N-CSRS 1 amcap_ncsrs.htm N-CSRS

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

Certified Shareholder Report of

Registered Management Investment Companies

 

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-01435

 

AMCAP Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (213) 486-9200

 

Date of fiscal year end: February 28 or 29

 

Date of reporting period: August 31, 2018

 

Laurie D. Neat

AMCAP Fund

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

ITEM 1 – Reports to Stockholders

 

AMCAP Fund®

 

Semi-annual report
for the six months ended
August 31, 2018

 

 

We take a disciplined,
long-term approach
to investing in growth
companies.

 

 

AMCAP Fund seeks to provide you with long-term growth of capital.

 

This fund is one of more than 40 offered by Capital Group, home of American Funds, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund families. For more than 85 years, Capital Group has invested with a long-term focus based on thorough research and attention to risk.

 

Fund results shown in this report, unless otherwise indicated, are for Class A shares at net asset value. If a sales charge (maximum 5.75%) had been deducted, the results would have been lower. Results are for past periods and are not predictive of results for future periods. Current and future results may be lower or higher than those shown. Share prices and returns will vary, so investors may lose money. Investing for short periods makes losses more likely. For current information and month-end results, visit americanfunds.com.

 

Here are the average annual total returns on a $1,000 investment with all distributions reinvested for periods ended September 30, 2018 (the most recent calendar quarter-end):

 

Class A shares  1 year  5 years  10 years
          
Reflecting 5.75% maximum sales charge  14.49%  12.26%  12.24%

 

For other share class results, visit americanfunds.com and americanfundsretirement.com.

 

The total annual fund operating expense ratio was 0.68% for Class A shares as of the prospectus dated May 1, 2018. The expense ratio is restated to reflect current fees.

 

Investment results assume all distributions are reinvested and reflect applicable fees and expenses. When applicable, investment results reflect fee waivers, without which results would have been lower. Visit americanfunds.com for more information.

 

Refer to the fund prospectus and the Risk Factors section of this report for more information on risks associated with investing in the fund.

 

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

 

Fellow investors:

 

The U.S. stock market provided strong returns during the six-month period ended August 31, 2018. While geopolitical concerns continue to add to market volatility, economic data in the U.S. was generally positive and company earnings were better than expected. The Federal Reserve proceeded cautiously on interest rates, raising them three times each in 2017 and thus far in 2018; under new leadership, the Fed has signaled a similar path for the near future.

 

During the six-month period, AMCAP Fund had a total return of 7.54% versus a 7.96% total return for the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index — a market capitalization-weighted index based on the results of approximately 500 widely held common stocks — and a total return of 8.80% for the Lipper Growth Funds Index, a peer group measure, as shown in the chart below.

 

Over the long term, AMCAP’s returns have exceeded those of the S&P 500 and the Lipper Growth Funds Index. For the past 10 years, AMCAP had an average annual total return of 11.79%, compared with 10.86% for the S&P 500 and 10.90% for the Lipper index. Over its 51-year lifetime, the fund had an average annual total return of 11.69%, compared with 10.16% for the S&P 500 and 9.33% for the Lipper index.

 

Results at a glance

 

For periods ended August 31, 2018, with all distributions reinvested

 

   Total returns  Average annual total returns
                               Lifetime
   6 months  1 year  5 years  10 years  (since 5/1/67)
                
AMCAP Fund (Class A shares)   7.54%   23.58%   14.22%   11.79%   11.69%
Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index*   7.96    19.66    14.52    10.86    10.16 
Lipper Growth Funds Index   8.80    23.86    15.24    10.90    9.33 

 

* Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
Source: Thomson Reuters Lipper. Lipper indexes track the largest mutual funds (no more than 30), represented by one share class per fund, in the corresponding Lipper category.

 

AMCAP Fund 1
 

Investment results analysis

The fund’s largest holding, Netflix, rose 26.19% on the back of strong subscriber growth for its video streaming content and services. Much of the subscriber growth was attributed to the growing popularity of Netflix’s various original series. International subscriber and revenue growth were especially strong and they are expected to play an increasingly important role in the company’s future growth. Netflix recently struck a licensing deal with Chinese online video provider iQiyi, a subsidiary of Baidu, marking the first time the U.S. company has been able to offer its services in China.

 

Shares of health care companies were mixed, with Illumina among the strongest contributors to fund returns and AbbVie (the second-largest holding) one of the largest detractors. We believe that Illumina, which jumped 55.61% during the period, is the best company in the growing field of gene sequencing and that it is expanding that field through its own innovation. Meanwhile, shares of AbbVie declined 17.14% amid concerns about the company’s reliance on its leading drug Humira, which has a range of applications, including as an arthritis treatment. However, we think those concerns are overstated, especially given the company’s savvy management and its settlement with Amgen that extends Humira’s patent protection to 2023.

 

Some of the fund’s energy holdings impacted returns, including oilfield services company Halliburton and oil-and-gas producer EOG Resources (the fund’s eighth-largest holding). Shares of Halliburton fell 14.07% on concerns over higher costs, lower demand and increased competition in its core market of pressure pumping, although these issues should be resolved within a year or two. On the other hand, EOG Resources gained 16.57% as the company’s strong production growth outlook became clearer, assuming a reasonable range for oil prices.

 

The fund’s cash position declined to 8.8% from 12.5% (including other short-term securities) at the beginning of the period. While valuations overall appear stretched on a fundamental basis, in this environment of market volatility, some portfolio managers are finding pockets of investment opportunities. However, the amount of cash overall continues to reflect a cautious approach to the market environment by the portfolio managers, who anticipate being able to invest in these companies at better valuations in the future.

 

2 AMCAP Fund
 

Looking ahead

The fundamentals of the U.S. economy are generally positive: the unemployment rate is low, real wages are gradually increasing, consumer spending is slowly on the rise. However, the level of consumer, corporate and government debt continues to rise to unacceptable levels over the long run. While low interest rates may continue to increase, we are below the level that historically has caused major pressure on economic growth.

 

Outside the U.S., most euro zone countries continue to slowly improve, and while China’s growth is slowing and its debt is rising, demand is still relatively strong. However, volatility is likely to remain elevated amid the multiple geopolitical risks around the world, from the U.S. trade war with China to the Brexit negotiations in Europe to the unpredictable situation with North Korea. Against this backdrop, we continue with our consistent and diligent approach to growth investing, just as we have for the past 50-plus years.

 

AMCAP evaluates and invests primarily in U.S. companies that have demonstrated solid historical growth and characteristics that we believe are likely to support above-average growth in the future. Our focus on the fundamental growth drivers and the inherent worth of companies is critical to helping us identify investments that we believe represent the best value over the long term. We thank you for your continued support of these efforts.

 

Cordially,

 

Claudia P. Huntington James Terrile
Co-President Co-President

 

October 11, 2018

 

For current information about the fund, visit americanfunds.com.

 

AMCAP Fund 3
 
Summary investment portfolio August 31, 2018 unaudited
   
Industry sector diversification Percent of net assets

 

 

 

Common stocks 91.19%  Shares   Value
(000)
 
Information technology 23.52%          
Alphabet Inc., Class C1   853,879   $1,040,187 
Alphabet Inc., Class A1   723,910    891,712 
Microsoft Corp.   13,202,000    1,482,981 
Facebook, Inc., Class A1   6,743,700    1,185,070 
Accenture PLC, Class A   6,328,700    1,069,993 
Mastercard Inc., Class A   4,061,957    875,595 
Broadcom Inc.   3,589,848    786,284 
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.   6,983,432    637,587 
QUALCOMM Inc.   9,110,000    625,948 
Autodesk, Inc.1   3,962,343    611,588 
ASML Holding NV   2,850,100    581,062 
Intel Corp.   11,499,000    556,897 
Trimble Inc.1   12,300,511    517,852 
Texas Instruments Inc.   3,874,396    435,482 
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.1   1,995,000    426,411 
Other securities        4,146,027 
         15,870,676 
           
Health care 22.46%          
AbbVie Inc.   20,419,227    1,959,837 
UnitedHealth Group Inc.   6,004,406    1,611,943 
Abbott Laboratories   22,625,454    1,512,285 
Amgen Inc.   6,852,605    1,369,219 
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.   5,668,500    1,355,338 
Illumina, Inc.1   2,935,257    1,041,517 
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.1,2   10,345,500    1,034,343 
Gilead Sciences, Inc.   11,519,734    872,390 
Stryker Corp.   4,265,082    722,633 
PerkinElmer, Inc.2   7,191,234    664,686 
IQVIA Holdings Inc.1   3,052,000    387,879 
Other securities        2,625,951 
         15,158,021 

 

4 AMCAP Fund
 
   Shares   Value
(000)
 
Consumer discretionary 16.37%        
Netflix, Inc.1   7,381,000   $2,713,846 
Amazon.com, Inc.1   821,300    1,653,039 
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.   8,590,000    934,163 
Booking Holdings Inc.1   454,875    887,711 
NIKE, Inc., Class B   10,609,703    872,118 
Marriott International, Inc., Class A   3,768,611    476,616 
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.2   5,400,000    379,242 
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Class A   7,881,500    357,820 
Other securities        2,768,024 
         11,042,579 
           
Industrials 9.71%          
General Dynamics Corp.   4,269,000    825,625 
Textron Inc.   11,265,000    777,623 
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.   3,870,000    589,788 
CSX Corp.   7,265,354    538,799 
TransDigm Group Inc.1   1,372,638    480,423 
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.   3,292,415    397,559 
Equifax Inc.   2,933,728    393,032 
Middleby Corp.1,2   3,218,507    391,177 
Other securities        2,156,161 
         6,550,187 
           
Energy 7.09%          
EOG Resources, Inc.   12,037,300    1,423,170 
Concho Resources Inc.1   6,536,445    896,474 
Halliburton Co.   14,553,500    580,539 
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (CAD denominated)   13,427,300    458,483 
Diamondback Energy, Inc.   3,692,000    447,027 
Other securities        978,126 
         4,783,819 
           
Financials 5.81%          
Charles Schwab Corp.   9,317,000    473,210 
Wells Fargo & Co.   6,164,000    360,471 
Other securities        3,084,616 
         3,918,297 
           
Consumer staples 2.57%          
Costco Wholesale Corp.   2,386,300    556,318 
Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.1   6,406,769    362,559 
Other securities        816,005 
         1,734,882 
           
Materials 2.12%          
Celanese Corp., Series A   4,849,624    566,582 
Other securities        864,377 
         1,430,959 
           
Other 0.97%          
Other securities        656,662 

 

AMCAP Fund 5
 
Common stocks (continued)  Shares   Value
(000)
 
Miscellaneous 0.57%          
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition       $387,184 
           
Total common stocks (cost: $38,464,294,000)        61,533,266 
           
Short-term securities 8.54%Principal amount
(000)
      
Federal Home Loan Bank 1.91%–2.05% due 9/4/2018–12/11/2018  $2,851,300    2,845,205 
U.S. Treasury Bills 1.85%–2.22% due 9/6/2018–5/23/2019   1,623,900    1,617,973 
Other securities        1,300,102 
           
Total short-term securities (cost: $5,762,690,000)        5,763,280 
Total investment securities 99.73% (cost: $44,226,984,000)        67,296,546 
Other assets less liabilities 0.27%        178,997 
           
Net assets 100.00%       $67,475,543 

 

This summary investment portfolio is designed to streamline the report and help investors better focus on the fund’s principal holdings. See the inside back cover for details on how to obtain a complete schedule of portfolio holdings.

 

As permitted by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, “Miscellaneous” securities include holdings in their first year of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed.

 

“Other securities” includes all issues that are not disclosed separately in the summary investment portfolio. “Other securities” includes a security which was valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of the security which was valued under fair value procedures was $191,942,000, which represented .28% of the net assets of the fund. “Other securities” also includes securities (with an aggregate value of $1,043,854,000, which represented 1.55% of the net assets of the fund) which were acquired in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and may be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

 

6 AMCAP Fund
 

Investments in affiliates

 

A company is an affiliate of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 if the fund’s holdings in that company represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares. The value of the fund’s affiliated-company holdings is either shown in the summary investment portfolio or included in the value of “Other securities” under the respective industry sectors. Further details on such holdings and related transactions during the six months ended August 31, 2018, appear below.

 

   Beginning
shares
   Additions   Reductions   Ending
shares
 
Common stocks 5.50%                    
Information technology 0.13%                    
Acacia Communications, Inc.1   2,226,600            2,226,600 
Finisar Corp.1,3   6,797,000        5,094,000    1,703,000 
Health care 3.01%                    
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.1   10,345,500            10,345,500 
PerkinElmer, Inc.   5,922,900    1,268,334        7,191,234 
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.1   4,555,967    1,000,000        5,555,967 
PRA Health Sciences, Inc.1,3   2,931,531    750,990    878,077    2,804,444 
Consumer discretionary 1.36%                    
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.   3,100,000    2,300,000        5,400,000 
Texas Roadhouse, Inc.   4,587,200            4,587,200 
Signet Jewelers Ltd.   3,500,000            3,500,000 
Industrials 0.58%                    
Middleby Corp.1   2,052,775    1,165,732        3,218,507 
Generac Holdings Inc.1,3   3,894,070        3,894,070     
Energy 0.00%                    
Denbury Resources Inc.1,3   22,428,635        22,428,635     
Consumer staples 0.00%                    
Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.1,3   4,648,809    4,648,809    2,890,849    6,406,769 
Materials 0.42%                    
Valvoline Inc.   10,638,000    2,366,000        13,004,000 

 

   Net
realized
(loss) gain
(000)
   Net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
(000)
   Dividend
income
(000)
   Value of
affiliates at
8/31/2018
(000)
 
Common stocks 5.50%                    
Information technology 0.13%                    
Acacia Communications, Inc.1  $   $4,609   $   $90,778 
Finisar Corp.1,3   (8,528)   13,740         
                   90,778 
Health care 3.01%                    
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.1       194,599        1,034,343 
PerkinElmer, Inc.       117,472    994    664,686 
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.1       28,988        330,413 
PRA Health Sciences, Inc.1,3   10,676    56,421         
                   2,029,442 

 

AMCAP Fund 7
 

Investments in affiliates (continued)

 

   Net
realized
(loss) gain
(000)
   Net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
(000)
   Dividend
income
(000)
   Value of
affiliates at
8/31/2018
(000)
 
Consumer discretionary 1.36%                    
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.  $   $105,816   $4,490   $379,242 
Texas Roadhouse, Inc.       62,799    2,294    316,288 
Signet Jewelers Ltd.       48,720    2,590    224,700 
                   920,230 
Industrials 0.58%                    
Middleby Corp.1       10,753        391,177 
Generac Holdings Inc.1,3   12,308    (3,819)        
                   391,177 
Energy 0.00%                    
Denbury Resources Inc.1,3   (47,150)   101,319         
Consumer staples 0.00%                    
Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.1,3   68,661    20,192         
Materials 0.42%                    
Valvoline Inc.       (18,349)   1,938    279,846 
Total 5.50%  $35,967   $743,260   $12,306   $3,711,473 

 

1 Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
2 Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
3 Unaffiliated issuer at 8/31/2018.

 

Key to abbreviation

CAD = Canadian dollars

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

8 AMCAP Fund
 

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities
at August 31, 2018
  unaudited
(dollars in thousands)

 

Assets:       
Investment securities, at value:          
Unaffiliated issuers (cost: $41,510,511)  $63,585,073      
Affiliated issuers (cost: $2,716,473)   3,711,473   $67,296,546 
Cash        201,414 
Receivables for:          
Sales of investments   103,360      
Sales of fund’s shares   83,029      
Dividends and interest   48,801      
Other   834    236,024 
         67,733,984 
Liabilities:          
Payables for:          
Purchases of investments   138,750      
Repurchases of fund’s shares   77,022      
Investment advisory services   16,929      
Services provided by related parties   16,383      
Trustees’ deferred compensation   3,514      
Other   5,843    258,441 
Net assets at August 31, 2018       $67,475,543 
           
Net assets consist of:          
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest       $41,412,897 
Undistributed net investment income        229,725 
Undistributed net realized gain        2,768,009 
Net unrealized appreciation        23,064,912 
Net assets at August 31, 2018       $67,475,543 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

AMCAP Fund 9
 

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 

Shares of beneficial interest issued and outstanding (no stated par value) —
unlimited shares authorized (1,950,977 total shares outstanding)

 

   Net assets   Shares
outstanding
   Net asset
value per share
 
Class A  $32,021,031    923,115   $34.69 
Class C   1,578,369    51,860    30.44 
Class T   12    *   34.73 
Class F-1   1,914,767    55,718    34.37 
Class F-2   7,280,766    208,385    34.94 
Class F-3   3,575,073    102,831    34.77 
Class 529-A   1,975,057    57,596    34.29 
Class 529-C   276,991    9,051    30.60 
Class 529-E   87,558    2,624    33.37 
Class 529-T   13    *   34.71 
Class 529-F-1   132,043    3,816    34.60 
Class R-1   103,329    3,302    31.29 
Class R-2   673,342    21,525    31.28 
Class R-2E   59,521    1,738    34.24 
Class R-3   1,330,920    39,680    33.54 
Class R-4   1,385,857    40,330    34.36 
Class R-5E   14,352    413    34.77 
Class R-5   1,178,335    33,486    35.19 
Class R-6   13,888,207    395,507    35.11 

 

* Amount less than one thousand.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

10 AMCAP Fund
 
Statement of operations
for the six months ended August 31, 2018
unaudited
(dollars in thousands)

 

Investment income:          
Income:          
Dividends (net of non-U.S. taxes of $3,764; also includes $12,306 from affiliates)  $360,274      
Interest   68,369   $428,643 
Fees and expenses*:          
Investment advisory services   97,891      
Distribution services   59,242      
Transfer agent services   24,797      
Administrative services   10,225      
Reports to shareholders   992      
Registration statement and prospectus   932      
Trustees’ compensation   220      
Auditing and legal   11      
Custodian   289      
Other   821      
Total fees and expenses before waiver   195,420      
Less investment advisory services waiver   42      
Total fees and expenses after waiver        195,378 
Net investment income        233,265 
           
Net realized gain and unrealized appreciation:          
Net realized gain (loss) on:          
Investments:          
Unaffiliated issuers   2,735,227      
Affiliated issuers   35,967      
Currency transactions   (700)   2,770,494 
Net unrealized appreciation on:          
Investments (net of non-U.S. taxes of $5,484):          
Unaffiliated issuers   1,060,541      
Affiliated issuers   743,260      
Currency translations   349    1,804,150 
Net realized gain and unrealized appreciation        4,574,644 
           
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations       $4,807,909 

 

* Additional information related to class-specific fees and expenses is included in the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

AMCAP Fund 11
 

Statements of changes in net assets

(dollars in thousands)

 

   Six months ended
 August 31 2018*
   Year ended
February 28 2018
 
         
Operations:          
Net investment income  $233,265   $363,514 
Net realized gain   2,770,494    3,835,503 
Net unrealized appreciation   1,804,150    7,062,703 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   4,807,909    11,261,720 
           
Dividends and distributions paid to shareholders:          
Dividends from net investment income       (274,012)
Distributions from net realized gain on investments   (1,643,076)   (2,926,278)
Total dividends and distributions paid to shareholders   (1,643,076)   (3,200,290)
           
Net capital share transactions   780,483    1,933,198 
           
Total increase in net assets   3,945,316    9,994,628 
           
Net assets:          
Beginning of period   63,530,227    53,535,599 
End of period (including undistributed and distributions in excess of net investment income: $229,725 and $(3,540), respectively)  $67,475,543   $63,530,227 

 

* Unaudited.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

12 AMCAP Fund
 
Notes to financial statements unaudited

 

1. Organization

 

AMCAP Fund (the “fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company. The fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital.

 

The fund has 19 share classes consisting of six retail share classes (Classes A, C, T, F-1, F-2 and F-3), five 529 college savings plan share classes (Classes 529-A, 529-C, 529-E, 529-T and 529-F-1) and eight retirement plan share classes (Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6). The 529 college savings plan share classes can be used to save for college education. The retirement plan share classes are generally offered only through eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans. The fund’s share classes are described further in the following table:

 

Share class   Initial sales
charge
  Contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption
  Conversion feature  
Classes A and 529-A   Up to 5.75%   None (except 1% for certain redemptions within 18 months of purchase without an initial sales charge)   None  
Class C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class C converts to Class F-1 after 10 years  
Class 529-C   None   1% for redemptions within one year of purchase   Class 529-C converts to Class 529-A after 10 years  
Class 529-E   None   None   None  
Classes T and 529-T*   Up to 2.50%   None   None  
Classes F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1   None   None   None  
Classes R-1, R-2, R-2E, R-3, R-4, R-5E, R-5 and R-6   None   None   None  

* Class T and 529-T shares are not available for purchase.

 

Holders of all share classes have equal pro rata rights to the assets, dividends and liquidation proceeds of the fund. Each share class has identical voting rights, except for the exclusive right to vote on matters affecting only its class. Share classes have different fees and expenses (“class-specific fees and expenses”), primarily due to different arrangements for distribution, transfer agent and administrative services. Differences in class-specific fees and expenses will result in differences in net investment income and, therefore, the payment of different per-share dividends by each share class.

 

2. Significant accounting policies

 

The fund is an investment company that applies the accounting and reporting guidance issued in Topic 946 by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board. The fund’s financial statements have been prepared to comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting

 

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principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These principles require the fund’s investment adviser to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events, if any, have been evaluated through the date of issuance in the preparation of the financial statements. The fund follows the significant accounting policies described in this section, as well as the valuation policies described in the next section on valuation.

 

Cash — Cash may include amounts held in an interest bearing deposit facility.

 

Security transactions and related investment income — Security transactions are recorded by the fund as of the date the trades are executed with brokers. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities. In the event a security is purchased with a delayed payment date, the fund will segregate liquid assets sufficient to meet its payment obligations. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Market discounts, premiums and original issue discounts on fixed-income securities are amortized daily over the expected life of the security.

 

Class allocations — Income, fees and expenses (other than class-specific fees and expenses) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily among the various share classes based on their relative net assets. Class-specific fees and expenses, such as distribution, transfer agent and administrative services, are charged directly to the respective share class.

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders — Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

Currency translation — Assets and liabilities, including investment securities, denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates supplied by one or more pricing vendors on the valuation date. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the dates of such transactions. The effects of changes in exchange rates on investment securities are included with the net realized gain or loss and net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments in the fund’s statement of operations. The realized gain or loss and unrealized appreciation or depreciation resulting from all other transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are disclosed separately.

 

3. Valuation

 

Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), the fund’s investment adviser, values the fund’s investments at fair value as defined by U.S. GAAP. The net asset value of each share class of the fund is generally determined as of approximately 4:00 p.m. New York time each day the New York Stock Exchange is open.

 

14 AMCAP Fund
 

Methods and inputs — The fund’s investment adviser uses the following methods and inputs to establish the fair value of the fund’s assets and liabilities. Use of particular methods and inputs may vary over time based on availability and relevance as market and economic conditions evolve.

 

Equity securities are generally valued at the official closing price of, or the last reported sale price on, the exchange or market on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any sales, at the last available bid price. Prices for each security are taken from the principal exchange or market on which the security trades.

 

Fixed-income securities, including short-term securities, are generally valued at prices obtained from one or more pricing vendors. Vendors value such securities based on one or more of the inputs described in the following table. The table provides examples of inputs that are commonly relevant for valuing particular classes of fixed-income securities in which the fund is authorized to invest. However, these classifications are not exclusive, and any of the inputs may be used to value any other class of fixed-income security.

 

Fixed-income class   Examples of standard inputs
All   Benchmark yields, transactions, bids, offers, quotations from dealers and trading systems, new issues, spreads and other relationships observed in the markets among comparable securities; and proprietary pricing models such as yield measures calculated using factors such as cash flows, financial or collateral performance and other reference data (collectively referred to as “standard inputs”)
Corporate bonds & notes; convertible securities   Standard inputs and underlying equity of the issuer
Bonds & notes of governments & government agencies   Standard inputs and interest rate volatilities

 

When the fund’s investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so (such as when vendor prices are unavailable or deemed to be not representative), fixed-income securities will be valued in good faith at the mean quoted bid and ask prices that are reasonably and timely available (or bid prices, if ask prices are not available) or at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and type.

 

Securities with both fixed-income and equity characteristics, or equity securities traded principally among fixed-income dealers, are generally valued in the manner described for either equity or fixed-income securities, depending on which method is deemed most appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser.

 

Securities and other assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable by the fund’s investment adviser are fair valued as determined in good faith under fair valuation guidelines adopted by authority of the fund’s board of trustees as further described. The investment adviser follows fair valuation guidelines, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and guidance,

 

AMCAP Fund 15
 

to consider relevant principles and factors when making fair value determinations. The investment adviser considers relevant indications of value that are reasonably and timely available to it in determining the fair value to be assigned to a particular security, such as the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; significant events occurring after the close of trading in the security; and changes in overall market conditions. In addition, the closing prices of equity securities that trade in markets outside U.S. time zones may be adjusted to reflect significant events that occur after the close of local trading but before the net asset value of each share class of the fund is determined. Fair valuations and valuations of investments that are not actively trading involve judgment and may differ materially from valuations that would have been used had greater market activity occurred.

 

Processes and structure — The fund’s board of trustees has delegated authority to the fund’s investment adviser to make fair value determinations, subject to board oversight. The investment adviser has established a Joint Fair Valuation Committee (the “Fair Valuation Committee”) to administer, implement and oversee the fair valuation process, and to make fair value decisions. The Fair Valuation Committee regularly reviews its own fair value decisions, as well as decisions made under its standing instructions to the investment adviser’s valuation teams. The Fair Valuation Committee reviews changes in fair value measurements from period to period and may, as deemed appropriate, update the fair valuation guidelines to better reflect the results of back testing and address new or evolving issues. The Fair Valuation Committee reports any changes to the fair valuation guidelines to the board of trustees. The fund’s board and audit committee also regularly review reports that describe fair value determinations and methods.

 

The fund’s investment adviser has also established a Fixed-Income Pricing Review Group to administer and oversee the fixed-income valuation process, including the use of fixed-income pricing vendors. This group regularly reviews pricing vendor information and market data. Pricing decisions, processes and controls over security valuation are also subject to additional internal reviews, including an annual control self-evaluation program facilitated by the investment adviser’s compliance group.

 

Classifications — The fund’s investment adviser classifies the fund’s assets and liabilities into three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 values are based on significant observable market inputs, such as quoted prices for similar securities and quoted prices in inactive markets. Certain securities trading outside the U.S. may transfer between Level 1 and Level 2 due to valuation adjustments resulting from significant market movements following the close of local trading. Level 3 values are based on significant unobservable inputs that reflect the investment adviser’s determination of assumptions that market participants might reasonably use in valuing the securities. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. For example, U.S. government securities are

 

16 AMCAP Fund
 

reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market. The following table presents the fund’s valuation levels as of August 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

 

   Investment securities  
    Level 1*    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets:                    
Common stocks:                    
Information technology  $15,870,676   $   $   $15,870,676 
Health care   15,158,021            15,158,021 
Consumer discretionary   11,042,579            11,042,579 
Industrials   6,550,187            6,550,187 
Energy   4,783,819            4,783,819 
Financials   3,918,297            3,918,297 
Consumer staples   1,542,940    191,942        1,734,882 
Materials   1,430,959            1,430,959 
Other   656,662            656,662 
Miscellaneous   387,184            387,184 
Short-term securities       5,763,280        5,763,280 
Total  $61,341,324   $5,955,222   $   $67,296,546 

 

* Securities with a value of $1,926,229,000, which represented 2.85% of the net assets of the fund, transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 since the prior fiscal year-end, primarily due to a lack of significant market movements following the close of local trading.

 

4. Risk factors

 

Investing in the fund may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, those described below.

 

Market conditions — The prices of, and the income generated by, the common stocks and other securities held by the fund may decline — sometimes rapidly or unpredictably — due to various factors, including events or conditions affecting the general economy or particular industries; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental or governmental agency responses to economic conditions; and currency exchange rate, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

 

Issuer risks — The prices of, and the income generated by, securities held by the fund may decline in response to various factors directly related to the issuers of such securities, including reduced demand for an issuer’s goods or services, poor management performance and strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions or dispositions and the market response to any such initiatives.

 

Investing in growth-oriented stocks — Growth-oriented common stocks and other equity-type securities (such as preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds) may involve larger price swings and greater potential for loss than other types of investments. These risks may be even greater in the case of smaller capitalization stocks.

 

AMCAP Fund 17
 

Investing outside the U.S. — Securities of issuers domiciled outside the U.S., or with significant operations or revenues outside the U.S., may lose value because of adverse political, social, economic or market developments (including social instability, regional conflicts, terrorism and war) in the countries or regions in which the issuers operate or generate revenue. These securities may also lose value due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar and/or currencies of other countries. Issuers of these securities may be more susceptible to actions of foreign governments, such as the imposition of price controls or punitive taxes, that could adversely impact the value of these securities. Securities markets in certain countries may be more volatile and/or less liquid than those in the U.S. Investments outside the U.S. may also be subject to different accounting practices and different regulatory, legal and reporting standards and practices, and may be more difficult to value, than those in the U.S. In addition, the value of investments outside the U.S. may be reduced by foreign taxes, including foreign withholding taxes on interest and dividends. Further, there may be increased risks of delayed settlement of securities purchased or sold by the fund. The risks of investing outside the U.S. may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets.

 

Management — The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund’s investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

 

5. Taxation and distributions

 

Federal income taxation — The fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to mutual funds and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains each year. The fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

 

As of and during the period ended August 31, 2018, the fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the statement of operations. During the period, the fund did not incur any significant interest or penalties.

 

The fund’s tax returns are not subject to examination by federal, state and, if applicable, non-U.S. tax authorities after the expiration of each jurisdiction’s statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the date of filing but can be extended in certain jurisdictions.

 

Non-U.S. taxation — Dividend and interest income are recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. The fund may file withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. As a result of rulings from European courts, the fund filed for additional reclaims related to prior years. These reclaims are recorded when the amount is known and there are no significant uncertainties on collectability. Gains realized by the fund on the sale of securities in certain countries, if any, may be subject to

 

18 AMCAP Fund
 

non-U.S. taxes. If applicable, the fund records an estimated deferred tax liability based on unrealized gains to provide for potential non-U.S. taxes payable upon the sale of these securities.

 

Distributions — Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to different treatment for items such as currency gains and losses; short-term capital gains and losses and income on certain investments. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes.

 

The components of distributable earnings on a tax basis are reported as of the fund’s most recent year-end. As of February 28, 2018, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Undistributed long-term capital gains  $1,640,591 

 

As of August 31, 2018, the tax basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and cost of investments were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Gross unrealized appreciation on investments  $23,935,936 
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments   (875,723)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   23,060,213 
Cost of investments   44,236,333 

 

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Distributions paid were characterized for tax purposes as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

   Six months ended August 31, 2018   Year ended February 28, 2018 
Share class  Ordinary
income
   Long-term
capital gains
   Total
distributions
paid
   Ordinary
income
   Long-term
capital gains
   Total
dividends and
distributions
paid
 
Class A  $   $769,609   $769,609   $115,384   $1,411,432   $1,526,816 
Class B1                           
Class C       43,075    43,075        82,421    82,421 
Class T2       3   3   3   1    1 
Class F-1       52,717    52,717    7,069    108,176    115,245 
Class F-2       163,707    163,707    31,706    279,311    311,017 
Class F-3       84,475    84,475    18,246    121,562    139,808 
Class 529-A       48,541    48,541    6,563    85,688    92,251 
Class 529-B1                           
Class 529-C       7,699    7,699        16,234    16,234 
Class 529-E       2,198    2,198    149    4,006    4,155 
Class 529-T2       3   3   3   1    1 
Class 529-F-1       3,154    3,154    576    5,253    5,829 
Class R-1       2,868    2,868        5,722    5,722 
Class R-2       18,016    18,016        33,185    33,185 
Class R-2E       1,315    1,315    53    1,894    1,947 
Class R-3       34,026    34,026    1,854    65,049    66,903 
Class R-4       35,171    35,171    5,075    67,219    72,294 
Class R-5E       255    255    3    31    34 
Class R-5       29,572    29,572    8,073    66,235    74,308 
Class R-6       346,678    346,678    79,261    572,858    652,119 
Total  $   $1,643,076   $1,643,076   $274,012   $2,926,278   $3,200,290 

 

1 Class B and 529-B shares were fully liquidated on May 5, 2017.
2 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.
3 Amount less than one thousand.

 

20 AMCAP Fund
 

6. Fees and transactions with related parties

 

CRMC, the fund’s investment adviser, is the parent company of American Funds Distributors,® Inc. (“AFD”), the principal underwriter of the fund’s shares, and American Funds Service Company® (“AFS”), the fund’s transfer agent. CRMC, AFD and AFS are considered related parties to the fund.

 

Investment advisory services — The fund has an investment advisory and service agreement with CRMC that provides for monthly fees accrued daily. At the beginning of the year, these fees were based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.485% on the first $1 billion of average daily net assets and decreasing to 0.283% on such assets in excess of $44 billion. On March 8, 2018, the fund’s board of trustees approved an amended investment advisory and service agreement effective May 1, 2018, decreasing the annual rate to 0.280% on average daily net assets in excess of $55 billion. CRMC voluntarily reduced investment advisory services fees to the approved rate in advance of the effective date. For the six months ended August 31, 2018, total investment advisory services fees waived by CRMC were $42,000. As a result, the fee of $97,891,000 shown on the statement of operations was reduced to $97,849,000, both of which were equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.298% of average daily net assets.

 

Class-specific fees and expenses — Expenses that are specific to individual share classes are accrued directly to the respective share class. The principal class-specific fees and expenses are further described below:

 

Distribution services — The fund has plans of distribution for all share classes, except Class F-2, F-3, R-5E, R-5 and R-6 shares. Under the plans, the board of trustees approves certain categories of expenses that are used to finance activities primarily intended to sell fund shares and service existing accounts. The plans provide for payments, based on an annualized percentage of average daily net assets, ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% as noted in this section. In some cases, the board of trustees has limited the amounts that may be paid to less than the maximum allowed by the plans. All share classes with a plan may use up to 0.25% of average daily net assets to pay service fees, or to compensate AFD for paying service fees, to firms that have entered into agreements with AFD to provide certain shareholder services. The remaining amounts available to be paid under each plan are paid to dealers to compensate them for their sales activities.

 

Share class  Currently approved limits  Plan limits
Class A   0.25%   0.25%
Class 529-A   0.25    0.50 
Classes C, 529-C and R-1   1.00    1.00 
Class R-2   0.75    1.00 
Class R-2E   0.60    0.85 
Classes 529-E and R-3   0.50    0.75 
Classes T, F-1, 529-T, 529-F-1 and R-4   0.25    0.50 

 

AMCAP Fund 21
 

For Class A and 529-A shares, distribution-related expenses include the reimbursement of dealer and wholesaler commissions paid by AFD for certain shares sold without a sales charge. These share classes reimburse AFD for amounts billed within the prior 15 months but only to the extent that the overall annual expense limits are not exceeded. As of August 31, 2018, there were no unreimbursed expenses subject to reimbursement for Class A or 529-A shares.

 

Transfer agent services — The fund has a shareholder services agreement with AFS under which the fund compensates AFS for providing transfer agent services to each of the fund’s share classes. These services include recordkeeping, shareholder communications and transaction processing. In addition, the fund reimburses AFS for amounts paid to third parties for performing transfer agent services on behalf of fund shareholders.

 

Administrative services — The fund has an administrative services agreement with CRMC under which the fund compensates CRMC for providing administrative services to Class A, C, T, F, 529 and R shares. Administrative services are provided by CRMC to help assist third parties providing non-distribution services to fund shareholders. These services include providing in depth information on the fund and market developments that impact fund investments. Administrative services also include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. The agreement between the fund and the investment adviser provides the fund the ability to charge an administrative services fee of 0.05% of average daily net assets for all share classes. Currently Class A shares pay an annual fee of 0.01% of average daily net assets (which could be increased as noted above) and Class C, T, F, 529 and R shares pay an annual fee of 0.05% of their respective average daily net assets.

 

529 plan services — Each 529 share class is subject to service fees to compensate the Virginia College Savings Plan (“Virginia529”) for its oversight and administration of the CollegeAmerica 529 college savings plan. The fee is based on the combined net assets invested in Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds. Class ABLE shares are offered on other American Funds by Virginia529 through ABLEAmerica, a tax-advantaged savings program for individuals with disabilities. The quarterly fee is based on a series of decreasing annual rates beginning with 0.10% on the first $20 billion of the combined net assets invested in the American Funds and decreasing to 0.03% on such assets in excess of $100 billion. The fee for any given calendar quarter is accrued and calculated on the basis of the average net assets of Class 529 and ABLE shares of the American Funds for the last month of the prior calendar quarter. The fee is included in other expenses in the fund’s statement of operations. Virginia529 is not considered a related party to the fund.

 

22 AMCAP Fund
 

For the six months ended August 31, 2018, class-specific expenses under the agreements were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Share class  Distribution
services
  Transfer agent
services
  Administrative
services
  529 plan
services
 
Class A  $37,071  $15,080  $1,547  Not applicable 
Class C  7,659  750  384  Not applicable 
Class T    * * Not applicable 
Class F-1  2,562  1,234  515  Not applicable 
Class F-2  Not applicable  3,391  1,657  Not applicable 
Class F-3  Not applicable  105  839  Not applicable 
Class 529-A  2,195  840  480  $632 
Class 529-C  1,360  121  69  91 
Class 529-E  211  20  21  28 
Class 529-T    * * *
Class 529-F-1    53  31  41 
Class R-1  522  52  26  Not applicable 
Class R-2  2,439  1,101  163  Not applicable 
Class R-2E  159  51  13  Not applicable 
Class R-3  3,311  985  331  Not applicable 
Class R-4  1,753  680  351  Not applicable 
Class R-5E  Not applicable  7  3  Not applicable 
Class R-5  Not applicable  297  305  Not applicable 
Class R-6  Not applicable  30  3,490  Not applicable 
Total class-specific expenses  $59,242  $24,797  $10,225  $792 

 

*Amount less than one thousand.

 

Trustees’ deferred compensation — Trustees who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer the cash payment of part or all of their compensation. These deferred amounts, which remain as liabilities of the fund, are treated as if invested in shares of the fund or other American Funds. These amounts represent general, unsecured liabilities of the fund and vary according to the total returns of the selected funds. Trustees’ compensation of $220,000 in the fund’s statement of operations reflects $200,000 in current fees (either paid in cash or deferred) and a net increase of $20,000 in the value of the deferred amounts.

 

Affiliated officers and trustees — Officers and certain trustees of the fund are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFD and AFS. No affiliated officers or trustees received any compensation directly from the fund.

 

Security transactions with related funds — The fund may purchase from, or sell securities to, other funds managed by CRMC (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC) under procedures adopted by the fund’s board of trustees. The funds involved in such transactions are considered related by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common trustees and/or common officers. When such transactions occur, each transaction is executed at the current market price of the security and no brokerage commissions or fees are paid in accordance with Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act.

 

AMCAP Fund 23
 

Interfund lending — Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund, along with other CRMC-managed funds (or funds managed by certain affiliates of CRMC), may participate in an interfund lending program. The program provides an alternate credit facility that permits the funds to lend or borrow cash for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. The fund lent $10,000 at a rate of 2.39% to one or more CRMC-managed funds during the six months ended August 31, 2018. The fund received less than $1,000 in interest income from the loan.

 

7. Capital share transactions

 

Capital share transactions in the fund were as follows (dollars and shares in thousands):

 

   Sales1  Reinvestments of
distributions
  Repurchases1  Net increase
(decrease)
Share class  Amount      Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount      Shares  
                                                       
Six months ended August 31, 2018                         
                                         
Class A  $1,332,952    39,566   $757,849    22,316   $(1,747,028)   (52,002)  $343,773    9,880 
Class C   119,926    4,041    42,777    1,433    (172,817)   (5,829)   (10,114)   (355)
Class T                                
Class F-1   159,557    4,784    51,628    1,534    (554,138)   (16,564)   (342,953)   (10,246)
Class F-2   1,407,058    41,475    158,707    4,640    (721,631)   (21,312)   844,134    24,803 
Class F-3   510,008    15,151    83,954    2,468    (306,805)   (9,098)   287,157    8,521 
Class 529-A   101,047    3,031    48,532    1,446    (127,939)   (3,838)   21,640    639 
Class 529-C   14,998    504    7,695    256    (33,836)   (1,128)   (11,143)   (368)
Class 529-E   5,751    178    2,198    67    (7,630)   (235)   319    10 
Class 529-T           2   2           2   2
Class 529-F-1   17,763    528    3,154    93    (10,426)   (310)   10,491    311 
Class R-1   6,042    199    2,865    93    (17,997)   (596)   (9,090)   (304)
Class R-2   80,460    2,646    17,991    586    (87,305)   (2,888)   11,146    344 
Class R-2E   12,396    376    1,315    39    (3,162)   (95)   10,549    320 
Class R-3   138,465    4,267    34,009    1,035    (222,085)   (6,844)   (49,611)   (1,542)
Class R-4   127,130    3,815    35,158    1,045    (250,196)   (7,527)   (87,908)   (2,667)
Class R-5E   7,556    228    255    8    (696)   (21)   7,115    215 
Class R-5   87,850    2,573    29,552    858    (343,593)   (10,355)   (226,191)   (6,924)
Class R-6   1,287,197    38,204    346,256    10,078    (1,652,284)   (47,790)   (18,831)   492 
Total net increase (decrease)  $5,416,156    161,566   $1,623,895    47,995   $(6,259,568)   (186,432)  $780,483    23,129 

 

24 AMCAP Fund
 
   Sales1  Reinvestments of
dividends and
distributions
  Repurchases1  Net (decrease)
increase
Share class  Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount    Shares   Amount   Shares 
                                 
Year ended February 28, 2018                         
                                         
Class A  $2,046,204    67,073   $1,500,991    48,631   $(4,546,040)   (148,520)  $(998,845)   (32,816)
Class B3   28    1            (8,668)   (332)   (8,640)   (331)
Class C   180,339    6,662    81,700    2,993    (428,325)   (15,807)   (166,286)   (6,152)
Class T4   10    2                   10    2
Class F-1   327,237    10,864    112,791    3,692    (881,915)   (29,164)   (441,887)   (14,608)
Class F-2   2,350,802    77,094    302,440    9,734    (3,609,896)   (118,964)   (956,654)   (32,136)
Class F-3   3,092,551    102,454    138,611    4,461    (399,688)   (12,711)   2,831,474    94,204 
Class 529-A   252,362    8,119    92,205    3,017    (235,902)   (7,725)   108,665    3,411 
Class 529-B3   2   2           (1,267)   (49)   (1,267)   (49)
Class 529-C   31,767    1,161    16,224    593    (159,990)   (5,654)   (111,999)   (3,900)
Class 529-E   8,385    284    4,157    139    (12,260)   (413)   282    10 
Class 529-T4   10    2   1    2           11    2
Class 529-F-1   22,092    716    5,825    189    (20,467)   (665)   7,450    240 
Class R-1   12,865    460    5,715    204    (27,295)   (972)   (8,715)   (308)
Class R-2   162,497    5,827    33,138    1,181    (227,542)   (8,170)   (31,907)   (1,162)
Class R-2E   25,559    851    1,948    64    (8,320)   (268)   19,187    647 
Class R-3   307,202    10,376    66,862    2,235    (457,747)   (15,377)   (83,683)   (2,766)
Class R-4   372,560    12,396    72,256    2,363    (460,434)   (15,085)   (15,618)   (326)
Class R-5E   6,851    214    34    1    (551)   (17)   6,334    198 
Class R-5   208,096    6,754    74,253    2,377    (453,174)   (14,635)   (170,825)   (5,504)
Class R-6   2,923,945    95,623    651,794    20,851    (1,619,628)   (52,572)   1,956,111    63,902 
Total net increase (decrease)  $12,331,362    406,929   $3,160,945    102,725   $(13,559,109)   (447,100)  $1,933,198    62,554 

 

1 Includes exchanges between share classes of the fund.
2 Amount less than one thousand.
3 Class B and 529-B shares were fully liquidated on May 5, 2017.
4 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.

 

8. Investment transactions

 

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. government obligations, if any, of $11,152,909,000 and $9,747,770,000, respectively, during the six months ended August 31, 2018.

 

AMCAP Fund 25
 

Financial highlights

 

       Income (loss) from investment operations1 
Period ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
   Net
investment
income
(loss)
   Net gains
(losses) on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)
   Total from
investment
operations
 
Class A:                    
8/31/20184,5  $33.07   $.11   $2.36   $2.47 
2/28/2018   28.82    .18    5.76    5.94 
2/28/2017   24.47    .16    5.23    5.39 
2/29/2016   29.03    .10    (2.36)   (2.26)
2/28/2015   28.53    .08    3.04    3.12 
2/28/2014   23.06    .09    7.61    7.70 
Class C:                    
8/31/20184,5   29.23    (.02)   2.08    2.06 
2/28/2018   25.74    (.06)   5.11    5.05 
2/28/2017   22.02    (.05)   4.69    4.64 
2/29/2016   26.57    (.11)   (2.14)   (2.25)
2/28/2015   26.52    (.14)   2.80    2.66 
2/28/2014   21.66    (.11)   7.13    7.02 
Class T:                    
8/31/20184,5   33.07    .14    2.37    2.51 
2/28/20184,10   28.79    .23    5.80    6.03 
Class F-1:                    
8/31/20184,5   32.78    .10    2.34    2.44 
2/28/2018   28.58    .16    5.71    5.87 
2/28/2017   24.27    .14    5.19    5.33 
2/29/2016   28.83    .09    (2.35)   (2.26)
2/28/2015   28.36    .06    3.02    3.08 
2/28/2014   22.95    .08    7.57    7.65 
Class F-2:                    
8/31/20184,5   33.27    .14    2.38    2.52 
2/28/2018   28.98    .24    5.79    6.03 
2/28/2017   24.60    .22    5.26    5.48 
2/29/2016   29.11    .16    (2.37)   (2.21)
2/28/2015   28.61    .14    3.04    3.18 
2/28/2014   23.11    .15    7.63    7.78 
Class F-3:                    
8/31/20184,5   33.09    .16    2.37    2.53 
2/28/2018   28.83    .27    5.76    6.03 
2/28/20174,11   28.36    .02    .45    .47 

 

26 AMCAP Fund
 
Dividends and distributions                         
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
   Distributions
(from capital
gains)
   Total
dividends
and
distributions
   Net asset
value, end
of period
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
period
(in
millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimbursements
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimbursements3
   Ratio of net
income (loss)
to average
net assets3
 
                                           
$   $(.85)  $(.85)  $34.69    7.54%6  $32,021    .65%7   .65%7   .65%7
 (.13)   (1.56)   (1.69)   33.07    21.10    30,196    .67    .67    .58 
 (.12)   (.92)   (1.04)   28.82    22.38    27,269    .68    .68    .59 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.47    (8.34)   23,786    .67    .67    .38 
 (.01)   (2.61)   (2.62)   29.03    11.33    25,740    .68    .68    .27 
 (.07)   (2.16)   (2.23)   28.53    34.38    22,567    .70    .70    .35 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   30.44    7.126   1,579    1.457   1.457   (.14)7
     (1.56)   (1.56)   29.23    20.13    1,526    1.47    1.47    (.22)
     (.92)   (.92)   25.74    21.42    1,503    1.49    1.49    (.22)
     (2.30)   (2.30)   22.02    (9.10)   1,386    1.48    1.48    (.44)
     (2.61)   (2.61)   26.57    10.44    1,603    1.49    1.49    (.53)
     (2.16)   (2.16)   26.52    33.37    1,451    1.51    1.51    (.46)
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.73    7.636,8   9   .457,8   .457,8   .857,8
 (.19)   (1.56)   (1.75)   33.07    21.466,8   9   .457,8   .457,8   .817,8
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.37    7.516   1,915    .727   .727   .597
 (.11)   (1.56)   (1.67)   32.78    21.02    2,162    .74    .74    .52 
 (.10)   (.92)   (1.02)   28.58    22.31    2,303    .75    .75    .53 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.27    (8.40)   2,448    .73    .73    .31 
     (2.61)   (2.61)   28.83    11.27    2,723    .74    .74    .22 
 (.08)   (2.16)   (2.24)   28.36    34.36    3,036    .74    .74    .31 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.94    7.646   7,281    .467   .467   .857
 (.18)   (1.56)   (1.74)   33.27    21.31    6,107    .47    .47    .79 
 (.18)   (.92)   (1.10)   28.98    22.66    6,251    .48    .48    .79 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.60    (8.14)   3,593    .47    .47    .57 
 (.07)   (2.61)   (2.68)   29.11    11.53    3,609    .47    .47    .49 
 (.12)   (2.16)   (2.28)   28.61    34.71    1,983    .49    .49    .56 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.77    7.716   3,575    .367   .367   .947
 (.21)   (1.56)   (1.77)   33.09    21.44    3,121    .37    .37    .85 
             28.83    1.666   3    .036   .036   .096

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

AMCAP Fund 27
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

       Income (loss) from investment operations1 
Period ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
   Net
investment
income
(loss)
   Net gains
(losses) on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)
   Total from
investment
operations
 
Class 529-A:                    
8/31/20184,5  $32.71   $.10   $2.33   $2.43 
2/28/2018   28.54    .15    5.70    5.85 
2/28/2017   24.24    .13    5.19    5.32 
2/29/2016   28.81    .08    (2.35)   (2.27)
2/28/2015   28.35    .05    3.02    3.07 
2/28/2014   22.93    .07    7.56    7.63 
Class 529-C:                    
8/31/20184,5   29.39    (.03)   2.09    2.06 
2/28/2018   25.89    (.07)   5.13    5.06 
2/28/2017   22.15    (.07)   4.73    4.66 
2/29/2016   26.73    (.13)   (2.15)   (2.28)
2/28/2015   26.68    (.16)   2.82    2.66 
2/28/2014   21.80    (.13)   7.17    7.04 
Class 529-E:                    
8/31/20184,5   31.89    .06    2.27    2.33 
2/28/2018   27.87    .08    5.56    5.64 
2/28/2017   23.70    .07    5.06    5.13 
2/29/2016   28.28    .01    (2.29)   (2.28)
2/28/2015   27.94    (.02)   2.97    2.95 
2/28/2014   22.63    12   7.47    7.47 
Class 529-T:                    
8/31/20184,5   33.06    .14    2.36    2.50 
2/28/20184,10   28.79    .21    5.80    6.01 
Class 529-F-1:                    
8/31/20184,5   32.96    .13    2.36    2.49 
2/28/2018   28.74    .22    5.73    5.95 
2/28/2017   24.40    .19    5.23    5.42 
2/29/2016   28.92    .13    (2.35)   (2.22)
2/28/2015   28.43    .11    3.03    3.14 
2/28/2014   22.98    .12    7.59    7.71 
Class R-1:                    
8/31/20184,5   30.03    (.02)   2.13    2.11 
2/28/2018   26.41    (.06)   5.24    5.18 
2/28/2017   22.56    (.05)   4.82    4.77 
2/29/2016   27.16    (.11)   (2.19)   (2.30)
2/28/2015   27.05    (.14)   2.86    2.72 
2/28/2014   22.05    (.11)   7.27    7.16 

 

28 AMCAP Fund
 
Dividends and distributions                         
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
   Distributions
(from capital
gains)
   Total
dividends
and
distributions
   Net asset
value, end
of period
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
period
(in
millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimbursements
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimbursements3
   Ratio of net
income (loss)
to average
net assets3
 
                                           
$   $(.85)  $(.85)  $34.29    7.50%6  $1,975    .74%7   .74%7   .57%7
 (.12)   (1.56)   (1.68)   32.71    20.99    1,863    .74    .74    .51 
 (.10)   (.92)   (1.02)   28.54    22.31    1,528    .77    .77    .50 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.24    (8.44)   1,264    .77    .77    .28 
     (2.61)   (2.61)   28.81    11.24    1,370    .77    .77    .18 
 (.05)   (2.16)   (2.21)   28.35    34.28    1,193    .79    .79    .25 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   30.60    7.086   277    1.497   1.497   (.18)7
     (1.56)   (1.56)   29.39    20.05    277    1.52    1.52    (.26)
     (.92)   (.92)   25.89    21.39    345    1.54    1.54    (.27)
     (2.30)   (2.30)   22.15    (9.16)   301    1.55    1.55    (.50)
     (2.61)   (2.61)   26.73    10.37    334    1.56    1.56    (.60)
     (2.16)   (2.16)   26.68    33.25    298    1.58    1.58    (.53)
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   33.37    7.376   88    .967   .967   .347
 (.06)   (1.56)   (1.62)   31.89    20.73    83    .97    .97    .28 
 (.04)   (.92)   (.96)   27.87    22.01    73    .99    .99    .28 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   23.70    (8.64)   62    1.00    1.00    .04 
     (2.61)   (2.61)   28.28    10.97    69    1.01    1.01    (.06)
 12   (2.16)   (2.16)   27.94    33.96    62    1.04    1.04    .01 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.71    7.636,8   9   .507,8   .507,8   .807,8
 (.18)   (1.56)   (1.74)   33.06    21.366,8   9   .527,8   .527,8   .747,8
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.60    7.626   132    .517   .517   .807
 (.17)   (1.56)   (1.73)   32.96    21.25    116    .52    .52    .73 
 (.16)   (.92)   (1.08)   28.74    22.54    94    .55    .55    .72 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.40    (8.23)   76    .56    .56    .49 
 (.04)   (2.61)   (2.65)   28.92    11.46    83    .56    .56    .40 
 (.10)   (2.16)   (2.26)   28.43    34.59    72    .58    .58    .47 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   31.29    7.096   103    1.457   1.457   (.15)7
     (1.56)   (1.56)   30.03    20.11    108    1.46    1.46    (.21)
     (.92)   (.92)   26.41    21.49    103    1.47    1.47    (.20)
     (2.30)   (2.30)   22.56    (9.08)   102    1.47    1.47    (.42)
     (2.61)   (2.61)   27.16    10.46    111    1.46    1.46    (.50)
     (2.16)   (2.16)   27.05    33.42    90    1.47    1.47    (.42)

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

AMCAP Fund 29
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

       Income (loss) from investment operations1 
Period ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
   Net
investment
income
(loss)
   Net gains
(losses) on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)
   Total from
investment
operations
 
Class R-2:                    
8/31/20184,5  $30.02   $(.02)  $2.13   $2.11 
2/28/2018   26.40    (.06)   5.24    5.18 
2/28/2017   22.56    (.05)   4.81    4.76 
2/29/2016   27.14    (.10)   (2.18)   (2.28)
2/28/2015   27.02    (.13)   2.86    2.73 
2/28/2014   22.03    (.10)   7.25    7.15 
Class R-2E:                    
8/31/20184,5   32.73    .03    2.33    2.36 
2/28/2018   28.61    .03    5.69    5.72 
2/28/2017   24.38    .03    5.21    5.24 
2/29/2016   29.04    .06    (2.42)   (2.36)
2/28/20154,13   29.38    .04    1.32    1.36 
Class R-3:                    
8/31/20184,5   32.06    .05    2.28    2.33 
2/28/2018   28.01    .07    5.59    5.66 
2/28/2017   23.81    .07    5.08    5.15 
2/29/2016   28.40    .01    (2.30)   (2.29)
2/28/2015   28.05    (.02)   2.98    2.96 
2/28/2014   22.71    12   7.50    7.50 
Class R-4:                    
8/31/20184,5   32.77    .10    2.34    2.44 
2/28/2018   28.58    .16    5.71    5.87 
2/28/2017   24.28    .15    5.18    5.33 
2/29/2016   28.83    .09    (2.34)   (2.25)
2/28/2015   28.36    .07    3.02    3.09 
2/28/2014   22.94    .08    7.57    7.65 
Class R-5E:                    
8/31/20184,5   33.11    .14    2.37    2.51 
2/28/2018   28.85    .25    5.74    5.99 
2/28/2017   24.48    .20    5.24    5.44 
2/29/20164,14   27.89    .04    (2.11)   (2.07)
Class R-5:                    
8/31/20184,5   33.49    .15    2.40    2.55 
2/28/2018   29.16    .26    5.83    6.09 
2/28/2017   24.74    .23    5.30    5.53 
2/29/2016   29.25    .18    (2.39)   (2.21)
2/28/2015   28.72    .16    3.05    3.21 
2/28/2014   23.19    .16    7.66    7.82 

 

30 AMCAP Fund
 
Dividends and distributions                         
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
   Distributions
(from capital
gains)
   Total
dividends
and
distributions
   Net asset
value, end
of period
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
period
(in
millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimbursements
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimbursements3
   Ratio of net
income (loss)
to average
net assets3
 
                                           
$   $(.85)  $(.85)  $31.28    7.09%6  $673    1.44%7   1.44%7   (.13)%7
     (1.56)   (1.56)   30.02    20.12    636    1.46    1.46    (.21)
     (.92)   (.92)   26.40    21.45    590    1.46    1.46    (.19)
     (2.30)   (2.30)   22.56    (9.02)   517    1.44    1.44    (.39)
     (2.61)   (2.61)   27.14    10.47    595    1.43    1.43    (.48)
     (2.16)   (2.16)   27.02    33.45    557    1.44    1.44    (.39)
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.24    7.276   60    1.157   1.157   .167
 (.04)   (1.56)   (1.60)   32.73    20.47    46    1.16    1.16    .08 
 (.09)   (.92)   (1.01)   28.61    21.86    22    1.16    1.16    .11 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.38    (8.69)   3    1.04    1.04    .24 
     (1.70)   (1.70)   29.04    4.776,8   9   .677,8   .677,8   .297,8
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   33.54    7.336   1,331    1.007   1.007   .307
 (.05)   (1.56)   (1.61)   32.06    20.67    1,321    1.01    1.01    .24 
 (.03)   (.92)   (.95)   28.01    21.99    1,232    1.02    1.02    .25 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   23.81    (8.64)   1,093    1.02    1.02    .03 
     (2.61)   (2.61)   28.40    10.96    1,242    1.01    1.01    (.06)
 12   (2.16)   (2.16)   28.05    33.97    1,018    1.03    1.03    .02 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.36    7.516   1,386    .707   .707   .607
 (.12)   (1.56)   (1.68)   32.77    21.03    1,409    .71    .71    .54 
 (.11)   (.92)   (1.03)   28.58    22.33    1,238    .72    .72    .55 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.28    (8.36)   1,049    .71    .71    .33 
 (.01)   (2.61)   (2.62)   28.83    11.31    1,140    .71    .71    .24 
 (.07)   (2.16)   (2.23)   28.36    34.37    919    .72    .72    .33 
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   34.77    7.646   14    .497   .497   .817
 (.17)   (1.56)   (1.73)   33.11    21.31    7    .47    .47    .78 
 (.15)   (.92)   (1.07)   28.85    22.54    9   .60    .51    .76 
     (1.34)   (1.34)   24.48    (7.62)6   9   .156   .156   .176
                                           
     (.85)   (.85)   35.19    7.686   1,178    .407   .407   .907
 (.20)   (1.56)   (1.76)   33.49    21.38    1,353    .41    .41    .84 
 (.19)   (.92)   (1.11)   29.16    22.74    1,339    .41    .41    .86 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.74    (8.10)   1,214    .42    .42    .63 
 (.07)   (2.61)   (2.68)   29.25    11.62    1,400    .41    .41    .54 
 (.13)   (2.16)   (2.29)   28.72    34.79    1,229    .42    .42    .63 

 

See end of table for footnotes.

 

AMCAP Fund 31
 

Financial highlights (continued)

 

       Income (loss) from investment operations1 
Period ended  Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
   Net
investment
income
(loss)
   Net gains
(losses) on
securities (both
realized and
unrealized)
   Total from
investment
operations
 
Class R-6:                    
8/31/20184,5  $33.41   $.16   $2.39   $2.55 
2/28/2018   29.09    .28    5.81    6.09 
2/28/2017   24.69    .25    5.28    5.53 
2/29/2016   29.18    .19    (2.38)   (2.19)
2/28/2015   28.66    .17    3.05    3.22 
2/28/2014   23.15    .18    7.64    7.82 

 

   Six months ended  Year ended February 28 or 29
   August 31, 20184,5,6  2018  2017  2016  2015  2014
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes   17%   27%   25%   31%   33%   29%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements

 

32 AMCAP Fund
 
Dividends and distributions                         
Dividends
(from net
investment
income)
   Distributions
(from capital
gains)
   Total
dividends
and
distributions
   Net asset
value, end
of period
   Total return2,3   Net assets,
end of
period
(in
millions)
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets before
waivers/
reimbursements
   Ratio of
expenses to
average net
assets after
waivers/
reimbursements3
   Ratio of net
income (loss)
to average
net assets3
 
                                           
$   $(.85)  $(.85)  $35.11    7.73%6  $13,888    .36%7   .36%7   .95%7
 (.21)   (1.56)   (1.77)   33.41    21.45    13,199    .36    .36    .89 
 (.21)   (.92)   (1.13)   29.09    22.76    9,633    .36    .36    .90 
     (2.30)   (2.30)   24.69    (8.05)   7,033    .37    .37    .68 
 (.09)   (2.61)   (2.70)   29.18    11.67    6,394    .37    .37    .59 
 (.15)   (2.16)   (2.31)   28.66    34.86    4,451    .37    .37    .68 

 

1 Based on average shares outstanding.
2 Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.
3 This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain waivers/reimbursements from CRMC. During one of the periods shown, CRMC paid a portion of the fund’s transfer agent fees for certain retirement plan share classes.
4 Based on operations for a period that is less than a full year.
5 Unaudited.
6 Not annualized.
7 Annualized.
8 All or a significant portion of assets in this class consisted of seed capital invested by CRMC and/or its affiliates. Fees for distribution services are not charged or accrued on these seed capital assets. If such fees were paid by the fund on seed capital assets, fund expenses would have been higher and net income and total return would have been lower.
9 Amount less than $1 million.
10 Class T and 529-T shares began investment operations on April 7, 2017.
11 Class F-3 shares began investment operations on January 27, 2017.
12 Amount less than $.01.
13 Class R-2E shares began investment operations on August 29, 2014.
14 Class R-5E shares began investment operations on November 20, 2015.

 

AMCAP Fund 33
 
Expense example unaudited

 

As a fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as initial sales charges on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions (loads), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund so you can compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period (March 1, 2018, through August 31, 2018).

 

Actual expenses:

The first line of each share class in the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading titled “Expenses paid during period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes:

The second line of each share class in the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio for the share class and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the share class. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5.00% hypothetical example with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

 

Notes:

Retirement plan participants may be subject to certain fees charged by the plan sponsor, and Class F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1 shareholders may be subject to fees charged by financial intermediaries, typically ranging from 0.75% to 1.50% of assets annually depending on services offered. You can estimate the impact of these fees by adding the amount of the fees to the total estimated expenses you paid on your account during the period as calculated above. In addition, your ending account value would be lower by the amount of these fees.

 

Note that the expenses shown in the table on the following page are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line of each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

34 AMCAP Fund
 
   Beginning
account value
3/1/2018
   Ending
account value
8/31/2018
   Expenses paid
during period*
   Annualized
expense ratio
 
Class A – actual return  $1,000.00   $1,075.36   $3.40    .65%
Class A – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.93    3.31    .65 
Class C – actual return   1,000.00    1,071.15    7.57    1.45 
Class C – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.90    7.37    1.45 
Class T – actual return   1,000.00    1,076.25    2.35    .45 
Class T – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.94    2.29    .45 
Class F-1 – actual return   1,000.00    1,075.06    3.77    .72 
Class F-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.58    3.67    .72 
Class F-2 – actual return   1,000.00    1,076.40    2.41    .46 
Class F-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.89    2.35    .46 
Class F-3 – actual return   1,000.00    1,077.14    1.88    .36 
Class F-3 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.39    1.84    .36 
Class 529-A – actual return   1,000.00    1,074.96    3.87    .74 
Class 529-A – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.48    3.77    .74 
Class 529-C – actual return   1,000.00    1,070.76    7.78    1.49 
Class 529-C – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.69    7.58    1.49 
Class 529-E – actual return   1,000.00    1,073.71    5.02    .96 
Class 529-E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,020.37    4.89    .96 
Class 529-T – actual return   1,000.00    1,076.25    2.62    .50 
Class 529-T – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.68    2.55    .50 
Class 529-F-1 – actual return   1,000.00    1,076.20    2.67    .51 
Class 529-F-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.63    2.60    .51 
Class R-1 – actual return   1,000.00    1,070.93    7.57    1.45 
Class R-1 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.90    7.37    1.45 
Class R-2 – actual return   1,000.00    1,070.93    7.52    1.44 
Class R-2 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,017.95    7.32    1.44 
Class R-2E – actual return   1,000.00    1,072.70    6.01    1.15 
Class R-2E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,019.41    5.85    1.15 
Class R-3 – actual return   1,000.00    1,073.35    5.23    1.00 
Class R-3 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,020.16    5.09    1.00 
Class R-4 – actual return   1,000.00    1,075.12    3.66    .70 
Class R-4 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,021.68    3.57    .70 
Class R-5E – actual return   1,000.00    1,076.44    2.56    .49 
Class R-5E – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,022.74    2.50    .49 
Class R-5 – actual return   1,000.00    1,076.81    2.09    .40 
Class R-5 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.19    2.04    .40 
Class R-6 – actual return   1,000.00    1,077.27    1.88    .36 
Class R-6 – assumed 5% return   1,000.00    1,023.39    1.84    .36 

 

* The “expenses paid during period” are equal to the “annualized expense ratio,” multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period, and divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

AMCAP Fund 35
 

Approval of Investment Advisory and Service Agreement

 

AMCAP Fund’s board has approved the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement (the “agreement”) with Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”) for an additional one-year term through April 30, 2019. The agreement was amended to add an advisory fee breakpoint if and when the fund’s net assets exceed $55 billion. The board approved the agreement following the recommendation of the fund’s Contracts Committee (the “committee”), which is composed of all of the fund’s independent board members. The board and the committee determined that the fund’s advisory fee structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that approving the agreement was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

 

In reaching this decision, the board and the committee took into account information furnished to them throughout the year and otherwise provided to them, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with their review of the agreement, and were advised by their independent counsel. They considered the following factors, among others, but did not identify any single issue or particular piece of information that, in isolation, was the controlling factor, and each board and committee member did not necessarily attribute the same weight to each factor.

 

1. Nature, extent and quality of services

 

The board and the committee considered the depth and quality of CRMC’s investment management process, including its global research capabilities; the experience, capability and integrity of its senior management and other personnel; the low turnover rates of its key personnel; the overall financial strength and stability of CRMC and the Capital Group organization; and the ongoing evolution of CRMC’s organizational structure designed to maintain and strengthen these qualities. The board and the committee also considered the nature, extent and quality of administrative, compliance and shareholder services provided by CRMC to the fund under the agreement and other agreements, as well as the benefits to fund shareholders from investing in a fund that is part of a large family of funds. The board and the committee concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by CRMC have benefited and should continue to benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

36 AMCAP Fund
 

2. Investment results

 

The board and the committee considered the investment results of the fund in light of its objective of pursuing long-term growth of capital. They compared the fund’s investment results with those of other funds (including funds that currently form the basis of the Lipper index for the category in which the fund is included), and data such as relevant market and fund indexes, over various periods through September 30, 2017. This report, including the letter to shareholders and related disclosures, contains certain information about the fund’s investment results. The board and the committee reviewed the fund’s investment results measured against various indexes, including the Lipper Growth Funds Index, the Lipper Multi-Cap Core Funds Index and the S&P 500 Index. They reviewed the results for the year-to-date, three-year, five-year, 10-year, 20-year and lifetime periods, placing greater emphasis on longer term periods. They noted that the investment results of the fund generally compared favorably to the results of these indexes for periods of five years or longer and were mixed for shorter periods. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s investment results have been satisfactory for renewal of the agreement, and that CRMC’s record in managing the fund indicated that its continued management should benefit the fund and its shareholders.

 

3. Advisory fees and total expenses

 

The board and the committee compared the advisory fees and total expense levels of the fund to those of other relevant funds. They observed that the fund’s advisory fees and expenses generally compared favorably to those of other similar funds included in the Lipper Growth Funds category. The board and the committee also considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure that reduce the level of fees charged by CRMC to the fund as fund assets increase. In addition, they reviewed information regarding the effective advisory fees charged to non-mutual fund clients by CRMC and its affiliates. They noted that, to the extent there were differences between the advisory fees paid by the fund and the advisory fees paid by those clients, the differences appropriately reflected the investment, operational, regulatory and market differences between advising the fund and the other clients. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s cost structure was fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided, and that the fund’s shareholders receive reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

AMCAP Fund 37
 

4. Ancillary benefits

 

The board and the committee considered a variety of other benefits that CRMC and its affiliates receive as a result of CRMC’s relationship with the fund and other American Funds, including fees for administrative services provided to certain share classes; fees paid to CRMC’s affiliated transfer agent; sales charges and distribution fees received and retained by the fund’s principal underwriter, an affiliate of CRMC; and possible ancillary benefits to CRMC and its institutional management affiliates in managing other investment vehicles. The board and the committee reviewed CRMC’s portfolio trading practices, noting the benefits CRMC receives from the research obtained with commissions from portfolio transactions made on behalf of the fund. The board and the committee took these ancillary benefits into account in evaluating the reasonableness of the advisory fees and other amounts paid to CRMC by the fund.

 

5. Adviser financial information

 

The board and the committee reviewed information regarding CRMC’s costs of providing services to the American Funds, including personnel, systems and resources of investment, compliance, trading, accounting and other administrative operations. They considered CRMC’s costs and related cost allocation methodology as well as its willingness to invest in technology, infrastructure and staff to maintain and expand services and capabilities, respond to industry and regulatory developments, and attract and retain qualified personnel. They noted information regarding the compensation structure for CRMC’s investment professionals. The board and the committee also compared CRMC’s profitability and compensation data to the reported results and data of several large, publicly held investment management companies. The board and the committee noted the competitiveness and cyclicality of both the mutual fund industry and the capital markets, and the importance in that environment of CRMC’s long-term profitability for maintaining its independence, company culture and management continuity. They further considered the breakpoint discounts in the fund’s advisory fee structure. The board and the committee concluded that the fund’s advisory fee structure reflected a reasonable sharing of benefits between CRMC and the fund’s shareholders.

 

38 AMCAP Fund
 

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AMCAP Fund 39
 

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40 AMCAP Fund
 

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AMCAP Fund 41
 

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42 AMCAP Fund
 

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AMCAP Fund 43
 

Offices of the fund and of the investment adviser

Capital Research and Management Company

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

6455 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618-4518

 

Transfer agent for shareholder accounts

American Funds Service Company

(Write to the address near you.)

 

P.O. Box 6007

Indianapolis, IN 46206-6007

 

P.O. Box 2280

Norfolk, VA 23501-2280

 

Custodian of assets

JPMorgan Chase Bank

270 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017-2070

 

Counsel

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

400 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071-2899

 

Independent registered public accounting firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

695 Town Center Drive

Suite 1200

Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7188

 

Principal underwriter

American Funds Distributors, Inc.

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406

 

44 AMCAP Fund
 

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at (800) 421-4225 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com. Fund shares offered through American Funds Distributors, Inc.

 

“American Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Principles” — which describes how we vote proxies relating to portfolio securities — is available on the American Funds website or upon request by calling AFS. The fund files its proxy voting record with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the 12 months ended June 30 by August 31. The proxy voting record is available free of charge on the SEC website at sec.gov and on the American Funds website.

 

A complete August 31, 2018, portfolio of AMCAP Fund’s investments is available free of charge by calling AFS or visiting the SEC website (where it is part of Form N-CSR).

 

AMCAP Fund files a complete list of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. This filing is available free of charge on the SEC website. You may also review or, for a fee, copy this filing at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Additional information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at (800) SEC-0330. Additionally, the list of portfolio holdings is available by calling AFS.

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of AMCAP Fund, but it also may be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus or summary prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after December 31, 2018, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds statistical update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.

 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Capital Group. Copyright © 2018 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.

 

The Capital Advantage®

 

Since 1931, American Funds® by Capital Group has helped investors pursue long-term investment success. Our consistent approach — in combination with The Capital SystemSM — has resulted in a superior long-term track record.

 

Aligned with investor success

We base our decisions on a long-term perspective, which we believe aligns our goals with the interests of our clients. Our portfolio managers average 27 years of investment experience, including 22 years at our company, reflecting a career commitment to our long-term approach.1

 

The Capital System

The Capital System combines individual accountability with teamwork. Funds using The Capital System are divided into portions that are managed independently by investment professionals with diverse backgrounds, ages and investment approaches. An extensive global research effort is the backbone of our system.

 

American Funds’ superior long-term track record

Equity funds have beaten their Lipper peer indexes in 92% of 10-year periods and 99% of 20-year periods. Fixed income funds have beaten their Lipper indexes in 77% of 10-year periods and 80% of 20-year periods.2 Fund management fees have been among the lowest in the industry.3

 

  1 Portfolio manager experience as of December 31, 2017.
  2 Based on Class F-2 share results for rolling periods through December 31, 2017. Periods covered are the shorter of the fund’s lifetime or since the comparable Lipper index inception date (except Capital Income Builder and SMALLCAP World Fund, for which the Lipper average was used). Expenses differ for each share class, so results will vary. Class F-2 shares were first offered on August 1, 2008. Class F-2 share results prior to the date of first sale are hypothetical based on Class A share results without a sales charge, adjusted for typical estimated expenses. Results for certain funds with an inception date after August 1, 2008, also include hypothetical returns because those funds’ Class F-2 shares sold after the funds’ date of first offering. Please see americanfunds.com for more information on specific expense adjustments and the actual dates of first sale.
  3 On average, our management fees were in the lowest quintile 71% of the time, based on the 20-year period ended December 31, 2017, versus comparable Lipper categories, excluding funds of funds.

 

All Capital Group trademarks referenced are registered trademarks owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. or an affiliated company. All other company and product names mentioned are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2 – Code of Ethics

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.

 

ITEM 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

ITEM 6 – Schedule of Investments

 

AMCAP Fund®
Investment portfolio
August 31, 2018
unaudited
Common stocks 91.19%
Information technology 23.52%
Shares Value
(000)
Alphabet Inc., Class C1 853,879 $1,040,187
Alphabet Inc., Class A1 723,910 891,712
Microsoft Corp. 13,202,000 1,482,981
Facebook, Inc., Class A1 6,743,700 1,185,070
Accenture PLC, Class A 6,328,700 1,069,993
Mastercard Inc., Class A 4,061,957 875,595
Broadcom Inc. 3,589,848 786,284
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. 6,983,432 637,587
QUALCOMM Inc. 9,110,000 625,948
Autodesk, Inc.1 3,962,343 611,588
ASML Holding NV 2,850,100 581,062
Intel Corp. 11,499,000 556,897
Trimble Inc.1 12,300,511 517,852
Texas Instruments Inc. 3,874,396 435,482
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.1 1,995,000 426,411
Tencent Holdings Ltd. 8,111,918 351,400
Qorvo, Inc.1 4,135,342 331,200
Worldpay, Inc., Class A1 3,384,000 329,568
ServiceNow, Inc.1 1,393,000 273,529
Arista Networks, Inc.1 903,815 270,223
Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A1 1,354,972 232,703
CommScope Holding Co., Inc.1 7,021,000 222,495
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (ADR)1 1,263,000 221,038
Lumentum Holdings Inc.1 2,966,291 201,411
Fiserv, Inc.1 1,926,000 154,215
International Business Machines Corp. 1,000,000 146,480
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 3,235,000 140,804
Activision Blizzard, Inc. 1,906,700 137,473
Kingdee International Software Group Co. Ltd. 119,478,000 136,090
Amphenol Corp., Class A 1,407,000 133,074
Adobe Systems Inc.1 464,900 122,506
Applied Materials, Inc. 2,535,000 109,056
Akamai Technologies, Inc.1 1,390,000 104,445
Acacia Communications, Inc.1,2 2,226,600 90,778
Apple Inc. 398,517 90,714
Workday, Inc., Class A1 525,200 81,164
salesforce.com, inc.1 510,000 77,867
Lam Research Corp. 430,000 74,429
Fabrinet, non-registered shares1 1,138,000 54,476
Finisar Corp.1 1,703,000 34,741
Viavi Solutions Inc.1 2,156,074 24,148
    15,870,676
Health care 22.46%    
AbbVie Inc. 20,419,227 1,959,837
UnitedHealth Group Inc. 6,004,406 1,611,943
Abbott Laboratories 22,625,454 1,512,285
AMCAP Fund — Page 1 of 5

unaudited
Common stocks
Health care (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
Amgen Inc. 6,852,605 $1,369,219
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 5,668,500 1,355,338
Illumina, Inc.1 2,935,257 1,041,517
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.1,2 10,345,500 1,034,343
Gilead Sciences, Inc. 11,519,734 872,390
Stryker Corp. 4,265,082 722,633
PerkinElmer, Inc.2 7,191,234 664,686
IQVIA Holdings Inc.1 3,052,000 387,879
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.1,2 5,555,967 330,413
Humana Inc. 982,000 327,261
PRA Health Sciences, Inc.1 2,804,444 296,149
Hologic, Inc.1 7,195,900 286,109
Molina Healthcare, Inc.1 2,033,000 280,554
Boston Scientific Corp.1 7,218,700 256,697
Express Scripts Holding Co.1 2,743,000 241,439
Johnson & Johnson 1,500,000 202,035
Medtronic PLC 1,700,000 163,897
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.1 757,000 109,190
Essilor International SA 573,000 82,673
Cigna Corp. 263,000 49,534
    15,158,021
Consumer discretionary 16.37%    
Netflix, Inc.1 7,381,000 2,713,846
Amazon.com, Inc.1 821,300 1,653,039
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. 8,590,000 934,163
Booking Holdings Inc.1 454,875 887,711
NIKE, Inc., Class B 10,609,703 872,118
Marriott International, Inc., Class A 3,768,611 476,616
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.2 5,400,000 379,242
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Class A 7,881,500 357,820
Texas Roadhouse, Inc.2 4,587,200 316,288
Wynn Resorts, Ltd. 1,749,261 259,485
Polaris Industries Inc. 2,300,000 249,435
ITV PLC 110,800,524 230,770
Signet Jewelers Ltd.2 3,500,000 224,700
CBS Corp., Class B 3,600,000 190,872
Harley-Davidson, Inc. 4,355,094 185,614
JCDecaux SA 4,662,515 153,593
LKQ Corp.1 4,400,000 151,888
Viacom Inc., Class B 5,065,000 148,303
Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. 18,718,000 138,559
Aramark 2,950,000 121,186
Industria de Diseño Textil, SA 3,825,017 115,659
TJX Companies, Inc. 900,000 98,973
Home Depot, Inc. 391,000 78,501
Grand Canyon Education, Inc.1 459,477 54,742
BorgWarner Inc. 1,129,910 49,456
    11,042,579
Industrials 9.71%    
General Dynamics Corp. 4,269,000 825,625
Textron Inc. 11,265,000 777,623
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. 3,870,000 589,788
CSX Corp. 7,265,354 538,799
AMCAP Fund — Page 2 of 5

unaudited
Common stocks
Industrials (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
TransDigm Group Inc.1 1,372,638 $480,423
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. 3,292,415 397,559
Equifax Inc. 2,933,728 393,032
Middleby Corp.1,2 3,218,507 391,177
AMETEK, Inc. 4,196,000 322,924
Union Pacific Corp. 2,016,366 303,705
Boeing Co. 720,000 246,809
Harris Corp. 1,500,000 243,765
Caterpillar Inc. 1,228,794 170,618
KAR Auction Services, Inc. 2,700,000 169,263
Waste Management, Inc. 1,750,000 159,075
Nielsen Holdings PLC 5,413,325 140,746
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. 765,000 107,505
United Technologies Corp. 615,000 80,995
Fortive Corp. 875,000 73,483
Cummins Inc. 505,000 71,609
Masco Corp. 1,000,000 37,970
PayPoint PLC 2,274,900 27,694
    6,550,187
Energy 7.09%    
EOG Resources, Inc. 12,037,300 1,423,170
Concho Resources Inc.1 6,536,445 896,474
Halliburton Co. 14,553,500 580,539
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (CAD denominated) 13,427,300 458,483
Diamondback Energy, Inc. 3,692,000 447,027
Noble Energy, Inc. 8,272,404 245,856
Schlumberger Ltd. 2,946,000 186,069
Exxon Mobil Corp. 1,846,000 147,994
SM Energy Co. 4,416,000 132,878
Cimarex Energy Co. 940,000 79,411
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. 409,000 71,452
Southwestern Energy Co.1 12,043,799 67,686
Tullow Oil PLC1 15,493,000 46,780
    4,783,819
Financials 5.81%    
Charles Schwab Corp. 9,317,000 473,210
Wells Fargo & Co. 6,164,000 360,471
First Republic Bank 3,306,300 335,887
Markel Corp.1 255,000 308,244
Zions Bancorporation 5,546,000 295,546
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 2,518,000 288,512
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. 1,550,000 222,487
Willis Towers Watson PLC 1,450,000 213,542
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Class B1 1,000,000 208,720
Aon PLC, Class A 1,365,000 198,689
Arch Capital Group Ltd.1 5,770,000 176,389
East West Bancorp, Inc. 2,500,000 158,475
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. 7,330,769 133,047
Essent Group Ltd.1 2,866,000 124,270
HDFC Bank Ltd. 4,215,936 122,520
London Stock Exchange Group PLC 2,002,000 120,016
AMCAP Fund — Page 3 of 5

unaudited
Common stocks
Financials (continued)
Shares Value
(000)
CME Group Inc., Class A 516,000 $90,161
SVB Financial Group1 273,000 88,111
    3,918,297
Consumer staples 2.57%    
Costco Wholesale Corp. 2,386,300 556,318
Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.1 6,406,769 362,559
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 4,392,100 301,122
L’Oréal SA, bonus shares3 800,000 191,942
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A 629,000 130,958
Altria Group, Inc. 1,750,000 102,410
Philip Morris International Inc. 1,150,000 89,573
    1,734,882
Materials 2.12%    
Celanese Corp., Series A 4,849,624 566,582
Valvoline Inc.2 13,004,000 279,846
Vulcan Materials Co. 2,120,000 234,896
Ecolab Inc. 990,000 148,975
CCL Industries Inc., Class B, nonvoting 2,936,000 141,446
Praxair, Inc. 374,324 59,214
    1,430,959
Utilities 0.49%    
NextEra Energy, Inc. 1,955,000 332,545
Real estate 0.48%    
SBA Communications Corp. REIT1 590,402 91,648
Simon Property Group, Inc. REIT 485,000 88,770
American Tower Corp. REIT 541,900 80,808
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. REIT 490,000 62,891
    324,117
Miscellaneous 0.57%    
Other common stocks in initial period of acquisition   387,184
Total common stocks (cost: $38,464,294,000)   61,533,266
Short-term securities 8.54% Principal amount
(000)
 
Apple Inc. 2.05%–2.07% due 9/12/2018–10/26/20184 $195,000 194,662
Bank of New York Co., Inc. 1.89% due 9/4/2018 37,350 37,342
CHARTA, LLC 2.26%–2.27% due 9/12/2018–10/18/20184 135,000 134,751
Chevron Corp. 2.08% due 9/11/20184 40,000 39,977
Ciesco LLC 2.28% due 9/20/20184 75,000 74,916
Coca-Cola Co. 2.25%–2.45% due 9/20/2018–2/4/20194 73,750 73,449
ExxonMobil Corp. 2.03% due 9/5/2018 75,000 74,980
Federal Home Loan Bank 1.91%–2.05% due 9/4/2018–12/11/2018 2,851,300 2,845,205
Freddie Mac 1.95% due 10/18/2018–10/22/2018 144,300 143,926
IBM Credit LLC 2.09% due 10/17/20184 50,000 49,867
Intel Corp. 1.90% due 9/28/20184 25,000 24,962
Jupiter Securitization Co., LLC 2.24%–2.28% due 10/3/2018–11/14/20184 80,500 80,212
Pfizer Inc. 2.10% due 10/16/20184 138,000 137,645
Procter & Gamble Co. 1.97% due 9/13/20184 50,000 49,965
AMCAP Fund — Page 4 of 5

unaudited
Short-term securities Principal amount
(000)
Value
(000)
Simon Property Group, LP 1.95% due 9/4/20184 $25,000 $24,995
U.S. Treasury Bills 1.85%–2.22% due 9/6/2018–5/23/2019 1,623,900 1,617,973
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 1.97%–2.04% due 9/10/2018–10/1/20184 158,625 158,453
Total short-term securities (cost: $5,762,690,000)   5,763,280
Total investment securities 99.73% (cost: $44,226,984,000)   67,296,546
Other assets less liabilities 0.27%   178,997
Net assets 100.00%   $67,475,543
As permitted by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, "Miscellaneous" securities include holdings in their first year of acquisition that have not previously been publicly disclosed.
The following footnotes apply to either the individual securities noted or one or more of the securities aggregated and listed as a single line item.
1 Security did not produce income during the last 12 months.
2 Represents an affiliated company as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
3 Valued under fair value procedures adopted by authority of the board of trustees. The total value of the security was $191,942,000, which represented .28% of the net assets of the fund.
4 Acquired in a transaction exempt from registration under Rule 144A or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. May be resold in the U.S. in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of all such securities was $1,043,854,000, which represented 1.55% of the net assets of the fund.
    
Key to abbreviations
ADR = American Depositary Receipts
CAD = Canadian dollars
Additional financial disclosures are included in the fund’s current shareholder report and should be read in conjunction with this report.
Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. You may also call American Funds Service Company (AFS) at (800) 421-4225 or visit the American Funds website at americanfunds.com. Fund shares offered through American Funds Distributors, Inc.
All Capital Group trademarks referenced are registered trademarks owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. or an affiliated company. All other company and product names mentioned are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
©2018 Capital Group. All rights reserved.
MFGEFPX-002-1018O-S66128 AMCAP Fund — Page 5 of 5

 

 

ITEM 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

 

Not applicable to this Registrant, insofar as the Registrant is not a closed-end management investment company.

 

ITEM 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of trustees since the Registrant last submitted a proxy statement to its shareholders. The procedures are as follows. The Registrant has a nominating and governance committee comprised solely of persons who are not considered ‘‘interested persons’’ of the Registrant within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The committee periodically reviews such issues as the board’s composition, responsibilities, committees, compensation and other relevant issues, and recommends any appropriate changes to the full board of trustees. While the committee normally is able to identify from its own resources an ample number of qualified candidates, it will consider shareholder suggestions of persons to be considered as nominees to fill future vacancies on the board. Such suggestions must be sent in writing to the nominating and governance committee of the Registrant, c/o the Registrant’s Secretary, and must be accompanied by complete biographical and occupational data on the prospective nominee, along with a written consent of the prospective nominee for consideration of his or her name by the nominating and governance committee.

 

ITEM 11 – Controls and Procedures

 

(a) The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940), that such controls and procedures are adequate and reasonably designed to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (c) of such rule.
   
(b) Effective May 28, 2018, the AMCAP Fund’s investment adviser implemented a new fixed income order management, trading, and compliance system.  In connection with introducing this new system, additional automated and manual controls were implemented and some existing controls were modified.  None of these changes were in response to any identified deficiency or weakness in the AMCAP Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 12 – Exhibits

 

(a)(1) Not applicable for filing of semi-annual reports to shareholders.
   
(a)(2) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached as exhibits hereto.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AMCAP FUND
   
  By /s/ Herbert Y. Poon
 

Herbert Y. Poon, Executive Vice President and

Principal Executive Officer

   
  Date: October 31, 2018

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

 

By /s/ Herbert Y. Poon

Herbert Y. Poon, Executive Vice President and

Principal Executive Officer

 
Date: October 31, 2018

 

 

 

By /s/ Brian D. Bullard

Brian D. Bullard, Treasurer and

Principal Financial Officer

 
Date: October 31, 2018