results compared with the benchmark. Positioning in the consumer staples sector and materials sector holdings contributed to relative performance.
Stock Selection in Several Sectors Detracted From Relative Returns
Security selection in the information technology sector was the largest driver of relative underperformance. Stock choices in the software and IT services industries detracted the most from the sector’s performance. Among software holdings, an overweight position in Workday weighed on returns. The enterprise software maker’s projected future sales disappointed investors. In the IT services industry, limited exposure to Mastercard hurt performance as the credit card company’s earnings and revenues benefited from consumers’ stimulus spending, particularly on domestic travel. An overweight position in Jack Henry & Associates also hindered returns. The payment processing company declined on sluggish sales growth in its payments segments and lower corporate revenues. The investment team opted to liquidate the position.
Stock selection in the biotechnology industry drove results in the health care sector. Being overweight to Vertex Pharmaceuticals weighed heavily on the sector’s performance after the company announced it would stop development of a treatment for liver and lung diseases due to safety issues encountered during clinical trials. An overweight position in Incyte was also detrimental as the biotechnology company declined amid patent protection expiration of one of its rare disease drugs. The investment team ultimately exited the position.
In the consumer discretionary sector, the automobiles industry was a leading detractor from returns. An underweight position in Tesla hindered performance amid a sharp rise in global demand for electric vehicles. Stock choices in the communication services sector also weighed on results. Overweight positions to several video game makers drove detraction in the entertainment industry. Despite rising revenues, Electronic Arts’ earnings forecast weighed on investor sentiment. Take-Two Interactive Software’s stock price declined following lower quarterly sales. Lack of new game releases also disappointed investors. The holding was liquidated by the investment team.
Positioning in Consumer Staples Contributed
Positioning in the beverages industry drove the consumer staples sector’s results. An underweight position in PepsiCo served as a key industry tailwind. Despite revenue and earnings growth from sales of snack foods and drinks, stock prices of the multinational food, snack and beverage company declined in early 2021 as investors gravitated toward stocks of more cyclical companies that would benefit as the economy improved. The Coca-Cola Co. declined for similar reasons, and the portfolio’s underweight compared with the benchmark therefore aided relative results. The investment team chose to exit both investments.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Investor Class returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
The materials sector was also an area of relative strength. Security selection among chemicals companies was especially additive to the portfolio’s performance. An overweight position in lawn, garden and pest control products holding The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company bolstered the portfolio’s performance. Its Hawthorne Gardening division benefited from rising sales of hydroponic equipment, which has gained increased demand as a growing number of states legalized recreational cannabis use. The position was ultimately exited. Among notable individual contributors to relative performance was EMCOR Group, a leading industrial engineering and construction company. The company was attractive for its earnings and balance sheet quality, while reporting strong results amid the sharp rebound in construction activity. The holding was ultimately exited.
A Look Ahead
Our disciplined, objective and systematic investment strategy is designed to take advantage of opportunities at the individual company level. We believe this approach is an effective way to capitalize on market inefficiencies that lead to the mispricing of individual stocks. As a result of this approach, our sector and industry allocations reflect where we are finding the greatest opportunities among individual companies at a given time.
At period-end, information technology was the portfolio’s largest absolute and relative weighting as the investment team’s screens identified a significant number of opportunities in the sector. Although exposure to the health care sector was scaled back slightly, it remained a key portfolio overweight. Conversely, the portfolio’s consumer staples sector underweight reflects a lack of opportunities that align with most factors in the team’s stock selection model. Likewise, the investment team reduced the portfolio’s exposure to the industrials sector, positioning it as a relative underweight, given limited investment opportunities based on the model’s factor scores. The team also increased the portfolio’s consumer discretionary sector weight, though it remains slightly underweight, while reducing exposure to the financials sector, moving the fund from an overweight to a modest underweight position.
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JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 99.2% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 0.3% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.5% |
| |
Top Five Industries | % of net assets |
Software | 20.7% |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 10.6% |
Interactive Media and Services | 10.3% |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals | 9.0% |
IT Services | 7.2% |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25.00 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25.00 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
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| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,104.10 | $5.22 | 1.00% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,105.30 | $4.18 | 0.80% |
Y Class | $1,000 | $1,105.50 | $3.92 | 0.75% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,102.70 | $6.52 | 1.25% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,098.50 | $10.41 | 2.00% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,101.90 | $7.82 | 1.50% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,105.20 | $4.18 | 0.80% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,019.84 | $5.01 | 1.00% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,020.83 | $4.01 | 0.80% |
Y Class | $1,000 | $1,021.08 | $3.76 | 0.75% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,018.60 | $6.26 | 1.25% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,014.88 | $9.99 | 2.00% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,017.36 | $7.50 | 1.50% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,020.83 | $4.01 | 0.80% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
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| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 99.2% | | |
Auto Components — 0.3% | | |
Magna International, Inc. | 13,795 | | $ | 1,277,228 | |
Automobiles — 1.8% | | |
Tesla, Inc.(1) | 13,366 | | 9,084,870 | |
Banks — 0.3% | | |
SVB Financial Group(1) | 2,518 | | 1,401,091 | |
Beverages — 0.7% | | |
Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A(1) | 3,430 | | 3,501,344 | |
Biotechnology — 4.2% | | |
AbbVie, Inc. | 78,350 | | 8,825,344 | |
Moderna, Inc.(1) | 6,732 | | 1,581,885 | |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 16,098 | | 8,991,377 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 7,060 | | 1,423,508 | |
| | 20,822,114 | |
Building Products — 0.3% | | |
AO Smith Corp. | 18,196 | | 1,311,204 | |
Capital Markets — 1.4% | | |
Moody's Corp. | 9,839 | | 3,565,358 | |
MSCI, Inc. | 6,613 | | 3,525,258 | |
| | 7,090,616 | |
Communications Equipment — 0.5% | | |
Arista Networks, Inc.(1) | 7,167 | | 2,596,676 | |
Electrical Equipment — 0.3% | | |
Acuity Brands, Inc. | 7,784 | | 1,455,842 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 1.2% | | |
Cognex Corp. | 42,268 | | 3,552,625 | |
Keysight Technologies, Inc.(1) | 17,038 | | 2,630,838 | |
| | 6,183,463 | |
Entertainment — 1.4% | | |
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 21,998 | | 3,163,972 | |
Netflix, Inc.(1) | 7,175 | | 3,789,907 | |
| | 6,953,879 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.3% | | |
American Tower Corp. | 10,206 | | 2,757,049 | |
Crown Castle International Corp. | 8,346 | | 1,628,304 | |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 18,264 | | 2,383,087 | |
| | 6,768,440 | |
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 4.4% | | |
ABIOMED, Inc.(1) | 5,400 | | 1,685,394 | |
Align Technology, Inc.(1) | 6,034 | | 3,686,774 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(1) | 37,940 | | 3,929,446 | |
Hologic, Inc.(1) | 22,918 | | 1,529,089 | |
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(1) | 9,831 | | 6,208,768 | |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(1) | 5,676 | | 5,219,876 | |
| | 22,259,347 | |
Health Care Providers and Services† | | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(1) | 381 | | 105,099 | |
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| Shares | Value |
Health Care Technology — 1.0% | | |
Cerner Corp. | 24,631 | | $ | 1,925,159 | |
Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A(1) | 9,386 | | 2,918,577 | |
| | 4,843,736 | |
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 3.5% | | |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.(1) | 1,431 | | 2,218,537 | |
Domino's Pizza, Inc. | 7,398 | | 3,451,093 | |
Starbucks Corp. | 87,963 | | 9,835,143 | |
Yum China Holdings, Inc. | 28,100 | | 1,861,625 | |
| | 17,366,398 | |
Interactive Media and Services — 10.3% | | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(1) | 9,651 | | 23,565,715 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1) | 1,101 | | 2,759,458 | |
Facebook, Inc., Class A(1) | 72,629 | | 25,253,830 | |
| | 51,579,003 | |
Internet and Direct Marketing Retail — 6.7% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(1) | 8,610 | | 29,619,778 | |
Etsy, Inc.(1) | 18,236 | | 3,753,698 | |
| | 33,373,476 | |
IT Services — 7.2% | | |
Accenture plc, Class A | 8,687 | | 2,560,841 | |
EPAM Systems, Inc.(1) | 5,484 | | 2,802,105 | |
Gartner, Inc.(1) | 7,358 | | 1,782,108 | |
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 25,409 | | 9,276,572 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(1) | 33,782 | | 9,846,777 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | 42,436 | | 9,922,385 | |
| | 36,190,788 | |
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 0.7% | | |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(1) | 6,968 | | 1,688,486 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.(1) | 1,144 | | 1,584,829 | |
| | 3,273,315 | |
Machinery — 0.9% | | |
Oshkosh Corp. | 26,154 | | 3,259,834 | |
Toro Co. (The) | 13,076 | | 1,436,791 | |
| | 4,696,625 | |
Personal Products — 0.6% | | |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A | 9,851 | | 3,133,406 | |
Pharmaceuticals — 1.3% | | |
Eli Lilly & Co. | 29,276 | | 6,719,427 | |
Professional Services — 1.7% | | |
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 61,908 | | 5,273,323 | |
CoStar Group, Inc.(1) | 21,910 | | 1,814,586 | |
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. | 11,080 | | 1,478,294 | |
| | 8,566,203 | |
Road and Rail — 0.8% | | |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | 15,425 | | 3,914,865 | |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 10.6% | | |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(1) | 37,003 | | 3,475,692 | |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 35,515 | | 5,057,336 | |
Broadcom, Inc. | 12,473 | | 5,947,625 | |
Micron Technology, Inc.(1) | 36,827 | | 3,129,558 | |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 5,353 | | 1,999,078 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
NVIDIA Corp. | 18,752 | | $ | 15,003,475 | |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 10,250 | | 2,108,630 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 70,567 | | 10,086,141 | |
Teradyne, Inc. | 9,476 | | 1,269,405 | |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 27,665 | | 5,319,980 | |
| | 53,396,920 | |
Software — 20.7% | | |
Adobe, Inc.(1) | 19,790 | | 11,589,815 | |
Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A(1) | 10,557 | | 2,711,671 | |
Autodesk, Inc.(1) | 13,542 | | 3,952,910 | |
Box, Inc., Class A(1) | 84,865 | | 2,168,301 | |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(1) | 28,093 | | 3,843,684 | |
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A(1) | 8,828 | | 2,218,565 | |
DocuSign, Inc.(1) | 8,897 | | 2,487,334 | |
Fortinet, Inc.(1) | 9,922 | | 2,363,321 | |
Intuit, Inc. | 12,535 | | 6,144,281 | |
Microsoft Corp. | 188,378 | | 51,031,600 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(1) | 11,018 | | 4,088,229 | |
ServiceNow, Inc.(1) | 10,883 | | 5,980,753 | |
Workday, Inc., Class A(1) | 13,747 | | 3,281,959 | |
Zscaler, Inc.(1) | 9,155 | | 1,978,029 | |
| | 103,840,452 | |
Specialty Retail — 4.5% | | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 34,393 | | 10,967,584 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | 36,619 | | 4,540,756 | |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 39,511 | | 2,663,832 | |
Ulta Beauty, Inc.(1) | 7,874 | | 2,722,593 | |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 9,436 | | 1,506,457 | |
| | 22,401,222 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 9.0% | | |
Apple, Inc. | 330,605 | | 45,279,661 | |
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 1.6% | | |
lululemon athletica, Inc.(1) | 5,524 | | 2,016,094 | |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | 38,277 | | 5,913,414 | |
| | 7,929,508 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $291,328,164) | | 497,316,218 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 0.3% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $571,098), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $559,878) | | 559,878 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.75%, 11/15/42, valued at $950,704), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $932,001) | | 932,000 | |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 279,505 | | 279,505 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $1,771,383) | | 1,771,383 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.5% (Cost $293,099,547) |
| 499,087,601 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.5% |
| 2,262,079 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 501,349,680 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
†Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets.
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Assets | |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $293,099,547) | $ | 499,087,601 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 11,941,982 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | 138,170 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 88,261 | |
| 511,256,014 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for investments purchased | 9,126,310 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 378,871 | |
Accrued management fees | 372,733 | |
Distribution and service fees payable | 28,420 | |
| 9,906,334 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 501,349,680 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 240,683,459 | |
Distributable earnings | 260,666,221 | |
| $ | 501,349,680 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share |
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $273,391,476 | 10,188,758 | $26.83 |
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $149,388,289 | 5,515,780 | $27.08 |
Y Class, $0.01 Par Value | $158,642 | 5,847 | $27.13 |
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $47,150,137 | 1,791,917 | $26.31* |
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $16,774,697 | 716,424 | $23.41 |
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $12,958,015 | 509,805 | $25.42 |
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $1,528,424 | 56,396 | $27.10 |
*Maximum offering price $27.92 (net asset value divided by 0.9425).
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $6,667) | $ | 3,401,526 | |
Interest | 3,051 | |
| 3,404,577 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 4,443,349 | |
Distribution and service fees: | |
A Class | 100,842 | |
C Class | 203,960 | |
R Class | 56,252 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 31,808 | |
Other expenses | 6,976 | |
| 4,843,187 | |
Fees waived(1) | (47,243) | |
| 4,795,944 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | (1,391,367) | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 80,460,627 | |
Futures contract transactions | 1,714,452 | |
Foreign currency translation transactions | 635 |
| 82,175,714 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | 47,640,237 | |
Futures contracts | (36,367) | |
| 47,603,870 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 129,779,584 | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 128,388,217 | |
(1)Amount consists of $25,960, $13,920, $22, $4,034, $2,040, $1,125 and $142 for Investor Class, I Class, Y Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class, respectively.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | (1,391,367) | | $ | (458,413) | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 82,175,714 | | 99,531,126 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 47,603,870 | | (12,917,756) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 128,388,217 | | 86,154,957 | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings: | | |
Investor Class | (43,315,076) | | (19,742,797) | |
I Class | (23,331,102) | | (14,515,555) | |
Y Class | (41,485) | | (29,840) | |
A Class | (6,605,695) | | (2,597,617) | |
C Class | (3,987,546) | | (2,101,210) | |
R Class | (1,907,301) | | (775,728) | |
R5 Class | (240,227) | | (64,578) | |
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (79,428,432) | | (39,827,325) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | 10,212,654 | | (138,096,911) | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 59,172,439 | | (91,769,279) | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 442,177,241 | | 533,946,520 | |
End of period | $ | 501,349,680 | | $ | 442,177,241 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Disciplined Growth Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, Y Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The funds may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid semiannually. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually. The fund may elect to treat a portion of its payment to a redeeming shareholder, which represents the pro rata share of undistributed net investment income and net realized gains, as a distribution for federal income tax purposes (tax equalization).
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class's daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund’s assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds. During the period ended June 30, 2021, the investment advisor agreed to waive 0.01% of the fund's management fee. The investment advisor expects this waiver to continue until July 31, 2022 and cannot terminate it prior to such date without the approval of the Board of Directors.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee before and after waiver for each class for the period ended June 30, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee |
Before Waiver | After Waiver |
Investor Class | 0.6880% to 0.8700% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% |
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.80% | 0.79% |
Y Class | 0.0000% to 0.0600% | 0.75% | 0.74% |
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% |
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% |
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% |
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.80% | 0.79% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2021 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $11,657,560 and $11,549,426, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $1,007,196 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended
June 30, 2021 were $874,576,010 and $926,128,611, respectively.
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended June 30, 2021 | Year ended June 30, 2020 |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 400,000,000 | | | 170,000,000 | | |
Sold | 1,520,837 | | $ | 39,264,722 | | 1,261,048 | | $ | 27,858,757 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,738,868 | | 41,937,746 | | 889,315 | | 19,280,340 | |
Redeemed | (2,845,378) | | (73,249,106) | | (3,908,883) | | (85,287,974) | |
| 414,327 | | 7,953,362 | | (1,758,520) | | (38,148,877) | |
I Class/Shares Authorized | 100,000,000 | | | 100,000,000 | | |
Sold | 1,130,115 | | 29,321,025 | | 947,512 | | 20,998,104 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 955,719 | | 23,243,092 | | 664,465 | | 14,478,684 | |
Redeemed | (2,126,855) | | (54,641,025) | | (5,846,700) | | (126,745,336) | |
| (41,021) | | (2,076,908) | | (4,234,723) | | (91,268,548) | |
Y Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | | | 50,000,000 | | |
Sold | — | | — | | 547 | | 12,143 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,704 | | 41,485 | | 1,368 | | 29,840 | |
Redeemed | (5,288) | | (132,608) | | (18,978) | | (429,123) | |
| (3,584) | | (91,123) | | (17,063) | | (387,140) | |
A Class/Shares Authorized | 50,000,000 | | | 50,000,000 | | |
Sold | 531,794 | | 13,349,743 | | 238,636 | | 5,163,120 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 260,806 | | 6,175,882 | | 111,662 | | 2,390,694 | |
Redeemed | (420,160) | | (10,675,909) | | (400,827) | | (8,643,889) | |
| 372,440 | | 8,849,716 | | (50,529) | | (1,090,075) | |
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | | | 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 39,930 | | 912,965 | | 53,988 | | 1,039,561 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 187,436 | | 3,964,277 | | 102,058 | | 2,005,435 | |
Redeemed | (527,323) | | (11,884,827) | | (445,546) | | (8,913,381) | |
| (299,957) | | (7,007,585) | | (289,500) | | (5,868,385) | |
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | | | 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 134,561 | | 3,289,373 | | 82,972 | | 1,773,737 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 82,771 | | 1,895,443 | | 37,170 | | 775,728 | |
Redeemed | (115,203) | | (2,833,461) | | (184,733) | | (3,945,878) | |
| 102,129 | | 2,351,355 | | (64,591) | | (1,396,413) | |
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | | | 50,000,000 | | |
Sold | 21,815 | | 563,135 | | 20,945 | | 454,916 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 9,874 | | 240,227 | | 2,962 | | 64,578 | |
Redeemed | (22,244) | | (569,525) | | (20,777) | | (456,967) | |
| 9,445 | | 233,837 | | 3,130 | | 62,527 | |
Net increase (decrease) | 553,779 | | $ | 10,212,654 | | (6,411,796) | | $ | (138,096,911) | |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 496,038,990 | | $ | 1,277,228 | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 279,505 | | 1,491,878 | | — | |
| $ | 496,318,495 | | $ | 2,769,106 | | — | |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $7,125,159 futures contracts purchased.
At period end, the fund did not have any derivative instruments disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended June 30, 2021, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $1,714,452 in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and $(36,367) in change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 13,496,593 | | $ | 4,359,897 | |
Long-term capital gains | $ | 65,931,839 | | $ | 35,467,428 | |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 294,549,972 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 205,417,934 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (880,305) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 204,537,629 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 20,119,780 | |
Accumulated long-term gains | $ | 36,008,812 | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | | | |
Per-Share Data | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Investor Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $24.39 | (0.07) | 7.17 | 7.10 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $26.83 | 31.26% | 1.00% | 1.01% | (0.28)% | (0.29)% | 189% | $273,391 | |
2020 | $21.76 | (0.02) | 4.59 | 4.57 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.39 | 22.13% | 1.01% | 1.02% | (0.10)% | (0.11)% | 142% | $238,408 | |
2019 | $24.05 | 0.05 | 1.08 | 1.13 | (0.04) | (3.38) | (3.42) | $21.76 | 6.61% | 1.02% | 1.02% | 0.24% | 0.24% | 105% | $250,920 | |
2018 | $22.10 | 0.05 | 3.97 | 4.02 | (0.03) | (2.04) | (2.07) | $24.05 | 18.80% | 1.02% | 1.02% | 0.21% | 0.21% | 97% | $362,865 | |
2017 | $18.36 | 0.11 | 3.74 | 3.85 | (0.11) | — | (0.11) | $22.10 | 20.88% | 1.02% | 1.02% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 124% | $434,242 | |
I Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $24.54 | (0.02) | 7.22 | 7.20 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $27.08 | 31.50% | 0.80% | 0.81% | (0.08)% | (0.09)% | 189% | $149,388 | |
2020 | $21.84 | 0.02 | 4.62 | 4.64 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.54 | 22.38% | 0.81% | 0.82% | 0.10% | 0.09% | 142% | $136,351 | |
2019 | $24.13 | 0.10 | 1.08 | 1.18 | (0.09) | (3.38) | (3.47) | $21.84 | 6.82% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.44% | 0.44% | 105% | $213,805 | |
2018 | $22.16 | 0.10 | 3.99 | 4.09 | (0.08) | (2.04) | (2.12) | $24.13 | 19.01% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.41% | 0.41% | 97% | $231,261 | |
2017 | $18.41 | 0.15 | 3.75 | 3.90 | (0.15) | — | (0.15) | $22.16 | 21.18% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.71% | 0.71% | 124% | $238,480 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | | | |
Per-Share Data | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Y Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $24.56 | (0.01) | 7.24 | 7.23 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $27.13 | 31.61% | 0.75% | 0.76% | (0.03)% | (0.04)% | 189% | $159 | |
2020 | $21.85 | 0.04 | 4.61 | 4.65 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.56 | 22.42% | 0.76% | 0.77% | 0.15% | 0.14% | 142% | $232 | |
2019 | $24.14 | 0.12 | 1.07 | 1.19 | (0.10) | (3.38) | (3.48) | $21.85 | 6.87% | 0.77% | 0.77% | 0.49% | 0.49% | 105% | $579 | |
2018 | $22.17 | 0.11 | 3.99 | 4.10 | (0.09) | (2.04) | (2.13) | $24.14 | 19.06% | 0.77% | 0.77% | 0.46% | 0.46% | 97% | $6 | |
2017(3) | $21.62 | 0.04 | 0.63 | 0.67 | (0.12) | — | (0.12) | $22.17 | 3.07% | 0.77%(4) | 0.77%(4) | 0.74%(4) | 0.74%(4) | 124%(5) | $5 | |
A Class | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $24.05 | (0.13) | 7.05 | 6.92 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $26.31 | 30.93% | 1.25% | 1.26% | (0.53)% | (0.54)% | 189% | $47,150 | |
2020 | $21.53 | (0.08) | 4.54 | 4.46 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.05 | 21.84% | 1.26% | 1.27% | (0.35)% | (0.36)% | 142% | $34,139 | |
2019 | $23.87 | —(6) | 1.06 | 1.06 | (0.02) | (3.38) | (3.40) | $21.53 | 6.32% | 1.27% | 1.27% | (0.01)% | (0.01)% | 105% | $31,650 | |
2018 | $21.97 | (0.01) | 3.95 | 3.94 | — | (2.04) | (2.04) | $23.87 | 18.48% | 1.27% | 1.27% | (0.04)% | (0.04)% | 97% | $37,832 | |
2017 | $18.28 | 0.05 | 3.72 | 3.77 | (0.08) | — | (0.08) | $21.97 | 20.61% | 1.27% | 1.27% | 0.26% | 0.26% | 124% | $58,469 | |
C Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $21.99 | (0.29) | 6.37 | 6.08 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $23.41 | 29.92% | 2.00% | 2.01% | (1.28)% | (1.29)% | 189% | $16,775 | |
2020 | $19.98 | (0.22) | 4.17 | 3.95 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $21.99 | 20.94% | 2.01% | 2.02% | (1.10)% | (1.11)% | 142% | $22,346 | |
2019 | $22.55 | (0.16) | 0.97 | 0.81 | — | (3.38) | (3.38) | $19.98 | 5.57% | 2.02% | 2.02% | (0.76)% | (0.76)% | 105% | $26,088 | |
2018 | $21.00 | (0.17) | 3.76 | 3.59 | — | (2.04) | (2.04) | $22.55 | 17.57% | 2.02% | 2.02% | (0.79)% | (0.79)% | 97% | $40,253 | |
2017 | $17.54 | (0.09) | 3.55 | 3.46 | — | — | — | $21.00 | 19.73% | 2.02% | 2.02% | (0.49)% | (0.49)% | 124% | $44,456 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | | | |
Per-Share Data | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
R Class | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $23.42 | (0.19) | 6.85 | 6.66 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $25.42 | 30.63% | 1.50% | 1.51% | (0.78)% | (0.79)% | 189% | $12,958 | |
2020 | $21.06 | (0.13) | 4.43 | 4.30 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $23.42 | 21.56% | 1.51% | 1.52% | (0.60)% | (0.61)% | 142% | $9,548 | |
2019 | $23.47 | (0.06) | 1.03 | 0.97 | — | (3.38) | (3.38) | $21.06 | 6.03% | 1.52% | 1.52% | (0.26)% | (0.26)% | 105% | $9,948 | |
2018 | $21.68 | (0.06) | 3.89 | 3.83 | — | (2.04) | (2.04) | $23.47 | 18.20% | 1.52% | 1.52% | (0.29)% | (0.29)% | 97% | $10,626 | |
2017 | $18.06 | —(6) | 3.67 | 3.67 | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $21.68 | 20.33% | 1.52% | 1.52% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 124% | $11,184 | |
R5 Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $24.55 | (0.02) | 7.23 | 7.21 | — | (4.66) | (4.66) | $27.10 | 31.53% | 0.80% | 0.81% | (0.08)% | (0.09)% | 189% | $1,528 | |
2020 | $21.85 | 0.02 | 4.62 | 4.64 | — | (1.94) | (1.94) | $24.55 | 22.37% | 0.81% | 0.82% | 0.10% | 0.09% | 142% | $1,153 | |
2019 | $24.14 | 0.10 | 1.08 | 1.18 | (0.09) | (3.38) | (3.47) | $21.85 | 6.82% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.44% | 0.44% | 105% | $957 | |
2018 | $22.17 | 0.10 | 3.99 | 4.09 | (0.08) | (2.04) | (2.12) | $24.14 | 19.00% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.41% | 0.41% | 97% | $1,142 | |
2017(3) | $21.62 | 0.03 | 0.63 | 0.66 | (0.11) | — | (0.11) | $22.17 | 3.06% | 0.82%(4) | 0.82%(4) | 0.69%(4) | 0.69%(4) | 124%(5) | $5 | |
| | |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)April 10, 2017 (commencement of sale) through June 30, 2017.
(4)Annualized.
(5)Portfolio turnover is calculated at the fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated for the year ended June 30, 2017.
(6)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of Disciplined Growth Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Disciplined Growth Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
|
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
| | |
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board and the Advisor
agreed to a temporary reduction of the Fund's annual unified management fee of 0.01% (e.g., the Investor Class unified fee will be reduced from 1.01% to 1.00%) for at least one year, beginning August 1, 2021. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $2,988,070, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $14,671,144 as qualified short-term capital gain distributions for purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 871 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund hereby designates $67,759,070 or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund utilized earnings and profits of $3,001,782 distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares as part of the dividends paid deduction (tax equalization).
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92989 2108 | |
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| Annual Report |
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| June 30, 2021 |
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| Equity Growth Fund |
| Investor Class (BEQGX) |
| I Class (AMEIX) |
| A Class (BEQAX) |
| C Class (AEYCX) |
| R Class (AEYRX) |
| R5 Class (AEYGX) |
| | | | | |
President's Letter | |
Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
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Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2021. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Stocks Rallied as Optimism Prevailed
The reporting period began with global financial markets experiencing a sweeping recovery from the initial—and severe—effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift and significant action from central banks and federal governments in early 2020 helped reignite investor confidence in the markets and bolster the economic backdrop. These positive influences generally persisted through the second half of 2020, despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19 and the inconsistent lifting of virus-related restrictions.
In the U.S., improving data on manufacturing, employment and housing, along with a late-2020 federal coronavirus aid package and positive vaccine developments, helped sustain the optimism into the new year. Furthermore, political clarity emerged following the January U.S. Senate run-off elections in Georgia, setting the stage for another federal aid package, which passed in March. Outside the U.S., economies recovered but at a slower pace. Virus outbreaks and slower vaccine rollouts led to lingering lockdowns in some regions.
Overall, despite lingering challenges, corporate earnings generally rallied, and global stocks delivered stellar 12-month returns. The U.S. broadly outperformed other developed markets, with the S&P 500 Index returning more than 40% and small caps (Russell 2000 Index) gaining 62%. The broad economic recovery combined with ongoing monetary and fiscal support, reopenings and soaring commodity prices eventually drove inflation and government bond yields higher. U.S. Treasuries and other perceived safe-haven investments, including gold, declined for the period.
The Return to Normal Will Shape Market Dynamics
The return to pre-pandemic life is progressing. As the U.S. economy continues to rebuild from shutdown-related losses, investors likely will face renewed opportunities and challenges. Economic growth, inflation, the virus’s trajectory, supply chain normalization, and the effects of fiscal and monetary policy likely will be among the factors swaying market dynamics.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. Our firm has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| | | | Average Annual Returns | |
| Ticker Symbol | | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | Inception Date |
Investor Class | BEQGX | | 35.42% | 15.95% | 13.20% | — | 5/9/91 |
S&P 500 Index | — | | 40.79% | 17.64% | 14.83% | — | — |
I Class | AMEIX | | 35.68% | 16.18% | 13.42% | — | 1/2/98 |
A Class | BEQAX | | | | | — | 10/9/97 |
No sales charge | | | 35.10% | 15.66% | 12.92% | — | |
With sales charge | | | 27.34% | 14.30% | 12.25% | — | |
C Class | AEYCX | | 34.07% | 14.80% | 12.07% | — | 7/18/01 |
R Class | AEYRX | | 34.77% | 15.37% | 12.64% | — | 7/29/05 |
R5 Class | AEYGX | | 35.72% | — | — | 15.49% | 4/10/17 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available. Extraordinary performance is attributable in part to unusually favorable market conditions and may not be repeated or consistently achieved in the future.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years |
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2011 |
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
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Value on June 30, 2021 |
| Investor Class — $34,571 |
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| S&P 500 Index — $39,893 |
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | | | |
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class |
0.67% | 0.47% | 0.92% | 1.67% | 1.17% | 0.47% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Steven Rossi and Guan Wang
Performance Summary
Equity Growth returned 35.42%* for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, compared with the 40.79% return of its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index.
Equity Growth advanced during the fiscal year, but underperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. Equity Growth’s stock selection process incorporates factors of valuation, quality, growth and sentiment, while striving to minimize unintended risks along industries and other risk characteristics. The fund’s returns were primarily driven by stock selection decisions in the communication services and health care sectors, although positioning in the financials sector also weighed on results. Security selection in materials and an underweight position in the real estate sector contributed to relative performance.
Communication Services Stocks Detracted the Most
Stock choices in the communication services sector weighed most heavily on the fund’s results. Overweight positions to several video game makers drove detraction in the entertainment industry. Despite rising revenues, Electronic Arts’ earnings forecast weighed on investor sentiment. Take-Two Interactive Software’s stock price declined following lower quarterly sales. Lack of new game releases also disappointed investors. Positioning in the diversified telecommunication services industry also hindered the sector’s performance. For example, an overweight position in Verizon Communications was detrimental after the company’s fourth-quarter 2020 results revealed weaker-than-expected wireless subscriber growth. The investment team ultimately exited the position.
Stock selection in the health care sector also held back relative returns. Being overweight to Incyte was detrimental as the biotechnology company declined amid patent protection expiration of one of its rare disease drugs. Overweight positioning in the health care providers and services industry also detracted. Managed care company Humana declined after posting a fourth-quarter 2020 loss due to sharply higher COVID-19 treatment expenses. Similarly, an overweight to Cerner hurt relative performance as the health care technology company announced disappointing fourth-quarter earnings.
Positioning in the financials sector was another source of weakness. Stock selection among capital markets companies, particularly an underweight to The Charles Schwab Corp., was detrimental as the brokerage firm advanced amid several prominent acquisitions and higher revenues from increased trading activity. Limited exposure to banks also detracted from relative performance. JPMorgan Chase & Co. rallied sharply on higher trading and advisory revenues and growing consumer banking demand. Among notable individual detractors, it hurt relative performance to be underrepresented in shares of gaming and artificial intelligence chipmaker NVIDIA. The company enjoyed solid earnings and revenue growth based on strength in data center and gaming chips.
Materials and Real Estate Contributed to Returns
Stock selection in the materials sector contributed to relative performance. Rising demand for industrial metals amid the economic recovery boosted materials prices, benefiting the metals and mining industry, where the portfolio is overweight. Significant contribution came from portfolio-only positions in several steel producers, including Cleveland-Cliffs, Reliance Steel & Aluminum and Steel Dynamics. The investment team opted to lock in gains and exited all three stocks.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
Positioning among containers and packaging companies also served as a portfolio tailwind. Overweight positions in International Paper and WestRock bolstered relative gains. Both companies benefited from pandemic-driven demand for corrugated cardboard packaging from e-commerce companies and strong sales of paper products, particularly to processed foods and beverages makers. The position in International Paper was ultimately liquidated.
An underweight to the real estate sector also contributed to relative performance. It helped performance compared with the benchmark to not hold several equity real estate investment trusts (REITs). These declined as investors rotated out of select cellular tower and data center REIT stocks that had benefited during the pandemic’s lockdowns and transition to work from home. Not owning cell tower operators American Tower and Crown Castle International was additive to the portfolio’s relative returns. Among leading individual contributors to relative performance, it was beneficial to hold positions in semiconductor-related stocks Applied Materials and Lam Research. Chipmakers saw strong demand for their products during the lockdown and resulting recovery, while factory shutdowns and supply disruptions constrained supply. This resulted in strong pricing and performance for chipmakers such as Lam Research, and companies selling equipment and services to the industry, such as Applied Materials. Lam Research was subsequently sold.
A Look Ahead
Our disciplined, objective and systematic investment strategy is designed to take advantage of opportunities at the individual company level. We believe this approach is an effective way to capitalize on market inefficiencies that lead to the mispricing of individual stocks. Our strategy is designed to provide investors with well-diversified and risk-managed exposure to broad U.S. equities. As such, we do not see significant deviations in sector weightings versus the S&P 500 Index. Nevertheless, we can point to select sectors and industries where we are finding more or less investment opportunity.
At period-end, information technology was the portfolio’s largest absolute and relative weighting as the investment team’s screens identified a significant number of opportunities in the sector. The industrials and consumer discretionary sectors were also areas of notable active exposure. Conversely, the portfolio’s consumer staples sector underweight reflects a lack of opportunities that align with most factors in the team’s stock selection model. Likewise, the portfolio maintains a relative underweight position to the financials sector, where investment opportunities remain limited based on the model’s factor scores.
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JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 97.0% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 2.7% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.3% |
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Top Five Industries | % of net assets |
Software | 10.1% |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 8.6% |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals | 6.8% |
IT Services | 6.4% |
Health Care Providers and Services | 5.8% |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25.00 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25.00 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
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| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,153.80 | $3.47 | 0.65% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,155.00 | $2.40 | 0.45% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,152.30 | $4.80 | 0.90% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,148.30 | $8.79 | 1.65% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,151.20 | $6.13 | 1.15% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,154.90 | $2.40 | 0.45% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.57 | $3.26 | 0.65% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,022.56 | $2.26 | 0.45% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,020.33 | $4.51 | 0.90% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,016.61 | $8.25 | 1.65% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,019.09 | $5.76 | 1.15% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,022.56 | $2.26 | 0.45% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 97.0% |
|
|
Aerospace and Defense — 2.1% | | |
Boeing Co. (The)(1) | 33,677 | | $ | 8,067,662 | |
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 56,201 | | 11,844,361 | |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | 63,480 | | 23,070,536 | |
Textron, Inc. | 172,393 | | 11,855,467 | |
| | 54,838,026 | |
Air Freight and Logistics — 1.3% | | |
FedEx Corp. | 112,544 | | 33,575,252 | |
Auto Components — 0.6% | | |
Magna International, Inc. | 182,376 | | 16,895,313 | |
Automobiles — 2.9% | | |
Ford Motor Co.(1) | 2,141,089 | | 31,816,582 | |
General Motors Co.(1) | 206,595 | | 12,224,226 | |
Tesla, Inc.(1) | 47,938 | | 32,583,459 | |
| | 76,624,267 | |
Banks — 3.1% | | |
Bank of America Corp. | 768,432 | | 31,682,452 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | 145,837 | | 10,317,968 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 99,706 | | 15,508,271 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 576,215 | | 26,096,777 | |
| | 83,605,468 | |
Biotechnology — 3.7% | | |
AbbVie, Inc. | 275,001 | | 30,976,113 | |
Exelixis, Inc.(1) | 605,043 | | 11,023,884 | |
Incyte Corp.(1) | 115,465 | | 9,714,070 | |
Moderna, Inc.(1) | 113,084 | | 26,572,478 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 102,633 | | 20,693,892 | |
| | 98,980,437 | |
Building Products — 1.6% | | |
AO Smith Corp. | 151,941 | | 10,948,869 | |
Masco Corp. | 165,140 | | 9,728,397 | |
Owens Corning | 225,568 | | 22,083,107 | |
| | 42,760,373 | |
Capital Markets — 2.3% | | |
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | 96,223 | | 11,455,348 | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | 186,878 | | 13,606,587 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 26,374 | | 10,009,725 | |
Morgan Stanley | 282,984 | | 25,946,803 | |
| | 61,018,463 | |
Chemicals — 1.6% | | |
Chemours Co. (The) | 337,546 | | 11,746,601 | |
Eastman Chemical Co. | 133,237 | | 15,555,420 | |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | 53,960 | | 14,701,402 | |
| | 42,003,423 | |
Commercial Services and Supplies — 0.5% | | |
Waste Management, Inc. | 99,698 | | 13,968,687 | |
Communications Equipment — 0.8% | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 315,196 | | 16,705,388 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Motorola Solutions, Inc. | 24,914 | | $ | 5,402,601 | |
| | 22,107,989 | |
Construction and Engineering — 1.0% | | |
EMCOR Group, Inc. | 77,564 | | 9,555,109 | |
MasTec, Inc.(1) | 171,669 | | 18,214,081 | |
| | 27,769,190 | |
Consumer Finance — 0.7% | | |
Synchrony Financial | 399,952 | | 19,405,671 | |
Containers and Packaging — 0.5% | | |
WestRock Co. | 231,589 | | 12,325,167 | |
Distributors — 0.3% | | |
LKQ Corp.(1) | 152,444 | | 7,503,294 | |
Diversified Financial Services — 1.2% | | |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(1) | 112,961 | | 31,394,121 | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.4% | | |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | 845,123 | | 11,485,222 | |
Electrical Equipment — 1.7% | | |
Eaton Corp. plc | 153,736 | | 22,780,600 | |
nVent Electric plc | 342,734 | | 10,707,010 | |
Regal Beloit Corp. | 89,323 | | 11,925,514 | |
| | 45,413,124 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 0.5% | | |
SYNNEX Corp. | 119,842 | | 14,591,962 | |
Entertainment — 1.3% | | |
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 84,961 | | 12,219,940 | |
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.(1) | 60,006 | | 10,622,262 | |
Walt Disney Co. (The)(1) | 64,223 | | 11,288,477 | |
| | 34,130,679 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.6% | | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 22,237 | | 941,070 | |
Prologis, Inc. | 229,798 | | 27,467,755 | |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 108,095 | | 14,104,235 | |
| | 42,513,060 | |
Food and Staples Retailing — 0.5% | | |
Walmart, Inc. | 87,475 | | 12,335,724 | |
Food Products — 1.2% | | |
Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A | 431,272 | | 31,810,623 | |
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 1.1% | | |
Danaher Corp. | 104,386 | | 28,013,027 | |
Health Care Providers and Services — 5.8% | | |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.(1) | 176,405 | | 17,107,757 | |
CVS Health Corp. | 166,705 | | 13,909,865 | |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 174,378 | | 36,050,908 | |
Humana, Inc. | 49,096 | | 21,735,781 | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(1) | 1,567 | | 432,257 | |
McKesson Corp. | 109,935 | | 21,023,969 | |
Molina Healthcare, Inc.(1) | 62,312 | | 15,768,675 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 67,935 | | 27,203,891 | |
| | 153,233,103 | |
Health Care Technology — 0.4% | | |
Cerner Corp. | 123,006 | | 9,614,149 | |
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 0.3% | | |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | 81,605 | | 9,387,023 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Household Durables — 0.8% | | |
Mohawk Industries, Inc.(1) | 104,358 | | $ | 20,056,564 | |
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.9% | | |
3M Co. | 115,948 | | 23,030,751 | |
Interactive Media and Services — 5.7% | | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(1) | 36,107 | | 88,165,711 | |
Facebook, Inc., Class A(1) | 182,483 | | 63,451,164 | |
| | 151,616,875 | |
Internet and Direct Marketing Retail — 3.2% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(1) | 24,510 | | 84,318,322 | |
IT Services — 6.4% | | |
Accenture plc, Class A | 189,049 | | 55,729,755 | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc.(1) | 224,447 | | 26,170,520 | |
Amdocs Ltd. | 227,663 | | 17,612,010 | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A | 155,034 | | 10,737,655 | |
International Business Machines Corp. | 174,406 | | 25,566,175 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(1) | 115,443 | | 33,649,326 | |
| | 169,465,441 | |
Leisure Products — 0.2% | | |
Polaris, Inc. | 47,238 | | 6,469,716 | |
Machinery — 0.9% | | |
AGCO Corp. | 70,787 | | 9,229,209 | |
Timken Co. (The) | 173,023 | | 13,943,924 | |
| | 23,173,133 | |
Media — 3.7% | | |
Altice USA, Inc., Class A(1) | 692,558 | | 23,643,930 | |
AMC Networks, Inc., Class A(1) | 92,816 | | 6,200,109 | |
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A(1) | 37,658 | | 27,168,364 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 710,521 | | 40,513,907 | |
| | 97,526,310 | |
Multiline Retail — 1.4% | | |
Target Corp. | 152,326 | | 36,823,287 | |
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 1.1% | | |
Chevron Corp. | 281,016 | | 29,433,616 | |
Paper and Forest Products — 0.2% | | |
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. | 75,597 | | 4,557,743 | |
Pharmaceuticals — 2.4% | | |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 513,173 | | 34,290,220 | |
Johnson & Johnson | 64,604 | | 10,642,863 | |
Pfizer, Inc. | 514,150 | | 20,134,114 | |
| | 65,067,197 | |
Professional Services — 0.2% | | |
Robert Half International, Inc. | 71,231 | | 6,337,422 | |
Road and Rail — 0.7% | | |
Landstar System, Inc. | 28,527 | | 4,507,836 | |
Ryder System, Inc. | 191,721 | | 14,250,622 | |
| | 18,758,458 | |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 8.6% | | |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 244,687 | | 34,843,429 | |
Broadcom, Inc. | 70,608 | | 33,668,719 | |
Intel Corp. | 413,632 | | 23,221,300 | |
Micron Technology, Inc.(1) | 290,449 | | 24,682,356 | |
NVIDIA Corp. | 17,583 | | 14,068,158 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 144,384 | | $ | 29,702,677 | |
Qorvo, Inc.(1) | 106,739 | | 20,883,485 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 192,560 | | 27,522,601 | |
STMicroelectronics NV, (New York) | 216,345 | | 7,870,631 | |
Synaptics, Inc.(1) | 80,471 | | 12,519,678 | |
| | 228,983,034 | |
Software — 10.1% | | |
Adobe, Inc.(1) | 4,612 | | 2,700,972 | |
Autodesk, Inc.(1) | 37,248 | | 10,872,691 | |
Dropbox, Inc., Class A(1) | 470,000 | | 14,245,700 | |
Fortinet, Inc.(1) | 65,686 | | 15,645,748 | |
HubSpot, Inc.(1) | 18,000 | | 10,488,960 | |
Microsoft Corp. | 567,912 | | 153,847,361 | |
Oracle Corp. (New York) | 386,335 | | 30,072,316 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(1) | 26,013 | | 9,652,124 | |
salesforce.com, Inc.(1) | 90,248 | | 22,044,879 | |
| | 269,570,751 | |
Specialty Retail — 4.5% | | |
AutoNation, Inc.(1) | 81,052 | | 7,684,540 | |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 198,664 | | 22,842,387 | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 111,880 | | 35,677,413 | |
L Brands, Inc. | 105,000 | | 7,566,300 | |
Lithia Motors, Inc., Class A | 27,754 | | 9,537,384 | |
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 124,307 | | 24,111,829 | |
RH(1) | 9,891 | | 6,715,989 | |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 31,029 | | 4,953,780 | |
| | 119,089,622 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 6.8% | | |
Apple, Inc. | 927,339 | | 127,008,349 | |
HP, Inc. | 404,771 | | 12,220,037 | |
Logitech International SA | 82,840 | | 10,017,013 | |
NetApp, Inc. | 130,464 | | 10,674,565 | |
Seagate Technology Holdings plc | 238,865 | | 21,003,399 | |
| | 180,923,363 | |
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 0.2% | | |
Crocs, Inc.(1) | 51,937 | | 6,051,699 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $1,939,479,171) | | 2,578,556,141 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 2.7% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $22,697,368), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $22,251,443) | | 22,251,437 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.75%, 11/15/42, valued at $37,837,934), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $37,096,021) | | 37,096,000 | |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 11,108,432 | | 11,108,432 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $70,455,869) | | 70,455,869 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.7% (Cost $2,009,935,040) |
| 2,649,012,010 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.3% |
| 9,162,384 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 2,658,174,394 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FUTURES CONTRACTS PURCHASED |
Reference Entity | Contracts | Expiration Date | Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)^ |
S&P 500 E-Mini | 244 | September 2021 | $ | 52,320,920 | | $ | 969,686 | |
^Amount represents value and unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
| | | | | | | | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Assets | |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $2,009,935,040) | $ | 2,649,012,010 | |
Deposits with broker for futures contracts | 2,673,000 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 52,558,002 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | 482,889 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 957,457 | |
| 2,705,683,358 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for investments purchased | 44,978,902 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 1,170,757 | |
Payable for variation margin on futures contracts | 9,961 | |
Accrued management fees | 1,318,831 | |
Distribution and service fees payable | 30,513 | |
| 47,508,964 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 2,658,174,394 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 1,555,044,430 | |
Distributable earnings | 1,103,129,964 | |
| $ | 2,658,174,394 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share |
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $1,998,353,448 | 54,654,744 | $36.56 |
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $548,632,260 | 14,984,978 | $36.61 |
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $75,251,822 | 2,061,812 | $36.50* |
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $4,950,143 | 137,819 | $35.92 |
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $24,890,750 | 681,410 | $36.53 |
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $6,095,971 | 166,481 | $36.62 |
*Maximum offering price $38.73 (net asset value divided by 0.9425).
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $25,366) | $ | 36,432,100 | |
Interest | 16,653 | |
| 36,448,753 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 15,093,205 | |
Distribution and service fees: | |
A Class | 177,823 | |
C Class | 55,791 | |
R Class | 119,508 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 162,947 | |
Other expenses | 15,748 | |
| 15,625,022 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | 20,823,731 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 553,266,383 | |
Futures contract transactions | 12,540,908 | |
| 565,807,291 | |
| |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | 151,656,695 | |
Futures contracts | (259,976) | |
| 151,396,719 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 717,204,010 | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 738,027,741 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 20,823,731 | | $ | 27,692,706 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 565,807,291 | | 359,535,171 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 151,396,719 | | (241,763,983) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 738,027,741 | | 145,463,894 | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings: | | |
Investor Class | (222,778,857) | | (193,302,904) | |
I Class | (34,006,711) | | (40,657,808) | |
A Class | (7,821,585) | | (6,862,367) | |
C Class | (629,536) | | (598,033) | |
R Class | (2,618,196) | | (2,047,280) | |
R5 Class | (320,232) | | (218,843) | |
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (268,175,117) | | (243,687,235) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | (111,794,999) | | (449,071,936) | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 358,057,625 | | (547,295,277) | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 2,300,116,769 | | 2,847,412,046 | |
End of period | $ | 2,658,174,394 | | $ | 2,300,116,769 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Equity Growth Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth by investing in common stocks.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually. The fund may elect to treat a portion of its payment to a redeeming shareholder, which represents the pro rata share of undistributed net investment income and net realized gains, as a distribution for federal income tax purposes (tax equalization).
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC. Various funds issued by American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc. own, in aggregate, 8% of the shares of the fund.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class's daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund's assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee |
Investor Class | 0.3380% to 0.5200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% |
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2021 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $53,586,245 and $66,661,679, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $4,657,229 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended
June 30, 2021 were $4,387,327,266 and $4,745,107,721, respectively.
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended June 30, 2021 | Year ended June 30, 2020 |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 850,000,000 | | | 680,000,000 | | |
Sold | 2,424,675 | | $ | 81,897,970 | | 3,076,813 | | $ | 91,838,331 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 6,899,868 | | 217,044,832 | | 6,045,901 | | 188,741,405 | |
Redeemed | (13,509,293) | | (469,174,501) | | (22,435,146) | | (701,557,557) | |
| (4,184,750) | | (170,231,699) | | (13,312,432) | | (420,977,821) | |
I Class/Shares Authorized | 140,000,000 | | | 120,000,000 | | |
Sold | 7,475,940 | | 267,781,501 | | 2,921,120 | | 85,171,554 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,061,370 | | 33,542,167 | | 1,283,020 | | 40,071,785 | |
Redeemed | (7,334,248) | | (243,596,782) | | (4,461,127) | | (137,401,925) | |
| 1,203,062 | | 57,726,886 | | (256,987) | | (12,158,586) | |
A Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | | | 45,000,000 | | |
Sold | 339,386 | | 11,409,094 | | 262,546 | | 7,894,410 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 229,253 | | 7,193,839 | | 202,427 | | 6,313,811 | |
Redeemed | (532,499) | | (18,242,353) | | (998,318) | | (30,297,298) | |
| 36,140 | | 360,580 | | (533,345) | | (16,089,077) | |
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | | | 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 21,679 | | 722,533 | | 20,012 | | 578,499 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 19,316 | | 596,100 | | 17,839 | | 550,419 | |
Redeemed | (99,345) | | (3,250,413) | | (77,138) | | (2,307,450) | |
| (58,350) | | (1,931,780) | | (39,287) | | (1,178,532) | |
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | | | 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 134,094 | | 4,517,560 | | 216,601 | | 6,406,575 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 80,744 | | 2,530,679 | | 65,573 | | 2,047,260 | |
Redeemed | (237,590) | | (8,008,259) | | (253,381) | | (7,460,016) | |
| (22,752) | | (960,020) | | 28,793 | | 993,819 | |
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | | | 50,000,000 | | |
Sold | 104,140 | | 3,697,234 | | 14,171 | | 425,154 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 9,937 | | 314,032 | | 7,007 | | 218,843 | |
Redeemed | (23,201) | | (770,232) | | (10,714) | | (305,736) | |
| 90,876 | | 3,241,034 | | 10,464 | | 338,261 | |
Net increase (decrease) | (2,935,774) | | $ | (111,794,999) | | (14,102,794) | | $ | (449,071,936) | |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 2,578,556,141 | | — | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 11,108,432 | | $ | 59,347,437 | | — | |
| $ | 2,589,664,573 | | $ | 59,347,437 | | — | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | |
Futures Contracts | $ | 969,686 | | — | | — | |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $34,798,907 futures contracts purchased.
The value of equity price risk derivative instruments as of June 30, 2021, is disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability of $9,961 in payable for variation margin on futures contracts.* For the year ended June 30, 2021, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $12,540,908 in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and $(259,976) in change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts.
*Included in the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 20,498,334 | $ | 26,146,735 |
Long-term capital gains | $ | 247,676,783 | $ | 217,540,500 |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
The reclassifications, which are primarily due to tax equalization, were made to capital $49,504,400 and distributable earnings $(49,504,400).
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 2,012,812,242 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 666,569,329 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (30,369,561) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 636,199,768 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 201,534,770 | |
Accumulated long-term gains | $ | 265,395,426 | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | | | | | | |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Investor Class | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $30.41 | 0.29 | 9.82 | 10.11 | (0.29) | (3.67) | (3.96) | $36.56 | 35.42% | 0.66% | 0.84% | 186% | $1,998,353 | |
2020 | $31.73 | 0.34 | 1.58 | 1.92 | (0.33) | (2.91) | (3.24) | $30.41 | 5.86% | 0.67% | 1.09% | 113% | $1,789,426 | |
2019 | $33.36 | 0.39 | 1.56 | 1.95 | (0.37) | (3.21) | (3.58) | $31.73 | 7.21% | 0.67% | 1.23% | 80% | $2,289,532 | |
2018 | $31.79 | 0.43 | 4.40 | 4.83 | (0.40) | (2.86) | (3.26) | $33.36 | 15.62% | 0.66% | 1.30% | 84% | $2,557,773 | |
2017 | $27.44 | 0.40 | 4.50 | 4.90 | (0.40) | (0.15) | (0.55) | $31.79 | 17.99% | 0.67% | 1.34% | 85% | $2,542,710 | |
I Class | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $30.45 | 0.34 | 9.85 | 10.19 | (0.36) | (3.67) | (4.03) | $36.61 | 35.68% | 0.46% | 1.04% | 186% | $548,632 | |
2020 | $31.76 | 0.40 | 1.59 | 1.99 | (0.39) | (2.91) | (3.30) | $30.45 | 6.10% | 0.47% | 1.29% | 113% | $419,610 | |
2019 | $33.39 | 0.45 | 1.56 | 2.01 | (0.43) | (3.21) | (3.64) | $31.76 | 7.41% | 0.47% | 1.43% | 80% | $445,933 | |
2018 | $31.82 | 0.50 | 4.40 | 4.90 | (0.47) | (2.86) | (3.33) | $33.39 | 15.87% | 0.46% | 1.50% | 84% | $392,859 | |
2017 | $27.46 | 0.46 | 4.51 | 4.97 | (0.46) | (0.15) | (0.61) | $31.82 | 18.21% | 0.47% | 1.54% | 85% | $471,260 | |
A Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $30.36 | 0.20 | 9.81 | 10.01 | (0.20) | (3.67) | (3.87) | $36.50 | 35.10% | 0.91% | 0.59% | 186% | $75,252 | |
2020 | $31.69 | 0.26 | 1.57 | 1.83 | (0.25) | (2.91) | (3.16) | $30.36 | 5.57% | 0.92% | 0.84% | 113% | $61,504 | |
2019 | $33.32 | 0.31 | 1.57 | 1.88 | (0.30) | (3.21) | (3.51) | $31.69 | 6.96% | 0.92% | 0.98% | 80% | $81,086 | |
2018 | $31.76 | 0.35 | 4.39 | 4.74 | (0.32) | (2.86) | (3.18) | $33.32 | 15.32% | 0.91% | 1.05% | 84% | $91,750 | |
2017 | $27.41 | 0.32 | 4.50 | 4.82 | (0.32) | (0.15) | (0.47) | $31.76 | 17.71% | 0.92% | 1.09% | 85% | $116,980 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | | | | | | |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
C Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $29.98 | (0.05) | 9.66 | 9.61 | —(3) | (3.67) | (3.67) | $35.92 | 34.07% | 1.66% | (0.16)% | 186% | $4,950 | |
2020 | $31.34 | 0.03 | 1.55 | 1.58 | (0.03) | (2.91) | (2.94) | $29.98 | 4.80% | 1.67% | 0.09% | 113% | $5,880 | |
2019 | $33.00 | 0.07 | 1.55 | 1.62 | (0.07) | (3.21) | (3.28) | $31.34 | 6.17% | 1.67% | 0.23% | 80% | $7,378 | |
2018 | $31.50 | 0.10 | 4.34 | 4.44 | (0.08) | (2.86) | (2.94) | $33.00 | 14.48% | 1.66% | 0.30% | 84% | $11,191 | |
2017 | $27.19 | 0.10 | 4.46 | 4.56 | (0.10) | (0.15) | (0.25) | $31.50 | 16.78% | 1.67% | 0.34% | 85% | $11,777 | |
R Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $30.38 | 0.12 | 9.81 | 9.93 | (0.11) | (3.67) | (3.78) | $36.53 | 34.77% | 1.16% | 0.34% | 186% | $24,891 | |
2020 | $31.71 | 0.18 | 1.57 | 1.75 | (0.17) | (2.91) | (3.08) | $30.38 | 5.31% | 1.17% | 0.59% | 113% | $21,394 | |
2019 | $33.34 | 0.23 | 1.57 | 1.80 | (0.22) | (3.21) | (3.43) | $31.71 | 6.69% | 1.17% | 0.73% | 80% | $21,413 | |
2018 | $31.78 | 0.28 | 4.37 | 4.65 | (0.23) | (2.86) | (3.09) | $33.34 | 15.06% | 1.16% | 0.80% | 84% | $22,576 | |
2017 | $27.43 | 0.25 | 4.50 | 4.75 | (0.25) | (0.15) | (0.40) | $31.78 | 17.37% | 1.17% | 0.84% | 85% | $31,953 | |
R5 Class | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $30.45 | 0.34 | 9.86 | 10.20 | (0.36) | (3.67) | (4.03) | $36.62 | 35.72% | 0.46% | 1.04% | 186% | $6,096 | |
2020 | $31.77 | 0.40 | 1.58 | 1.98 | (0.39) | (2.91) | (3.30) | $30.45 | 6.06% | 0.47% | 1.29% | 113% | $2,302 | |
2019 | $33.39 | 0.45 | 1.57 | 2.02 | (0.43) | (3.21) | (3.64) | $31.77 | 7.44% | 0.47% | 1.43% | 80% | $2,069 | |
2018 | $31.82 | 0.43 | 4.47 | 4.90 | (0.47) | (2.86) | (3.33) | $33.39 | 15.83% | 0.46% | 1.50% | 84% | $1,556 | |
2017(4) | $31.12 | 0.11 | 0.69 | 0.80 | (0.10) | — | (0.10) | $31.82 | 2.58% | 0.47%(5) | 1.60%(5) | 85%(6) | $5 | |
| | |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
(4)April 10, 2017 (commencement of sale) through June 30, 2017.
(5)Annualized.
(6)Portfolio turnover is calculated at the fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated for the year ended June 30, 2017.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of Equity Growth Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Equity Growth Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
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Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
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Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
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Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board concluded that
the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $20,498,334, or up to the maximum amount
allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as
qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $276,564,621, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term
capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund hereby designates $20,652,129 as qualified short-term capital gain distributions for purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 871 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund utilized earnings and profits of $49,504,400 distributed to shareholders on redemption of
shares as part of the dividends paid deduction (tax equalization).
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92990 2108 | |
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| Annual Report |
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| June 30, 2021 |
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| Global Gold Fund |
| Investor Class (BGEIX) |
| I Class (AGGNX) |
| A Class (ACGGX) |
| C Class (AGYCX) |
| R Class (AGGWX) |
| | | | | |
President's Letter | |
Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
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Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2021. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Stocks Rallied as Optimism Prevailed
The reporting period began with global financial markets experiencing a sweeping recovery from the initial—and severe—effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift and significant action from central banks and federal governments in early 2020 helped reignite investor confidence in the markets and bolster the economic backdrop. These positive influences generally persisted through the second half of 2020, despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19 and the inconsistent lifting of virus-related restrictions.
In the U.S., improving data on manufacturing, employment and housing, along with a late-2020 federal coronavirus aid package and positive vaccine developments, helped sustain the optimism into the new year. Furthermore, political clarity emerged following the January U.S. Senate run-off elections in Georgia, setting the stage for another federal aid package, which passed in March. Outside the U.S., economies recovered but at a slower pace. Virus outbreaks and slower vaccine rollouts led to lingering lockdowns in some regions.
Overall, despite lingering challenges, corporate earnings generally rallied, and global stocks delivered stellar 12-month returns. The U.S. broadly outperformed other developed markets, with the S&P 500 Index returning more than 40% and small caps (Russell 2000 Index) gaining 62%. The broad economic recovery combined with ongoing monetary and fiscal support, reopenings and soaring commodity prices eventually drove inflation and government bond yields higher. U.S. Treasuries and other perceived safe-haven investments, including gold, declined for the period.
The Return to Normal Will Shape Market Dynamics
The return to pre-pandemic life is progressing. As the U.S. economy continues to rebuild from shutdown-related losses, investors likely will face renewed opportunities and challenges. Economic growth, inflation, the virus’s trajectory, supply chain normalization, and the effects of fiscal and monetary policy likely will be among the factors swaying market dynamics.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. Our firm has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| Average Annual Returns | |
| Ticker Symbol | | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | | Inception Date |
Investor Class | BGEIX | | -8.30% | 3.79% | -3.70% | | 8/17/88 |
NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index | — | | -5.87% | 5.40% | -3.41% | | — |
MSCI World Index | — | | 39.04% | 14.82% | 10.64% | | — |
I Class | AGGNX | | -8.10% | 3.99% | -3.51% | | 9/28/07 |
A Class | ACGGX | | | | | | 5/6/98 |
No sales charge | | | -8.51% | 3.53% | -3.94% | | |
With sales charge | | | -13.75% | 2.31% | -4.51% | | |
C Class | AGYCX | | -9.18% | 2.77% | -4.66% | | 9/28/07 |
R Class | AGGWX | | -8.79% | 3.27% | -4.18% | | 9/28/07 |
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years |
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2011 |
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
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Value on June 30, 2021 |
| Investor Class — $6,854 |
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| NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index — $7,067 |
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| MSCI World Index — $27,516 |
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class |
0.69% | 0.49% | 0.94% | 1.69% | 1.19% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Yulin Long and Guan Wang
Performance Summary
Global Gold returned -8.30%* for the 12 months ended June 30, 2021. The fund’s benchmark, the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, returned -5.87%. The fund’s return reflects operating expenses, while the benchmark’s return does not. By comparison, the MSCI World Index, a broad measure of global equity market performance, returned 39.04%.
Gold’s Price Little Changed Despite Significant Interim Volatility
Gold’s price began and ended the reporting period at virtually the same level, but experienced significant volatility in between. On June 30, 2020, gold traded at $1,768 an ounce before surging to as high as $2,067 by August. But the precious metal declined amid much volatility over the remainder of the fiscal year to finish June 30, 2021, at $1,763.
The volatility in gold’s price can be explained by the significant change in economic and market conditions during the period. Gold is traditionally viewed as a hedge against uncertainty in terms of economic and market outcomes and currency values. So the surge in gold’s price for much of 2020 related to the tremendous uncertainty around the electoral cycle in the U.S. and the virus’s implications for economic growth and interest rates. Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts and moves to lower long-term bond yields in 2020 also increased the appeal of gold, while reducing competition from Treasuries/perceived safe-haven investments that compete with gold for a place in investor portfolios.
But beginning in late 2020, we began to get positive news on vaccines, while early 2021 brought resolution of U.S. electoral uncertainty and massive additional fiscal stimulus. As a result, investor sentiment improved and economic growth rebounded sharply. In that environment, longer-term bond yields rose sharply. The dollar’s value mirrored these changes, falling through the end of 2020, before rallying back. Significantly higher interest rates, the greenback’s recovery, and the prospect of taming the virus and returning to some semblance of economic normalcy all combined to weigh on gold’s price.
Indeed, a good proxy for investment demand is gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) holdings. According to the World Gold Council, February 2021 marked one of the biggest outflows in gold ETF holdings on record, with total investment demand for gold down more than 70% year over year through the first quarter of 2021. Central bank gold purchases were also down notably for the same period. An economic recovery and falling prices helped gold jewelry demand rebound sharply from an all-time low in the first quarter of 2020, though it remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Turning to gold supply, mine output recovered somewhat as production resumed in many countries after pandemic-related shutdowns in early 2020. Nevertheless, total supply fell for the period as lower prices made recycling gold less attractive. Producer net hedging also declined. Gold miners can sell some of their production forward as a way to hedge against volatility in gold’s price. The fact that gold hedging went down during the period suggests that miners are less willing to lock in current prices, expecting higher prices ahead.
In terms of gold mining stocks, the decline in gold’s price from August 2020 and changing sentiment weighed on share prices. Even though mine output recovered somewhat from pandemic lows, production costs rose because of issues related to restarting production, as well as safety and regulatory challenges at a number of mines. As a result, the World Gold Council’s measure of industry-wide gold company profit margins declined, though it remains high by historical standards.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structures; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
Notable Detractors from Relative Results
The fund’s share price declined in absolute terms during a difficult period for gold stocks. The leading detractors from performance compared with the benchmark tended to be stocks that held up relatively well, and to which we had less exposure than the index. For example, China’s Zijin Mining Group benefited from its exposure to rising copper and zinc prices, as well as boosting production through recent acquisitions and restarting production at a long-closed mine. We hold a sizable position in the stock, but less than the benchmark. Similarly, it detracted from relative performance to be underrepresented in shares of First Majestic Silver, Hecla Mining and Coeur Mining. These companies benefited from their significant exposure to silver prices, which surged at times in the period because of strong retail demand and market technical factors.
Key Contributors to Relative Performance
The leading individual contributor to relative performance was a stake in Canada-based GoGold Resources. The company reported positive results from sampling for a new mining project in Mexico and also benefited from exposure to rising silver prices. Other key contributors to relative results included Freeport-McMoRan, U.K.-based Anglo American, South Africa-based Impala Platinum Holdings, Australia-based BHP Group, and Canada-based First Quantum Minerals and Lundin Mining. All have significant exposure to industrial metals, which surged along with the rebound in economic growth. We eliminated Impala Platinum, BHP and Lundin in favor of positions with greater upside and portfolio characteristics.
Portfolio Positioning and Outlook
Gold showed it can be an effective hedge against uncertainty for much of 2020, when it was among the best-performing asset classes. Now, however, conditions have largely reversed, with economists and investors seemingly confident that we are past the worst of the virus and that there’s a strong economic rebound ahead. To the extent that that is true and investor confidence is high, then gold could remain under pressure.
Of course, it’s impossible to know if or when we will actually achieve herd immunity or how the evolving strains of the virus might affect the progression of the disease. So while economists have raised their growth forecasts, there is a very real possibility that the anticipated recovery will be less robust than imagined. In these sorts of scenarios, gold could well see a resurgence of perceived safe-haven demand.
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 97.6% |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 1.2% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 0.6% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.6% |
| | | | | |
Top Five Countries* | % of net assets |
Canada | 51.9% |
United States | 22.9% |
Australia | 13.5% |
South Africa | 5.9% |
United Kingdom | 1.8% |
*Exposure indicated excludes Exchange-Traded Funds. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund's portfolio holdings. |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25.00 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25.00 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $951.00 | $3.14 | 0.65% |
I Class | $1,000 | $951.70 | $2.18 | 0.45% |
A Class | $1,000 | $949.60 | $4.35 | 0.90% |
C Class | $1,000 | $946.40 | $7.96 | 1.65% |
R Class | $1,000 | $948.50 | $5.56 | 1.15% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.57 | $3.26 | 0.65% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,022.56 | $2.26 | 0.45% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,020.33 | $4.51 | 0.90% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,016.61 | $8.25 | 1.65% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,019.09 | $5.76 | 1.15% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 97.6% | | |
Australia — 13.5% | | |
Evolution Mining Ltd. | 4,272,100 | | $ | 14,434,247 | |
Newcrest Mining Ltd. | 1,317,213 | | 24,979,365 | |
Northern Star Resources Ltd. | 2,530,317 | | 18,582,951 | |
OZ Minerals Ltd. | 200,900 | | 3,377,506 | |
Perseus Mining Ltd.(1) | 4,811,700 | | 5,267,902 | |
Ramelius Resources Ltd. | 5,900,200 | | 7,493,896 | |
Regis Resources Ltd. | 1,610,084 | | 2,850,412 | |
Silver Lake Resources Ltd.(1) | 7,211,300 | | 8,982,615 | |
St. Barbara Ltd. | 1,679,300 | | 2,148,433 | |
West African Resources Ltd.(1) | 7,590,900 | | 5,665,334 | |
| | 93,782,661 | |
Canada — 51.9% | | |
Alamos Gold, Inc. (New York), Class A | 93,100 | | 712,215 | |
Argonaut Gold, Inc.(1) | 3,287,700 | | 7,877,113 | |
B2Gold Corp. (New York) | 3,416,600 | | 14,383,886 | |
Barrick Gold Corp. | 3,597,820 | | 74,402,918 | |
Calibre Mining Corp.(1) | 1,129,000 | | 1,502,783 | |
Centerra Gold, Inc. | 675,600 | | 5,128,587 | |
Dundee Precious Metals, Inc. | 1,540,500 | | 9,332,974 | |
Eldorado Gold Corp. (Toronto)(1) | 735,900 | | 7,307,945 | |
Endeavour Mining plc | 683,104 | | 14,669,432 | |
Endeavour Silver Corp.(1) | 484,300 | | 2,963,916 | |
First Majestic Silver Corp. (New York) | 279,900 | | 4,425,219 | |
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. | 248,400 | | 5,725,063 | |
Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc.(1) | 475,500 | | 2,639,025 | |
Franco-Nevada Corp. (New York) | 352,600 | | 51,151,682 | |
GoGold Resources, Inc.(1) | 4,050,000 | | 10,062,923 | |
IAMGOLD Corp.(1) | 660,000 | | 1,943,369 | |
IAMGOLD Corp. (New York)(1) | 1,080,300 | | 3,186,885 | |
K92 Mining, Inc.(1) | 325,600 | | 2,353,482 | |
Karora Resources, Inc.(1) | 1,960,900 | | 6,311,706 | |
Kinross Gold Corp. (New York) | 3,438,557 | | 21,834,837 | |
Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. | 770,078 | | 29,676,207 | |
New Gold, Inc.(1) | 1,137,700 | | 2,059,237 | |
New Gold, Inc. (Toronto)(1) | 1,281,700 | | 2,305,736 | |
Orezone Gold Corp.(1) | 5,150,000 | | 5,400,936 | |
Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ) | 266,900 | | 7,625,333 | |
Pretium Resources, Inc.(1) | 413,400 | | 3,952,104 | |
Roxgold, Inc.(1) | 2,030,900 | | 3,194,785 | |
SSR Mining, Inc. (NASDAQ) | 96,900 | | 1,510,671 | |
Teck Resources Ltd., Class B | 157,800 | | 3,635,712 | |
Torex Gold Resources, Inc.(1) | 670,900 | | 7,728,664 | |
Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.(1) | 323,900 | | 3,072,817 | |
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. | 869,800 | | 38,332,086 | |
Yamana Gold, Inc. (New York) | 792,581 | | 3,344,692 | |
| | 359,754,940 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
China — 1.6% | | |
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd., H Shares | 8,166,000 | | $ | 10,957,853 | |
South Africa — 5.9% | | |
AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. | 95,502 | | 1,772,663 | |
AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., ADR | 899,276 | | 16,708,548 | |
Gold Fields Ltd., ADR | 2,510,000 | | 22,339,000 | |
| | 40,820,211 | |
United Kingdom — 1.8% | | |
Anglo American plc | 117,700 | | 4,683,770 | |
Centamin plc | 3,181,000 | | 4,461,916 | |
Jubilee Metals Group plc(1) | 6,268,900 | | 1,604,633 | |
Rio Tinto plc | 24,700 | | 2,039,910 | |
| | 12,790,229 | |
United States — 22.9% | | |
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (New York) | 401,300 | | 24,258,585 | |
Coeur Mining, Inc.(1) | 688,300 | | 6,112,104 | |
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. | 227,100 | | 8,427,681 | |
Gatos Silver, Inc.(1) | 84,000 | | 1,469,160 | |
Hecla Mining Co. | 1,242,800 | | 9,246,432 | |
MP Materials Corp.(1) | 50,600 | | 1,865,116 | |
Newmont Corp. | 1,529,980 | | 96,970,133 | |
Royal Gold, Inc. | 92,321 | | 10,533,826 | |
| | 158,883,037 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $444,771,639) | | 676,988,931 | |
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 1.2% |
|
|
SPDR Gold Shares(1) | 21,200 | | 3,511,356 | |
VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF | 81,800 | | 2,779,564 | |
VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF | 45,000 | | 2,103,750 | |
TOTAL EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS (Cost $8,787,212) | | 8,394,670 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 0.6% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $1,356,844), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $1,330,187) | | 1,330,186 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.875%, 5/15/43, valued at $2,261,391), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $2,217,001) | | 2,217,000 | |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 798,009 | | 798,009 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $4,345,195) | | 4,345,195 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.4% (Cost $457,904,046) |
| 689,728,796 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.6% |
| 3,865,708 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 693,594,504 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
ADR | - | American Depositary Receipt |
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 |
Assets | |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $457,904,046) | $ | 689,728,796 | |
Cash | 5,400 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 4,158,034 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | 444,367 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 326,645 | |
| 694,663,242 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 671,737 | |
Accrued management fees | 384,762 | |
Distribution and service fees payable | 12,239 | |
| 1,068,738 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 693,594,504 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 572,257,409 | |
Distributable earnings | 121,337,095 | |
| $ | 693,594,504 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share |
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $590,852,892 | 47,777,636 | $12.37 |
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $68,014,271 | 5,436,608 | $12.51 |
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $22,022,207 | 1,821,744 | $12.09* |
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $3,837,590 | 334,979 | $11.46 |
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $8,867,544 | 742,558 | $11.94 |
*Maximum offering price $12.83 (net asset value divided by 0.9425).
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $1,171,194) | $ | 12,644,976 | |
Securities lending, net | 89,535 | |
Interest | 3,274 | |
| 12,737,785 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 4,950,314 | |
Distribution and service fees: | |
A Class | 56,382 | |
C Class | 45,574 | |
R Class | 54,843 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 53,070 | |
Other expenses | 22,184 | |
| 5,182,367 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | 7,555,418 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 27,451,017 | |
Foreign currency translation transactions | 190,311 | |
| 27,641,328 | |
| |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | (110,710,224) | |
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (3,752) | |
| (110,713,976) | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (83,072,648) | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | (75,517,230) | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 7,555,418 | | $ | 1,903,705 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 27,641,328 | | 16,960,803 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (110,713,976) | | 184,510,203 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (75,517,230) | | 203,374,711 | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings: | | |
Investor Class | (6,765,812) | | (4,394,193) | |
I Class | (1,047,347) | | (560,018) | |
A Class | (189,141) | | (82,256) | |
C Class | (3,612) | | — | |
R Class | (60,612) | | (25,464) | |
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (8,066,524) | | (5,061,931) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | 26,612,243 | | 103,964,323 | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (56,971,511) | | 302,277,103 | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 750,566,015 | | 448,288,912 | |
End of period | $ | 693,594,504 | | $ | 750,566,015 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Global Gold Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek to realize a total return (capital growth and dividends) consistent with investment in securities of companies that are engaged in mining, processing, fabricating or distributing gold or other precious metals throughout the world.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class and R Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment���s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Securities lending income is net of fees and rebates earned by the lending agent for its services.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid semiannually. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
Securities Lending — Securities are lent to qualified financial institutions and brokers. State Street Bank & Trust Co. serves as securities lending agent to the fund pursuant to a Securities Lending Agreement. The lending of securities exposes the fund to risks such as: the borrowers may fail to return the loaned securities, the borrowers may not be able to provide additional collateral, the fund may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or delays in access to collateral, or the fund may experience losses related to the investment collateral. To minimize certain risks, loan counterparties pledge collateral in the form of cash and/or securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the fund in the case of default of any securities borrowed. Cash collateral received is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, a money market mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act. The loans may also be secured by U.S. government securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted accordingly. By lending securities, the fund seeks to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest and fees. Such income is reflected separately within the Statement of Operations. The value of loaned securities and related collateral outstanding at period end, if any, are shown on a gross basis within the Schedule of Investments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund’s assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee |
Investor Class | 0.3380% to 0.5200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.45% |
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.65% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2021 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund sales were $5,474,169 and there were no interfund purchases. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $1,798,858 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended
June 30, 2021 were $836,988,301 and $805,999,783, respectively.
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended June 30, 2021 | Year ended June 30, 2020 |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 800,000,000 | |
| 360,000,000 | | |
Sold | 18,489,921 | | $ | 261,375,323 | | 23,530,168 | | $ | 259,679,350 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 490,058 | | 6,225,774 | | 404,401 | | 4,136,691 | |
Redeemed | (18,500,154) | | (253,149,594) | | (17,491,083) | | (190,197,797) | |
| 479,825 | | 14,451,503 | | 6,443,486 | | 73,618,244 | |
I Class/Shares Authorized | 100,000,000 | |
| 30,000,000 | | |
Sold | 4,550,901 | | 62,614,792 | | 5,075,948 | | 56,439,549 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 81,372 | | 1,047,060 | | 53,180 | | 559,735 | |
Redeemed | (4,614,047) | | (59,800,756) | | (2,808,552) | | (30,720,336) | |
| 18,226 | | 3,861,096 | | 2,320,576 | | 26,278,948 | |
A Class/Shares Authorized | 30,000,000 | |
| 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 1,195,712 | | 16,855,240 | | 902,594 | | 9,720,707 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 14,843 | | 184,324 | | 8,049 | | 80,011 | |
Redeemed | (573,935) | | (7,675,411) | | (806,308) | | (8,517,206) | |
| 636,620 | | 9,364,153 | | 104,335 | | 1,283,512 | |
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | |
| 15,000,000 | | |
Sold | 81,951 | | 1,080,515 | | 134,297 | | 1,385,471 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 309 | | 3,612 | | — | | — | |
Redeemed | (113,797) | | (1,412,274) | | (98,829) | | (1,015,442) | |
| (31,537) | | (328,147) | | 35,468 | | 370,029 | |
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | |
| 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 527,750 | | 6,907,601 | | 800,388 | | 8,567,549 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 3,782 | | 46,148 | | 2,590 | | 25,464 | |
Redeemed | (583,681) | | (7,690,111) | | (599,664) | | (6,179,423) | |
| (52,149) | | (736,362) | | 203,314 | | 2,413,590 | |
Net increase (decrease) | 1,050,985 | | $ | 26,612,243 | | 9,107,179 | | $ | 103,964,323 | |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | | | |
Australia | — | | $ | 93,782,661 | | — | |
Canada | $ | 236,160,418 | | 123,594,522 | | — | |
China | — | | 10,957,853 | | — | |
South Africa | 39,047,548 | | 1,772,663 | | — | |
United Kingdom | — | | 12,790,229 | | — | |
Other Countries | 158,883,037 | | — | | — | |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 8,394,670 | | — | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 798,009 | | 3,547,186 | | — | |
| $ | 443,283,682 | | $ | 246,445,114 | | — | |
7. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
There are certain risks involved in investing in foreign securities. These risks include those resulting from political events (such as civil unrest, national elections and imposition of exchange controls), social and economic events (such as labor strikes and rising inflation), and natural disasters. Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid and more volatile. Investing in emerging markets or a significant portion of assets in one country or region may accentuate these risks.
The fund concentrates its investments in a narrow segment of the total market. Because of this, the fund may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio representing a broader range of industries. Gold stocks are generally considered speculative because of high share price volatility. The price of gold will likely impact the value of the companies in which the fund invests. The price of gold will fluctuate, sometimes considerably. Though many investors believe that gold investments hedge against inflation, currency devaluations and stock market declines, there is no guarantee that these historical inverse relationships will continue.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
8. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 8,066,524 | $ | 5,061,931 |
Long-term capital gains | — | — |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 467,509,156 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 232,879,614 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (10,659,974) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | 222,219,640 | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (133) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) | $ | 222,219,507 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 2,706,048 | |
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (62,610,073) | |
Accumulated long-term capital losses | $ | (40,978,387) | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized
capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an
unlimited period. Future capital loss carryover utilization in any given year may be subject to Internal Revenue
Code limitations.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) |
Per-Share Data | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Distributions From Net Investment Income | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Investor Class | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $13.64 | 0.13 | (1.26) | (1.13) | (0.14) | $12.37 | (8.30)% | 0.66% | 0.96% | 105% | $590,853 | |
2020 | $9.76 | 0.04 | 3.94 | 3.98 | (0.10) | $13.64 | 41.12% | 0.67% | 0.35% | 50% | $644,946 | |
2019 | $8.58 | 0.07 | 1.11 | 1.18 | — | $9.76 | 13.75% | 0.67% | 0.84% | 47% | $398,804 | |
2018 | $8.25 | 0.04 | 0.29 | 0.33 | — | $8.58 | 4.00% | 0.66% | 0.47% | 37% | $347,311 | |
2017 | $11.66 | —(3) | (2.57) | (2.57) | (0.84) | $8.25 | (21.33)% | 0.67% | 0.05% | 27% | $351,207 | |
I Class | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $13.79 | 0.16 | (1.27) | (1.11) | (0.17) | $12.51 | (8.10)% | 0.46% | 1.16% | 105% | $68,014 | |
2020 | $9.88 | 0.06 | 3.98 | 4.04 | (0.13) | $13.79 | 41.34% | 0.47% | 0.55% | 50% | $74,730 | |
2019 | $8.67 | 0.08 | 1.13 | 1.21 | — | $9.88 | 13.96% | 0.47% | 1.04% | 47% | $30,608 | |
2018 | $8.32 | 0.06 | 0.29 | 0.35 | — | $8.67 | 4.21% | 0.46% | 0.67% | 37% | $13,464 | |
2017 | $11.75 | 0.02 | (2.60) | (2.58) | (0.85) | $8.32 | (21.17)% | 0.47% | 0.25% | 27% | $14,717 | |
A Class | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $13.33 | 0.10 | (1.23) | (1.13) | (0.11) | $12.09 | (8.51)% | 0.91% | 0.71% | 105% | $22,022 | |
2020 | $9.54 | 0.01 | 3.85 | 3.86 | (0.07) | $13.33 | 40.72% | 0.92% | 0.10% | 50% | $15,798 | |
2019 | $8.40 | 0.05 | 1.09 | 1.14 | — | $9.54 | 13.57% | 0.92% | 0.59% | 47% | $10,311 | |
2018 | $8.11 | 0.02 | 0.27 | 0.29 | — | $8.40 | 3.58% | 0.91% | 0.22% | 37% | $7,475 | |
2017 | $11.47 | (0.02) | (2.52) | (2.54) | (0.82) | $8.11 | (21.45)% | 0.92% | (0.20)% | 27% | $7,895 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) |
Per-Share Data | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Distributions From Net Investment Income | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
C Class | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $12.63 | (0.01) | (1.15) | (1.16) | (0.01) | $11.46 | (9.18)% | 1.66% | (0.04)% | 105% | $3,838 | |
2020 | $9.04 | (0.07) | 3.66 | 3.59 | — | $12.63 | 39.71% | 1.67% | (0.65)% | 50% | $4,628 | |
2019 | $8.03 | (0.01) | 1.02 | 1.01 | — | $9.04 | 12.58% | 1.67% | (0.16)% | 47% | $2,994 | |
2018 | $7.80 | (0.04) | 0.27 | 0.23 | — | $8.03 | 2.95% | 1.66% | (0.53)% | 37% | $2,463 | |
2017 | $11.07 | (0.09) | (2.43) | (2.52) | (0.75) | $7.80 | (22.04)% | 1.67% | (0.95)% | 27% | $2,284 | |
R Class | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $13.17 | 0.06 | (1.22) | (1.16) | (0.07) | $11.94 | (8.79)% | 1.16% | 0.46% | 105% | $8,868 | |
2020 | $9.42 | (0.01) | 3.80 | 3.79 | (0.04) | $13.17 | 40.44% | 1.17% | (0.15)% | 50% | $10,464 | |
2019 | $8.32 | 0.02 | 1.08 | 1.10 | — | $9.42 | 13.22% | 1.17% | 0.34% | 47% | $5,573 | |
2018 | $8.05 | —(3) | 0.27 | 0.27 | — | $8.32 | 3.35% | 1.16% | (0.03)% | 37% | $5,524 | |
2017 | $11.39 | (0.04) | (2.50) | (2.54) | (0.80) | $8.05 | (21.63)% | 1.17% | (0.45)% | 27% | $4,517 | |
| | |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of Global Gold Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Global Gold Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended
June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
|
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
| | |
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, and five-year periods, and above its benchmark for the ten-year period reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was
below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $2,915,555, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, the fund intends to pass through to shareholders foreign source income of $10,890,003 and foreign taxes paid of $1,051,178, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as a foreign tax credit. Foreign source income and foreign tax expense per outstanding share on June 30, 2021 are $0.1941 and $0.0187, respectively.
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92988 2108 | |
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| Annual Report |
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| June 30, 2021 |
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| NT Disciplined Growth Fund |
| Investor Class (ANTDX) |
| G Class (ANDGX) |
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Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
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Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
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Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| | | Average Annual Returns | |
| Ticker Symbol | 1 year | 5 years | Since Inception | Inception Date |
Investor Class | ANTDX | 30.90% | 19.63% | 14.50% | 3/19/15 |
Russell 1000 Growth Index | — | 42.50% | 23.64% | 18.77% | — |
G Class | ANDGX | 32.14% | 20.61% | 15.29% | 3/19/15 |
Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Extraordinary performance is attributable in part to unusually favorable market conditions and may not be repeated or consistently achieved in the future.
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Growth of $10,000 Over Life of Class |
$10,000 investment made March 19, 2015 |
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
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Value on June 30, 2021 |
| Investor Class — $23,426 |
|
| Russell 1000 Growth Index — $29,487 |
|
Ending value of Investor Class would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived.
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
Investor Class | G Class |
1.02% | 0.82% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Yulin Long and Tsuyoshi Ozaki
Performance Summary
NT Disciplined Growth returned 32.14%* for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, compared with the 42.50% return of its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
The fund advanced during the fiscal year, but underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index. NT Disciplined Growth’s stock selection process incorporates factors of valuation, quality, growth and sentiment, while striving to minimize unintended risks along industries and other risk characteristics. The fund’s relative returns were primarily driven by stock selection decisions in the information technology and health care sectors. Consumer discretionary and communication services sector holdings also weighed on results compared with the benchmark. Positioning in the consumer staples sector and materials sector holdings contributed to relative performance.
Stock Selection in Several Sectors Detracted From Relative Returns
Security selection in the information technology sector was the largest driver of relative underperformance. Stock choices in the software and IT services industries detracted the most from the sector’s performance. Among software holdings, an overweight position in Workday weighed on returns. The enterprise software maker’s projected future sales disappointed investors. In the IT services industry, an overweight position in Jack Henry & Associates hindered returns. The payment processing company declined on sluggish sales growth in its payments segments and lower corporate revenues. The investment team opted to liquidate the position. Limited exposure to Mastercard also hurt performance as the credit card company’s earnings and revenues benefited from consumers’ stimulus spending, particularly on domestic travel.
Stock selection in the biotechnology industry drove results in the health care sector. Being overweight to Vertex Pharmaceuticals weighed heavily on the sector’s performance after the company announced it would stop development of a treatment for liver and lung diseases due to safety issues encountered during clinical trials. An overweight position in Incyte was also detrimental as the biotechnology company declined amid patent protection expiration of one of its rare disease drugs. The investment team ultimately exited the position.
In the consumer discretionary sector, the automobiles industry was a leading detractor from returns. An underweight position in Tesla hindered performance amid a sharp rise in global demand for electric vehicles. Stock choices in the communication services sector also weighed on results. Overweight positions to several video game makers drove detraction in the entertainment industry. Despite rising revenues, Electronic Arts’ earnings forecast weighed on investor sentiment. Take-Two Interactive Software’s stock price declined following lower quarterly sales. Lack of new game releases also disappointed investors. The investment team exited the holding.
Positioning in Consumer Staples Contributed
Positioning in the beverages industry drove the consumer staples sector’s results. An underweight position in PepsiCo served as a key industry tailwind. Despite revenue and earnings growth from sales of snack foods and drinks, stock prices of the multinational food, snack and beverage company declined in early 2021 as investors gravitated toward stocks of more cyclical companies that would benefit as the economy improved. The Coca-Cola Co. declined for similar reasons, and the portfolio’s underweight compared with the benchmark therefore aided relative results. The investment team chose to exit both investments.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for G Class shares. Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when G Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 2 for returns for all share classes.
The materials sector was also an area of relative strength. Security selection among chemicals companies was especially additive to the portfolio’s performance. An overweight position in lawn, garden and pest control products holding The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company bolstered the portfolio’s performance. Its Hawthorne Gardening division benefited from rising sales of hydroponic equipment, which has gained increased demand as a growing number of states legalized recreational cannabis use. The position was ultimately exited. Among notable individual contributors to relative performance was EMCOR Group, a leading industrial engineering and construction company. The company was attractive for its earnings and balance sheet quality, while reporting strong results amid the sharp rebound in construction activity. The holding was ultimately exited.
A Look Ahead
Our disciplined, objective and systematic investment strategy is designed to take advantage of opportunities at the individual company level. We believe this approach is an effective way to capitalize on market inefficiencies that lead to the mispricing of individual stocks. As a result of this approach, our sector and industry allocations reflect where we are finding the greatest opportunities among individual companies at a given time.
At period-end, information technology was the portfolio’s largest absolute and relative weighting as the investment team’s screens identified a significant number of opportunities in the sector. Although exposure to the health care sector was scaled back slightly, it remained a key portfolio overweight. Conversely, the portfolio’s consumer staples sector underweight reflects a lack of opportunities that align with most factors in the team’s stock selection model. Likewise, the investment team reduced the portfolio’s exposure to the industrials sector, positioning it as a relative underweight, given limited investment opportunities based on the model’s factor scores. The team also increased the portfolio’s consumer discretionary sector weight, positioning it at a slight overweight, while reducing exposure to the financials sector, moving the fund from an overweight to a modest underweight position.
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JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 99.1% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 1.1% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | (0.2)% |
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Top Five Industries | % of net assets |
Software | 20.6% |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 10.6% |
Interactive Media and Services | 10.2% |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals | 9.0% |
IT Services | 7.2% |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
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| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,103.00 | $5.21 | 1.00% |
G Class | $1,000 | $1,108.10 | $0.05 | 0.01% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,019.84 | $5.01 | 1.00% |
G Class | $1,000 | $1,024.74 | $0.05 | 0.01% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
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| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 99.1% | | |
Auto Components — 0.3% | | |
Magna International, Inc. | 17,791 | | $ | 1,647,203 | |
Automobiles — 1.9% | | |
Tesla, Inc.(1) | 18,012 | | 12,242,756 | |
Banks — 0.3% | | |
SVB Financial Group(1) | 3,276 | | 1,822,865 | |
Beverages — 0.7% | | |
Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A(1) | 4,496 | | 4,589,517 | |
Biotechnology — 4.2% | | |
AbbVie, Inc. | 101,386 | | 11,420,119 | |
Moderna, Inc.(1) | 8,834 | | 2,075,813 | |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 21,103 | | 11,786,870 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 9,185 | | 1,851,972 | |
| | 27,134,774 | |
Building Products — 0.3% | | |
AO Smith Corp. | 23,889 | | 1,721,441 | |
Capital Markets — 1.4% | | |
Moody's Corp. | 12,911 | | 4,678,559 | |
MSCI, Inc. | 8,689 | | 4,631,932 | |
| | 9,310,491 | |
Communications Equipment — 0.5% | | |
Arista Networks, Inc.(1) | 9,327 | | 3,379,265 | |
Electrical Equipment — 0.3% | | |
Acuity Brands, Inc. | 11,918 | | 2,229,024 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 1.2% | | |
Cognex Corp. | 55,409 | | 4,657,127 | |
Keysight Technologies, Inc.(1) | 22,047 | | 3,404,277 | |
| | 8,061,404 | |
Entertainment — 1.4% | | |
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 28,136 | | 4,046,801 | |
Netflix, Inc.(1) | 9,406 | | 4,968,343 | |
| | 9,015,144 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.3% | | |
American Tower Corp. | 13,147 | | 3,551,531 | |
Crown Castle International Corp. | 10,752 | | 2,097,715 | |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 22,671 | | 2,958,112 | |
| | 8,607,358 | |
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 4.4% | | |
ABIOMED, Inc.(1) | 7,089 | | 2,212,548 | |
Align Technology, Inc.(1) | 7,922 | | 4,840,342 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(1) | 49,735 | | 5,151,054 | |
Hologic, Inc.(1) | 29,656 | | 1,978,648 | |
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(1) | 12,721 | | 8,033,948 | |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(1) | 7,441 | | 6,843,041 | |
| | 29,059,581 | |
Health Care Providers and Services† | | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(1) | 498 | | 137,373 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Health Care Technology — 1.0% | | |
Cerner Corp. | 32,045 | | $ | 2,504,637 | |
Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A(1) | 12,146 | | 3,776,799 | |
| | 6,281,436 | |
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 3.5% | | |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.(1) | 1,859 | | 2,882,082 | |
Domino's Pizza, Inc. | 9,708 | | 4,528,685 | |
Starbucks Corp. | 115,423 | | 12,905,446 | |
Yum China Holdings, Inc. | 36,793 | | 2,437,536 | |
| | 22,753,749 | |
Interactive Media and Services — 10.2% | | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(1) | 12,253 | | 29,919,253 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(1) | 1,425 | | 3,571,506 | |
Facebook, Inc., Class A(1) | 95,343 | | 33,151,714 | |
| | 66,642,473 | |
Internet and Direct Marketing Retail — 6.7% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(1) | 11,141 | | 38,326,822 | |
Etsy, Inc.(1) | 25,751 | | 5,300,586 | |
| | 43,627,408 | |
IT Services — 7.2% | | |
Accenture plc, Class A | 12,523 | | 3,691,655 | |
EPAM Systems, Inc.(1) | 7,096 | | 3,625,772 | |
Gartner, Inc.(1) | 9,521 | | 2,305,986 | |
Mastercard, Inc., Class A | 32,742 | | 11,953,777 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(1) | 42,890 | | 12,501,578 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | 54,683 | | 12,785,979 | |
| | 46,864,747 | |
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 0.6% | | |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(1) | 8,976 | | 2,175,065 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.(1) | 1,424 | | 1,972,724 | |
| | 4,147,789 | |
Machinery — 0.9% | | |
Oshkosh Corp. | 34,285 | | 4,273,282 | |
Toro Co. (The) | 16,921 | | 1,859,280 | |
| | 6,132,562 | |
Personal Products — 0.7% | | |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A | 14,008 | | 4,455,665 | |
Pharmaceuticals — 1.3% | | |
Eli Lilly & Co. | 38,378 | | 8,808,519 | |
Professional Services — 1.7% | | |
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 81,235 | | 6,919,597 | |
CoStar Group, Inc.(1) | 28,750 | | 2,381,075 | |
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. | 14,338 | | 1,912,976 | |
| | 11,213,648 | |
Road and Rail — 0.8% | | |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | 20,221 | | 5,132,090 | |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 10.6% | | |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(1) | 46,151 | | 4,334,963 | |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 45,424 | | 6,468,378 | |
Broadcom, Inc. | 16,014 | | 7,636,116 | |
Micron Technology, Inc.(1) | 45,713 | | 3,884,691 | |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 6,824 | | 2,548,423 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
NVIDIA Corp. | 25,003 | | $ | 20,004,900 | |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 13,160 | | 2,707,275 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 92,506 | | 13,221,882 | |
Teradyne, Inc. | 12,120 | | 1,623,595 | |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 35,799 | | 6,884,148 | |
| | 69,314,371 | |
Software — 20.6% | | |
Adobe, Inc.(1) | 26,003 | | 15,228,397 | |
Atlassian Corp. plc, Class A(1) | 13,735 | | 3,527,972 | |
Autodesk, Inc.(1) | 17,794 | | 5,194,069 | |
Box, Inc., Class A(1) | 109,817 | | 2,805,824 | |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(1) | 36,353 | | 4,973,817 | |
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc., Class A(1) | 11,607 | | 2,916,955 | |
DocuSign, Inc.(1) | 11,698 | | 3,270,410 | |
Fortinet, Inc.(1) | 13,019 | | 3,100,996 | |
Intuit, Inc. | 16,220 | | 7,950,557 | |
Microsoft Corp. | 242,872 | | 65,794,025 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(1) | 14,257 | | 5,290,060 | |
ServiceNow, Inc.(1) | 14,159 | | 7,781,078 | |
Workday, Inc., Class A(1) | 17,709 | | 4,227,847 | |
Zscaler, Inc.(1) | 12,037 | | 2,600,714 | |
| | 134,662,721 | |
Specialty Retail — 4.5% | | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 45,086 | | 14,377,474 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | 47,947 | | 5,945,428 | |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 49,187 | | 3,316,188 | |
Ulta Beauty, Inc.(1) | 10,322 | | 3,569,038 | |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 14,448 | | 2,306,623 | |
| | 29,514,751 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 9.0% | | |
Apple, Inc. | 430,121 | | 58,909,372 | |
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 1.6% | | |
lululemon athletica, Inc.(1) | 8,157 | | 2,977,060 | |
NIKE, Inc., Class B | 50,294 | | 7,769,920 | |
| | 10,746,980 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $427,931,565) | | 648,166,477 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 1.1% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $2,396,392), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $2,349,311) | | 2,349,310 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.75%, 11/15/42, valued at $3,994,397), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $3,916,002) | | 3,916,000 | |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 1,172,832 | | 1,172,832 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $7,438,142) | | 7,438,142 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 100.2% (Cost $435,369,707) |
| 655,604,619 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — (0.2)% |
| (1,268,940) | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 654,335,679 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
†Category is less than 0.05% of total net assets.
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 |
Assets | |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $435,369,707) | $ | 655,604,619 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 15,488,019 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 113,423 | |
| 671,206,061 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for investments purchased | 11,364,786 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 5,439,242 | |
Accrued management fees | 66,354 | |
| 16,870,382 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 654,335,679 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 393,662,186 | |
Distributable earnings | 260,673,493 | |
| $ | 654,335,679 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share |
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $84,220,872 | 5,174,676 | $16.28 |
G Class, $0.01 Par Value | $570,114,807 | 34,733,380 | $16.41 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $8,421) | $ | 4,227,097�� | |
Interest | 2,984 | |
| 4,230,081 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 4,820,685 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 39,178 | |
Other expenses | 4,321 | |
| 4,864,184 | |
Fees waived(1) | (4,040,938) | |
| 823,246 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | 3,406,835 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 57,445,706 | |
Futures contract transactions | 1,601,927 | |
Foreign currency translation transactions | 820 | |
| 59,048,453 | |
| |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | 96,340,857 | |
Futures contracts | (17,398) | |
| 96,323,459 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 155,371,912 | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 158,778,747 | |
(1)Amount consists of $7,874 and $4,033,064 for Investor Class and G Class, respectively.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 3,406,835 | | $ | 2,915,331 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 59,048,453 | | 85,021,489 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 96,323,459 | | (2,258,531) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 158,778,747 | | 85,678,289 | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings: | | |
Investor Class | (9,855,826) | | (3,798,350) | |
G Class | (69,595,861) | | (20,219,351) | |
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (79,451,687) | | (24,017,701) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | 203,925,870 | | (173,717,866) | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 283,252,930 | | (112,057,278) | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 371,082,749 | | 483,140,027 | |
End of period | $ | 654,335,679 | | $ | 371,082,749 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. NT Disciplined Growth Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The fund offers the Investor Class and G Class.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The funds may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid semiannually. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc., and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC. Various funds issued by American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc. own, in aggregate, 63% of the shares of the fund. Related parties do not invest in the fund for the purpose of exercising management or control.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), and extraordinary expenses. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class's daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services, which may be provided indirectly through another American Century Investments mutual fund. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund’s assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds. During the period ended June 30, 2021, the investment advisor agreed to waive 0.01% of the fund's management fee. The investment advisor expects this waiver to continue until July 31, 2022 and cannot terminate it prior to such date without the approval of the Board of Directors. The investment advisor agreed to waive the G Class’s management fee in its entirety. The investment advisor expects this waiver to remain in effect permanently and cannot terminate it without the approval of the Board of Directors.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee before and after waiver for each class for the period ended June 30, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee |
| Before Waiver | After Waiver |
Investor Class | 0.6880% to 0.8700% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 1.00% | 0.99% |
G Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.80% | 0.00% |
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $15,431,713 and $14,619,083, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $796,091 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and in kind transactions, for the period ended June 30, 2021 were $1,091,778,298 and $1,149,386,258, respectively.
On July 29, 2020, the fund received investment securities valued at $188,106,507 from a purchase in kind from other products managed by the fund's investment advisor. A purchase in kind occurs when a fund receives securities into its portfolio in lieu of cash as payment from a purchasing shareholder.
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended June 30, 2021 | Year ended June 30, 2020 |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 80,000,000 | | | 80,000,000 | | |
Sold | 7,772 | | $ | 110,910 | | 1,222,209 | | $ | 15,548,929 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 672,753 | | 9,855,826 | | 300,265 | | 3,798,350 | |
Redeemed | (648,856) | | (10,189,508) | | (5,703,916) | | (73,591,791) | |
| 31,669 | | (222,772) | | (4,181,442) | | (54,244,512) | |
G Class/Shares Authorized | 550,000,000 | | | 330,000,000 | | |
Sold | 15,012,781 | | 225,929,947 | | 6,451,142 | | 82,271,277 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 4,712,073 | | 69,595,861 | | 1,588,461 | | 20,219,351 | |
Redeemed | (5,851,840) | | (91,377,166) | | (17,105,855) | | (221,963,982) | |
| 13,873,014 | | 204,148,642 | | (9,066,252) | | (119,473,354) | |
Net increase (decrease) | 13,904,683 | | $ | 203,925,870 | | (13,247,694) | | $ | (173,717,866) | |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 646,519,274 | | $ | 1,647,203 | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 1,172,832 | | 6,265,310 | | — | |
| $ | 647,692,106 | | $ | 7,912,513 | | — | |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a
component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $9,519,330 futures contracts purchased.
At period end, the fund did not have any derivative instruments disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For the year ended June 30, 2021, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $1,601,927 in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and $(17,398) in change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund is owned by a relatively small number of shareholders, and in the event such shareholders redeem, the ongoing operations of the fund may be at risk.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 13,629,655 | | $ | 2,722,586 | |
Long-term capital gains | $ | 65,822,032 | | $ | 21,295,115 | |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 437,585,868 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 219,178,777 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (1,160,026) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 218,018,751 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 29,656,722 | |
Accumulated long-term gains | $ | 12,998,020 | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Investor Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $14.23 | (0.04) | 4.20 | 4.16 | — | (2.11) | (2.11) | $16.28 | 30.90% | 1.00% | 1.01% | (0.28)% | (0.29)% | 191% | $84,221 | |
2020 | $12.29 | (0.01) | 2.64 | 2.63 | — | (0.69) | (0.69) | $14.23 | 22.14% | 1.01% | 1.02% | (0.09)% | (0.10)% | 137% | $73,179 | |
2019 | $13.13 | 0.03 | 0.65 | 0.68 | (0.04) | (1.48) | (1.52) | $12.29 | 6.76% | 1.02% | 1.02% | 0.23% | 0.23% | 115% | $114,600 | |
2018 | $11.41 | 0.03 | 2.10 | 2.13 | (0.03) | (0.38) | (0.41) | $13.13 | 18.85% | 1.01% | 1.01% | 0.22% | 0.22% | 105% | $120,907 | |
2017 | $9.49 | 0.05 | 1.92 | 1.97 | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $11.41 | 20.83% | 1.02% | 1.02% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 131% | $106,476 | |
G Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $14.28 | 0.11 | 4.23 | 4.34 | (0.10) | (2.11) | (2.21) | $16.41 | 32.14% | 0.01% | 0.81% | 0.71% | (0.09)% | 191% | $570,115 | |
2020 | $12.31 | 0.12 | 2.66 | 2.78 | (0.12) | (0.69) | (0.81) | $14.28 | 23.39% | 0.01% | 0.82% | 0.91% | 0.10% | 137% | $297,903 | |
2019 | $13.14 | 0.15 | 0.65 | 0.80 | (0.15) | (1.48) | (1.63) | $12.31 | 7.80% | 0.01% | 0.82% | 1.24% | 0.43% | 115% | $368,540 | |
2018 | $11.41 | 0.15 | 2.10 | 2.25 | (0.14) | (0.38) | (0.52) | $13.14 | 19.98% | 0.07% | 0.81% | 1.16% | 0.42% | 105% | $430,102 | |
2017 | $9.49 | 0.08 | 1.92 | 2.00 | (0.08) | — | (0.08) | $11.41 | 21.08% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.71% | 0.71% | 131% | $449,768 | |
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Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of NT Disciplined Growth Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of NT Disciplined Growth Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
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Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
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Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
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Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
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Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
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Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, and five-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board and the Advisor
agreed to a temporary reduction of the Fund's annual unified management fee of 0.01% (e.g., the Investor Class unified fee will be reduced from 1.01% to 1.00%) for at least one year, beginning August 1, 2021. The Board concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $4,401,840, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $10,462,162 as qualified short-term capital gain distributions for purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 871 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund hereby designates $65,822,032, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
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Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-93000 2108 | |
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| |
| Annual Report |
| |
| June 30, 2021 |
| |
| NT Equity Growth Fund |
| G Class (ACLEX) |
| | | | | |
Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
| |
Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| | | | Average Annual Returns | |
| Ticker Symbol | | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Inception Date |
G Class | ACLEX | | 36.39% | 16.57% | 13.56% | 5/12/06 |
S&P 500 Index | — | | 40.79% | 17.64% | 14.83% | — |
Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived. Extraordinary performance is attributable in part to unusually favorable market conditions and may not be repeated or consistently achieved in the future.
| | |
Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years |
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2011 |
| | | | | |
Value on June 30, 2021 |
| G Class — $35,698 |
|
| S&P 500 Index — $39,893 |
|
Ending value of G Class would have been lower if a portion of the fees had not been waived.
| | | | | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
G Class | 0.47% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Steven Rossi and Guan Wang
Performance Summary
NT Equity Growth returned 36.39%* for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, compared with the 40.79% return of its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index.
NT Equity Growth advanced during the fiscal year, but underperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. NT Equity Growth’s stock selection process incorporates factors of valuation, quality, growth and sentiment, while striving to minimize unintended risks along industries and other risk characteristics. The fund’s returns were primarily driven by stock selection decisions in the communication services and health care sectors, although positioning in the financials sector also weighed on results. Security selection in materials and an underweight position in the real estate sector contributed to relative performance.
Communication Services Stocks Detracted the Most
Stock choices in the communication services sector weighed most heavily on the fund’s results. Overweight positions to several video game makers drove detraction in the entertainment industry. Despite rising revenues, Electronic Arts’ earnings forecast weighed on investor sentiment. Take-Two Interactive Software’s stock price declined following lower quarterly sales. Lack of new game releases also disappointed investors. Positioning in the diversified telecommunication services industry also hindered the sector’s performance. For example, an overweight position in Verizon Communications was detrimental after the company’s fourth-quarter 2020 results revealed weaker-than-expected wireless subscriber growth. The investment team ultimately exited the position.
Stock selection in the health care sector also held back relative returns. Pharmaceuticals holdings were main sector detractors. Overweights to Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck & Co. were most detrimental. Despite revenue and earnings growth, investor concern about patent expiration for a flagship drug pressured Bristol-Myers Squibb. Merck lagged behind its competitors in developing a COVID-19 vaccine and was pressured by lower demand for medication during the pandemic’s closures. The investment team ultimately liquidated the position. Being overweight to Incyte was detrimental as the biotechnology company declined amid patent protection expiration of one of its rare disease drugs. Similarly, an overweight to Cerner hurt relative performance as the health care technology company announced disappointing fourth-quarter earnings. Overweight positioning in the health care providers and services industry also detracted. Managed care company Humana declined after posting a fourth-quarter 2020 loss due to sharply higher COVID-19 treatment expenses.
Positioning in the financials sector was another source of weakness. Stock selection among capital markets companies, particularly an underweight to The Charles Schwab Corp., was detrimental as the brokerage firm advanced amid several prominent acquisitions and higher revenues from increased trading activity. Limited exposure to banks also detracted from relative performance. JPMorgan Chase & Co. rallied sharply on higher trading and advisory revenues and growing consumer banking demand. An underweight to Wells Fargo & Co. also hampered returns. The bank’s stock advanced, driven by lower credit losses and rising optimism amid the economic rebound and strong gains in corporate and investment banking and wealth management revenue. Among notable individual detractors, it hurt relative performance to be underrepresented in shares of gaming and artificial intelligence chipmaker NVIDIA. The company enjoyed solid earnings and revenue growth based on strength in data center and gaming chips.
*Fund returns would have been lower if a portion of fees had not been waived.
Materials and Real Estate Contributed to Returns
Stock selection in the materials sector contributed to relative performance. Rising demand for industrial metals amid the economic recovery boosted materials prices, benefiting the metals and mining industry, where the portfolio is overweight. Significant contribution came from portfolio-only positions in several steel producers, including Cleveland-Cliffs, Reliance Steel & Aluminum and Steel Dynamics. The investment team opted to lock in gains and exited all three stocks. Positioning among containers and packaging companies also served as a portfolio tailwind. Overweight positions in International Paper and WestRock bolstered relative gains. Both companies benefited from pandemic-driven demand for corrugated cardboard packaging from e-commerce companies and strong sales of paper products, particularly to processed foods and beverages makers. The position in International Paper was ultimately liquidated.
An underweight to the real estate sector also contributed to relative performance. It helped performance compared with the benchmark to not hold several equity real estate investment trusts (REITs). These declined as investors rotated out of select cellular tower and data center REIT stocks that had benefited during the pandemic’s lockdowns and transition to work from home. Not owning cell tower operators American Tower and Crown Castle International was additive to the portfolio’s relative returns. Among leading individual contributors to relative performance, it was beneficial to hold positions in semiconductor-related stocks Applied Materials and Lam Research. Chipmakers saw strong demand for their products during the lockdown and resulting recovery, while factory shutdowns and supply disruptions constrained supply. This resulted in strong pricing and performance for chipmakers such as Lam Research, and companies selling equipment and services to the industry, such as Applied Materials. Lam Research was subsequently exited.
A Look Ahead
Our disciplined, objective and systematic investment strategy is designed to take advantage of opportunities at the individual company level. We believe this approach is an effective way to capitalize on market inefficiencies that lead to the mispricing of individual stocks. Our strategy is designed to provide investors with well-diversified and risk-managed exposure to broad U.S. equities. As such, we do not see significant deviations in sector weightings versus the S&P 500 Index. Nevertheless, we can point to select sectors and industries where we are finding more or less investment opportunity.
At period-end, information technology was the portfolio’s largest absolute and relative weighting as the investment team’s screens identified a significant number of opportunities in the sector. The consumer discretionary and communication services sectors were also areas of notable active exposure. Conversely, the portfolio’s financials sector underweight reflects a lack of opportunities that align with most factors in the team’s stock selection model. Likewise, the portfolio maintains a relative underweight position to the consumer staples sector, where investment opportunities remain limited based on the model’s factor scores.
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 96.9% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 2.9% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.2% |
| |
Top Five Industries | % of net assets |
Software | 10.1% |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment | 8.6% |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals | 6.7% |
IT Services | 6.3% |
Health Care Providers and Services | 5.8% |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
G Class | $1,000 | $1,157.80 | $0.05 | 0.01% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
G Class | $1,000 | $1,024.74 | $0.05 | 0.01% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 96.9% | | |
Aerospace and Defense — 2.1% | | |
Boeing Co. (The)(1) | 15,431 | | $ | 3,696,650 | |
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 25,141 | | 5,298,466 | |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | 28,423 | | 10,329,771 | |
Textron, Inc. | 78,549 | | 5,401,815 | |
| | 24,726,702 | |
Air Freight and Logistics — 1.2% | | |
FedEx Corp. | 49,854 | | 14,872,944 | |
Auto Components — 0.6% | | |
Magna International, Inc. | 81,584 | | 7,557,942 | |
Automobiles — 2.9% | | |
Ford Motor Co.(1) | 954,714 | | 14,187,050 | |
General Motors Co.(1) | 94,133 | | 5,569,849 | |
Tesla, Inc.(1) | 21,464 | | 14,589,081 | |
| | 34,345,980 | |
Banks — 3.2% | | |
Bank of America Corp. | 344,745 | | 14,213,837 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | 66,364 | | 4,695,253 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 45,108 | | 7,016,098 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 257,590 | | 11,666,251 | |
| | 37,591,439 | |
Biotechnology — 3.7% | | |
AbbVie, Inc. | 121,930 | | 13,734,195 | |
Exelixis, Inc.(1) | 270,658 | | 4,931,389 | |
Incyte Corp.(1) | 52,906 | | 4,450,982 | |
Moderna, Inc.(1) | 50,612 | | 11,892,808 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 45,899 | | 9,254,615 | |
| | 44,263,989 | |
Building Products — 1.6% | | |
AO Smith Corp. | 67,969 | | 4,897,846 | |
Masco Corp. | 73,873 | | 4,351,858 | |
Owens Corning | 100,905 | | 9,878,600 | |
| | 19,128,304 | |
Capital Markets — 2.3% | | |
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | 43,044 | | 5,124,388 | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | 83,542 | | 6,082,693 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 11,932 | | 4,528,552 | |
Morgan Stanley | 128,025 | | 11,738,612 | |
| | 27,474,245 | |
Chemicals — 1.6% | | |
Chemours Co. (The) | 150,997 | | 5,254,696 | |
Eastman Chemical Co. | 59,602 | | 6,958,533 | |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | 24,138 | | 6,576,398 | |
| | 18,789,627 | |
Commercial Services and Supplies — 0.5% | | |
Waste Management, Inc. | 45,160 | | 6,327,368 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Communications Equipment — 0.8% | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 142,774 | | $ | 7,567,022 | |
Motorola Solutions, Inc. | 11,145 | | 2,416,793 | |
| | 9,983,815 | |
Construction and Engineering — 1.0% | | |
EMCOR Group, Inc. | 34,697 | | 4,274,324 | |
MasTec, Inc.(1) | 76,794 | | 8,147,843 | |
| | 12,422,167 | |
Consumer Finance — 0.7% | | |
Synchrony Financial | 183,257 | | 8,891,630 | |
Containers and Packaging — 0.5% | | |
WestRock Co. | 106,113 | | 5,647,334 | |
Distributors — 0.3% | | |
LKQ Corp.(1) | 69,033 | | 3,397,804 | |
Diversified Financial Services — 1.2% | | |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B(1) | 50,331 | | 13,987,991 | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.4% | | |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | 378,055 | | 5,137,767 | |
Electrical Equipment — 1.7% | | |
Eaton Corp. plc | 70,072 | | 10,383,269 | |
nVent Electric plc | 153,318 | | 4,789,654 | |
Regal Beloit Corp. | 39,958 | | 5,334,793 | |
| | 20,507,716 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 0.6% | | |
SYNNEX Corp. | 54,219 | | 6,601,705 | |
Entertainment — 1.3% | | |
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 38,712 | | 5,567,947 | |
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.(1) | 27,495 | | 4,867,165 | |
Walt Disney Co. (The)(1) | 29,091 | | 5,113,325 | |
| | 15,548,437 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.6% | | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 10,064 | | 425,908 | |
Prologis, Inc. | 103,073 | | 12,320,316 | |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 48,924 | | 6,383,604 | |
| | 19,129,828 | |
Food and Staples Retailing — 0.5% | | |
Walmart, Inc. | 40,081 | | 5,652,223 | |
Food Products — 1.2% | | |
Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A | 190,746 | | 14,069,425 | |
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 1.1% | | |
Danaher Corp. | 47,238 | | 12,676,790 | |
Health Care Providers and Services — 5.8% | | |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.(1) | 78,913 | | 7,652,983 | |
CVS Health Corp. | 74,611 | | 6,225,542 | |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 76,378 | | 15,790,388 | |
Humana, Inc. | 22,212 | | 9,833,697 | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(1) | 710 | | 195,853 | |
McKesson Corp. | 49,737 | | 9,511,704 | |
Molina Healthcare, Inc.(1) | 27,874 | | 7,053,794 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 30,735 | | 12,307,523 | |
| | 68,571,484 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Health Care Technology — 0.4% | | |
Cerner Corp. | 55,975 | | $ | 4,375,006 | |
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 0.3% | | |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | 36,505 | | 4,199,170 | |
Household Durables — 0.8% | | |
Mohawk Industries, Inc.(1) | 46,683 | | 8,972,006 | |
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.9% | | |
3M Co. | 52,136 | | 10,355,774 | |
Interactive Media and Services — 5.7% | | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(1) | 16,199 | | 39,554,556 | |
Facebook, Inc., Class A(1) | 79,927 | | 27,791,417 | |
| | 67,345,973 | |
Internet and Direct Marketing Retail — 3.2% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(1) | 10,990 | | 37,807,358 | |
IT Services — 6.3% | | |
Accenture plc, Class A | 82,804 | | 24,409,791 | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc.(1) | 101,544 | | 11,840,031 | |
Amdocs Ltd. | 101,842 | | 7,878,497 | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A | 71,036 | | 4,919,953 | |
International Business Machines Corp. | 78,904 | | 11,566,538 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(1) | 51,059 | | 14,882,677 | |
| | 75,497,487 | |
Leisure Products — 0.2% | | |
Polaris, Inc. | 21,644 | | 2,964,362 | |
Machinery — 0.9% | | |
AGCO Corp. | 32,025 | | 4,175,419 | |
Timken Co. (The) | 77,400 | | 6,237,666 | |
| | 10,413,085 | |
Media — 3.6% | | |
Altice USA, Inc., Class A(1) | 310,089 | | 10,586,439 | |
AMC Networks, Inc., Class A(1) | 41,521 | | 2,773,603 | |
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A(1) | 16,854 | | 12,159,318 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 311,210 | | 17,745,194 | |
| | 43,264,554 | |
Multiline Retail — 1.4% | | |
Target Corp. | 67,477 | | 16,311,890 | |
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 1.1% | | |
Chevron Corp. | 123,003 | | 12,883,334 | |
Paper and Forest Products — 0.2% | | |
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. | 33,817 | | 2,038,827 | |
Pharmaceuticals — 2.5% | | |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 230,227 | | 15,383,768 | |
Johnson & Johnson | 28,968 | | 4,772,189 | |
Pfizer, Inc. | 235,582 | | 9,225,391 | |
| | 29,381,348 | |
Professional Services — 0.2% | | |
Robert Half International, Inc. | 32,414 | | 2,883,874 | |
Road and Rail — 0.7% | | |
Landstar System, Inc. | 12,761 | | 2,016,493 | |
Ryder System, Inc. | 85,764 | | 6,374,838 | |
| | 8,391,331 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 8.6% | | |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 108,391 | | $ | 15,434,878 | |
Broadcom, Inc. | 31,677 | | 15,104,861 | |
Intel Corp. | 187,134 | | 10,505,703 | |
Micron Technology, Inc.(1) | 132,346 | | 11,246,763 | |
NVIDIA Corp. | 7,955 | | 6,364,796 | |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 64,588 | | 13,287,043 | |
Qorvo, Inc.(1) | 48,651 | | 9,518,568 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 87,153 | | 12,456,778 | |
STMicroelectronics NV, (New York) | 96,779 | | 3,520,820 | |
Synaptics, Inc.(1) | 35,998 | | 5,600,569 | |
| | 103,040,779 | |
Software — 10.1% | | |
Adobe, Inc.(1) | 2,064 | | 1,208,761 | |
Autodesk, Inc.(1) | 16,662 | | 4,863,638 | |
Dropbox, Inc., Class A(1) | 210,746 | | 6,387,711 | |
Fortinet, Inc.(1) | 29,891 | | 7,119,737 | |
HubSpot, Inc.(1) | 8,056 | | 4,694,393 | |
Microsoft Corp. | 251,572 | | 68,150,855 | |
Oracle Corp. (New York) | 171,137 | | 13,321,304 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(1) | 11,637 | | 4,317,909 | |
salesforce.com, Inc.(1) | 40,371 | | 9,861,424 | |
| | 119,925,732 | |
Specialty Retail — 4.5% | | |
AutoNation, Inc.(1) | 36,158 | | 3,428,140 | |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 91,027 | | 10,466,284 | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | 50,024 | | 15,952,153 | |
L Brands, Inc. | 47,082 | | 3,392,729 | |
Lithia Motors, Inc., Class A | 12,445 | | 4,276,600 | |
Lowe's Cos., Inc. | 56,239 | | 10,908,679 | |
RH(1) | 4,425 | | 3,004,575 | |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 13,880 | | 2,215,942 | |
| | 53,645,102 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 6.7% | | |
Apple, Inc. | 410,790 | | 56,261,799 | |
HP, Inc. | 181,069 | | 5,466,473 | |
Logitech International SA | 37,076 | | 4,483,230 | |
NetApp, Inc. | 58,361 | | 4,775,097 | |
Seagate Technology Holdings plc | 106,853 | | 9,395,584 | |
| | 80,382,183 | |
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 0.2% | | |
Crocs, Inc.(1) | 23,233 | | 2,707,109 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $898,911,878) | | 1,154,090,940 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 2.9% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $11,104,203), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $10,886,044) | | 10,886,041 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 3.125%, 2/15/43, valued at $18,510,999), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $18,148,010) | | 18,148,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 5,434,574 | | $ | 5,434,574 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $34,468,615) | | 34,468,615 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.8% (Cost $933,380,493) |
| 1,188,559,555 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.2% |
| 2,675,702 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 1,191,235,257 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FUTURES CONTRACTS PURCHASED | | | | |
Reference Entity | Contracts | Expiration Date | Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)^ |
S&P 500 E-Mini | 114 | September 2021 | $ | 24,445,020 | | $ | 428,959 | |
^Amount represents value and unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
| | | | | | | | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Assets | |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $933,380,493) | $ | 1,188,559,555 | |
Deposits with broker for futures contracts | 1,243,000 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 23,699,636 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 423,819 | |
| 1,213,926,010 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for investments purchased | 20,899,675 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 1,783,293 | |
Payable for variation margin on futures contracts | 7,785 | |
| 22,690,753 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 1,191,235,257 | |
| |
G Class Capital Shares, $0.01 Par Value | |
Shares authorized | 1,300,000,000 | |
Shares outstanding | 92,137,439 | |
| |
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 12.93 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 770,129,529 | |
Distributable earnings | 421,105,728 | |
| $ | 1,191,235,257 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 | |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $11,386) | $ | 16,316,151 | |
Interest | 5,913 | |
| 16,322,064 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 4,732,165 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 70,321 | |
Other expenses | 3,992 | |
| 4,806,478 | |
Fees waived | (4,732,165) | |
| 74,313 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | 16,247,751 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 171,141,523 | |
Futures contract transactions | 4,676,238 | |
| 175,817,761 | |
| |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | 125,889,819 | |
Futures contracts | 319,259 | |
| 126,209,078 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 302,026,839 | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 318,274,590 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 16,247,751 | | $ | 15,555,257 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 175,817,761 | | 295,927,221 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 126,209,078 | | (228,946,254) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 318,274,590 | | 82,536,224 | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings | (122,280,158) | | (159,452,313) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | 456,896,536 | | 30,112,019 | |
Proceeds from reinvestment of distributions | 122,280,158 | | 159,452,313 | |
Payments for shares redeemed | (159,925,104) | | (958,021,793) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions | 419,251,590 | | (768,457,461) | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 615,246,022 | | (845,373,550) | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 575,989,235 | | 1,421,362,785 | |
End of period | $ | 1,191,235,257 | | $ | 575,989,235 | |
| | |
Transactions in Shares of the Fund | | |
Sold | 40,712,050 | | 2,954,313 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 10,973,112 | | 14,469,417 | |
Redeemed | (13,463,901) | | (72,058,057) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares of the fund | 38,221,261 | | (54,634,327) | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. NT Equity Growth Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The fund offers the G Class.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually. The fund may elect to treat a portion of its payment to a redeeming shareholder, which represents the pro rata share of undistributed net investment income and net realized gains, as a distribution for federal income tax purposes (tax equalization).
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc., and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC. Various funds issued by American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc. own, in aggregate, 55% of the shares of the fund. Related parties do not invest in the fund for the purpose of exercising management or control.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee). The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), and extraordinary expenses. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on the daily net assets of the fund and paid monthly in arrears. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds. The rates for the Investment Category Fee range from 0.3380% to 0.5200%. The rates for the Complex Fee range from 0.0500% to 0.1100%. The investment advisor agreed to waive the fund's management fee in its entirety. The investment advisor expects this waiver to remain in effect permanently and cannot terminate it without the approval of the Board of Directors. The effective annual management fee for the period ended June 30, 2021 was 0.45% before waiver and 0.00% after waiver.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $24,325,480 and $31,078,303, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $923,462 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and in kind transactions, for the period ended June 30, 2021 were $1,943,974,426 and $2,055,950,388, respectively.
On July 29, 2020, the fund received investment securities valued at $401,649,235 from a purchase in kind from other products managed by the fund's investment advisor. A purchase in kind occurs when a fund receives securities into its portfolio in lieu of cash as payment from a purchasing shareholder.
5. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 1,154,090,940 | | — | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 5,434,574 | | $ | 29,034,041 | | — | |
| $ | 1,159,525,514 | | $ | 29,034,041 | | — | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | |
Futures Contracts | $ | 428,959 | | — | | — | |
6. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $12,604,926 futures contracts purchased.
The value of equity price risk derivative instruments as of June 30, 2021, is disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability of $7,785 in payable for variation margin on futures contracts.* For the year ended June 30, 2021, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $4,676,238 in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and $319,259 in change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts.
*Included in the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments.
7. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
The fund is owned by a relatively small number of shareholders, and in the event such shareholders redeem, the ongoing operations of the fund may be at risk.
8. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 25,887,749 | | $ | 15,643,887 | |
Long-term capital gains | $ | 96,392,409 | | $ | 143,808,426 | |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 936,179,409 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 266,047,797 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (13,667,651) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 252,380,146 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 113,129,294 | |
Accumulated long-term gains | $ | 55,596,288 | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | | | | | |
Per-Share Data | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Operating Expenses (before expense waiver) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Net Investment Income (Loss) (before expense waiver) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
G Class | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $10.68 | 0.18 | 3.47 | 3.65 | (0.16) | (1.24) | (1.40) | $12.93 | 36.39% | 0.01% | 0.46% | 1.54% | 1.09% | 189% | $1,191,235 | |
2020 | $13.09 | 0.21 | 0.71 | 0.92 | (0.25) | (3.08) | (3.33) | $10.68 | 6.58% | 0.01% | 0.47% | 1.69% | 1.23% | 108% | $575,989 | |
2019 | $14.02 | 0.25 | 0.64 | 0.89 | (0.24) | (1.58) | (1.82) | $13.09 | 8.05% | 0.01% | 0.47% | 1.89% | 1.43% | 84% | $1,421,363 | |
2018 | $13.03 | 0.27 | 1.79 | 2.06 | (0.26) | (0.81) | (1.07) | $14.02 | 16.11% | 0.04% | 0.46% | 1.93% | 1.51% | 83% | $1,672,840 | |
2017 | $11.20 | 0.19 | 1.83 | 2.02 | (0.19) | — | (0.19) | $13.03 | 18.09% | 0.47% | 0.47% | 1.54% | 1.54% | 88% | $1,771,561 | |
| | |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of NT Equity Growth Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of NT Equity Growth Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
|
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
| | |
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer group. The Board concluded that
the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $14,533,697, or up to the maximum amount allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $97,560,351, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund hereby designates $13,451,102 as qualified short-term capital gain distributions for purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 871 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund utilized earnings and profits of $3,615,379 distributed to shareholders on redemption of shares as part of the dividends paid deduction (tax equalization).
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92997 2108 | |
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| Annual Report |
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| June 30, 2021 |
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| Small Company Fund |
| Investor Class (ASQIX) |
| I Class (ASCQX) |
| A Class (ASQAX) |
| C Class (ASQCX) |
| R Class (ASCRX) |
| R5 Class (ASQGX) |
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President's Letter | |
Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
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Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2021. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Stocks Rallied as Optimism Prevailed
The reporting period began with global financial markets experiencing a sweeping recovery from the initial—and severe—effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift and significant action from central banks and federal governments in early 2020 helped reignite investor confidence in the markets and bolster the economic backdrop. These positive influences generally persisted through the second half of 2020, despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19 and the inconsistent lifting of virus-related restrictions.
In the U.S., improving data on manufacturing, employment and housing, along with a late-2020 federal coronavirus aid package and positive vaccine developments, helped sustain the optimism into the new year. Furthermore, political clarity emerged following the January U.S. Senate run-off elections in Georgia, setting the stage for another federal aid package, which passed in March. Outside the U.S., economies recovered but at a slower pace. Virus outbreaks and slower vaccine rollouts led to lingering lockdowns in some regions.
Overall, despite lingering challenges, corporate earnings generally rallied, and global stocks delivered stellar 12-month returns. The U.S. broadly outperformed other developed markets, with the S&P 500 Index returning more than 40% and small caps (Russell 2000 Index) gaining 62%. The broad economic recovery combined with ongoing monetary and fiscal support, reopenings and soaring commodity prices eventually drove inflation and government bond yields higher. U.S. Treasuries and other perceived safe-haven investments, including gold, declined for the period.
The Return to Normal Will Shape Market Dynamics
The return to pre-pandemic life is progressing. As the U.S. economy continues to rebuild from shutdown-related losses, investors likely will face renewed opportunities and challenges. Economic growth, inflation, the virus’s trajectory, supply chain normalization, and the effects of fiscal and monetary policy likely will be among the factors swaying market dynamics.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. Our firm has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| | | | Average Annual Returns | |
| Ticker Symbol | | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | Since Inception | Inception Date |
Investor Class | ASQIX | | 60.46% | 13.28% | 10.94% | — | 7/31/98 |
Russell 2000 Index | — | | 62.03% | 16.46% | 12.33% | — | — |
I Class | ASCQX | | 60.82% | 13.51% | 11.17% | — | 10/1/99 |
A Class | ASQAX | | | | | | 9/7/00 |
No sales charge | | | 60.14% | 13.01% | 10.68% | — | |
With sales charge | | | 50.91% | 11.68% | 10.03% | — | |
C Class | ASQCX | | 58.87% | 12.15% | 9.85% | — | 3/1/10 |
R Class | ASCRX | | 59.74% | 12.72% | 10.41% | — | 8/29/03 |
R5 Class | ASQGX | | 60.77% | — | — | 11.34% | 4/10/17 |
Average annual returns since inception are presented when ten years of performance history is not available.
Extraordinary performance is attributable in part to unusually favorable market conditions and may not be repeated or consistently achieved in the future.
C Class shares will automatically convert to A Class shares after being held for approximately eight years. C Class average annual returns do not reflect this conversion.
Sales charges include initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs), as applicable. A Class shares have a 5.75% maximum initial sales charge and may be subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. C Class shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase are subject to a maximum CDSC of 1.00%. The SEC requires that mutual funds provide performance information net of maximum sales charges in all cases where charges could be applied.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
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Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years |
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2011 |
Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure. |
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Value on June 30, 2021 |
| Investor Class — $28,272 |
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| Russell 2000 Index — $32,005 |
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
Investor Class | I Class | A Class | C Class | R Class | R5 Class |
0.87% | 0.67% | 1.12% | 1.87% | 1.37% | 0.67% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Steven Rossi and Guan Wang
Performance Summary
Small Company returned 60.46%* for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, compared with the 62.03% return of its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Index.
Small Company advanced strongly during the fiscal year, but underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Index. Small Company’s stock selection process incorporates factors of valuation, quality, growth and sentiment, while striving to minimize unintended risks along industries and other risk characteristics. The fund’s underperformance compared with the benchmark was primarily driven by stock selection decisions in the information technology and materials sectors, although communication services and consumer discretionary holdings also weighed on relative results. Security selection in financials and an underweight position in the utilities sector contributed to relative performance.
Stock Choices Across Several Sectors Detracted From Relative Returns
Stock choices were the largest driver of the fund’s 12-month relative results. Security selections in the information technology sector detracted most from performance, primarily within the software industry. Overweight positions to Box and Model N were significant detractors from the sector’s performance compared with the benchmark. Cloud storage provider Box reported sluggish sales despite significant marketing and sales spending. Model N, which provides revenue management software to pharmaceuticals and other health care-related companies, declined on management’s disappointing revenue projections. The IT services industry was also an area of weakness, led by an overweight position in MAXIMUS. Although the provider of government health and human services reported solid revenue and earnings growth, its stock price declined amid lower federal services segment revenues, driven by a decline in census contracts. The investment team ultimately exited its position in MAXIMUS.
Stock selection in the materials sector also served as a portfolio headwind, particularly holdings in the metals and mining industry. Overweights to Commercial Metals and Materion were detrimental, as these stocks performed very well in absolute terms but lagged the benchmark. Not owning several steel producers, including Alcoa and United States Steel, also weighed on the industry’s relative results as rising demand for industrial metals amid the economic recovery boosted materials prices. The communication services sector also hampered performance, most notably in the entertainment industry. Not holding AMC Entertainment Holdings was detrimental. The stock price of the movie theater chain surged when retail investors drove up the stock prices of several companies widely shorted by hedge funds. In the consumer discretionary sector, not owning Caesars Entertainment in the hotels, restaurants and leisure industry detracted from relative performance. The casino operator benefited from increased leisure travel as vaccination rates rose. Among notable individual detractors, it hurt relative performance to not own videogame retailer GameStop. The company’s stock rallied strongly during the retail investor-driven meme stock frenzy in early 2021.
Financials Sector Stocks Contributed
Security selection in the financials sector contributed to the portfolio’s relative returns. Insurance company stocks were particularly beneficial. An overweight position in National General Holdings was a leading sector outperformer. The property and casualty insurance company was acquired by The Allstate Corporation for $4 billion. The investment team liquidated the position.
*All fund returns referenced in this commentary are for Investor Class shares. Performance for other share classes will vary due to differences in fee structure; when Investor Class performance exceeds that of the fund’s benchmark, other share classes may not. See page 3 for returns for all share classes.
Capital markets stocks also added value. A portfolio-only investment in Evercore bolstered the fund’s returns. The investment banking advisory firm benefited from a sharp rise in restructuring and debt advisory deals due to the pandemic. In early 2021, the company posted record quarterly results, driven by strength in mergers and acquisitions and initial public offering services.
An underweight position in utilities also served as a portfolio tailwind, as the highly capital-intensive, interest rate-sensitive sector underperformed. But long-term rates rose sharply during the period as investors priced in a sharp economic rebound, weighing on the sector. In addition, utilities are perceived to be comparatively safe investments relative to the broader market because of their historically stable cash flows and higher dividend payouts. In that environment, utilities lagged as investors preferred more economically sensitive stocks. Among leading individual contributors to relative performance, it was beneficial to hold a portfolio-only position in Novocure. The health care company announced positive late-stage clinical trial data of a device that uses electrical fields to treat lung cancer. An overweight to Shutterstock was also beneficial. The stock photography provider posted strong earnings and revenue growth as digitization drives companies to increase their online presence and use more stock video and photography images.
Portfolio Positioning
Our disciplined, objective and systematic investment strategy is designed to take advantage of opportunities at the individual company level. We believe this approach is an effective way to capitalize on market inefficiencies that lead to the mispricing of individual stocks. As a result, our sector weights reflect where we are finding opportunities at a given time.
At period-end, the industrials sector was the portfolio’s largest absolute and relative weighting as the investment team’s screens identified a significant number of opportunities in the sector. The consumer discretionary sector was also an area of notable active exposure based on attractive factor profiles. Conversely, the portfolio’s health care sector underweight reflects more limited opportunities that align with the team’s stock selection model. Likewise, the team significantly reduced exposure to consumer staples, repositioning the sector from an overweight to an underweight position based on less compelling factor scores based on our model.
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JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 96.0% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 4.6% |
Temporary Cash Investments - Securities Lending Collateral | 0.5% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | (1.1)% |
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Top Five Industries | % of net assets |
Software | 6.9% |
Commercial Services and Supplies | 6.2% |
Capital Markets | 5.5% |
Biotechnology | 5.5% |
Specialty Retail | 5.3% |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25.00 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25.00 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,197.90 | $4.63 | 0.85% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,199.40 | $3.54 | 0.65% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,197.10 | $5.99 | 1.10% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,191.80 | $10.05 | 1.85% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,195.40 | $7.35 | 1.35% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,199.30 | $3.54 | 0.65% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,020.58 | $4.26 | 0.85% |
I Class | $1,000 | $1,021.57 | $3.26 | 0.65% |
A Class | $1,000 | $1,019.34 | $5.51 | 1.10% |
C Class | $1,000 | $1,015.62 | $9.25 | 1.85% |
R Class | $1,000 | $1,018.10 | $6.76 | 1.35% |
R5 Class | $1,000 | $1,021.57 | $3.26 | 0.65% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 96.0% | | |
Aerospace and Defense — 0.7% | | |
Axon Enterprise, Inc.(1) | 3,482 | | $ | 615,618 | |
Moog, Inc., Class A | 10,375 | | 872,122 | |
| | 1,487,740 | |
Air Freight and Logistics — 0.4% | | |
Echo Global Logistics, Inc.(1) | 27,152 | | 834,653 | |
Airlines — 0.2% | | |
Spirit Airlines, Inc.(1) | 12,367 | | 376,452 | |
Auto Components — 1.5% | | |
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.(1) | 36,038 | | 372,993 | |
Cooper-Standard Holdings, Inc.(1) | 11,586 | | 335,994 | |
LCI Industries | 4,893 | | 643,038 | |
Modine Manufacturing Co.(1) | 36,384 | | 603,611 | |
Patrick Industries, Inc. | 9,238 | | 674,374 | |
Stoneridge, Inc.(1) | 21,969 | | 648,085 | |
| | 3,278,095 | |
Automobiles — 0.2% | | |
Winnebago Industries, Inc. | 8,076 | | 548,845 | |
Banks — 4.3% | | |
Bancorp, Inc. (The)(1) | 23,630 | | 543,726 | |
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son Ltd. (The) | 29,310 | | 1,039,039 | |
Cathay General Bancorp | 23,457 | | 923,268 | |
Community Bank System, Inc. | 7,273 | | 550,202 | |
Enterprise Financial Services Corp. | 12,612 | | 585,071 | |
First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A | 976 | | 812,754 | |
First Merchants Corp. | 14,662 | | 610,966 | |
Hilltop Holdings, Inc. | 24,622 | | 896,241 | |
Independent Bank Group, Inc. | 9,034 | | 668,335 | |
International Bancshares Corp. | 7,751 | | 332,828 | |
Park National Corp. | 3,053 | | 358,483 | |
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.(1) | 133 | | 8,444 | |
United Bankshares, Inc. | 8,047 | | 293,716 | |
United Community Banks, Inc. | 22,665 | | 725,507 | |
Western Alliance Bancorp | 13,254 | | 1,230,634 | |
| | 9,579,214 | |
Beverages — 0.3% | | |
Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 1,544 | | 620,889 | |
Biotechnology — 5.5% | | |
Blueprint Medicines Corp.(1) | 14,532 | | 1,278,235 | |
CareDx, Inc.(1) | 18,952 | | 1,734,487 | |
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 30,170 | | 1,125,944 | |
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.(1) | 9,700 | | 611,003 | |
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 163,814 | | 2,108,286 | |
Myriad Genetics, Inc.(1) | 23,772 | | 726,948 | |
Natera, Inc.(1) | 4,646 | | 527,460 | |
Novavax, Inc.(1) | 4,563 | | 968,771 | |
Radius Health, Inc.(1) | 44,052 | | 803,508 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.(1) | 17,707 | | $ | 211,953 | |
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.(1) | 5,723 | | 545,688 | |
Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 51,909 | | 1,116,563 | |
Vericel Corp.(1)(2) | 9,974 | | 523,635 | |
| | 12,282,481 | |
Building Products — 2.0% | | |
Apogee Enterprises, Inc. | 13,284 | | 541,057 | |
Builders FirstSource, Inc.(1) | 13,746 | | 586,404 | |
Griffon Corp. | 20,914 | | 536,026 | |
Masonite International Corp.(1) | 2,407 | | 269,078 | |
PGT Innovations, Inc.(1) | 17,551 | | 407,710 | |
Quanex Building Products Corp. | 16,894 | | 419,647 | |
Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. | 6,929 | | 765,239 | |
Trex Co., Inc.(1) | 9,775 | | 999,103 | |
| | 4,524,264 | |
Capital Markets — 5.5% | | |
Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A | 34,756 | | 1,766,300 | |
B. Riley Financial, Inc. | 13,283 | | 1,002,867 | |
Cohen & Steers, Inc. | 8,320 | | 682,989 | |
Evercore, Inc., Class A | 17,556 | | 2,471,358 | |
Federated Hermes, Inc. | 60,150 | | 2,039,686 | |
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A | 6,246 | | 569,136 | |
Moelis & Co., Class A | 10,647 | | 605,708 | |
Piper Sandler Cos. | 3,066 | | 397,231 | |
PJT Partners, Inc., Class A | 38,514 | | 2,749,129 | |
| | 12,284,404 | |
Chemicals — 0.3% | | |
Minerals Technologies, Inc. | 8,709 | | 685,137 | |
Commercial Services and Supplies — 6.2% | | |
ABM Industries, Inc. | 55,249 | | 2,450,293 | |
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Class A(1) | 10,858 | | 688,723 | |
Cimpress plc(1) | 19,501 | | 2,114,103 | |
Deluxe Corp. | 11,795 | | 563,447 | |
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. | 64,060 | | 2,022,374 | |
Herman Miller, Inc. | 21,676 | | 1,021,807 | |
HNI Corp. | 46,499 | | 2,044,561 | |
Interface, Inc. | 72,235 | | 1,105,196 | |
Matthews International Corp., Class A | 15,218 | | 547,239 | |
MSA Safety, Inc. | 4,899 | | 811,177 | |
Viad Corp.(1) | 10,319 | | 514,402 | |
| | 13,883,322 | |
Communications Equipment — 1.2% | | |
Calix, Inc.(1) | 5,805 | | 275,737 | |
Extreme Networks, Inc.(1) | 90,835 | | 1,013,719 | |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc.(1) | 6,166 | | 505,797 | |
Plantronics, Inc.(1) | 21,142 | | 882,256 | |
| | 2,677,509 | |
Construction and Engineering — 1.5% | | |
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | 4,019 | | 316,657 | |
EMCOR Group, Inc. | 7,980 | | 983,056 | |
Granite Construction, Inc. | 13,624 | | 565,805 | |
MasTec, Inc.(1) | 10,143 | | 1,076,172 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Tutor Perini Corp.(1) | 22,234 | | $ | 307,941 | |
| | 3,249,631 | |
Construction Materials — 0.5% | | |
Summit Materials, Inc., Class A(1) | 30,745 | | 1,071,463 | |
Consumer Finance — 1.0% | | |
Green Dot Corp., Class A(1) | 10,973 | | 514,085 | |
PROG Holdings, Inc. | 37,868 | | 1,822,587 | |
| | 2,336,672 | |
Diversified Consumer Services — 0.6% | | |
H&R Block, Inc. | 42,727 | | 1,003,230 | |
WW International, Inc.(1) | 10,786 | | 389,806 | |
| | 1,393,036 | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.4% | | |
Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. | 10,669 | | 820,339 | |
Electrical Equipment — 2.6% | | |
Acuity Brands, Inc. | 8,679 | | 1,623,233 | |
Atkore, Inc.(1) | 14,346 | | 1,018,566 | |
AZZ, Inc. | 5,565 | | 288,156 | |
GrafTech International Ltd. | 107,069 | | 1,244,142 | |
Plug Power, Inc.(1) | 47,812 | | 1,634,692 | |
| | 5,808,789 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments and Components — 0.9% | | |
OSI Systems, Inc.(1) | 6,303 | | 640,637 | |
Sanmina Corp.(1) | 7,931 | | 308,992 | |
ScanSource, Inc.(1) | 13,834 | | 389,150 | |
SYNNEX Corp. | 5,734 | | 698,172 | |
| | 2,036,951 | |
Energy Equipment and Services — 2.0% | | |
Archrock, Inc. | 62,161 | | 553,854 | |
Cactus, Inc., Class A | 14,496 | | 532,293 | |
ChampionX Corp.(1) | 47,055 | | 1,206,961 | |
Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A(1) | 32,522 | | 460,512 | |
NexTier Oilfield Solutions, Inc.(1) | 43,838 | | 208,669 | |
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. | 77,870 | | 774,028 | |
ProPetro Holding Corp.(1) | 86,601 | | 793,265 | |
| | 4,529,582 | |
Entertainment — 0.7% | | |
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Class A | 26,637 | | 1,542,016 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 2.5% | | |
American Assets Trust, Inc. | 8,182 | | 305,107 | |
CareTrust REIT, Inc. | 27,977 | | 649,906 | |
Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. | 3,922 | | 291,444 | |
LTC Properties, Inc. | 11,648 | | 447,167 | |
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. | 21,635 | | 785,134 | |
PotlatchDeltic Corp. | 24,939 | | 1,325,508 | |
PS Business Parks, Inc. | 4,294 | | 635,855 | |
Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. | 22,261 | | 393,129 | |
Retail Properties of America, Inc., Class A | 28,782 | | 329,554 | |
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.(1) | 35,274 | | 438,103 | |
| | 5,600,907 | |
Food Products — 0.6% | | |
Freshpet, Inc.(1) | 6,651 | | 1,083,847 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Lancaster Colony Corp. | 1,853 | | $ | 358,574 | |
| | 1,442,421 | |
Health Care Equipment and Supplies — 3.0% | | |
AtriCure, Inc.(1) | 9,034 | | 716,667 | |
Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.(1) | 6,332 | | 270,060 | |
Cerus Corp.(1) | 114,060 | | 674,095 | |
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.(1) | 1,882 | | 124,871 | |
Nevro Corp.(1) | 3,616 | | 599,497 | |
Novocure Ltd.(1) | 8,064 | | 1,788,756 | |
NuVasive, Inc.(1) | 8,122 | | 550,509 | |
STAAR Surgical Co.(1) | 5,399 | | 823,347 | |
STERIS plc | 2,190 | | 451,797 | |
Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.(1) | 9,132 | | 474,864 | |
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.(1) | 2,182 | | 212,527 | |
| | 6,686,990 | |
Health Care Providers and Services — 2.2% | | |
Amedisys, Inc.(1) | 2,982 | | 730,381 | |
LHC Group, Inc.(1) | 8,463 | | 1,694,800 | |
ModivCare, Inc.(1) | 3,781 | | 643,035 | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp.(1) | 14,892 | | 997,615 | |
Tivity Health, Inc.(1) | 34,287 | | 902,091 | |
| | 4,967,922 | |
Health Care Technology — 1.0% | | |
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.(1) | 3,769 | | 728,397 | |
Phreesia, Inc.(1) | 11,963 | | 733,332 | |
Vocera Communications, Inc.(1) | 18,876 | | 752,208 | |
| | 2,213,937 | |
Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 1.9% | | |
Denny's Corp.(1) | 25,339 | | 417,840 | |
International Game Technology plc(1) | 18,406 | | 441,008 | |
Jack in the Box, Inc. | 5,137 | | 572,467 | |
Scientific Games Corp., Class A(1) | 11,363 | | 879,951 | |
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.(1) | 9,215 | | 460,197 | |
Wingstop, Inc. | 9,154 | | 1,442,945 | |
| | 4,214,408 | |
Household Durables — 1.1% | | |
Installed Building Products, Inc. | 9,476 | | 1,159,483 | |
KB Home | 5,776 | | 235,199 | |
Taylor Morrison Home Corp.(1) | 24,275 | | 641,346 | |
Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.(1) | 23,047 | | 493,897 | |
| | 2,529,925 | |
Household Products — 0.3% | | |
Central Garden & Pet Co., Class A(1) | 13,424 | | 648,379 | |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 0.2% | |
Clearway Energy, Inc., Class C | 13,538 | | 358,486 | |
Insurance — 1.0% | | |
Enstar Group Ltd.(1) | 5,756 | | 1,375,223 | |
Goosehead Insurance, Inc., Class A | 4,073 | | 518,493 | |
United Fire Group, Inc. | 13,937 | | 386,473 | |
| | 2,280,189 | |
Interactive Media and Services — 1.0% | | |
Cargurus, Inc.(1) | 37,344 | | 979,533 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Cars.com, Inc.(1) | 38,117 | | $ | 546,217 | |
Yelp, Inc.(1) | 15,117 | | 604,075 | |
| | 2,129,825 | |
Internet and Direct Marketing Retail — 1.6% | | |
Shutterstock, Inc. | 18,838 | | 1,849,326 | |
Stamps.com, Inc.(1) | 9,068 | | 1,816,230 | |
| | 3,665,556 | |
IT Services — 1.3% | | |
CSG Systems International, Inc. | 31,646 | | 1,493,058 | |
Rackspace Technology, Inc.(1) | 67,390 | | 1,321,518 | |
| | 2,814,576 | |
Leisure Products — 0.3% | | |
Malibu Boats, Inc., Class A(1) | 3,618 | | 265,308 | |
YETI Holdings, Inc.(1) | 3,972 | | 364,709 | |
| | 630,017 | |
Life Sciences Tools and Services — 1.2% | | |
Medpace Holdings, Inc.(1) | 6,575 | | 1,161,342 | |
Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.(1) | 46,761 | | 1,635,232 | |
| | 2,796,574 | |
Machinery — 3.0% | | |
Albany International Corp., Class A | 3,870 | | 345,436 | |
Astec Industries, Inc. | 6,525 | | 410,683 | |
EnPro Industries, Inc. | 8,100 | | 786,915 | |
Hillenbrand, Inc. | 20,595 | | 907,828 | |
Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.(1)(2) | 19,021 | | 1,124,331 | |
Mueller Industries, Inc. | 36,621 | | 1,586,056 | |
Tennant Co. | 5,867 | | 468,480 | |
Timken Co. (The) | 12,658 | | 1,020,108 | |
| | 6,649,837 | |
Media — 0.9% | | |
AMC Networks, Inc., Class A(1) | 14,531 | | 970,671 | |
iHeartMedia, Inc., Class A(1) | 37,051 | | 997,783 | |
| | 1,968,454 | |
Metals and Mining — 1.6% | | |
Allegheny Technologies, Inc.(1) | 37,478 | | 781,416 | |
Commercial Metals Co. | 42,692 | | 1,311,498 | |
Kaiser Aluminum Corp. | 5,907 | | 729,456 | |
Materion Corp. | 10,503 | | 791,401 | |
| | 3,613,771 | |
Multiline Retail — 0.3% | | |
Big Lots, Inc. | 10,007 | | 660,562 | |
Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 3.6% | | |
DHT Holdings, Inc. | 130,273 | | 845,472 | |
Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A(1) | 66,168 | | 1,034,206 | |
Ovintiv, Inc. | 64,506 | | 2,030,004 | |
PBF Energy, Inc., Class A(1) | 27,537 | | 421,316 | |
PDC Energy, Inc. | 19,598 | | 897,392 | |
Renewable Energy Group, Inc.(1) | 10,290 | | 641,479 | |
Scorpio Tankers, Inc. | 29,681 | | 654,466 | |
SFL Corp. Ltd. | 71,113 | | 544,014 | |
Targa Resources Corp. | 14,279 | | 634,702 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
World Fuel Services Corp. | 13,076 | | $ | 414,901 | |
| | 8,117,952 | |
Paper and Forest Products — 0.5% | | |
Neenah, Inc. | 8,371 | | 419,973 | |
Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. | 19,355 | | 781,555 | |
| | 1,201,528 | |
Personal Products — 0.5% | | |
Edgewell Personal Care Co. | 6,052 | | 265,683 | |
Medifast, Inc. | 1,878 | | 531,436 | |
USANA Health Sciences, Inc.(1) | 2,918 | | 298,891 | |
| | 1,096,010 | |
Pharmaceuticals — 1.4% | | |
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 89,139 | | 1,797,042 | |
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.(1) | 15,327 | | 362,331 | |
Corcept Therapeutics, Inc.(1) | 30,382 | | 668,404 | |
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(1) | 12,666 | | 389,986 | |
| | 3,217,763 | |
Professional Services — 2.5% | | |
ASGN, Inc.(1) | 25,205 | | 2,443,121 | |
Kelly Services, Inc., Class A(1) | 36,109 | | 865,533 | |
TriNet Group, Inc.(1) | 6,515 | | 472,207 | |
TrueBlue, Inc.(1) | 20,423 | | 574,090 | |
Upwork, Inc.(1) | 19,521 | | 1,137,879 | |
| | 5,492,830 | |
Real Estate Management and Development — 1.2% | | |
Cushman & Wakefield plc(1) | 16,301 | | 284,779 | |
eXp World Holdings, Inc.(1) | 29,807 | | 1,155,617 | |
Realogy Holdings Corp.(1) | 42,804 | | 779,889 | |
Redfin Corp.(1) | 8,744 | | 554,457 | |
| | 2,774,742 | |
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 2.2% | | |
Ambarella, Inc.(1) | 5,421 | | 578,041 | |
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.(1) | 6,731 | | 272,067 | |
Cirrus Logic, Inc.(1) | 3,852 | | 327,882 | |
Diodes, Inc.(1) | 5,924 | | 472,557 | |
Enphase Energy, Inc.(1) | 3,427 | | 629,300 | |
FormFactor, Inc.(1) | 19,704 | | 718,408 | |
MaxLinear, Inc.(1) | 15,216 | | 646,528 | |
Silicon Laboratories, Inc.(1) | 1,080 | | 165,510 | |
Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.(1) | 10,380 | | 557,614 | |
Veeco Instruments, Inc.(1) | 21,742 | | 522,678 | |
| | 4,890,585 | |
Software — 6.9% | | |
Appfolio, Inc., Class A(1) | 2,314 | | 326,737 | |
Box, Inc., Class A(1) | 83,112 | | 2,123,511 | |
ChannelAdvisor Corp.(1) | 11,457 | | 280,811 | |
Cloudera, Inc.(1) | 57,170 | | 906,716 | |
CommVault Systems, Inc.(1) | 17,544 | | 1,371,414 | |
Digital Turbine, Inc.(1) | 14,062 | | 1,069,134 | |
Five9, Inc.(1) | 5,376 | | 985,905 | |
j2 Global, Inc.(1) | 17,529 | | 2,411,114 | |
Mitek Systems, Inc.(1) | 29,241 | | 563,182 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Model N, Inc.(1) | 23,924 | | $ | 819,875 | |
Momentive Global, Inc.(1) | 48,010 | | 1,011,571 | |
Progress Software Corp. | 5,999 | | 277,454 | |
Qualys, Inc.(1) | 6,079 | | 612,094 | |
RingCentral, Inc., Class A(1) | 2,288 | | 664,847 | |
SPS Commerce, Inc.(1) | 1,669 | | 166,650 | |
Workiva, Inc.(1) | 5,490 | | 611,202 | |
Zendesk, Inc.(1) | 6,121 | | 883,505 | |
Zuora, Inc., Class A(1) | 18,771 | | 323,800 | |
| | 15,409,522 | |
Specialty Retail — 5.3% | | |
Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A(1) | 20,075 | | 932,082 | |
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | 20,494 | | 769,140 | |
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.(1) | 9,595 | | 319,418 | |
Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | 3,220 | | 497,265 | |
Guess?, Inc. | 22,759 | | 600,838 | |
Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.(1) | 38,411 | | 810,472 | |
MarineMax, Inc.(1) | 30,841 | | 1,503,190 | |
National Vision Holdings, Inc.(1) | 14,503 | | 741,538 | |
ODP Corp. (The)(1) | 11,461 | | 550,243 | |
Rent-A-Center, Inc. | 11,317 | | 600,593 | |
RH(1) | 2,954 | | 2,005,766 | |
Signet Jewelers Ltd.(1) | 11,782 | | 951,868 | |
Sleep Number Corp.(1) | 11,182 | | 1,229,461 | |
Zumiez, Inc.(1) | 7,854 | | 384,767 | |
| | 11,896,641 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals — 0.5% | | |
Diebold Nixdorf, Inc.(1) | 56,952 | | 731,264 | |
Pure Storage, Inc., Class A(1) | 25,237 | | 492,878 | |
| | 1,224,142 | |
Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 2.6% | | |
Crocs, Inc.(1) | 21,446 | | 2,498,888 | |
G-III Apparel Group Ltd.(1) | 14,197 | | 466,513 | |
Kontoor Brands, Inc. | 15,079 | | 850,606 | |
Oxford Industries, Inc. | 9,490 | | 937,992 | |
Steven Madden Ltd. | 22,534 | | 986,088 | |
| | 5,740,087 | |
Thrifts and Mortgage Finance — 2.8% | | |
Essent Group Ltd. | 47,513 | | 2,135,709 | |
MGIC Investment Corp. | 90,175 | | 1,226,380 | |
Mr. Cooper Group, Inc.(1) | 18,884 | | 624,305 | |
NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A(1) | 41,409 | | 930,874 | |
Radian Group, Inc. | 42,915 | | 954,859 | |
Walker & Dunlop, Inc. | 4,062 | | 423,992 | |
| | 6,296,119 | |
Trading Companies and Distributors — 2.5% | | |
Boise Cascade Co. | 26,975 | | 1,573,991 | |
GMS, Inc.(1) | 21,750 | | 1,047,045 | |
H&E Equipment Services, Inc. | 22,315 | | 742,420 | |
Herc Holdings, Inc.(1) | 10,823 | | 1,212,934 | |
NOW, Inc.(1) | 42,947 | | 407,567 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Triton International Ltd. | 11,475 | | $ | 600,602 | |
| | 5,584,559 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $162,904,250) | | 214,666,700 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 4.6% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $3,326,912), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $3,261,550) | | 3,261,549 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.875%, 5/15/43, valued at $5,545,768), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $5,437,003) | | 5,437,000 | |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 1,628,244 | | 1,628,244 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $10,326,793) | | 10,326,793 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS - SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL(3) — 0.5% |
State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio (Cost $1,073,827) | 1,073,827 | 1,073,827 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 101.1% (Cost $174,304,870) |
| 226,067,320 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — (1.1)% |
| (2,409,370) | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 223,657,950 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FUTURES CONTRACTS PURCHASED |
Reference Entity | Contracts | Expiration Date | Notional Amount | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)^ |
Russell 2000 E-Mini Index | 68 | September 2021 | $ | 7,846,520 | | $ | 100,171 | |
^Amount represents value and unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
| | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
(1)Non-income producing.
(2)Security, or a portion thereof, is on loan. At the period end, the aggregate value of securities on loan was $1,049,005. The amount of securities on loan indicated may not correspond with the securities on loan identified because securities with pending sales are in the process of recall from the brokers.
(3)Investment of cash collateral from securities on loan. At the period end, the aggregate value of the collateral held by the fund was $1,073,827.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 |
Assets | |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $173,231,043) — including $1,049,005 of securities on loan | $ | 224,993,493 | |
Investment made with cash collateral received for securities on loan, at value (cost of $1,073,827) | 1,073,827 | |
Total investment securities, at value (cost of $174,304,870) | 226,067,320 | |
Deposits with broker for futures contracts | 442,000 | |
Receivable for investments sold | 9,175,519 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | 32,693 | |
Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts | 10,880 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 66,600 | |
Securities lending receivable | 990 | |
| 235,796,002 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for collateral received for securities on loan | 1,073,827 | |
Payable for investments purchased | 10,722,825 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 182,213 | |
Accrued management fees | 154,286 | |
Distribution and service fees payable | 4,901 | |
| 12,138,052 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 223,657,950 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 161,618,055 | |
Distributable earnings | 62,039,895 | |
| $ | 223,657,950 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value Per Share |
Investor Class, $0.01 Par Value | $196,472,766 | 10,140,347 | $19.38 |
I Class, $0.01 Par Value | $9,314,751 | 477,972 | $19.49 |
A Class, $0.01 Par Value | $13,030,614 | 692,052 | $18.83* |
C Class, $0.01 Par Value | $938,962 | 53,177 | $17.66 |
R Class, $0.01 Par Value | $3,496,997 | 191,210 | $18.29 |
R5 Class, $0.01 Par Value | $403,860 | 20,703 | $19.51 |
*Maximum offering price $19.98 (net asset value divided by 0.9425).
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $2,776) | $ | 1,827,507 | |
Securities lending, net | 18,881 | |
Interest | 1,510 | |
| 1,847,898 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 1,573,200 | |
Distribution and service fees: | |
A Class | 27,539 | |
C Class | 8,465 | |
R Class | 22,522 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 12,367 | |
Other expenses | 6,735 | |
| 1,650,828 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | 197,070 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 48,028,354 | |
Futures contract transactions | 1,569,100 | |
| 49,597,454 | |
| |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | 33,975,122 | |
Futures contracts | (102,230) | |
| 33,872,892 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 83,470,346 | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 83,667,416 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 197,070 | | $ | 2,169,734 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 49,597,454 | | (18,438,282) | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 33,872,892 | | (13,472,667) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 83,667,416 | | (29,741,215) | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings: | | |
Investor Class | (324,475) | | (3,031,824) | |
I Class | (29,013) | | (156,076) | |
A Class | (9,995) | | (31,135) | |
R Class | — | | (14,146) | |
R5 Class | (654) | | (2,505) | |
Decrease in net assets from distributions | (364,137) | | (3,235,686) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (Note 5) | (18,280,329) | | (419,982,085) | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 65,022,950 | | (452,958,986) | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 158,635,000 | | 611,593,986 | |
End of period | $ | 223,657,950 | | $ | 158,635,000 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Small Company Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of small companies.
The fund offers the Investor Class, I Class, A Class, C Class, R Class and R5 Class. The A Class may incur an initial sales charge. The A Class and C Class may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the settlement price as provided by the appropriate exchange.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of
Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Securities lending income is net of fees and rebates earned by the lending agent for its services.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Multiple Class — All shares of the fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, non-class specific expenses, and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of the fund are allocated to each class of shares based on their relative net assets.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually. The fund may elect to treat a portion of its payment to a redeeming shareholder, which represents the pro rata share of undistributed net investment income and net realized gains, as a distribution for federal income tax purposes (tax equalization).
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
Securities Lending — Securities are lent to qualified financial institutions and brokers. State Street Bank & Trust Co. serves as securities lending agent to the fund pursuant to a Securities Lending Agreement. The lending of securities exposes the fund to risks such as: the borrowers may fail to return the loaned securities, the borrowers may not be able to provide additional collateral, the fund may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or delays in access to collateral, or the fund may experience losses related to the investment collateral. To minimize certain risks, loan counterparties pledge collateral in the form of cash and/or securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the fund in the case of default of any securities borrowed. Cash collateral received is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, a money market mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act. The loans may also be secured by U.S. government securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted accordingly. By lending securities, the fund seeks to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest and fees. Such income is reflected separately within the Statement of Operations. The value of loaned securities and related collateral outstanding at period end, if any, are shown on a gross basis within the Schedule of Investments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The following table reflects a breakdown of transactions accounted for as secured borrowings, the gross obligation by the type of collateral pledged, and the remaining contractual maturity of those transactions as of June 30, 2021.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Remaining Contractual Maturity of Agreements |
| Overnight and Continuous | <30 days | Between 30 & 90 days | >90 days | Total |
Securities Lending Transactions(1) | | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 1,073,827 | | — | | — | | — | | $ | 1,073,827 | |
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | $ | 1,073,827 | |
(1)Amount represents the payable for cash collateral received for securities on loan. This will generally be in the Overnight and Continuous column as the securities are typically callable on demand.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS), and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee) per class. The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), extraordinary expenses, and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on each class's daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The difference in the fee among the classes is a result of their separate arrangements for non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services. It is not the result of any difference in advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of the fund’s assets, which do not vary by class. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The Investment Category Fee range, the Complex Fee range and the effective annual management fee for each class for the period ended June 30, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Investment Category Fee Range | Complex Fee Range | Effective Annual Management Fee |
Investor Class | 0.5380% to 0.7200% | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% |
I Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.65% |
A Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% |
C Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% |
R Class | 0.2500% to 0.3100% | 0.85% |
R5 Class | 0.0500% to 0.1100% | 0.65% |
Distribution and Service Fees — The Board of Directors has adopted a separate Master Distribution and Individual Shareholder Services Plan for each of the A Class, C Class and R Class (collectively the plans), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans provide that the A Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. The plans provide that the C Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 1.00%, of which 0.25% is paid for individual shareholder services and 0.75% is paid for distribution services. The plans provide that the R Class will pay ACIS an annual distribution and service fee of 0.50%. The fees are computed and accrued daily based on each class’s daily net assets and paid monthly in arrears. The fees are used to pay financial intermediaries for distribution and individual shareholder services. Fees incurred under the plans during the period ended June 30, 2021 are detailed in the Statement of Operations.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund sales were $799,095 and there were no interfund purchases. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $280,088 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended
June 30, 2021 were $255,270,330 and $271,461,833, respectively.
5. Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in shares of the fund were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year ended June 30, 2021 | Year ended June 30, 2020 |
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
Investor Class/Shares Authorized | 400,000,000 | | | 340,000,000 | | |
Sold | 1,759,611 | | $ | 31,125,413 | | 5,240,049 | | $ | 58,414,522 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 18,531 | | 260,571 | | 229,972 | | 2,972,437 | |
Redeemed | (2,646,959) | | (39,898,893) | | (37,095,980) | | (464,184,870) | |
| (868,817) | | (8,512,909) | | (31,625,959) | | (402,797,911) | |
I Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | |
| 35,000,000 | | |
Sold | 80,819 | | 1,362,866 | | 397,413 | | 5,124,981 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 2,024 | | 28,980 | | 11,912 | | 155,978 | |
Redeemed | (293,854) | | (4,625,564) | | (1,089,775) | | (14,417,556) | |
| (211,011) | | (3,233,718) | | (680,450) | | (9,136,597) | |
A Class/Shares Authorized | 30,000,000 | |
| 35,000,000 | | |
Sold | 176,849 | | 2,934,168 | | 118,109 | | 1,422,983 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 673 | 9,346 | | 2,415 | | 29,014 | |
Redeemed | (226,828) | | (3,596,911) | | (539,724) | | (6,484,672) | |
| (49,306) | | (653,397) | | (419,200) | | (5,032,675) | |
C Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | |
| 15,000,000 | | |
Sold | 1,663 | | 26,524 | | 1,479 | | 16,998 | |
Redeemed | (17,102) | | (241,040) | | (56,297) | | (647,404) | |
| (15,439) | | (214,516) | | (54,818) | | (630,406) | |
R Class/Shares Authorized | 20,000,000 | |
| 20,000,000 | | |
Sold | 83,546 | | 1,250,125 | | 157,494 | | 1,830,770 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | — | | — | | 1,211 | | 13,928 | |
Redeemed | (538,675) | | (7,049,293) | | (350,822) | | (4,143,065) | |
| (455,129) | | (5,799,168) | | (192,117) | | (2,298,367) | |
R5 Class/Shares Authorized | 40,000,000 | |
| 50,000,000 | | |
Sold | 12,222 | | 226,028 | | 2,993 | | 38,434 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 45 | | 654 | | 192 | | 2,505 | |
Redeemed | (5,053) | | (93,303) | | (10,755) | | (127,068) | |
| 7,214 | | 133,379 | | (7,570) | | (86,129) | |
Net increase (decrease) | (1,592,488) | | $ | (18,280,329) | | (32,980,114) | | $ | (419,982,085) | |
6. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 214,666,700 | | — | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 1,628,244 | | $ | 8,698,549 | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments - Securities Lending Collateral | 1,073,827 | | — | | — | |
| $ | 217,368,771 | | $ | 8,698,549 | | — | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | |
Futures Contracts | $ | 100,171 | | — | | — | |
7. Derivative Instruments
Equity Price Risk — The fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A fund may enter into futures contracts based on an equity index in order to manage its exposure to changes in market conditions. A fund may purchase futures contracts to gain exposure to increases in market value or sell futures contracts to protect against a decline in market value. Upon entering into a futures contract, a fund is required to deposit either cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (initial margin). Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received daily, in cash, by a fund. The variation margin is equal to the daily change in the contract value and is recorded as unrealized gains and losses. A fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed or expires. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses occurring during the holding period of futures contracts are a component of net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively. One of the risks of entering into futures contracts is the possibility that the change in value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in value of the underlying securities. The fund's average notional exposure to equity price risk derivative instruments held during the period was $3,380,697 futures contracts purchased.
The value of equity price risk derivative instruments as of June 30, 2021, is disclosed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset of $10,880 in receivable for variation margin on futures contracts.* For the year ended June 30, 2021, the effect of equity price risk derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations was $1,569,100 in net realized gain (loss) on futures contract transactions and $(102,230) in change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts.
*Included in the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments.
8. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
The fund invests in common stocks of small companies. Because of this, the fund may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a fund investing in larger, more established companies.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
9. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 364,137 | $ | 3,235,686 |
Long-term capital gains | — | — |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 175,080,248 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 55,714,328 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (4,727,256) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 50,987,072 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 1,213,223 | |
Accumulated long-term gains | $ | 25,813,690 | |
Accumulated short-term capital losses | $ | (15,974,090) | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryovers that may be used to offset future realized
capital gains for federal income tax purposes. The capital loss carryovers may be carried forward for an
unlimited period. As a result of a shift in ownership of the fund, the utilization of the capital loss carryovers are limited annually. Any remaining accumulated gains after application of this limitation will be distributed to shareholders.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Investor Class | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $12.10 | 0.02 | 7.29 | 7.31 | (0.03) | — | (0.03) | $19.38 | 60.46% | 0.86% | 0.13% | 142% | $196,473 | |
2020 | $13.28 | 0.06 | (1.14) | (1.08) | (0.10) | — | (0.10) | $12.10 | (8.19)% | 0.87% | 0.45% | 140% | $133,205 | |
2019 | $16.17 | 0.04 | (1.39) | (1.35) | (0.01) | (1.53) | (1.54) | $13.28 | (7.66)% | 0.87% | 0.30% | 99% | $566,025 | |
2018 | $15.04 | 0.02 | 1.91 | 1.93 | (0.02) | (0.78) | (0.80) | $16.17 | 13.18% | 0.86% | 0.11% | 92% | $592,615 | |
2017 | $12.46 | 0.05 | 2.58 | 2.63 | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $15.04 | 21.19% | 0.87% | 0.37% | 90% | $594,198 | |
I Class | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $12.16 | 0.05 | 7.33 | 7.38 | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $19.49 | 60.82% | 0.66% | 0.33% | 142% | $9,315 | |
2020 | $13.36 | 0.08 | (1.14) | (1.06) | (0.14) | — | (0.14) | $12.16 | (7.97)% | 0.67% | 0.65% | 140% | $8,376 | |
2019 | $16.26 | 0.07 | (1.40) | (1.33) | (0.04) | (1.53) | (1.57) | $13.36 | (7.50)% | 0.67% | 0.50% | 99% | $18,293 | |
2018 | $15.11 | 0.05 | 1.92 | 1.97 | (0.04) | (0.78) | (0.82) | $16.26 | 13.42% | 0.66% | 0.31% | 92% | $27,213 | |
2017 | $12.52 | 0.08 | 2.59 | 2.67 | (0.08) | — | (0.08) | $15.11 | 21.41% | 0.67% | 0.57% | 90% | $25,863 | |
A Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $11.77 | (0.02) | 7.09 | 7.07 | (0.01) | — | (0.01) | $18.83 | 60.14% | 1.11% | (0.12)% | 142% | $13,031 | |
2020 | $12.89 | 0.02 | (1.10) | (1.08) | (0.04) | — | (0.04) | $11.77 | (8.38)% | 1.12% | 0.20% | 140% | $8,727 | |
2019 | $15.78 | —(3) | (1.36) | (1.36) | — | (1.53) | (1.53) | $12.89 | (7.90)% | 1.12% | 0.05% | 99% | $14,960 | |
2018 | $14.72 | (0.02) | 1.86 | 1.84 | — | (0.78) | (0.78) | $15.78 | 12.90% | 1.11% | (0.14)% | 92% | $23,970 | |
2017 | $12.19 | 0.02 | 2.53 | 2.55 | (0.02) | — | (0.02) | $14.72 | 20.85% | 1.12% | 0.12% | 90% | $31,600 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
C Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $11.11 | (0.13) | 6.68 | 6.55 | — | — | — | $17.66 | 58.87% | 1.86% | (0.87)% | 142% | $939 | |
2020 | $12.22 | (0.07) | (1.04) | (1.11) | — | — | — | $11.11 | (9.08)% | 1.87% | (0.55)% | 140% | $762 | |
2019 | $15.16 | (0.10) | (1.31) | (1.41) | — | (1.53) | (1.53) | $12.22 | (8.60)% | 1.87% | (0.70)% | 99% | $1,508 | |
2018 | $14.27 | (0.13) | 1.80 | 1.67 | — | (0.78) | (0.78) | $15.16 | 12.01% | 1.86% | (0.89)% | 92% | $1,989 | |
2017 | $11.89 | (0.08) | 2.46 | 2.38 | — | — | — | $14.27 | 20.02% | 1.87% | (0.63)% | 90% | $1,703 | |
R Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $11.45 | (0.05) | 6.89 | 6.84 | — | — | — | $18.29 | 59.74% | 1.36% | (0.37)% | 142% | $3,497 | |
2020 | $12.55 | (0.01) | (1.07) | (1.08) | (0.02) | — | (0.02) | $11.45 | (8.59)% | 1.37% | (0.05)% | 140% | $7,401 | |
2019 | $15.45 | (0.03) | (1.34) | (1.37) | — | (1.53) | (1.53) | $12.55 | (8.15)% | 1.37% | (0.20)% | 99% | $10,525 | |
2018 | $14.46 | (0.06) | 1.83 | 1.77 | — | (0.78) | (0.78) | $15.45 | 12.56% | 1.36% | (0.39)% | 92% | $15,038 | |
2017 | $11.99 | (0.02) | 2.49 | 2.47 | — | — | — | $14.46 | 20.60% | 1.37% | (0.13)% | 90% | $17,067 | |
R5 Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $12.17 | 0.05 | 7.34 | 7.39 | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $19.51 | 60.77% | 0.66% | 0.33% | 142% | $404 | |
2020 | $13.37 | 0.08 | (1.14) | (1.06) | (0.14) | — | (0.14) | $12.17 | (7.97)% | 0.67% | 0.65% | 140% | $164 | |
2019 | $16.27 | 0.07 | (1.40) | (1.33) | (0.04) | (1.53) | (1.57) | $13.37 | (7.49)% | 0.67% | 0.50% | 99% | $282 | |
2018 | $15.12 | 0.06 | 1.90 | 1.96 | (0.03) | (0.78) | (0.81) | $16.27 | 13.34% | 0.66% | 0.31% | 92% | $213 | |
2017(4) | $14.90 | 0.02 | 0.20 | 0.22 | — | — | — | $15.12 | 1.48% | 0.67%(5) | 0.51%(5) | 90%(6) | $5 | |
| | |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day and do not reflect applicable sales charges, if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
(4)April 10, 2017 (commencement of sale) through June 30, 2017.
(5)Annualized.
(6)Portfolio turnover is calculated at the fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated for the year ended June 30, 2017.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of Small Company Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Small Company Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
|
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
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Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer universe. The Board concluded
that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
| | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $364,137, or up to the maximum amount
allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as
qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $893,720, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term
capital gain distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund hereby designates $418,748 as qualified short-term capital gain distributions for purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 871 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
The fund utilized earnings and profits of $948,331 distributed to shareholders on redemption of
shares as part of the dividends paid deduction (tax equalization).
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
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Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92992 2108 | |
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| |
| Annual Report |
| |
| June 30, 2021 |
| |
| Utilities Fund |
| Investor Class (BULIX) |
| | | | | |
President's Letter | |
Performance | |
Portfolio Commentary | |
Fund Characteristics | |
Shareholder Fee Example | |
Schedule of Investments | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |
Statement of Operations | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Financial Highlights | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
Management | |
Approval of Management Agreement | |
Liquidity Risk Management Program | |
| |
Additional Information | |
Any opinions expressed in this report reflect those of the author as of the date of the report, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of American Century Investments® or any other person in the American Century Investments organization. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and American Century Investments disclaims any responsibility to update such opinions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice and, because investment decisions made by American Century Investments funds are based on numerous factors, may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any American Century Investments fund. Security examples are used for representational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations to purchase or sell securities. Performance information for comparative indices and securities is provided to American Century Investments by third party vendors. To the best of American Century Investments’ knowledge, such information is accurate at the time of printing.
Jonathan Thomas
Dear Investor:
Thank you for reviewing this annual report for the period ended June 30, 2021. Annual reports help convey important information about fund returns, including market factors that affected performance. For additional investment insights, please visit americancentury.com.
Stocks Rallied as Optimism Prevailed
The reporting period began with global financial markets experiencing a sweeping recovery from the initial—and severe—effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift and significant action from central banks and federal governments in early 2020 helped reignite investor confidence in the markets and bolster the economic backdrop. These positive influences generally persisted through the second half of 2020, despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19 and the inconsistent lifting of virus-related restrictions.
In the U.S., improving data on manufacturing, employment and housing, along with a late-2020 federal coronavirus aid package and positive vaccine developments, helped sustain the optimism into the new year. Furthermore, political clarity emerged following the January U.S. Senate run-off elections in Georgia, setting the stage for another federal aid package, which passed in March. Outside the U.S., economies recovered but at a slower pace. Virus outbreaks and slower vaccine rollouts led to lingering lockdowns in some regions.
Overall, despite lingering challenges, corporate earnings generally rallied, and global stocks delivered stellar 12-month returns. The U.S. broadly outperformed other developed markets, with the S&P 500 Index returning more than 40% and small caps (Russell 2000 Index) gaining 62%. The broad economic recovery combined with ongoing monetary and fiscal support, reopenings and soaring commodity prices eventually drove inflation and government bond yields higher. U.S. Treasuries and other perceived safe-haven investments, including gold, declined for the period.
The Return to Normal Will Shape Market Dynamics
The return to pre-pandemic life is progressing. As the U.S. economy continues to rebuild from shutdown-related losses, investors likely will face renewed opportunities and challenges. Economic growth, inflation, the virus’s trajectory, supply chain normalization, and the effects of fiscal and monetary policy likely will be among the factors swaying market dynamics.
We appreciate your confidence in us during these extraordinary times. Our firm has a long history of helping clients weather unpredictable markets, and we’re confident we will continue to meet today’s challenges.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Century Investments
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Total Returns as of June 30, 2021 |
| | | | Average Annual Returns | |
Class | Ticker Symbol | | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | | Inception Date |
Investor Class | BULIX | | 15.95% | 3.70% | 7.63% | | 3/1/93 |
S&P 500 Utilities Index | — | | 15.77% | 7.40% | 10.56% | | — |
S&P 500 Index | — | | 40.79% | 17.64% | 14.83% | | — |
| | |
Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years |
$10,000 investment made June 30, 2011 |
| | | | | |
Value on June 30, 2021 |
| Investor Class — $20,871 |
|
| S&P 500 Utilities Index — $27,300 |
|
| S&P 500 Index — $39,893 |
|
| | | | | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
Investor Class | 0.67% |
The total annual fund operating expenses shown is as stated in the fund’s prospectus current as of the date of this report. The prospectus may vary from the expense ratio shown elsewhere in this report because it is based on a different time period, includes acquired fund fees and expenses, and, if applicable, does not include fee waivers or expense reimbursements.
Data presented reflect past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and redemption value may be more or less than original cost. Data assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, and none of the charts reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 1-800-345-2021 or visit americancentury.com. For additional information about the fund, please consult the prospectus.
Portfolio Managers: Yulin Long and Tsuyoshi Ozaki
Performance Summary
Utilities returned 15.95% for the 12 months ended June 30, 2021, compared with the 15.77% return of its benchmark, the S&P 500 Utilities Index. By comparison, the S&P 500 Index, a broad market measure, returned 40.79%.
Compared with the S&P 500 Utilities Index, the portfolio’s outperformance was largely a result of positioning among industrial equipment and services providers to the utilities sector, as well as alternative energy companies. Stock selection decisions among traditional electric utilities detracted the most from relative performance.
Solid Returns Lag an Exuberant Market
U.S. utility stocks produced solid returns during the reporting period, but lagged the sharp gains of the broader market. Market performance was influenced by first the decline and then the sharp economic rebound associated with the pandemic and resulting fiscal and monetary stimulus. In that environment, investors initially favored growth-oriented technology stocks positioned to benefit from work-from-home and related trends. Later in the reporting period, as the economy began to rebound sharply, investor preference shifted to cyclical growth companies whose revenues and earnings are closely tied to the economy. Utility stocks, in contrast, have been sought after for their historically steady, regulated earnings growth and comparatively high dividend payouts.
As the economy’s prospects increased, so too did bond yields, further limiting utilities’ appeal. Historically, when bond yields rise, utility stocks become comparatively less attractive to income-oriented investors. In addition, utilities companies can carry significant amounts of debt to finance large capital spending programs, which means higher interest rates increase their borrowing costs. These characteristics and sharply changing conditions and investor preferences explain utilities’ performance in absolute terms and relative to the broader market.
In addition, S&P Global Market Intelligence estimates that energy utility capital expenditures likely reached an all-time high in 2020. This investment is crucial to upgrade aging power generation and distribution networks, to create safer, more secure and efficient facilities, as well as to rollout more environmentally friendly production capacity. These investments are important for both the future growth of the industry and its long-term returns. That’s because utilities companies’ customer rates and return on investment are predetermined by regulators, providing a historically consistent path to growth. However, higher borrowing costs also present challenges to large capital investment programs. Finally, uncertainty around the size, impact and ultimate passage of the Biden administration’s proposed infrastructure plan also contributed to volatility in the sector.
Contributors to Return were Broad Based
Contributions to performance compared with the benchmark came from a broad range of sectors and industries. For example, the largest individual contributor was industrial company TPI Composites, a leading maker of blades for wind turbines, which benefited from increased spending on renewable power generation. Similarly, electrical equipment company Generac Holdings produced strong results amid demand for power generation and backup energy storage solutions for both residential and commercial markets. Enphase Energy, SolarEdge Technologies and Sunnova Energy International are all renewable, solar power companies, which benefited from increasing demand for alternative energy solutions. We ultimately eliminated TPI Composites, Enphase Energy, SolarEdge Technologies and Sunnova Energy, deploying that capital in stocks with more attractive risk/reward profiles. Among traditional utilities, The AES Corp. made progress upgrading its physical plant, retiring coal-powered facilities and investing in new, more environmentally and energy-efficient capacity. Natural gas distributor MDU Resources Group was another leading contributor.
Electric Utilities Stocks Detracted the Most
The main source of weakness relative to the benchmark was positioning among electric utilities companies. Reduced exposure to NextEra Energy, Exelon, Edison International and The Southern Co. all detracted from performance compared with the benchmark. In each case we had some exposure to the stock, but less than the index. We ultimately closed out the position in Edison International. Multi-utility NorthWestern was another key detractor. The stock was a new addition during the period, attractive for its solid operational results, but it underperformed for much of 2021 as investors sought more economically sensitive stocks.
Portfolio Positioning
Utilities employs a structured, disciplined investment approach. We incorporate both growth and valuation measures into our stock selection process and attempt to balance the portfolio’s risk and expected return. The S&P 500 Utilities Index is entirely composed of utilities sector stocks, whereas we look for opportunities more broadly in sectors and industries serving the transforming sector. For example, we hold positions in industrials sector electrical components and equipment companies, infrastructure real estate investment trusts, and information technology sector semiconductors stocks addressing the utilities market. Among traditional utilities, we are meaningfully underweight both multi-utilities and electric utilities.
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 |
Types of Investments in Portfolio | % of net assets |
Common Stocks | 98.5% |
Temporary Cash Investments | 1.4% |
Other Assets and Liabilities | 0.1% |
| | | | | |
Top Five Sub-Industries | % of net assets |
Electric Utilities | 54.1% |
Multi-Utilities | 21.1% |
Water Utilities | 6.3% |
Electrical Components and Equipment | 4.3% |
Gas Utilities | 2.8% |
Fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption/exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for each class. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. First, identify the share class you own. Then simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
If you hold Investor Class shares of any American Century Investments fund, or I Class shares of the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, in an American Century Investments account (i.e., not through a financial intermediary or employer-sponsored retirement plan account), American Century Investments may charge you a $25.00 annual account maintenance fee if the value of those shares is less than $10,000. We will redeem shares automatically in one of your accounts to pay the $25.00 fee. In determining your total eligible investment amount, we will include your investments in all personal accounts (including American Century Investments brokerage accounts) registered under your Social Security number. Personal accounts include individual accounts, joint accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, personal trusts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and IRAs (including traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRAs), and certain other retirement accounts. If you have only business, business retirement, employer-sponsored or American Century Investments brokerage accounts, you are currently not subject to this fee. If you are subject to the account maintenance fee, your account value could be reduced by the fee amount.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of each class of your fund and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of a fund’s share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption/exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
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| Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | Expenses Paid During Period(1) 1/1/21 - 6/30/21 | Annualized Expense Ratio(1) |
Actual | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,005.50 | $3.23 | 0.65% |
Hypothetical | | | | |
Investor Class | $1,000 | $1,021.57 | $3.26 | 0.65% |
(1)Expenses are equal to the class's annualized expense ratio listed in the table above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181, the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365, to reflect the one-half year period. Annualized expense ratio reflects actual expenses, including any applicable fee waivers or expense reimbursements and excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses.
JUNE 30, 2021
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
COMMON STOCKS — 98.5% |
|
|
Application Software — 0.6% | | |
j2 Global, Inc.(1) | 13,024 | | $ | 1,791,451 | |
Cable and Satellite — 1.0% | | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | 52,767 | | 3,008,774 | |
Data Centers — 0.4% | | |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | 9,116 | | 1,371,593 | |
Electric Utilities — 54.1% | | |
Alliant Energy Corp. | 20,981 | | 1,169,901 | |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 65,382 | | 5,530,663 | |
Duke Energy Corp. | 323,523 | | 31,938,191 | |
Entergy Corp. | 130,499 | | 13,010,750 | |
Eversource Energy | 43,920 | | 3,524,141 | |
Exelon Corp. | 141,915 | | 6,288,254 | |
FirstEnergy Corp. | 208,415 | | 7,755,122 | |
Fortum Oyj | 85,241 | | 2,351,496 | |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 553,915 | | 40,590,891 | |
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | 127,647 | | 10,463,225 | |
Portland General Electric Co. | 75,892 | | 3,497,103 | |
PPL Corp. | 498,303 | | 13,937,535 | |
Southern Co. (The) | 247,298 | | 14,964,002 | |
Xcel Energy, Inc. | 225,043 | | 14,825,833 | |
| | 169,847,107 | |
Electrical Components and Equipment — 4.3% | | |
Atkore, Inc.(1) | 39,682 | | 2,817,422 | |
Eaton Corp. plc | 14,331 | | 2,123,568 | |
Generac Holdings, Inc.(1) | 7,822 | | 3,247,303 | |
Schneider Electric SE | 15,418 | | 2,430,563 | |
Vertiv Holdings Co. | 105,082 | | 2,868,739 | |
| | 13,487,595 | |
Gas Utilities — 2.8% | | |
National Fuel Gas Co. | 52,587 | | 2,747,671 | |
South Jersey Industries, Inc. | 91,600 | | 2,375,188 | |
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.(1) | 38,792 | | 2,567,643 | |
Spire, Inc. | 13,005 | | 939,871 | |
| | 8,630,373 | |
Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders — 1.4% | | |
AES Corp. (The) | 171,230 | | 4,463,966 | |
Industrial Machinery — 0.6% | | |
Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.(1) | 59,366 | | 2,005,383 | |
Infrastructure REITs — 2.2% | | |
American Tower Corp. | 8,526 | | 2,303,214 | |
Crown Castle International Corp. | 13,364 | | 2,607,316 | |
SBA Communications Corp. | 6,511 | | 2,075,056 | |
| | 6,985,586 | |
Integrated Telecommunication Services — 0.5% | | |
TELUS Corp. | 71,956 | | 1,613,728 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Shares | Value |
Multi-Utilities — 21.1% | | |
Black Hills Corp. | 51,000 | | $ | 3,347,130 | |
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. | 63,828 | | 1,565,063 | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | 111,031 | | 7,963,143 | |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | 160,289 | | 11,792,462 | |
DTE Energy Co. | 66,719 | | 8,646,783 | |
E.ON SE | 124,903 | | 1,445,086 | |
MDU Resources Group, Inc. | 157,130 | | 4,924,454 | |
National Grid plc | 238,678 | | 3,035,906 | |
NorthWestern Corp. | 111,915 | | 6,739,521 | |
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | 163,891 | | 9,790,848 | |
Sempra Energy | 52,873 | | 7,004,615 | |
| | 66,255,011 | |
Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation — 1.2% | | |
Cheniere Energy, Inc.(1) | 20,784 | | 1,802,804 | |
Enterprise Products Partners LP | 80,519 | | 1,942,924 | |
| | 3,745,728 | |
Semiconductors — 1.0% | | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 22,491 | | 3,214,639 | |
Water Utilities — 6.3% | | |
American States Water Co. | 20,772 | | 1,652,620 | |
American Water Works Co., Inc. | 88,908 | | 13,703,390 | |
Middlesex Water Co. | 17,162 | | 1,402,650 | |
Severn Trent plc | 45,459 | | 1,573,687 | |
United Utilities Group plc | 102,371 | | 1,381,722 | |
| | 19,714,069 | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 1.0% | | |
T-Mobile US, Inc.(1) | 22,658 | | 3,281,558 | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $258,914,671) | | 309,416,561 | |
TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS — 1.4% |
|
|
Repurchase Agreement, BMO Capital Markets Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 0.125% - 2.75%, 5/15/23 - 10/31/27, valued at $1,358,623), in a joint trading account at 0.01%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $1,331,930) | | 1,331,930 | |
Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., (collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 2.875%, 5/15/43, valued at $2,264,493), at 0.02%, dated 6/30/21, due 7/1/21 (Delivery value $2,220,001) | | 2,220,000 | |
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class | 664,932 | | 664,932 | |
TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $4,216,862) | | 4,216,862 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES — 99.9% (Cost $263,131,533) |
| 313,633,423 | |
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES — 0.1% |
| 466,654 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 314,100,077 | |
| | | | | |
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
(1)Non-income producing.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
| | | | | |
JUNE 30, 2021 |
Assets |
Investment securities, at value (cost of $263,131,533) | $ | 313,633,423 | |
Cash | 7,049 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | 44,646 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | 705,664 | |
| 314,390,782 | |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 120,305 | |
Accrued management fees | 170,400 | |
| 290,705 | |
| |
Net Assets | $ | 314,100,077 | |
| |
Investor Class Capital Shares, $0.01 Par Value | |
Shares authorized | 300,000,000 | |
Shares outstanding | 18,297,250 | |
| |
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 17.17 | |
| |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Capital (par value and paid-in surplus) | $ | 251,088,084 | |
Distributable earnings | 63,011,993 | |
| $ | 314,100,077 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | | | | |
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 |
Investment Income (Loss) | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $51,615) | $ | 9,936,720 | |
Securities lending, net | 10,305 | |
Interest | 1,003 | |
| 9,948,028 | |
| |
Expenses: | |
Management fees | 2,155,544 | |
Directors' fees and expenses | 22,511 | |
Other expenses | 2,769 | |
| 2,180,824 | |
| |
Net investment income (loss) | 7,767,204 | |
| |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
Investment transactions | 17,325,674 | |
Foreign currency translation transactions | 326 | |
| 17,326,000 | |
| |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |
Investments | 24,504,287 | |
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (2,351) | |
| 24,501,936 | |
| |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 41,827,936 | |
| |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 49,595,140 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets |
| | | | | | | | |
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND JUNE 30, 2020 |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2020 |
Operations | | |
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 7,767,204 | | $ | 11,464,427 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | 17,326,000 | | 16,330,266 | |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 24,501,936 | | (57,768,238) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 49,595,140 | | (29,973,545) | |
| | |
Distributions to Shareholders | | |
From earnings | (23,113,178) | | (11,389,979) | |
| | |
Capital Share Transactions | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | 20,349,902 | | 33,412,352 | |
Proceeds from reinvestment of distributions | 21,708,419 | | 10,727,644 | |
Payments for shares redeemed | (76,357,062) | | (87,807,808) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions | (34,298,741) | | (43,667,812) | |
| | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (7,816,779) | | (85,031,336) | |
| | |
Net Assets | | |
Beginning of period | 321,916,856 | | 406,948,192 | |
End of period | $ | 314,100,077 | | $ | 321,916,856 | |
| | |
Transactions in Shares of the Fund | | |
Sold | 1,176,024 | | 1,868,720 | |
Issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,296,505 | | 589,723 | |
Redeemed | (4,406,756) | | (4,988,647) | |
Net increase (decrease) in shares of the fund | (1,934,227) | | (2,530,204) | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
JUNE 30, 2021
1. Organization
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Maryland corporation. Utilities Fund (the fund) is one fund in a series issued by the corporation. The fund’s investment objectives are to seek current income and long-term growth of capital and income. The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies engaged in the utilities industry. The fund offers the Investor Class.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in preparation of its financial statements. The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This may require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Management evaluated the impact of events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued that would merit recognition or disclosure.
Investment Valuations — The fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of regular trading (usually 4 p.m. Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open. The Board of Directors has adopted valuation policies and procedures to guide the investment advisor in the fund’s investment valuation process and to provide methodologies for the oversight of the fund’s pricing function.
Equity securities that are listed or traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price or at the official closing price as provided by the exchange. Equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges are generally valued at the closing price of such securities on the exchange where primarily traded or at the close of the NYSE, if that is earlier. If no last sales price is reported, or if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked prices may be used. Securities traded over-the-counter are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices, the last sales price, or the official closing price. Equity securities initially expressed in local currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the appropriate currency exchange rate at the close of the NYSE as provided by an independent pricing service.
Open-end management investment companies are valued at the reported NAV per share. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
If the fund determines that the market price for an investment is not readily available or the valuation methods mentioned above do not reflect an investment’s fair value, such investment is valued as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate, in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. In its determination of fair value, the fund may review several factors including, but not limited to, market information regarding the specific investment or comparable investments and correlation with other investment types, futures indices or general market indicators. Circumstances that may cause the fund to use these procedures to value an investment include, but are not limited to: an investment has been declared in default or is distressed; trading in a security has been suspended during the trading day or a security is not actively trading on its principal exchange; prices received from a regular pricing source are deemed unreliable; or there is a foreign market holiday and no trading occurred.
The fund monitors for significant events occurring after the close of an investment’s primary exchange but before the fund’s NAV per share is determined. Significant events may include, but are not limited to: corporate announcements and transactions; governmental action and political unrest that could impact a specific investment or an investment sector; or armed conflicts, natural disasters and similar events that could affect investments in a specific country or region. The fund also monitors for significant fluctuations between domestic and foreign markets, as evidenced by the U.S. market or such other indicators that the Board of Directors, or its delegate, deems appropriate. The fund may apply a model-derived factor to the closing price of equity securities traded on foreign securities exchanges. The factor is based on observable market data as provided by an independent pricing service.
Security Transactions — Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Net realized gains and losses are determined on the identified cost basis, which is also used for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Income — Dividend income less foreign taxes withheld, if any, is recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or long-term capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The fund may estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered nontaxable distributions or long-term capital gain distributions for income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis and includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Securities lending income is net of fees and rebates earned by the lending agent for its services.
Foreign Currency Translations — All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at prevailing exchange rates at period end. The fund may enter into spot foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income, spot foreign currency exchange contracts, and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized foreign currency exchange gains or losses related to investment securities are a component of net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, respectively.
Repurchase Agreements — The fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) (the investment advisor) has determined are creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the Board of Directors. The fund requires that the collateral, represented by securities, received in a repurchase transaction be transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable the fund to obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase agreement. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities transferred to ensure the value, including accrued interest, of the securities under each repurchase agreement is equal to or greater than amounts owed to the fund under each repurchase agreement.
Joint Trading Account — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund, along with certain other funds in the American Century Investments family of funds, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account. These balances are invested in one or more repurchase agreements that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury or Agency obligations.
Segregated Assets — In accordance with the 1940 Act, the fund segregates assets on its books and records to cover certain types of investment securities and other financial instruments. ACIM monitors, on a daily basis, the securities segregated to ensure the fund designates a sufficient amount of liquid assets, marked-to-market daily. The fund may also receive assets or be required to pledge assets at the custodian bank or with a broker for collateral requirements.
Income Tax Status — It is the fund’s policy to distribute substantially all net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders and to otherwise qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes. The fund files U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns as applicable. The fund's tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authority until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of filing but can be longer in certain jurisdictions. At this time, management believes there are no uncertain tax positions which, based on their technical merit, would not be sustained upon examination and for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
Distributions to Shareholders — Distributions from net investment income, if any, are generally declared and paid quarterly. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, are generally declared and paid annually.
Indemnifications — Under the corporation’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against a fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered by management to be remote.
Securities Lending — Securities are lent to qualified financial institutions and brokers. State Street Bank & Trust Co. serves as securities lending agent to the fund pursuant to a Securities Lending Agreement. The lending of securities exposes the fund to risks such as: the borrowers may fail to return the loaned securities, the borrowers may not be able to provide additional collateral, the fund may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or delays in access to collateral, or the fund may experience losses related to the investment collateral. To minimize certain risks, loan counterparties pledge collateral in the form of cash and/or securities. The lending agent has agreed to indemnify the fund in the case of default of any securities borrowed. Cash collateral received is invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, a money market mutual fund registered under the 1940 Act. The loans may also be secured by U.S. government securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted accordingly. By lending securities, the fund seeks to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest and fees. Such income is reflected separately within the Statement of Operations. The value of loaned securities and related collateral outstanding at period end, if any, are shown on a gross basis within the Schedule of Investments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
3. Fees and Transactions with Related Parties
Certain officers and directors of the corporation are also officers and/or directors of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC). The corporation’s investment advisor, ACIM, the corporation's distributor, American Century Investment Services, Inc., and the corporation’s transfer agent, American Century Services, LLC, are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by ACC.
Management Fees — The corporation has entered into a management agreement with ACIM, under which ACIM provides the fund with investment advisory and management services in exchange for a single, unified management fee (the fee). The agreement provides that ACIM will pay all expenses of managing and operating the fund, except brokerage expenses, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the independent directors (including legal counsel fees), and extraordinary expenses. The fee is computed and accrued daily based on the daily net assets of the fund and paid monthly in arrears. The fee consists of (1) an Investment Category Fee based on the daily net assets of the fund and certain other accounts managed by the investment advisor that are in the same broad investment category as the fund and (2) a Complex Fee based on the assets of all the funds in the American Century Investments family of funds. The rates for the Investment Category Fee range from 0.3380% to 0.5200% and the rates for the Complex Fee range from 0.2500% to 0.3100%. The effective annual management fee for the period ended June 30, 2021 was 0.65%.
Directors' Fees and Expenses — The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the investment advisor’s management and operations of the fund. The directors receive detailed information about the fund and its investment advisor regularly throughout the year, and meet at least quarterly with management of the investment advisor to review reports about fund operations. The fund’s officers do not receive compensation from the fund.
Interfund Transactions — The fund may enter into security transactions with other American Century Investments funds and other client accounts of the investment advisor, in accordance with the 1940 Act rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The rules and procedures require, among other things, that these transactions be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the period, the interfund purchases and sales were $959,360 and $1,733,161, respectively. The effect of interfund transactions on the Statement of Operations was $188,809 in net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the period ended
June 30, 2021 were $350,863,999 and $399,443,770, respectively.
5. Fair Value Measurements
The fund’s investments valuation process is based on several considerations and may use multiple inputs to determine the fair value of the investments held by the fund. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the inputs used to determine a valuation are classified into three broad levels.
•Level 1 valuation inputs consist of unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for identical investments.
•Level 2 valuation inputs consist of direct or indirect observable market data (including quoted prices for comparable investments, evaluations of subsequent market events, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). These inputs also consist of quoted prices for identical investments initially expressed in local currencies that are adjusted through translation into U.S. dollars.
•Level 3 valuation inputs consist of unobservable data (including a fund’s own assumptions).
The level classification is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair valuation measurement. The valuation inputs are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities or other financial instruments.
The following is a summary of the level classifications as of period end. The Schedule of Investments provides additional information on the fund’s portfolio holdings.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Assets | | | |
Investment Securities | | | |
Common Stocks | $ | 295,584,373 | | $ | 13,832,188 | | — | |
Temporary Cash Investments | 664,932 | | 3,551,930 | | — | |
Total Value of Investment Securities | $ | 296,249,305 | | $ | 17,384,118 | | — | |
6. Risk Factors
The value of the fund’s shares will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, based on the performance of the securities owned by the fund and other factors generally affecting the securities market. Market risks, including political, regulatory, economic and social developments, can affect the value of the fund’s investments. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorism and other unforeseeable events may lead to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
There are certain risks involved in investing in foreign securities. These risks include those resulting from political events (such as civil unrest, national elections and imposition of exchange controls), social and economic events (such as labor strikes and rising inflation), and natural disasters. Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid and more volatile. Investing in emerging markets or a significant portion of assets in one country or region may accentuate these risks.
The fund’s investment process may result in high portfolio turnover, which could mean high transaction costs, affecting both performance and capital gains tax liabilities to investors.
The fund concentrates its investments in a narrow segment of the total market. Because of this, the fund may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio representing a broader range of industries.
7. Federal Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 2020 |
Distributions Paid From | | |
Ordinary income | $ | 7,367,465 | | $ | 11,389,979 | |
Long-term capital gains | $ | 15,745,713 | | — | |
The book-basis character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. These differences reflect the differing character of certain income items and net realized gains and losses for financial statement and tax purposes, and may result in reclassification among certain capital accounts on the financial statements.
As of period end, the federal tax cost of investments and the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
| | | | | |
Federal tax cost of investments | $ | 264,885,624 | |
Gross tax appreciation of investments | $ | 50,396,183 | |
Gross tax depreciation of investments | (1,648,384) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 48,747,799 | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | (3,423) | |
Net tax appreciation (depreciation) of investments | $ | 48,744,376 | |
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 5,405,716 | |
Accumulated long-term gains | $ | 8,861,901 | |
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended June 30 (except as noted) | | | |
Per-Share Data | | | | | | | Ratios and Supplemental Data | |
| | Income From Investment Operations: | Distributions From: | | | Ratio to Average Net Assets of: | | |
| Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | Net Investment Income (Loss)(1) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Total From Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gains | Total Distributions | Net Asset Value, End of Period | Total Return(2) | Operating Expenses | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) |
Investor Class | | | | | | | | | | |
2021 | $15.91 | 0.41 | 2.08 | 2.49 | (0.39) | (0.84) | (1.23) | $17.17 | 15.95% | 0.66% | 2.34% | 108% | $314,100 | |
2020 | $17.88 | 0.53 | (1.97) | (1.44) | (0.53) | — | (0.53) | $15.91 | (8.39)% | 0.67% | 2.95% | 102% | $321,917 | |
2019 | $16.85 | 0.56 | 1.46 | 2.02 | (0.56) | (0.43) | (0.99) | $17.88 | 12.26% | 0.67% | 3.20% | 64% | $406,948 | |
2018 | $18.14 | 0.58 | (0.58) | —(3) | (0.56) | (0.73) | (1.29) | $16.85 | (0.06)% | 0.67% | 3.31% | 48% | $405,844 | |
2017 | $19.35 | 0.59 | (0.48) | 0.11 | (0.58) | (0.74) | (1.32) | $18.14 | 0.61% | 0.67% | 3.17% | 39% | $540,880 | |
| | |
Notes to Financial Highlights |
(1)Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(2)Total returns are calculated based on the net asset value of the last business day. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.
(3)Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
| | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
To the Board of Directors of American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. and Shareholders of Utilities Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Utilities Fund (one of the funds constituting American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of June 30, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended
June 30, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended June 30, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 17, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in American Century Investments since 1997.
The Board of Directors
The individuals listed below serve as directors of the funds. Each director will continue to serve in this capacity until death, retirement, resignation or removal from office. The board has adopted a mandatory retirement age for directors who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (independent directors). Independent directors shall retire by December 31 of the year in which they reach their 75th birthday; provided, however, that on or after January 1, 2022, independent directors shall retire on December 31 of the year in which they reach their 76th birthday.
Mr. Thomas is an “interested person” because he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Century Companies, Inc. (ACC), the parent company of American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM or the advisor). The other directors (more than three-fourths of the total number) are independent. They are not employees, directors or officers of, and have no financial interest in, ACC or any of its wholly owned, direct or indirect, subsidiaries, including ACIM, American Century Investment Services, Inc. (ACIS) and American Century Services, LLC (ACS), and they do not have any other affiliations, positions or relationships that would cause them to be considered “interested persons” under the Investment Company Act. The directors serve in this capacity for eight (in the case of Jonathan S. Thomas, 16; and Ronald J. Gilson, 9) registered investment companies in the American Century Investments family of funds.
The following table presents additional information about the directors. The mailing address for each director other than Mr. Thomas is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The mailing address for Mr. Thomas is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Tanya S. Beder (1955) | Director | Since 2011 | Chairman and CEO, SBCC Group Inc. (independent advisory services) (2006 to present) | 38 | Kirby Corporation; Nabors Industries Ltd.; CYS Investments, Inc. (2012-2017) |
Jeremy I. Bulow (1954) | Director | Since 2011 | Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (1979 to present) | 38 | None |
Anne Casscells (1958) | Director | Since 2016 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Aetos Alternatives Management (investment advisory firm) (2001 to present); Lecturer in Accounting, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business (2009 to 2017) | 38 | None |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Position(s) Held with Funds | Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of American Century Portfolios Overseen by Director | Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years |
Independent Directors | | |
Ronald J. Gilson (1946) | Director and Chairman of the Board | Since 1995 (Chairman since 2005) | Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus (since 2018), Stanford Law School (1979 to 2016); Marc and Eva Stern Professor of Law and Business, Columbia University School of Law (1992 to present) | 69 | None |
Frederick L. A. Grauer (1946) | Director | Since 2008 | Senior Advisor, Credit Sesame, Inc. (credit monitoring firm) (2018 to present); Senior Advisor, Course Hero (an educational technology company) (2015 to present)
| 38 | None |
Jonathan D. Levin (1972) | Director | Since 2016 | Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (2016 to present); Professor, Stanford University, (2000 to present) | 38 | None |
Peter F. Pervere (1947) | Director | Since 2007 | Retired | 38 | None |
John B. Shoven (1947) | Director | Since 2002 | Charles R. Schwab Professor of Economics, Stanford University (1973 to present, emeritus since 2019) | 38 | Cadence Design Systems; Exponent; Financial Engines |
Interested Director | | |
Jonathan S. Thomas (1963) | Director | Since 2007 | President and Chief Executive Officer, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as Chief Executive Officer, ACS; Director, ACC and other ACC subsidiaries | 141 | None |
The Statement of Additional Information has additional information about the fund's directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021.
Officers
The following table presents certain information about the executive officers of the funds. Each officer serves as an officer for each of the 16 (in the case of Robert J. Leach, 15) investment companies in the American Century family of funds, unless otherwise noted. No officer is compensated for his or her service as an officer of the funds. The listed officers are interested persons of the funds and are appointed or re-appointed on an annual basis. The mailing address for each officer listed below is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
| | | | | | | | |
Name (Year of Birth) | Offices with the Funds | Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Patrick Bannigan (1965) | President since 2019 | Executive Vice President and Director, ACC (2012 to present); Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, ACC (2015 to present). Also serves as President, ACS; Vice President, ACIM; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and/or Director, ACIM, ACS and other ACC subsidiaries |
R. Wes Campbell (1974) | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2018
| Vice President, ACS (2020 to present); Investment Operations and Investment Accounting, ACS (2000 to present)
|
Amy D. Shelton (1964) | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President since 2014 | Chief Compliance Officer, American Century funds, (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIM (2014 to present); Chief Compliance Officer, ACIS (2009 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIS |
Charles A. Etherington (1957) | General Counsel since 2007 and Senior Vice President since 2006 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present); Vice President, ACC (2005 to present); General Counsel, ACC (2007 to present). Also serves as General Counsel, ACIM, ACS, ACIS and other ACC subsidiaries; and Senior Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
C. Jean Wade (1964) | Vice President since 2012 | Senior Vice President, ACS (2017 to present); Vice President, ACS (2000 to 2017) |
Robert J. Leach (1966) | Vice President since 2006 | Vice President, ACS (2000 to present) |
David H. Reinmiller (1963) | Vice President since 2000 | Attorney, ACC (1994 to present). Also serves as Vice President, ACIM and ACS |
Ward D. Stauffer (1960) | Secretary since 2005 | Attorney, ACC (2003 to present) |
| | |
Approval of Management Agreement |
At a meeting held on June 16, 2021, the Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") unanimously approved the renewal of the management agreement pursuant to which American Century Investment Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”) acts as the investment advisor for the Fund. Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, contracts for investment advisory services are required to be reviewed, evaluated, and approved by a majority of a fund’s Directors, including a majority of the independent Directors, each year. The Board regards this annual evaluation and renewal as one of its most important responsibilities.
The independent Directors have memorialized a statement regarding the relationship between their ongoing obligations to oversee and evaluate the performance of the Advisor and their annual consideration of renewal of the management agreement. In that statement, the independent Directors noted that their assessment of the Advisor’s performance is an ongoing process that takes place over the entire year and is informed by all of the extensive information that the Board and its committees receive and consider over time. This information, together with the additional materials provided specifically in connection with the review, are central to the Board’s assessment of the Advisor’s performance and its determination whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement.
Prior to its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board requested and reviewed extensive data and analysis relating to the proposed renewal. This information and analysis was compiled by the Advisor and certain independent providers of evaluation data concerning the Fund and the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor.
In connection with its consideration of the renewal of the management agreement, the Board’s review and evaluation of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates included, but was not limited to, the following:
•the nature, extent, and quality of investment management, shareholder services, and other services provided and to be provided to the Fund including without limitation portfolio management and trading services, shareholder and intermediary service levels and quality, compliance and legal services, fund accounting and financial reporting, and fund share distribution;
•the wide range of other programs and services provided and to be provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders on a routine and non-routine basis;
•the Fund’s investment performance, including data comparing the Fund’s performance to appropriate benchmarks and/or a peer group of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives and strategies;
•the cost of owning the Fund compared to the cost of owning similar funds;
•the compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory experience of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain other Fund service providers;
•financial data showing the cost of services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to the Fund, the profitability of the Fund to the Advisor, and the overall profitability of the Advisor;
•the Advisor’s strategic plans, COVID-19 pandemic response, vendor management practices, and social justice initiatives;
•the Advisor’s business continuity plans and cyber security practices;
•any economies of scale associated with the Advisor’s management of the Fund;
•services provided and charges to the Advisor’s other investment management clients;
•fees and expenses associated with any investment by the Fund in other funds;
•payments and practices in connection with financial intermediaries holding shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients and the services provided by intermediaries in connection therewith; and
•any collateral benefits derived by the Advisor from the management of the Fund.
In keeping with its practice, the Board held two meetings and the independent Directors met in private session to discuss the renewal and to review and discuss the information provided in response to their request. The Board held active discussions with the Advisor regarding the renewal of the management agreement. The independent Directors had the benefit of the advice of their independent counsel throughout the process.
Factors Considered
The Directors considered all of the information provided by the Advisor, the independent data providers, and the independent Directors’ independent counsel in connection with the approval. They determined that the information was sufficient for them to evaluate the management agreement for the Fund. In connection with their review, the Directors did not identify any single factor as being all-important or controlling and each Director may have attributed different levels of importance to different factors. In deciding to renew the management agreement, the Board based its decision on a number of factors, including the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services — Generally. Under the management agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing or arranging for all services necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor provides or arranges at its own expense a wide variety of services including:
•constructing and designing the Fund
•portfolio research and security selection
•initial capitalization/funding
•securities trading
•Fund administration
•custody of Fund assets
•daily valuation of the Fund’s portfolio
•shareholder servicing and transfer agency, including shareholder confirmations, recordkeeping, and communications
•legal services (except the independent Directors’ counsel)
•regulatory and portfolio compliance
•financial reporting
•marketing and distribution (except amounts paid by the Fund under Rule 12b-1 plans)
The Board noted that many of these services have expanded over time in terms of both quantity and complexity in response to shareholder demands, competition in the industry, changing distribution channels, and the changing regulatory environment.
Investment Management Services. The nature of the investment management services provided to the Fund is quite complex and allows Fund shareholders access to professional money management, instant diversification of their investments within an asset class, the opportunity to easily diversify among asset classes by investing in or exchanging among various American Century Investments funds, and liquidity. In evaluating investment performance, the Board expects the Advisor to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and approved strategies. Further, the Directors recognize that the Advisor has an obligation to seek the best execution of fund trades. In providing these services, the Advisor utilizes teams of investment professionals (portfolio managers, analysts, research assistants, and securities traders) who require extensive information technology, research, training, compliance, and other systems to conduct their business. The Board, directly and through its Portfolio Committee, regularly reviews investment performance information for the Fund, together with comparative information for appropriate benchmarks and/or peer groups of similarly-managed funds, over different time horizons. The Directors also review investment performance information during the management agreement renewal process. If performance concerns are identified, the Fund receives special reviews until performance improves, during which the Board discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results (e.g., market conditions, security selection) and any efforts being undertaken to improve performance. The Fund’s performance was below its benchmark for the
one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods reviewed by the Board. The Board discussed the Fund’s performance with the Advisor and was satisfied with the efforts being undertaken by the Advisor. The Board found the investment management services provided by the Advisor to the Fund to be satisfactory and consistent with the management agreement.
Shareholder and Other Services. Under the management agreement, the Advisor, either directly or through affiliates or third parties, provides the Fund with a comprehensive package of transfer agency, shareholder, and other services. The Board, directly and through its various committees, regularly reviews reports and evaluations of such services at its regular meetings. These reports include, but are not limited to, information regarding the operational efficiency and accuracy of the shareholder and transfer agency services provided, staffing levels, shareholder satisfaction, technology support (including cyber security), new products and services offered to Fund shareholders, securities trading activities, portfolio valuation services, auditing services, and legal and operational compliance activities. The Board found the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the management agreement to be competitive and of high quality.
Costs of Services and Profitability. The Advisor provides detailed information concerning its cost of providing various services to the Fund, its profitability in managing the Fund, its overall profitability, and its financial condition. The Directors have reviewed with the Advisor the methodology used to prepare this financial information. This information is considered in evaluating the Advisor’s financial condition, its ability to continue to provide services under the management agreement, and the reasonableness of the current management fee. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Ethics. The Board generally considers the Advisor’s commitment to providing quality services to shareholders and to conducting its business ethically. They noted that the Advisor’s practices generally meet or exceed industry best practices.
Economies of Scale. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Advisor regarding the possible existence of economies of scale in connection with the management of the Fund. The Board concluded that economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, especially on a fund-by-fund basis. The Board concluded that the Advisor is appropriately sharing economies of scale, to the extent they exist, through its competitive fee structure, offering competitive fees from fund inception, and through reinvestment in its business, infrastructure, investment capabilities and initiatives to provide shareholders enhanced and expanded services.
Comparison to Other Funds’ Fees. The management agreement provides that the Fund pays the Advisor a single, all-inclusive (or unified) management fee for providing all services necessary for the management and operation of the Fund, other than brokerage expenses, expenses attributable to short sales, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s independent Directors (including their independent legal counsel), and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services and distribution services under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under this unified fee structure, the Advisor is responsible for providing all investment advisory, custody, audit, administrative, compliance, recordkeeping, marketing, and shareholder services, or arranging and supervising third parties to provide such services. By contrast, most other funds are charged a variety of fees, including an investment advisory fee, a transfer agency fee, an administrative fee, and other expenses. Other than their investment advisory fees and any applicable Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, all other components of the total fees charged by these other funds may be increased without shareholder approval. The Board believes the unified fee structure is a benefit to Fund shareholders because it clearly discloses to shareholders the cost of owning Fund shares, and, since the unified fee cannot be increased without a vote of Fund shareholders, it shifts to the Advisor the risk of increased costs of operating the Fund and provides a direct incentive to minimize administrative inefficiencies. Part of the Board’s analysis of fee levels involves reviewing certain evaluative data compiled by an independent provider and comparing the Fund’s unified fee to the total expense ratio of peer funds. The unified fee charged to shareholders of the Fund was below the median of the total expense ratios of the Fund’s peer universe. The Board concluded
that the management fee paid by the Fund to the Advisor under the management agreement is reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund.
Comparison to Fees and Services Provided to Other Clients of the Advisor. The Board also requested and received information from the Advisor concerning the nature of the services, fees, costs, and profitability of its advisory services to advisory clients other than the Fund. They observed that these varying types of client accounts require different services and involve different regulatory and entrepreneurial risks than the management of the Fund. The Board analyzed this information and concluded that the fees charged and services provided to the Fund were reasonable by comparison.
Payments to Intermediaries. The Directors also requested and received a description of payments made to intermediaries by the Fund and the Advisor and services provided by intermediaries. These payments include various payments made by the Fund or the Advisor to different types of intermediaries and recordkeepers for distribution and service activities provided with respect to the Fund. The Directors reviewed such information and received representations from the Advisor that all such payments by the Fund were made pursuant to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan and that all such payments by the Advisor were made from the Advisor’s resources and reasonable profits. The Board found such payments to be reasonable in scope and purpose.
Collateral or “Fall-Out” Benefits Derived by the Advisor. The Board considered the possible existence of collateral benefits the Advisor may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor’s primary business is managing funds and it generally does not use fund or shareholder information to generate profits in other lines of business, and therefore does not derive any significant collateral benefits from them. The Board noted that the Advisor may receive proprietary research from broker-dealers that execute fund portfolio transactions. The Board also determined that the Advisor is able to provide investment management services to certain clients other than the Fund, at least in part, due to its existing infrastructure built to serve the fund complex. The Board noted that the assets of those other accounts are, where applicable, included with the assets of the Fund to determine breakpoints in the management fee schedule.
Existing Relationship. The Board also considered whether there was any reason for not continuing the existing arrangement with the Advisor. In this regard, the Board was mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund’s operations and various risks, uncertainties, and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision not to continue such relationship. In particular, the Board recognized that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Advisor’s industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Advisor will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.
Conclusion of the Directors. As a result of this process, the Board, including all of the independent Directors and assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel, taking into account all of the factors discussed above and the information provided by the Advisor and others in connection with its review and throughout the year, concluded that the management agreement between the Fund and the Advisor is fair and reasonable in light of the services provided and should be renewed.
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Liquidity Risk Management Program |
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “program”). The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has designated American Century Investment Management, Inc. (“ACIM”) as the administrator of the program. Personnel of ACIM or its affiliates conduct the day-to-day operation of the program pursuant to policies and procedures administered by those members of the ACIM’s Investment Oversight Committee who are members of the ACIM’s Investment Management and Global Analytics departments.
Under the program, ACIM manages the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund could not meet shareholder redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining shareholders’ interests in the Fund. This risk is managed by monitoring the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments, limiting the amount of the Fund’s illiquid investments, and utilizing various risk management tools and facilities available to the Fund for meeting shareholder redemptions, among other means. ACIM’s process of determining the degree of liquidity of the Fund’s investments is supported by one or more third-party liquidity assessment vendors.
The Board reviewed a report prepared by ACIM regarding the operation and effectiveness of the program for the period December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. No significant liquidity events impacting the Fund were noted in the report. In addition, ACIM provided its assessment that the program had been effective in managing the Fund’s liquidity risk.
Retirement Account Information
As required by law, distributions you receive from certain retirement accounts are subject to federal income tax withholding, unless you elect not to have withholding apply*. Tax will be withheld on the total amount withdrawn even though you may be receiving amounts that are not subject to withholding, such as nondeductible contributions. In such case, excess amounts of withholding could occur. You may adjust your withholding election so that a greater or lesser amount will be withheld.
If you don’t want us to withhold on this amount, you must notify us to not withhold the federal income tax. You may notify us in writing or in certain situations by telephone or through other electronic means. For systematic withdrawals, your withholding election will remain in effect until revoked or changed by filing a new election. You have the right to revoke your election at any time and change your withholding percentage for future distributions.
Remember, even if you elect not to have income tax withheld, you are liable for paying income tax on the taxable portion of your withdrawal. If you elect not to have income tax withheld or you don’t have enough income tax withheld, you may be responsible for payment of estimated tax. You may incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. You can reduce or defer the income tax on a distribution by directly or indirectly rolling such distribution over to another IRA or eligible plan. You should consult your tax advisor for additional information.
State tax will be withheld if, at the time of your distribution, your address is within one of the mandatory withholding states and you have federal income tax withheld (or as otherwise required by state law). State taxes will be withheld from your distribution in accordance with the respective state rules.
*Some 403(b), 457 and qualified retirement plan distributions may be subject to 20% mandatory withholding, as they are subject to special tax and withholding rules. Your plan administrator or plan sponsor is required to provide you with a special tax notice explaining those rules at the time you request a distribution. If applicable, federal and/or state taxes may be withheld from your distribution amount.
Proxy Voting Policies
Descriptions of the principles and policies that the fund's investment advisor uses in exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021 or visiting American Century Investments’ website at americancentury.com/proxy. A description of the policies is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the investment advisor voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on americancentury.com/proxy. It is also available at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These portfolio holdings are available on the fund's website at americancentury.com and, upon request, by calling 1-800-345-2021. The fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Other Tax Information
The following information is provided pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fund hereby designates up to the maximum amount allowable as qualified dividend income for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
For corporate taxpayers, the fund hereby designates $7,367,465, or up to the maximum amount
allowable, of ordinary income distributions paid during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as
qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
The fund hereby designates $15,745,713, or up to the maximum amount allowable, as long-term capital gains distributions (20% rate gain distributions) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On June 16, 2021, the fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Board of Directors approved a change to the fund’s independent registered public accountant. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed and Deloitte & Touche LLP was appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, there were no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports or reportable events, as such term is described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The audit reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, neither the fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP, on behalf of the fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event, as such terms are described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The fund requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agrees with the statements contained above. A copy of the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed as an exhibit hereto.
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Contact Us | americancentury.com | |
Automated Information Line | 1-800-345-8765 | |
Investor Services Representative | 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575 | |
Investors Using Advisors | 1-800-378-9878 | |
Business, Not-For-Profit, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans | 1-800-345-3533 | |
Banks and Trust Companies, Broker-Dealers, Financial Professionals, Insurance Companies | 1-800-345-6488 | |
Telecommunications Relay Service for the Deaf | 711 | |
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American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. | |
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Investment Advisor: American Century Investment Management, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri | |
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This report and the statements it contains are submitted for the general information of our shareholders. The report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. | |
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©2021 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-ANN-92986 2108 | |
(b) None.
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
(a) The registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions.
(b) No response required.
(c) None.
(d) None.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) The registrant’s Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers was filed as Exhibit 12 (a)(1) to American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc.’s Annual Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, File No. 811-21591, on September 29, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
(a)(1) The registrant's board has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
(a)(2) Tanya S. Beder, Jennifer Cabalquinto, Anne Casscells, Peter F. Pervere and Ronald J. Gilson are the registrant's designated audit committee financial experts. They are "independent" as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) No response required.
(c) No response required.
(d) No response required.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Audit Fees.
The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were as follows:
FY 2020: $249,331
FY 2021: $212,114
(b) Audit-Related Fees.
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were as follows:
For services rendered to the registrant:
FY 2020: $0
FY 2021: $0
Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):
FY 2020: $0
FY 2021: $0
(c) Tax Fees.
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were as follows:
For services rendered to the registrant:
FY 2020: $0
FY 2021: $0
Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):
FY 2020: $0
FY 2021: $0
(d) All Other Fees.
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were as follows:
For services rendered to the registrant:
FY 2020: $0
FY 2021: $0
Fees required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (relating to certain engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser and its affiliates):
FY 2020: $0
FY 2021: $0
(e)(1) In accordance with paragraph (c)(7)(i)(A) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, before the accountant is engaged by the registrant to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement is approved by the registrant’s audit committee. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, the registrant’s audit committee also pre-approves its accountant’s engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s investment adviser, its parent company, and any entity controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.
(e)(2) All services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were pre-approved before the engagement by the registrant’s audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(A) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. Consequently, none of such services were required to be approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C).
(f) The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was less than 50%.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were as follows:
FY 2020: $147,500
FY 2021: $144,500
(h) The registrant’s investment adviser and accountant have notified the registrant’s audit committee of all non-audit services that were rendered by the registrant’s accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser, its parent company, and any entity controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides services to the registrant, which services were not required to be pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. The notification provided to the registrant’s audit committee included sufficient details regarding such services to allow the registrant’s audit committee to consider the continuing independence of its principal accountant.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS.
(a) The schedule of investments is included as part of the report to stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b) Not applicable.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
During the reporting period, there were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) Registrant’s Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 of Form N-CSR, was filed as Exhibit 12(a)(1) to American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios, Inc.’s Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, File No. 811-21591, on September 29, 2005.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
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.
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Registrant: | American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc. |
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By: | /s/ Patrick Bannigan | |
| Name: | Patrick Bannigan | |
| Title: | President | |
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Date: | August 24, 2021 | |
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.
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By: | /s/ Patrick Bannigan | |
| Name: | Patrick Bannigan | |
| Title: | President | |
| | (principal executive officer) | |
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Date: | August 24, 2021 | |
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By: | /s/ R. Wes Campbell | |
| Name: | R. Wes Campbell | |
| Title: | Treasurer and | |
| | Chief Financial Officer | |
| | (principal financial officer) | |
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Date: | August 24, 2021 | |