N-CSRS 1 fp0035112_ncsrs.htm

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number: 3235-0570

 

Expires: August 31, 2020

 

Estimated average burden hours per response: 20.6


 

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. 801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI 48170
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (734) 455-7777  

 

Date of fiscal year end: December 31  
     
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2018  

 

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 the 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 Focused Fund

 

Shareholder Services

c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(888) 726-0753

 

Investment Adviser

Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc.
801 W. Ann Arbor Trail

Suite 244

Plymouth, MI 48170

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

The Schwartz Value Focused Fund (the “Fund”) had a strong start to the year with a total return of 6.09% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 compared to 2.91% for the S&P 1500 Index (the “Index”). The Fund also performed well for the one-year period ended June 30, 2018, with a total return of 18.74% compared to 14.50% for the Index. The Fund’s performance for that period ranked in the top 4th percentile out of 456 funds in Morningstar’s Mid-Cap Blend category based on total return. The Fund’s recent outperformance is notable, given our value-laden portfolio and considering the ongoing underperformance of value stocks compared to growth stocks. For the first 6 months of 2018, the S&P 500 Value component returned -2.22% compared to 7.28% for the Growth component.

 

The Fund’s best performing security this year is Texas Pacific Land Trust (the “Trust” or TPL), which is also the Fund’s largest holding. You may recall that we initiated our position just over two years ago at $170. Today, the share price is over $700 and we believe considerable upside remains. The Trust owns nearly 900,000 acres of land in West Texas – in the heart of the Permian Basin – which has become the epicenter of the U.S. oil fracking boom. The Trust generates revenue primarily from oil & gas mineral rights, a rapidly expanding water rights business, and periodic land sales. Remarkably, TPL produces a 91% pre-tax profit margin and a 160% return on equity, with a zero-debt balance sheet. In 2017, revenue and earnings grew 121% and 109%, respectively. Last year’s growth is clearly unsustainable long term, but TPL has the potential to achieve out-sized revenue and earnings growth for many years to come.

 

The stock price of Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) has appreciated more than 45% this year, after initiating our position near the end of 2017. MSG owns and operates professional sports teams (New York Knicks, New York Rangers), various athletic and entertainment venues (Madison Square Garden, The Forum in L.A., Radio City Music Hall), and other entertainment productions (the Rockettes). Based on its diverse portfolio of iconic and irreplaceable assets, we believe the shares still represent a significant discount to our intrinsic value estimation. MSG is a top-10 holding in the Fund.

 

The Fund’s five best performing securities in the first half of this year were:

 

Company

Industry

YTD Return

Texas Pacific Land Trust

Real Estate

56.87%

Madison Square Garden Company

Leisure

45.67%

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

Investment Brokerage

31.91%

MasterCard, Inc.

Credit Services

31.26%

TJX Companies, Inc.

Retail

25.48%

 

The main detractors from performance were consumer-oriented companies in the airline, retail, and consumer products sectors. The share prices of American Airlines Group, Inc. and Delta Air Lines, Inc. have been weak in recent months. The fear of rising energy

 

1

 

 

prices has dampened investor enthusiasm in the airline sector. We believe American and Delta are strong franchises and attractively priced, as both stocks trade for 9x 2018 estimated earnings. Qurate Retail, Inc. (formerly known as Liberty Interactive QVC), is the leading TV, video, and Internet commerce retailer that owns QVC and the Home Shopping Network. Qurate’s stock price was down 23% in the first half of the year, as it transitions from a complicated tracking stock structure to a traditional asset-backed stock. The company is growing modestly and generates strong free cash flow, which is primarily used to repurchase shares. We believe Chairman John Malone to be a good capital allocator and expect Qurate to generate above-average shareholder returns over time.

 

The Fund’s five worst performing securities in the first half of 2018 were:

 

Company

Industry

YTD Return

American Airlines Group, Inc.

Airlines

-26.71%

Qurate Retail, Inc.

TV and Internet Retail

-22.59%

Liberty Global plc

Communication Services

-21.37%

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

Consumer Products

-13.04%

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Airlines

- 9.30%

 

During the past six months, we liquidated 3 stocks from the portfolio: Goldcorp, Inc. – due deteriorating fundamentals, QUALCOMM, Inc. – better risk/reward opportunities, and Service Master Global Holdings, Inc. – stock price reached our estimate of intrinsic value. New positions were established in five companies that meet our criteria of owning shares of high-quality businesses, in strong financial condition, that are selling at discount to our estimate of intrinsic value:

 

 

Avid Bioservices, Inc. (CDMO) – Avid is a biologic contract development and manufacturing company that provides a range of process development and manufacturing services for the biotech and biopharma industries. Avid’s industry is characterized by high margins, high return on invested capital, long-term contracts, and high barriers to entry. The stock is trading at a price substantially below our estimate of intrinsic value.

 

 

Delta Airlines, Inc. (DAL) – Delta is one of the largest and, in our view, best-managed airlines in the world. In recent years, mid-single digit top-line growth, along with improving margins has led to record profitability. For 2018, the company should generate $5.50/share in earnings and $9.50/share in gross cash flow. At a recent price of $49 the stock looks extremely inexpensive, selling for 9x earnings and 5x cash flow. We applaud management for aggressively repurchasing shares in recent quarters at such a low valuation.

 

 

DowDupont, Inc. (DWDP) – DowDupont is a holding company formed by the August 2017 merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont. The company engages in agriculture, material sciences, and specialty products businesses worldwide. The company has announced plans for the separation of its operation into three independent companies and we believe this transaction will ultimately unlock shareholder value. Meanwhile, management recently enacted a large share repurchase program, which seems like a wise capital allocation given the current depressed share price.

 

 

Liberty Media Corporation Formula One (FWONK) – Formula One is the leading global automotive sport with an estimated 400 million fans all over the globe. About 18 months ago, Chairman John Malone and CEO Greg Maffei hired Chase Carey

 

2

 

 

to run Formula One. Under his capable leadership, we believe the company has several growth opportunities ahead, including higher broadcast rights, expanded advertising and sponsorships, and recently launched digital products and services aimed at die-hard Formula One fans.

 

 

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB) – Spectrum Brands is a leading and highly diversified supplier of household and personal care products. Major product categories include: batteries, hardware/home improvement, pet supplies, home/garden goods, and auto care. The long-term appreciation potential of these shares is substantial.

 

As always, we’re working tirelessly to find opportunities that meet our stringent, value-oriented investment criteria. We continue to believe the Fund contains several under-valued and under-appreciated stocks. As such, we remain enthused about the Fund’s future investment prospects.

 

Thank you for being a shareholder in the Fund.

 

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA

George P. Schwartz, CFA

Lead Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Fund received the following percentile rankings for the 5 and 10 year periods ending 6/30/18, respectively: 96 out of 329 funds and 90 out of 232 funds in the Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend category. Rankings are based on total return.

 

3

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS *
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares   Security Description  Market
Value
   % of
Net Assets
 4,500   Texas Pacific Land Trust  $3,129,075   13.6%
 70,000   Qurate Retail, Inc.   1,485,400   6.5%
 50,000   ARRIS International plc   1,222,250   5.3%
 37,500   Kroger Company (The)   1,066,875   4.6%
 80,000   Barrick Gold Corporation   1,050,400   4.6%
 3,000   Madison Square Garden Company (The) - Class A   930,570   4.1%
 30,000   Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.   909,300   4.0%
 3   Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class A   846,120   3.7%
 10,000   Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A   789,900   3.4%
 2,000   AMERCO   712,300   3.1%

 

*

Excludes cash equivalents.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector

% of
Net Assets

Consumer Discretionary

21.7%

Consumer Staples

7.3%

Energy

20.6%

Financials

9.2%

Health Care

1.3%

Industrials

8.9%

Information Technology

14.6%

Materials

14.1%

Money Market Funds, Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

2.3%

 

100.0%

 

4

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 97.7%  Shares   Market Value 
Consumer Discretionary — 21.7%        
Diversified Consumer Services — 1.3%        
Graham Holdings Company - Class B   500   $293,050 
           
Household Durables — 2.6%          
Garmin Ltd.   10,000    610,000 
           
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 6.5%          
Qurate Retail, Inc. *   70,000    1,485,400 
           
Media — 8.4%          
Liberty Global plc - Series C *   15,000    399,150 
Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Formula One - Series C *   16,000    594,080 
Madison Square Garden Company (The) - Class A *   3,000    930,570 
         1,923,800 
Specialty Retail — 2.9%          
TJX Companies, Inc. (The)   5,000    475,900 
Tractor Supply Company   2,500    191,225 
         667,125 
Consumer Staples — 7.3%          
Beverages — 0.9%          
Brown-Forman Corporation - Class B   4,000    196,040 
           
Food & Staples Retailing — 4.6%          
Kroger Company (The)   37,500    1,066,875 
           
Household Products — 1.8%          
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.   5,000    408,100 
           
Energy — 20.6%          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 20.6%          
Apache Corporation   6,000    280,500 
Devon Energy Corporation   14,000    615,440 
Noble Energy, Inc.   20,000    705,600 
Texas Pacific Land Trust   4,500    3,129,075 
         4,730,615 
Financials — 9.2%          
Capital Markets — 3.1%          
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. - Class A   3,000    193,230 
Moody's Corporation   3,000    511,680 
         704,910 

 

5

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 97.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Financials — 9.2% (Continued)        
Diversified Financial Services — 3.7%        
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class A *   3   $846,120 
           
Insurance — 2.4%          
Unico American Corporation *   70,000    553,000 
           
Health Care — 1.3%          
Biotechnology — 1.3%          
Avid Bioservices, Inc. *   75,000    294,000 
           
Industrials — 8.9%          
Airlines — 4.2%          
American Airlines Group, Inc.   15,000    569,400 
Delta Air Lines, Inc.   8,000    396,320 
         965,720 
Electrical Equipment — 1.6%          
AMETEK, Inc.   5,000    360,800 
           
Road & Rail — 3.1%          
AMERCO   2,000    712,300 
           
Information Technology — 14.6%          
Communications Equipment — 5.3%          
ARRIS International plc *   50,000    1,222,250 
           
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 4.2%          
Arrow Electronics, Inc. *   7,000    526,960 
Avnet, Inc.   10,000    428,900 
         955,860 
IT Services — 5.1%          
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A   10,000    789,900 
MasterCard, Inc. - Class A   2,000    393,040 
         1,182,940 
Materials — 14.1%          
Chemicals — 6.8%          
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. *   30,000    909,300 
DowDuPont, Inc.   10,000    659,200 
         1,568,500 

 

6

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 97.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Materials — 14.1% (Continued)        
Metals & Mining — 7.3%        
Barrick Gold Corporation   80,000   $1,050,400 
Pan American Silver Corporation   35,000    626,500 
         1,676,900 
           

Total Common Stocks (Cost $17,134,871)

       $22,424,305 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 4.5%  Shares   Market Value 

Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.70% (a) (Cost $1,032,428)

   1,032,428   $1,032,428 
           

Total Investments at Market Value — 102.2% (Cost $18,167,299)

       $23,456,733 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (2.2%)        (490,947)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $22,965,786 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2018.

See notes to financial statements.

 

7

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

ASSETS    
Investments, at market value (cost of $18,167,299) (Note 1)  $23,456,733 
Dividends receivable   5,422 
Other assets   8,322 
TOTAL ASSETS   23,470,477 
      
LIABILITIES     
Payable for investment securities purchased   461,504 
Payable to Adviser (Note 2)   29,168 
Payable to administrator (Note 2)   3,000 
Other accrued expenses   11,019 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   504,691 
      
NET ASSETS  $22,965,786 
      
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:     
Paid-in capital  $16,573,142 
Accumulated net investment loss   (26,641)
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions   1,129,851 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   5,289,434 
NET ASSETS  $22,965,786 
      
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   818,888 
      
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)  $28.05 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

INVESTMENT INCOME    
Dividends (Net of foreign tax of $1,088)  $115,736 
      
EXPENSES     
Investment advisory fees (Note 2)   108,192 
Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)   42,057 
Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)   18,000 
Legal and audit fees   13,056 
Registration and filing fees   7,973 
Postage and supplies   5,345 
Printing of shareholder reports   3,775 
Custodian and bank service fees   2,814 
Insurance expense   633 
Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)   291 
Other expenses   7,111 
TOTAL EXPENSES   209,247 
Less fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 2)   (66,870)
NET EXPENSES   142,377 
      
NET INVESTMENT LOSS   (26,641)
      
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS ON INVESTMENTS     
Net realized gains from investment transactions   1,129,851 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   237,604 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS ON INVESTMENTS   1,367,455 
      
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $1,340,814 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

9

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

   Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2018
(Unaudited)
   Year Ended
December 31,
2017
 
FROM OPERATIONS        
Net investment loss  $(26,641)  $(112,007)
Net realized gains from investment transactions   1,129,851    2,239,114 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   237,604    669,495 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   1,340,814    2,796,602 
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)          
From net realized gains on investments       (1,619,709)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS          
Proceeds from shares sold   155,816    328,864 
Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       1,557,160 
Payments for shares redeemed   (1,122,397)   (1,483,218)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions   (966,581)   402,806 
           
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS   374,233    1,579,699 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of period   22,591,553    21,011,854 
End of period  $22,965,786   $22,591,553 
           
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT LOSS  $(26,641)  $ 
           
SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY          
Shares sold   5,660    12,584 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       58,584 
Shares redeemed   (41,348)   (56,357)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding   (35,688)   14,811 
Shares outstanding, beginning of period   854,576    839,765 
Shares outstanding, end of period   818,888    854,576 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

10

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2017
   Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2016
   Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2015
   Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2014
   Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2013
 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $26.44   $25.02   $21.18   $25.06   $28.54   $23.31 
                               
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment loss   (0.03)   (0.13)   (0.08)   (0.11)   (0.08)   (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   1.64    3.57    3.92    (3.77)   (1.26)   5.80 
Total from investment operations   1.61    3.44    3.84    (3.88)   (1.34)   5.76 
                               
Less distributions:                              
From net realized gains on investments       (2.02)           (2.14)   (0.53)
                               
Net asset value at end of period  $28.05   $26.44   $25.02   $21.18   $25.06   $28.54 
                               

Total return (a)

   6.1%(b)   13.7%   18.1%   (15.5%)   (4.7%)   24.7%
                               
Ratios/Supplementary Data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000’s)  $22,966   $22,592   $21,012   $18,772   $28,129   $32,030 
                               
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets   1.84%(d)   1.79%   1.80%   1.59%   1.46%   1.45%
                               
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets   1.25%(c)(d)   1.25%(c)   1.25%(c)   1.35%(c)   1.46%   1.45%
                               
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets   (0.23%)(c)(d)   (0.52%)(c)   (0.35%)(c)   (0.40%)(c)   (0.28%)   (0.13%)
                               
Portfolio turnover rate   18%(b)   48%   48%   104%   72%   57%

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period 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 reductions (Note 2).

(d)

Annualized.

See notes to financial statements.

 

11

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

1. Significant Accounting Policies

 

Schwartz Value Focused Fund (the “Fund”) is a series of Schwartz Investment Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end, non-diversified management investment company established as an Ohio business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated August 31, 1992. Other series of the Trust are not incorporated in this report. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

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 (“NAV”). To calculate the NAV, 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 NAV per share.

 

The Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of the Fund’s significant accounting policies used in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

(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 Closing 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 NAV as reported by such companies. When using quoted prices and when the market for the securities are considered active, the securities will be classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy (see below). 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, 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 NAV 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.

 

12

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED 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, 2018:

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $22,424,305   $   $   $22,424,305 
Money Market Funds   1,032,428            1,032,428 
Total  $23,456,733   $   $   $23,456,733 

 

Refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Investments for a listing of the common stocks by industry type. There were no Level 3 securities or derivative instruments held by the Fund as of June 30, 2018. It is the Fund’s policy to recognize transfers into or out of any Level at the end of the reporting period. Transfers that occurred between Level 2 and 1 on June 30, 2018 due to the availability of pricing was as follows:

 

   Transfers
from Level 2
to Level 1
 
Common Stocks  $553,000 

 

(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, as amended (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.

 

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.

 

13

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of June 30, 2018:

 

Federal income tax cost  $18,167,299 
Gross unrealized appreciation  $5,869,022 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (579,588)
Net unrealized appreciation   5,289,434 
Accumulated ordinary loss   (26,641)
Other gains   1,129,851 
Accumulated earnings  $6,392,644 

 

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, 2014 through December 31, 2017) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements.

 

(c) Investment transactions and investment income — Investment 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 capital gains and losses on investment transactions are determined on the identified cost basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been recorded in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s rules and tax rates.

 

(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 the distributions paid to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2017 was long-term capital gains. There were no distributions paid to shareholders during the six months ended June 30, 2018.

 

(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.

 

14

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED 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.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses until at least May 1, 2019 so that the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed 1.25% per annum of average daily net assets. Accordingly, during the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Adviser reduced its investment advisory fees by $66,870.

 

Any fee reductions or expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of three years after such fees and expenses were incurred, provided repayment to the Adviser does not cause the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund to exceed 1.25% per annum of average daily net assets. As of June 30, 2018, the Advisor may seek recoupment of investment advisory fee reductions totaling $331,083 no later than the dates stated below:

 

December 31, 2018

   $41,861 

December 31, 2019

    106,868 

December 31, 2020

    115,484 

June 30, 2021

    66,870 

Total

   $331,083 

 

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 NAV 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 $46,000 (except that such fee is $56,000 for the Lead Independent Trustee/Chairman of the Governance Committee and $50,000 for the Chairman of the Audit Committee), payable quarterly; a fee of $6,000 for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Trustees; plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. The Fund

 

15

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

pays its proportionate share of the Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses along with the other series of the Trust.

 

3. Investment Transactions

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and U.S. government securities, amounted to $3,969,611 and $4,281,580, 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. 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 such events.

 

16

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED 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, 2018) and held until the end of the period (June 30, 2018).

 

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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “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, 2018
Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2018
Expenses Paid
During Period*
Based on Actual Fund Return $1,000.00 $1,060.90 $6.39
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.60 $6.26

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio of 1.25% for the period, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

17

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENT
(Unaudited)

 

 

At an in-person meeting held on February 9, 2018, the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement with Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (the “Adviser”) on behalf of the Fund.

 

The Independent Trustees were advised and assisted throughout 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 continuance of the Advisory Agreement. 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 Agreement, including whether the Advisory Agreement continues to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Independent Trustees also retained an independent consultant (Strategic Insight) to prepare an expense and performance analysis for the Fund. The Strategic Insight materials included information regarding advisory fee rates, other operating expenses, expense ratios, and performance comparisons to the Fund’s peer group and to a broad-based securities index. Prior to the Board meeting, the Independent Trustees discussed separately with Strategic Insight the methodologies that it used to construct its report and the Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”) categories that it identified to base its peer group comparisons for the Fund and other aspects of its report. The Independent Trustees met separately with independent counsel to discuss the continuance of the Advisory Agreements, during which time no representatives of the Adviser were present.

 

The Independent Trustees considered that they meet with the portfolio managers of the Fund at regularly scheduled meetings over the course of the year to discuss the investment results, portfolio composition, and developments affecting the performance of the Fund and the investment management industry in general. They also considered that the Adviser had discussed the overall condition of the economy and the markets, including an analysis of the factors that have influenced the markets, investor preferences and market sentiment.

 

The Trustees reviewed, among other things: (1) industry data comparing the advisory fee and expense ratio of the Fund with those of comparable investment companies and any model portfolios under the management of the Adviser; (2) comparative performance information; (3) the Adviser’s revenues and profitability 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.

 

As part of this process, 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

 

18

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

In their consideration of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund, the Trustees discussed the responsibilities of the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement and the investment management process applied to the Fund. The Trustees reviewed the background and experience of the Adviser’s key investment and research personnel, the co-portfolio management structure for the Fund, and the research process and brokerage practices that are applied in the management of the Fund. The Trustees discussed the background and experience of the Adviser’s operational and compliance personnel, the Adviser’s ongoing responsibilities with regards to the compliance program of the Trust and the Trust’s overall compliance record. The Trustees considered the strength and stability of the Adviser, its investment approach and the quality of its risk management program, technology capabilities, shareholder support services and shareholder communications. The Trustees also considered the significant risks assumed by the Adviser in connection with the services provided to the Fund, including investment, operational, enterprise, regulatory and compliance risks. The Trustees concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services to the Fund was acceptable.

 

The Trustees reviewed information provided by Strategic Insight on the advisory fees paid by the Fund and compared such fees to the advisory fees paid by similar mutual funds, as compiled by Morningstar. The Trustees compared the Fund’s net advisory fee with the net advisory fees of representative funds within its Morningstar peer group. The Trustees noted that the Morningstar information showed that the net advisory fee of the Fund is lower than the median net advisory fees of its Morningstar peers. The Independent Trustees took into account that the Adviser’s fee reductions during the 2017 calendar year with respect to the Fund had the effect of reducing the net management fee and net operating expenses of the Fund. The Trustees also compared the Fund’s net total expense ratio with the net total expense ratios of representative funds within its Morningstar peer group. The Trustees noted that the Morningstar information showed that the net total expense ratio of the Fund is lower than the median net total expense ratio of its Morningstar peers. 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 the 2017 calendar year, 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 Adviser’s investments in its business and the costs to the Adviser of providing 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. They also considered, in a broader context of the Adviser’s overall business, that the Adviser bears the shareholder recordkeeping costs charged by third party financial intermediaries investing in the Fund. Based upon their

 

19

 

 

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

 

 

review of the Adviser’s profitability analysis, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability is reasonable.

 

The Trustees considered both the short-term and long-term investment performance of the Fund in light of its investment objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation. The Trustees considered the Funds’ historical performance over the nine-month period ended November 30, 2017 as compared to the returns of the Fund’s benchmark index and observed that the Fund placed below the returns of its benchmark index over the period. The Trustees further considered the investment performance of the Fund compared to similarly managed mutual funds as compiled by Morningstar for selected periods ended November 30, 2017 and observed that the Fund placed in the fourth quartile of its Morningstar peers for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ending November 30, 2017. The Trustees considered that the performance of the Fund is the result of a value-oriented investment approach and noted that growth momentum stocks have been favored over value stocks during 2017 and many of the years before. The Trustees were mindful of the tendency of a value style of investing to be in and out of favor during certain periods. In view of all the factors considered, the Trustees concluded that the Adviser’s commitment to the Fund and its fundamental value investment process supports their view that the Adviser’s continued management should benefit the Fund and its shareholders.

 

The Trustees also considered the existence of any economies of scale and whether those would be passed along to the Fund’s shareholders. The Trustees observed that the Adviser has a history of reducing the advisory fees paid by the Fund in order to maintain a lower operating expense ratio for the Fund. 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 and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to certain factors. 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 approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for an additional annual period.

 

20

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
(Unaudited)

 

 

On March 15, 2018, a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Trust was held for the purpose of considering the election of seven trustees for the Trust. The number of shares of the Trust present by proxy and voting at the Special Meeting represented 68.45% of the total shares entitled to vote at the meeting. Each of the seven nominees was elected by the shareholders of the Trust.

 

The results of the voting with respect to the election of the seven Trustees were as follows:

 

 

Number of Shares

Nominee/Trustee

Affirmative

Withhold

Louis C. Bosco, Jr.

76,174,290

1,709,478

Donald J. Dawson, Jr.

76,243,041

1,640,727

Joseph M. Grace

76,225,622

1,658,146

John J. McHale, Jr.

74,531,598

3,352,170

Edward J. Miller

76,752,876

1,130,892

William A. Morrow

76,763,936

1,119,832

George P. Schwartz

76,441,505

1,442,263

  

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.

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholder Services

c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(888) 726-9331

Corporate Offices

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail

Suite 244

Plymouth, MI 48170

(734) 455-7777

Fax (734) 455-7720

Dear Fellow Shareholders of:

 

Ave Maria Value Fund (AVEMX)
Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX)
Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX)
Ave Maria World Equity Fund (AVEWX)
Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX)
Ave Maria Money Market Account

 

People can debate the reasons for the 2018 U.S. economic expansion — but however you view it, it’s a welcome relief. After several years of 2% or less annual GDP growth, the once unthinkable 3% rate is being achieved, and now some forecasters are saying 4% real growth is achievable.

 

Tax rate cuts in late 2017 and deregulation have certainly helped corporate profits, which are growing at a 15-20% annual rate, while consumer optimism has surged. One has to hope potential trade wars and other foreign policy disputes don’t derail these exceptional developments. With the unemployment rate below 4% and headed lower, there is a shortage of workers with some 6 million jobs now going unfilled. These statistics lead us to believe that the strong economy has sustainability.

 

The capital markets have obviously taken notice of the spreading prosperity, as asset prices have appreciated smartly. The Ave Maria Mutual Funds have participated, as outlined herein by each of the Funds’ portfolio managers.

 

As always, we seek to meet each Fund’s investment objective, as expressed in the prospectus, and do it in a morally responsible way.

 

Thank you for investing in these pro-life, pro-family mutual funds.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

George P. Schwartz, CFA
Chairman & CEO

 

June 30, 2018

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Ave Maria Value Fund:  
Portfolio Manager Commentary 2
Ten Largest Equity Holdings 6
Asset Allocation 6
Schedule of Investments 7
   
Ave Maria Growth Fund:  
Portfolio Manager Commentary 11
Ten Largest Equity Holdings 13
Asset Allocation 13
Schedule of Investments 14
   
Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund:  
Portfolio Manager Commentary 17
Ten Largest Equity Holdings 19
Asset Allocation 19
Schedule of Investments 20
   
Ave Maria World Equity Fund:  
Portfolio Manager Commentary 23
Ten Largest Equity Holdings 25
Asset Allocation 25
Schedule of Investments 26
Summary of Common Stocks by Country 29
   
Ave Maria Bond Fund:  
Portfolio Manager Commentary 30
Ten Largest Holdings 32
Asset Allocation 32
Schedule of Investments 33
   
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 38
   
Statements of Operations 40

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)

 

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets:  
Ave Maria Value Fund 42
Ave Maria Growth Fund 43
Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund 44
Ave Maria World Equity Fund 45
Ave Maria Bond Fund 46
   
Financial Highlights:  
Ave Maria Value Fund 47
Ave Maria Growth Fund 48
Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund 49
Ave Maria World Equity Fund 50
Ave Maria Bond Fund 51
   
Notes to Financial Statements 52
   
About Your Funds’ Expenses 62
   
Other Information 64
   
Approval of Advisory Agreements 65
   
Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders 69

 

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 VALUE FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

The Ave Maria Value Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of 3.54% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 compared to 3.49% for the S&P MidCap 400 Index (the “Index”). The Fund performed well for the one-year period ended June 30, 2018, with a total return of 15.90% compared to 13.50% for the Index. That performance placed the Fund in the 11th percentile out of 456 funds in Morningstar’s Mid-Cap Blend category based on total return. The Fund’s recent outperformance is notable, given our value-laden portfolio and considering the ongoing underperformance of value stocks compared to growth stocks. For the first 6 months of 2018, the S&P 500 Value component returned -2.22% compared to 7.28% for the Growth component.

 

The Fund’s best performing security this year is Texas Pacific Land Trust (the “Trust” or TPL), which is also the Fund’s largest holding. You may recall that we initiated our position just over two years ago at $170. Today, the share price is over $700, and we believe considerable upside remains. The Trust owns nearly 900,000 acres of land in West Texas – in the heart of the Permian Basin – which has become the epicenter of the U.S. oil fracking boom. The Trust generates revenue primarily from oil & gas mineral rights, a rapidly expanding water rights business, and periodic land sales. Remarkably, TPL produces a 91% pre-tax profit margin and a 160% return on equity, with a zero-debt balance sheet. In 2017, revenue and earnings grew 121% and 109%, respectively. TPL has the potential to achieve out-sized revenue and earnings growth for many years to come.

 

We initiated a position in Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) late last year and thus far the results have been favorable, as the stock price has increased more than 48% this year. MSG owns and operates professional sports teams (New York Knicks, New York Rangers), various athletic and entertainment venues (Madison Square Garden, The Forum in L.A., Radio City Music Hall), and other entertainment productions (the Rockettes). MSG recently announced plans to separate the company’s sports businesses from the entertainment businesses. Based upon its diverse portfolio of iconic and irreplaceable assets, the shares are still trading at a significant discount to our intrinsic value estimation.

 

2

 

 

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

 

 

The Fund’s five best performing securities in the first half of this year were:

 

Company Industry YTD
Return
Texas Pacific Land Trust Real Estate 56.87%
Madison Square Garden Company Leisure 48.49%
Avid Bioservices, Inc. Biotechnology 30.01%
Noble Energy, Inc. Oil & Gas Exploration 21.86%
HEICO Corporation Aerospace Products 20.60%

 

The main detractors from performance were consumer-oriented companies in the airline, retail, and consumer products sectors. American Airlines Group, Inc. and Delta Air Lines, Inc. have been weak performers in recent months. The fear of rising energy prices has dampened investor enthusiasm in the airline sector. We believe American and Delta are strong franchises and attractively priced, as both stocks trade for 9x 2018 estimated earnings, and those earnings should grow next year. Qurate Retail, Inc. (formerly known as Liberty Interactive QVC), is the leading TV, video, and Internet commerce retailer that owns QVC and the Home Shopping Network. Qurate’s stock price was down 23% in the first half of the year, as it transitions from a complicated tracking stock structure to a traditional asset-backed stock. The company is growing modestly and generates strong free cash flow, which is primarily used to repurchase shares. We believe Chairman John Malone to be a good capital allocator and expect Qurate to generate above-average shareholder returns over time.

 

The Fund’s five worst performing securities in the first half of this year were:

 

Company Industry YTD
Return
American Airlines Group, Inc. Airlines -26.71%
Qurate Retail, Inc. TV and Internet Retail -22.59%
Gildan Activewear, Inc. Apparel -10.77%
Delta Air Lines, Inc. Airlines -9.59%
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. Consumer Products -3.99%

 

During the past six months, we liquidated 6 stocks from the portfolio due to their share prices having reached our estimate of intrinsic value: ANSYS, Inc., Colfax Corporation, Eaton Corporation plc, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, VF Corporation, and Waters Corporation. We also sold Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings due to the company violating one of our moral screens. New positions were established in seven companies that meet our criteria of owning shares of high-quality businesses, in strong financial condition, that are selling at discount to our estimate of intrinsic value:

 

3

 

 

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

 

 

  Avid Bioservices, Inc. (CDMO) – Avid is a biologic contract development and manufacturing company that provides a range of process development and manufacturing services for the biotech and biopharma industries. Avid’s industry is characterized by high margins, high return on invested capital, long-term contracts, and high barriers to entry. The stock is trading at a price substantially below our estimate of intrinsic value.

 

  Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) – Delta is one of the largest and best-managed airlines in the world. In recent years, mid-single digit top-line growth, along with improving margins has led to record profitability. For 2018, the company should generate $5.50/share in earnings and $9.50/share in gross cash flow. At a recent price of $49 the stock looks inexpensive, selling for 9x earnings and 5x cash flow. We applaud management for aggressively repurchasing shares in recent quarters at such a low valuation.

 

  KAR Auction Services, Inc. (KAR) – KAR Auction Services is a leading operator of worldwide vehicle auction services and provides related services. The company has a long history of growth in sales, earnings, margins, and free cash flow. Management is top-notch and shareholder-oriented. Additionally, the company announced that it will spin-off its salvage auction business, which should be a catalyst for unlocking value.

 

  Liberty Media Corporation, Formula One (FWONK) – Formula One is the leading global automotive sport with an estimated 400 million fans all over the globe. About 18 months ago, Chairman John Malone and CEO Greg Maffei hired Chase Carey to run Formula One. Under his capable leadership, we believe the company has several growth opportunities, including higher broadcast rights, expanded advertising and sponsorships, and recently launched digital products and services aimed at die-hard Formula One fans.

 

  PG&E Corporation (PCG) – PG&E is the holding company for Pacific Gas and Electric, a large-cap, California-based electric & gas utility. Due to uncertain legal liabilities related to northern California wildfires, the stock price declined from $70 to the $40 range, where we initiated a position. We believe the shares are unduly depressed and have substantial recovery potential.

 

4

 

 

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

 

 

  Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP) – Roper designs and develops software, and engineered products and solutions. Management is highly focused on cash return on investments and employs an asset-light business model which minimizes working capital needs and generates strong free cash flow. The company is a Dividend Aristocrat, having increased its dividend for 25 consecutive years.

 

  Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB) – Spectrum Brands is a leading and highly diversified supplier of household and personal care products. Major product categories include: batteries, hardware/home improvement, pet supplies, home/garden goods, and auto care. The stock is attractively priced based upon various valuation metrics, and we believe the long-term appreciation potential is substantial.

 

As always, we’re working tirelessly to find companies that meet our stringent, value-oriented investment criteria. We continue to believe the Fund contains many under-valued and under-appreciated stocks. As such, we remain enthused about the Fund’s future investment prospects.

 

Thank you for being a shareholder in the Fund.

 

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA Joseph W. Skornicka, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Chadd M. Garcia
Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Fund received the following percentile rankings for the 5 and 10 year periods ending 6/30/18, respectively: 94 out of 329 funds and 83 out of 232 funds in the Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend category. Rankings are based on total return.

 

5

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS*
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares   Company  Market Value   % of Net Assets
 25,500   Texas Pacific Land Trust  $17,731,425   7.0%
 195,313   HEICO Corporation - Class A   11,904,297   4.7%
 160,000   InterXion Holding N.V.   9,987,200   3.9%
 440,000   Qurate Retail, Inc.   9,336,800   3.7%
 225,000   American Airlines Group, Inc.   8,541,000   3.4%
 100,000   Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.   8,162,000   3.2%
 105,000   Arrow Electronics, Inc.   7,904,400   3.1%
 200,000   Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Formula One - Series C   7,426,000   2.9%
 20,000   AMERCO   7,123,000   2.8%
 200,000   Noble Energy, Inc.   7,056,000   2.8%

 

* Excludes cash equivalents.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector % of Net Assets
Consumer Discretionary 18.0%
Consumer Staples 8.1%
Energy 12.0%
Financials 11.0%
Health Care 2.8%
Industrials 21.5%
Information Technology 12.4%
Materials 2.4%
Real Estate 1.7%
Utilities 0.8%
Money Market Funds, Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets 9.3%
  100.0%

 

6

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 90.7%  Shares   Market Value 
Consumer Discretionary — 18.0%        
Diversified Consumer Services — 3.7%        
Graham Holdings Company - Class B   5,000   $2,930,500 
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. *   110,000    6,541,700 
         9,472,200 
Household Durables — 2.4%          
Garmin Ltd.   100,000    6,100,000 
           
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 3.7%          
Qurate Retail, Inc. *   440,000    9,336,800 
           
Media — 4.8%          
Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Formula One - Series C *   200,000    7,426,000 
Madison Square Garden Company (The) - Class A *   15,000    4,652,850 
         12,078,850 
Specialty Retail — 1.7%          
AutoNation, Inc. *   50,000    2,429,000 
Tractor Supply Company   25,000    1,912,250 
         4,341,250 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.7%          
Gildan Activewear, Inc.   150,000    4,224,000 
           
Consumer Staples — 8.1%          
Beverages — 4.9%          
Brown-Forman Corporation - Class B   125,000    6,126,250 
Coca-Cola European Partners plc   150,000    6,096,000 
         12,222,250 
Household Products — 3.2%          
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.   100,000    8,162,000 
           
Energy — 12.0%          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 12.0%          
Noble Energy, Inc.   200,000    7,056,000 
Pioneer Natural Resources Company   30,000    5,677,200 
Texas Pacific Land Trust   25,500    17,731,425 
         30,464,625 
Financials — 11.0%          
Banks — 1.4%          
Fifth Third Bancorp   125,000    3,587,500 

 

7

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 90.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Financials — 11.0% (Continued)        
Capital Markets — 5.0%        
Federated Investors, Inc. - Class B   60,000   $1,399,200 
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. - Class A   80,000    5,152,800 
Moody's Corporation   35,000    5,969,600 
         12,521,600 
Consumer Finance — 1.7%          
Discover Financial Services   60,000    4,224,600 
           
Insurance — 2.9%          
Alleghany Corporation   10,536    6,057,884 
Unico American Corporation *   173,000    1,366,700 
         7,424,584 
Health Care — 2.8%          
Biotechnology — 0.6%          
Avid Bioservices, Inc. *   400,000    1,568,000 
           
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 2.2%          
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   50,000    5,572,000 
           
Industrials — 21.5%          
Aerospace & Defense — 6.8%          
HEICO Corporation - Class A   195,313    11,904,297 
Hexcel Corporation   80,000    5,310,400 
         17,214,697 
Airlines — 5.3%          
American Airlines Group, Inc.   225,000    8,541,000 
Delta Air Lines, Inc.   100,000    4,954,000 
         13,495,000 
Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.1%          
KAR Auction Services, Inc.   50,000    2,740,000 
           
Electrical Equipment — 2.0%          
AMETEK, Inc.   70,000    5,051,200 
           
Industrial Conglomerates — 1.7%          
Roper Technologies, Inc.   15,000    4,138,650 
           
Machinery — 1.8%          
Graco, Inc.   100,000    4,522,000 
           
Road & Rail — 2.8%          
AMERCO   20,000    7,123,000 

 

8

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 90.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Information Technology — 12.4%        
Communications Equipment — 2.3%        
ARRIS International plc *   230,000   $5,622,350 
           
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 4.3%          
Arrow Electronics, Inc. *   105,000    7,904,400 
Avnet, Inc.   70,000    3,002,300 
         10,906,700 
IT Services — 5.8%          
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A   60,000    4,739,400 
InterXion Holding N.V. *   160,000    9,987,200 
         14,726,600 
Materials — 2.4%          
Chemicals — 2.4%          
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. *   200,000    6,062,000 
           
Real Estate — 1.7%          
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.7%          
Equinix, Inc.   10,000    4,298,900 
           
Utilities — 0.8%          
Electric Utilities — 0.8%          
PG&E Corporation   50,000    2,128,000 
           
Total Common Stocks (Cost $172,888,422)        $229,329,356 

 

9

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 9.5%  Shares   Market Value 
Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.70% (a)   12,044,258   $12,044,258 
Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.77% (a)   12,007,087    12,007,087 
Federated U.S. Treasury Cash Reserves Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.70% (a)   41,599    41,599 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $24,092,944)        $24,092,944 
           
Total Investments at Market Value — 100.2% (Cost $196,981,366)        $253,422,300 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2%)        (501,700)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $252,920,600 

 

* Non-income producing security.
(a) The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2018.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Ave Maria Growth Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of 6.14%, compared with the benchmark S&P 500 Index total return of 2.65%. For the three-year, five-year and ten-year periods through June 30, 2018, the Fund had a total return of 12.88%, 13.68% and 11.13%, compared with the benchmark total return of 11.93, 13.42% and 10.17%, respectively.

 

For the first six months, four of the top five return contributors were also among the Fund’s largest holdings. Unfortunately, Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) – a position started early in the first quarter of 2018 – was not among the Fund’s top holdings during this period, when its stock price was up by more than 45%. MSG recently announced its intent to divide its professional sports teams and entertainment segments into two distinct entities. MSG owns the New York Knicks (NBA) and New York Rangers (NHL), plus various entertainment assets, including Madison Square Garden, which some call the “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Professional sports teams are unique assets capable of strong intrinsic value growth over many years. MSG’s stock price is starting to reflect this value.

 

Top Five Return Contributors (YTD Q2 2018)
Company Contribution
to Return
MasterCard, Inc. (MA) +1.03%
Copart, Inc. (CPRT) +0.98%
Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) +0.62%
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (ORLY) +0.57%
Visa, Inc. (V) +0.54%

 

The industrials sector was among the worst performing S&P 500 sectors during the first half of 2018, and some of our industrials holdings suffered. The Fund remains invested in four of the top five return detractors listed below. The exception is Colfax Corporation, which the Fund exited during the second quarter. Colfax was founded by brothers Mitchell Rales and Steven Rales, who also founded Danaher, a company that has rewarded investors with strong returns over many years. Our investment thesis was that Colfax could replicate Danaher’s success as the company followed the same playbook of acquiring companies and making them more efficient through the Colfax Business System (copied from the Danaher Business System). What we didn’t fully appreciate at the outset of our investment was the amount of time it is going to take for Colfax to transform its business portfolio – primarily through acquisitions -

 

11

 

 

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

 

 

to more attractive end-markets. Seller price expectations remain high, helped by the flood of private equity money competing with Colfax for acquisitions. Colfax’s current business portfolio is over-indexed to commodity-related end markets and the Chinese power generation market, which is in steep decline as the country addresses pollution concerns.

 

Top Five Return Detractors (YTD Q2 2018)
Company Detraction
to Return
Colfax Corporation (CFX) -0.47%
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK) -0.36%
3M Company (MMM) -0.35%
Cerner Corporation (CERN) -0.26%
MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. (MSM) -0.23%

 

Our goal remains to purchase shares of exceptional companies at attractive prices to produce favorable returns over the long run. Our team continues to spend considerable time searching for companies that fit our quality and price requirements. We appreciate your participation in the Fund.

 

With best regards,

 

Brian D. Milligan, CFA Richard L. Platte, Jr., CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager Co-Portfolio Manager

 

12

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS*
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares   Company  Market Value   % of Net Assets
 123,000   MasterCard, Inc. - Class A  $24,171,960   4.2%
 88,000   O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.   24,074,160   4.1%
 140,000   Rockwell Automation, Inc.   23,272,200   4.0%
 141,000   Accenture plc - Class A   23,066,190   4.0%
 385,000   Copart, Inc.   21,775,600   3.8%
 155,000   Visa, Inc. - Class A   20,529,750   3.5%
 233,000   Medtronic plc   19,947,130   3.4%
 111,000   Moody's Corporation   18,932,160   3.3%
 185,000   Lowe's Companies, Inc.   17,680,450   3.0%
 320,000   Charles Schwab Corporation (The)   16,352,000   2.8%

 

* Excludes cash equivalents.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector % of Net Assets
Consumer Discretionary 21.9%
Consumer Staples 1.3%
Energy 0.6%
Financials 6.9%
Health Care 8.1%
Industrials 29.5%
Information Technology 19.5%
Materials 4.3%
Real Estate 1.0%
Money Market Funds, Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets 6.9%
  100.0%

 

13

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 93.1%  Shares   Market Value 
Consumer Discretionary — 21.9%        
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 2.4%        
Booking Holdings, Inc. *   7,000   $14,189,630 
           
Media — 4.5%          
Discovery, Inc. - Series C *   175,000    4,462,500 
Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Braves - Series A *   32,000    822,720 
Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Braves - Series C *   78,000    2,017,080 
Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Formula One - Series A *   28,500    1,006,335 
Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Formula One - Series C *   181,500    6,739,095 
Madison Square Garden Company (The) - Class A *   35,000    10,856,650 
         25,904,380 
Specialty Retail — 12.7%          
AutoNation, Inc. *   275,000    13,359,500 
Lowe's Companies, Inc.   185,000    17,680,450 
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. *   88,000    24,074,160 
Ross Stores, Inc.   94,000    7,966,500 
TJX Companies, Inc. (The)   115,000    10,945,700 
         74,026,310 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 2.3%          
VF Corporation   160,000    13,043,200 
           
Consumer Staples — 1.3%          
Beverages — 1.3%          
Brown-Forman Corporation - Class B   156,250    7,657,813 
           
Energy — 0.6%          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.6%          
Texas Pacific Land Trust   5,000    3,476,750 
           
Financials — 6.9%          
Capital Markets — 6.1%          
Charles Schwab Corporation (The)   320,000    16,352,000 
Moody's Corporation   111,000    18,932,160 
         35,284,160 
Insurance — 0.8%          
Markel Corporation *   4,500    4,879,575 

 

14

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 93.1% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Health Care — 8.1%        
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 6.2%        
Medtronic plc   233,000   $19,947,130 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   145,000    16,158,800 
         36,105,930 
Health Care Technology — 1.9%          
Cerner Corporation *   183,000    10,941,570 
           
Industrials — 29.5%          
Aerospace & Defense — 4.5%          
HEICO Corporation - Class A   181,478    11,061,099 
Hexcel Corporation   225,000    14,935,500 
         25,996,599 
Air Freight & Logistics — 3.0%          
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.   110,000    8,041,000 
FedEx Corporation   20,000    4,541,200 
United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B   45,000    4,780,350 
         17,362,550 
Commercial Services & Supplies — 3.8%          
Copart, Inc. *   385,000    21,775,600 
           
Electrical Equipment — 6.1%          
AMETEK, Inc.   172,000    12,411,520 
Rockwell Automation, Inc.   140,000    23,272,200 
         35,683,720 
Industrial Conglomerates — 4.8%          
3M Company   60,000    11,803,200 
Roper Technologies, Inc.   59,000    16,278,690 
         28,081,890 
Machinery — 5.3%          
Donaldson Company, Inc.   190,000    8,572,800 
Fortive Corporation   95,000    7,325,450 
Graco, Inc.   329,000    14,877,380 
         30,775,630 
Trading Companies & Distributors — 2.0%          
MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. - Class A   140,000    11,879,000 
           
Information Technology — 19.5%          
IT Services — 15.2%          
Accenture plc - Class A   141,000    23,066,190 
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.   40,000    4,604,000 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A   198,000    15,640,020 

 

15

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 93.1% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Information Technology — 19.5% (Continued)        
IT Services — 15.2% (Continued)        
MasterCard, Inc. - Class A   123,000   $24,171,960 
Visa, Inc. - Class A   155,000    20,529,750 
         88,011,920 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.5%          
Texas Instruments, Inc.   130,000    14,332,500 
           
Software — 1.8%          
ANSYS, Inc. *   61,000    10,624,980 
           
Materials — 4.3%          
Chemicals — 4.3%          
Ecolab, Inc.   100,000    14,033,000 
Praxair, Inc.   69,000    10,912,350 
         24,945,350 
Real Estate — 1.0%          
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.0%          
Equinix, Inc.   14,000    6,018,460 
           
Total Common Stocks (Cost $386,783,624)        $540,997,517 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 7.6%  Shares   Market Value 
Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.70% (a)   27,444,628   $27,444,628 
Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.77% (a)   16,735,182    16,735,182 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $44,179,810)        $44,179,810 
           
Total Investments at Market Value — 100.7% (Cost $430,963,434)        $585,177,327 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.7%)        (4,225,220)
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $580,952,107 

 

* Non-income producing security.
(a) The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2018.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

16

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

Stock prices continued to roll higher during the first half of 2018 with the shares of the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (the “Fund”) returning 1.69% versus 2.65% on the S&P 500 Index. As in recent quarters, growth stocks significantly outperformed value stocks.

 

Year to date, strong contributions to the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund returns came from TJX Companies, Inc. (retail), Moody’s Corporation (credit rating and other investment services), RPM International, Inc. (building products), and Cisco Systems, Inc. (technology). Industrial stocks contributed disproportionately to the weakest performers in the portfolio. Specifically, 3M Company (diversified manufacturer), Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (diversified manufacturer), MSC Industrial Direct Company (distributor of industrial products) and United Parcel Service, Inc. (package delivery). How any stock behaves in a six-month period is more the product of changing investor preferences and headline news, than it is any reflection of the underlying fundamentals of the companies represented by those stocks. As long-term investors, we remain focused on the underlying realities of the companies held in the portfolio.

 

Of significance during the first six months of the year, was the reporting of individual companies on the impact the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 had on their year-end 2017 reported earnings and their probable new tax rate on a go forward basis. Because intelligent allocation of capital is one of the criterion that we use in evaluating managements, this major change in tax law offered a useful insight into how individual managements prioritize their use of capital. A number of our companies used the windfall to increase dividends, some to increase share repurchases, while others “invested” in their employees. Others announced accelerated capital expenditures, and a few contributed cash to community foundations.

 

As our goal is capital appreciation from companies generating a rising stream of dividends, we are particularly interested in those companies that are using lower tax rates to meaningfully increase their dividends. Of the 39 companies held in the Rising Dividend Fund as of June 30th, 20 raised their dividend during the first six months of the year, 13 by 10 percent or more and 7 by 15 percent or more. Many of those same companies are also stepping up their share repurchases, which can also have positive implications for shareholder returns.

 

While there are always reasons for concern (today’s seem focused primarily upon rising prices and fears of trade wars), most consumers and corporate managers remain optimistic in their outlooks and that bodes well for sustained

 

17

 

 

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

 

 

economic growth. In that environment, we expect the companies in the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund to continue generating increased earnings and dividends.

 

We appreciate your interest and investment in the Fund.

 

With best regards,

 

Richard L. Platte, Jr., CFA George P. Schwartz, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager Co-Portfolio Manager

 

18

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS*
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares   Company  Market Value   % of Net Assets
 385,000   Medtronic plc  $32,959,850   3.8%
 400,000   Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A   31,596,000   3.7%
 325,000   Lowe's Companies, Inc.   31,060,250   3.6%
 525,000   RPM International, Inc.   30,618,000   3.6%
 400,000   Tractor Supply Company   30,596,000   3.6%
 320,000   TJX Companies, Inc. (The)   30,457,600   3.5%
 205,000   Diageo plc - ADR   29,522,050   3.4%
 275,000   United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B   29,213,250   3.4%
 255,000   Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   28,417,200   3.3%
 420,000   Hexcel Corporation   27,879,600   3.2%

 

* Excludes cash equivalents.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector % of Net Assets
Consumer Discretionary 16.4%
Consumer Staples 7.7%
Energy 4.6%
Financials 18.5%
Health Care 7.1%
Industrials 22.5%
Information Technology 11.6%
Materials 6.3%
Money Market Funds, Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 5.3%
  100.0%

 

19

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.7%  Shares   Market Value 
Consumer Discretionary — 16.4%        
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 1.4%        
Booking Holdings, Inc. *   6,000   $12,162,540 
           
Specialty Retail — 12.1%          
Lowe's Companies, Inc.   325,000    31,060,250 
TJX Companies, Inc. (The)   320,000    30,457,600 
Tractor Supply Company   400,000    30,596,000 
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.   200,000    12,276,000 
         104,389,850 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 2.9%          
VF Corporation   300,000    24,456,000 
           
Consumer Staples — 7.7%          
Beverages — 4.8%          
Brown-Forman Corporation - Class B   240,000    11,762,400 
Diageo plc - ADR   205,000    29,522,050 
         41,284,450 
Food Products — 2.9%          
Mondelēz International, Inc. - Class A   600,000    24,600,000 
           
Energy — 4.6%          
Energy Equipment & Services — 1.2%          
Schlumberger Ltd.   150,000    10,054,500 
           
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 3.4%          
Exxon Mobil Corporation   40,000    3,309,200 
Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class B - ADR   360,000    26,154,000 
         29,463,200 
Financials — 18.5%          
Banks — 8.6%          
BB&T Corporation   375,000    18,915,000 
Fifth Third Bancorp   650,000    18,655,000 
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)   120,000    16,212,000 
U.S. Bancorp   400,000    20,008,000 
         73,790,000 
Capital Markets — 5.1%          
Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (The)   350,000    18,875,500 
Moody's Corporation   150,000    25,584,000 
         44,459,500 
Consumer Finance — 1.7%          
Discover Financial Services   210,000    14,786,100 

 

20

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Financials — 18.5% (Continued)        
Insurance — 3.1%        
Chubb Ltd.   210,000   $26,674,200 
           
Health Care — 7.1%          
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 7.1%          
Medtronic plc   385,000    32,959,850 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   255,000    28,417,200 
         61,377,050 
Industrials — 22.5%          
Aerospace & Defense — 3.2%          
Hexcel Corporation   420,000    27,879,600 
           
Air Freight & Logistics — 3.4%          
United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B   275,000    29,213,250 
           
Commercial Services & Supplies — 2.2%          
Genuine Parts Company   210,000    19,275,900 
           
Electrical Equipment — 2.2%          
Eaton Corporation plc   250,000    18,685,000 
           
Industrial Conglomerates — 2.4%          
3M Company   105,000    20,655,600 
           
Machinery — 5.4%          
Donaldson Company, Inc.   350,000    15,792,000 
Graco, Inc.   290,000    13,113,800 
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.   125,000    17,317,500 
         46,223,300 
Road & Rail — 1.0%          
Norfolk Southern Corporation   55,000    8,297,850 
           
Trading Companies & Distributors — 2.7%          
MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc. - Class A   275,000    23,333,750 
           
Information Technology — 11.6%          
Communications Equipment — 3.2%          
Cisco Systems, Inc.   640,000    27,539,200 

 

21

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Information Technology — 11.6% (Continued)        
IT Services — 4.3%        
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.   50,000   $5,755,000 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation - Class A   400,000    31,596,000 
         37,351,000 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 4.1%          
Microchip Technology, Inc.   175,000    15,916,250 
Texas Instruments, Inc.   175,000    19,293,750 
         35,210,000 
Materials — 6.3%          
Chemicals — 6.3%          
Praxair, Inc.   150,000    23,722,500 
RPM International, Inc.   525,000    30,618,000 
         54,340,500 
           
Total Common Stocks (Cost $632,828,441)        $815,502,340 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 4.9%  Shares   Market Value 
Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.70% (a)   40,952,222   $40,952,222 
Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.77% (a)   1,627,803    1,627,803 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $42,580,025)        $42,580,025 
           
Total Investments at Market Value — 99.6% (Cost $675,408,466)        $858,082,365 
           
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.4%        3,598,014 
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $861,680,379 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.
* Non-income producing security.
(a) The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2018.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

22

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

The Ave Maria World Equity Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of -0.20% for the six months ended June 30, 2018 (the “period”). This compared to the return for the S&P Global 1200 Index (the “Index”) of +0.35%.

 

Globally, the United States was the place to be for equity investors during the period, as the U.S. based S&P 500 was up 2.65%, while all other components of the Index were down (all returns in U.S. dollars). This included Japan at -1.91% (S&P TOPIX 150) and Europe at -2.83% (S&P Europe 350). Emerging markets were even weaker (S&P Emerging BMI down 6.05%), notably impacted by a stronger U.S. dollar. While rising global trade war tension was the overall theme for the period, the U.S. market was boosted by an especially strong outlook for corporate earnings, due to a strengthening economy and tax cuts. Smaller market capitalization stocks, typically more domestically focused and therefore more insulated from global trade concerns, also generally outperformed larger market capitalization stocks during the period.

 

Stock selection in health care & consumer staples helped Fund shareholder returns during the period. In health care, the announced acquisition of Shire plc by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. provided a boost. We still hold some Shire, as it is trading at a discount to the proposed purchase price, due primarily to the amount of debt to be raised and shareholder approvals needed before closing. Better than expected revenue and order growth along with margin expansion from its Diagnosis & Treatment Division also led to a nice stock move by the Dutch holding Royal Philips. In consumer staples, Coca-Cola European Partners plc was also a strong relative performer in a group that struggled overall. Our technology sector holdings also helped the Fund, with shares of MasterCard, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc. and GDS Holdings Ltd. all contributing positively. Energy shares Royal Dutch Shell plc and Pioneer Natural Resources Company also performed well with the backdrop of rising oil prices.

 

Our investments in the consumer discretionary and financials sectors held back performance during the period. Within the consumer discretionary sector, the weakness was primarily due to Japanese holdings Bridgestone Corporation and Panasonic Corporation. While part of their weakness was likely related to the overall Japanese equity market, Bridgestone also reported weaker than expected results due to sluggish tire sales volume and increases in raw material costs. This led to reductions in expected earnings estimates, even though management did not change guidance. Panasonic, on the other hand, reported a stronger than expected end to their fiscal year and held a positive Investor Relations day in May. We believe this stock is increasingly attractive and has been down in

 

23

 

 

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

 

 

part, due to their battery relationship with Tesla, which has been having auto production problems. In the financials sector, insurance holdings AXA S.A. and Chubb Ltd. were both down double-digits during the period. AXA’s shares were pressured due to its announced acquisition of Bermuda based XL Group, Ltd. Although we were surprised, like the market, at the size of the transaction, we are generally positive on the impact to AXA’s business mix.

 

Two positions were eliminated in the Fund since year end, in favor of what we believe to be more attractive investment opportunities: Johnson Controls International plc and WPP plc. Seven new positions were added: Delta Air Lines, Inc. (airlines), DowDuPont, Inc. (diversified chemicals), GDS Holdings Ltd. (data processing and outsourced services), First Horizon National Corporation (regional banks), Liberty Media Corporation - Formula One Group (movies and entertainment), IQVIA Holdings, Inc. (life sciences tools and services), and Willis Towers Watson plc (insurance brokers).

 

As of June 30, 2018, geographic weights in the Fund compared to the S&P Global 1200 Index, were approximately:

 

  Ave Maria World
Equity Fund
S&P Global
1200 Index
Americas 59% 63%
Europe Developed 12% 16%
United Kingdom 14% 7%
Japan 6% 8%
Asia Developed 0% 2%
Asia Emerging 4% 2%
Australasia 0% 2%
Cash Equivalents 5%

 

Our focus continues to be on large capitalization, attractively priced stocks of high quality, global companies, and we believe this will serve shareholders well over the course of an entire economic cycle. Thank you for your continued interest in the Fund.

 

Joseph W. Skornicka Robert C. Schwartz
Lead-Portfolio Manager Co-Portfolio Manager

 

24

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
TEN LARGEST EQUITY HOLDINGS*
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares   Company  Market Value   % of Net Assets
 37,000   Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class B - ADR  $2,688,050   4.2%
 25,000   Lowe's Companies, Inc.   2,389,250   3.7%
 26,619   Medtronic plc   2,278,853   3.6%
 55,000   Mondelēz International, Inc. - Class A   2,255,000   3.5%
 30,000   Eaton Corporation plc   2,242,200   3.5%
 165,000   Panasonic Corporation - ADR   2,225,025   3.5%
 17,500   Chubb Ltd.   2,222,850   3.5%
 53,500   Coca-Cola European Partners plc   2,174,240   3.4%
 18,000   Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   2,005,920   3.1%
 82,000   AXA S.A. - ADR   1,997,110   3.1%

 

* Excludes cash equivalents.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Sector % of Net Assets
Consumer Discretionary 11.8%
Consumer Staples 10.7%
Energy 8.3%
Financials 18.3%
Health Care 12.4%
Industrials 11.5%
Information Technology 15.8%
Materials 4.1%
Real Estate 1.8%
Money Market Funds, Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 5.3%
  100.0%

 

25

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.7%  Shares   Market Value 
Consumer Discretionary — 11.8%        
Auto Components — 2.1%        
Bridgestone Corporation - ADR   69,000   $1,346,535 
           
Household Durables — 3.5%          
Panasonic Corporation - ADR   165,000    2,225,025 
           
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 1.3%          
Booking Holdings, Inc. *   400    810,836 
           
Media — 1.2%          
Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Formula One - Series C *   20,000    742,600 
           
Specialty Retail — 3.7%          
Lowe's Companies, Inc.   25,000    2,389,250 
           
Consumer Staples — 10.7%          
Beverages — 7.2%          
Coca-Cola European Partners plc   53,500    2,174,240 
Diageo plc - ADR   12,500    1,800,125 
Heineken N.V. - ADR   12,000    602,400 
         4,576,765 
Food Products — 3.5%          
Mondelēz International, Inc. - Class A   55,000    2,255,000 
           
Energy — 8.3%          
Energy Equipment & Services — 1.4%          
Schlumberger Ltd.   13,700    918,311 
           
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 6.9%          
Exxon Mobil Corporation   10,000    827,300 
Pioneer Natural Resources Company   4,700    889,428 
Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class B - ADR   37,000    2,688,050 
         4,404,778 
Financials — 18.3%          
Banks — 4.0%          
Citigroup, Inc.   26,000    1,739,920 
First Horizon National Corporation   45,000    802,800 
         2,542,720 
Capital Markets — 3.7%          
Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (The)   21,500    1,159,495 
Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. - Class A   30,000    1,216,200 
         2,375,695 

 

26

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Financials — 18.3% (Continued)        
Consumer Finance — 2.4%        
Discover Financial Services   22,200   $1,563,102 
           
Insurance — 8.2%          
AXA S.A. - ADR   82,000    1,997,110 
Chubb Ltd.   17,500    2,222,850 
Willis Towers Watson plc   6,500    985,400 
         5,205,360 
Health Care — 12.4%          
Biotechnology — 2.0%          
Shire plc - ADR   7,500    1,266,000 
           
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 9.1%          
Koninklijke Philips N.V.   36,064    1,524,425 
Medtronic plc   26,619    2,278,853 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   18,000    2,005,920 
         5,809,198 
Life Sciences Tools & Services — 1.3%          
IQVIA Holdings, Inc. *   8,000    798,560 
           
Industrials — 11.5%          
Aerospace & Defense — 1.8%          
Hexcel Corporation   17,500    1,161,650 
           
Airlines — 2.9%          
Delta Air Lines, Inc.   37,000    1,832,980 
           
Electrical Equipment — 3.5%          
Eaton Corporation plc   30,000    2,242,200 
           
Industrial Conglomerates — 1.5%          
Siemens AG - ADR   14,000    922,390 
           
Road & Rail — 1.8%          
Canadian National Railway Company   14,000    1,144,500 
           
Information Technology — 15.8%          
Communications Equipment — 2.0%          
Cisco Systems, Inc.   29,500    1,269,385 
           
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 2.1%          
TE Connectivity Ltd.   15,000    1,350,900 

 

27

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 94.7% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Information Technology — 15.8% (Continued)        
Internet Software & Services — 1.2%        
Tencent Holdings Ltd. - ADR   15,000   $753,750 
           
IT Services — 5.9%          
Accenture plc - Class A   8,000    1,308,720 
GDS Holdings Ltd. - ADR *   3,000    120,270 
InterXion Holding N.V. *   12,000    749,040 
MasterCard, Inc. - Class A   8,000    1,572,160 
         3,750,190 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 4.6%          
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. - ADR   43,500    1,590,360 
Texas Instruments, Inc.   12,500    1,378,125 
         2,968,485 
Materials — 4.1%          
Chemicals — 4.1%          
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. *   20,000    606,200 
DowDuPont, Inc.   30,000    1,977,600 
         2,583,800 
Real Estate — 1.8%          
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.8%          
Equinix, Inc.   2,700    1,160,703 
           
Total Common Stocks (Cost $50,741,905)        $60,370,668 

 

28

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 5.2%  Shares   Market Value 
Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.70% (a)   3,008,290   $3,008,290 
Federated Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.77% (a)   286,823    286,823 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $3,295,113)        $3,295,113 
           
Total Investments at Market Value — 99.9% (Cost $54,037,018)        $63,665,781 
           
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.1%        69,948 
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $63,735,729 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.
* Non-income producing security.
(a) The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2018.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

  

SUMMARY OF COMMON STOCKS BY COUNTRY
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

Country  Value   % of Net Assets
United States *  $35,162,268   55.2%
United Kingdom   8,913,815   14.0%
Japan   3,571,560   5.6%
Netherlands   2,875,865   4.5%
Canada   2,360,700   3.7%
Switzerland   2,222,850   3.5%
France   1,997,110   3.1%
Taiwan   1,590,360   2.5%
Germany   922,390   1.4%
China   753,750   1.2%
Total  $60,370,668   94.7%

 

* Includes companies deemed to be a “non-U.S. company” as defined in the Fund’s prospectus, if a company has at least 50% of its revenues or operations outside of the United States.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

29

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the total return of the Ave Maria Bond Fund (the “Fund”) was -0.13%, compared to the Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Index at -0.97%. A mix of economic strength and geopolitical fears sent interest rates and stocks on a volatile course during the first half of 2018.

 

Interest rates moved upward, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury Note starting the year yielding 2.41% and finishing the second quarter at 2.85%. The 10-year Treasury spent some time above the psychological threshold of 3%, then quickly receded when talks of tariffs and trade wars entered the picture. Additionally, the flattening of the yield curve has continued to grab the attention of the press and market participants. While the short-end of the curve is controlled by the action of the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”), longer-dated rates fluctuate due to market expectations about future growth and inflation. This is noteworthy, because the spread between short and longer-dated issues has become tighter, and most, not all, recessions are preceded by an inversion of the yield-curve (when short-term rates are higher than longer rates).

 

The Fed has now increased the Fed Funds rate twice since the beginning of the year, bringing the rate to the 1.75%-2.00% range. Two additional hikes are expected this year, taking the rate up to 2.25%-2.50%. The overall economy looks strong as the labor market is tightening, and the unemployment rate has fallen to 3.9%. In addition, inflation, less food and energy has been over the 2% Fed target for more than a quarter and has the potential to become problematic, should the economy continue to expand.

 

Corporate credit spreads widened during the first half of the year, as volatility picked up and the potential of increased debt financed mergers and acquisitions has caused investors to reassess the effect of weaker corporate balance sheets. Also, the Trump tax-cuts have enabled companies to repatriate money at a lower tax rate, and the use of these monies has been a focus for investors. So far, the common use is for share buybacks, dividends, capital investment, increasing wages or paying one-time employee bonuses.

 

In reviewing the performance of the Fund, the three top-performing assets were the common stocks of RPM International, Inc. (specialty chemicals), Cisco Systems, Inc. (communications equipment), and VF Corporation (apparel). The Fund’s weakest-performing assets were the common stocks of 3M Company (specialty chemicals), Chubb Ltd. (property and casualty insurance), and Fastenal Company (industrial supplier).

 

30

 

 

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

 

 

The Fund continues to be managed in a conservative manner with respect to interest rate risk and credit risk, having a short duration and high credit quality. Dividend-paying common stocks continue to play an important role in the Fund, offering an attractive combination of income and potential capital appreciation.

 

We appreciate your investment in the Fund.

 

Sincerely,

 

Brandon S. Scheitler Adam Gaglio, CFA
Lead Portfolio Manager Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Richard L. Platte, Jr., CFA
Co-Portfolio Manager

 

31

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS*
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Par Value/Shares   Holding  Market Value   % of Net Assets
$10,000,000   U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.375%, due 12/31/18  $9,960,937   3.1%
$10,000,000   U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.500%, due 10/31/19   9,875,781   3.1%
 45,000   Texas Instruments, Inc.   4,961,250   1.6%
$5,000,000   U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.000%, due 07/31/20   4,943,945   1.6%
$5,000,000   U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.875%, due 02/28/22   4,860,547   1.5%
$5,000,000   U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.750%, due 04/30/22   4,829,102   1.5%
$5,000,000   U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.750%, due 05/31/22   4,824,805   1.5%
 60,000   Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class B - ADR   4,359,000   1.4%
 40,000   United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B   4,249,200   1.3%
 50,000   Exxon Mobil Corporation   4,136,500   1.3%

 

* Excludes cash equivalents.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)

 

 

  % of Net Assets
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS 47.2%
   
CORPORATE BONDS  
Sector  
Consumer Discretionary 4.0%
Consumer Staples 8.9%
Energy 2.0%
Financials 0.7%
Health Care 1.1%
Industrials 7.4%
Information Technology 2.9%
Materials 2.5%
Utilities 0.7%
   
COMMON STOCKS  
Sector  
Consumer Discretionary 1.1%
Consumer Staples 2.0%
Energy 2.7%
Financials 3.3%
Health Care 1.1%
Industrials 4.4%
Information Technology 2.4%
Materials 2.1%
   
Money Market Funds, Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 3.5%
  100.0%

 

32

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS — 47.2%  Par Value   Market Value 
U.S. Treasury Bonds — 1.7%        
8.125%, due 05/15/21  $2,000,000   $2,302,187 
8.000%, due 11/15/21   2,500,000    2,928,418 
         5,230,605 
U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Notes — 0.7% (a)          
1.125%, due 01/15/21   2,290,380    2,320,076 
           
U.S. Treasury Notes — 44.8%          
1.375%, due 07/31/18   2,000,000    1,999,287 
1.250%, due 10/31/18   3,000,000    2,992,266 
1.250%, due 12/15/18   4,000,000    3,984,375 
1.375%, due 12/31/18   10,000,000    9,960,937 
1.500%, due 01/31/19   3,000,000    2,987,461 
1.500%, due 02/28/19   3,000,000    2,985,352 
1.250%, due 03/31/19   3,000,000    2,977,266 
1.625%, due 04/30/19   3,000,000    2,982,773 
1.500%, due 10/31/19   10,000,000    9,875,781 
1.000%, due 11/15/19   3,000,000    2,941,055 
1.500%, due 11/30/19   3,000,000    2,959,570 
1.625%, due 12/31/19   4,000,000    3,950,312 
1.250%, due 01/31/20   3,000,000    2,942,578 
1.375%, due 02/15/20   2,000,000    1,964,297 
1.375%, due 02/29/20   2,000,000    1,963,047 
1.625%, due 03/15/20   3,000,000    2,955,469 
1.500%, due 04/15/20   3,000,000    2,946,680 
3.500%, due 05/15/20   3,000,000    3,052,734 
1.625%, due 06/30/20   3,000,000    2,946,680 
2.000%, due 07/31/20   5,000,000    4,943,945 
2.625%, due 08/15/20   3,000,000    3,003,867 
2.000%, due 09/30/20   3,000,000    2,962,734 
1.375%, due 10/31/20   3,000,000    2,918,438 
2.625%, due 11/15/20   3,000,000    3,002,930 
2.375%, due 12/31/20   2,000,000    1,989,609 
1.375%, due 01/31/21   4,000,000    3,877,969 
2.000%, due 02/28/21   3,000,000    2,953,242 
2.250%, due 03/31/21   4,000,000    3,961,406 
1.375%, due 04/30/21   3,000,000    2,898,867 
2.125%, due 08/15/21   4,000,000    3,938,125 
2.125%, due 09/30/21   3,000,000    2,951,250 
2.000%, due 10/31/21   4,000,000    3,916,250 
1.500%, due 01/31/22   3,000,000    2,879,883 
1.875%, due 02/28/22   5,000,000    4,860,547 
1.750%, due 03/31/22   2,000,000    1,933,750 

 

33

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS — 47.2% (Continued)  Par Value   Market Value 
U.S. Treasury Notes — 44.8% (Continued)        
1.750%, due 04/30/22  $5,000,000   $4,829,102 
1.750%, due 05/31/22   5,000,000    4,824,805 
2.125%, due 06/30/22   3,000,000    2,935,195 
2.000%, due 07/31/22   3,000,000    2,918,672 
1.750%, due 09/30/22   4,000,000    3,847,344 
         141,715,850 
           
Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (Cost $152,032,974)        $149,266,531 

 

CORPORATE BONDS — 30.2%  Par Value   Market Value 
Consumer Discretionary — 4.0%          
Lowe's Companies, Inc., 3.800%, due 11/15/21  $1,000,000   $1,020,929 
Lowe's Companies, Inc., 3.120%, due 04/15/22   3,000,000    2,992,149 
Ross Stores, Inc., 3.375%, due 09/15/24   3,000,000    2,962,006 
TJX Companies, Inc. (The), 2.750%, due 06/15/21   2,305,000    2,282,174 
VF Corporation, 3.500%, due 09/01/21   3,500,000    3,531,824 
         12,789,082 
Consumer Staples — 8.9%          
Coca-Cola Company (The), 1.650%, due 11/01/18   1,500,000    1,494,396 
Coca-Cola Company (The), 3.300%, due 09/01/21   2,000,000    2,016,754 
Colgate-Palmolive Company, 2.450%, due 11/15/21   3,000,000    2,945,355 
Colgate-Palmolive Company, 1.950%, due 02/01/23   2,263,000    2,154,800 
Colgate-Palmolive Company, 3.250%, due 03/15/24   795,000    797,712 
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., 3.200%, due 11/15/21   2,000,000    1,973,424 
Hershey Company (The), 2.625%, due 05/01/23   2,831,000    2,745,862 
Hormel Foods Corporation, 4.125%, due 04/15/21   2,564,000    2,631,849 
J.M. Smucker Company (The), 3.500%, due 10/15/21   2,000,000    2,007,909 
Kellogg Company, 4.150%, due 11/15/19   2,042,000    2,070,272 
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 2.400%, due 03/01/22   2,311,000    2,246,019 
McCormick & Company, Inc., 3.900%, due 07/15/21   2,500,000    2,528,318 
McCormick & Company, Inc., 3.500%, due 09/01/23   2,500,000    2,448,716 
         28,061,386 
Energy — 2.0%          
Exxon Mobil Corporation, 2.397%, due 03/06/22   2,000,000    1,955,594 
Exxon Mobil Corporation, 3.176%, due 03/15/24   1,634,000    1,620,031 
Occidental Petroleum Corporation, 3.125%, due 02/15/22   2,940,000    2,932,661 
         6,508,286 

 

34

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

CORPORATE BONDS — 30.2% (Continued)  Par Value   Market Value 
Financials — 0.7%        
Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (The), 2.100%, due 08/01/18  $1,000,000   $999,630 
U.S. Bancorp, 2.200%, due 04/25/19   1,173,000    1,168,495 
         2,168,125 
Health Care — 1.1%          
Stryker Corporation, 4.375%, due 01/15/20   1,000,000    1,018,655 
Zimmer Holdings, Inc., 4.625%, due 11/30/19   2,310,000    2,355,978 
         3,374,633 
Industrials — 7.4%          
3M Company, 2.000%, due 06/26/22   1,073,000    1,030,757 
3M Company, 2.250%, due 03/15/23   3,000,000    2,879,473 
Emerson Electric Company, 5.250%, due 10/15/18   1,600,000    1,611,761 
Emerson Electric Company, 4.250%, due 11/15/20   2,109,000    2,161,116 
Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 1.950%, due 03/01/19   2,000,000    1,990,515 
Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 6.250%, due 04/01/19   1,000,000    1,026,678 
Norfolk Southern Corporation, 5.900%, due 06/15/19   441,000    452,969 
PACCAR Financial Corporation, 1.650%, due 08/11/21   3,750,000    3,576,149 
Snap-on, Inc., 6.125%, due 09/01/21   2,000,000    2,173,048 
Union Pacific Corporation, 2.250%, due 02/15/19   2,000,000    1,994,635 
United Parcel Service, Inc., 5.125%, due 04/01/19   1,500,000    1,527,033 
United Parcel Service, Inc., 2.350%, due 05/16/22   2,990,000    2,900,949 
         23,325,083 
Information Technology — 2.9%          
Cisco Systems, Inc., 4.450%, due 01/15/20   606,000    621,353 
MasterCard, Inc., 2.000%, due 04/01/19   2,000,000    1,991,945 
MasterCard, Inc., 3.375%, due 04/01/24   2,300,000    2,294,887 
Texas Instruments, Inc., 1.650%, due 08/03/19   2,000,000    1,975,511 
Texas Instruments, Inc., 2.250%, due 05/01/23   2,500,000    2,389,160 
         9,272,856 
Materials — 2.5%          
Ecolab, Inc., 4.350%, due 12/08/21   2,292,000    2,365,696 
Ecolab, Inc., 3.250%, due 01/14/23   3,000,000    2,962,324 
Praxair, Inc., 2.250%, due 09/24/20   2,000,000    1,969,601 
Praxair, Inc., 4.050%, due 03/15/21   500,000    511,664 
         7,809,285 
Utilities — 0.7%          
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., 6.650%, due 04/01/19   800,000    823,037 
Georgia Power Company, 4.250%, due 12/01/19   1,500,000    1,527,688 
         2,350,725 
           
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $97,303,627)        $95,659,461 

 

35

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 19.1%  Shares   Market Value 
Consumer Discretionary — 1.1%        
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.1%        
VF Corporation   45,000   $3,668,400 
           
Consumer Staples — 2.0%          
Beverages — 2.0%          
Coca-Cola European Partners plc   70,000    2,844,800 
Diageo plc - ADR   25,000    3,600,250 
         6,445,050 
Energy — 2.7%          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 2.7%          
Exxon Mobil Corporation   50,000    4,136,500 
Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class B - ADR   60,000    4,359,000 
         8,495,500 
Financials — 3.3%          
Banks — 2.2%          
Fifth Third Bancorp   90,000    2,583,000 
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)   10,000    1,351,000 
U.S. Bancorp   60,000    3,001,200 
         6,935,200 
Diversified Financial Services — 0.5%          
Western Union Company (The)   80,000    1,626,400 
           
Insurance — 0.6%          
Chubb Ltd.   15,000    1,905,300 
           
Health Care — 1.1%          
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 1.1%          
Medtronic plc   40,000    3,424,400 
           
Industrials — 4.4%          
Air Freight & Logistics — 1.3%          
United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B   40,000    4,249,200 
           
Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.3%          
Genuine Parts Company   45,000    4,130,550 
           
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.7%          
3M Company   11,000    2,163,920 
           
Trading Companies & Distributors — 1.1%          
Fastenal Company   70,000    3,369,100 

 

36

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 19.1% (Continued)  Shares   Market Value 
Information Technology — 2.4%        
Communications Equipment — 0.8%        
Cisco Systems, Inc.   60,000   $2,581,800 
           
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 1.6%          
Texas Instruments, Inc.   45,000    4,961,250 
           
Materials — 2.1%          
Chemicals — 2.1%          
Praxair, Inc.   20,000    3,163,000 
RPM International, Inc.   60,000    3,499,200 
         6,662,200 
           
Total Common Stocks (Cost $49,240,006)        $60,618,270 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 3.0%  Shares   Market Value 
Federated Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 1.70% (b) (Cost $9,521,677)   9,521,677   $9,521,677 
           
Total Investments at Market Value — 99.5% (Cost $308,098,284)        $315,065,939 
           
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.5%        1,437,932 
           
Net Assets — 100.0%       $316,503,871 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.
(a) Interest rate for this investment is the stated rate. Interest payments are determined based on the inflation adjusted principal.
(b) The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of June 30, 2018.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

37

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

   Ave Maria
Value Fund
   Ave Maria
Growth Fund
   Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund
 
ASSETS            
Investment securities:            
At cost  $196,981,366   $430,963,434   $675,408,466 
At market value (Note 1)  $253,422,300   $585,177,327   $858,082,365 
Receivable for investment securities sold           6,068,651 
Receivable for capital shares sold   61,623    691,895    424,560 
Dividends receivable   118,793    187,134    1,188,287 
Other assets   20,365    41,185    41,943 
TOTAL ASSETS   253,623,081    586,097,541    865,805,806 
                
LIABILITIES               
Dividends payable           302,096 
Payable for investment securities purchased       3,899,009    1,268,782 
Payable for capital shares redeemed   52,217    122,739    598,580 
Payable to Adviser (Note 2)   605,670    1,037,643    1,829,145 
Payable to administrator (Note 2)   26,411    58,074    88,570 
Other accrued expenses   18,183    27,969    38,254 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   702,481    5,145,434    4,125,427 
                
NET ASSETS  $252,920,600   $580,952,107   $861,680,379 
                
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:               
Paid-in capital  $179,153,594   $410,315,583   $648,751,004 
Accumulated net investment income (loss)   (83,885)   466,357    55,900 
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions   17,409,957    15,956,274    30,199,576 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   56,440,934    154,213,893    182,673,899 
NET ASSETS  $252,920,600   $580,952,107   $861,680,379 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   11,699,049    17,772,995    46,224,665 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)  $21.62   $32.69   $18.64 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

38

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) (Continued)

   Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund
   Ave Maria
Bond Fund
 
ASSETS        
Investment securities:        
At cost  $54,037,018   $308,098,284 
At market value (Note 1)  $63,665,781   $315,065,939 
Cash   7,937     
Receivable for investment securities sold   165,212     
Receivable for capital shares sold   10,340    245,822 
Dividends and interest receivable   116,072    1,635,969 
Other assets   18,589    34,452 
TOTAL ASSETS   63,983,931    316,982,182 
           
LIABILITIES          
Dividends payable       44,410 
Payable for investment securities purchased   90,795     
Payable for capital shares redeemed   2,722    147,366 
Payable to Adviser (Note 2)   135,759    237,483 
Payable to administrator (Note 2)   6,675    26,419 
Other accrued expenses   12,251    22,633 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   248,202    478,311 
           
NET ASSETS  $63,735,729   $316,503,871 
           
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:          
Paid-in capital  $52,050,905   $308,384,674 
Accumulated net investment income   358,047    57,038 
Accumulated net realized gains from investment transactions   1,698,014    1,094,504 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   9,628,763    6,967,655 
NET ASSETS  $63,735,729   $316,503,871 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   4,234,474    27,954,011 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)  $15.05   $11.32 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

39

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

   Ave Maria
Value Fund
   Ave Maria
Growth Fund
   Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME            
Dividends  $1,437,492   $3,012,950   $9,948,991 
Foreign withholding taxes on dividends   (5,040)       (2,300)
TOTAL INCOME   1,432,452    3,012,950    9,946,691 
                
EXPENSES               
Investment advisory fees (Note 2)   1,206,446    1,994,413    3,681,488 
Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)   158,861    328,318    551,884 
Postage and supplies   31,451    63,115    97,106 
Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)   42,057    42,057    42,057 
Legal and audit fees   21,090    31,099    43,228 
Registration and filing fees   16,238    26,919    28,107 
Custodian and bank service fees   8,563    16,853    30,563 
Insurance expense   5,367    9,371    19,713 
Advisory board fees and expenses (Note 2)   8,386    8,386    8,386 
Printing of shareholder reports   4,215    6,041    7,283 
Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)   2,465    5,295    8,690 
Other expenses   11,198    14,726    25,166 
TOTAL EXPENSES   1,516,337    2,546,593    4,543,671 
                
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)   (83,885)   466,357    5,403,020 
                
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS               
Net realized gains from investment transactions   17,458,584    16,014,466    30,199,624 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   (8,530,419)   14,175,805    (14,595,117)
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS ON INVESTMENTS   8,928,165    30,190,271    15,604,507 
                
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $8,844,280   $30,656,628   $21,007,527 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

40

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited) (Continued)

   Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund
   Ave Maria
Bond Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME        
Dividends  $816,842   $797,815 
Foreign withholding taxes on dividends   (63,962)   (250)
Interest       2,429,906 
TOTAL INCOME   752,880    3,227,471 
           
EXPENSES          
Investment advisory fees (Note 2)   300,056    466,174 
Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)   39,525    156,316 
Postage and supplies   13,646    39,012 
Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)   42,057    42,057 
Legal and audit fees   14,637    23,216 
Registration and filing fees   14,348    21,815 
Custodian and bank service fees   2,777    9,682 
Insurance expense   1,457    6,444 
Advisory board fees and expenses (Note 2)   8,386    8,386 
Printing of shareholder reports   1,705    3,633 
Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)   674    3,061 
Other expenses   8,036    20,109 
TOTAL EXPENSES   447,304    799,905 
Less fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 2)   (52,471)    
NET EXPENSES   394,833    799,905 
           
NET INVESTMENT INCOME   358,047    2,427,566 
           
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS          
Net realized gains from investment transactions   1,698,014    1,094,504 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   (2,177,138)   (3,764,622)
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS   (479,124)   (2,670,118)
           
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $(121,077)  $(242,552)

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

41

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2017
 
FROM OPERATIONS        
Net investment loss  $(83,885)  $(747,069)
Net realized gains from unaffiliated investment transactions   17,458,584    19,008,893 
Net realized gains from affiliated investment transactions (Note 5)       19,671 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments   (8,530,419)   20,949,778 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on affiliated investments (Note 5)       (650,902)
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   8,844,280    38,580,371 
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)          
From net realized gains on investments       (18,255,479)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS          
Proceeds from shares sold   12,900,777    17,924,288 
Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       17,330,791 
Payments for shares redeemed   (18,716,032)   (30,281,644)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions   (5,815,255)   4,973,435 
           
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS   3,029,025    25,298,327 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of period   249,891,575    224,593,248 
End of period  $252,920,600   $249,891,575 
           
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT LOSS  $(83,885)  $ 
           
SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY          
Shares sold   599,188    882,065 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       826,456 
Shares redeemed   (868,227)   (1,487,877)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding   (269,039)   220,644 
Shares outstanding, beginning of period   11,968,088    11,747,444 
Shares outstanding, end of period   11,699,049    11,968,088 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

42

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2017
 
FROM OPERATIONS        
Net investment income  $466,357   $403,610 
Net realized gains from investment transactions   16,014,466    41,098,742 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   14,175,805    58,423,052 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   30,656,628    99,925,404 
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)          
From net investment income       (404,152)
From net realized gains on investments       (41,099,822)
Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders       (41,503,974)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS          
Proceeds from shares sold   102,504,269    87,271,657 
Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       39,499,274 
Payments for shares redeemed   (34,723,922)   (53,762,692)
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions   67,780,347    73,008,239 
           
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS   98,436,975    131,429,669 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of period   482,515,132    351,085,463 
End of period  $580,952,107   $482,515,132 
           
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME  $466,357   $ 
           
SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY          
Shares sold   3,193,603    2,910,998 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       1,277,460 
Shares redeemed   (1,089,158)   (1,798,958)
Net increase in shares outstanding   2,104,445    2,389,500 
Shares outstanding, beginning of period   15,668,550    13,279,050 
Shares outstanding, end of period   17,772,995    15,668,550 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

43

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2017
 
FROM OPERATIONS        
Net investment income  $5,403,020   $10,188,142 
Net realized gains from investment transactions   30,199,624    48,507,186 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   (14,595,117)   82,923,856 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   21,007,527    141,619,184 
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)          
From net investment income   (5,504,152)   (10,053,305)
From net realized gains on investments       (48,508,726)
Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders   (5,504,152)   (58,562,031)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS          
Proceeds from shares sold   92,673,611    168,151,569 
Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders   4,887,224    52,929,138 
Payments for shares redeemed   (221,492,365)   (162,678,554)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions   (123,931,530)   58,402,153 
           
TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS   (108,428,155)   141,459,306 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of period   970,108,534    828,649,228 
End of period  $861,680,379   $970,108,534 
           
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME  $55,900   $157,032 
           
SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY          
Shares sold   4,968,030    9,503,269 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders   266,023    2,872,973 
Shares redeemed   (11,632,372)   (9,119,249)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding   (6,398,319)   3,256,993 
Shares outstanding, beginning of period   52,622,984    49,365,991 
Shares outstanding, end of period   46,224,665    52,622,984 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

44

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2017
 
FROM OPERATIONS        
Net investment income  $358,047   $268,242 
Net realized gains from security investment transactions   1,698,014    1,569,274 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   (2,177,138)   6,897,006 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   (121,077)   8,734,522 
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)          
From net investment income       (268,281)
From net realized gains on investments       (1,569,522)
Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders       (1,837,803)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS          
Proceeds from shares sold   6,229,589    12,841,841 
Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       1,682,524 
Payments for shares redeemed   (4,543,169)   (5,280,359)
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions   1,686,420    9,244,006 
           
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS   1,565,343    16,140,725 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of period   62,170,386    46,029,661 
End of period  $63,735,729   $62,170,386 
           
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME  $358,047   $ 
           
SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY          
Shares sold   409,418    882,753 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders       111,352 
Shares redeemed   (298,898)   (361,748)
Net increase in shares outstanding   110,520    632,357 
Shares outstanding, beginning of period   4,123,954    3,491,597 
Shares outstanding, end of period   4,234,474    4,123,954 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

45

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2017
 
FROM OPERATIONS        
Net investment income  $2,427,566   $4,095,064 
Net realized gains from investment transactions   1,094,504    1,780,296 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments   (3,764,622)   5,434,807 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   (242,552)   11,310,167 
           
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)          
From net investment income   (2,370,528)   (4,102,344)
From net realized gains on investments       (1,781,882)
Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders   (2,370,528)   (5,884,226)
           
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS          
Proceeds from shares sold   48,671,993    99,449,677 
Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders   2,068,719    5,193,095 
Payments for shares redeemed   (38,858,148)   (51,805,590)
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions   11,882,564    52,837,182 
           
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS   9,269,484    58,263,123 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of period   307,234,387    248,971,264 
End of period  $316,503,871   $307,234,387 
           
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT INCOME  $57,038   $ 
           
SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY          
Shares sold   4,285,343    8,759,908 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders   182,534    456,482 
Shares redeemed   (3,420,884)   (4,564,309)
Net increase in shares outstanding   1,046,993    4,652,081 
Shares outstanding, beginning of period   26,907,018    22,254,937 
Shares outstanding, end of period   27,954,011    26,907,018 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

46

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31,
2017
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2016
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2015
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2014
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2013
 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $20.88   $19.12   $16.42   $19.97   $21.21   $17.78 
                               
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   (0.01)   (0.06)   (0.03)   0.01    (0.01)   (0.00)(a)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   0.75    3.46    2.73    (3.54)   0.63    4.66 
Total from investment operations   0.74    3.40    2.70    (3.53)   0.62    4.66 
                               
Less distributions:                              
From net investment income               (0.01)        
From net realized gains on investments       (1.64)       (0.01)   (1.86)   (1.23)
Total distributions       (1.64)       (0.02)   (1.86)   (1.23)
                               
Net asset value at end of period  $21.62   $20.88   $19.12   $16.42   $19.97   $21.21 
                               
Total return (b)   3.5%(c)   17.7%   16.4%   (17.7%)   2.9%   26.2%
                               
Ratios/Supplementary Data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000’s)  $252,921   $249,892   $224,593   $211,879   $246,790   $246,801 
                               
Ratio of total expenses to
average net assets
   1.19%(d)   1.19%   1.20%   1.18%   1.29%   1.42%
                               
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets   (0.07%)(d)   (0.32%)   (0.15%)   0.06%   (0.04%)   (0.02%)
                               
Portfolio turnover rate   20%(c)   40%   47%   63%   31%   29%

 

(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 period 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) Annualized.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

47

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31,
2017
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2016
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2015
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2014
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2013
 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $30.80   $26.44   $25.02   $28.24   $30.19   $23.71 
                               
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income (loss)   0.03    0.03    0.02    0.07    (0.03)   (0.08)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   1.86    7.22    3.01    (0.81)   2.33    7.55 
Total from investment operations   1.89    7.25    3.03    (0.74)   2.30    7.47 
                               
Less distributions:                              
From net investment income       (0.03)   (0.02)   (0.07)        
From net realized gains on investments       (2.86)   (1.59)   (2.41)   (4.25)   (0.99)
Total distributions       (2.89)   (1.61)   (2.48)   (4.25)   (0.99)
                               
Net asset value at end of period  $32.69   $30.80   $26.44   $25.02   $28.24   $30.19 
                               
Total return (a)   6.1%(b)   27.4%   12.1%   (2.7%)   7.5%   31.5%
                               
Ratios/Supplementary Data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000’s)  $580,952   $482,515   $351,085   $300,119   $303,840   $285,132 
                               
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets   0.96%(c)   1.08%   1.17%   1.17%   1.28%   1.43%
                               
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets   0.18%(c)   0.10%   0.09%   0.24%   (0.10%)   (0.29%)
                               
Portfolio turnover rate   14%(b)   26%   29%   32%   36%   18%

 

(a) Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period 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 accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

48

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31,
2017
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2016
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2015
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2014
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2013
 
Net asset value at beginning of period  $18.44   $16.79   $15.58   $17.72   $17.56   $13.49 
                               
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income   0.12    0.20    0.27    0.24    0.18    0.17 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   0.19    2.62    2.11    (1.27)   1.46    4.38 
Total from investment operations   0.31    2.82    2.38    (1.03)   1.64    4.55 
                               
Less distributions:                              
From net investment income   (0.11)   (0.20)   (0.28)   (0.23)   (0.18)   (0.17)
From net realized gains on investments       (0.97)   (0.89)   (0.88)   (1.30)   (0.31)
Total distributions   (0.11)   (1.17)   (1.17)   (1.11)   (1.48)   (0.48)
                               
Net asset value at end of period  $18.64   $18.44   $16.79   $15.58   $17.72   $17.56 
                               
Total return (a)   1.7%(b)   16.8%   15.3%   (5.9%)   9.3%   33.9%
                               
Ratios/Supplementary Data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000’s)  $861,680   $970,109   $828,649   $750,890   $848,096   $710,150 
                               
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets   0.93%(c)   0.92%   0.92%   0.92%   0.92%   0.97%
                               
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   1.10%(c)   1.12%   1.61%   1.38%   1.01%   1.16%
                               
Portfolio turnover rate   14%(b)   26%   24%   35%   29%   14%

 

(a) Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period 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 accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

49

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31,
2017
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2016
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2015
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2014
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2013
 
Net asset value at
beginning of period
  $15.08   $13.18   $12.36   $13.22   $13.90   $11.46 
                               
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income   0.09    0.07    0.06    0.07    0.04    0.03 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.12)   2.29    1.01    (0.70)   0.04    2.66 
Total from investment operations   (0.03)   2.36    1.07    (0.63)   0.08    2.69 
                               
Less distributions:                              
From net investment income       (0.07)   (0.06)   (0.07)   (0.04)   (0.03)
From net realized gains
on investments
       (0.39)   (0.19)   (0.16)   (0.72)   (0.22)
Total distributions       (0.46)   (0.25)   (0.23)   (0.76)   (0.25)
                               
Net asset value at end of period  $15.05   $15.08   $13.18   $12.36   $13.22   $13.90 
                               
Total return (a)   (0.2%)(b)   17.9%   8.7%   (4.8%)   0.5%   23.5%
                               
Ratios/Supplementary Data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000’s)  $63,736   $62,170   $46,030   $41,199   $42,667   $39,870 
                               
Ratio of total expenses to
average net assets
   1.42%(c)   1.41%   1.45%   1.50%   1.50%   1.55%
                               
Ratio of net expenses to
average net assets (d)
   1.25%(c)   1.25%   1.33%   1.50%   1.50%   1.50%
                               
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (d)   1.13%(c)   0.50%   0.50%   0.51%   0.29%   0.28%
                               
Portfolio turnover rate   19%(b)   29%   42%   35%   36%   31%

 

(a) Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period 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.
(d) Ratio was determined after advisory fee reductions (Note 2).
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

50

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

   Six Months Ended
June 30,
2018
(Unaudited)
   Year
Ended
December 31,
2017
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2016
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2015
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2014
   Year
Ended
December 31, 2013
 
Net asset value at
beginning of period
  $11.42   $11.19   $11.02   $11.15   $11.38   $11.04 
                               
Income (loss) from investment operations:                              
Net investment income   0.09    0.17    0.15    0.14    0.12    0.11 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments   (0.10)   0.30    0.35    (0.06)   0.12    0.56 
Total from investment operations   (0.01)   0.47    0.50    0.08    0.24    0.67 
                               
Less distributions:                              
From net investment income   (0.09)   (0.17)   (0.15)   (0.14)   (0.12)   (0.11)
From net realized gains
on investments
       (0.07)   (0.18)   (0.07)   (0.35)   (0.22)
Total distributions   (0.09)   (0.24)   (0.33)   (0.21)   (0.47)   (0.33)
                               
Net asset value at end of period  $11.32   $11.42   $11.19   $11.02   $11.15   $11.38 
                               
Total return (a)   (0.1%)(b)   4.2%   4.5%   0.7%   2.2%   6.1%
                               
Ratios/Supplementary Data:                              
Net assets at end of period (000’s)  $316,504   $307,234   $248,971   $223,842   $180,718   $149,750 
                               
Ratio of total expenses to
average net assets
   0.51%(c)   0.50%   0.50%   0.51%   0.54%   0.70%
                               
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   1.56%(c)   1.47%   1.34%   1.30%   1.10%   1.01%
                               
Portfolio turnover rate   17%(b)   19%   21%   25%   21%   17%

 

(a) Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period 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 accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

51

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend 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, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and established as an Ohio business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated August 31, 1992.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria Value 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 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.

 

The Funds follow accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

New Accounting Pronouncement – In March 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-08 – Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities (the “ASU”). The ASU shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities, held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount, which continues to amortize to

 

52

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

maturity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying the ASU.

 

(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 Closing 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. Fixed income securities are generally valued using prices provided by an independent pricing service. The independent pricing service uses information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining these prices. Investments in shares of other open-end investment companies are valued at their net asset value as reported by such companies. When using quoted prices and when the market for the securities are considered active, the securities will be classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy (see below). 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, 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

 

53

 

 

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, 2018:

 

Ave Maria Value Fund  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $229,329,356   $   $   $229,329,356 
Money Market Funds   24,092,944            24,092,944 
Total  $253,422,300   $   $   $253,422,300 
 

 

Ave Maria Growth Fund  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $540,997,517   $   $   $540,997,517 
Money Market Funds   44,179,810            44,179,810 
Total  $585,177,327   $   $   $585,177,327 
 

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $815,502,340   $   $   $815,502,340 
Money Market Funds   42,580,025            42,580,025 
Total  $858,082,365   $   $   $858,082,365 
 

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $60,370,668   $   $   $60,370,668 
Money Market Funds   3,295,113            3,295,113 
Total  $63,665,781   $   $   $63,665,781 
 

 

54

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

Ave Maria Bond Fund  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
U.S. Treasury Obligations  $   $149,266,531   $   $149,266,531 
Corporate Bonds       95,659,461        95,659,461 
Common Stocks   60,618,270            60,618,270 
Money Market Funds   9,521,677            9,521,677 
Total  $70,139,947   $244,925,992   $   $315,065,939 
 

 

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, 2018, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund did not have any transfers between Levels. There were no Level 3 securities or derivative instruments held by the Funds as of June 30, 2018. It is the Funds’ policy to recognize transfers between Levels at the end of the reporting period. Transfers that occurred between Level 2 and 1 on June 30, 2018 for Ave Maria Value Fund due to the availability of pricing was:

 

   Transfers
from Level 2
to Level 1
 
Common Stocks  $1,366,700 

 

(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, as amended (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.

 

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.

 

The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of June 30, 2018:

 

   Ave Maria
Value Fund
   Ave Maria
Growth
Fund
   Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund
   Ave Maria
World Equity Fund
   Ave Maria
Bond Fund
 
Accumulated ordinary income (loss)  $(83,885)  $466,357   $55,900   $358,047   $57,038 
Net unrealized appreciation   56,440,934    154,155,701    182,673,899    9,628,763    6,967,655 
Other gains   17,409,957    16,014,466    30,199,576    1,698,014    1,094,504 
Total accumulated earnings  $73,767,006   $170,636,524   $212,929,375   $11,684,824   $8,119,197 
 

 

55

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

The following information is based upon the federal income tax cost of the Funds’ investment securities as of June 30, 2018:

 

   Ave Maria
Value Fund
   Ave Maria
Growth
Fund
   Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund
   Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund
   Ave Maria
Bond Fund
 
Gross unrealized appreciation  $60,761,884   $157,918,261   $188,195,633   $10,578,677   $11,773,483 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (4,320,950)   (3,762,560)   (5,521,734)   (949,914)   (4,805,828)
Net unrealized appreciation  $56,440,934   $154,155,701   $182,673,899   $9,628,763   $6,967,655 
Federal income tax cost  $196,981,366   $431,021,626   $675,408,466   $54,037,018   $308,098,284 
 

 

The difference between the federal income tax cost of portfolio investments and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments for the Ave Maria Growth Fund is due to certain timing differences in the recognition of capital gains and 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 Value Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund as of June 30, 2018.

 

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, 2014 through December 31, 2017) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements.

 

(c) Investment transactions and investment income – Investment 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 investments sold are determined on a specific identification basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been recorded in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s rules and tax rates.

 

(d) Dividends and distributions – Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually in December for the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth 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

 

56

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

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, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows:

 

Periods Ended  Ordinary
Income
   Long-Term
Capital Gains
   Total
Distributions
 
Ave Maria Value Fund:            
June 30, 2018  $   $   $ 
December 31, 2017  $248,730   $18,006,749   $18,255,479 
Ave Maria Growth Fund:               
June 30, 2018  $   $   $ 
December 31, 2017  $576,743   $40,927,231   $41,503,974 
Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund:               
June 30, 2018  $5,504,152   $   $5,504,152 
December 31, 2017  $12,626,725   $45,935,306   $58,562,031 
Ave Maria World Equity Fund:               
June 30, 2018  $   $   $ 
December 31, 2017  $268,281   $1,569,522   $1,837,803 
Ave Maria Bond Fund               
June 30, 2018  $2,370,528   $   $2,370,528 
December 31, 2017  $4,102,344   $1,781,882   $5,884,226 

 

(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 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 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.

 

57

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

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 Value Fund and the Ave Maria World Equity Fund a fee, which is accrued daily and paid quarterly, at the annual rate of 0.95% of its average daily net assets. The Adviser receives from each of the Ave Maria Growth Fund and the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund a fee, which is accrued daily and paid quarterly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets. The Adviser receives from the Ave Maria Bond Fund a fee, which is accrued daily and paid quarterly, at the annual rate of 0.30% of its average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse a portion of operating expenses until at least May 1, 2019 so that the ordinary operating expenses of each of the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and the Ave Maria World Equity 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 0.60% per annum of average daily net assets. Accordingly, during the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Adviser reduced its investment advisory fees by $52,471 with respect to the Ave Maria World Equity Fund.

 

Any investment advisory fee reductions or expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Funds for a period of three years after such fees and expenses were incurred, 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. As of June 30, 2018, the Adviser may seek recoupment of investment advisory fee reductions from the Ave Maria World Equity Fund totaling $189,474 no later than the dates as stated below:

 

Ave Maria World Equity    
December 31, 2019  $52,827 
December 31, 2020   84,176 
June 30, 2021   52,471 
Total  $189,474 
 

 

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.

 

58

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

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.

 

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 $46,000 (except that such fee is $56,000 for the Lead Independent Trustee/Chairman of the Governance Committee and $50,000 for the Chairman of the Audit Committee), payable quarterly; a fee of $6,000 for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Trustees; 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 $4,000 (except that such fee is $14,000 for the CAB chairman), payable quarterly; a fee of $3,000 for attendance at each meeting of the CAB (including 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, 2018, 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
Value Fund
   Ave Maria
Growth
Fund
   Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund
   Ave Maria
World Equity Fund
   Ave Maria
Bond Fund
 
Purchases of investment securities  $45,028,997   $148,888,842   $126,535,576   $13,691,861   $40,026,295 
Proceeds from sales and maturities
of investment securities
  $53,219,408   $68,244,776   $229,256,671   $11,126,101   $16,318,614 
 

 

59

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

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.

 

5. Affiliated Investment

 

A company is considered an affiliate of a Fund under the 1940 Act if the Fund’s holdings in that company represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of that company. As of December 31, 2017, Unico American Corporation (“Unico”) was an affiliate of the Ave Maria Value Fund, but as of June 30, 2018 is no longer an affiliate of the Fund. The industry and percentage of net assets for Unico can be found on the Ave Maria Value Fund’s Schedule of Investments. Further information on this holding for the six months ended June 30, 2018 appears below:

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
Affiliated Issuer Report
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
From December 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018
Shares at beginning of period   280,000 
Shares sold during the period   (107,000)
Shares at end of period   173,000 
Market value at beginning of period  $2,380,000 
Sales during the period   (888,218)
Net realized gains during the period   493,398 
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)   (618,480)
Market value at end of period  $1,366,700 
Dividend income earned during the period  $ 
 

 

60

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

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 a Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of June 30, 2018, the Ave Maria Growth Fund had 29.5% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the industrials sector.

 

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.

 

61

 

 

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, 2018) and held until the end of the period (June 30, 2018).

 

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 fourth 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 each Fund’s 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 U.S. 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.

 

62

 

 

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

 

 

  Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2018
Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2018
Net
Expense
Ratio(a)
Expenses
Paid During
Period(b)
Ave Maria Value Fund
Based on Actual Fund Return $1,000.00 $ 1,035.40 1.19% $6.01
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) $1,000.00 $ 1,018.89 1.19% $5.96
         
Ave Maria Growth Fund        
Based on Actual Fund Return $1,000.00 $ 1,061.40 0.96% $4.91
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) $1,000.00 $ 1,020.03 0.96% $4.81
         
Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund      
Based on Actual Fund Return $1,000.00 $ 1,016.90 0.93% $4.65
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) $1,000.00 $ 1,020.18 0.93% $4.66
         
Ave Maria World Equity Fund      
Based on Actual Fund Return $1,000.00 $ 998.00 1.25% $6.19
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) $1,000.00 $ 1,018.60 1.25% $6.26
         
Ave Maria Bond Fund        
Based on Actual Fund Return $1,000.00 $ 998.70 0.51% $2.53
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) $1,000.00 $ 1,022.27 0.51% $2.56

 

(a) Annualized, based on each Fund's most recent one-half year expenses.
(b) Expenses are equal to each Fund's annualized net expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, muliplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

63

 

 

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.

 

64

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
(Unaudited)

 

 

At an in-person meeting held on February 9, 2018, the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees voting separately, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreements with Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (the “Adviser”) on behalf of each of the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund (the “Ave Maria Mutual Funds” or “Funds”).

 

The Independent Trustees were advised and assisted throughout 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 continuance 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 Independent Trustees also retained an independent consultant (Strategic Insight) to prepare an expense and performance analysis for each of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. The Strategic Insight materials included information regarding advisory fee rates, other operating expenses, expense ratios, and performance comparisons to each Fund’s peer group and to a broad-based securities index. Prior to the Board meeting, the Independent Trustees discussed separately with Strategic Insight the methodologies that it used to construct its report and the Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”) categories that it identified to base its peer group comparisons for the Funds and other aspects of its report. The Independent Trustees met separately with independent counsel to discuss the continuance of the Advisory Agreements, during which time no representatives of the Adviser were present.

 

The Independent Trustees considered that they meet with the portfolio managers of each Fund at regularly scheduled meetings over the course of the year to discuss the investment results, portfolio composition, and developments affecting the performance of each Fund and the investment management industry in general. They also considered that the Adviser had discussed the overall condition of the economy and the markets, including an analysis of the factors that have influenced the markets, investor preferences and market sentiment.

 

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 model portfolios under the management of the Adviser; (2) comparative performance information; (3) the Adviser’s revenues and profitability 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.

 

As part of this process, the Trustees considered various factors, among them:

 

65

 

 

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

 

 

  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 each Fund (and the methodology by which such profitability was calculated);

 

  each Fund’s performance;

 

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

 

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

 

In their consideration of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Funds, the Trustees discussed the responsibilities of the Adviser under the Advisory Agreements and the investment management process applied to each Fund. The Trustees reviewed the background and experience of the Adviser’s key investment and research personnel, the co-portfolio management structure for the Ave Maria Mutual Funds and the research process and brokerage practices that are applied in the management of the Funds. The Trustees noted the co-portfolio manager changes for Ave Maria Value Fund and Ave Maria Bond Fund that became effective January 1, 2018. The Trustees next discussed the background and experience of the Adviser’s operational and compliance personnel, the Adviser’s ongoing responsibilities with regards to the compliance program of the Trust and the Trust’s overall compliance record. The Trustees considered the strength and stability of the Adviser, its investment approach and the quality of its risk management program, technology capabilities, shareholder support services and shareholder communications. The Trustees also considered the significant risks assumed by the Adviser in connection with the services provided to the Funds, including investment, operational, enterprise, regulatory and compliance risks. The Trustees concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services to the Funds was acceptable.

 

The Trustees reviewed information provided by Strategic Insight on the advisory fees paid by each Fund and compared such fees to the advisory fees paid by similar mutual funds, as compiled by Morningstar. The Trustees compared the net advisory fees of each Fund with the net advisory fees of representative funds within its Morningstar peer group. The Trustees noted that the Morningstar information showed that the net advisory fee ratio for each Fund is higher than the median net advisory fee ratio of its respective Morningstar peers. The Trustees compared the net total expense ratio of each Fund with the net total expense ratios of representative funds within its Morningstar peer group. The Trustees noted that the Morningstar information showed that the net total expense ratios of each Fund is lower than the median net total expense ratio of its respective Morningstar peers. The Independent Trustees took into account that the net operating expenses of the Ave Maria Value Fund, Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, Ave Maria World Equity Fund and Ave Maria Bond Fund were unchanged during the 2017 calendar year and the operating expenses of the Ave Maria Growth Fund had declined. The Trustees

 

66

 

 

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

 

 

noted that the Adviser had reduced the advisory fee rate for the Ave Maria Growth Fund from 0.95% to 0.85% effective May 1, 2017, and from 0.85% to 0.75% effective January 1, 2018. The Independent Trustees were mindful that the fee reductions made by the Adviser during the 2017 calendar year, on behalf of the Ave Maria World Equity Fund, had the effect of reducing the net management fee and net operating expenses of the Fund. The Trustees considered the fees the Adviser charges for its model portfolio accounts having similar strategies to certain of the Funds. The Independent Trustees considered the Adviser’s explanation that the differences between the advisory fees paid by these Funds and the advisory fees paid by the model portfolios reflect operational and regulatory differences between advising these Funds and the model portfolio accounts, and the Adviser’s additional explanation of the difference in the nature and scope of services that are required of the Adviser for providing initial model security names are far less that those required for managing the Funds on a continuous basis. 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 the 2017 calendar year, 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 Adviser’s investments in its business and the costs to the Adviser of providing 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, in a broader context of the Adviser’s overall business, that the Adviser bears the shareholder recordkeeping costs charged by third party financial intermediaries investing in the Funds. Based upon their review of the Adviser’s profitability analysis, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability is reasonable.

 

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 the nine-month period ended November 30, 2017, as compared to the returns of relevant indices. The Trustees observed that the Ave Maria Growth Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund each exceeded the returns of its respective benchmark index during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2017 and the Ave Maria Value Fund, Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and the Ave Maria World Equity Fund each placed below the returns of its respective benchmark index over the same period. The Trustees further considered the investment performance of each Fund compared to similarly managed mutual funds as compiled by Morningstar for selected periods ending November 30, 2017. The Trustees noted that the Ave Maria Value Fund placed in the third quartile of its Morningstar peers for the one-year period and in the

 

67

 

 

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

 

 

fourth quartile of its Morningstar peers for the three- five and ten-year periods; the Ave Maria Growth Fund placed in the second quartile of its Morningstar peers for the one- and five-year periods, and in the first quartile of its Morningstar peers for the three- and ten-year periods; the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund placed in the fourth quartile of its Morningstar peers for the one- three- and five-year periods and in the first quartile of its Morningstar peers for the ten-year period; the Ave Maria Bond Fund placed in the fourth quartile of its Morningstar peers for the one-year period, in the second quartile of its Morningstar peers for the ten-year period, in the third quartile of its Morningstar peers for the three- and five-year periods, and has operated without any negative calendar year-end returns since its inception; and the Ave Maria World Equity Fund placed in the fourth quartile of its Morningstar peers for the one-, three- and five-year periods. The Trustees considered that the performance of the Ave Maria Value Fund is the result of a value-oriented investment process and the performance of the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund is the result of a dividend-paying process and noted that growth momentum stocks were favored over value and dividend-paying stocks during 2017 and many of the years before. The Trustees were mindful of the tendency of different styles of investing to be in and out of favor during certain periods. The Trustees considered the additional responsibilities of the Adviser in screening for morally responsible investments and the benefits of an investment product that is designed to align with Catholic values. The Trustees concluded that the Funds’ investment results have been satisfactory and the quality of the services provided by the Adviser, combined with its long-term record of managing the Funds, supports their view that the Adviser’s 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. The Trustees observed that as the Funds’ assets have grown, their respective expense ratios generally have fallen. The Trustees also observed that the Adviser has a history of reducing the advisory fees paid by certain Funds in order to maintain a lower operating expense ratio for that Fund. The Trustees discussed whether a reduction in the advisory fees paid by a Fund by means of a breakpoint would be appropriate. They noted the benefits and downsides to having a flat fee from inception. The Board concluded that the current advisory fee structure is reasonable and reflects the sharing of economies of scale.

 

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 and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to certain factors. 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 approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreements for an additional annual period.

 

68

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
(Unaudited)

 

 

On March 15, 2018, a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Trust was held for the purpose of considering the election of seven trustees for the Trust. The number of shares of the Trust present by proxy and voting at the Special Meeting represented 68.45% of the total shares entitled to vote at the meeting. Each of the seven nominees was elected by the shareholders of the Trust.

 

The results of the voting with respect to the election of the seven Trustees were as follows:

 

  Number of Shares
Nominee/Trustee Affirmative Withhold
Louis C. Bosco, Jr. 76,174,290 1,709,478
Donald J. Dawson, Jr. 76,243,041 1,640,727
Joseph M. Grace 76,225,622 1,658,146
John J. McHale, Jr. 74,531,598 3,352,170
Edward J. Miller 76,752,876 1,130,892
William A. Morrow 76,763,936 1,119,832
George P. Schwartz 76,441,505 1,442,263

 

69

 

 

 

 

 

This page intentionally left blank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Nominating and Governance Committee 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.Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 13.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

 

(a)(4) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountants. 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 and Principal Executive Officer  
       
Date August 28, 2018    
       
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
       
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ George P. Schwartz  
    George P. Schwartz, President and Principal Executive Officer  
       
Date August 28, 2018    
       
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Timothy S. Schwartz  
    Timothy S. Schwartz, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer  
       
Date August 28, 2018    

 

*Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.