N-CSRS 1 fp0015624_ncsrs.htm SCHWARTZ INVESTMENT TRUST - N-CSRS Test Document
 
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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
811-07148
 

Schwartz Investment Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,        Suite 244 Plymouth, Michigan
48170
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)

George P. Schwartz

Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc.  W. Ann Arbor Trail, Suite 244   Plymouth, MI 48170
(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(248) 644-8500
 

Date of fiscal year end:
December 31, 2015
 
     
Date of reporting period:
June 30, 2015
 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
 

Schwartz Value Fund

 

Shareholder Services

c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(888) 726-0753

 

Investment Adviser

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail

Suite 244

Plymouth, Michigan 48170

 

Dear Fellow Shareowners:

 

The Schwartz Value Fund (“the Fund”) had a total return of -3.35% for the six month period ended June 30, 2015, vs. 1.71% for the Russell 1000 Index (“the Index”). The Fund does not seek to mimic or match the Index. We hold more concentrated positions and do not attempt to have exposure to every industry sector. We seek the best investments, irrespective of the Index industry weightings. In our opinion, the Fund’s portfolio companies tend to be higher quality, have stronger balance sheets, longer operating histories with more experienced managements, and are less expensive based upon various valuation metrics than the average Index company. This conservative, value-conscious approach has produced periods of underperformance and outperformance as follows:

 

 

Average Annual Total Return
For the Periods Ended 06/30/15

 

1 year

5 years

10 years

15 years

Schwartz Value Fund

-13.28%

8.05%

2.57%

6.24%

Russell 1000 Index

7.37%

17.58%

8.13%

4.68%

S&P 500 Index

7.42%

17.34%

7.89%

4.36%

 

Many factors in today’s market have worked against value investing. Fast growing (and often speculative) growth stocks have really been on a roll. Investors continue to shine favor on aggressive early-stage biopharmaceutical companies, startups & IPOs with no profits, and high profile stocks like Netflix (up 125% YTD, 240x PE) and Amazon.com (up 58% YTD, 160x PE). We don’t invest your money in these types of issues. We’ve seen this movie before, and it doesn’t end well.

 

The Fund’s best performing security so far in 2015 is Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., which we started buying last year at $115 per share. Now at $235, the stock rose 55% during the first half of 2015, as the market continues to recognize the value of this unique company. Led by CEO Michael Pearson, Valeant has made sensible acquisitions that have generated positive returns above the company’s cost of capital. Even though the stock price has advanced significantly from our cost, we believe the stock is still undervalued and is one of the Fund’s largest holdings. The Fund’s other top performers in the first half of 2015 included technology companies Equinix, Inc. (data centers) +17%, Apple, Inc. (consumer technology) +15%, ARRIS Group, Inc. (communication equipment) +14%, and ANSYS, Inc. (simulation software) +11%.

 

Primary performance detractors included Apollo Education Group, Inc., which has declined 60% since the start of the year. The company has experienced declining enrollments amid a burdensome regulatory environment. Clearly, we misjudged the ability of Apollo’s management to navigate these challenges and we were too early in buying this stock. However, we believe the company has many redeeming qualities and the shares have significant recovery potential. Apollo has a rapidly growing international

 

1


division, a pristine balance sheet with $7 of net cash per share and brand equity in its University of Phoenix name. It’s also the largest independent online university in the U.S. with a 40 year operating history. Other detractors from performance, which have all been eliminated from the portfolio, were Ocwen Financial Corporation (mortgage servicing), Knowles Corporation (technology components), Ensco plc (off-shore drilling), and National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (oil-field services).

 

A new holding in the Fund is Graham Holdings Company. Graham Holdings owns a diverse mix of businesses remaining under the Graham family’s control following the divestiture of the The Washington Post newspaper business in 2013. The company’s primary businesses include Kaplan Education - one of the world’s leading providers of educational services, Graham Media Group - which operates five television stations, and SocialCode - a marketing technology company. Management and the board have engaged in several corporate transactions during the past 18 months in order to unlock shareholder value, including the sale of The Washington Post and 38 unprofitable Kaplan college campuses, the sale of its former headquarters building, and most recently the spin-off of its cable television business (Cable One). Graham Holdings passes our criteria of investing in market leading companies, with a history of profitability, that have strong balance sheets, and that are run by shareholder-oriented management teams.

 

We believe the portfolio is more undervalued today than during most periods of the Fund’s three decade history. The Fund holds a number of stocks that are selling at a large discount to our appraisal of intrinsic value.

 

Thank you for being a shareholder in the Schwartz Value Fund.

 

With best regards,

 

George P. Schwartz, CFA
Co-Portfolio Manager

 

July 31, 2015

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA
Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, are available by calling the Fund at 1-888-726-0753.

 

An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information. To obtain a copy of the prospectus please visit our website at www.schwartzvaluefund.com or call 1-888-726-0753 and a copy will be sent to you free of charge. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

 

The Letter to Shareholders seeks to describe some of the Adviser’s current opinions and views of the financial markets. Although the Adviser believes it has a reasonable basis for any opinions or views expressed, actual results may differ, sometimes significantly so, from those expected or expressed.

 

2


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

Shares

 

Security Description

 

Market
Value

   

% of
Net Assets

 
 

180,000

 

Unico American Corporation

 

$

1,886,400

     

8.0

%

 

6,750

 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

   

1,499,513

     

6.3

%

 

3,073

 

Biglari Holdings, Inc.

   

1,271,454

     

5.4

%

 

50,000

 
Cie Générale des Éstablissements Michelin - ADR
   

1,050,500

     

4.4

%

 

25,000

 

Avnet, Inc.

   

1,027,750

     

4.3

%

 

35,000

 

Liberty Interactive Corporation - Series A

   

971,250

     

4.1

%

 

25,000

 

Discovery Communications, Inc. - Series A

   

831,500

     

3.5

%

 

4

 

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class A

   

819,400

     

3.5

%

 

25,000

 

ARRIS Group, Inc.

   

765,000

     

3.2

%

 

25,000

 

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) - Warrants

   

718,250

     

3.1

%

 

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)


 

Sector

% of
Net Assets

Consumer Discretionary

28.0%

Energy

15.1%

Financials

16.4%

Health Care

6.3%

Industrials

7.8%

Information Technology

18.2%

Materials

2.3%

Warrants

3.1%

Open-End Funds

0.1%

Money Market Funds, Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

2.7%

 

100.0%

 

3


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.1%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 28.0%

       

Auto Components — 4.4%

       

Cie Générale des Éstablissements Michelin - ADR

   

50,000

   

$

1,050,500

 
                 

Diversified Consumer Services — 4.2%

               

Apollo Education Group, Inc. *

   

35,000

     

450,800

 

Graham Holdings Company - Class B

   

500

     

537,525

 
             

988,325

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 5.4%

               

Biglari Holdings, Inc. *

   

3,073

     

1,271,454

 
                 

Internet & Catalog Retail — 4.9%

               

Liberty Interactive Corporation - Series A *

   

35,000

     

971,250

 

Liberty Ventures - Series A *

   

4,975

     

195,368

 
             

1,166,618

 

Media — 5.7%

               

Discovery Communications, Inc. - Series A *

   

25,000

     

831,500

 

Liberty Global plc - Series C *

   

10,000

     

506,300

 
             

1,337,800

 

Specialty Retail — 3.4%

               

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. *

   

6,000

     

413,880

 

TJX Companies, Inc. (The)

   

6,000

     

397,020

 
             

810,900

 

Energy — 15.1%

               

Energy Equipment & Services — 6.8%

               

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

   

15,000

     

396,600

 

Rowan Companies plc - Class A

   

33,000

     

696,630

 

Schlumberger Limited

   

6,000

     

517,140

 
             

1,610,370

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 8.3%

               

Apache Corporation

   

3,000

     

172,890

 

Devon Energy Corporation

   

10,000

     

594,900

 

Exxon Mobil Corporation

   

6,000

     

499,200

 

Rosetta Resources, Inc. *

   

30,000

     

694,200

 
             

1,961,190

 

Financials — 16.4%

               

Capital Markets — 0.9%

               

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (The)

   

5,000

     

209,850

 
                 

Insurance — 13.8%

               

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class A *

   

4

     

819,400

 

Progressive Corporation (The)

   

20,000

     

556,600

 

Unico American Corporation *

   

180,000

     

1,886,400

 
             

3,262,400

 

 

4


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.1% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Financials — 16.4%(Continued)

       

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 1.7%

       

Ocwen Financial Corporation *

   

40,000

   

$

408,000

 
                 

Health Care — 6.3%

               

Pharmaceuticals — 6.3%

               

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. *

   

6,750

     

1,499,513

 
                 

Industrials — 7.8%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 2.5%

               

Precision Castparts Corporation

   

3,000

     

599,610

 
                 

Construction & Engineering — 1.1%

               

Fluor Corporation

   

5,000

     

265,050

 
                 

Machinery — 4.2%

               

Donaldson Company, Inc.

   

20,000

     

716,000

 

Trinity Industries, Inc.

   

10,000

     

264,300

 
             

980,300

 

Information Technology — 18.2%

               

Communications Equipment — 3.8%

               

ARRIS Group, Inc. *

   

25,000

     

765,000

 

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   

5,000

     

137,300

 
             

902,300

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments &
Components — 4.3%

               

Avnet, Inc.

   

25,000

     

1,027,750

 
                 

Internet Software & Services — 2.2%

               

Equinix, Inc.

   

2,000

     

508,000

 
                 

IT Services — 2.9%

               

International Business Machines Corporation

   

3,000

     

487,980

 

Teradata Corporation *

   

5,000

     

185,000

 
             

672,980

 

Software — 1.5%

               

ANSYS, Inc. *

   

4,000

     

364,960

 
                 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 3.5%

               

Apple, Inc.

   

2,000

     

250,850

 

EMC Corporation

   

22,000

     

580,580

 
             

831,430

 

 

5


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.1% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Materials — 2.3%

       

Metals & Mining — 2.3%

       

Barrick Gold Corporation

   

20,000

   

$

213,200

 

Goldcorp, Inc.

   

20,000

     

324,000

 
             

537,200

 
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $19,376,957)

         

$

22,266,500

 

 

WARRANTS — 3.1%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Financials — 3.1%

       

Banks — 3.1%

       

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) * (Cost $437,198)

   

25,000

   

$

718,250

 

 

OPEN-END FUNDS — 0.1%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Sequoia Fund, Inc. * (Cost $8,738)

   

65

   

$

16,549

 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 2.9%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a) (Cost $694,362)

   

694,362

   

$

694,362

 
                 

Total Investments at Market Value — 100.2% (Cost $20,517,255)

         

$

23,695,661

 
                 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2%)

           

(38,850

)

                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

         

$

23,656,811

 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

6


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) 

ASSETS

      

Investments, at market value (cost of $20,517,255) (Note 1)

 

$

23,695,661

 

Dividends receivable

   

13,736

 

Other assets

   

6,133

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   

23,715,530

 
         

LIABILITIES

       

Payable to Adviser (Note 2)

   

45,946

 

Payable to administrator (Note 2)

   

3,000

 

Other accrued expenses

   

9,773

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

   

58,719

 
         

NET ASSETS

 

$

23,656,811

 
         

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

       

Paid-in capital

 

$

20,458,491

 

Accumulated net investment loss

   

(58,187

)

Accumulated net realized gains from security transactions

   

78,101

 

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

   

3,178,406

 

NET ASSETS

 

$

23,656,811

 
         

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

   

976,674

 
         

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)

 

$

24.22

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

7


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) 

INVESTMENT INCOME

     

Dividends (Net of foreign tax of $9,525)

 

$

129,303

 
         

EXPENSES

       

Investment advisory fees (Note 2)

   

125,511

 

Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

25,074

 

Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)

   

18,300

 

Legal and audit fees

   

14,943

 

Registration and filing fees

   

6,297

 

Printing of shareholder reports

   

3,750

 

Custodian and bank service fees

   

3,565

 

Postage and supplies

   

2,571

 

Insurance expense

   

672

 

Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

262

 

Other expenses

   

1,300

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

   

202,245

 

Less fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 2)

   

(14,755

)

NET EXPENSES

   

187,490

 
         

NET INVESTMENT LOSS

   

(58,187

)

         

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

       

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

78,101

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(888,053

)

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS

   

(809,952

)

         

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

 

$

(868,139

)

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

Six Months

Ended
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2014

 

FROM OPERATIONS

       

Net investment loss

 

$

(58,187

)

 

$

(84,929

)

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

78,101

     

2,215,476

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(888,053

)

   

(3,554,000

)

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   

(868,139

)

   

(1,423,453

)

                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

               

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(2,215,542

)

                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

   

1,126,056

     

312,911

 

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

2,116,221

 

Payments for shares redeemed

   

(4,729,667

)

   

(2,691,911

)

Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

   

(3,603,611

)

   

(262,779

)

                 

TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS

   

(4,471,750

)

   

(3,901,774

)

                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of period

   

28,128,561

     

32,030,335

 

End of period

 

$

23,656,811

   

$

28,128,561

 
                 

ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT LOSS

 

$

(58,187

)

 

$

 
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

   

45,570

     

11,229

 

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

84,077

 

Shares redeemed

   

(191,194

)

   

(95,192

)

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

   

(145,624

)

   

114

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of period

   

1,122,298

     

1,122,184

 

Shares outstanding, end of period

   

976,674

     

1,122,298

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

9


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Six Months

Ended
June 30,
2015 (Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2014

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2013

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2012

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2011

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2010

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

 

$

25.06

   

$

28.54

   

$

23.31

   

$

22.33

   

$

21.21

   

$

19.04

 
                                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                               

Net investment income (loss)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(0.04

)

   

0.23

     

0.07

     

0.11

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

   

(0.78

)

   

(1.26

)

   

5.80

     

0.98

     

1.12

     

2.17

 

Total from investment operations

   

(0.84

)

   

(1.34

)

   

5.76

     

1.21

     

1.19

     

2.28

 
                                                 

Less distributions:

                                               

From net investment income

   

     

     

     

(0.23

)

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.11

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(2.14

)

   

(0.53

)

   

     

     

 

Total distributions

   

     

(2.14

)

   

(0.53

)

   

(0.23

)

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.11

)

                                                 

Net asset value at end of period

 

$

24.22

   

$

25.06

   

$

28.54

   

$

23.31

   

$

22.33

   

$

21.21

 
                                                 

Total return (a)

   

(3.4%

)(b)

   

(4.7

%)

   

24.7

%

   

5.4

%

   

5.6

%

   

12.0

%

                                                 

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                               

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

 

$

23,657

   

$

28,129

   

$

32,030

   

$

30,573

   

$

36,654

   

$

35,161

 
                                                 

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

   

1.53

%(d)

   

1.46

%

   

1.45

%

   

1.41

%

   

1.38

%

   

1.43

%

                                                 

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

   

1.42

%(c)(d)

   

1.46

%

   

1.45

%

   

1.41

%

   

1.38

%

   

1.43

%

                                                 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

   

(0.44%

)(c)(d)

   

(0.28

%)

   

(0.13

%)

   

0.90

%

   

0.32

%

   

0.52

%

                                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

50

%(b)

   

72

%

   

57

%

   

62

%

   

75

%

   

69

%

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(b)

Not annualized.

 

(c)

Ratio was determined after advisory fee waivers (Note 2).

 

(d)

Annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

10


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

1.

Significant Accounting Policies

 

Schwartz Value Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of Schwartz Investment Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company established as an Ohio business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated August 31, 1992. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and commenced operations on July 20, 1993.

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. See the Prospectus for information regarding the principal investment strategies of the Fund.

 

Shares of the Fund are sold at net asset value. To calculate the net asset value, the Fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The offering price and redemption price per share are equal to the net asset value per share.

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). As an investment company, as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update 2013-08, the Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”

 

(a) Valuation of investments — Securities which are traded on stock exchanges, other than NASDAQ, are valued at the closing sales price as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the day the securities are being valued, or, if not traded on a particular day, at the closing bid price. Securities which are quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price or, if an official close price is not available, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last reported sales price or, if there is no reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities which are traded both in the over-the-counter market and on a stock exchange are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Investments representing shares of other open-end investment companies are valued at their net asset value as reported by such companies. Securities (and other assets) for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, and will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy (see below), depending on the inputs used. Fair value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) a portfolio security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that stock over an extended period of time; (ii) the exchange on which the portfolio security is principally traded closes early; or (iii) trading of the portfolio security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the Fund’s net asset value calculation. A portfolio security’s “fair value” price may differ from the price next available for that portfolio security using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures.

 

11


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

GAAP establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

●    Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

●    Level 2 – other significant observable inputs

 

●    Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments, by security type, as of June 30, 2015:

 

 

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

 

$

22,266,500

   

$

   

$

   

$

22,266,500

 

Warrants

   

718,250

     

     

     

718,250

 

Open-End Funds

   

16,549

     

     

     

16,549

 

Money Market Funds

   

694,362

     

     

     

694,362

 

Total

 

$

23,695,661

   

$

   

$

   

$

23,695,661

 

 

Refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Investments for a listing of the securities by industry type. As of June 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into and out of any Level. There were no Level 2 or 3 securities or derivative instruments held by the Fund as of June 30, 2015. It is the Fund’s policy to recognize transfers into and out of any Level at the end of the reporting period.

 

(b) Income taxes — The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). Qualification generally will relieve the Fund of liability for federal income taxes to the extent 100% of its net investment income and net realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with the Code. Accordingly, no provision for income tax has been made.

 

In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also the Fund’s intention to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains plus undistributed amounts from prior years.

 

12


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of June 30, 2015:

 

Federal income tax cost

 

$

20,517,255

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

 

$

4,128,695

 

Gross unrealized depreciation

   

(950,289

)

Net unrealized appreciation

   

3,178,406

 

Accumulated ordinary loss

   

(58,187

)

Other gains

   

78,101

 

Accumulated earnings

 

$

3,198,320

 

 

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has reviewed the tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for the current and all open tax years (tax years ended December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2014) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements.

 

(c) Security transactions and investment income — Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined on the identified cost basis.

 

(d) Dividends and distributions — Dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually in December. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the period ended December 31, 2014 was long-term capital gains. There were no distributions paid to shareholders during the six months ended June 30, 2015.

 

(e) Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(f) Common expenses — Common expenses of the Trust are allocated among the Fund and the other series of the Trust based on relative net assets of each series or the nature of the services performed and the relative applicability to each series.

 

2.

Investment Advisory Agreement and Transactions with Related Parties

 

The Chairman and President of the Trust is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (the “Adviser”). Certain other officers of the Trust are officers of the Adviser, or of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”), the administrative, accounting and transfer agent for the Fund, or of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), the Fund’s principal underwriter.

 

13


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser is responsible for the management of the Fund and provides investment advice along with the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operations of the Fund. The Adviser receives from the Fund a quarterly fee at the annual rate of 0.95% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses until at least May 1, 2016 so that the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed 1.25% per annum of average daily net assets. Prior to May 1, 2015, the Fund did not have an expense limitation agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Adviser reduced its investment advisory fees by $14,755.

 

Any fee reductions or expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of three years from the end of the fiscal year during which such reductions or reimbursements occurred, provided the Fund is able to effect such repayment and remain in compliance with any undertaking by the Adviser to limit expenses of the Fund. As of June 30, 2015, the Advisor may seek recoupment of investment advisory fee reductions totaling $14,755 no later than December 31, 2018.

 

The Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust (the “CCO”) is an employee of the Adviser. The Trust pays the Adviser a fee for providing CCO services, of which the Fund pays its proportionate share along with the other series of the Trust. In addition, the Trust reimburses the Adviser for out-of-pocket expenses incurred, if any, for providing these services.

 

Pursuant to a Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Trust and Ultimus, Ultimus supplies regulatory and compliance services, calculates the daily net asset value per share, maintains the financial books and records of the Fund, maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, and processes purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares. For these services Ultimus receives fees computed as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee.

 

Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Trust and the Distributor, the Distributor serves as the Fund’s exclusive agent for the distribution of its shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of Ultimus.

 

Trustees and officers affiliated with the Adviser or Ultimus are not compensated by the Trust for their services. Each Trustee who is not an affiliated person of the Adviser or Ultimus (“Independent Trustee”) receives from the Trust an annual retainer of $30,000 (except that such fee is $38,000 for the Lead Independent Trustee and $15,000 for any Trustee Emeritus), payable quarterly; a fee of $5,500 for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Trustees (except that such fee is $2,750 for any Independent Trustee Emeritus); plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. The Fund pays its proportionate share of Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses along with the other series of the Trust.

 

14


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

3.

Investment Transactions

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and U.S. government securities, amounted to $12,014,411 and $12,741,937, respectively.

 

4.

Contingencies and Commitments

 

The Fund indemnifies the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 

5.

Sector Risk

 

If a Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers in industries within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss of an investment in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value per share. From time to time, circumstances may affect a particular sector and the companies within such sector. For instance, economic or market factors, regulation or deregulation, and technological or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector and therefore the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of June 30, 2015, the Fund had 28.0% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the consumer discretionary sector.

 

6.

Subsequent Events

 

The Fund is required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Fund is required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no events.

 

 

15


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
(Unaudited)


 

We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of costs on your investment. As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

A mutual fund’s ongoing costs are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The ongoing costs reflected in the table below are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the most recent semi-annual period (January 1, 2015) and held until the end of the period (June 30, 2015).

 

The table below illustrates the Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:

 

Actual fund return – This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount of operating expenses that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, 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 given for the Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

Hypothetical 5% return – This section is intended to help you compare the Fund’s ongoing costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the Fund had an annual return of 5% before expenses during the period shown, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case, because the return used is not the Fund’s actual return, the result does not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess the Fund’s ongoing costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only. The Fund does not charge sales loads or redemption fees.

 

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

More information about the Fund’s expenses, including historical annual expense ratios, can be found in this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

 

Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2015

Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2015

Expenses Paid
During Period*

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$ 966.50

$6.92

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,017.75

$7.10

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 1.42% for the period, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

16


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT
(Unaudited)


 

At an in-person meeting held on February 14, 2015, the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, approved the continuation of the Schwartz Value Fund’s (the “Fund”) Advisory Agreement with Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc (the “Adviser”).

 

The Independent Trustees were advised and assisted throughout the process of their evaluation by independent legal counsel experienced in matters relating to the investment management industry. The Independent Trustees received advice from their independent counsel, including a legal memorandum, on the standards and obligations in connection with their consideration of the continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Trustees also received and reviewed relevant information provided by the Adviser in response to requests of the Independent Trustees and their legal counsel to assist in their evaluation of the terms of the Advisory Agreement, including whether the Advisory Agreement continues to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Trustees reviewed, among other things: (1) industry data comparing the advisory fees and expense ratio of the Fund with those of comparable investment companies and any institutional accounts under the management of the Adviser; (2) comparative performance information; (3) the Adviser’s revenues for providing services to the Fund; and (4) information about the Adviser’s portfolio managers, research analysts, investment process, compliance program and risk management processes.

 

The Independent Trustees took into account that they meet with the portfolio managers of the Fund at regularly scheduled meetings over the course of the year to discuss the portfolio positioning, portfolio composition, and investment program for the Fund. They also considered that they receive at regularly scheduled meetings reports on the Fund’s investment results and the returns of comparative market indices. The Trustees considered various factors, among them:

 

 

the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser;

 

 

the fees charged for those services and the Adviser’s profitability with respect to the Fund (and the methodology by which such profitability was calculated);

 

 

the Fund’s performance;

 

 

the extent to which economies of scale may be realized as the Fund grows; and

 

 

whether current fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

Prior to voting, the Independent Trustees discussed the continuance of the Advisory Agreement with management and also met in executive session with their independent legal counsel at which no representatives of the Adviser were present.

 

In their consideration of the nature and quality of services provided to the Fund, the Trustees evaluated the responsibilities of the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement and the investment management process applied to the Fund. The Trustees reviewed the background, education and experience of the Adviser’s key investment, research and operational personnel. The Trustees considered the benefits of collaboration derived from the co-portfolio management structure of the Fund and the arrangements that have

 

17


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

been made by the Adviser to address succession planning. The Trustees discussed the additional research personnel added to support the portfolio managers. The Trustees next discussed the Adviser’s compliance program, the quality of administrative and shareholder services provided to the Fund and the Adviser’s role in coordinating such services and programs. The Trustees considered the overall strength and stability of the Adviser and its overall favorable compliance record.

 

The Trustees reviewed the advisory fees paid by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement and compared such fees to the advisory fees paid by similar mutual funds as compiled by Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”). The Trustees also compared the total operating expense ratio of the Fund with expense ratios of representative funds with similar investment objectives considered to be within its Morningstar peer group. In considering the Fund’s advisory fee, the Trustees evaluated the Adviser’s investment management capabilities within the context of the financial markets and the Fund’s long-term investment goals. The Trustees concluded that, based upon the investment strategies of the Fund and the quality of services provided by the Adviser, the advisory fees paid by the Fund are acceptable.

 

The Trustees reviewed the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability in managing the Fund during calendar year 2014, including the methodology by which that profitability analysis was calculated. The Trustees considered that the Adviser may receive, in addition to the advisory fee, certain indirect benefits from serving as the Fund’s investment adviser, including various research services as a result of the placement of the Fund’s portfolio brokerage. The Trustees considered the costs of the Adviser to provide ongoing services to the Fund, including staffing costs and costs to maintain systems and resources that support portfolio trading, research and other portfolio management functions. Based upon their review of the Adviser’s profitability analysis, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profits are reasonable and represent a fair and entrepreneurial profit in light of the quality and scope of services the Adviser provides to the Fund.

 

The Trustees considered both the short-term and long-term investment results of the Fund in light of its primary objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation. The Trustees considered the Fund’s historical performance over various periods ended November 30, 2014, as it compared to the returns of relevant indices. Based upon their review, the Trustees observed that the Fund’s return for each of the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods was below the returns of both the Russell 1000 Index (representative of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe) and the S&P 500 Index (an index of 500 stocks in the U.S. equity universe) over those same periods. The Trustees considered the risk characteristics and investment process of the Fund. The Trustees considered the Adviser’s explanation as to why value stocks were not able to fully participate in the market’s appreciation during calendar year 2014, including the Fund’s lack of exposure to more speculative stocks. The Trustees also considered that the Adviser’s long-term investment approach has remained consistent over the years of service to the Fund. In view of all the factors considered, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s investment results have been acceptable and the quality of the services provided by the Adviser combined with its long-term record of managing the Fund supports their view that its continued management should benefit the Fund and its shareholders.

 

18


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

The Trustees considered the existence of any economies of scale and whether those would be passed along to the Fund’s shareholders. Given the Fund’s current asset levels, the Trustees concluded that it is not necessary or appropriate at this time to consider adding fee breakpoints to the advisory fee schedule for the Fund.

 

No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to the decision of the Trustees to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement. Rather, the Trustees concluded, in light of a weighing and balancing of all factors considered, that it was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to renew the Advisory Agreement for an additional annual period.

 

19


SCHWARTZ VALUE FUND
OTHER INFORMATION
(Unaudited)


 

A description of the policies and procedures the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-0753, or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-0753, or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The Trust files a complete listing of portfolio holdings for the Fund with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The filings are available free of charge, upon request, by calling (888) 726-0753. Furthermore, you may obtain a copy of the filings on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Trust’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

 

INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY (Unaudited)


 

Schwartz Value Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation through value investing – purchasing shares of strong, growing companies at reasonable prices. The Fund invests in companies of all sizes from large-caps to micro-caps. Fundamental analysis is used to identify companies with outstanding business characteristics. Sometimes the best values are issues not followed closely by Wall Street analysts.

 

Most value investors buy fair companies at an excellent price. The Fund attempts to buy excellent companies at a fair price. The essence of value investing is finding companies with great business characteristics, which by their nature offer a margin of safety. A truly fine business requires few assets to provide a consistently expanding stream of income. The Fund purchases shares which are temporarily out-of-favor and selling below intrinsic value.

 

A common thread in the Fund’s investments is that the market price is often below what a corporate or entrepreneurial buyer might be willing to pay for the entire business. The auction nature and the inefficiencies of the stock market are such that the Fund can sometimes buy a minority interest in a fine company at a small fraction of the price per share necessary to acquire the entire company.

 

20


 


 

Shareholder Services

c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(888) 726-9331

 

Investment Adviser

3707 W. Maple Road

Suite 100

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301

(248) 644-8500

Fax (248) 644-4250

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders of:

 

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (AVEMX)

Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX)

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX)

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund (AVESX)

Ave Maria World Equity Fund (AVEWX)

Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX)

Ave Maria Money Market Account

 

As you’ll see from the following pages, the investment performance of our Catholic mutual funds has not been up to what you may have come to expect. The fundamental security analysis we’ve used for years has been out of favor, as more speculative issues like biotechs, IPOs without profits, and other high flyers have captured the imagination of many investors/speculators. The Netflix and Amazons of the world are dominating the stock market. Netflix, Inc. (up 125% YTD, 240 x P/E) and Amazon.com (up 58% YTD, 160 x P/E) are driving the popular indices in a perpetual motion-type manner. Not surprisingly, index funds are wildly popular. And the more money they attract, the more those index funds have to buy the same big-cap names, pushing the prices further into the stratosphere. We don’t buy those kinds of stocks for the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. We’ve seen this movie before, and it doesn’t end well.

 

Our portfolio managers and analysts focus on profitable well-managed companies with strong balance sheets and sustainable competitive advantages. When purchased at sensible prices, these stocks are more than likely to be excellent capital appreciation vehicles for patient investors. Many of our portfolio holdings remind me of a compressed spring, about to release a lot of energy. I say this because most of the companies in which your money is invested are performing well from an operating point of view. Most are growing enterprises, expanding their markets, and producing excess cash flow to pay dividends and repurchase their own shares.

 

With the U.S. economy continuing to improve modestly, and corporate profits still growing, the companies represented in the Ave Maria Mutual Funds seem poised for renewed attention by serious investors. None of the issues in any of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds violate any of the moral screens established by our world-class Catholic Advisory Board.

 


On a different topic, I believe all 60,000 + of us who have invested in these Catholic mutual funds are disturbed (if not sick) about the recent Supreme Court decisions, including the absurd “same-sex marriage” case — obviously a contradiction in terms. The world seems upside down in so many ways, domestically and internationally, as politicians in Washington and the Supreme Court have repeatedly let us down, with the continuous assault on marriage, religious liberty and an array of classic American values. While I can’t help but be thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed on our country, I am, nevertheless, at the same time depressed about the troubling state of affairs. (Perhaps more appropriately, the troubling affairs of state.) As Catholic Advisory Board member, Phyllis Schlafly, has said, “We can only pray that God sends us another Ronald Reagan in 2016.” If that’s not in the cards, at least we can work and pray for a pro-life president and more pro-life, pro-family senators and representatives.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

George P. Schwartz, CFA
Chairman & CEO

 

July 31, 2015

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

The Letter to Shareholders and the Portfolio Manager Commentaries that follow seek to describe some of the Adviser’s current opinions and views of the financial markets. Although the Adviser believes it has a reasonable basis for any opinions or views expressed, actual results may differ, sometimes significantly so, from those expected or expressed. Keep in mind that the information and opinions cover the period through the date of this report.

 


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS


 

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund:

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

2

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

4

Asset Allocation

4

Schedule of Investments

5

   

Ave Maria Growth Fund:

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

9

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

11

Asset Allocation

11

Schedule of Investments

12

   

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund:

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

15

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

17

Asset Allocation

17

Schedule of Investments

18

   

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund:

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

22

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

23

Asset Allocation

23

Schedule of Investments

24

   

Ave Maria World Equity Fund:

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

27

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

30

Asset Allocation

30

Schedule of Investments

31

Summary of Common Stocks by Country

34

   

Ave Maria Bond Fund:

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

35

Ten Largest Holdings

37

Asset Allocation

37

Schedule of Investments

38

   

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

43

   

Statements of Operations

45

   

 


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets:

 

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund

47

Ave Maria Growth Fund

48

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

49

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund

50

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

51

Ave Maria Bond Fund

52

   

Financial Highlights:

 

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund

53

Ave Maria Growth Fund

54

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

55

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund

56

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

57

Ave Maria Bond Fund

58

   

Notes to Financial Statements

59

   

About Your Funds’ Expenses

70

   

Other Information

72

   

Approval of Advisory Agreements

73

 

This report is for the information of the shareholders of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. To obtain a copy of the prospectus, please visit our website at www.avemariafunds.com or call 1-888-726-9331 and a copy will be sent to you free of charge. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest. The Ave Maria Mutual Funds are distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC.

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)


 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

The Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of -2.10% for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The return for the S&P 500 Index was 1.23%.

 

Since inception on May 1, 2001, the cumulative and annualized returns for the Fund compared to the S&P 500 Index were:

 

 

Since 5-01-01 Inception
through 6-30-15
Total Returns

 

Cumulative

Annualized

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (AVEMX)

166.92%

7.18%

S&P 500 Index

115.69%

5.58%

 

The stock market struggled to produce a modest gain for the first half of 2015, as slowing corporate profit growth and prospective Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) tightening weighed on investor enthusiasm. S&P 500 Index profits grew year over year only about 3%, paling in comparison to the 125% aggregate rise since the recession ended over 6 years ago. The Index has risen 215% from the low on March 6, 2009 and the multiple of earnings has expanded from 12x to 18x. It has been over three years since the market experienced a 10% correction, so investors may be excused for viewing with some consternation the Fed’s promise to raise rates.

 

A market correction would not be a surprise, but we are not overly concerned that the economy and the market are due for a major downturn. Six years into this plodding recovery, there are few signs of economic stress or market exuberance. Inflation remains subdued. Unemployment continues to decline slowly and consumer balance sheets are once again healthy after becoming overextended before the financial crisis. Real wages have stabilized and show some early signs of growth as jobs, particularly for younger people, are picking up. Household formations, stagnant for years, are finally on the rise and support a solid housing outlook. Lower energy prices have not yet translated into accelerating growth, but we expect that will happen later this year. The Fed will likely begin gradually raising short-term rates this fall which should not place a major burden on the economy or the stock market.

 

In our opinion, the Fund is positioned to benefit if this scenario unfolds. Housing, retail, apparel and other consumer discretionary stocks represent over 20% of the portfolio. We also see value in the energy sector which has

 

2


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

dramatically underperformed since last fall during the 50% decline in oil prices. We believe oil and natural gas prices are unsustainably low, and several of the Fund’s energy positions are poised for a significant recovery.

 

During the first six months of this year, the Fund initiated eight new stock positions.

 

Two of these were providers of colocation internet data exchange services in Europe: Telecity Group plc and InterXion Holdings N.V. Since purchase, Telecity has agreed to be purchased by Equinix, Inc., a larger U.S. based competitor. Two specialty chemical companies were also added: H.B. Fuller Company and Platform Specialty Products Corporation. Noble Energy, Inc. (Exploration & Production), Schlumberger Limited (Energy Services), Fifth Third Bancorp (Regional Banking) and Eaton Corporation plc (Electrical Products) rounded out the purchases. All of these new holdings comply with the Ave Maria Mutual Funds’ moral screens.

 

Eight stocks were eliminated from the Fund: Peabody Energy Corporation (coal); consumer stocks Barnes & Noble, Inc. (retail books), Crocs, Inc.(shoe manufacturer) and PetSmart, Inc.(retail pet supplies); U.S. Bancorp; Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc., which is being acquired by a larger insurance company; United Technologies Corporation (manufacturing conglomerate) and Covidien plc (health care devices), which was acquired by Medtronic plc.

 

Stocks which contributed positively to Fund performance year to date included: Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., The Western Union Company, St. Jude Medical, Inc., Phillips 66, Halliburton Company, and ANSYS, Inc. Relative performance was helped by the Fund’s absence of any investments in the utility sector, which declined by over ten percent.

 

Stocks performing the worst were: Apollo Education Group, Inc., Knowles Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, Teradata Corporation and EMC Corporation.

 

Thank you for your continued commitment to the Fund.

 

   

George P. Schwartz, CFA

Gregory R. Heilman, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

3


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

Shares

 

Company

 

Market Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
 

250,000

 

GNC Holdings, Inc. - Class A

 

$

11,120,000

     

4.8

%

 

125,000

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

   

8,371,250

     

3.6

%

 

500,000

 

Chico's FAS, Inc.

   

8,315,000

     

3.5

%

 

50,000

 

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

   

7,964,500

     

3.4

%

 

300,000

 

EMC Corporation

   

7,917,000

     

3.4

%

 

35,000

 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

   

7,775,250

     

3.3

%

 

100,000

 

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

   

7,307,000

     

3.1

%

 

350,000

 

Western Union Company (The)

   

7,115,500

     

3.0

%

 

75,000

 

ANSYS, Inc.

   

6,843,000

     

2.9

%

 

55,000

 

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

   

6,667,100

     

2.9

%

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)


 

Sector

% of Net Assets

Consumer Discretionary

20.5%

Energy

13.4%

Financials

15.5%

Health Care

13.5%

Industrials

7.1%

Information Technology

17.1%

Materials

4.0%

Warrants

1.5%

Exchange-Traded Funds

1.4%

Money Market Funds, Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

6.0%

 

100.0%

 

4


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 91.1%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 20.5%

       

Diversified Consumer Services — 1.0%

       

Apollo Education Group, Inc. *

   

175,000

   

$

2,254,000

 
                 

Household Durables — 2.6%

               

PulteGroup, Inc.

   

300,000

     

6,045,000

 
                 

Specialty Retail — 15.3%

               

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

   

50,000

     

7,964,500

 

Chico's FAS, Inc.

   

500,000

     

8,315,000

 

GNC Holdings, Inc. - Class A

   

250,000

     

11,120,000

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

   

125,000

     

8,371,250

 
             

35,770,750

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.6%

               

VF Corporation

   

55,000

     

3,835,700

 
                 

Energy — 13.4%

               

Energy Equipment & Services — 4.9%

               

Baker Hughes Incorporated

   

50,000

     

3,085,000

 

Halliburton Company

   

145,000

     

6,245,150

 

Rowan Companies plc - Class A

   

100,000

     

2,111,000

 
             

11,441,150

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 8.5%

               

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

   

50,000

     

3,903,000

 

Devon Energy Corporation

   

70,000

     

4,164,300

 

Noble Energy, Inc.

   

100,000

     

4,268,000

 

Phillips 66

   

50,000

     

4,028,000

 

Range Resources Corporation

   

70,000

     

3,456,600

 
             

19,819,900

 

Financials — 15.5%

               

Banks — 4.7%

               

Fifth Third Bancorp

   

225,000

     

4,684,500

 

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   

65,000

     

6,217,250

 
             

10,901,750

 

Capital Markets — 1.9%

               

Federated Investors, Inc. - Class B

   

130,000

     

4,353,700

 
                 

Diversified Financial Services — 3.0%

               

Western Union Company (The)

   

350,000

     

7,115,500

 
                 

Insurance — 5.2%

               

Alleghany Corporation *

   

7,500

     

3,515,700

 

Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.

   

60,000

     

5,692,200

 

 

5


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 91.1% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Financials — 15.5% (Continued)

       

Insurance — 5.2% (Continued)

       

Unico American Corporation * #

   

282,945

   

$

2,965,264

 
             

12,173,164

 

Real Estate Management & Development — 0.7%

               

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

   

70,000

     

1,721,300

 
                 

Health Care — 13.5%

               

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 6.2%

               

Abbott Laboratories

   

75,000

     

3,681,000

 

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

   

100,000

     

7,307,000

 

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. *

   

40,000

     

3,373,200

 
             

14,361,200

 

Health Care Providers & Services — 2.9%

               

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings *

   

55,000

     

6,667,100

 
                 

Life Sciences Tools & Services — 1.1%

               

Waters Corporation *

   

20,000

     

2,567,600

 
                 

Pharmaceuticals — 3.3%

               

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. *

   

35,000

     

7,775,250

 
                 

Industrials — 7.1%

               

Construction & Engineering — 2.3%

               

Fluor Corporation

   

100,000

     

5,301,000

 
                 

Electrical Equipment — 2.6%

               

Eaton Corporation plc

   

90,000

     

6,074,100

 
                 

Machinery — 2.2%

               

Caterpillar, Inc.

   

60,000

     

5,089,200

 
                 

Information Technology — 17.1%

               

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 1.9%

               

Knowles Corporation *

   

250,000

     

4,525,000

 
                 

Internet Software & Services — 1.0%

               

Telecity Group plc - ADR

   

70,000

     

2,236,500

 
                 

IT Services — 6.1%

               

Accenture plc - Class A

   

65,000

     

6,290,700

 

InterXion Holding N.V. *

   

125,000

     

3,456,250

 

Teradata Corporation *

   

120,000

     

4,440,000

 
             

14,186,950

 

 

6


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 91.1% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Information Technology — 17.1% (Continued)

       

Software — 2.9%

       

ANSYS, Inc. *

   

75,000

   

$

6,843,000

 
                 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 5.2%

               

EMC Corporation

   

300,000

     

7,917,000

 

Hewlett-Packard Company

   

140,000

     

4,201,400

 
             

12,118,400

 

Materials — 4.0%

               

Chemicals — 3.0%

               

FMC Corporation

   

90,000

     

4,729,500

 

H.B. Fuller Company

   

10,000

     

406,200

 

Platform Specialty Products Corporation *

   

70,000

     

1,790,600

 
             

6,926,300

 

Metals & Mining — 1.0%

               

Constellium N.V. - Class A *

   

200,000

     

2,366,000

 
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $168,545,906)

         

$

212,469,514

 

 

WARRANTS — 1.5%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Financials — 1.5%

       

Banks — 1.5%

       

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) * (Cost $2,147,162)

   

120,000

   

$

3,447,600

 

 

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 1.4%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

iShares Gold Trust * (Cost $5,052,793)

   

300,000

   

$

3,402,000

 

 

7


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 5.9%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

11,096,152

   

$

11,096,152

 

Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

2,616,030

     

2,616,030

 

Total Money Market Funds (Cost $13,712,182)

         

$

13,712,182

 
                 

Total Investments at Market Value — 99.9% (Cost $189,458,043)

         

$

233,031,296

 
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.1%

           

167,357

 
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

         

$

233,198,653

 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

#

The Fund owned 5% or more of the company's outstanding voting shares thereby making the company an affiliated company as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (Note 5).

 

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)


 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

For the first six months of 2015, the Ave Maria Growth Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of 2.48% vs. 1.23% for the S&P 500 Index.

 

The strongest contributors to Fund performance included: Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (specialty pharmaceuticals), Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (information technology services), Altera Corporation (information technology), Rollins, Inc. (pest control services), Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (health diagnostic services), and ANSYS, Inc. (engineering simulation software). The underweighting of the energy sector also contributed to the Fund’s outperformance. Some detractors were: Precision Castparts Corporation (aircraft parts), C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (logistics services), Graco, Inc. (flow control equipment), and QUALCOMM, Inc. (semiconductor chips).

 

The strengthening U.S. dollar caused many industrials companies with meaningful export business to underperform during the quarter. They were hurt by decreased demand for their products and lower earnings when converted back into dollars. (Long term, foreign exchange fluctuations tend to balance out, but over shorter time frames, the effects can be significant.) Because we focus on the long-term fundamentals when selecting investments, we believe the recent weakness in global industrial stocks is providing attractive buying opportunities.

 

New additions during the quarter included: W.W. Grainger, Inc. (industrial distribution) and Omnicom Group, Inc. (advertising and public relations). In our opinion, Grainger has a sustainable scale advantage in the highly fragmented maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) distribution market. The company should benefit, as customers look to consolidate MRO-related purchases with fewer distributors.

 

Omnicom is benefitting from global consolidation within the advertising industry, which has evolved into an oligopoly (a characteristic we seek), and scale is becoming more important. A growing middle class in emerging markets should provide growth for agencies with scale. Plus, the increasing fragmentation of media channels (increased viewership via social media and streaming content) makes buyers more dependent on the expertise of their advertising agencies to coordinate marketing activities across the channels. Omnicom has historically generated strong returns on invested capital through sustainable competitive advantages and good capital allocation. Since 2008, the company has returned to shareholders 85% of free cash flow in the form of share repurchases and dividends, reducing shares outstanding from 314 million to 247 million.

 

9


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

Sold from the portfolio during the quarter were: Buckle, Inc. (specialty retail) and Teradata Corporation (information technology). We became less confident in the growth prospects of both companies.

 

No one knows the near-term direction of stock prices, but we remain confident that our disciplined approach to purchasing shares of growing entities at attractive prices will continue to produce favorable returns over the long run. Your participation in the Ave Maria Growth Fund is appreciated.

 

With best regards,

 

 

Richard L. Platte, Jr., CFA

George P. Schwartz, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

10


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

Shares

 

Company

 

Market Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
 

241,400

 

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A

 

$

14,747,126

     

4.7

%

 

125,000

 

ANSYS, Inc.

   

11,405,000

     

3.7

%

 

75,000

 

Polaris Industries, Inc.

   

11,108,250

     

3.6

%

 

90,000

 

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

   

10,909,800

     

3.5

%

 

125,000

 

Schlumberger Limited

   

10,773,750

     

3.4

%

 

109,400

 

Accenture plc - Class A

   

10,587,732

     

3.4

%

 

215,000

 

Abbott Laboratories

   

10,552,200

     

3.4

%

 

192,600

 

AMETEK, Inc.

   

10,550,628

     

3.4

%

 

45,000

 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

   

9,996,750

     

3.2

%

 

122,200

 

McCormick & Company, Inc.

   

9,892,090

     

3.1

%

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)


 

Sector

% of Net Assets

Consumer Discretionary

13.7%

Consumer Staples

3.1%

Energy

6.3%

Financials

4.5%

Health Care

19.7%

Industrials

31.7%

Information Technology

15.8%

Money Market Funds, Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

5.2%

 

100.0%

 

11


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.8%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 13.7%

       

Leisure Products — 3.6%

       

Polaris Industries, Inc.

   

75,000

   

$

11,108,250

 
                 

Media — 4.2%

               

Discovery Communications, Inc. - Series A *

   

290,000

     

9,645,400

 

Omnicom Group, Inc.

   

50,000

     

3,474,500

 
             

13,119,900

 

Specialty Retail — 3.5%

               

Ross Stores, Inc.

   

160,000

     

7,777,600

 

TJX Companies, Inc. (The)

   

50,000

     

3,308,500

 
             

11,086,100

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 2.4%

               

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

   

260,000

     

7,404,800

 
                 

Consumer Staples — 3.1%

               

Food Products — 3.1%

               

McCormick & Company, Inc.

   

122,200

     

9,892,090

 
                 

Energy — 6.3%

               

Energy Equipment & Services — 3.4%

               

Schlumberger Limited

   

125,000

     

10,773,750

 
                 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 2.9%

               

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

   

115,000

     

8,943,550

 
                 

Financials — 4.5%

               

Diversified Financial Services — 4.5%

               

MasterCard, Inc. - Class A

   

80,000

     

7,478,400

 

Moody's Corporation

   

60,000

     

6,477,600

 
             

13,956,000

 

Health Care — 19.7%

               

Biotechnology — 3.0%

               

Amgen, Inc.

   

60,000

     

9,211,200

 
                 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 10.0%

               

Abbott Laboratories

   

215,000

     

10,552,200

 

C.R. Bard, Inc.

   

45,000

     

7,681,500

 

Medtronic plc

   

50,000

     

3,705,000

 

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. *

   

112,000

     

9,444,960

 
             

31,383,660

 

Health Care Providers & Services — 3.5%

               

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings *

   

90,000

     

10,909,800

 

 

12


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.8% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Health Care — 19.7% (Continued)

       

Pharmaceuticals — 3.2%

       

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. *

   

45,000

   

$

9,996,750

 
                 

Industrials — 31.7%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 2.9%

               

Precision Castparts Corporation

   

46,000

     

9,194,020

 
                 

Air Freight & Logistics — 4.5%

               

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

   

115,000

     

7,174,850

 

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

   

150,000

     

6,915,750

 
             

14,090,600

 

Commercial Services & Supplies — 5.0%

               

Copart, Inc. *

   

270,000

     

9,579,600

 

Rollins, Inc.

   

215,000

     

6,133,950

 
             

15,713,550

 

Electrical Equipment — 3.4%

               

AMETEK, Inc.

   

192,600

     

10,550,628

 
                 

Industrial Conglomerates — 2.8%

               

Danaher Corporation

   

101,500

     

8,687,385

 
                 

Machinery — 10.4%

               

Colfax Corporation *

   

135,000

     

6,230,250

 

Donaldson Company, Inc.

   

250,000

     

8,950,000

 

Graco, Inc.

   

125,000

     

8,878,750

 

Toro Company (The)

   

125,000

     

8,472,500

 
             

32,531,500

 

Trading Companies & Distributors — 2.7%

               

W. W. Grainger, Inc.

   

35,000

     

8,282,750

 
                 

Information Technology — 15.8%

               

Communications Equipment — 2.1%

               

QUALCOMM, Incorporated

   

105,000

     

6,576,150

 
                 

Internet Software & Services — 1.1%

               

Equinix, Inc.

   

13,500

     

3,429,000

 
                 

IT Services — 8.1%

               

Accenture plc - Class A

   

109,400

     

10,587,732

 

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A *

   

241,400

     

14,747,126

 
             

25,334,858

 

 

13


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.8% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Information Technology — 15.8% (Continued)

       

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 0.8%

       

Altera Corporation

   

50,000

   

$

2,560,000

 
                 

Software — 3.7%

               

ANSYS, Inc. *

   

125,000

     

11,405,000

 
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $203,356,003)

         

$

296,141,291

 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 5.4%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

14,851,128

   

$

14,851,128

 

Federated Treasury Obligations Fund – Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

1,920,540

     

1,920,540

 

Total Money Market Funds (Cost $16,771,668)

         

$

16,771,668

 
                 

Total Investments at Market Value — 100.2% (Cost $220,127,671)

         

$

312,912,959

 
                 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2%)

           

(491,639

)

                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

         

$

312,421,320

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

14


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)


 

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

 

For the first six months of 2015, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of -0.97%, compared with a total return of 1.23% for the benchmark S&P 500 Index.

 

The strongest contributors to performance included Hasbro, Inc. (toys and games), Abbott Laboratories (health care), St. Jude Medical, Inc. (medical devices), and Fifth Third Bancorp (banking). A continued underweighting in the utilities sector was a positive contributor to the Fund’s relative performance. Detractors included Norfolk Southern Corporation (railroads), C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (logistics services), and QUALCOMM, Incorporated (semiconductor chips).

 

The strengthening U.S. dollar caused many industrials stocks with meaningful foreign business to experience decreased demand for their products and lower earnings when converted back into dollars. (Long term, foreign exchange fluctuations tend to balance out, but over shorter time frames the effects can be significant.) Because we focus on the long-term fundamentals when selecting investments, we believe the recent weakness in global industrial stocks is providing attractive buying opportunities.

 

During the first six months of 2015, equity total returns were negatively correlated with current dividend yields. Low and no dividend paying companies advanced roughly 7%-8%, companies with dividends yields in the 2%-3% area declined slightly, and companies with current yields above 3.5% saw total returns of minus 5%. Higher expected interest rates and investors’ continued demand for stocks of rapidly growing companies may have accounted for the disparate outcomes. Shareholders should be mindful that even though the Fund is a capital appreciation vehicle, dividends are likely to be a meaningful contributor to total return, over the long haul.

 

New additions during the first half of 2015 included ACE Limited (insurance), The Hershey Company (chocolate and sugar confectionery), The Kraft Heinz Company (packaged foods), and Omnicom Group, Inc. (advertising and public relations).

 

ACE Limited is a growing and well managed insurance company, with good product and geographic diversification, In our opinion, ACE is well positioned to capture growth where returns are most attractive. We also expect healthy dividend growth to continue, extending the current record of 22 years of dividend increases. Hershey is a name virtually every American grew up knowing. Hershey and Mars together represent 60% of the U.S. confectionery industry. A strong balance sheet and good cash flow generation should allow

 

15


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

dividends to continue growing above 10% per year for the foreseeable future. The Kraft Heinz Company is led by a strong management team at 3G Capital which plans to implement its best practices (zero-based budgeting) to extract significant cost savings from the recent merger of Kraft and Heinz. We expect cost savings will be allocated to international expansion of Kraft Brands through Heinz’s platform and the return of cash to shareholders. Management has also stated a desire to increase the dividend per share. Omnicom, a global advertising organization, has historically generated strong return on invested capital through sustainable competitive advantages and good capital allocation. A growing middle class in emerging markets should provide growth for agencies with scale. In addition, the increasing fragmentation of media channels (increased viewership via social media and streaming content) makes buyers more dependent on the expertise of their advertising agencies to coordinate marketing activities across the channels. Omnicom has returned nearly 85% of free cash flow in the form of share repurchases and dividends since 2008, reducing diluted shares outstanding from 314 million to 247 million in the process and increasing the annual dividend per share to $2.00 from $0.60. We expect dividend per share growth of about 10% per year over the next five years.

 

No one knows the near-term direction of stock prices, but we remain confident that our disciplined approach to purchasing stocks at attractive prices with a stream of growing dividends will continue to produce favorable results over the long run. Your participation in the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund is appreciated.

 

With best regards,

 

   

George P. Schwartz, CFA

Richard L. Platte, Jr., CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

16


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

Shares

 

Company

 

Market Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
 

600,000

 

Johnson Controls, Inc.

 

$

29,718,000

     

3.5

%

 

590,000

 

Abbott Laboratories

   

28,957,200

     

3.4

%

 

580,000

 

Microchip Technology, Inc.

   

27,506,500

     

3.3

%

 

1,000,000

 

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   

27,460,000

     

3.3

%

 

230,000

 

Diageo plc - ADR

   

26,689,200

     

3.2

%

 

300,000

 

Schlumberger Limited

   

25,857,000

     

3.1

%

 

300,000

 

Exxon Mobil Corporation

   

24,960,000

     

3.0

%

 

105,000

 

W.W. Grainger, Inc.

   

24,848,250

     

3.0

%

 

275,000

 

Caterpillar, Inc.

   

23,325,500

     

2.8

%

 

340,000

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

   

22,769,800

     

2.7

%

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)


 

Sector

% of Net Assets

Consumer Discretionary

14.7%

Consumer Staples

10.4%

Energy

10.3%

Financials

15.3%

Health Care

8.4%

Industrials

24.4%

Information Technology

11.0%

Warrants

0.8%

Money Market Funds, Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

4.7%

 

100.0%

 

 

17


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.5%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 14.7%

       

Auto Components — 3.5%

       

Johnson Controls, Inc.

   

600,000

   

$

29,718,000

 
                 

Household Durables — 2.1%

               

Tupperware Brands Corporation

   

275,000

     

17,748,500

 
                 

Leisure Products — 0.9%

               

Hasbro, Inc.

   

100,000

     

7,479,000

 
                 

Media — 0.5%

               

Omnicom Group, Inc.

   

60,000

     

4,169,400

 
                 

Specialty Retail — 6.5%

               

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

   

340,000

     

22,769,800

 

Ross Stores, Inc.

   

450,000

     

21,874,500

 

TJX Companies, Inc. (The)

   

150,000

     

9,925,500

 
             

54,569,800

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.2%

               

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

   

350,000

     

9,968,000

 
                 

Consumer Staples — 10.4%

               

Beverages — 5.5%

               

Coca-Cola Company (The)

   

500,000

     

19,615,000

 

Diageo plc - ADR

   

230,000

     

26,689,200

 
             

46,304,200

 

Food & Staples Retailing — 1.1%

               

Sysco Corporation

   

250,000

     

9,025,000

 
                 

Food Products — 2.9%

               

Hershey Company (The)

   

140,000

     

12,436,200

 

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

   

140,000

     

11,919,600

 
             

24,355,800

 

Household Products — 0.9%

               

Clorox Company (The)

   

75,000

     

7,801,500

 
                 

Energy — 10.3%

               

Energy Equipment & Services — 5.4%

               

Baker Hughes Incorporated

   

70,000

     

4,319,000

 

Halliburton Company

   

350,000

     

15,074,500

 

Schlumberger Limited

   

300,000

     

25,857,000

 
             

45,250,500

 

 

18


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.5% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Energy — 10.3% (Continued)

       

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 4.9%

       

Exxon Mobil Corporation

   

300,000

   

$

24,960,000

 

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

   

210,000

     

16,331,700

 
             

41,291,700

 

Financials — 15.3%

               

Banks — 8.4%

               

BB&T Corporation

   

425,000

     

17,131,750

 

Fifth Third Bancorp

   

900,000

     

18,738,000

 

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   

155,000

     

14,825,750

 

U.S. Bancorp

   

450,000

     

19,530,000

 
             

70,225,500

 

Capital Markets — 4.8%

               

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (The)

   

500,000

     

20,985,000

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.

   

400,000

     

19,612,000

 
             

40,597,000

 

Insurance — 2.1%

               

ACE Limited

   

175,000

     

17,794,000

 
                 

Health Care — 8.4%

               

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 8.4%

               

Abbott Laboratories

   

590,000

     

28,957,200

 

Medtronic plc

   

300,000

     

22,230,000

 

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

   

265,000

     

19,363,550

 
             

70,550,750

 

Industrials — 24.4%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 2.2%

               

United Technologies Corporation

   

170,000

     

18,858,100

 
                 

Air Freight & Logistics — 4.6%

               

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

   

320,000

     

19,964,800

 

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B

   

190,000

     

18,412,900

 
             

38,377,700

 

Electrical Equipment — 2.6%

               

Emerson Electric Company

   

400,000

     

22,172,000

 
                 

Industrial Conglomerates — 0.9%

               

3M Company

   

50,000

     

7,715,000

 
                 

Machinery — 8.7%

               

Caterpillar, Inc.

   

275,000

     

23,325,500

 

Donaldson Company, Inc.

   

475,000

     

17,005,000

 

Dover Corporation

   

260,000

     

18,246,800

 

 

19


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.5% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Industrials — 24.4% (Continued)

       

Machinery — 8.7% (Continued)

       

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

   

160,000

   

$

14,686,400

 
             

73,263,700

 

Road & Rail — 2.4%

               

Norfolk Southern Corporation

   

235,000

     

20,529,600

 
                 

Trading Companies & Distributors — 3.0%

               

W.W. Grainger, Inc.

   

105,000

     

24,848,250

 
                 

Information Technology — 11.0%

               

Communications Equipment — 5.8%

               

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   

1,000,000

     

27,460,000

 

QUALCOMM, Incorporated

   

340,000

     

21,294,200

 
             

48,754,200

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 5.2%

               

Intel Corporation

   

550,000

     

16,728,250

 

Microchip Technology, Inc.

   

580,000

     

27,506,500

 
             

44,234,750

 
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $696,918,425)

         

$

795,601,950

 

 

WARRANTS — 0.8%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Financials — 0.8%

       

Banks — 0.8%

       

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) * (Cost $4,469,045)

   

250,000

   

$

7,182,500

 

 

20


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 4.7%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a) (Cost $39,284,516)

   

39,284,516

   

$

39,284,516

 
                 

Total Investments at Market Value — 100.0% (Cost $740,671,986)

         

$

842,068,966

 
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.0% (b)

           

175,187

 
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

         

$

842,244,153

 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

 

(b)

Percentage rounds to less than 0.1%.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

21


AVE MARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)


 

Dear Fellow Shareowner:

 

As you are no doubt aware, the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) was merged into the much larger Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, effective July 31, 2015. On that date, shareholders of the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund received an equal dollar amount of shares of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund. The merger was structured to qualify as a tax-free transaction. Your cost basis in Opportunity Fund became your cost basis in the newly acquired shares of Catholic Values Fund.

 

The Ave Maria Opportunity Fund had a total return of -9.92% for the six month period ended June 30, 2015, vs. 4.75% for the Russell 2000 Index. The Fund’s deep-value investment style has not been a winning strategy recently. Many factors in today’s market have worked against value investing. Fast growing (and often speculative) issues have really been on a roll. Investors continue to shine favor on biopharmaceutical companies, startups, IPOs with no profits, and high profile “story” stocks like Netflix (up 125% YTD, 240x PE) and Amazon.com (up 58% YTD, 160x PE). We don’t invest your money in these types of issues.

 

A new holding, which is now part of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, is Graham Holdings Company. Graham owns a diverse mix of businesses remaining under the Graham family’s control following the divestiture of the The Washington Post newspaper business in 2013. The company’s primary businesses include Kaplan Education - one of the world’s leading providers of educational services, Graham Media Group - which operates five television stations, and SocialCode - a marketing technology company. Several recent divestitures have streamlined the company and strengthened its balance sheet. Graham Holdings passes our criteria of investing in market leading companies, with a history of profitability, that are well-financed, and that are run by shareholder-oriented management teams.

 

If you have any questions about the recent merger, please call our shareholder support line toll-free at (888) 726-9331, or call me directly at (239) 867-4520.

 

With best regards,

 

 

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA

Portfolio Manager

 

22


AVE MARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

Shares

 

Company

 

Market Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
 

90,000

 

Rosetta Resources, Inc.

 

$

2,082,600

     

5.1

%

 

199,200

 

Dundee Corporation - Class A

   

2,001,960

     

4.9

%

 

60,000

 

DeVry Education Group, Inc.

   

1,798,800

     

4.4

%

 

80,000

 

Rowan Companies plc - Class A

   

1,688,800

     

4.2

%

 

40,000

 

Avnet, Inc.

   

1,644,400

     

4.1

%

 

56,000

 

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

   

1,480,640

     

3.6

%

 

170,000

 

Pan American Silver Corporation

   

1,460,300

     

3.6

%

 

30,000

 

World Fuel Services Corporation

   

1,438,500

     

3.5

%

 

30,000

 

Cubic Corporation

   

1,427,400

     

3.5

%

 

3,036

 

Alleghany Corporation

   

1,423,155

     

3.5

%

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)


 

Sector

% of Net Assets

Consumer Discretionary

14.0%

Energy

19.9%

Financials

10.6%

Health Care

1.4%

Industrials

11.3%

Information Technology

17.0%

Materials

10.7%

Money Market Funds, Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

15.1%

 

100.0%

 

23


AVE MARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 84.9%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 14.0%

       

Diversified Consumer Services — 7.6%

       

Apollo Education Group, Inc. *

   

100,000

   

$

1,288,000

 

DeVry Education Group, Inc.

   

60,000

     

1,798,800

 
             

3,086,800

 

Media — 2.5%

               

Discovery Communications, Inc. - Series A *

   

30,000

     

997,800

 
                 

Specialty Retail — 3.9%

               

Aaron's, Inc.

   

20,000

     

724,200

 

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

   

30,000

     

850,500

 
             

1,574,700

 

Energy — 19.9%

               

Energy Equipment & Services — 7.8%

               

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

   

56,000

     

1,480,640

 

Rowan Companies plc - Class A

   

80,000

     

1,688,800

 
             

3,169,440

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 12.1%

               

Rosetta Resources, Inc. *

   

90,000

     

2,082,600

 

SM Energy Company

   

30,000

     

1,383,600

 

World Fuel Services Corporation

   

30,000

     

1,438,500

 
             

4,904,700

 

Financials — 10.6%

               

Capital Markets — 6.2%

               

Dundee Corporation - Class A *

   

199,200

     

2,001,960

 

Federated Investors, Inc. - Class B

   

15,000

     

502,350

 
             

2,504,310

 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.9%

               

Leucadia National Corporation

   

15,000

     

364,200

 
                 

Insurance — 3.5%

               

Alleghany Corporation *

   

3,036

     

1,423,155

 
                 

Health Care — 1.4%

               

Health Care Technology — 1.4%

               

Vocera Communications, Inc. *

   

50,000

     

572,500

 
                 

Industrials — 11.3%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 3.5%

               

Cubic Corporation

   

30,000

     

1,427,400

 
                 

Machinery — 7.8%

               

Conrad Industries, Inc.

   

45,192

     

1,360,279

 

Donaldson Company, Inc.

   

35,000

     

1,253,000

 

 

24


AVE MARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 84.9% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Industrials — 11.3% (Continued)

       

Machinery — 7.8% (Continued)

       

Trinity Industries, Inc.

   

20,000

   

$

528,600

 
             

3,141,879

 

Information Technology — 17.0%

               

Communications Equipment — 5.8%

               

ARRIS Group, Inc. *

   

40,000

     

1,224,000

 

InterDigital, Inc.

   

20,000

     

1,137,800

 
             

2,361,800

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 6.8%

               

Arrow Electronics, Inc. *

   

20,000

     

1,116,000

 

Avnet, Inc.

   

40,000

     

1,644,400

 
             

2,760,400

 

IT Services — 4.4%

               

StarTek, Inc. *

   

219,046

     

1,292,372

 

Syntel, Inc. *

   

10,000

     

474,800

 
             

1,767,172

 

Materials — 10.7%

               

Chemicals — 5.4%

               

H.B. Fuller Company

   

35,000

     

1,421,700

 

Platform Specialty Products Corporation *

   

30,000

     

767,400

 
             

2,189,100

 

Metals & Mining — 5.3%

               

Horsehead Holding Corporation *

   

60,000

     

703,200

 

Pan American Silver Corporation

   

170,000

     

1,460,300

 
             

2,163,500

 
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $34,401,384)

         

$

34,408,856

 

 

25


AVE MARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 15.4%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

1,914,465

   

$

1,914,465

 

Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

1,914,465

     

1,914,465

 

Federated U.S. Treasury Cash Reserves Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.00% (a)

   

1,914,464

     

1,914,464

 

Invesco Short-Term Investments Trust (The) - Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 0.02% (a)

   

503,562

     

503,562

 

Total Money Market Funds (Cost $6,246,956)

         

$

6,246,956

 
                 

Total Investments at Market Value — 100.3% (Cost $40,648,340)

         

$

40,655,812

 
                 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.3%)

           

(116,439

)

                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

         

$

40,539,373

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

26


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)


 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

The Ave Maria World Equity Fund (the “Fund”) delivered a total return of +1.29% for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The return for the S&P Global 1200 Index during this time period was +2.79%.

 

Since inception on April 30, 2010, the cumulative and annualized returns for the Fund compared to its benchmark were:

 

 

Since 4-30-2010 Inception

through 6-30-15 Total Returns

 

Cumulative

Annualized

Ave Maria World Equity Fund (AVEWX)

45.36%

7.51%

S&P Global 1200 Index

64.09%

10.06%

 

The Fund is designed to give our U.S. based shareholders exposure to the global developed equity markets through the holding of multi-national, large cap companies, all of which meet our strict moral standards. Owning shares of companies headquartered outside the U.S. was generally beneficial to shareholders during the first half of 2015, as U.S. equity index returns (as measured by the S&P 500) lagged those of other developed regions, primarily Europe and Japan. Although the U.S. economy continued to outgrow its peers, the U.S. equity market under-performed, seemingly due to a combination of fuller valuations, the end of Federal Reserve easing last fall, and the prospect of higher interest rates. This contrasted to regions like Europe and Japan, where although the economies were weaker in comparison, equity market valuations were lower, and central banks were actually ramping up monetary easing activities – which led to stronger market returns.

 

The Fund’s return lagged that of the S&P Global 1200 Index during the first half of 2015, due in part to currency movement. The Fund’s U.S. based investments all have significant foreign sales. As the dollar strengthened, the foreign revenues and profits converted back into U.S. dollars was negative for these companies. From a sector standpoint, the primary drivers of the relative underperformance came from the industrials, health care, and materials sectors. The Fund saw positive contributions from its financials and consumer staples holdings.

 

Our consumer staple holdings delivered returns in the mid-teens. Mondelēz International, Inc. led the way, as the company posted better earnings during the 1st quarter, and the shares also received a boost from takeout speculation. Shares of beer-maker Heineken N.V., were also up solidly during the period.

 

27


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

Within financials holdings, AXA S.A., a global insurance company based in France, experienced double digit share appreciation, as the company reported stronger than expected new business volumes. Shares of recently purchased Japan based Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. were also up double digits. We like Sumitomo due to its attractive valuation, and prospects for improving profitability and higher capital returns to shareholders.

 

Negatively affecting performance was Fluor Corporation, an engineering and construction firm, due to its energy project exposure. The company continues to appear well positioned for the long term. The shares of Canadian National Railway Company were also under pressure due to weakening volumes from grain, coal and crude. In health care, although all of our holdings were in positive territory during the period, and indeed 3 of the 4 were up double digits, the Fund trailed the especially strong returns of the health care stocks in the S&P Global 1200 index.

 

Four new positions, all of which complied with the Ave Maria Mutual Funds’ moral screens, were added to the Fund since December 31, 2014: Discovery Communications, Inc., Eaton Corporation plc, Equinix, Inc., and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. Five positions were eliminated, Credit Suisse Group AG, Nestlè S.A., The Swatch Group AG, Syngenta AG and Teradata Corporation, in favor of what we believe to be more attractive investment opportunities.

 

As of June 30, 2015, the Fund’s geographic weightings versus the S&P Global 1200 Index were approximately:

 

 

Ave Maria World
Equity Fund

S&P Global
1200 Index

Americas

61%

60%

Europe Developed

13%

17%

United Kingdom

5%

8%

Japan

8%

8%

Asia Developed

2%

2%

Asia Emerging

2%

2%

Australasia

1%

3%

Other

1%

Cash Equivalents

7%

 

 

28


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

We believe shareholders will continue to be rewarded by owning a portfolio of global, world-class companies. Thank you for your continued investment in the Ave Maria World Equity Fund.

 

   

Gregory R. Heilman

Joseph W. Skornicka

Co-Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

29


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

Shares

 

Company

 

Market Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
 

36,000

 

Citigroup, Inc.

 

$

1,988,640

     

4.4

%

 

23,619

 

Medtronic plc

   

1,750,168

     

3.9

%

 

12,800

 

Toyota Motor Corporation - ADR

   

1,712,000

     

3.8

%

 

22,500

 

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

   

1,644,075

     

3.6

%

 

64,500

 

AXA S.A. - ADR

   

1,628,625

     

3.6

%

 

35,000

 

Mondelēz International, Inc. - Class A

   

1,439,900

     

3.2

%

 

15,000

 

Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.

   

1,423,050

     

3.1

%

 

21,500

 

TE Connectivity Ltd.

   

1,382,450

     

3.1

%

 

20,000

 

Eaton Corporation plc

   

1,349,800

     

3.0

%

 

5,500

 

Shire plc - ADR

   

1,328,195

     

3.0

%

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)


 

Sector

% of Net Assets

Consumer Discretionary

11.6%

Consumer Staples

7.6%

Energy

6.1%

Financials

22.4%

Health Care

12.0%

Industrials

13.5%

Information Technology

12.5%

Materials

6.8%

Exchange-Traded Funds

0.7%

Money Market Funds, Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

6.8%

 

100.0%

 

30


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 92.5%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 11.6%

       

Auto Components — 3.4%

       

Bridgestone Corporation - ADR

   

51,000

   

$

942,990

 
Cie Générale des Établissements Michelin - ADR
   

29,000

     

609,290

 
             

1,552,280

 

Automobiles — 3.8%

               

Toyota Motor Corporation - ADR

   

12,800

     

1,712,000

 
                 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.0%

               

McDonald's Corporation

   

4,500

     

427,815

 
                 

Household Durables — 2.4%

               

Tupperware Brands Corporation

   

17,000

     

1,097,180

 
                 

Media — 1.0%

               

Discovery Communications, Inc. - Class A *

   

14,000

     

465,640

 
                 

Consumer Staples — 7.6%

               

Beverages — 4.4%

               

Diageo plc - ADR

   

10,000

     

1,160,400

 

Heineken N.V. - ADR

   

21,500

     

820,655

 
             

1,981,055

 

Food Products — 3.2%

               

Mondelēz International, Inc. - Class A

   

35,000

     

1,439,900

 
                 

Energy — 6.1%

               

Energy Equipment & Services — 3.4%

               

Schlumberger Limited

   

15,200

     

1,310,088

 

Tidewater, Inc.

   

10,000

     

227,300

 
             

1,537,388

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 2.7%

               

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

   

30,000

     

814,800

 

Exxon Mobil Corporation

   

5,000

     

416,000

 
             

1,230,800

 

Financials — 22.4%

               

Banks — 1.9%

               

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. - ADR

   

99,000

     

880,110

 
                 

Capital Markets — 1.9%

               

Franklin Resources, Inc.

   

17,500

     

858,025

 
                 

Diversified Financial Services — 6.2%

               

Citigroup, Inc.

   

36,000

     

1,988,640

 

 

31


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 92.5% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Financials — 22.4% (Continued)

       

Diversified Financial Services — 6.2% (Continued)

       

Western Union Company (The)

   

40,000

   

$

813,200

 
             

2,801,840

 

Insurance — 12.4%

               

ACE Limited

   

13,000

     

1,321,840

 

AXA S.A. - ADR

   

64,500

     

1,628,625

 

Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.

   

15,000

     

1,423,050

 

Validus Holdings Ltd.

   

28,000

     

1,231,720

 
             

5,605,235

 

Health Care — 12.0%

               

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 9.0%

               

Abbott Laboratories

   

14,000

     

687,120

 

Medtronic plc

   

23,619

     

1,750,168

 

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

   

22,500

     

1,644,075

 
             

4,081,363

 

Pharmaceuticals — 3.0%

               

Shire plc - ADR

   

5,500

     

1,328,195

 
                 

Industrials — 13.5%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 2.3%

               

United Technologies Corporation

   

9,500

     

1,053,835

 
                 

Construction & Engineering — 2.2%

               

Fluor Corporation

   

18,600

     

985,986

 
                 

Electrical Equipment — 3.0%

               

Eaton Corporation plc

   

20,000

     

1,349,800

 
                 

Industrial Conglomerates — 4.1%

               

3M Company

   

3,000

     

462,900

 

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

   

16,000

     

407,360

 

Siemens AG - ADR

   

9,500

     

964,535

 
             

1,834,795

 

Road & Rail — 1.9%

               

Canadian National Railway Company

   

15,000

     

866,250

 
                 

Information Technology — 12.5%

               

Communications Equipment — 1.5%

               

QUALCOMM, Incorporated

   

11,000

     

688,930

 
                 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 3.1%

               

TE Connectivity Ltd.

   

21,500

     

1,382,450

 

 

32


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 92.5% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Information Technology — 12.5% (Continued)

       

Internet Software & Services — 1.1%

       

Equinix, Inc.

   

2,000

   

$

508,000

 
                 

IT Services — 1.5%

               

Accenture plc - Class A

   

7,000

     

677,460

 
                 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.5%

               

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. - ADR

   

50,000

     

1,135,500

 
                 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 2.8%

               

EMC Corporation

   

48,000

     

1,266,720

 
                 

Materials — 6.8%

               

Chemicals — 4.5%

               

FMC Corporation

   

16,000

     

840,800

 

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

   

11,000

     

1,202,190

 
             

2,042,990

 

Metals & Mining — 2.3%

               

BHP Billiton Ltd. - ADR

   

7,000

     

284,970

 

POSCO - ADR

   

15,000

     

736,350

 
             

1,021,320

 
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $37,170,621)

         

$

41,812,862

 

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 0.7%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

iShares Gold Trust * (Cost $520,564)

   

30,000

   

$

340,200

 

 

 

33


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 6.7%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

2,106,200

   

$

2,106,200

 

Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

937,340

     

937,340

 

Total Money Market Funds (Cost $3,043,540)

         

$

3,043,540

 
                 

Total Investments at Market Value — 99.9% (Cost $40,734,725)

         

$

45,196,602

 
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.1%

           

26,830

 
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

         

$

45,223,432

 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

 

SUMMARY OF COMMON STOCKS BY COUNTRY
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

Country

 

Value

   

% of Net Assets

 

United States

 

$

26,198,992

     

58.0

%

Japan

   

3,535,100

     

7.8

%

United Kingdom

   

2,488,595

     

5.5

%

France

   

2,237,915

     

4.9

%

Canada

   

1,681,050

     

3.7

%

Switzerland

   

1,321,840

     

2.9

%

Netherlands

   

1,228,015

     

2.7

%

Taiwan

   

1,135,500

     

2.5

%

Germany

   

964,535

     

2.2

%

South Korea

   

736,350

     

1.6

%

Australia

   

284,970

     

0.7

%

   

$

41,812,862

     

92.5

%

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

34


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)


 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Ave Maria Bond Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of 0.53%, compared to 0.81% for the Barclays U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Index.

 

It’s been a volatile first half of the year for interest rates. The second quarter snapped five consecutive quarters of interest-rate declines as the ten-year U.S. Treasury started the second quarter at 1.93% and ended at 2.33%. The Federal Reserve is finally expected to raise short-term interest rates later this year for the first time since 2006. In addition, the ongoing Greek financial crisis has recently added downward pressure on U.S. interest rates, as investors instinctively flock to the safety of U.S. Treasuries when macro threats occur around the world.

 

On the face of it, the U.S. economy looks to be improving. The headline unemployment number has dropped to 5.3% from 5.6% at the beginning of the year. While that sounds good, the decrease was due to more people leaving the workforce than those finding employment. A more comprehensive view of employment is to look at the participation rate, which is currently at 62.6%, the lowest since October 1977. Additionally, hourly earnings have only been treading water, and newly added jobs have tended to be in lower-paying sectors of the economy, such as retail, leisure and hospitality. So the economic recovery, now 6 years in the making, has been anything but robust.

 

For the first half of 2015, the top three performing assets in the Fund were the common stocks of Hasbro, Inc. (toys and games), Fifth Third Bancorp (banks), and Abbott Laboratories (life science equipment). The Fund’s worst performing assets were the common stocks of United Parcel Service, Inc. (courier services), Norfolk Southern Corporation (rail freight), and Exxon Mobil Corporation (integrated oils). Dividend-paying common stocks continued to contribute positively to the performance of the Fund.

 

The Fund continues to be managed in a conservative manner, with the expectation that, in time, interest rates will rise to a level more consistent with historical averages. Therefore, short-maturity, high-quality bonds and dividend-paying common stocks will continue to be emphasized. (As you know, up to 20% of the portfolio can be invested in dividend-paying common stocks.)

 

 

35


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

We appreciate your participation in the Ave Maria Bond Fund.

 

Sincerely,

 

   

Richard L. Platte, Jr., CFA

Brandon S. Scheitler

Co-Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

36


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS*
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

Par Value

 

Holding

 

Market Value

   

% of Net Assets

 

$

5,000,000

 

U.S. Treasury Notes, 3.875%, due 05/15/18

 

$

5,413,670

     

2.6

%

 

5,000,000

 

U.S. Treasury Notes, 3.500%, due 02/15/18

   

5,338,280

     

2.6

%

 

5,000,000

 

U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.125%, due 12/31/15

   

5,048,830

     

2.5

%

 

2,500,000

 

U.S. Treasury Bonds, 8.000%, due 11/15/21

   

3,412,500

     

1.7

%

 

3,000,000

 

U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.625%, due 02/29/16

   

3,048,750

     

1.5

%

 

3,000,000

 

U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.125%, due 09/30/21

   

3,030,000

     

1.5

%

 

3,000,000

 

U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.375%, due 11/30/15

   

3,016,173

     

1.5

%

 

3,000,000

 

Colgate-Palmolive Company, 2.450%, due 11/15/21

   

3,013,752

     

1.5

%

 

2,940,000

 

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, 3.125%, due 02/15/22

   

2,947,353

     

1.4

%

 

3,000,000

 

U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.500%, due 01/31/22

   

2,904,375

     

1.4

%

 

* Excludes cash equivalents.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)


 

 

% of Net Assets

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS

 

U.S. Treasuries

28.2%

   

CORPORATE BONDS

 

Sector

 

Consumer Discretionary

6.6%

Consumer Staples

8.2%

Energy

6.0%

Financials

5.0%

Health Care

3.6%

Industrials

12.3%

Information Technology

4.3%

Materials

0.4%

Utilities

2.8%

   

COMMON STOCKS

 

Sector

 

Consumer Discretionary

1.4%

Consumer Staples

3.3%

Energy

2.0%

Financials

3.0%

Health Care

0.7%

Industrials

3.1%

Information Technology

3.0%

   

MONEY MARKET FUNDS, OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

6.1%

 

100.0%

 

37


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS — 28.2%

 

Par Value

   

Market Value

 

U.S. Treasury Bonds — 1.7%

       

8.000%, due 11/15/21

 

$

2,500,000

   

$

3,412,500

 
                 

U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Notes — 3.9%

               

2.500%, due 07/15/16

   

2,342,960

     

2,429,905

 

2.625%, due 07/15/17

   

1,141,500

     

1,224,883

 

0.125%, due 04/15/18

   

2,046,920

     

2,079,063

 

1.125%, due 01/15/21

   

2,163,020

     

2,287,900

 
             

8,021,751

 

U.S. Treasury Notes — 22.6%

               

1.375%, due 11/30/15

   

3,000,000

     

3,016,173

 

2.125%, due 12/31/15

   

5,000,000

     

5,048,830

 

2.625%, due 02/29/16

   

3,000,000

     

3,048,750

 

2.000%, due 04/30/16

   

2,500,000

     

2,535,155

 

1.500%, due 06/30/16

   

2,000,000

     

2,023,124

 

0.625%, due 08/15/16

   

2,000,000

     

2,005,624

 

3.250%, due 12/31/16

   

2,500,000

     

2,603,320

 

1.000%, due 03/31/17

   

2,500,000

     

2,519,140

 

0.875%, due 04/30/17

   

2,500,000

     

2,512,695

 

0.625%, due 09/30/17

   

2,500,000

     

2,492,577

 

0.750%, due 12/31/17

   

2,000,000

     

1,995,782

 

3.500%, due 02/15/18

   

5,000,000

     

5,338,280

 

3.875%, due 05/15/18

   

5,000,000

     

5,413,670

 

2.125%, due 09/30/21

   

3,000,000

     

3,030,000

 

1.500%, due 01/31/22

   

3,000,000

     

2,904,375

 
             

46,487,495

 
                 

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $57,756,892)

         

$

57,921,746

 

 

CORPORATE BONDS — 49.2%

 

Par Value

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 6.6%

       

Coca-Cola Company (The), 1.650%, due 11/01/18

 

$

1,500,000

   

$

1,507,932

 

Johnson Controls, Inc., 5.500%, due 01/15/16

   

1,000,000

     

1,025,119

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc., 5.000%, due 10/15/15

   

500,000

     

506,359

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc., 2.125%, due 04/15/16

   

1,000,000

     

1,011,765

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc., 3.120%, due 04/15/22

   

1,000,000

     

1,011,874

 

McDonald's Corporation, 5.350%, due 03/01/18

   

2,000,000

     

2,192,572

 

TJX Companies, Inc. (The), 6.950%, due 04/15/19

   

1,285,000

     

1,505,178

 

TJX Companies, Inc. (The), 2.750%, due 06/15/21

   

2,305,000

     

2,332,529

 

VF Corporation, 5.950%, due 11/01/17

   

2,270,000

     

2,512,309

 
             

13,605,637

 

 

38


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

CORPORATE BONDS — 49.2% (Continued)

 

Par Value

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Staples — 8.2%

       

Colgate-Palmolive Company, 2.450%, due 11/15/21

 

$

3,000,000

   

$

3,013,752

 

Colgate-Palmolive Company, 3.250%, due 03/15/24

   

795,000

     

806,339

 

Hershey Company (The), 2.625%, due 05/01/23

   

2,831,000

     

2,775,560

 

Hormel Foods Corporation, 4.125%, due 04/15/21

   

2,000,000

     

2,172,462

 

J.M. Smucker Company (The), 3.500%, due 10/15/21

   

2,000,000

     

2,057,246

 

Kellogg Company, 4.150%, due 11/15/19

   

2,042,000

     

2,177,146

 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 6.125%, due 08/01/17

   

1,475,000

     

1,622,556

 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 2.400%, due 03/01/22

   

2,311,000

     

2,258,441

 
             

16,883,502

 

Energy — 6.0%

               

Apache Corporation, 5.625%, due 01/15/17

   

1,750,000

     

1,856,108

 

Apache Corporation, 1.750%, due 04/15/17

   

1,500,000

     

1,506,549

 

ConocoPhillips, 1.050%, due 12/15/17

   

1,750,000

     

1,736,816

 

Exxon Mobil Corporation, 2.397%, due 03/06/22

   

2,000,000

     

1,962,024

 

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, 3.125%, due 02/15/22

   

2,940,000

     

2,947,353

 

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, 2.700%, due 02/15/23

   

2,350,000

     

2,272,485

 
             

12,281,335

 

Financials — 5.0%

               

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (The), 2.300%, due 07/28/16

   

1,500,000

     

1,526,733

 

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (The), 2.100%, due 08/01/18

   

1,000,000

     

1,012,606

 

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, 2.650%, due 04/01/16

   

1,000,000

     

1,016,383

 

MasterCard, Inc., 2.000%, due 04/01/19

   

2,000,000

     

2,006,680

 

PACCAR Financial Corporation, 1.600%, due 03/15/17

   

2,000,000

     

2,019,436

 

U.S. Bancorp, 2.450%, due 07/27/15

   

1,500,000

     

1,501,932

 

U.S. Bancorp, 2.200%, due 04/25/19

   

1,173,000

     

1,185,293

 
             

10,269,063

 

Health Care — 3.6%

               

Amgen, Inc., 3.875%, due 11/15/21

   

2,108,000

     

2,210,658

 

Medtronic plc, 4.750%, due 09/15/15

   

1,000,000

     

1,008,161

 

Medtronic plc, 2.625%, due 03/15/16

   

500,000

     

506,736

 

Stryker Corporation, 2.000%, due 09/30/16

   

1,150,000

     

1,162,428

 

Zimmer Holdings, Inc., 4.625%, due 11/30/19

   

2,310,000

     

2,511,554

 
             

7,399,537

 

Industrials — 12.3%

               

3M Company, 1.375%, due 09/29/16

   

1,393,000

     

1,404,416

 

3M Company, 1.000%, due 06/26/17

   

2,000,000

     

2,002,546

 

Emerson Electric Company, 5.250%, due 10/15/18

   

1,600,000

     

1,780,626

 

Emerson Electric Company, 4.250%, due 11/15/20

   

2,109,000

     

2,300,849

 

 

39


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

CORPORATE BONDS — 49.2% (Continued)

 

Par Value

   

Market Value

 

Industrials — 12.3% (Continued)

       

General Dynamics Corporation, 2.250%, due 07/15/16

 

$

1,650,000

   

$

1,675,425

 

Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 1.950%, due 03/01/19

   

2,000,000

     

2,010,074

 

Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 6.250%, due 04/01/19

   

1,000,000

     

1,146,819

 

John Deere Capital Corporation, 1.400%, due 03/15/17

   

1,700,000

     

1,716,128

 

John Deere Capital Corporation, 1.700%, due 01/15/20

   

2,000,000

     

1,958,250

 

Norfolk Southern Corporation, 5.750%, due 04/01/18

   

885,000

     

978,247

 

Norfolk Southern Corporation, 5.900%, due 06/15/19

   

441,000

     

500,501

 

Ryder System, Inc., 5.850%, due 11/01/16

   

285,000

     

301,513

 

Snap-On, Inc., 6.125%, due 09/01/21

   

1,000,000

     

1,186,038

 

Union Pacific Corporation, 2.250%, due 02/15/19

   

2,000,000

     

2,026,280

 

United Parcel Service, Inc., 5.500%, due 01/15/18

   

1,500,000

     

1,654,176

 

United Parcel Service, Inc., 5.125%, due 04/01/19

   

1,500,000

     

1,672,216

 

United Technologies Corporation, 5.375%, due 12/15/17

   

839,000

     

921,529

 
             

25,235,633

 

Information Technology — 4.3%

               

CA, Inc., 5.375%, due 12/01/19

   

1,000,000

     

1,113,165

 

Hewlett-Packard Company, 2.125%, due 09/13/15

   

500,000

     

501,654

 

Hewlett-Packard Company, 2.650%, due 06/01/16

   

500,000

     

506,287

 

Hewlett-Packard Company, 2.750%, due 01/14/19

   

1,500,000

     

1,516,275

 

International Business Machines Corporation, 2.000%, due 01/05/16

   

1,410,000

     

1,421,876

 

National Semiconductor Corporation, 6.600%, due 06/15/17

   

1,605,000

     

1,772,385

 

Texas Instruments, Inc., 1.650%, due 08/03/19

   

2,000,000

     

1,971,802

 
             

8,803,444

 

Materials — 0.4%

               

PPG Industries, Inc., 6.650%, due 03/15/18

   

207,000

     

232,465

 

Praxair Inc., 4.050%, due 03/15/21

   

500,000

     

541,349

 
             

773,814

 

Utilities — 2.8%

               

Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., 5.300%, due 12/01/16

   

2,000,000

     

2,107,300

 

Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., 6.650%, due 04/01/19

   

800,000

     

932,873

 

Georgia Power Company, 4.250%, due 12/01/19

   

1,500,000

     

1,634,890

 

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 2.600%, due 09/01/15

   

1,000,000

     

1,002,823

 
             

5,677,886

 
                 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $100,861,948)

         

$

100,929,851

 

 

40


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 16.5%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 1.4%

       

Household Durables — 0.9%

       

Tupperware Brands Corporation

   

30,000

   

$

1,936,200

 
                 

Leisure Products — 0.2%

               

Hasbro, Inc.

   

5,000

     

373,950

 
                 

Media — 0.3%

               

Omnicom Group, Inc.

   

7,500

     

521,175

 
                 

Consumer Staples — 3.3%

               

Beverages — 2.0%

               

Coca-Cola Company (The)

   

50,000

     

1,961,500

 

Diageo plc - ADR

   

18,000

     

2,088,720

 
             

4,050,220

 

Food & Staples Retailing — 0.7%

               

Sysco Corporation

   

43,000

     

1,552,300

 
                 

Household Products — 0.6%

               

Clorox Company (The)

   

12,000

     

1,248,240

 
                 

Energy — 2.0%

               

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 2.0%

               

Exxon Mobil Corporation

   

25,000

     

2,080,000

 

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

   

25,000

     

1,944,250

 
             

4,024,250

 

Financials — 3.0%

               

Banks — 1.9%

               

Fifth Third Bancorp

   

100,000

     

2,082,000

 

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   

19,000

     

1,817,350

 
             

3,899,350

 

Insurance — 1.1%

               

ACE Limited

   

10,000

     

1,016,800

 

Arthur J. Gallagher & Company

   

25,000

     

1,182,500

 
             

2,199,300

 

Health Care — 0.7%

               

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.7%

               

Abbott Laboratories

   

30,000

     

1,472,400

 
                 

Industrials — 3.1%

               

Air Freight & Logistics — 0.8%

               

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B

   

17,000

     

1,647,470

 

 

41


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 16.5% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Industrials — 3.1% (Continued)

       

Electrical Equipment — 1.0%

       

Emerson Electric Company

   

35,000

   

$

1,940,050

 
                 

Machinery — 0.9%

               

Caterpillar, Inc.

   

22,250

     

1,887,245

 
                 

Road & Rail — 0.4%

               

Norfolk Southern Corporation

   

9,000

     

786,240

 
                 

Information Technology — 3.0%

               

Communications Equipment — 1.1%

               

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   

80,000

     

2,196,800

 
                 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 1.0%

               

Microchip Technology, Inc.

   

45,000

     

2,134,125

 
                 

Software — 0.9%

               

CA, Inc.

   

65,000

     

1,903,850

 
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $30,977,598)

         

$

33,773,165

 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 5.5%

 

Shares

   

Market Value

 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

9,647,662

   

$

9,647,662

 

Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 0.01% (a)

   

1,668,903

     

1,668,903

 

Total Money Market Funds (Cost $11,316,565)

         

$

11,316,565

 
                 

Total Investments at Market Value — 99.4% (Cost $200,913,003)

         

$

203,941,327

 
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.6%

           

1,226,792

 
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

         

$

205,168,119

 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

 

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

 

See notes to schedules of investments.

 

42


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

 

Ave Maria
Catholic Values
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund

 

ASSETS

           

Investment securities:

           

At cost

 

$

188,350,951

   

$

220,127,671

   

$

740,671,986

 

At market value (Note 1)

 

$

230,066,032

   

$

312,912,959

   

$

842,068,966

 

Affiliated investments, at market value (Cost $1,107,092) (Note 5)

   

2,965,264

     

     

 

Receivable for investment securities sold

   

1,573,341

     

     

1,808,572

 

Receivable for capital shares sold

   

333,822

     

239,907

     

887,764

 

Dividends receivable

   

203,751

     

270,941

     

1,702,024

 

Other assets

   

21,464

     

26,508

     

44,517

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   

235,163,674

     

313,450,315

     

846,511,843

 
                         

LIABILITIES

                       

Dividends payable

   

     

     

261,329

 

Payable for investment securities purchased

   

1,291,647

     

     

1,571,939

 

Payable for capital shares redeemed

   

51,951

     

224,056

     

690,805

 

Payable to Adviser (Note 2)

   

577,483

     

750,525

     

1,621,259

 

Payable to administrator (Note 2)

   

26,683

     

34,351

     

82,323

 

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

   

17,257

     

20,063

     

40,035

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

   

1,965,021

     

1,028,995

     

4,267,690

 
                         

NET ASSETS

 

$

233,198,653

   

$

312,421,320

   

$

842,244,153

 
                         

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

                       

Paid-in capital

 

$

176,105,918

   

$

204,337,713

   

$

696,612,180

 

Accumulated net investment income

   

30,259

     

279,274

     

2,547

 

Accumulated net realized gains from security transactions

   

13,489,223

     

15,019,045

     

44,232,446

 

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

   

43,573,253

     

92,785,288

     

101,396,980

 

NET ASSETS

 

$

233,198,653

   

$

312,421,320

   

$

842,244,153

 

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized,
no par value)

   

11,927,717

     

10,795,054

     

48,289,059

 

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)

 

$

19.55

   

$

28.94

   

$

17.44

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

43


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Ave Maria
Opportunity
Fund

   

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

ASSETS

           

Investment securities:

           

At amortized cost

 

$

40,648,340

   

$

40,734,725

   

$

200,913,003

 

At market value (Note 1)

 

$

40,655,812

   

$

45,196,602

   

$

203,941,327

 

Cash

   

     

8,960

     

 

Receivable for investment securities sold

   

     

     

496,651

 

Receivable for capital shares sold

   

6,750

     

51,143

     

325,110

 

Dividends and interest receivable

   

29,445

     

133,893

     

1,161,922

 

Other assets

   

16,050

     

14,844

     

26,253

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   

40,708,057

     

45,405,442

     

205,951,263

 
                         

LIABILITIES

                       

Dividends payable

   

     

     

38,956

 

Payable for investment securities purchased

   

     

     

532,416

 

Payable for capital shares redeemed

   

73,283

     

46,360

     

25,825

 

Payable to Adviser (Note 2)

   

80,579

     

120,285

     

150,949

 

Payable to administrator (Note 2)

   

4,739

     

5,139

     

16,912

 

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

   

10,083

     

10,226

     

18,086

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

   

168,684

     

182,010

     

783,144

 
                         

NET ASSETS

 

$

40,539,373

   

$

45,223,432

   

$

205,168,119

 
                         

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

                       

Paid-in capital

 

$

40,443,879

   

$

39,533,184

   

$

200,542,880

 

Accumulated net investment income (loss)

   

(87,818

)

   

177,069

     

91

 

Accumulated net realized gains from
security transactions

   

175,840

     

1,051,302

     

1,596,824

 

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

   

7,472

     

4,461,877

     

3,028,324

 

NET ASSETS

 

$

40,539,373

   

$

45,223,432

   

$

205,168,119

 

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

   

3,720,540

     

3,377,582

     

18,411,675

 

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)

 

$

10.90

   

$

13.39

   

$

11.14

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

44


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

 

Ave Maria
Catholic
Values Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

           

Dividends

 

$

1,458,733

   

$

2,080,244

   

$

9,128,418

 
                         

EXPENSES

                       

Investment advisory fees (Note 2)

   

1,148,783

     

1,463,658

     

3,195,694

 

Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)

   

163,288

     

203,559

     

494,263

 

Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

25,074

     

25,074

     

25,074

 

Legal and audit fees

   

21,108

     

23,385

     

39,102

 

Registration and filing fees

   

15,469

     

19,610

     

33,097

 

Postage and supplies

   

18,842

     

23,622

     

45,380

 

Custodian and bank service fees

   

7,819

     

10,101

     

26,025

 

Advisory board fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

6,291

     

6,291

     

6,291

 

Insurance expense

   

5,150

     

5,821

     

15,332

 

Printing of shareholder reports

   

4,824

     

5,720

     

9,185

 

Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

2,422

     

3,165

     

8,731

 

Other expenses

   

9,404

     

10,964

     

29,290

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

   

1,428,474

     

1,800,970

     

3,927,464

 
                         

NET INVESTMENT INCOME

   

30,259

     

279,274

     

5,200,954

 
                         

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

                       

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

13,854,521

     

15,077,236

     

44,232,446

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(18,403,388

)

   

(7,823,863

)

   

(57,885,312

)

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated investments (Note 5)

   

(359,340

)

   

     

 

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

   

(4,908,207

)

   

7,253,373

     

(13,652,866

)

                         

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

 

$

(4,877,948

)

 

$

7,532,647

   

$

(8,451,912

)

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

45


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Ave Maria
Opportunity
Fund

   

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

           

Dividends

 

$

191,625

   

$

543,410

   

$

476,196

 

Foreign withholding taxes on dividends

   

(1,094

)

   

(30,535

)

   

 

Interest

   

     

     

1,231,340

 

TOTAL INCOME

   

190,531

     

512,875

     

1,707,536

 
                         

EXPENSES

                       

Investment advisory fees (Note 2)

   

211,545

     

233,765

*

   

289,932

 

Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)

   

30,042

     

30,240

     

97,228

 

Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

25,074

     

25,074

     

25,074

 

Legal and audit fees

   

15,484

     

15,549

     

20,222

 

Registration and filing fees

   

13,789

     

13,135

     

17,928

 

Postage and supplies

   

7,138

     

5,109

     

11,693

 

Custodian and bank service fees

   

2,301

     

1,966

     

6,123

 

Advisory board fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

6,291

     

6,291

     

6,291

 

Insurance expense

   

1,106

     

816

     

3,270

 

Printing of shareholder reports

   

1,984

     

1,676

     

3,193

 

Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)

   

437

     

461

     

2,022

 

Other expenses

   

2,151

     

1,724

     

11,548

 

TOTAL EXPENSES

   

317,342

     

335,806

     

494,524

 

Less fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 2)

   

(38,993

)

   

     

 

NET EXPENSES

   

278,349

     

335,806

     

494,524

 
                         

NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)

   

(87,818

)

   

177,069

     

1,213,012

 
                         

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

                       

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

249,534

     

1,051,302

     

1,596,824

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(4,929,197

)

   

(677,299

)

   

(1,926,909

)

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

   

(4,679,663

)

   

374,003

     

(330,085

)

                         

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

 

$

(4,767,481

)

 

$

551,072

   

$

882,927

 

 

*

Includes $21,087 of prior years’ advisory fee reductions recouped by the Adviser from the Ave Maria World Equity Fund (Note 2).

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

46


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

 

FROM OPERATIONS

       

Net investment income (loss)

 

$

30,259

   

$

(91,380

)

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

13,854,521

     

21,236,942

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(18,403,388

)

   

(13,670,285

)

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on affiliated investments (Note 5)

   

(359,340

)

   

(424,417

)

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   

(4,877,948

)

   

7,050,860

 
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

               

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(21,374,871

)

                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

   

10,612,707

     

27,163,466

 

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

19,817,002

 

Payments for shares redeemed

   

(19,325,684

)

   

(32,667,873

)

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

   

(8,712,977

)

   

14,312,595

 
                 

TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS

   

(13,590,925

)

   

(11,416

)

                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of period

   

246,789,578

     

246,800,994

 

End of period

 

$

233,198,653

   

$

246,789,578

 
                 

ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME

 

$

30,259

   

$

 
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

   

531,659

     

1,278,659

 

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

987,394

 

Shares redeemed

   

(961,407

)

   

(1,543,597

)

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

   

(429,748

)

   

722,456

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of period

   

12,357,465

     

11,635,009

 

Shares outstanding, end of period

   

11,927,717

     

12,357,465

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

47


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

 

FROM OPERATIONS

       

Net investment income (loss)

 

$

279,274

   

$

(293,042

)

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

15,077,236

     

40,761,462

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(7,823,863

)

   

(19,086,278

)

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   

7,532,647

     

21,382,142

 
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

               

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(40,274,946

)

                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

   

25,099,449

     

45,290,157

 

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

36,776,864

 

Payments for shares redeemed

   

(24,050,975

)

   

(44,466,492

)

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

   

1,048,474

     

37,600,529

 
                 

TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

   

8,581,121

     

18,707,725

 
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of period

   

303,840,199

     

285,132,474

 

End of period

 

$

312,421,320

   

$

303,840,199

 
                 

ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME

 

$

279,274

   

$

 
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

   

870,907

     

1,501,583

 

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

1,290,416

 

Shares redeemed

   

(835,266

)

   

(1,475,858

)

Net increase in shares outstanding

   

35,641

     

1,316,141

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of period

   

10,759,413

     

9,443,272

 

Shares outstanding, end of period

   

10,795,054

     

10,759,413

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

48


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

 

FROM OPERATIONS

       

Net investment income

 

$

5,200,954

   

$

8,150,378

 

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

44,232,446

     

58,334,642

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(57,885,312

)

   

7,646,334

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   

(8,451,912

)

   

74,131,354

 
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

               

From net investment income

   

(5,198,407

)

   

(8,148,417

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(58,063,521

)

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

   

(5,198,407

)

   

(66,211,938

)

                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

   

103,287,677

     

266,425,413

 

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

4,609,226

     

59,558,854

 

Payments for shares redeemed

   

(100,097,941

)

   

(195,958,232

)

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

   

7,798,962

     

130,026,035

 
                 

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

   

(5,851,357

)

   

137,945,451

 
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of period

   

848,095,510

     

710,150,059

 

End of period

 

$

842,244,153

   

$

848,095,510

 
                 

ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME

 

$

2,547

   

$

 
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

   

5,803,579

     

14,832,004

 

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

261,958

     

3,322,588

 

Shares redeemed

   

(5,627,550

)

   

(10,743,572

)

Net increase in shares outstanding

   

437,987

     

7,411,020

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of period

   

47,851,072

     

40,440,052

 

Shares outstanding, end of period

   

48,289,059

     

47,851,072

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

49


AVE MARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

 

FROM OPERATIONS

       

Net investment loss

 

$

(87,818

)

 

$

(275,176

)

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

249,534

     

3,276,555

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(4,929,197

)

   

(7,496,363

)

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   

(4,767,481

)

   

(4,494,984

)

                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

               

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(3,320,446

)

                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

   

2,905,059

     

12,614,892

 

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

3,026,486

 

Payments for shares redeemed

   

(7,910,917

)

   

(9,218,281

)

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

   

(5,005,858

)

   

6,423,097

 
                 

TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS

   

(9,773,339

)

   

(1,392,333

)

                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of period

   

50,312,712

     

51,705,045

 

End of period

 

$

40,539,373

   

$

50,312,712

 
                 

ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT LOSS

 

$

(87,818

)

 

$

 
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

   

252,871

     

912,606

 

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

251,161

 

Shares redeemed

   

(690,528

)

   

(678,288

)

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

   

(437,657

)

   

485,479

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of period

   

4,158,197

     

3,672,718

 

Shares outstanding, end of period

   

3,720,540

     

4,158,197

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

50


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

 

FROM OPERATIONS

       

Net investment income

 

$

177,069

   

$

118,028

 

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

1,051,302

     

2,224,009

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(677,299

)

   

(2,281,690

)

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   

551,072

     

60,347

 
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

               

From net investment income

   

     

(118,182

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(2,224,115

)

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

   

     

(2,342,297

)

                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

   

6,538,702

     

11,535,246

 

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

1,967,470

 

Payments for shares redeemed

   

(4,533,296

)

   

(8,423,730

)

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

   

2,005,406

     

5,078,986

 
                 

TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

   

2,556,478

     

2,797,036

 
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of period

   

42,666,954

     

39,869,918

 

End of period

 

$

45,223,432

   

$

42,666,954

 
                 

ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME

 

$

177,069

   

$

 
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

   

483,735

     

826,336

 

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

     

147,597

 

Shares redeemed

   

(334,780

)

   

(613,026

)

Net increase in shares outstanding

   

148,955

     

360,907

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of period

   

3,228,627

     

2,867,720

 

Shares outstanding, end of period

   

3,377,582

     

3,228,627

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

51


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

 

FROM OPERATIONS

       

Net investment income

 

$

1,213,012

   

$

1,835,899

 

Net realized gains from security transactions

   

1,596,824

     

5,568,721

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

   

(1,926,909

)

   

(3,717,765

)

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   

882,927

     

3,686,855

 
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

               

From net investment income

   

(1,213,038

)

   

(1,835,148

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(5,569,365

)

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

   

(1,213,038

)

   

(7,404,513

)

                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

   

41,822,642

     

68,345,003

 

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

1,014,531

     

6,222,276

 

Payments for shares redeemed

   

(18,056,596

)

   

(39,881,687

)

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

   

24,780,577

     

34,685,592

 
                 

TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

   

24,450,466

     

30,967,934

 
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of period

   

180,717,653

     

149,749,719

 

End of period

 

$

205,168,119

   

$

180,717,653

 
                 

ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME

 

$

91

   

$

117

 
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

   

3,729,263

     

5,978,811

 

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

   

90,505

     

553,992

 

Shares redeemed

   

(1,609,480

)

   

(3,485,512

)

Net increase in shares outstanding

   

2,210,288

     

3,047,291

 

Shares outstanding, beginning of period

   

16,201,387

     

13,154,096

 

Shares outstanding, end of period

   

18,411,675

     

16,201,387

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

52


AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2013

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2012

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2011

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2010

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

 

$

19.97

   

$

21.21

   

$

17.78

   

$

16.20

   

$

16.42

   

$

13.63

 
                                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                               

Net investment income (loss)

   

0.00

(a) 

   

(0.01

)

   

(0.00

)(a)

   

0.06

     

(0.01

)

   

0.01

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)on investments

   

(0.42

)

   

0.63

     

4.66

     

2.09

     

(0.21

)

   

2.79

 

Total from investment operations

   

(0.42

)

   

0.62

     

4.66

     

2.15

     

(0.22

)

   

2.80

 
                                                 

Less distributions:

                                               

From net investment income

   

     

     

     

(0.06

)

   

     

(0.01

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(1.86

)

   

(1.23

)

   

(0.51

)

   

     

 

Total distributions

   

     

(1.86

)

   

(1.23

)

   

(0.57

)

   

     

(0.01

)

                                                 

Net asset value at end of period

 

$

19.55

   

$

19.97

   

$

21.21

   

$

17.78

   

$

16.20

   

$

16.42

 
                                                 

Total return (b)

   

(2.1%

)(c)

   

2.9

%

   

26.2

%

   

13.3

%

   

(1.3

%)

   

20.5

%

                                                 

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                               

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

 

$

233,199

   

$

246,790

   

$

246,801

   

$

191,100

   

$

180,050

   

$

187,913

 
                                                 

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

   

1.18

%(e)

   

1.29

%

   

1.42

%

   

1.48

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%(d)

                                                 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

   

0.03

%(e)

   

(0.04

%)

   

(0.02

%)

   

0.35

%

   

(0.08

%)

   

0.04

%

                                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

18

%(c)

   

31

%

   

29

%

   

25

%

   

29

%

   

33

%

 

(a)

Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

 

(b)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(c)

Not annualized.

 

(d)

Absent investment advisory fee reductions by the Adviser, the ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 1.51% for the year ended December 31, 2010 (Note 2).

 

(e)

Annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

53


AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2013

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2012

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2011

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2010

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

 

$

28.24

   

$

30.19

   

$

23.71

   

$

20.67

   

$

20.56

   

$

16.26

 
                                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                               

Net investment income (loss)

   

0.03

     

(0.03

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(0.04

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.05

)

Net realized and unrealized gains on investments

   

0.67

     

2.33

     

7.55

     

3.08

     

0.17

     

4.35

 

Total from investment operations

   

0.70

     

2.30

     

7.47

     

3.04

     

0.11

     

4.30

 
                                                 

Less distributions:

                                               

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(4.25

)

   

(0.99

)

   

     

     

 
                                                 

Net asset value at end of period

 

$

28.94

   

$

28.24

   

$

30.19

   

$

23.71

   

$

20.67

   

$

20.56

 
                                                 

Total return (a)

   

2.5

%(b)

   

7.5

%

   

31.5

%

   

14.7

%

   

0.5

%

   

26.5

%

                                                 

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                               

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

 

$

312,421

   

$

303,840

   

$

285,132

   

$

198,761

   

$

162,072

   

$

147,443

 
                                                 

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

   

1.17

%(d)

   

1.28

%

   

1.43

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%(c)

                                                 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

   

0.18

%(d)

   

(0.10

%)

   

(0.29

%)

   

(0.17

%)

   

(0.29

%)

   

(0.29

%)

                                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

13

%(b)

   

36

%

   

18

%

   

33

%

   

10

%

   

25

%

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(b)

Not annualized.

 

(c)

Absent investment advisory fee reductions by the Adviser, the ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 1.52% for the year ended December 31, 2010 (Note 2).

 

(d)

Annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

54


AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Six Months

Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2013

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2012

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2011

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2010

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

 

$

17.72

   

$

17.56

   

$

13.49

   

$

12.68

   

$

12.51

   

$

10.77

 
                                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                               

Net investment income

   

0.11

     

0.18

     

0.17

     

0.23

     

0.18

     

0.17

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

   

(0.28

)

   

1.46

     

4.38

     

1.51

     

0.40

     

1.74

 

Total from investment operations

   

(0.17

)

   

1.64

     

4.55

     

1.74

     

0.58

     

1.91

 
                                                 

Less distributions:

                                               

From net investment income

   

(0.11

)

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.17

)

   

(0.23

)

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.17

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(1.30

)

   

(0.31

)

   

(0.70

)

   

(0.23

)

   

 

Total distributions

   

(0.11

)

   

(1.48

)

   

(0.48

)

   

(0.93

)

   

(0.41

)

   

(0.17

)

                                                 

Net asset value at end of period

 

$

17.44

   

$

17.72

   

$

17.56

   

$

13.49

   

$

12.68

   

$

12.51

 
                                                 

Total return (a)

   

(1.0%

)(b)

   

9.3

%

   

33.9

%

   

13.9

%

   

4.6

%

   

17.9

%

                                                 

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                               

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

 

$

842,244

   

$

848,096

   

$

710,150

   

$

303,909

   

$

223,982

   

$

127,022

 
                                                 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

   

0.92

%(c)

   

0.92

%

   

0.97

%

   

0.99

%

   

1.02

%

   

1.06

%

                                                 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

   

1.22

%(c)

   

1.01

%

   

1.16

%

   

1.75

%

   

1.45

%

   

1.52

%

                                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

17

%(b)

   

29

%

   

14

%

   

37

%

   

22

%

   

34

%

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(b)

Not annualized.

 

(c)

Annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

55


AVE MARIA OPPORTUNITY FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2013

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2012

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2011

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2010

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

 

$

12.10

   

$

14.08

   

$

11.38

   

$

10.99

   

$

10.85

   

$

9.11

 
                                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                               

Net investment income (loss)

   

(0.02

)

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.02

)

   

0.03

     

(0.03

)

   

0.01

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

   

(1.18

)

   

(1.06

)

   

3.03

     

0.39

     

0.17

     

1.74

 

Total from investment operations

   

(1.20

)

   

(1.13

)

   

3.01

     

0.42

     

0.14

     

1.75

 
                                                 

Less distributions:

                                               

From net investment income

   

     

     

     

(0.03

)

   

     

(0.01

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(0.85

)

   

(0.31

)

   

     

     

 

Total distributions

   

     

(0.85

)

   

(0.31

)

   

(0.03

)

   

     

(0.01

)

                                                 

Net asset value at end of period

 

$

10.90

   

$

12.10

   

$

14.08

   

$

11.38

   

$

10.99

   

$

10.85

 
                                                 

Total return (a)

   

(9.9%

)(b)

   

(8.0

%)

   

26.5

%

   

3.8

%

   

1.3

%

   

19.2

%

                                                 

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                               

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

 

$

40,539

   

$

50,313

   

$

51,705

   

$

36,497

   

$

33,727

   

$

24,794

 
                                                 

Ratio of net expenses to average net

assets (c)

   

1.25

%(d)

   

1.25

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.25

%

                                                 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

   

(0.39%

)(d)

   

(0.51

%)

   

(0.18

%)

   

0.25

%

   

(0.32

%)

   

0.07

%

                                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

46

%(b)

   

70

%

   

58

%

   

84

%

   

101

%

   

81

%

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(b)

Not annualized.

 

(c)

Absent investment advisory fee reductions by the Adviser, the ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 1.43%(d), 1.36%, 1.40%, 1.43%, 1.48% and 1.79% for the periods ended June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively (Note 2).

 

(d)

Annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

56


AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2013

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2012

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2011

   

Period
Ended
December 31, 2010(a)

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

 

$

13.22

   

$

13.90

   

$

11.46

   

$

10.11

   

$

11.24

   

$

10.00

 
                                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                               

Net investment income

   

0.05

     

0.04

     

0.03

     

0.05

     

0.05

     

0.00

(b) 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

   

0.12

     

0.04

     

2.66

     

1.35

     

(1.13

)

   

1.24

 

Total from investment operations

   

0.17

     

0.08

     

2.69

     

1.40

     

(1.08

)

   

1.24

 
                                                 

Less distributions:

                                               

From net investment income

   

     

(0.04

)

   

(0.03

)

   

(0.05

)

   

(0.05

)

   

 

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(0.72

)

   

(0.22

)

   

     

     

 

Total distributions

   

     

(0.76

)

   

(0.25

)

   

(0.05

)

   

(0.05

)

   

 
                                                 

Net asset value at end of period

 

$

13.39

   

$

13.22

   

$

13.90

   

$

11.46

   

$

10.11

   

$

11.24

 
                                                 

Total return (c)

   

1.3

%(d)

   

0.5

%

   

23.5

%

   

13.8

%

   

(9.6

%)

   

12.4

%(d)

                                                 

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                               

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

 

$

45,223

   

$

42,667

   

$

39,870

   

$

24,236

   

$

20,324

   

$

12,000

 
                                                 

Ratio of net expenses to average net

assets (e)

   

1.50

%(f)

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%(f)

                                                 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

   

0.79

%(f)

   

0.29

%

   

0.28

%

   

0.46

%

   

0.58

%

   

0.01

%(f)

                                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

14

%(d)

   

36

%

   

31

%

   

33

%

   

13

%

   

5

%(d)

 

(a)

Represents the period from the initial public offering (April 30, 2010) through December 31, 2010.

 

(b)

Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

 

(c)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(d)

Not annualized.

 

(e)

Absent investment advisory fee reductions by the Adviser, the ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 1.55%, 1.63%, 1.78% and 2.45%(f) for the periods ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively (Note 2).

 

(f)

Annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

57


AVE MARIA BOND FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2015
(Unaudited)

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2014

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2013

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2012

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2011

   

Year
Ended
December 31, 2010

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

 

$

11.15

   

$

11.38

   

$

11.04

   

$

10.87

   

$

10.90

   

$

10.48

 
                                                 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                               

Net investment income

   

0.07

     

0.12

     

0.11

     

0.18

     

0.21

     

0.26

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

   

(0.01

)

   

0.12

     

0.56

     

0.32

     

0.15

     

0.43

 

Total from investment operations

   

0.06

     

0.24

     

0.67

     

0.50

     

0.36

     

0.69

 
                                                 

Less distributions:

                                               

From net investment income

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.12

)

   

(0.11

)

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.21

)

   

(0.26

)

From net realized gains on investments

   

     

(0.35

)

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.01

)

Total distributions

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.47

)

   

(0.33

)

   

(0.33

)

   

(0.39

)

   

(0.27

)

                                                 

Net asset value at end of period

 

$

11.14

   

$

11.15

   

$

11.38

   

$

11.04

   

$

10.87

   

$

10.90

 
                                                 

Total return (a)

   

0.5

%(b)

   

2.2

%

   

6.1

%

   

4.6

%

   

3.3

%

   

6.7

%

                                                 

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                               

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

 

$

205,168

   

$

180,718

   

$

149,750

   

$

113,043

   

$

92,401

   

$

74,606

 
                                                 

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

   

0.51

%(d)

   

0.54

%

   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%(c)

   

0.70

%(c)

   

0.70

%(c)

                                                 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

   

1.25

%(d)

   

1.10

%

   

1.01

%

   

1.64

%

   

1.96

%

   

2.38

%

                                                 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

12

%(b)

   

21

%

   

17

%

   

21

%

   

27

%

   

24

%

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(b)

Not annualized.

 

(c)

Absent investment advisory fee reductions by the Adviser, the ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 0.71%, 0.73% and 0.85% for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively (Note 2).

 

(d)

Annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

58


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)


 

1.

Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund (individually, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) are each a diversified series of the Schwartz Investment Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and established as an Ohio business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated August 31, 1992. The Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund commenced the public offering of its shares on May 1, 2001. The public offering of shares of the Ave Maria Growth Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund commenced on May 1, 2003. The Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund commenced the public offering of its shares on May 2, 2005. The Ave Maria Opportunity Fund commenced the public offering of its shares on May 1, 2006. The Ave Maria World Equity Fund commenced the public offering of its shares on April 30, 2010.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation from equity investments in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The investment objective of the Ave Maria Growth Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation, using the growth style, from equity investments in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The investment objective of the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund is to provide increasing dividend income over time, long-term growth of capital, and a reasonable level of current income from investments in dividend-paying common stocks of companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The investment objective of the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund is long-term capital appreciation from equity investments in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The investment objective of the Ave Maria World Equity Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation from equity investments in U.S. and non-U.S. companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The investment objective of the Ave Maria Bond Fund is to seek preservation of principal with a reasonable level of current income in corporate debt and equity securities that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. See the Funds’ Prospectus for information regarding the investment strategies of each Fund.

 

Shares of each Fund are sold at net asset value. To calculate the net asset value, a Fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The offering price and redemption price per share are equal to the net asset value per share for each Fund.

 

 

59


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). As an investment company, as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update 2013-08, each Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”

 

(a) Valuation of investments – Securities which are traded on stock exchanges are valued at the closing sales price as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the day the securities are being valued, or, if not traded on a particular day, at the closing bid price. Securities which are quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price or, if an official close price is not available, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last reported sales price or, if there is no reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities which are traded both in the over-the-counter market and on a stock exchange are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Investments in shares of other open-end investment companies are valued at their net asset value as reported by such companies. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, and will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy (see below), depending on the inputs used. Fair value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) a security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that stock over an extended period of time; (ii) the exchange on which the security is principally traded closes early; or (iii) trading of the security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to a Fund’s net asset value calculation. A security’s “fair value” price may differ from the price next available for that security using the Funds’ normal pricing procedures.

 

GAAP establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs

 

60


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

U.S. Treasury Obligations and Corporate Bonds held by the Ave Maria Bond Fund are classified as Level 2 since the values for such securities are based on prices provided by an independent pricing service that utilizes various “other significant observable inputs” including bid and ask quotations, prices of similar securities and interest rates, among other factors.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ investments, by security type, as of June 30, 2015:

 

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

 

$

212,469,514

   

$

   

$

   

$

212,469,514

 

Warrants

   

3,447,600

     

     

     

3,447,600

 

Exchange-Traded Funds

   

3,402,000

     

     

     

3,402,000

 

Money Market Funds

   

13,712,182

     

     

     

13,712,182

 

Total

 

$

233,031,296

   

$

   

$

   

$

233,031,296

 

 

Ave Maria Growth Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

 

$

296,141,291

   

$

   

$

   

$

296,141,291

 

Money Market Funds

   

16,771,668

     

     

     

16,771,668

 

Total

 

$

312,912,959

   

$

   

$

   

$

312,912,959

 

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

 

$

795,601,950

   

$

   

$

   

$

795,601,950

 

Warrants

   

7,182,500

     

     

     

7,182,500

 

Money Market Funds

   

39,284,516

     

     

     

39,284,516

 

Total

 

$

842,068,966

   

$

   

$

   

$

842,068,966

 

 

 

61


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

 

$

34,408,856

   

$

   

$

   

$

34,408,856

 

Money Market Funds

   

6,246,956

     

     

     

6,246,956

 

Total

 

$

40,655,812

   

$

   

$

   

$

40,655,812

 

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

 

$

41,812,862

   

$

   

$

   

$

41,812,862

 

Exchange-Traded Funds

   

340,200

     

     

     

340,200

 

Money Market Funds

   

3,043,540

     

     

     

3,043,540

 

Total

 

$

45,196,602

   

$

   

$

   

$

45,196,602

 

 

Ave Maria Bond Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

 

$

   

$

57,921,746

   

$

   

$

57,921,746

 

Corporate Bonds

   

     

100,929,851

     

     

100,929,851

 

Common Stocks

   

33,773,165

     

     

     

33,773,165

 

Money Market Funds

   

11,316,565

     

     

     

11,316,565

 

Total

 

$

45,089,730

   

$

158,851,597

   

$

   

$

203,941,327

 

 

Refer to each Fund’s Schedule of Investments for a listing of the securities by security type and sector or industry type. As of June 30, 2015, the Funds did not have any transfers into and out of any Level. There were no Level 3 securities or derivative instruments held by the Funds as of June 30, 2015. It is the Funds’ policy to recognize transfers into and out of all Levels at the end of the reporting period.

 

(b) Income taxes – Each Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). Qualification generally will relieve each Fund of liability for federal income taxes to the extent 100% of its net investment income and net realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with the Code. Accordingly, no provision for income tax has been made.

 

In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also each Fund’s intention to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains plus undistributed amounts from prior years.

 

 

62


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of June 30, 2015:

 

 

 

Ave Maria
Catholic
Values Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund

   

Ave Maria
Opportunity
Fund

   

Ave Maria
World

Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

Accumulated ordinary income (loss)

 

$

30,259

   

$

1,201,437

   

$

1,640,440

   

$

(87,818

)

 

$

461,543

   

$

91

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   

43,446,053

     

92,727,097

     

101,396,980

     

7,472

     

4,461,877

     

3,028,324

 

Other gains

   

13,616,423

     

14,155,073

     

42,594,553

     

175,840

     

766,828

     

1,596,824

 

Total Distributable Earnings

 

$

57,092,735

   

$

108,083,607

   

$

145,631,973

   

$

95,494

   

$

5,690,248

   

$

4,625,239

 

 

The following information is based upon the federal income tax cost of the Funds’ investment securities as of June 30, 2015:

 

 

 

Ave Maria
Catholic
Values Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund

   

Ave Maria
Opportunity
Fund

   

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

 

$

54,762,026

   

$

97,813,485

   

$

119,381,914

   

$

3,875,067

   

$

6,514,497

   

$

4,568,766

 

Gross unrealized depreciation

   

(11,315,973

)

   

(5,086,388

)

   

(17,984,934

)

   

(3,867,595

)

   

(2,052,620

)

   

(1,540,442

)

Net unrealized appreciation

 

$

43,446,053

   

$

92,727,097

   

$

101,396,980

   

$

7,472

   

$

4,461,877

   

$

3,028,324

 

Federal income tax cost

 

$

189,585,243

   

$

220,185,862

   

$

740,671,986

   

$

40,648,340

   

$

40,734,725

   

$

200,913,003

 

 

The difference between the federal income tax cost of portfolio investments and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments for the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund and the Ave Maria Growth Fund is due to certain timing differences in the recognition of capital losses under income tax regulations and GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are temporary in nature and are due to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. There is no difference between the federal income tax cost and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments for the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund as of June 30, 2015.

 

The Funds recognize the tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has reviewed the tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for the current and all open tax years (tax years ended December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2014) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements.

 

63


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

(c) Security transactions and investment income – Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis and includes amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using the effective yield method. Cost of investments includes amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on a specific identification basis.

 

(d) Dividends and distributions – Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually in December for the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund and the Ave Maria World Equity Fund. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly for the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and are declared and paid monthly for the Ave Maria Bond Fund. Each Fund expects to distribute any net realized capital gains annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the periods ended June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was as follows:

 

Period Ended

 

Ordinary
Income

   

Long-Term
Capital Gains

   

Total
Distributions

 

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund:

           

June 30, 2015

 

$

   

$

   

$

 

December 31, 2014

 

$

   

$

21,374,871

   

$

21,374,871

 

Ave Maria Growth Fund:

                       

June 30, 2015

 

$

   

$

   

$

 

December 31, 2014

 

$

1,404,885

   

$

38,870,061

   

$

40,274,946

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund:

                       

June 30, 2015

 

$

5,198,407

   

$

   

$

5,198,407

 

December 31, 2014

 

$

8,600,744

   

$

57,611,194

   

$

66,211,938

 

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund:

                       

June 30, 2015

 

$

   

$

   

$

 

December 31, 2014

 

$

   

$

3,320,446

   

$

3,320,446

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund:

                       

June 30, 2015

 

$

   

$

   

$

 

December 31, 2014

 

$

118,182

   

$

2,224,115

   

$

2,342,297

 

Ave Maria Bond Fund:

                       

June 30, 2015

 

$

1,213,038

   

$

   

$

1,213,038

 

December 31, 2014

 

$

2,203,292

   

$

5,201,221

   

$

7,404,513

 

 

64


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

(e) Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(f) Common expenses – Common expenses of the Trust are allocated among the Funds of the Trust based on relative net assets of each Fund or the nature of the services performed and the relative applicability to each Fund.

 

2.

Investment Advisory Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties

 

The Chairman and President of the Trust is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (the “Adviser”). Certain other officers of the Trust are officers of the Adviser, or of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”), the administrative, accounting and transfer agent for the Funds, or of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), the Funds’ principal underwriter.

 

Pursuant to Investment Advisory Agreements between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser is responsible for the management of each Fund and provides investment advice along with the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operations of the Funds. The Adviser receives from each of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund and the Ave Maria World Equity Fund a quarterly fee at the annual rate of 0.95% of its average daily net assets. The Adviser receives from the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund a quarterly fee at the annual rate of 0.75% and 0.30%, respectively, of average daily net assets.

 

Effective May 1, 2015, the Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse a portion of operating expenses until at least May 1, 2016 so that: the ordinary operating expenses of the Ave Maria World Equity Fund do not exceed 1.50% per annum of average daily net assets; the ordinary operating expenses of each of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund do not exceed 1.25% per annum of average daily net assets; and the ordinary operating expenses of the Ave Maria Bond Fund do not exceed 0.70% per annum of average daily net assets. Prior to May 1, 2015, the Adviser had contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse a portion of operating expenses so that the ordinary operating expenses of each of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund and the Ave Maria Growth Fund did not exceed 1.50% per annum of average daily net assets. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Adviser reduced its investment advisory fees by $38,993 with respect to the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund.

 

 

65


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

Any fee reductions or expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Funds for a period of three years from the end of the fiscal year during which such reductions or reimbursements occurred, provided the Funds are able to effect such repayment and remain in compliance with any undertaking by the Adviser to limit expenses of the Funds. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Adviser recouped previous investment advisory fee reductions of $21,087 from the Ave Maria World Equity Fund. As of June 30, 2015, the amounts of fee reductions available for reimbursement to the Adviser are as follows:

 

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund

 

$

228,974

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

 

$

25,686

 

 

The Adviser may recapture a portion of the above amounts no later than the dates as stated below:

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

   

December 31, 2016

   

December 31, 2017

   

December 31, 2018

 

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund

 

$

67,326

   

$

65,896

   

$

56,759

   

$

38,993

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

 

$

8,564

   

$

17,122

   

$

   

$

 

 

The Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust (the “CCO”) is an employee of the Adviser. The Trust pays the Adviser a fee for providing CCO services, of which each Fund pays its proportionate share along with the other series of the Trust. In addition, the Trust reimburses the Adviser for out-of-pocket expenses incurred, if any, for providing these services.

 

Pursuant to a Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Trust and Ultimus, Ultimus supplies regulatory and compliance services, calculates the daily net asset value per share of each Fund, maintains the financial books and records of the Funds, maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, and processes purchases and redemptions of each Fund’s shares. For the performance of these services, Ultimus receives fees from each Fund computed as a percentage of such Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to a minimum monthly fee.

 

Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Trust and the Distributor, the Distributor serves as each Fund’s exclusive agent for the distribution of its shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of Ultimus.

 

 

66


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

Trustees and officers affiliated with the Adviser or Ultimus are not compensated by the Trust for their services. Each Trustee who is not an affiliated person of the Adviser or Ultimus (“Independent Trustee”) receives from the Trust an annual retainer of $30,000 (except that such fee is $38,000 for the Lead Independent Trustee and $15,000 for any Independent Trustee Emeritus), payable quarterly; a fee of $5,500 for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Trustees (except that such fee is $2,750 for any Independent Trustee Emeritus); plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. Each Fund pays its proportionate share of the Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses along with the other series of the Trust.

 

Each member of the Catholic Advisory Board (“CAB”), including Emeritus members, receives an annual retainer of $2,000 (except that such fee is $14,000 for the CAB chairman), payable quarterly; a fee of $2,500 for attendance at each meeting of the CAB (except that such fee is $2,750 for the CAB chairman); plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. Each Fund pays its proportionate share of CAB members’ fees and expenses.

 

3.

Investment Transactions

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and U.S. government securities, were as follows:

 

 

 

Ave Maria
Catholic
Values Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund

   

Ave Maria
Opportunity
Fund

   

Ave Maria
World

Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

Purchases of investment securities

 

$

41,697,322

   

$

39,113,637

   

$

141,336,661

   

$

18,799,499

   

$

8,300,267

   

$

26,674,828

 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities

 

$

60,322,406

   

$

41,086,740

   

$

135,986,175

   

$

25,492,359

   

$

5,897,616

   

$

13,619,026

 

 

4.

Contingencies and Commitments

 

The Funds indemnify the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.

 

67


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

5.

Affiliated Investment

 

A company is considered an affiliate of a 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 of that company. As of June 30, 2015, the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund owns 5.30% of the outstanding voting shares of Unico American Corporation. Further information on this holding for the six months ended June 30, 2015 appears below:

 

AVE MARIA CATHOLIC VALUES FUND

 

Affiliated Issuer Report

 

UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION

 

From December 31, 2014 to June 30, 2015

 

Shares at beginning of period

   

282,945

 

Shares at end of period

   

282,945

 

Market value at beginning of period

 

$

3,324,604

 

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

   

(359,340

)

Market value at end of period

 

$

2,965,264

 

Net realized gains (losses) during the period

 

$

 

Dividend income earned during the period

 

$

 

 

6.

Sector Risk

 

If a Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers in industries within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss of an investment in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value per share. From time to time, circumstances may affect a particular sector and the companies within such sector. For instance, economic or market factors, regulation or deregulation, and technological or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector and therefore the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of June 30, 2015, the Ave Maria Growth Fund had 31.7% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the industrials sector.

 

 

68


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


 

7.

Subsequent Events

 

The Funds are required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Funds are required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events except as reflected in the following paragraph.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Trust adopted an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund would acquire all of the assets and known liabilities of the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund in exchange for shares of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (the “Reorganization”). The Reorganization closed on July 31, 2015 and, as a result, the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund has been fully liquidated.

 

69


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
ABOUT YOUR FUNDS’ EXPENSES
(Unaudited)


 

We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of costs on your investment. As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

A mutual fund’s ongoing costs are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The ongoing costs reflected in the tables below are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the most recent semi-annual period (January 1, 2015) and held until the end of the period (June 30, 2015).

 

The tables that follow illustrate each Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:

 

Actual fund return – This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from each Fund’s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount of operating expenses that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Funds. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, 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 given for the Funds under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

Hypothetical 5% return – This section is intended to help you compare the Funds’ ongoing costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that each Fund had an annual return of 5% before expenses during the period shown, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case, because the return used is not the Funds’ actual returns, the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess each Fund’s ongoing costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only. The Funds do not charge sales loads or redemption fees.

 

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

More information about the Funds’ expenses, including historical annual expense ratios, can be found in this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the Funds’ Prospectus.

 

 

70


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
ABOUT YOUR FUNDS’ EXPENSES
(Unaudited) (Continued)


 

Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2015

Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2015

Net
Expense

Ratio(a)

Expenses Paid During Period(b)

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund

Actual

$1,000.00

$ 979.00

1.18%

$5.79

Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,018.94

1.18%

$5.91

         

Ave Maria Growth Fund

       

Actual

$1,000.00

$ 1,024.80

1.17%

$5.87

Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,018.99

1.17%

$5.86

         

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

     

Actual

$1,000.00

$ 990.30

0.92%

$4.54

Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,020.23

0.92%

$4.61

         

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund

     

Actual

$1,000.00

$ 900.80

1.25%

$5.89

Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,018.60

1.25%

$6.26

         

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

     

Actual

$1,000.00

$ 1,012.90

1.50%

$7.49

Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,017.36

1.50%

$7.50

         

Ave Maria Bond Fund

       

Actual

$1,000.00

$ 1,005.30

0.51%

$2.54

Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,022.27

0.51%

$2.56



 

(a)

Annualized, based on the Fund's most recent one-half year expenses.

 

(b)

Expenses are equal to each Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

71


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
OTHER INFORMATION
(Unaudited)


 

A description of the policies and procedures the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-9331, or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-9331, or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The Trust files a complete listing of portfolio holdings for each of the Funds with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The filings are available free of charge, upon request, by calling (888) 726-9331. Furthermore, you may obtain a copy of the filings on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Trust’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

 

 

72


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
(Unaudited)


 

At an in-person meeting held on February 14, 2015, the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser on behalf of each Fund.

 

The Independent Trustees were advised and assisted throughout the process of their evaluation by independent legal counsel experienced in matters relating to the investment management industry. The Independent Trustees received advice from their independent legal counsel, including a legal memorandum, on the standards and obligations in connection with their consideration of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. The Independent Trustees also received and reviewed relevant information provided by the Adviser in response to requests of the Independent Trustees and their legal counsel to assist in their evaluation of the terms of the Advisory Agreements, including whether the Advisory Agreements continue to be in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders. The Trustees reviewed, among other things: (1) industry data comparing the advisory fees and expense ratios of the Funds with those of comparable investment companies and any separately managed accounts under the management of the Adviser; (2) comparative performance information; (3) the Adviser’s revenues for providing services to the Funds; and (4) information about the Adviser’s portfolio managers, research analysts, investment process, compliance program and risk management processes.

 

The Independent Trustees took into account that they meet with the portfolio managers of the Funds at regularly scheduled meetings over the course of the year to discuss the portfolio positioning, portfolio composition, and investment program for each of the Funds. They also considered that they receive at regularly scheduled meetings reports on the Funds’ investment results and the returns of comparative market indices. The Trustees considered various factors, among them:

 

 

the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser;

 

 

the fees charged for those services and the Adviser’s profitability with respect to the Funds (and the methodology by which such profitability was calculated);

 

 

the Funds’ performance;

 

 

the extent to which economies of scale may be realized as the Funds grow; and

 

 

whether current fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of the Funds’ shareholders.

 

Prior to voting, the Independent Trustees discussed the continuance of the Advisory Agreements with management and also met in executive session with their independent legal counsel at which no representatives of the Adviser were present.

 

73


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)


In their consideration of the nature and quality of services provided to the Funds, the Trustees evaluated the responsibilities of the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements and the investment management process applied to each Fund. The Trustees reviewed the background, education and experience of the Adviser’s key investment, research and operational personnel. The Trustees considered the benefits of collaboration derived from the co-portfolio management structure of the Funds and the arrangements that have been made by the Adviser to address succession planning. The Trustees considered the additional research personnel added to support the portfolio managers. The Trustees also considered the Adviser’s compliance program, the quality of administrative and shareholder services provided to the Funds and the Adviser’s role in coordinating such services and programs. The Trustees considered the overall strength and stability of the Adviser and its overall favorable compliance record.

 

The Trustees reviewed the advisory fees paid by each Fund and compared such fees to the advisory fees paid by similar mutual funds as compiled by Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”). The Trustees also considered the fees the Adviser charges to manage separately managed accounts having similar strategies to certain of the Funds, as applicable, and took into account the Adviser’s explanation that the differences between the advisory fees paid by these Funds and the advisory fees paid by separately managed accounts reflect the operational and regulatory differences between advising these Funds and the separately managed accounts. The Trustees compared the total operating expense ratio of each Fund with expense ratios of representative funds within its Morningstar peer group, as well as the expense ratios of the Adviser’s separately managed account clients. This analysis also took into account the fee reductions made by the Adviser. The Trustees considered how the Adviser has integrated the morally responsible criteria adopted by the Funds into its investment decision-making process. The Trustees concluded that, based upon the investment strategies of each Fund and the quality of services provided by the Adviser, the advisory fees paid by each Fund are acceptable.

 

The Trustees reviewed the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability in managing the Funds during calendar year 2014, including the methodology by which that profitability analysis was calculated. The Trustees considered that the Adviser may receive, in addition to the advisory fee, certain indirect benefits from serving as the Funds’ investment adviser, including various research services as a result of the placement of the Funds’ portfolio brokerage. The Trustees considered the costs of the Adviser to provide ongoing services to the Funds, including staffing costs and costs to maintain systems and resources that support portfolio trading, research and other portfolio management functions. They also considered the amount of intermediary fees paid by the Adviser on behalf of the Funds in a broader context, as compared to the Adviser’s profitability related exclusively to its investment advisory services. Based upon their review of the Adviser’s profitability

 

74


AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)


analysis, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profits are reasonable and represent a fair and entrepreneurial profit in light of the quality and scope of services the Adviser provides to the Funds.

 

The Trustees considered both the short-term and long-term investment performance of each Fund in light of its investment objective(s). The Trustees considered each Fund’s historical performance over various periods ended November 30, 2014, as it compared to the returns of relevant indices. Based upon their review, the Trustees observed that the Ave Maria Bond Fund outperformed its benchmark index for the 1-year period and each of the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund and the Ave Maria World Equity Fund underperformed its respective benchmark index during the same 1-year period. The Trustees further considered the investment performance of each Fund compared to similarly managed mutual funds as compiled by Morningstar for selected periods. The Trustees observed that each Fund underperformed its Morningstar category average for the 1-year period. With regard to the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund, the Adviser discussed its current thinking on possibly recommending that such Fund be merged into another Ave Maria Fund to allow for greater economies of scale and better performance. The Trustees observed that the Adviser’s conservative approach to stock and fixed-income selections does not always afford it with the opportunity to keep pace with the strong returns of the Funds’ broader respective benchmark indices, which was the case during the 1-year period ended November 30, 2014, including based upon the fact that the Funds did not invest in speculative types of stocks. The Trustees took note that the morally responsible investment process is not designed to correlate with the performance of a particular index. The Trustees also considered that the Adviser’s long-term investment approach has remained consistent over the years of service to the Funds. The Trustees recognized the Adviser’s ability to select investments for the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund that have consistently increased their dividend payments and to manage the Ave Maria Bond Fund such that it has operated for eleven calendar years without negative returns. The Trustees concluded that the Funds’ investment results have been acceptable and the quality of the services provided by the Adviser combined with its long-term record of managing the Funds supports their view that its continued management should benefit the Funds and their shareholders.

 

The Trustees also considered the existence of any economies of scale and whether those would be passed along to the Funds’ shareholders, and observed that as the Funds’ assets have grown, their respective expense ratios generally have fallen. The Trustees considered the lower annual operating expense ratios of the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund during the 2014 calendar year. The Trustees noted that the annual operating expense ratios of the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund and the Ave Maria World Equity Fund were unchanged during the 2014 calendar year and that the Adviser had

 

75


 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)


reduced its fees for the Ave Maria Opportunity Fund. The Trustees also took into account the elimination of shareholder servicing fees for the Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund and the Ave Maria Growth Fund during the 2014 calendar year.

 

No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to the decision of the Trustees to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreements. Rather, the Trustees concluded, in light of a weighing and balancing of all factors considered, that it was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to renew the Advisory Agreements for an additional annual period.

 

76


 

 

 

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Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not required

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not required

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not required

Item 5 Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable

Item 6 Schedule of Investments.

(a) Not applicable [schedule filed with Item 1]

(b) Not applicable

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The registrant’s Committee of Independent Trustees shall review shareholder recommendations to fill vacancies on the registrant’s board of trustees if such recommendations are submitted in writing, addressed to the Committee at the registrant’s offices and meet any minimum qualifications adopted by the Committee.  The Committee may adopt, by resolution, a policy regarding its procedures for considering candidates for the board of trustees, including any recommended by shareholders.


Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a)  Based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and are operating effectively to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared, and that the information required in filings on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.

(b)  There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.

(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit:  Not required

(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)): Attached hereto

(a)(3)  Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons:  Not applicable

(b)  Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)):  Attached hereto

Exhibit 99.CERT Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act

Exhibit 99.906CERT Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
(Registrant)
Schwartz Investment Trust
 
     
By (Signature and Title)*
/s/ George P. Schwartz
 
 
George P. Schwartz, President
 
Date
September 2, 2015
 
     
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
     
By (Signature and Title)*
/s/ George P. Schwartz
 
 
George P. Schwartz, President
 
Date
September 2, 2015
 
     
By (Signature and Title)*
/s/ Timothy S. Schwartz
 
 
Timothy S. Schwartz, Treasurer
 
Date
September 2, 2015