N-CSR 1 d340232dncsr.htm MAINSTAY FUNDS TRUST MAINSTAY FUNDS TRUST

 

 

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 811-22321

MAINSTAY FUNDS TRUST

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

J. Kevin Gao, Esq.

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 576-7000

Date of fiscal year end: April 30

(MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund, MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund, MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund, MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund and MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund)

Date of reporting period: April 30, 2023

 

 

 


FORM N-CSR

The information presented in this Form N-CSR relates solely to the MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund, MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund, MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund, and MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund, each a series of the Registrant.

Item 1.    Reports to Stockholders.





MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund

Message from the President and Annual Report
April 30, 2023
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured Not a Deposit May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee Not Insured by Any Government Agency


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Message from the President
Despite high levels of volatility and sharp, short-term shifts in value, broadly based stock and bond indices saw relatively modest overall changes during the 12-month reporting period ended April 30, 2023. A deeply challenging investment environment during the last eight months of 2022, driven by increasing inflationary pressures and aggressive monetary efforts to curb them, was followed by a more positive, but uneven, economic and monetary backdrop during the first four months of 2023.
In April 2022, before the start of the reporting period, U.S. inflation stood at an annualized rate of 8.3%, up from 4.2% a year earlier. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), had begun to take steps to curb inflation, raising the federal funds rate from near zero in March 2022. Eight separate rate hikes during the reporting period brought the benchmark rate up to 4.75–5.00% in March 2023. Inflation seemed to respond, easing steadily from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 4.9% in April 2023. Although further interest rate increases are expected in 2023, by the end of the reporting period, it appeared that the Fed might be nearing the end of the current rate-hike cycle. Economic growth, although slower, remained positive, supported by historically high levels of employment and robust consumer spending. International economies experienced similar trends, with more modest central bank interest-rate hikes curbing inflation to a degree.
Equity market behavior during the reporting period reflected the arc of monetary policy and economic developments. From May through early October 2022, as inflation raged and interest-rate increases accelerated, investors shied away from perceived risk, favoring relatively defensive and value-oriented sectors over growth-oriented sectors. The S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of U.S. market performance, declined by more than 13% during this time, while international stocks suffered even sharper losses. These trends reversed from mid-October 2022 through the end of the reporting period, as inflationary pressures eased and markets began to anticipate an end to rising interest rates. Between mid-October 2022 and April 30, 2023, the S&P 500® Index regained all the ground it lost earlier, ending in modestly positive territory. International developed-markets stocks bounced back even stronger, prompted by surprisingly robust economic resilience in Europe and further bolstered by China’s
reopening after the government rescinded its “zero-COVID-19” policy and eased regulatory restrictions on key industries. The declining value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies also enhanced international market equity performance. Emerging markets generally lagged their developed-markets counterparts while outperforming U.S. markets.
Fixed-income markets followed a similar pattern of retreat and recovery. Bond prices trended sharply downward early in the reporting period, as yields rose along with interest rates. Short-term yields rose faster than long-term yields, producing a yield curve inversion—with long-term rates lower than short-term rates—that persisted from July through the end of the reporting period. However, market sentiment improved in the second half of the reporting period as inflationary pressures eased. As the Fed decreased the magnitude of rate increases, focus turned toward the possibility of eventual rate reductions and a potential ‘soft landing’ for the economy. On the negative side, a small number of high-profile, regional U.S. bank failures in March and April 2023 raised fears of possible wider banking industry contagion and future credit constraints.
While many market observers believe the Fed has neared the end of the current cycle of rate increases, the central bank’s rhetoric remains sharply focused on its target inflation rate of 2%. Only time will tell if the market’s favorable expectations prove well founded.
However the economic story unfolds in the months and years to come, we remain dedicated to providing you with the one-on-one philosophy and diversified, multi-boutique investment resources that set New York Life Investments apart. Thank you for trusting us to help you meet your investment needs.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
 
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report


Table of Contents

Investors should refer to the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Fund’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. You may obtain copies of the Fund’s Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about the MainStay Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-6782, by writing to NYLIFE Distributors LLC, Attn: MainStay Marketing Department, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 or by sending an e-mail to MainStayShareholderServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available via the MainStay Funds’ website at newyorklifeinvestments.com. Please read the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing.


Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date1
One
Year
Five
Years
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio2
Class A Shares3 Maximum 5.50% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 10/16/2013 -5.19% 5.95% 6.99% 1.26%
    Excluding sales charges   0.33 7.22 7.66 1.26
Investor Class Shares4 Maximum 5.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 2/24/2020 -4.68 N/A 0.77 1.31
    Excluding sales charges   0.34 N/A 2.57 1.31
Class C Shares3 Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 2/28/2019 -1.39 N/A 5.84 2.06
  if Redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   -0.42 N/A 5.84 2.06
Class I Shares3 No Sales Charge   6/28/2013 0.63 7.51 8.53 1.01
Class R6 Shares No Sales Charge   2/24/2020 0.78 N/A 3.00 0.91
    
1. Effective at the close of business on February 21, 2020, the Fund changed its fiscal and tax year end from October 31 to April 30.
2. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
3. Performance figures for Class A shares, Class C shares and Class I shares reflect the historical performance of the then-existing Class A shares, Class C shares and Class I shares, respectively, of the Voya CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund (the predecessor to the Fund, which was subject to a different fee structure) for periods prior to February 21, 2020. The MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund commenced operations on February 24, 2020.
4. Prior to June 30, 2020, the maximum initial sales charge was 5.50%, which is reflected in the applicable average annual total return figures shown.
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
5


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Five
Years
Since
Inception
FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (Net)1 -2.22% 5.85% 6.82%
Morningstar Infrastructure Category Average2 -1.35 6.13 6.33
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (Net) is a market-capitalization-weighted index of worldwide infrastructure and infrastructure-related securities. Constituent weights are adjusted semi-annually according to three broad industry sectors: 50% utilities, 30% transportation, and a 20% mix of other sectors.
2. The Morningstar Infrastructure Category Average is representative of funds that invest more than 60% of their assets in stocks of companies engaged in infrastructure activities. Industries considered to be part of the infrastructure sector include: oil & gas midstream; waste management; airports; integrated shipping; railroads; shipping & ports; trucking; engineering & construction; infrastructure operations; and the utilities sector. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
6 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,114.70 $ 6.76 $1,018.40 $ 6.46 1.29%
Investor Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,115.60 $ 6.82 $1,018.35 $ 6.51 1.30%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,111.00 $10.73 $1,014.63 $10.24 2.05%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,116.30 $ 5.09 $1,019.98 $ 4.86 0.97%
Class R6 Shares $1,000.00 $1,117.60 $ 4.67 $1,020.38 $ 4.46 0.89%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
7



Country Composition as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
United States 52.4%
Australia 9.2
Spain 7.4
Canada 7.1
France 6.3
United Kingdom 5.2
Japan 4.3
Italy 3.4
China 2.6%
Portugal 2.0
Mexico 1.3
Hong Kong 1.1
New Zealand 0.9
Other Assets, Less Liabilities –3.2
  100.0%
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund's holdings are subject to change.


Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of April 30, 2023 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. NextEra Energy, Inc.
2. Transurban Group
3. American Tower Corp.
4. Cellnex Telecom SA
5. WEC Energy Group, Inc.
 6. Vinci SA
 7. Enbridge, Inc.
 8. National Grid plc
 9. Aena SME SA
10. Ameren Corp.
 

8 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Jeremy Anagnos, CFA, Joseph P Smith, CFA, Daniel Foley, CFA, and Hinds Howard of CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC.
How did MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund perform relative to its benchmark and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund returned 0.63%, outperforming the −2.22% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Index (Net) (the “Index”). Over the same period, Class I shares also outperformed the −1.35% return of the Morningstar Infrastructure Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Fund outperformed the Index, primarily due to positive stock selection, with sector allocation having a much smaller, but positive, impact. The Fund also outperformed across all developed markets and sectors. Emerging markets was the only meaningful detractor, largely as a result of the Fund's underweight exposure to this outperforming sector. Utility positioning benefited from exposure to renewable, development-oriented companies likely to profit from the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act passed during the reporting period. Ongoing energy security concerns benefited the Fund’s midstream holdings, as high demand for natural gas drove volumes through pipelines and LNG (liquid natural gas) export infrastructure. Global communications and transportation stock selections enhanced returns, helped by a mix of holdings across towers, data centers and toll roads. Overweight positioning in Europe bolstered returns, as the region avoided the worst-case scenarios envisioned at the peak of 2022’s energy crisis.
During the reporting period, which sectors and subsectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s relative performance and which sectors and subsectors were particularly weak?
The strongest positive contributions to the Fund’s performance relative to the Index came from the European transportation and North American utilities and midstream sectors. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.)  Out-of-Index toll road holdings and overweight exposure to the subsector materially added to relative performance in the European transportation sector. The utility sector outperformed the broader, global infrastructure area; the Fund benefited from strong stock selection, driven by out-of-Index positions in direct beneficiaries of the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as underweight exposure to more bond-like regulated utilities that underperformed as a result of rising interest rates. Midstream holdings benefited from tight global commodity market conditions, which increased demand for U.S. hydrocarbons, especially LNG. Ongoing capital discipline across the energy complex continued to drive positive free cash
flow and led to leverage reduction, dividend growth and share buybacks.
The weakest contributors to relative performance included the emerging-markets transportation and utilities sectors. Emerging-markets transportation stocks outperformed significantly during the reporting period. However, the Fund’s underweight exposure to the sector was a drag on relative returns, despite strong individual stock selections. Emerging-markets utility exposure came in the form of two natural gas utilities and one water utility, all based in China. Continuing lockdowns and property market concerns in China led to extreme volatility among Chinese stocks; the Fund’s holdings were caught up in that volatility, underperforming the emerging-markets utilities group.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Fund’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The holdings making the largest positive contributions to absolute performance during the reporting period included France-based toll road builder and operator Vinci and U.S.-based utility AES. Vinci benefited from a recovery in traffic volumes across the European market. AES saw fresh support for utilities with exposure to the renewable development theme. AES is well positioned to gain from the passage of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act; the act extended tax credits for renewable development to ten years and expanded the scope of tax credits to include battery storage, an area of global leadership for AES.
During the same period, positions in U.S.-based telecommunication tower REIT (real estate investment trust) Crown Castle and U.S.-based electric utility Dominion Energy detracted most from the Fund’s absolute performance. Crown Castle shares declined, together with shares of other global tower companies, in the face of rapidly rising interest rates. In addition, the company announced reduced growth expectations after a wireless carrier customer terminated leases following a merger. Dominion Energy shares weakened due to uncertainties raised by the company’s announcement that it would pursue a business review aiming to reset its regulatory structure in Virginia, and would also seek to raise capital via asset sales– viewed as ultimately dilutive to earnings.
What were some of the Fund’s largest purchases and sales during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, we added substantially to the Fund’s position in American Tower, one of the largest tower owners in the United States, which had underperformed and offered an attractive entry point in a sector with a positive outlook for growth
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns. 
9


and some degree of inflation resilience. We also added substantially to the Fund’s position in Enbridge, a major Canadian pipeline company with a compelling valuation, and featuring a strong balance sheet as well as defensive midstream exposure.
The Fund’s largest sales during the reporting period involved partial positions in utility American Electric Power and midstream company Cheniere Energy, both based in the United States. We took profits in both positions as our investment thesis played out and rising stock prices made the companies’ valuations less attractive.
How did the Fund’s subsector weightings change during the reporting period?
We increased the Fund’s exposure to the communications sector in response to weakness and discounted valuations, and given the sector’s relatively low exposure to cyclical factors, which should position communications companies to continue producing strong operating results should the economy contract. We also added to the Fund’s positions in towers and data centers, and increased European transportation exposure in light of attractive valuations and fundamental improvement. Conversely, we reduced the Fund’s exposure to U.S. freight rail due to growing concerns that a recessionary environment could lead to challenging volume conditions and less flexibility in operating costs. In addition, we decreased the Fund’s midstream exposure following the sector’s significant outperformance and less compelling valuations, as well as concerns regarding demand-side risk and sensitivity to economic growth in a potentially recessionary environment.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, the Fund remains positioned to benefit from long-term growth in renewable development, which translates into a preference for integrated utilities over regulated utilities. The Fund is also positioned to benefit from exposure to long-term data growth through a preference for communications infrastructure exposure. Within transports, we prefer leisure-exposed airports, toll roads and passenger rail stocks in Japan. The Fund continues to hold underweight exposure to emerging markets, due to ongoing regulatory and policy challenges that can lead to negative returns and excessive volatility.  
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
10 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares Value
Common Stocks 99.5%
Australia 9.2% 
Atlas Arteria Ltd. (Transportation) 12,349,139 $    53,441,121
NEXTDC Ltd. (Communications) (a)(b)  4,562,579     34,658,792
Transurban Group (Transportation) 10,743,680   106,565,305
    194,665,218
Canada 7.1% 
Canadian National Railway Co. (Transportation)    262,075     31,239,704
Enbridge, Inc. (Midstream / Pipelines)  2,011,334     79,972,368
Pembina Pipeline Corp. (Midstream / Pipelines)  1,159,185    38,158,948
    149,371,020
China 2.6% 
China Resources Gas Group Ltd. (Utilities)  5,839,200     18,411,037
ENN Energy Holdings Ltd. (Utilities)  1,242,957     16,942,972
Guangdong Investment Ltd. (Utilities) 20,652,829    19,732,882
    55,086,891
France 6.3% 
Eiffage SA (Transportation)    426,987     50,766,624
Vinci SA (Transportation) 654,751 80,948,948
    131,715,572
Hong Kong 1.1% 
CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. (Utilities) 4,111,518 23,360,749
Italy 3.4% 
Enel SpA (Utilities) 8,572,739 58,557,621
Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA (Communications) 921,265 12,785,712
    71,343,333
Japan 4.3% 
Central Japan Railway Co. (Transportation) 468,433 57,915,915
West Japan Railway Co. (Transportation) 768,713 33,237,831
    91,153,746
Mexico 1.3% 
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, Class B (Transportation) 1,585,576 28,210,457
New Zealand 0.9% 
Infratil Ltd. (Diversified) (c) 3,236,300 19,112,682
  Shares Value
 
Portugal 2.0% 
EDP - Energias de Portugal SA (Utilities)  7,440,227 $    40,991,931
Spain 7.4% 
Aena SME SA (Transportation) (a)(b)    391,979     66,040,822
Cellnex Telecom SA (Communications)  2,142,227    90,101,045
    156,141,867
United Kingdom 5.2% 
National Grid plc (Utilities)  5,202,906     74,836,018
Pennon Group plc (Utilities)    942,919     10,191,115
SSE plc (Utilities)  1,104,844    25,513,921
    110,541,054
United States 48.7% 
AES Corp. (The) (Utilities)  1,301,732     30,798,979
ALLETE, Inc. (Utilities)    266,850     16,646,103
Ameren Corp. (Utilities)    738,596     65,712,886
American Electric Power Co., Inc. (Utilities)    396,161     36,613,200
American Tower Corp. (Communications)    506,432    103,509,637
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (Midstream / Pipelines) 248,768 38,061,504
CMS Energy Corp. (Utilities) 722,346 44,973,262
Constellation Energy Corp. (Utilities) 220,478 17,064,997
Crown Castle, Inc. (Communications) 408,071 50,229,459
CSX Corp. (Transportation) 1,073,385 32,888,516
Equinix, Inc. (Communications) 35,573 25,757,698
FirstEnergy Corp. (Utilities) 349,365 13,904,727
Legacy Reserves, Inc. (Midstream / Pipelines) (a)(c)(d) 5,055 21,433
Legacy Reserves, Inc. (Midstream / Pipelines) (a)(c)(d) 27,942 118,474
NextEra Energy Partners LP (Utilities) 235,867 13,564,711
NextEra Energy, Inc. (Utilities) 1,406,316 107,765,995
NiSource, Inc. (Utilities) 906,315 25,793,725
OGE Energy Corp. (Utilities) 822,803 30,888,025
PG&E Corp. (Utilities) (a) 619,495 10,599,559
PPL Corp. (Utilities) 1,865,701 53,582,933
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. (Utilities) 740,006 46,768,379
Sempra Energy (Utilities) 322,328 50,118,781
Southern Co. (The) (Utilities) 664,388 48,865,737
Targa Resources Corp. (Midstream / Pipelines) 351,213 26,527,118
Union Pacific Corp. (Transportation) 121,371 23,752,305
WEC Energy Group, Inc. (Utilities) 843,513 81,120,645
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Shares   Value
Common Stocks (continued)
United States (continued) 
Xcel Energy, Inc. (Utilities)    446,380   $    31,206,426
      1,026,855,214
Total Common Stocks
(Cost $2,011,125,755)
    2,098,549,734
Short-Term Investments 3.7%
Affiliated Investment Company 0.4% 
United States 0.4% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (e)  8,287,171       8,287,171
Unaffiliated Investment Company 3.3% 
United States 3.3% 
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, 4.857% (e)(f) 68,615,749      68,615,749
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $76,902,920)
    76,902,920
Total Investments
(Cost $2,088,028,675)
103.2%   2,175,452,654
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (3.2)   (67,189,699)
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 2,108,262,955
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of April 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $66,139,405; the total market value of collateral held by the Fund was $68,719,721. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $103,972. The Fund received cash collateral with a value of $68,615,749. (See Note 2(I))
(c) Illiquid security—As of April 30, 2023, the total market value deemed illiquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees was $19,252,589, which represented 0.9% of the Fund’s net assets. (Unaudited)
(d) Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.
(e) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
(f) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund $ 57,455 $ 504,049 $ (553,217) $ — $ — $ 8,287 $ 746 $ — 8,287
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Common Stocks  $ 2,098,409,827   $ —    $  139,907    $ 2,098,549,734
Short-Term Investments              
Affiliated Investment Company      8,287,171           —        8,287,171
Unaffiliated Investment Company     68,615,749           —       68,615,749
Total Short-Term Investments 76,902,920       76,902,920
Total Investments in Securities $ 2,175,312,747   $ —   $  139,907   $ 2,175,452,654
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
The table below sets forth the diversification of the Fund’s investments by sector.
Sector Diversification
  Value   Percent
Utilities $1,014,527,316   48.1%
Transportation 565,007,548   26.8
Communications 317,042,343   15.0
Midstream / Pipelines 182,859,845   8.7
Diversified 19,112,682   0.9
  2,098,549,734   99.5
Short-Term Investments 76,902,920   3.7
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (67,189,699)   (3.2)
Net Assets $2,108,262,955   100.0%
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $2,079,741,504) including securities on loan of $66,139,405
$2,167,165,483
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $8,287,171)
8,287,171
Cash denominated in foreign currencies
(identified cost $121)
121
Receivables:  
Fund shares sold 3,318,124
Dividends 3,260,110
Investment securities sold 3,744
Securities lending 2,518
Other assets 48,294
Total assets 2,182,085,565
Liabilities
Cash collateral received for securities on loan 68,615,749
Due to custodian 2,330
Payables:  
Investment securities purchased 2,717,080
Manager (See Note 3) 1,328,840
Fund shares redeemed 666,208
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 361,646
Custodian 44,615
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 38,091
Professional fees 26,020
Shareholder communication 20,934
Trustees 106
Accrued expenses 991
Total liabilities 73,822,610
Net assets $2,108,262,955
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 164,541
Additional paid-in-capital 2,291,558,982
  2,291,723,523
Total distributable earnings (loss) (183,460,568)
Net assets $2,108,262,955
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 102,258,183
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 7,988,602
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 12.80
Maximum sales charge (5.50% of offering price) 0.74
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 13.54
Investor Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 2,338,114
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 182,720
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 12.80
Maximum sales charge (5.00% of offering price) 0.67
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 13.47
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 20,400,615
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 1,601,790
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 12.74
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $1,982,388,365
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 154,699,425
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 12.81
Class R6  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 877,678
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 68,481
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 12.82
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $2,386,832) $ 52,179,982
Dividends-affiliated 745,505
Securities lending, net 78,401
Total income 53,003,888
Expenses  
Manager (See Note 3) 16,311,801
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 2,423,254
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 238,711
Distribution/Service—Investor Class (See Note 3) 5,840
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 218,346
Registration 210,339
Professional fees 140,020
Custodian 136,018
Shareholder communication 123,823
Trustees 46,563
Miscellaneous 82,939
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 19,937,654
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (808,272)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (3,889)
Net expenses 19,125,493
Net investment income (loss) 33,878,395
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on:  
Unaffiliated investment transactions (54,235,303)
Foreign currency transactions (256,719)
Net realized gain (loss) (54,492,022)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:  
Unaffiliated investments 37,608,710
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies 37,363
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 37,646,073
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (16,845,949)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 17,032,446
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 33,878,395 $ 18,549,262
Net realized gain (loss) (54,492,022) 21,485,168
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 37,646,073 (14,049,896)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 17,032,446 25,984,534
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (2,556,120) (996,517)
Investor Class (62,277) (29,596)
Class C (402,553) (143,440)
Class I (53,898,639) (13,609,224)
Class R6 (278,160) (38,065)
Total distributions to shareholders (57,197,749) (14,816,842)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 1,009,200,139 1,274,898,463
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 39,221,114 13,281,784
Cost of shares redeemed (553,345,710) (170,967,771)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 495,075,543 1,117,212,476
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 454,910,240 1,128,380,168
Net Assets
Beginning of year 1,653,352,715 524,972,547
End of year $2,108,262,955 $1,653,352,715
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   November 1,
2019
through
April 30,
  Year Ended October 31,
Class A 2023   2022   2021   2020 #   2019   2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.11   $ 12.81   $ 10.39   $ 11.99   $ 10.04   $ 11.40
Net investment income (loss) 0.19(a)   0.23(a)   0.16(a)   0.07(a)   0.16   0.19
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.17)   0.26   2.42   (1.30)   2.12   (0.51)
Total from investment operations 0.02   0.49   2.58   (1.23)   2.28   (0.32)
Less distributions:                      
From net investment income (0.21)   (0.19)   (0.16)   (0.06)   (0.17)   (0.25)
From net realized gain on investments (0.12)       (0.29)   (0.16)   (0.79)
Return of capital       (0.02)    
Total distributions (0.33)   (0.19)   (0.16)   (0.37)   (0.33)   (1.04)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.80   $ 13.11   $ 12.81   $ 10.39   $ 11.99   $ 10.04
Total investment return (b) 0.33%   3.91%   25.04%   (10.57)%   23.24%   (3.16)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                      
Net investment income (loss) 1.50%   1.75%   1.35%   1.32%††   1.51%   1.89%
Net expenses 1.27%(c)   1.26%(c)   1.29%(c)   1.32%†† (c)(d)   1.35%   1.35%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.27%(c)   1.26%(c)   1.35%(c)   1.54%†† (c)(d)   1.56%   1.83%
Portfolio turnover rate 43%   32%   51%   49%   53%   61%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 102,258   $ 88,715   $ 45,642   $ 11,237   $ 11,700   $ 1,787
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to April 30.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   February 24, 2020^ through
April 30,
Investor Class 2023   2022   2021   2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.11   $ 12.80   $ 10.38   $ 12.50
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.19   0.23   0.13   (0.00)‡
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.17)   0.26   2.43   (2.08)
Total from investment operations 0.02   0.49   2.56   (2.08)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.21)   (0.18)   (0.14)   (0.03)
From net realized gain on investments (0.12)      
Return of capital       (0.01)
Total distributions (0.33)   (0.18)   (0.14)   (0.04)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.80   $ 13.11   $ 12.80   $ 10.38
Total investment return (b) 0.34%   3.85%   24.87%   (16.66)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 1.49%   1.77%   1.11%   (0.12)%††
Net expenses (c) 1.29%   1.31%   1.45%   1.45%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.29%   1.31%   1.76%   1.67%††
Portfolio turnover rate 43%   32%   51%   49%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 2,338   $ 2,430   $ 2,159   $ 106
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   November 1,
2019
through
April 30,
2020#
  February 28,
2019^
through
October 31,
Class C 2023   2022   2021   2019
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.04   $ 12.75   $ 10.37   $ 11.96   $ 10.82
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.09   0.12   0.06   0.03   0.04
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.16)   0.27   2.42   (1.29)   1.22
Total from investment operations (0.07)   0.39   2.48   (1.26)   1.26
Less distributions:                  
From net investment income (0.11)   (0.10)   (0.10)   (0.03)   (0.12)
From net realized gain on investments (0.12)       (0.29)  
Return of capital       (0.01)  
Total distributions (0.23)   (0.10)   (0.10)   (0.33)   (0.12)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.74   $ 13.04   $ 12.75   $ 10.37   $ 11.96
Total investment return (b) (0.42)%   3.11%   24.04%   (10.89)%   11.67%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                  
Net investment income (loss) 0.74%   0.89%   0.52%   0.58%††   0.46%††
Net expenses 2.04%(c)   2.06%(c)   2.08%(c)   2.09%†† (c)(d)   2.10%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 2.04%(c)   2.06%(c)   2.51%(c)   2.36%†† (c)(d)   2.31%††
Portfolio turnover rate 43%   32%   51%   49%   53%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 20,401   $ 24,119   $ 11,522   $ 992   $ 1,048
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to April 30.
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   November 1,
2019
through
April 30,
2020#
  Year Ended October 31,
Class I 2023   2022   2021   2019   2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.12   $ 12.82   $ 10.39   $ 11.99   $ 10.04   $ 11.40
Net investment income (loss) 0.22(a)   0.27(a)   0.21(a)   0.09(a)   0.20   0.23
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.16)   0.26   2.41   (1.30)   2.11   (0.52)
Total from investment operations 0.06   0.53   2.62   (1.21)   2.31   (0.29)
Less distributions:                      
From net investment income (0.25)   (0.23)   (0.19)   (0.08)   (0.20)   (0.28)
From net realized gain on investments (0.12)       (0.29)   (0.16)   (0.79)
Return of capital       (0.02)    
Total distributions (0.37)   (0.23)   (0.19)   (0.39)   (0.36)   (1.07)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.81   $ 13.12   $ 12.82   $ 10.39   $ 11.99   $ 10.04
Total investment return (b) 0.63%   4.19%   25.46%   (10.46)%   23.52%   (2.88)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                      
Net investment income (loss) 1.79%   2.09%   1.78%   1.59%††   1.83%   2.14%
Net expenses 0.97%(c)   0.97%(c)   0.97%(c)   1.05%†† (c)(d)   1.10%   1.10%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.02%(c)   1.01%(c)   1.10%(c)   1.18%†† (c)(d)   1.14%   1.41%
Portfolio turnover rate 43%   32%   51%   49%   53%   61%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 1,982,388   $ 1,527,548   $ 465,299   $ 208,291   $ 225,176   $ 71,919
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to April 30.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   February 24, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class R6 2023   2022   2021   2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.12   $ 12.82   $ 10.39   $ 12.51
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.23   0.35   0.17   0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.15)   0.19   2.45   (2.11)
Total from investment operations 0.08   0.54   2.62   (2.09)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.26)   (0.24)   (0.19)   (0.02)
From net realized gain on investments (0.12)      
Return of capital       (0.01)
Total distributions (0.38)   (0.24)   (0.19)   (0.03)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.82   $ 13.12   $ 12.82   $ 10.39
Total investment return (b) 0.78%   4.23%   25.50%   (16.65)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 1.80%   2.63%   1.47%   0.85%††
Net expenses (c) 0.89%   0.91%   0.95%   0.95%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.89%   0.91%   1.02%   1.13%††
Portfolio turnover rate 43%   32%   51%   49%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 878   $ 10,541   $ 350   $ 21
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R6 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1-Organization and Business
MainStay Funds Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 28, 2009. The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is comprised of thirty-three funds (collectively referred to as the “Funds”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund (the "Fund"), a “diversified” fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
The following table lists the Fund's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class Commenced Operations
Class A October 16, 2013
Investor Class February 24, 2020
Class C February 28, 2019
Class I June 28, 2013
Class R6 February 24, 2020
SIMPLE Class N/A*
    
* SIMPLE Class shares were registered for sale effective as of August 31, 2020 but have not yet commenced operations.
Class A and Investor Class shares are offered at net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus an initial sales charge. No initial sales charge applies to investments of $1 million or more (and certain other qualified purchases) in Class A and Investor Class shares. However, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be imposed on certain redemptions made within 18 months of the date of purchase on shares that were purchased without an initial sales charge. Class C shares are offered at NAV without an initial sales charge, although a 1.00% CDSC may be imposed on certain redemptions of such shares made within one year of the date of purchase of Class C shares. Class I and Class R6 shares are offered at NAV without a sales charge. SIMPLE Class shares are expected to be offered at NAV without a sales charge if such shares are offered in the future. In addition, depending upon eligibility, Class C shares convert to either Class A or Investor Class shares at the end of the calendar quarter eight years after the date they were purchased. Additionally, Investor Class shares may convert automatically to Class A shares. Under certain circumstances and as may be permitted by the Trust’s multiple class plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, specified share classes of the Fund may be converted to one or more other share classes of the Fund as disclosed in the capital share transactions within these Notes. The classes of shares have the same voting (except for issues that relate solely to one class), dividend, liquidation and other rights, and the same terms and conditions, except that under distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, Class C shares are subject to higher distribution and/or service fees than Class A, Investor Class and SIMPLE Class shares. Class I and Class R6 shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Fund's investment objective is to seek total return.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Fund prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation.  Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Fund is open for business ("valuation date").
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") has designated New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager") as its Valuation Designee (the "Valuation Designee"). The Valuation Designee is responsible for performing fair valuations relating to all investments in the Fund’s portfolio for which market quotations are not readily available; periodically assessing and managing material valuation risks; establishing and applying fair value methodologies; testing fair valuation methodologies; evaluating and overseeing pricing services; ensuring appropriate segregation of valuation and portfolio management functions; providing quarterly, annual and prompt reporting to the Board, as appropriate; identifying potential conflicts of interest; and maintaining appropriate records. The Valuation Designee has established a valuation committee ("Valuation Committee") to assist in carrying out the Valuation Designee’s responsibilities and establish prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available. The Fund's and the Valuation Designee's policies and procedures ("Valuation Procedures") govern the Valuation Designee’s selection and application of methodologies for determining and calculating the fair value of Fund investments. The Valuation Designee may value the Fund's portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other Fund assets utilizing inputs from pricing services and other third-party sources. The Valuation Committee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an ad-hoc basis to determine fair valuations and on a quarterly basis to review fair value events with respect to certain securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including valuation risks and back-testing results, and preview reports to the Board.
The Valuation Committee establishes prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. The Board shall oversee the Valuation Designee and review fair valuation materials on a prompt, quarterly and annual basis and approve proposed revisions to the Valuation Procedures.
Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to the Valuation Procedures. A market quotation is readily available only when that
 
23


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the Fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable. "Fair value" is defined as the price the Fund would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
Level 1—quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for an identical asset or liability
Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability)
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of April 30, 2023, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Fund may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes • Benchmark securities
• Two-sided markets • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices)
• Bids/offers • Monthly payment information
• Industry and economic events • Reported trades
An asset or liability for which a market quotation is not readily available is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the Valuation Procedures to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Valuation Designee generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or
liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Valuation Designee may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined for other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Valuation Procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Fund may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended or otherwise does not have a readily available market quotation on a given day; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vi) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 2 or 3 in the hierarchy.
Certain securities held by the Fund may principally trade in foreign markets. Events may occur between the time the foreign markets close and the time at which the Fund's NAVs are calculated. These events may include, but are not limited to, situations relating to a single issuer in a market sector, significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets, natural disasters, armed conflicts, governmental actions or other developments not tied directly to the securities markets. Should the Valuation Designee conclude that such events may have affected the accuracy of the last price of such securities reported on the local foreign market, the Valuation Designee may, pursuant to the Valuation Procedures, adjust the value of the local price to reflect the estimated impact on the price of such securities as a result of such events. In this instance, securities are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy. Additionally, certain foreign equity securities are also fair valued whenever the movement of a particular index exceeds certain thresholds. In such cases, the securities are fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No foreign equity securities held by the Fund as of April 30, 2023 were fair valued in such a manner.
 
24 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


If the principal market of certain foreign equity securities is closed in observance of a local foreign holiday, these securities are valued using the last closing price of regular trading on the relevant exchange and fair valued by applying factors provided by a third-party vendor in accordance with the Valuation Procedures. These securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. No securities held by the Fund as of April 30, 2023, were fair valued in such a manner.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The Valuation Procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
A portfolio investment may be classified as an illiquid investment under the Trust's written liquidity risk management program and related procedures (“Liquidity Program”). Illiquidity of an investment might prevent the sale of such investment at a time when the Manager or the Subadvisor might wish to sell, and these investments could have the effect of decreasing the overall level of the Fund's liquidity. Further, the lack of an established secondary market may make it more difficult to value illiquid investments, requiring the Fund to rely on judgments that may be somewhat subjective in measuring value, which could vary materially from the amount that the Fund could realize upon disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be
costly to the Fund. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Manager or Subadvisor reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The liquidity classification of each investment will be made using information obtained after reasonable inquiry and taking into account, among other things, relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations in accordance with the Liquidity Program. Illiquid investments are often fair valued in accordance with the Fund's procedures described above. The liquidity of the Fund's investments was determined as of April 30, 2023, and can change at any time. Illiquid investments as of April 30, 2023, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(B) Income Taxes.  The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Fund within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Fund’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Fund's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Fund's financial statements. The Fund's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. A portion of the taxes on gains on investments or currency purchases/repatriation may be reclaimable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and reclaims as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
The Fund may be subject to taxation on realized capital gains, repatriation proceeds and other transaction-based taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. The Fund will accrue such taxes as applicable based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the market in which it invests. Capital gains taxes relating to positions still held are reflected as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as well as an adjustment to the Fund's net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Taxes related to capital gains realized, if any, are reflected as part of net realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Changes in tax liabilities related to capital gains taxes on unrealized investment
25


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
gains, if any, are reflected as part of the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in the Statement of Operations. Transaction-based charges are generally assessed as a percentage of the transaction amount.
(D) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income, if any, at least quarterly and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. Unless a shareholder elects otherwise, all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Fund. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(E) Security Transactions and Investment Income.  The Fund records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its net assets in master limited partnerships.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(F) Expenses.  Expenses of the Trust are allocated to the individual Funds in proportion to the net assets of the respective Funds when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than transfer agent expenses and fees incurred under the shareholder services plans and/or the distribution plans further discussed in Note 3(B)) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Fund, including those of related parties to the Fund, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(G) Use of Estimates.  In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(H) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Fund's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(I) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Fund may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Fund engages in securities lending, the Fund will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Fund. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Fund's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Fund and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Fund against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. The Fund bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Fund may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Fund bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Fund will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Fund will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Fund. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of April 30, 2023, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
 
26 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


(J) Foreign Securities Risk.  The Fund may invest in foreign securities, which carry certain risks that are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic securities. Foreign regulatory regimes and securities markets can have less stringent investor protections and disclosure standards and less liquid trading markets than U.S. regulatory regimes and securities markets, and can experience political, social and economic developments that may affect the value of investments in foreign securities. These risks include those resulting from currency fluctuations, future adverse political or economic developments and possible imposition of currency exchange blockages or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions. Economic sanctions and other similar governmental actions or developments could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund's ability to purchase or sell certain foreign securities or groups of foreign securities, and thus may make the Fund's investments in such securities less liquid or more difficult to value. These risks are likely to be greater in emerging markets than in developed markets. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Fund to meet their obligations may be affected by, among other things, economic or political developments in a specific country, industry or region.
(K) Indemnifications.  Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may 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. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Fund.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company ("New York Life"), serves as the Fund's Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Fund. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Fund, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Fund and certain operational expenses of the Fund. The Fund reimburses New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Fund. CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC ("CBRE" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser, serves as the Subadvisor to the Fund and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life
Investments and CBRE, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of 0.85% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) fund fees and expenses) do not exceed the following percentages of average daily net assets: Class A, 1.33%; Investor Class, 1.45%; Class C, 2.08%; Class I, 0.97%; and Class R6, 0.95%. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended April 30, 2023, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Fund in the amount of $16,311,801 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses, including the waiver/reimbursement of certain class specific expenses in the amount of $808,272 and paid the Subadvisor fees in the amount of $7,751,763.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Fund pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Fund, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Fund's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Fund's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Fund, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Trust and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Fund. The Fund will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Fund.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees.  The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Fund has adopted distribution plans (the “Plans”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Pursuant to the Class A and Investor Class Plans, the Distributor receives a monthly fee from the Class A and Investor Class shares at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A and Investor Class shares for distribution and/or service activities as designated by the Distributor. Pursuant to the Class C Plan, Class C shares pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares, along with a service fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class C
27


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
shares, for a total 12b-1 fee of 1.00%. Class I and Class R6 shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Plans provide that the distribution and service fees are payable to the Distributor regardless of the amounts actually expended by the Distributor for distribution of the Fund's shares and service activities.
(C) Sales Charges.  The Fund was advised by the Distributor that the amount of initial sales charges retained on sales of Class A and Investor Class shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, were $32,146 and $358, respectively.
The Fund was also advised that the Distributor retained CDSCs on redemptions of Class A and Class C shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, of $5,629 and $3,027, respectively.
(D) Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder Servicing Agent.  NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments, is the Fund's transfer, dividend disbursing and shareholder servicing agent pursuant to an agreement between NYLIM Service Company LLC and the Trust. NYLIM Service Company LLC has entered into an agreement with SS&C Global Investor & Distributor Solutions, Inc. ("SS&C"), pursuant to which SS&C performs certain transfer agent services on behalf of NYLIM Service Company LLC. New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to limit the transfer agency expenses charged to the Fund’s share classes to a maximum of 0.35% of that share class’s average daily net assets on an annual basis after deducting any applicable Fund or class-level expense reimbursement or small account fees. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board. During the year ended April 30, 2023, transfer agent expenses incurred by the Fund and any reimbursements, pursuant to the aforementioned Transfer Agency expense limitation agreement, were as follows:
Class Expense Waived
Class A $ 120,456 $—
Investor Class 3,453
Class C 32,275
Class I 2,266,752
Class R6 318
(E) Small Account Fee.  Shareholders with small accounts adversely impact the cost of providing transfer agency services. In an effort to reduce total transfer agency expenses, the Fund has implemented a small account fee on certain types of accounts. As described in the Fund's prospectus, certain shareholders with an account balance of less than $1,000 ($5,000 for Class A share accounts) are charged an annual per account fee of $20 (assessed semi-annually), the proceeds from which offset transfer agent fees as reflected in the Statement of Operations. This small account fee will not apply to certain types of accounts as described further in the Fund’s prospectus.
(F) Capital. As of April 30, 2023, New York Life and its affiliates beneficially held shares of the Fund with the values and percentages of net assets as follows:
Class R6 $27,474 3.1%
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of April 30, 2023, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Fund’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $2,108,710,144 $121,299,418 $(54,556,908) $66,742,510
As of April 30, 2023, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary
Income
Accumulated
Capital
and Other
Gain (Loss)
Other
Temporary
Differences
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Total
Accumulated
Gain (Loss)
$1,319,642 $(251,512,781) $(5,344) $66,737,915 $(183,460,568)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $251,512,781, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Total Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $156,815 $94,698
During the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
  2023 2022
Distributions paid from:    
Ordinary Income $43,678,063 $14,816,842
Long-Term Capital Gains 13,519,686
Total $57,197,749 $14,816,842
 
28 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Fund. Custodial fees are charged to the Fund based on the Fund's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Fund and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Fund.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 26, 2022, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate, Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") + 0.10%, or the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 25, 2023, although the Fund, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 26, 2022, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Fund under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Fund, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Fund.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended April 30, 2023, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $1,318,703 and $808,926, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, were as follows:
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 2,929,490 $ 37,054,021
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 201,420 2,470,392
Shares redeemed (1,847,772) (22,767,505)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,283,138 16,756,908
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 13,183 168,235
Shares converted from Class A (See Note 1) (73,115) (935,517)
Net increase (decrease) 1,223,206 $ 15,989,626
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 4,411,145 $ 57,605,328
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 75,944 975,716
Shares redeemed (1,226,961) (16,049,703)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 3,260,128 42,531,341
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 21,293 278,101
Shares converted from Class A (See Note 1) (78,805) (1,050,609)
Net increase (decrease) 3,202,616 $ 41,758,833
 
Investor Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 27,154 $ 345,340
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 4,981 61,132
Shares redeemed (33,754) (421,376)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (1,619) (14,904)
Shares converted into Investor Class (See Note 1) 7,674 95,996
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (8,634) (110,489)
Net increase (decrease) (2,579) $ (29,397)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 50,651 $ 678,517
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 2,248 28,825
Shares redeemed (22,119) (288,283)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 30,780 419,059
Shares converted into Investor Class (See Note 1) 3,078 40,150
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (17,270) (225,640)
Net increase (decrease) 16,588 $ 233,569
 
29


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 277,436 $ 3,481,910
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 32,416 398,277
Shares redeemed (547,298) (6,677,519)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (237,446) (2,797,332)
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (10,193) (127,321)
Net increase (decrease) (247,639) $ (2,924,653)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 1,163,935 $ 15,167,647
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 11,316 142,471
Shares redeemed (222,223) (2,883,848)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 953,028 12,426,270
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (7,157) (92,611)
Net increase (decrease) 945,871 $ 12,333,659
 
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 76,586,421 $ 967,256,332
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 2,936,803 36,014,942
Shares redeemed (41,280,583) (512,768,856)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 38,242,641 490,502,418
Shares converted into Class I (See Note 1) 73,057 935,517
Shares converted from Class I (See Note 1) (2,086) (26,421)
Net increase (decrease) 38,313,612 $ 491,411,514
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 90,600,814 $1,191,344,996
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 936,782 12,096,707
Shares redeemed (11,518,740) (151,517,719)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 80,018,856 1,051,923,984
Shares converted into Class I (See Note 1) 78,742 1,050,609
Net increase (decrease) 80,097,598 $1,052,974,593
 
Class R6 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 83,285 $ 1,062,536
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 22,623 276,371
Shares redeemed (840,682) (10,710,454)
Net increase (decrease) (734,774) $ (9,371,547)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 790,403 $ 10,101,975
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 2,801 38,065
Shares redeemed (17,275) (228,218)
Net increase (decrease) 775,929 $ 9,911,822
 
Note 10–Other Matters
As of the date of this report, interest rates in the United States and many parts of the world, including certain European countries, continue to ascend from historically low levels. Thus, the Fund currently faces a heightened level of risk associated with rising interest rates. This could be driven by a variety of factors, including but not limited to central bank monetary policies, changing inflation or real growth rates, general economic conditions, increasing bond issuances or reduced market demand for low yielding investments.
Social, political, economic and other conditions and events, such as war, natural disasters, health emergencies (e.g., epidemics and pandemics), terrorism, conflicts, social unrest, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes and supply chain disruptions, may occur and could significantly impact the Fund, issuers, industries, governments and other systems, including the financial markets. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, the conflict in Ukraine, and the failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, may magnify factors that affect the Fund's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended April 30, 2023, events and transactions subsequent to April 30, 2023, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
 
30 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders of the Fund and Board of Trustees
MainStay Funds Trust:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund (the Fund), one of the funds constituting MainStay Funds Trust, including the portfolio of investments, as of April 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period ended April 30, 2023, the period from November 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020 or the period then ended, and each of the years or periods in the two-year period ended October 31, 2019. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of April 30, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period ended April 30, 2023, the period from November 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020 or the period then ended, and each of the years or periods in the two-year period ended October 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2023, by correspondence with the custodians, transfer agent, and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more New York Life Investment Management investment companies since 2003.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 23, 2023
31


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund (“Fund”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC (“CBRE”) with respect to the Fund (together, “Advisory Agreements”) is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”).  At its December 6–7, 2022 meeting, the Board, which is comprised solely of Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”), unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and CBRE in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during October 2022 through December 2022, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and CBRE in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below.  Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Fund and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Fund’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses.  The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or CBRE that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients.  In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.  The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board.  The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process, and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Fund and investment-related matters for the Fund as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and, generally annually, CBRE personnel.  In addition, the Board took into account other information provided by New York Life Investments throughout the year,
including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2022 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Fund’s distribution arrangements.  In addition, the Board received information regarding the Fund’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or certain other fees by the applicable share classes of the Fund, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment.  Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors that figured prominently in the Board’s consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements are summarized in more detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments and CBRE; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Fund and the historical investment performance of the Fund, New York Life Investments and CBRE; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and CBRE with respect to their relationships with the Fund; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Fund grows and the extent to which any economies of scale have been shared, have benefited or may benefit the Fund’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses.  Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Fund’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS.  Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations.  The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Fund. With respect to the Subadvisory Agreement, the Board took into account New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the continuation of the Subadvisory Agreement.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and CBRE.  The Board’s
 
32 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and CBRE resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience.  In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Fund’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Fund.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 6–7, 2022 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund.  The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Fund and considered that the Fund operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure.  The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including overseeing the services provided by CBRE, evaluating the performance of CBRE, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors.  The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund.  The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund, including New York Life Investments’ oversight and due diligence reviews of CBRE and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, CBRE with respect to, among other things, the Fund’s investment performance and risks as well as CBRE’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Fund.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Fund’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel.  In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Fund and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers, except for a portion of the salary of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Board recognized that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Fund and has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments, including in connection with the implementation of the MainStay Group of Funds’ derivatives risk management program and policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Board considered benefits to the Fund’s shareholders from the Fund being part of the MainStay Group of Funds, including the ability to exchange investments between the same class of shares of funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, including without the imposition of a sales charge (if any).
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that CBRE provides to the Fund and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements.  The Board evaluated CBRE’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Fund and advising other portfolios and CBRE’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services as well as the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at CBRE. The Board considered New York Life Investments’ and CBRE’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation, financial condition and history.  In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and CBRE and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Fund.  The Board also considered CBRE’s ability to recruit and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel and other resources to service and support the Fund.  In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Fund’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued remote work environment.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that the Fund would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
33


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Fund’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks.  The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Fund’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year.  These reports include, among other items, information on the Fund’s gross and net returns, the Fund’s investment performance compared to a relevant investment category and the Fund’s benchmark, the Fund’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Fund’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions.  The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Fund as compared to peer funds.  In addition, the Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes.
The Board also took into account its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Fund’s investment performance over various periods as well as discussions between the Fund’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis.  In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or CBRE had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Fund investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that its review of the Fund’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits and Other Benefits Realized, by New York Life Investments and CBRE
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Fund as well as the MainStay Group of Funds. With respect to the profitability of CBRE’s relationship with the Fund, the Board considered information from New York Life Investments that CBRE’s subadvisory fee reflected an arm’s-length negotiation and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund, and the relevance of CBRE’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context.  On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Fund.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and CBRE, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and CBRE’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Fund, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Fund.  The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and CBRE and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and CBRE must be in a position to recruit and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and CBRE to continue to provide high-quality services to the Fund.  The Board recognized that the Fund benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board.  The Board noted it had previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds.  The Board also noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review.  The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Fund and considered that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and CBRE and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Fund, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to CBRE from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to CBRE in exchange for commissions paid by the Fund with respect to trades in the Fund’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between CBRE and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates and considered the existence of a strategic partnership between New York Life Investments and CBRE that relates to certain current and future products and represents a potential conflict of interest associated with New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the Subadvisory Agreement.  In addition, the Board considered its review of the management agreement for a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Fund, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Fund, if any, and considered information from
 
34 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Fund.
The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement for managing the Fund, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Fund in various other capacities, including as the Fund’s transfer agent and distributor.  The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates.  The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the relationship with the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Fund on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Fund were not excessive, other expected benefits that may accrue to New York Life Investments and its affiliates are reasonable and other expected benefits that may accrue to CBRE and its affiliates are consistent with those expected for a subadvisor to a mutual fund. With respect to CBRE, the Board considered that any profits realized by CBRE due to its relationship with the Fund are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and CBRE, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to CBRE by New York Life Investments, not the Fund.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Fund’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Fund to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to CBRE is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund.  The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Fund’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. The Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any.  The Board considered the
contractual management fee schedules of the Fund as compared to those of such other investment advisory clients, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules.  The Board also took into account information provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Fund, as compared with other investment advisory clients.  Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Fund’s net management fee and expenses.  The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Fund, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.  The Board considered its discussions with representatives from New York Life Investments regarding the management fee paid by the Fund.  The Board noted that New York Life Investments proposed a management fee and subadvisory fee breakpoint for the Fund, effective August 28, 2023.
The Board took into account information from New York Life Investments, as provided in connection with the Board’s June 2022 meeting, regarding the reasonableness of the Fund’s transfer agent fee schedule, including industry data demonstrating that the fees that NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments and the Fund’s transfer agent, charges the Fund are within the range of fees charged by transfer agents to other mutual funds.  In addition, the Board considered NYLIM Service Company LLC’s profitability in connection with the transfer agent services it provides to the Fund.  The Board also took into account information provided by NYLIM Service Company LLC regarding the sub-transfer agency payments it made to intermediaries in connection with the provision of sub-transfer agency services to the Fund.
The Board considered the extent to which transfer agent fees contributed to the total expenses of the Fund.  The Board acknowledged the role that the MainStay Group of Funds historically has played in serving the investment needs of New York Life Insurance Company customers, who often maintain smaller account balances than other shareholders of funds, and the impact of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes.  The Board also recognized measures that it and New York Life Investments have taken intended to mitigate the effect of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes, including through the imposition of an expense limitation on net transfer agency expenses.  The Board also considered that NYLIM Service Company LLC had waived its contractual cost of living adjustments during the seven years prior to 2021.
Based on the factors outlined above, among other considerations, the Board concluded that the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses are within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether economies of scale may exist for the Fund and whether the Fund’s expense structure permits any economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Fund’s shareholders.  The Board also
35


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds.  Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Fund in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance the services provided to the Fund.  The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments.  The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately shared for the benefit of the Fund’s shareholders through the Fund’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
36 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Discussion of the Operation and Effectiveness of the Fund's Liquidity Risk Management Program (Unaudited)
In compliance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”), which New York Life Investment Management LLC believes is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk. A Fund's liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (the "Board") previously approved the designation of New York Life Investment Management LLC as administrator of the Program (the “Administrator”). The Administrator has established a Liquidity Risk Management Committee to assist the Administrator in the implementation and day-to-day administration of the Program and to otherwise support the Administrator in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Program.
At a meeting of the Board held on February 28, 2023, the Administrator provided the Board with a written report addressing the Program’s operation and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation for the period from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022 (the "Review Period"), as required under the Liquidity Rule. The report noted that the Administrator concluded that (i) the Program operated effectively to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk, (ii) the Program has been and continues to be adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and, as applicable, respond to the Fund's liquidity developments and (iii) the Fund's investment strategy continues to be appropriate for an open-end fund. In addition, the report summarized the operation of the Program and the information and factors considered by the Administrator in its assessment of the Program’s implementation, such as the liquidity risk assessment framework and the liquidity classification methodologies, and discussed notable geopolitical, market and other economic events that impacted liquidity risk during the Review Period.
In accordance with the Program, the Fund's liquidity risk is assessed no less frequently than annually taking into consideration certain factors, as applicable, such as (i) investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments, (ii) short-term and long-term cash flow projections, and (iii) holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements and other funding sources. Certain factors are considered under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions.
Each Fund portfolio investment is classified into one of four liquidity categories. The classification is based on a determination of the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment into cash, or sell or dispose of the investment, in current market conditions without significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Administrator has delegated liquidity classification determinations to the Fund’s subadvisor, subject to appropriate oversight by the Administrator, and liquidity classification determinations are made by taking into account the Fund's reasonably anticipated trade size, various market, trading and investment-specific considerations, as well as market depth, and, in certain cases, third-party vendor data.
The Liquidity Rule requires funds that do not primarily hold assets that are highly liquid investments to adopt a minimum amount of net assets that must be invested in highly liquid investments that are assets (an “HLIM”). In addition, the Liquidity Rule limits a fund's investments in illiquid investments. Specifically, the Liquidity Rule prohibits acquisition of illiquid investments if, immediately after acquisition, doing so would result in a fund holding more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. The Program includes provisions reasonably designed to determine, periodically review and comply with the HLIM requirement, as applicable, and to comply with the 15% limit on illiquid investments.
There can be no assurance that the Program will achieve its objectives under all circumstances in the future. Please refer to the Fund's prospectus for more information regarding the Fund's exposure to liquidity risk and other risks to which it may be subject.
37


Federal Income Tax
Information   (Unaudited)
The Fund is required under the Internal Revenue Code to advise shareholders in a written statement as to the federal tax status of dividends paid by the Fund during such fiscal years.
Accordingly, the Fund paid $13,519,686 as long term capital gain distributions.
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023, the Fund designated approximately $46,064,895 under the Internal Revenue Code as qualified dividend income eligible for reduced tax rates.
The dividends paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 should be multiplied by 58.51% to arrive at the amount eligible for the corporate dividend-received deduction.
In February 2024, shareholders will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099, which will show the federal tax status of the distributions received by shareholders in calendar year 2023. The amounts that will be reported on such 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099 will be the amounts you are to use on your federal income tax return and will differ from the amounts which we must report for the Fund's fiscal year ended April 30, 2023.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Fund is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Fund is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782; visiting newyorklifeinvestments.com; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Fund's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling New York Life Investments at 800-624-6782.
38 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Funds who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal.
Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Fund (“Independent Trustees”).
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Naïm Abou-Jaoudé*
1966
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023
Chief Executive Officer of New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2023. Previously, Abou-Jaoudé was the Chief Executive Officer of Candriam (an affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC) from 2007 to 2023. 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023 (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee
since June 2023; and
New York Life Investment Management International: Chair since 2015
* This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of his affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.”
   
Interested Trustee
39


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  David H. Chow
1957
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC (since 1999) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Trustee since 2006 and Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2022 (57 portfolios); Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Investment Committee since 2018
  Karen Hammond
1956
MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021)
Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Director since 2018;
Rhode Island State Investment Commission: Member since 2017; and
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island: Director since 2019
  Susan B. Kerley
1951
MainStay Funds: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 1990**
President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC (since 1990) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2011;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios)
  Alan R. Latshaw
1951
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since 2006;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
Independent Trustees
40 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Jacques P. Perold
1958
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015
to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC (since 2018); President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017
  Richard S. Trutanic
1952
MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) (since 2004); Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
* Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
** Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust.
Independent Trustees
41


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
 
         
  Kirk C. Lehneis
1974
President, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust (since 2017) Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC (since 2017); Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since January 2018); President, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2017); Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015-2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC  
  Jack R. Benintende
1964
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay Funds (since 2007), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2007); Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2007)**; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012)  
  J. Kevin Gao
1967
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since 2010) Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2010); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2010)**       
  Scott T. Harrington
1959
Vice President— Administration, MainStay Funds (since 2005), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) (since 2000); Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company (since 2009); Vice President—Administration, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2005)**     
  Kevin M. Gleason
1967
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since June 2022) Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and Index IQ Active ETF Trust (since June 2022); Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, MainStay VP Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2022); Senior Vice President, Voya Investment Management and Chief Compliance Officer, Voya Family of Funds (2012-2022)  
* The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board.
** Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
42 MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund


MainStay Funds
Equity
U.S. Equity
MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund
MainStay Fiera SMID Growth Fund
MainStay S&P 500 Index Fund
MainStay Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund
MainStay WMC Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Small Companies Fund
MainStay WMC Value Fund
International Equity
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund
MainStay MacKay International Equity Fund
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund
Emerging Markets Equity
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Global Equity
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund
MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund
Fixed Income
Taxable Income
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Debt Fund
MainStay Floating Rate Fund
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Total Return Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay U.S. Infrastructure Bond Fund
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund
Tax-Exempt Income
MainStay MacKay California Tax Free Opportunities Fund1
MainStay MacKay High Yield Municipal Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay New York Tax Free Opportunities Fund2
MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund
MainStay MacKay Tax Free Bond Fund
Money Market
MainStay Money Market Fund
Mixed Asset
MainStay Balanced Fund
MainStay Income Builder Fund
MainStay MacKay Convertible Fund
Speciality
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund
MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund
MainStay Cushing MLP Premier Fund
Asset Allocation
MainStay Conservative Allocation Fund
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
 

 
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Candriam3
Strassen, Luxembourg
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Cushing Asset Management, LP
Dallas, Texas
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
Fiera Capital Inc.
New York, New York
IndexIQ Advisors LLC3
New York, New York
MacKay Shields LLC3
New York, New York
NYL Investors LLC3
New York, New York
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC3
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
 
 
  1.  
This Fund is registered for sale in AZ, CA, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA and MI (Class A and Class I shares only), and CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, MA, MD, NH, NJ and NY (Class I shares only).
2. This Fund is registered for sale in CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, NJ, NY and VT.
3. An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC.
Not part of the Annual Report


For more information
800-624-6782
newyorklifeinvestments.com
“New York Life Investments” is both a service mark, and the common trade name, of certain investment advisors affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. The MainStay Funds® are managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a Member FINRA/SIPC.
©2023 NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
5022125MS043-23 MSCBGI11-06/23
(NYLIM) NL479





MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund

Message from the President and Annual Report
April 30, 2023
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured Not a Deposit May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee Not Insured by Any Government Agency


This page intentionally left blank


Message from the President
Despite high levels of volatility and sharp, short-term shifts in value, broadly based stock and bond indices saw relatively modest overall changes during the 12-month reporting period ended April 30, 2023. A deeply challenging investment environment during the last eight months of 2022, driven by increasing inflationary pressures and aggressive monetary efforts to curb them, was followed by a more positive, but uneven, economic and monetary backdrop during the first four months of 2023.
In April 2022, before the start of the reporting period, U.S. inflation stood at an annualized rate of 8.3%, up from 4.2% a year earlier. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), had begun to take steps to curb inflation, raising the federal funds rate from near zero in March 2022. Eight separate rate hikes during the reporting period brought the benchmark rate up to 4.75–5.00% in March 2023. Inflation seemed to respond, easing steadily from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 4.9% in April 2023. Although further interest rate increases are expected in 2023, by the end of the reporting period, it appeared that the Fed might be nearing the end of the current rate-hike cycle. Economic growth, although slower, remained positive, supported by historically high levels of employment and robust consumer spending. International economies experienced similar trends, with more modest central bank interest-rate hikes curbing inflation to a degree.
Equity market behavior during the reporting period reflected the arc of monetary policy and economic developments. From May through early October 2022, as inflation raged and interest-rate increases accelerated, investors shied away from perceived risk, favoring relatively defensive and value-oriented sectors over growth-oriented sectors. The S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of U.S. market performance, declined by more than 13% during this time, while international stocks suffered even sharper losses. These trends reversed from mid-October 2022 through the end of the reporting period, as inflationary pressures eased and markets began to anticipate an end to rising interest rates. Between mid-October 2022 and April 30, 2023, the S&P 500® Index regained all the ground it lost earlier, ending in modestly positive territory. International developed-markets stocks bounced back even stronger, prompted by surprisingly robust economic resilience in Europe and further bolstered by China’s
reopening after the government rescinded its “zero-COVID-19” policy and eased regulatory restrictions on key industries. The declining value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies also enhanced international market equity performance. Emerging markets generally lagged their developed-markets counterparts while outperforming U.S. markets.
Fixed-income markets followed a similar pattern of retreat and recovery. Bond prices trended sharply downward early in the reporting period, as yields rose along with interest rates. Short-term yields rose faster than long-term yields, producing a yield curve inversion—with long-term rates lower than short-term rates—that persisted from July through the end of the reporting period. However, market sentiment improved in the second half of the reporting period as inflationary pressures eased. As the Fed decreased the magnitude of rate increases, focus turned toward the possibility of eventual rate reductions and a potential ‘soft landing’ for the economy. On the negative side, a small number of high-profile, regional U.S. bank failures in March and April 2023 raised fears of possible wider banking industry contagion and future credit constraints.
While many market observers believe the Fed has neared the end of the current cycle of rate increases, the central bank’s rhetoric remains sharply focused on its target inflation rate of 2%. Only time will tell if the market’s favorable expectations prove well founded.
However the economic story unfolds in the months and years to come, we remain dedicated to providing you with the one-on-one philosophy and diversified, multi-boutique investment resources that set New York Life Investments apart. Thank you for trusting us to help you meet your investment needs.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
 
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report


Table of Contents

Investors should refer to the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Fund’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. You may obtain copies of the Fund’s Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about the MainStay Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-6782, by writing to NYLIFE Distributors LLC, Attn: MainStay Marketing Department, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 or by sending an e-mail to MainStayShareholderServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available via the MainStay Funds’ website at newyorklifeinvestments.com. Please read the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing.


Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date1
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten Years
or Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio2
Class A Shares3 Maximum 5.50% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 12/20/2002 -21.51% 4.65% 4.31% 1.30%
    Excluding sales charges   -16.94 5.90 4.93 1.30
Investor Class Shares4 Maximum 5.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 2/24/2020 -21.15 N/A -1.97 1.26
    Excluding sales charges   -17.00 N/A -0.21 1.26
Class C Shares3 Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 1/17/2003 -18.20 5.11 4.10 2.01
  If Redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   -17.58 5.11 4.10 2.01
Class I Shares3 No Sales Charge   12/31/1996 -16.68 6.27 5.24 1.05
Class R3 Shares3 No Sales Charge   8/5/2011 -17.18 5.64 4.67 1.65
Class R6 Shares3 No Sales Charge   7/3/2014 -16.52 6.37 5.41 0.84
    
1. Effective at the close of business on February 21, 2020, the Fund changed its fiscal and tax year end from October 31 to April 30.
2. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
3. Performance figures for Class A shares, Class C shares, Class I shares, Class R3 shares and Class R6 shares, reflect the historical performance of the then-existing Class A shares, Class C shares, Class I shares, Class R and Class R6 shares of the Voya Real Estate Fund (the predecessor to the Fund, which was subject to a different fee structure) for periods prior to February 21, 2020. 
4. Prior to June 30, 2020, the maximum initial sales charge for Investor Class shares was 5.50%, which is reflected in the average annual total return figures shown.
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
5


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index1 -16.09% 6.20% 5.83%
CBRE Real Estate Tiered Index2 -16.09 5.20 4.99
MSCI U.S. REIT® Index3 -14.70 5.89 5.34
Morningstar Real Estate Category Average4 -15.73 4.81 4.76
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The Fund has selected the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index as its primary benchmark. The FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index is a free-float adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index of U.S. equity REITs. Constituents of the index include all tax-qualified REITs with more than 50 percent of total assets in qualifying real estate assets other than mortgages secured by real property.
2. The Fund has selected a tiered benchmark as its secondary benchmark. The returns for the tiered benchmark represent the returns of the MSCI U.S. REIT® Index prior to January 1, 2021 and the returns of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index thereafter.
3. The MSCI U.S. REIT® Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is comprised of equity REITs. The MSCI U.S. REIT® Index is based on the MSCI USA Investable Market Index, its parent index, which captures the large, mid and small cap segments of the U.S. market.
4. The Morningstar Real Estate Category Average is representative of funds that invest primarily in real estate investment trusts of various types. REITs are companies that develop and manage real estate properties. There are several different types of REITs, including apartment, factory-outlet, healthcare, hotel, industrial, mortgage, office, and shopping center REITs. Some funds in this category also invest in real estate operating companies. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
6 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,030.40 $5.94 $1,018.94 $5.91 1.18%
Investor Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,030.20 $6.14 $1,018.75 $6.11 1.22%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,025.90 $9.69 $1,015.22 $9.64 1.93%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,032.00 $4.18 $1,020.68 $4.16 0.83%
Class R3 Shares $1,000.00 $1,029.40 $7.20 $1,017.70 $7.15 1.43%
Class R6 Shares $1,000.00 $1,033.50 $3.73 $1,021.13 $3.71 0.74%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
7



Sector Composition as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Residential 19.3%
Industrial Properties 12.8
Technology Towers 12.7
Healthcare Facilities 11.8
Self Storage Property 11.1
Technology Datacenters 10.1
Net Lease Properties 9.1
Enclosed Malls 5.3%
Hotels 4.2
Community Shopping Centers 3.1
Short–Term Investments 0.2
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3
  100.0%
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 10 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund's holdings are subject to change.


Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of April 30, 2023 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. Prologis, Inc.
2. Equinix, Inc.
3. American Tower Corp.
4. Crown Castle, Inc.
5. Simon Property Group, Inc.
 6. Sun Communities, Inc.
 7. Welltower, Inc.
 8. CubeSmart
 9. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
10. Life Storage, Inc.
 

8 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Joseph P. Smith, CFA, Jonathan Miniman, CFA, and Kenneth S. Weinberg, CFA, of CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC.
How did MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund perform relative to its benchmarks and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund returned −16.68%, underperforming the −16.09% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index; the −16.09% return of the CBRE Real Estate Tiered Index, which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark; and the −14.70% return of MSCI U.S. REIT® Index, which is an additional benchmark of the Fund. Over the same period, Class I shares also underperformed the −15.73% return of the Morningstar Real Estate Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Fund’s performance relative to the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index suffered due to disappointing stock selections, partly balanced by positive contributions from sector allocation. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.)
During the reporting period, which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s relative performance and which sectors were particularly weak?
The strongest positive contributions to the Fund’s relative performance from a sector allocation perspective came from office properties, industrial properties and towers. The weakest relative contributors to performance included net lease properties, residential properties and shopping centers.
During the reporting period, which individual stocks made the strongest positive contributions to the Fund’s absolute performance and which stocks detracted the most?
The strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s absolute performance during the reporting period included positions in Life Storage (storage) and CubeSmart Storage (storage). The Fund’s weakest-performing holdings included Piedmont Office (office), Tricon Residential (residential) and Park Hotels & Resorts (hotel & motel).
What were some of the Fund’s largest purchases and sales during the reporting period?
The Fund’s largest purchases during the reporting period included shares in health care facilities REIT HealthPeak Properties, which benefited from a combination of improving growth and reasonable
relative value; and life science REIT Alexandria Real Estate Equities, which gained ground on accelerating revenues and an improving profit outlook. The Fund’s largest sales during the same period included holdings in retail REIT Realty Income and tower REIT Crown Castle. Both sales reflected the stocks’ rich valuations in the wake of strong relative performance.
How did the Fund’s sector weightings change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Fund increased its exposure most substantially to the health care and data center sectors; these are areas where we see attractive relative valuations combined with accelerating earnings potential. During the same period, the Fund reduced its exposure most substantially to the net lease sector, due to prior outperformance, overvaluation and moderating earnings growth outlooks. The Fund also reduced its exposure to the office sector, as a result of deteriorating fundamentals with no near-term sense of market stabilization.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, the Fund held overweight positions relative to the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index in the residential, storage and data centers sectors. As of the same date, the Fund held relatively underweight positions in the net lease, office and timber sectors. 
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
9


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares Value
Common Stocks 99.5%
Community Shopping Centers 3.1% 
Brixmor Property Group, Inc. 114,568 $   2,443,736
Kite Realty Group Trust  78,710    1,630,871
Regency Centers Corp.  59,416    3,649,925
Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. 129,768   1,690,877
    9,415,409
Enclosed Malls 5.3% 
Macerich Co. (The) 207,283    2,070,757
Simon Property Group, Inc. 126,826  14,371,922
    16,442,679
Healthcare Facilities 11.8% 
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.  94,839   11,777,107
Healthpeak Properties, Inc. 342,642    7,527,845
Ventas, Inc.  86,876    4,174,392
Welltower, Inc. 162,798  12,896,857
    36,376,201
Hotels 4.2% 
DiamondRock Hospitality Co. 420,020 3,406,362
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. 21,241 3,059,129
Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. 314,986 3,795,581
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. 289,886 2,762,614
    13,023,686
Industrial Properties 12.8% 
Americold Realty Trust, Inc. 137,999 4,083,390
Prologis, Inc. 214,685 26,889,296
Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. 151,663 8,458,246
    39,430,932
Net Lease Properties 9.1% 
Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. 284,804 4,605,281
EPR Properties 69,002 2,895,324
Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. 117,307 2,992,502
NETSTREIT Corp. 246,241 4,486,511
Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. 113,286 4,356,979
VICI Properties, Inc. 260,878 8,854,199
    28,190,796
Residential 19.3% 
Apartment Income REIT Corp. 179,269 6,629,368
Camden Property Trust 70,009 7,704,490
Essex Property Trust, Inc. 27,005 5,933,809
Independence Realty Trust, Inc. 248,821 4,142,870
  Shares   Value
 
Residential (continued) 
Invitation Homes, Inc. 220,819   $   7,368,730
NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.  46,585      1,999,894
Sun Communities, Inc.  95,099     13,212,104
Tricon Residential, Inc. 462,476      3,713,682
UDR, Inc. 161,611      6,679,383
Veris Residential, Inc. (a) 138,844     2,270,099
      59,654,429
Self Storage Property 11.1% 
CubeSmart 279,787     12,727,510
Life Storage, Inc.  79,734     10,714,655
Public Storage  36,237    10,683,755
      34,125,920
Technology Datacenters 10.1% 
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.  57,040      5,655,516
Equinix, Inc.  35,348    25,594,780
      31,250,296
Technology Towers 12.7% 
American Tower Corp. 98,906   20,215,397
Crown Castle, Inc. 154,639   19,034,515
      39,249,912
Total Common Stocks
(Cost $285,826,653)
    307,160,260
Short-Term Investment 0.2%
Affiliated Investment Company 0.2% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (b) 474,344   474,344
Total Short-Term Investment
(Cost $474,344)
    474,344
Total Investments
(Cost $286,300,997)
99.7%   307,634,604
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3   1,074,285
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 308,708,889
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
10 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund $ 2,238 $ 67,185 $ (68,949) $ — $ — $ 474 $ 39 $ — 474
Abbreviation(s):
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Common Stocks  $ 307,160,260   $ —   $ —    $ 307,160,260
Short-Term Investment              
Affiliated Investment Company      474,344            474,344
Total Investments in Securities $ 307,634,604   $ —   $ —   $ 307,634,604
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $285,826,653)
$307,160,260
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $474,344)
474,344
Receivables:  
Investment securities sold 1,051,318
Dividends 271,856
Fund shares sold 198,802
Other assets 65,280
Total assets 309,221,860
Liabilities
Payables:  
Manager (See Note 3) 163,009
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 141,757
Shareholder communication 95,407
Fund shares redeemed 63,084
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 32,187
Professional fees 5,923
Custodian 5,138
Trustees 186
Securities lending 26
Accrued expenses 6,254
Total liabilities 512,971
Net assets $308,708,889
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 35,025
Additional paid-in-capital 317,374,809
  317,409,834
Total distributable earnings (loss) (8,700,945)
Net assets $308,708,889
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $137,275,931
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 17,569,349
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 7.81
Maximum sales charge (5.50% of offering price) 0.45
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 8.26
Investor Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 195,374
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 25,039
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 7.80
Maximum sales charge (5.00% of offering price) 0.41
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 8.21
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 3,963,486
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 430,125
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.21
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $148,962,020
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 15,101,874
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.86
Class R3  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 1,509,597
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 195,751
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 7.71
Class R6  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 16,802,481
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 1,703,217
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.87
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated (net of foreign tax withholding of $10,173) $ 10,642,998
Dividends-affiliated 39,075
Securities lending, net 1,640
Total income 10,683,713
Expenses  
Manager (See Note 3) 2,699,863
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 958,382
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 383,801
Distribution/Service—Investor Class (See Note 3) 484
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 51,564
Distribution/Service—Class R3 (See Note 3) 9,679
Registration 92,762
Shareholder communication 70,625
Professional fees 39,895
Custodian 17,798
Trustees 8,618
Shareholder service (See Note 3) 1,936
Miscellaneous 11,432
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 4,346,839
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (768,869)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (670)
Net expenses 3,577,300
Net investment income (loss) 7,106,413
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on:  
Unaffiliated investment transactions (28,589,054)
Foreign currency transactions (1,807)
Net realized gain (loss) (28,590,861)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:  
Unaffiliated investments (56,030,101)
Translation of other assets and liabilities in foreign currencies 680
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) (56,029,421)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (84,620,282)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $(77,513,869)
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 7,106,413 $ 5,229,744
Net realized gain (loss) (28,590,861) 111,598,258
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) (56,029,421) (62,634,172)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations (77,513,869) 54,193,830
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (44,659,487) (5,974,725)
Investor Class (58,405) (6,177)
Class C (1,221,063) (157,619)
Class I (43,591,182) (6,879,898)
Class R3 (562,871) (77,566)
Class R6 (4,440,769) (612,169)
  (94,533,777) (13,708,154)
Distributions to shareholders from return of capital:    
Class A (872,279)
Investor Class (1,141)
Class C (23,850)
Class I (851,413)
Class R3 (10,994)
Class R6 (86,736)
  (1,846,413)
Total distributions to shareholders (96,380,190) (13,708,154)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 48,489,555 107,349,432
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 90,519,704 12,708,131
Cost of shares redeemed (123,743,106) (101,363,518)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 15,266,153 18,694,045
Net increase (decrease) in net assets (158,627,906) 59,179,721
Net Assets
Beginning of year 467,336,795 408,157,074
End of year $ 308,708,889 $ 467,336,795
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 1,
2019
through
April 30,
2020#
  Year Ended May 31,
Class A 2023   2022   2021   2019   2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.38   $ 12.20   $ 8.97   $ 12.32   $ 14.43   $ 17.81
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18   0.13   0.16   0.18   0.21   0.28
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.45)   1.47   3.59   (1.52)   1.29   (0.07)
Total from investment operations (2.27)   1.60   3.75   (1.34)   1.50   0.21
Less distributions:                      
From net investment income (0.39)   (0.24)   (0.20)   (0.26)   (0.21)   (0.28)
From net realized gain on investments (2.85)   (0.18)     (1.32)   (3.40)   (3.31)
Return of capital (0.06)     (0.32)   (0.43)    
Total distributions (3.30)   (0.42)   (0.52)   (2.01)   (3.61)   (3.59)
Net asset value at end of period $ 7.81   $ 13.38   $ 12.20   $ 8.97   $ 12.32   $ 14.43
Total investment return (b) (16.94)%   13.06%   42.72%   (13.80)%   12.73%   0.23%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                      
Net investment income (loss) 1.79%   0.96%   1.64%   1.69%††   1.58%   1.69%
Net expenses 1.18%(c)   1.18%(c)   1.18%(c)   1.17%†† (c)(d)   1.24%   1.29%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.35%(c)   1.30%(c)   1.45%(c)   1.36%†† (c)(d)   1.31%   1.31%
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   70%   93%   88%   82%   102%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 137,276   $ 193,441   $ 177,328   $ 149,970   $ 89,037   $ 81,475
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from May 31 to April 30.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   February 24, 2020^ through
April 30,
2020
Investor Class 2023   2022   2021  
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.39   $ 12.19   $ 8.97   $ 12.17
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18   0.13   0.15   (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.46)   1.48   3.58   (3.10)
Total from investment operations (2.28)   1.61   3.73   (3.14)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.40)   (0.23)   (0.20)   (0.06)
From net realized gain on investments (2.85)   (0.18)    
Return of capital (0.06)     (0.31)  
Total distributions (3.31)   (0.41)   (0.51)   (0.06)
Net asset value at end of period $ 7.80   $ 13.39   $ 12.19   $ 8.97
Total investment return (b) (17.00)%   13.15%   42.41%   (25.74)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 1.82%   0.98%   1.53%   (2.55)%††
Net expenses (c) 1.21%   1.15%   1.26%   1.35%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.29%   1.26%   1.34%   1.56%††
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   70%   93%   88%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 195   $ 227   $ 157   $ 103
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 1,
2019
through
April 30,
2020#
  Year Ended May 31,
Class C 2023   2022   2021   2019   2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 15.05   $ 13.66   $ 9.96   $ 13.47   $ 15.44   $ 18.80
Net investment income (loss) 0.12(a)   0.03(a)   0.07(a)   0.11(a)   0.11   0.16(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.76)   1.66   4.02   (1.71)   1.42   (0.08)
Total from investment operations (2.64)   1.69   4.09   (1.60)   1.53   0.08
Less distributions:                      
From net investment income (0.30)   (0.12)   (0.15)   (0.18)   (0.10)   (0.13)
From net realized gain on investments (2.85)   (0.18)     (1.32)   (3.40)   (3.31)
Return of capital (0.05)     (0.24)   (0.41)    
Total distributions (3.20)   (0.30)   (0.39)   (1.91)   (3.50)   (3.44)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.21   $ 15.05   $ 13.66   $ 9.96   $ 13.47   $ 15.44
Total investment return (b) (17.58)%   12.27%   41.65%   (14.44)%   11.90%   (0.50)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                      
Net investment income (loss) 1.04%   0.22%   0.66%   1.00%††   0.85%   0.90%
Net expenses 1.93%(c)   1.91%(c)   1.93%(c)   1.92%†† (c)(d)   1.99%   2.04%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 2.04%(c)   2.01%(c)   2.09%(c)   2.13%†† (c)(d)   2.06%   2.06%
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   70%   93%   88%   82%   102%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 3,963   $ 7,220   $ 10,202   $ 20,942   $ 11,216   $ 13,449
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from May 31 to April 30.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 1,
2019
through
April 30,
2020#
  Year Ended May 31,
Class I 2023   2022   2021   2019   2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 15.85   $ 14.37   $ 10.49   $ 14.08   $ 15.99   $ 19.36
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.26   0.21   0.22   0.24   0.30   0.37
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.91)   1.74   4.22   (1.79)   1.45   (0.09)
Total from investment operations (2.65)   1.95   4.44   (1.55)   1.75   0.28
Less distributions:                      
From net investment income (0.43)   (0.29)   (0.22)   (0.28)   (0.26)   (0.34)
From net realized gain on investments (2.85)   (0.18)     (1.32)   (3.40)   (3.31)
Return of capital (0.06)     (0.34)   (0.44)    
Total distributions (3.34)   (0.47)   (0.56)   (2.04)   (3.66)   (3.65)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.86   $ 15.85   $ 14.37   $ 10.49   $ 14.08   $ 15.99
Total investment return (b) (16.68)%   13.51%   43.19%   (13.54)%   13.08%   0.63%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                      
Net investment income (loss) 2.13%   1.32%   1.92%   2.01%††   1.95%   2.02%
Net expenses 0.83%(c)   0.83%(c)   0.83%(c)   0.84%†† (c)(d)   0.91%   0.91%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.10%(c)   1.05%(c)   1.20%(c)   1.04%†† (c)(d)   0.97%   0.92%
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   70%   93%   88%   82%   102%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 148,962   $ 241,719   $ 202,597   $ 232,730   $ 166,056   $ 311,814
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from May 31 to April 30.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 1,
2019
through
April 30,
2020#
  Year Ended May 31,
Class R3 2023   2022   2021   2019   2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 13.26   $ 12.09   $ 8.89   $ 12.23   $ 14.35   $ 17.73
Net investment income (loss) 0.15(a)   0.10(a)   0.11(a)   0.15(a)   0.18   0.23(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.43)   1.46   3.59   (1.51)   1.28   (0.06)
Total from investment operations (2.28)   1.56   3.70   (1.36)   1.46   0.17
Less distributions:                      
From net investment income (0.36)   (0.21)   (0.19)   (0.23)   (0.18)   (0.24)
From net realized gain on investments (2.85)   (0.18)     (1.32)   (3.40)   (3.31)
Return of capital (0.06)     (0.31)   (0.43)    
Total distributions (3.27)   (0.39)   (0.50)   (1.98)   (3.58)   (3.55)
Net asset value at end of period $ 7.71   $ 13.26   $ 12.09   $ 8.89   $ 12.23   $ 14.35
Total investment return (b) (17.18)%   12.83%   42.47%   (14.04)%   12.43%   —%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                      
Net investment income (loss) 1.56%   0.72%   1.14%   1.42%††   1.36%   1.43%
Net expenses 1.43%(c)   1.43%(c)   1.43%(c)   1.42%†† (c)(d)   1.49%   1.54%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.70%(c)   1.65%(c)   1.80%(c)   1.61%†† (c)(d)   1.56%   1.56%
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   70%   93%   88%   82%   102%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 1,510   $ 2,672   $ 2,298   $ 2,527   $ 2,454   $ 2,965
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from May 31 to April 30.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R3 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 1,
2019
through
April 30,
2020#
  Year Ended May 31,
Class R6 2023   2022   2021   2019   2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 15.85   $ 14.37   $ 10.49   $ 14.09   $ 15.99   $ 19.36
Net investment income (loss) 0.27(a)   0.22(a)   0.09(a)   0.26(a)   0.32   0.37(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.90)   1.74   4.36   (1.80)   1.45   (0.08)
Total from investment operations (2.63)   1.96   4.45   (1.54)   1.77   0.29
Less distributions:                      
From net investment income (0.44)   (0.30)   (0.22)   (0.30)   (0.27)   (0.35)
From net realized gain on investments (2.85)   (0.18)     (1.32)   (3.40)   (3.31)
Return of capital (0.06)     (0.35)   (0.44)    
Total distributions (3.35)   (0.48)   (0.57)   (2.06)   (3.67)   (3.66)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.87   $ 15.85   $ 14.37   $ 10.49   $ 14.09   $ 15.99
Total investment return (b) (16.52)%   13.61%   43.35%   (13.53)%   13.24%   0.69%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                      
Net investment income (loss) 2.23%   1.40%   0.80%   2.06%††   2.05%   2.12%
Net expenses 0.74%(c)   0.74%(c)   0.74%(c)   0.76%†† (c)(d)   0.83%   0.86%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 0.82%(c)   0.84%(c)   0.84%(c)   0.88%†† (c)(d)   0.89%   0.86%
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   70%   93%   88%   82%   102%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 16,802   $ 22,058   $ 15,574   $ 56,250   $ 79,327   $ 79,646
    
# The Fund changed its fiscal year end from May 31 to April 30.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R6 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
(d) Net of interest expense of less than 0.01%.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1-Organization and Business
MainStay Funds Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 28, 2009. The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is comprised of thirty-three funds (collectively referred to as the “Funds”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund (the "Fund"), a “non-diversified” fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
The following table lists the Fund's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class Commenced Operations
Class A December 20, 2002
Investor Class February 24, 2020
Class C January 17, 2003
Class I December 31, 1996
Class R3 August 5, 2011
Class R6 July 3, 2014
SIMPLE Class N/A*
    
* SIMPLE Class shares were registered for sale effective as of August 31, 2020 but have not yet commenced operations.
Class A and Investor Class shares are offered at net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus an initial sales charge. No initial sales charge applies to investments of $1 million or more (and certain other qualified purchases) in Class A and Investor Class shares. A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be imposed on certain redemptions of Class A and Investor Class shares made within 18 months of the date of purchase on shares that were purchased without an initial sales charge. Class C shares are offered at NAV without an initial sales charge, although a 1.00% CDSC may be imposed on certain redemptions of such shares made within one year of the date of purchase of Class C shares. Class I, Class R3 and Class R6 shares are offered at NAV without a sales charge. SIMPLE Class shares are expected to be offered at NAV without a sales charge if such shares are offered in the future. In addition, depending upon eligibility, Class C shares convert to either Class A or Investor Class shares at the end of the calendar quarter eight years after the date they were purchased. Additionally, as disclosed in the Fund’s prospectus, Class A shares may convert automatically to Investor Class shares and Investor Class shares may convert automatically to Class A shares. Under certain circumstances and as may be permitted by the Trust’s multiple class plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, specified share classes of the Fund may be converted to one or more other share classes of the Fund as disclosed in the capital share transactions. See Note 9 for additional information. The six classes of shares have the same voting (except for issues that relate solely to one class), dividend, liquidation and other rights, and the same terms and conditions, except that under distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, Class C shares are subject to higher distribution and/or service fees than Class A,
Investor Class and Class R3 shares. Class I and Class R6 shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Fund's investment objective is to seek total return.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Fund prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation.  Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Fund is open for business ("valuation date").
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") has designated New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager") as its Valuation Designee (the "Valuation Designee"). The Valuation Designee is responsible for performing fair valuations relating to all investments in the Fund’s portfolio for which market quotations are not readily available; periodically assessing and managing material valuation risks; establishing and applying fair value methodologies; testing fair valuation methodologies; evaluating and overseeing pricing services; ensuring appropriate segregation of valuation and portfolio management functions; providing quarterly, annual and prompt reporting to the Board, as appropriate; identifying potential conflicts of interest; and maintaining appropriate records. The Valuation Designee has established a valuation committee ("Valuation Committee") to assist in carrying out the Valuation Designee’s responsibilities and establish prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available. The Fund's and the Valuation Designee's policies and procedures ("Valuation Procedures") govern the Valuation Designee’s selection and application of methodologies for determining and calculating the fair value of Fund investments. The Valuation Designee may value the Fund's portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other Fund assets utilizing inputs from pricing services and other third-party sources. The Valuation Committee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an ad-hoc basis to determine fair valuations and on a quarterly basis to review fair value events with respect to certain securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including valuation risks and back-testing results, and preview reports to the Board.
The Valuation Committee establishes prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. The Board shall oversee the Valuation Designee and review fair valuation
 
21


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
materials on a prompt, quarterly and annual basis and approve proposed revisions to the Valuation Procedures.
Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to the Valuation Procedures. A market quotation is readily available only when that quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the Fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable. "Fair value" is defined as the price the Fund would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
Level 1—quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for an identical asset or liability
Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability)
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of April 30, 2023, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Fund may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Broker/dealer quotes • Benchmark securities
• Two-sided markets • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices)
• Bids/offers • Monthly payment information
• Industry and economic events • Reported trades
An asset or liability for which a market quotation is not readily available is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the Valuation Procedures to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Valuation Designee generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Valuation Designee may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined for other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Valuation Procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Fund may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended or otherwise does not have a readily available market quotation on a given day; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vi) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 2 or 3 in the hierarchy.
Equity securities are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as
 
22 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The Valuation Procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes.  The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Fund within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Fund’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Fund's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Fund's financial statements. The Fund's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income, if any, at least quarterly and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. Unless a shareholder elects otherwise, all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Fund. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income.  The Fund records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of any foreign tax withheld at the source, and interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Distributions received from real estate investment trusts may be classified as dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses.  Expenses of the Trust are allocated to the individual Funds in proportion to the net assets of the respective Funds when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than transfer agent expenses and fees incurred under the shareholder services plans and/or the distribution plans further discussed in Note 3(B)) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Fund, including those of related parties to the Fund, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in mutual funds, which are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in mutual funds to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of mutual funds are not included in the amounts shown as expenses in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates.  In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund's books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean between the buying and selling rates last quoted by any major U.S. bank at the following dates:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities— at the valuation date; and
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses—at the date of such transactions.
The assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currency amounts are presented at the exchange rates and market values at the close of the period. The realized and unrealized changes in net assets arising from fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices of securities are not separately presented.
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions represents net currency gains or losses realized as a result of differences between the
23


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
amounts of securities sale proceeds or purchase cost, dividends, interest and withholding taxes as recorded on the Fund's books, and the U.S. dollar equivalent amount actually received or paid. Net currency gains or losses from valuing such foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, other than investments at valuation date exchange rates, are reflected in unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses.
(H) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the Fund may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the Fund engages in securities lending, the Fund will lend through its custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the Fund. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the Fund's collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the Fund and JPMorgan, and indemnify the Fund against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. The Fund bears the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The Fund may also record a realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The Fund bears the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The Fund will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The Fund will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Fund. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. As of April 30, 2023, the Fund did not have any portfolio securities on loan.
(I) Real Estate Investments.  The Fund’s investments in the real estate sector have many of the same risks as direct ownership of real estate, including the risk that the value of real estate could decline due to a variety of factors that affect the real estate market generally. These risks include, among others, declines in the value of real estate, changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, changes in zoning laws, overbuilding, extended vacancies of properties, regulatory limitations on rents, losses due to environmental liabilities, property taxes and operating expenses. The Fund’s investments in real estate companies are particularly sensitive to economic downturns.
(J) Indemnifications.  Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may 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. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Fund.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company ("New York Life"), serves as the Fund's Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Fund. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Fund, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Fund and certain operational expenses of the Fund. The Fund reimburses New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Fund. CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC ("CBRE" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser, serves as the Subadvisor to the Fund and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of a Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and CBRE, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) fund fees and expenses) do not exceed the following percentages of average daily net assets: Class A, 1.18%; Investor Class, 1.35%; Class C, 1.93%; Class I, 0.83%; Class R3, 1.43% and Class R6, 0.74%. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended April 30, 2023, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Fund in the amount of $2,699,863 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses, including the waiver/reimbursement of certain class specific expenses in the amount of $768,869 and paid the Subadvisor fees in the amount of $965,497.
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Fund pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments.
 
24 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Fund, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Fund's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Fund's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Fund, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Trust and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Fund. The Fund will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Fund.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees.  The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Fund has adopted distribution plans (the “Plans”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Pursuant to the Class A and Investor Class Plans, the Distributor receives a monthly fee from the Class A and Investor Class shares at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A and Investor Class shares for distribution and/or service activities as designated by the Distributor. Pursuant to the Class C Plan, Class C shares pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares along with a service fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares, for a total 12b-1 fee of 1.00%. Pursuant to the Class R3 Plan, Class R3 shares pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class R3 shares along with a service fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class R3 shares, for a total 12b-1 fee of 0.50%. Class I and Class R6 shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Plans provide that the distribution and service fees are payable to the Distributor regardless of the amounts actually expended by the Distributor for distribution of the Fund's shares and service activities.
In accordance with the Shareholder Services Plans for the Class R3 shares, the Manager has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various shareholder and administrative support services to shareholders of the Class R3 shares. For its services, the Manager, its affiliates or independent third-party service providers are entitled to a shareholder service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Class R3 shares. This is in addition to any fees paid under the Class R3 Plan.
During the year ended April 30, 2023, shareholder service fees incurred by the Fund were as follows:
 
Class R3 $1,936
(C) Sales Charges.  The Fund was advised by the Distributor that the amount of initial sales charges retained on sales of Class A and Investor Class shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, were $3,846 and $84, respectively.
The Fund was also advised that the Distributor retained CDSCs on redemptions of Class A and Class C shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, of $440 and $710, respectively.
(D) Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder Servicing Agent.  NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments, is the Fund's transfer, dividend disbursing and shareholder servicing agent pursuant to an agreement between NYLIM Service Company LLC and the Trust. NYLIM Service Company LLC has entered into an agreement with SS&C Global Investor & Distributor Solutions, Inc. ("SS&C"), pursuant to which SS&C performs certain transfer agent services on behalf of NYLIM Service Company LLC. New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to limit the transfer agency expenses charged to the Fund’s share classes to a maximum of 0.35% of that share class’s average daily net assets on an annual basis after deducting any applicable Fund or class-level expense reimbursement or small account fees. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board. During the year ended April 30, 2023, transfer agent expenses incurred by the Fund and any reimbursements, pursuant to the aforementioned Transfer Agency expense limitation agreement, were as follows:
Class Expense Waived
Class A $433,390 $—
Investor Class 426
Class C 11,290
Class I 507,131
Class R3 5,425
Class R6 720
(E) Small Account Fee.  Shareholders with small accounts adversely impact the cost of providing transfer agency services. In an effort to reduce total transfer agency expenses, the Fund has implemented a small account fee on certain types of accounts. As described in the Fund's prospectus, certain shareholders with an account balance of less than $1,000 ($5,000 for Class A share accounts) are charged an annual per account fee of $20 (assessed semi-annually), the proceeds from which offset transfer agent fees as reflected in the Statement of Operations. This small account fee will not apply to certain types of accounts as described further in the Fund’s prospectus.
25


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of April 30, 2023, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Fund’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $292,323,766 $44,516,958 $(29,206,120) $15,310,838
As of April 30, 2023, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary
Income
Accumulated
Capital
and Other
Gain (Loss)
Other
Temporary
Differences
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Total
Accumulated
Gain (Loss)
$— $(23,910,636) $(88,515) $15,298,206 $(8,700,945)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sale adjustments.
The following table discloses the current year reclassifications between total distributable earnings (loss) and additional paid-in capital arising from permanent differences; net assets as of April 30, 2023 were not affected.
  Total
Distributable
Earnings (Loss)
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
  $(9,673,038) $9,673,038
The reclassifications for the Fund are primarily due to equalization.
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $23,910,636, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $18,441 $5,470
During the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
  2023 2022
Distributions paid from:    
Ordinary Income $25,991,405 $ 8,176,041
Long-Term Capital Gains 68,542,372 5,532,113
Return of Capital 1,846,413
Total $96,380,190 $13,708,154
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Fund. Custodial fees are charged to the Fund based on the Fund's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Fund and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Fund.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 26, 2022, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate, Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") + 0.10%, or the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 25, 2023, although the Fund, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 26, 2022, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Fund under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Fund, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another,
 
26 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Fund.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended April 30, 2023, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $234,429 and $300,165, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, were as follows:
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 1,243,603 $ 11,821,300
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 5,289,781 42,857,119
Shares redeemed (3,425,488) (33,264,137)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 3,107,896 21,414,282
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 9,732 79,856
Shares converted from Class A (See Note 1) (2,339) (25,965)
Net increase (decrease) 3,115,289 $ 21,468,173
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 2,474,614 $ 33,342,180
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 407,302 5,603,692
Shares redeemed (2,975,753) (39,795,668)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (93,837) (849,796)
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 11,379 146,928
Shares converted from Class A (See Note 1) (4,131) (53,907)
Net increase (decrease) (86,589) $ (756,775)
 
Investor Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 6,325 $ 57,457
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 7,375 59,541
Shares redeemed (4,721) (46,914)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 8,979 70,084
Shares converted into Investor Class (See Note 1) 2,617 25,834
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (3,550) (27,928)
Net increase (decrease) 8,046 $ 67,990
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 4,933 $ 66,875
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 448 6,176
Shares redeemed (1,138) (15,703)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 4,243 57,348
Shares converted into Investor Class (See Note 1) 973 12,962
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (1,093) (13,822)
Net increase (decrease) 4,123 $ 56,488
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 20,628 $ 222,355
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 130,422 1,240,539
Shares redeemed (195,491) (2,175,862)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (44,441) (712,968)
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (5,149) (55,087)
Net increase (decrease) (49,590) $ (768,055)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 51,919 $ 789,439
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 10,012 156,795
Shares redeemed (319,942) (4,760,464)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (258,011) (3,814,230)
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (9,305) (134,919)
Net increase (decrease) (267,316) $ (3,949,149)
 
27


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 2,603,780 $ 31,441,943
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 4,118,909 41,999,850
Shares redeemed (6,874,637) (81,717,143)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (151,948) (8,275,350)
Shares converted into Class I (See Note 1) 1,964 25,965
Shares converted from Class I (See Note 1) (1,470) (14,318)
Net increase (decrease) (151,454) $ (8,263,703)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 4,016,150 $ 64,133,515
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 390,452 6,333,075
Shares redeemed (3,151,388) (50,417,941)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,255,214 20,048,649
Shares converted into Class I (See Note 1) 3,502 53,907
Shares converted from Class I (See Note 1) (107,874) (1,682,829)
Net increase (decrease) 1,150,842 $ 18,419,727
 
Class R3 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 28,387 $ 272,231
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 67,696 542,324
Shares redeemed (100,863) (989,931)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (4,780) (175,376)
Shares converted from Class R3 (See Note 1) (997) (8,357)
Net increase (decrease) (5,777) $ (183,733)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 53,893 $ 721,265
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 5,408 73,969
Shares redeemed (47,089) (640,654)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 12,212 154,580
Shares converted from Class R3 (See Note 1) (850) (11,149)
Net increase (decrease) 11,362 $ 143,431
 
Class R6 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 400,769 $ 4,674,269
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 375,674 3,820,331
Shares redeemed (464,903) (5,549,119)
Net increase (decrease) 311,540 $ 2,945,481
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 522,511 $ 8,296,158
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 32,944 534,424
Shares redeemed (355,617) (5,733,088)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 199,838 3,097,494
Shares converted into Class R6 (See Note 1) 107,874 1,682,829
Net increase (decrease) 307,712 $ 4,780,323
Note 10–Other Matters
As of the date of this report, interest rates in the United States and many parts of the world, including certain European countries, continue to ascend from historically low levels. Thus, the Fund currently faces a heightened level of risk associated with rising interest rates. This could be driven by a variety of factors, including but not limited to central bank monetary policies, changing inflation or real growth rates, general economic conditions, increasing bond issuances or reduced market demand for low yielding investments.
Social, political, economic and other conditions and events, such as war, natural disasters, health emergencies (e.g., epidemics and pandemics), terrorism, conflicts, social unrest, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes and supply chain disruptions, may occur and could significantly impact the Fund, issuers, industries, governments and other systems, including the financial markets. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, the conflict in Ukraine, and the failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, may magnify factors that affect the Fund's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended April 30, 2023, events and transactions subsequent to April 30, 2023, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
 
28 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders of the Fund and Board of Trustees
MainStay Funds Trust:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund (the Fund), one of the funds constituting MainStay Funds Trust, including the portfolio of investments, as of April 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period ended April 30, 2023, the period from June 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020 or the period then ended, and each of the years in the two-year period ended May 31, 2019. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of April 30, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the three-year period ended April 30, 2023, the period from June 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020 or the period then ended, and each of the years in the two-year period ended May 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2023, by correspondence with the custodian and the transfer agent. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more New York Life Investment Management investment companies since 2003.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 23, 2023
29


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund (“Fund”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC (“CBRE”) with respect to the Fund (together, “Advisory Agreements”) is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 6–7, 2022 meeting, the Board, which is comprised solely of Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”), unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and CBRE in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during October 2022 through December 2022, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and CBRE in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Fund and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Fund’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or CBRE that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process, and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Fund and investment-related matters for the Fund as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and, generally annually, CBRE personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information provided by New York Life Investments throughout the year,
including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2022 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Fund’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Fund’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or certain other fees by the applicable share classes of the Fund, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors that figured prominently in the Board’s consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements are summarized in more detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments and CBRE; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Fund and the historical investment performance of the Fund, New York Life Investments and CBRE; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and CBRE with respect to their relationships with the Fund; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Fund grows and the extent to which any economies of scale have been shared, have benefited or may benefit the Fund’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Fund’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Fund. With respect to the Subadvisory Agreement, the Board took into account New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the continuation of the Subadvisory Agreement.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and CBRE. The Board’s
 
30 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and CBRE resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Fund’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Fund.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 6–7, 2022 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Fund and considered that the Fund operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including overseeing the services provided by CBRE, evaluating the performance of CBRE, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund, including New York Life Investments’ oversight and due diligence reviews of CBRE and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, CBRE with respect to, among other things, the Fund’s investment performance and risks as well as CBRE’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Fund.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Fund’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Fund and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers, except for a portion of the salary of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Fund and has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments, including in connection with the implementation of the MainStay Group of Funds’ derivatives risk management program and policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. The Board considered benefits to the Fund’s shareholders from the Fund being part of the MainStay Group of Funds, including the ability to exchange investments between the same class of shares of funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, including without the imposition of a sales charge (if any).
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that CBRE provides to the Fund and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated CBRE’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Fund and advising other portfolios and CBRE’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services as well as the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at CBRE. The Board considered New York Life Investments’ and CBRE’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation, financial condition and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and CBRE and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Fund. The Board also considered CBRE’s ability to recruit and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel and other resources to service and support the Fund. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Fund’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued remote work environment.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that the Fund would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
31


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Fund’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Fund’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Fund’s gross and net returns, the Fund’s investment performance compared to a relevant investment category and the Fund’s benchmarks, the Fund’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Fund’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Fund as compared to peer funds. In addition, the Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes.
The Board also took into account its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Fund’s investment performance over various periods as well as discussions between the Fund’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or CBRE had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Fund investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that its review of the Fund’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits and Other Benefits Realized, by New York Life Investments and CBRE
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Fund as well as the MainStay Group of Funds. With respect to the profitability of CBRE’s relationship with the Fund, the Board considered information from New York Life Investments that CBRE’s subadvisory fee reflected an arm’s-length negotiation and that this fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund, and the relevance of CBRE’s profitability was considered by the Trustees in that context. On this basis, the Board primarily considered the costs and profitability for New York Life Investments and its affiliates with respect to the Fund.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and CBRE, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ and CBRE’s continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Fund, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Fund. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and CBRE and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and CBRE must be in a position to recruit and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and CBRE to continue to provide high-quality services to the Fund. The Board recognized that the Fund benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board noted it had previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board also noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Fund and considered that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates and CBRE and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Fund, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to CBRE from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to CBRE in exchange for commissions paid by the Fund with respect to trades in the Fund’s portfolio securities. In this regard, the Board also requested and considered information from New York Life Investments concerning other material business relationships between CBRE and its affiliates and New York Life Investments and its affiliates and considered the existence of a strategic partnership between New York Life Investments and CBRE that relates to certain current and future products and represents a potential conflict of interest associated with New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the Subadvisory Agreement. In addition, the Board considered its review of the management agreement for a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Fund, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Fund, if any, and considered information from
 
32 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Fund.
The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement for managing the Fund, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Fund in various other capacities, including as the Fund’s transfer agent and distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the relationship with the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Fund on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Fund were not excessive, other expected benefits that may accrue to New York Life Investments and its affiliates are reasonable and other expected benefits that may accrue to CBRE and its affiliates are consistent with those expected for a subadvisor to a mutual fund. With respect to CBRE, the Board considered that any profits realized by CBRE due to its relationship with the Fund are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between New York Life Investments and CBRE, acknowledging that any such profits are based on the subadvisory fee paid to CBRE by New York Life Investments, not the Fund.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Fund’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Fund to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to CBRE is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Fund’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. The Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and CBRE on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any. The Board considered the contractual management fee schedules of the Fund as compared to those
of such other investment advisory clients, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account information provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Fund, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Fund’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Fund, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
The Board took into account information from New York Life Investments, as provided in connection with the Board’s June 2022 meeting, regarding the reasonableness of the Fund’s transfer agent fee schedule, including industry data demonstrating that the fees that NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments and the Fund’s transfer agent, charges the Fund are within the range of fees charged by transfer agents to other mutual funds. In addition, the Board considered NYLIM Service Company LLC’s profitability in connection with the transfer agent services it provides to the Fund. The Board also took into account information provided by NYLIM Service Company LLC regarding the sub-transfer agency payments it made to intermediaries in connection with the provision of sub-transfer agency services to the Fund.
The Board considered the extent to which transfer agent fees contributed to the total expenses of the Fund. The Board acknowledged the role that the MainStay Group of Funds historically has played in serving the investment needs of New York Life Insurance Company customers, who often maintain smaller account balances than other shareholders of funds, and the impact of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes. The Board also recognized measures that it and New York Life Investments have taken intended to mitigate the effect of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes, including through the imposition of an expense limitation on net transfer agency expenses. The Board also considered that NYLIM Service Company LLC had waived its contractual cost of living adjustments during the seven years prior to 2021.
Based on the factors outlined above, among other considerations, the Board concluded that the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses are within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether economies of scale may exist for the Fund and whether the Fund’s expense structure permits any economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Fund’s shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the
33


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Fund in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance the services provided to the Fund. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately shared for the benefit of the Fund’s shareholders through the Fund’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
34 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Discussion of the Operation and Effectiveness of the Fund's Liquidity Risk Management Program (Unaudited)
In compliance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”), which New York Life Investment Management LLC believes is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk. A Fund's liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (the "Board") previously approved the designation of New York Life Investment Management LLC as administrator of the Program (the “Administrator”). The Administrator has established a Liquidity Risk Management Committee to assist the Administrator in the implementation and day-to-day administration of the Program and to otherwise support the Administrator in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Program.
At a meeting of the Board held on February 28, 2023, the Administrator provided the Board with a written report addressing the Program’s operation and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation for the period from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022 (the "Review Period"), as required under the Liquidity Rule. The report noted that the Administrator concluded that (i) the Program operated effectively to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk, (ii) the Program has been and continues to be adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and, as applicable, respond to the Fund's liquidity developments and (iii) the Fund's investment strategy continues to be appropriate for an open-end fund. In addition, the report summarized the operation of the Program and the information and factors considered by the Administrator in its assessment of the Program’s implementation, such as the liquidity risk assessment framework and the liquidity classification methodologies, and discussed notable geopolitical, market and other economic events that impacted liquidity risk during the Review Period.
In accordance with the Program, the Fund's liquidity risk is assessed no less frequently than annually taking into consideration certain factors, as applicable, such as (i) investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments, (ii) short-term and long-term cash flow projections, and (iii) holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements and other funding sources. Certain factors are considered under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions.
Each Fund portfolio investment is classified into one of four liquidity categories. The classification is based on a determination of the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment into cash, or sell or dispose of the investment, in current market conditions without significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Administrator has delegated liquidity classification determinations to the Fund’s subadvisor, subject to appropriate oversight by the Administrator, and liquidity classification determinations are made by taking into account the Fund's reasonably anticipated trade size, various market, trading and investment-specific considerations, as well as market depth, and, in certain cases, third-party vendor data.
The Liquidity Rule requires funds that do not primarily hold assets that are highly liquid investments to adopt a minimum amount of net assets that must be invested in highly liquid investments that are assets (an “HLIM”). In addition, the Liquidity Rule limits a fund's investments in illiquid investments. Specifically, the Liquidity Rule prohibits acquisition of illiquid investments if, immediately after acquisition, doing so would result in a fund holding more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. The Program includes provisions reasonably designed to determine, periodically review and comply with the HLIM requirement, as applicable, and to comply with the 15% limit on illiquid investments.
There can be no assurance that the Program will achieve its objectives under all circumstances in the future. Please refer to the Fund's prospectus for more information regarding the Fund's exposure to liquidity risk and other risks to which it may be subject.
35


Federal Income Tax
Information   (Unaudited)
The Fund is required under the Internal Revenue Code to advise shareholders in a written statement as to the federal tax status of dividends paid by the Fund during such fiscal years.
Accordingly, the Fund paid $68,542,592 as long term capital gain distributions.
The dividends paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 should be multiplied by 0.01% to arrive at the amount eligible for the corporate dividend-received deduction.
In February 2024, shareholders will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099, which will show the federal tax status of the distributions received by shareholders in calendar year 2023. The amounts that will be reported on such 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099 will be the amounts you are to use on your federal income tax return and will differ from the amounts which we must report for the Fund's fiscal year ended April 30, 2023.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Fund is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Fund is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782; visiting newyorklifeinvestments.com; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Fund's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling New York Life Investments at 800-624-6782.
36 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Funds who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal.
Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Fund (“Independent Trustees”).
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Naïm Abou-Jaoudé*
1966
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023
Chief Executive Officer of New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2023. Previously, Abou-Jaoudé was the Chief Executive Officer of Candriam (an affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC) from 2007 to 2023. 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023 (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee
since June 2023; and
New York Life Investment Management International: Chair since 2015
* This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of his affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.”
   
Interested Trustee
37


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  David H. Chow
1957
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC (since 1999) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Trustee since 2006 and Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2022 (57 portfolios); Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Investment Committee since 2018
  Karen Hammond
1956
MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021)
Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Director since 2018;
Rhode Island State Investment Commission: Member since 2017; and
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island: Director since 2019
  Susan B. Kerley
1951
MainStay Funds: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 1990**
President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC (since 1990) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2011;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios)
  Alan R. Latshaw
1951
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since 2006;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
Independent Trustees
38 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Jacques P. Perold
1958
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015
to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC (since 2018); President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017
  Richard S. Trutanic
1952
MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) (since 2004); Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
* Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
** Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust.
Independent Trustees
39


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
 
         
  Kirk C. Lehneis
1974
President, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust (since 2017) Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC (since 2017); Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since January 2018); President, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2017); Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015-2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC  
  Jack R. Benintende
1964
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay Funds (since 2007), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2007); Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2007)**; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012)  
  J. Kevin Gao
1967
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since 2010) Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2010); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2010)**       
  Scott T. Harrington
1959
Vice President— Administration, MainStay Funds (since 2005), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) (since 2000); Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company (since 2009); Vice President—Administration, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2005)**     
  Kevin M. Gleason
1967
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since June 2022) Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and Index IQ Active ETF Trust (since June 2022); Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, MainStay VP Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2022); Senior Vice President, Voya Investment Management and Chief Compliance Officer, Voya Family of Funds (2012-2022)  
* The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board.
** Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
40 MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund


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MainStay Funds
Equity
U.S. Equity
MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund
MainStay Fiera SMID Growth Fund
MainStay S&P 500 Index Fund
MainStay Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund
MainStay WMC Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Small Companies Fund
MainStay WMC Value Fund
International Equity
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund
MainStay MacKay International Equity Fund
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund
Emerging Markets Equity
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Global Equity
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund
MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund
Fixed Income
Taxable Income
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Debt Fund
MainStay Floating Rate Fund
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Total Return Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay U.S. Infrastructure Bond Fund
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund
Tax-Exempt Income
MainStay MacKay California Tax Free Opportunities Fund1
MainStay MacKay High Yield Municipal Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay New York Tax Free Opportunities Fund2
MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund
MainStay MacKay Tax Free Bond Fund
Money Market
MainStay Money Market Fund
Mixed Asset
MainStay Balanced Fund
MainStay Income Builder Fund
MainStay MacKay Convertible Fund
Speciality
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund
MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund
MainStay Cushing MLP Premier Fund
Asset Allocation
MainStay Conservative Allocation Fund
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
 

 
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Candriam3
Strassen, Luxembourg
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Cushing Asset Management, LP
Dallas, Texas
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
Fiera Capital Inc.
New York, New York
IndexIQ Advisors LLC3
New York, New York
MacKay Shields LLC3
New York, New York
NYL Investors LLC3
New York, New York
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC3
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
 
 
  1.  
This Fund is registered for sale in AZ, CA, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA and MI (Class A and Class I shares only), and CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, MA, MD, NH, NJ and NY (Class I shares only).
2. This Fund is registered for sale in CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, NJ, NY and VT.
3. An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC.
Not part of the Annual Report


For more information
800-624-6782
newyorklifeinvestments.com
“New York Life Investments” is both a service mark, and the common trade name, of certain investment advisors affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. The MainStay Funds® are managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a Member FINRA/SIPC.
©2023 NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
5022127MS043-23 MSCBRE11-06/23
(NYLIM) NL480





MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund

Message from the President and Annual Report
April 30, 2023
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured Not a Deposit May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee Not Insured by Any Government Agency


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Message from the President
Despite high levels of volatility and sharp, short-term shifts in value, broadly based stock and bond indices saw relatively modest overall changes during the 12-month reporting period ended April 30, 2023. A deeply challenging investment environment during the last eight months of 2022, driven by increasing inflationary pressures and aggressive monetary efforts to curb them, was followed by a more positive, but uneven, economic and monetary backdrop during the first four months of 2023.
In April 2022, before the start of the reporting period, U.S. inflation stood at an annualized rate of 8.3%, up from 4.2% a year earlier. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), had begun to take steps to curb inflation, raising the federal funds rate from near zero in March 2022. Eight separate rate hikes during the reporting period brought the benchmark rate up to 4.75–5.00% in March 2023. Inflation seemed to respond, easing steadily from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 4.9% in April 2023. Although further interest rate increases are expected in 2023, by the end of the reporting period, it appeared that the Fed might be nearing the end of the current rate-hike cycle. Economic growth, although slower, remained positive, supported by historically high levels of employment and robust consumer spending. International economies experienced similar trends, with more modest central bank interest-rate hikes curbing inflation to a degree.
Equity market behavior during the reporting period reflected the arc of monetary policy and economic developments. From May through early October 2022, as inflation raged and interest-rate increases accelerated, investors shied away from perceived risk, favoring relatively defensive and value-oriented sectors over growth-oriented sectors. The S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of U.S. market performance, declined by more than 13% during this time, while international stocks suffered even sharper losses. These trends reversed from mid-October 2022 through the end of the reporting period, as inflationary pressures eased and markets began to anticipate an end to rising interest rates. Between mid-October 2022 and April 30, 2023, the S&P 500® Index regained all the ground it lost earlier, ending in modestly positive territory. International developed-markets stocks bounced back even stronger, prompted by surprisingly robust economic resilience in Europe and further bolstered by China’s
reopening after the government rescinded its “zero-COVID-19” policy and eased regulatory restrictions on key industries. The declining value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies also enhanced international market equity performance. Emerging markets generally lagged their developed-markets counterparts while outperforming U.S. markets.
Fixed-income markets followed a similar pattern of retreat and recovery. Bond prices trended sharply downward early in the reporting period, as yields rose along with interest rates. Short-term yields rose faster than long-term yields, producing a yield curve inversion—with long-term rates lower than short-term rates—that persisted from July through the end of the reporting period. However, market sentiment improved in the second half of the reporting period as inflationary pressures eased. As the Fed decreased the magnitude of rate increases, focus turned toward the possibility of eventual rate reductions and a potential ‘soft landing’ for the economy. On the negative side, a small number of high-profile, regional U.S. bank failures in March and April 2023 raised fears of possible wider banking industry contagion and future credit constraints.
While many market observers believe the Fed has neared the end of the current cycle of rate increases, the central bank’s rhetoric remains sharply focused on its target inflation rate of 2%. Only time will tell if the market’s favorable expectations prove well founded.
However the economic story unfolds in the months and years to come, we remain dedicated to providing you with the one-on-one philosophy and diversified, multi-boutique investment resources that set New York Life Investments apart. Thank you for trusting us to help you meet your investment needs.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
 
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report


Table of Contents

Investors should refer to the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Fund’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. You may obtain copies of the Fund’s Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about the MainStay Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-6782, by writing to NYLIFE Distributors LLC, Attn: MainStay Marketing Department, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 or by sending an e-mail to MainStayShareholderServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available via the MainStay Funds’ website at newyorklifeinvestments.com. Please read the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing.


Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date1
One
Year
Five
Years
Ten Years
or Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio2
Class A Shares Maximum 1.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 1/2/2004 0.31% 0.44% 0.27% 0.67%
    Excluding sales charges   1.32 0.64 0.58 0.67
Class A2 Shares Maximum 2.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 9/30/2020 -0.71 N/A -1.46 0.67
    Excluding sales charges   1.32 N/A -0.69 0.67
Investor Class Shares3, 4 Maximum 0.50% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 2/28/2008 0.48 0.09 -0.11 1.24
    Excluding sales charges   0.99 0.29 0.20 1.24
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   1/2/1991 1.60 0.94 0.85 0.42
Class R6 Shares No Sales Charge   5/2/2022 N/A N/A 1.60 0.40
    
1. Effective June 1, 2015, the Fund changed, among other things, its investment objective and principal investment strategies. Effective May 22, 2018, the Fund made further changes to, among other things, its principal investment strategies. Effective February 28, 2019, the Fund further changed its investment objective. The performance information shown in this report reflects the Fund’s prior investment objectives and principal investment strategies, as applicable.
2. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
3. Prior to June 1, 2015, the maximum initial sales charge was 3.00%, which is reflected in the average annual total return figures shown.
4. From June 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020, the maximum initial sales charge was 1.00%, which is reflected in the applicable average annual total return figures shown.
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
5


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Five
Years
Ten
Years
Bloomberg 3-Year Municipal Bond Index1 2.06% 1.26% 1.07%
Morningstar Muni National Short Category Average2 1.86 1.05 0.82
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The Bloomberg 3-Year Municipal Bond Index is the Fund's primary broad-based securities-market index for comparison purposes. The Bloomberg 3-Year Municipal Bond Index is considered representative of the broad market for investment grade, tax-exempt bonds with a maturity range of 2-4 years.
2. The Morningstar Muni National Short Category Average is representative of funds that invest in bonds issued by state and local governments to fund public projects. The income from these bonds is generally free from federal taxes and/or from state taxes in the issuing state. To lower risk, some of these funds spread their assets across many states and sectors. Other funds buy bonds from only one state in order to get the state-tax benefit. These funds have durations of less than 4.5 years. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
6 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,029.30 $3.47 $1,021.37 $3.46 0.69%
Class A2 Shares $1,000.00 $1,028.20 $3.47 $1,021.37 $3.46 0.69%
Investor Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,026.50 $5.07 $1,019.79 $5.06 1.01%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,030.80 $2.01 $1,022.81 $2.01 0.40%
Class R6 Shares $1,000.00 $1,029.70 $2.01 $1,022.81 $2.01 0.40%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
7



Portfolio Composition as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund's holdings are subject to change.


Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of April 30, 2023 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. Black Belt Energy Gas District, 4.00%-5.50%, due 12/1/23–11/1/53
2. State of Illinois, 5.00%-6.00%, due 10/1/23–11/1/29
3. City of Chicago, (zero coupon)-5.25%, due 1/1/24–1/1/30
4. Matching Fund Special Purpose Securitization Corp., 5.00%, due 10/1/25–10/1/26
5. New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, (zero coupon)-5.00%, due 6/15/24–6/15/30
 6. Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, 1.872%-5.00%, due 7/3/23
 7. Arizona Health Facilities Authority, 4.11%-5.00%, due 12/1/26–1/1/46
 8. County of King, 0.625%-4.09%, due 12/1/29–1/1/40
 9. Texas Municipal Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp. II, 3.902%, due 9/15/27
10. Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority, 3.615%-5.081%, due 2/1/29–6/1/31
 

8 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers John Loffredo, CFA, Robert DiMella, CFA, Michael Petty, David Dowden, Scott Sprauer, Frances Lewis and John Lawlor of MacKay Shields LLC, the Fund’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund perform relative to its benchmark and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund returned 1.60%, underperforming the 2.06% return of the Fund’s benchmark, the Bloomberg 3-Year Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”). Over the same period, Class I shares also underperformed the 1.86% return of the Morningstar Muni National Short Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Fund underperformed the Index partially due to underweight exposure to 5+% coupon bonds. In addition, underweight exposure to bonds maturing between 3 and 4 years weakened relative performance. From a ratings perspective, an underweight allocation to AA-rated2 bonds also detracted from the relative performance. Across the geographic landscape, underweight exposure to California holdings detracted on a relative basis, although overweight exposure to holdings from Alabama and Illinois helped offset some of these results.
During the reporting period, were there any market events that materially impacted the Fund’s performance or liquidity?
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance against inflation had a negative impact on performance as interest rates increased dramatically during the first half of the reporting period, producing an inverted Treasury yield curve.3
During the reporting period, how was the Fund’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
The Fund’s performance was not materially affected by investments in derivatives during the reporting period.
What was the Fund’s duration4 strategy during the reporting period?
As relative value investors, the management team aims to keep the Fund’s duration within a neutral range relative to that of the Index. As of October 31, 2023, the Fund's modified duration to worst5 was 1.88 years while the Index’s modified duration to worst was 2.42 years.
During the reporting period, which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s relative performance and which sectors were particularly weak?
Across sectors, overweight exposure and security selection in the IDR/PCR (industry development revenue/pollution control revenue) and special tax sectors made positive contributions to relative results. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Underweight exposure and security selection in the state general obligation sector detracted, as did overweight exposure to the education sector.
What were some of the Fund’s largest purchases and sales during the reporting period?
As the Fund remains focused on diversification and liquidity, no individual purchase or sale would have been considered significant, although sector overweights and security structure, in their entirety, did have an impact.
How did the Fund’s sector weighting change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, there were no material changes to the weightings in the Fund. There were small increases in the Fund’s exposure to the state general obligation and housing sectors, and
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
2. An obligation rated ‘AA’ by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) is deemed by S&P to differ from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. In the opinion of S&P, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. When applied to Fund holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Fund.
3. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
4. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
5. Modified duration is inversely related to the approximate percentage change in price for a given change in yield. Duration to worst is the duration of a bond computed using the bond’s nearest call date or maturity, whichever comes first. This measure ignores future cash flow fluctuations due to embedded optionality.
9


to bonds rated AAA.6 We increased the Fund’s exposure to high quality municipal credits as they were in relatively strong financial condition and were available at much higher yields. Conversely, there were small reductions in sector exposures to education and local general obligations.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, the Fund held overweight positions relative to the Index in the IDR/PCR, and housing sectors, and to bonds rated A.7 From a geographic perspective, the Fund held overweight exposure to bonds from Illinois and New Jersey. As of the same date, the Fund held underweight exposure to the prerefunded/ETM (escrowed to maturity) and state general obligation sectors, bonds from New York and AA-rated bonds. 
6. An obligation rated `AAA' has the highest rating assigned by S&P, and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. When applied to Fund holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Fund.
7. An obligation rated `A' by S&P is deemed by S&P to be somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. In the opinion of S&P, however, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong. When applied to Fund holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
10 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Principal
Amount
Value
Municipal Bonds 99.3%
Long-Term Municipal Bonds 78.1%
Alabama 4.4% 
Black Belt Energy Gas District, Gas Project No.6, Revenue Bonds    
Series B                         
4.00%, due 10/1/52 (a) $   13,500,000 $    13,465,337
Black Belt Energy Gas District, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-1                         
4.00%, due 4/1/53 (a)   3,920,000      3,905,704
Series C-1                         
5.25%, due 12/1/23 530,000 533,447
Series C-1    
5.25%, due 6/1/25 615,000 630,685
Series C-1    
5.25%, due 12/1/25 880,000 908,103
Series F    
5.50%, due 11/1/53 (a) 10,000,000 10,650,905
Southeast Alabama Gas Supply District, Project No. 1, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 4/1/24 1,500,000 1,516,487
Southeast Energy Authority, A Cooperative District, Project No. 4, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-1    
5.00%, due 5/1/53 (a) 1,870,000 1,949,476
Southeast Energy Authority, A Cooperative District, Project No. 3, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1    
5.50%, due 1/1/53 (a) 10,000,000 10,809,566
State of Alabama, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
3.00%, due 8/1/26 5,000,000 5,006,470
    49,376,180
Alaska 0.9% 
Northern Tobacco Securitization Corp., Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series B1, Class 2    
0.50%, due 6/1/31 105,000 104,763
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Alaska (continued) 
State of Alaska, International Airports System, Revenue Bonds (b)    
Series C                         
5.00%, due 10/1/27 $    3,030,000 $     3,238,277
Series C                         
5.00%, due 10/1/30   5,570,000     6,186,431
    9,529,471
Arizona 0.6% 
Arizona Health Facilities Authority, Scottsdale Lincoln Hospital Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/26 2,590,000 2,665,323
City of Phoenix Civic Improvement Corp., Airport, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien    
Series B    
5.00%, due 7/1/26 (b) 3,500,000 3,681,293
    6,346,616
Arkansas 0.1% 
City of Fort Smith, Water & Sewer, Revenue Bonds    
3.00%, due 10/1/25 1,400,000 1,396,704
California 4.0% 
Antelope Valley Community College District, Unlimited General Obligation    
(zero coupon), due 8/1/33 2,250,000 1,486,648
(zero coupon), due 8/1/35 3,990,000 2,405,755
Chula Vista Elementary School District, Revenue Bonds    
(zero coupon), due 8/1/23 4,140,000 4,105,665
Compton Community College District, Election of 2002, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series D, Insured: BAM    
(zero coupon), due 8/1/36 2,825,000 1,182,302
Los Angeles Unified School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series C    
5.00%, due 7/1/23 2,000,000 2,006,012
Pasadena Unified School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B    
2.00%, due 8/1/25 1,490,000 1,451,854
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
California (continued) 
Regents of the University of California Medical Center, Revenue Bonds    
Series J                         
5.00%, due 5/15/43 $    2,435,000 $     2,436,547
San Diego Public Facilities Financing Authority, Water Utility, Revenue Bonds    
Series B                         
1.903%, due 8/1/26   4,640,000      4,319,032
San Diego Unified School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series G                         
(zero coupon), due 7/1/33 4,235,000 2,509,407
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien    
(zero coupon), due 1/1/24 1,515,000 1,482,478
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
(zero coupon), due 8/1/37 2,350,000 1,113,355
State of California, Various Purpose, Unlimited General Obligation    
1.75%, due 11/1/30 1,375,000 1,156,493
5.00%, due 10/1/26 4,850,000 5,227,790
Tobacco Securitization Authority of Southern California, San Diego County Tobacco Asset Securitization Corp., Asset-Backed, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Class 1    
5.00%, due 6/1/24 1,710,000 1,739,540
Torrance Unified School District, Election of 2008, Unlimited General Obligation    
(zero coupon), due 8/1/27 2,500,000 2,084,366
(zero coupon), due 8/1/28 2,500,000 1,981,687
(zero coupon), due 8/1/29 4,500,000 3,380,575
(zero coupon), due 8/1/30 1,500,000 1,065,563
Victor Valley Union High School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B    
(zero coupon), due 8/1/49 14,715,000 3,266,505
    44,401,574
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Colorado 0.6% 
Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B, Insured: State Aid Withholding                         
5.00%, due 12/15/30 $    1,675,000 $     1,799,548
Colorado Bridge Enterprise, Colorado High Performance Transportation Enterprise, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 12/31/26 (b)   3,950,000      4,010,994
Colorado Health Facilities Authority, United Community and Housing Development Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series B                         
(zero coupon), due 7/15/24   1,050,000     1,009,101
    6,819,643
Connecticut 1.1% 
City of Hartford, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B, Insured: AGM State Guaranteed    
5.00%, due 10/1/24 1,380,000 1,417,014
State of Connecticut, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
0.508%, due 6/1/24 1,000,000 955,378
Series D    
5.00%, due 8/15/24 5,120,000 5,249,095
Series A    
5.73%, due 3/15/24 5,000,000 5,021,574
    12,643,061
Delaware 0.1% 
State of Delaware, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B    
5.00%, due 7/1/26 1,205,000 1,233,560
District of Columbia 1.1% 
District of Columbia, Gallery Place Project, Tax Allocation    
5.00%, due 6/1/27 1,720,000 1,720,881
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Revenue Bonds (b)    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/27 2,160,000 2,325,948
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
District of Columbia (continued) 
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Revenue Bonds (b)
(continued)
   
Series A                         
5.00%, due 10/1/28 $    1,020,000 $     1,114,233
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Aviation, Revenue Bonds (b)    
Series A                         
5.00%, due 10/1/25   2,000,000      2,009,566
Series A                         
5.00%, due 10/1/27   2,700,000      2,907,435
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Dedicated, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/15/24 750,000 766,587
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/15/25 1,055,000 1,104,416
    11,949,066
Florida 3.3% 
City of Hialeah, Revenue Bonds    
Series B, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 12/1/31 1,340,000 1,395,366
City of Tampa, Water & Wastewater System, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
1.141%, due 10/1/27 4,000,000 3,517,963
County of Broward, Port Facilities, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 9/1/26 835,000 878,829
5.00%, due 9/1/27 1,995,000 2,129,970
County of Monroe, Airport, Revenue Bonds    
Series 202    
5.00%, due 10/1/27 (b) 200,000 211,641
County of Pasco, State of Florida Cigarette Tax Revenue, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 9/1/25 1,680,000 1,760,840
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 9/1/26 1,875,000 2,006,416
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 9/1/27 2,000,000 2,180,613
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Florida (continued) 
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Airport Facilities, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
5.00%, due 10/1/23 (b) $    8,895,000 $     8,939,628
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
5.00%, due 10/1/26 (b)   4,225,000      4,464,774
Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series B, Insured: BAM                         
5.00%, due 7/1/26 5,000,000 5,089,125
Tampa Bay Water, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/27 2,250,000 2,357,203
Village Community Development District No. 12, Special Assessment    
3.25%, due 5/1/26 1,435,000 1,415,576
    36,347,944
Georgia 0.3% 
Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.00%, due 4/1/48 (a) 2,500,000 2,501,940
Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Project One Subordinated Bonds, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/26 970,000 1,013,630
    3,515,570
Guam 0.4% 
Antonio B Won Pat International Airport Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
6.25%, due 10/1/34 (b) 395,000 399,200
Guam Government Waterworks Authority, Water and Wastewater System, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/24 400,000 403,935
Guam Power Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/23 1,000,000 1,003,292
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Guam (continued) 
Guam Power Authority, Revenue Bonds (continued)    
Series A                         
5.00%, due 10/1/25 $    2,500,000 $     2,571,998
    4,378,425
Hawaii 0.5% 
State of Hawaii, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series EY                         
5.00%, due 10/1/27   4,155,000      4,375,811
State of Hawaii, Airports System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/1/28 (b) 1,000,000 1,082,228
    5,458,039
Illinois 7.6% 
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Passenger Facility Charge, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 1/1/25 (b) 835,000 835,877
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, General, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series C    
5.00%, due 1/1/25 (b) 1,000,000 1,023,662
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/28 (b) 1,525,000 1,555,576
City of Calumet City, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.50%, due 3/1/26 610,000 649,046
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.50%, due 3/1/27 640,000 694,647
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.50%, due 3/1/28 675,000 746,510
City of Chicago, Wastewater Transmission Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: NATL-RE    
(zero coupon), due 1/1/26 2,090,000 1,900,366
Series A, Insured: NATL-RE    
(zero coupon), due 1/1/27 12,120,000 10,647,053
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Illinois (continued) 
City of Chicago, Wastewater Transmission Project, Revenue Bonds, Second Lien    
5.00%, due 1/1/26 $    1,130,000 $     1,134,027
City of Chicago, Neighbourhoods Alive 21 Program, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series 2002B                         
5.00%, due 1/1/24     150,000        151,289
Series 2002B                         
5.00%, due 1/1/26     170,000        173,271
Series 2002B                         
5.25%, due 1/1/28 150,000 153,330
City of Chicago, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series C    
5.00%, due 1/1/24 3,520,000 3,550,254
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/26 405,000 407,579
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/30 1,000,000 1,079,533
5.25%, due 1/1/28 925,000 945,537
Series A    
5.25%, due 1/1/30 500,000 502,928
City of Chicago, Waterworks, Revenue Bonds, Second Lien    
5.00%, due 11/1/24 250,000 250,286
Insured: AGM-CR    
5.00%, due 11/1/25 400,000 408,924
Cook County Township High School District No. 225, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.00%, due 12/1/26 1,180,000 1,272,485
Illinois Finance Authority, Clean Water Program, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 7/1/26 2,100,000 2,164,622
Illinois Housing Development Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series G, Insured: GNMA / FNMA / FHLMC    
5.50%, due 4/1/24 555,000 566,231
Series G, Insured: GNMA / FNMA / FHLMC    
5.50%, due 10/1/26 275,000 296,772
Series G, Insured: GNMA / FNMA / FHLMC    
5.50%, due 4/1/27 275,000 300,353
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Illinois (continued) 
Illinois Housing Development Authority, Revenue Bonds
(continued)
   
Series G, Insured: GNMA / FNMA / FHLMC                         
5.50%, due 10/1/27 $      285,000 $       314,460
Illinois State University, Auxiliary Facilities System, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: AGM                         
5.00%, due 4/1/24   2,360,000      2,391,890
Kane & DeKalb Counties Community Unit School District No. 302, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B, Insured: AGC                         
(zero coupon), due 2/1/27 475,000 416,822
Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, McCormick Place Expansion Project, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: NATL-RE    
(zero coupon), due 12/15/23 175,000 170,808
Regional Transportation Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: NATL-RE    
6.00%, due 7/1/23 1,145,000 1,149,352
Sales Tax Securitization Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/24 2,000,000 2,021,588
Southern Illinois University, Housing & Auxiliary Facilities System, Revenue Bonds    
Series B, Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 4/1/26 1,175,000 1,209,842
State of Illinois, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series D    
5.00%, due 11/1/24 10,000,000 10,209,734
Series D    
5.00%, due 11/1/25 5,000,000 5,186,100
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/26 1,980,000 2,092,226
Series A    
5.00%, due 3/1/27 525,000 557,132
Series A    
5.00%, due 3/1/29 3,745,000 4,092,220
5.00%, due 10/1/29 800,000 880,348
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Illinois (continued) 
State of Illinois, Unlimited General Obligation (continued)    
Series C                         
5.00%, due 11/1/29 $    5,920,000 $     6,338,959
Series A                         
5.25%, due 10/1/23 10,000,000      9,994,921
State of Illinois, Unlimited General Obligation, First Series    
Insured: NATL-RE                         
6.00%, due 11/1/26   4,115,000      4,334,383
Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority, Morris Hospital Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 12/1/27 1,145,000 1,208,179
Village of Lakewood, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: AMBAC    
5.50%, due 12/1/26 915,000 948,802
    84,927,924
Indiana 1.5% 
Avon Community School Building Corp., Limited General Obligation    
Insured: State Intercept    
4.00%, due 7/15/23 1,230,000 1,230,364
Insured: State Intercept    
4.00%, due 1/15/24 2,635,000 2,639,570
Center Grove Community School Corp., Limited General Obligation    
Insured: State Intercept    
5.00%, due 7/1/23 2,830,000 2,834,278
Greater Clark Building Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Insured: State Intercept    
5.00%, due 7/15/26 1,190,000 1,262,226
Indiana Finance Authority, Indianapolis Power & Light Co., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
1.40%, due 8/1/29 (a) 4,095,000 3,615,908
Indiana Finance Authority, BHI Senior Living, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
2.45%, due 11/15/25 355,000 331,634
Series B    
2.52%, due 11/15/26 515,000 471,108
Series B    
2.92%, due 11/15/27 655,000 594,971
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Indiana (continued) 
Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank, Revenue Bonds (b)    
Series D                         
5.00%, due 1/1/26 $    2,495,000 $     2,587,823
Series D                         
5.00%, due 1/1/29   1,480,000     1,491,208
    17,059,090
Iowa 0.4% 
Cedar Falls Community School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM    
4.00%, due 6/1/25 2,540,000 2,592,243
Iowa Finance Authority, Renewable Natural Gas Project, Green Bond, Revenue Bonds    
1.50%, due 1/1/42 (a)(b) 2,000,000 1,961,122
    4,553,365
Kentucky 1.3% 
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Next Generation Information Highway Project, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/1/27 4,245,000 4,304,934
Kentucky Public Energy Authority, Gas Supply, Revenue Bonds (a)    
Series A    
4.00%, due 4/1/48 6,500,000 6,506,353
Series C    
4.00%, due 2/1/50 1,190,000 1,191,754
Rural Water Financing Agency, Public Projects, Revenue Notes    
Series A    
0.40%, due 5/1/23 2,000,000 2,000,000
    14,003,041
Louisiana 3.6% 
Jefferson Sales Tax District, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 12/1/26 1,500,000 1,607,490
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Louisiana (continued) 
Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities & Community Development Authority, Utilities Restoration Corp. Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
3.615%, due 2/1/29 $    3,784,644 $     3,705,878
5.081%, due 6/1/31 11,500,000     11,605,433
Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, Revenue Notes    
Series A                         
1.872%, due 7/3/23 (c)   7,000,000      6,943,111
Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/3/23 10,500,000 10,511,254
State of Louisiana, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
4.00%, due 5/1/33 3,920,000 3,999,280
Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 5/15/23 2,000,000 2,001,323
    40,373,769
Maine 0.1% 
Finance Authority of Maine, Supplemental Education Loan Program, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 12/1/28 (b) 1,000,000 1,073,991
Maine Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority, Northern Light Health Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
Series C, Insured: AGM State Aid Withholding    
5.00%, due 7/1/26 200,000 212,215
Series C, Insured: AGM State Aid Withholding    
5.00%, due 7/1/27 200,000 216,744
    1,502,950
Maryland 1.2% 
City of Baltimore, Wastewater Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
1.338%, due 7/1/27 1,850,000 1,639,137
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Maryland (continued) 
County of Baltimore, Unlimited General Obligation    
3.50%, due 8/1/28 $    9,575,000 $     9,679,828
County of Harford, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A                         
3.00%, due 2/1/28   1,160,000      1,159,151
Maryland Economic Development Corp., Terminal Project, Revenue Bonds    
3.70%, due 6/1/25   1,000,000       961,783
    13,439,899
Massachusetts 1.2% 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, COVID-19 Recovery Assessment, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
3.68%, due 1/15/27 7,000,000 6,873,757
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: NATL-RE    
5.50%, due 1/1/25 1,439,000 1,490,716
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 1/1/27 (b) 3,000,000 3,058,802
Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-2    
0.80%, due 12/1/25 1,820,000 1,661,585
    13,084,860
Michigan 1.0% 
Allen Park Public School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: Q-SBLF    
5.00%, due 5/1/24 630,000 640,665
Great Lakes Water Authority, Water Supply System, Revenue Bonds, Second Lien    
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/1/24 2,425,000 2,470,732
Michigan Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series A-1    
2.326%, due 6/1/30 3,982,286 3,814,524
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Michigan (continued) 
Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
3.25%, due 6/1/29 $    1,000,000 $       994,205
Series A                         
3.30%, due 12/1/29   1,000,000        994,449
Series A                         
3.35%, due 6/1/30   1,780,000     1,770,680
    10,685,255
Minnesota 2.5% 
Centennial Independent School District No. 12, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: SD CRED PROG    
(zero coupon), due 2/1/33 1,500,000 1,032,899
City of St. Paul, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B    
0.50%, due 3/1/24 3,850,000 3,725,310
Metropolitan Council, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series C    
3.50%, due 3/1/30 5,000,000 5,041,941
Shakopee Independent School District No. 720, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series C, Insured: SD CRED PROG    
(zero coupon), due 2/1/29 5,155,000 4,225,245
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Capital Appreciation, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: NATL-RE    
(zero coupon), due 1/1/25 2,250,000 2,124,810
State of Minnesota, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series D    
5.00%, due 10/1/25 4,810,000 5,059,857
Series A    
5.00%, due 8/1/26 5,520,000 5,654,893
Watertown-Mayer Independent School District No. 111, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: SD CRED PROG    
(zero coupon), due 2/1/29 1,000,000 828,020
    27,692,975
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Missouri 0.1% 
City of Kansas City, Main Streetcar Extension Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series C                         
5.00%, due 9/1/28 $      675,000 $       744,656
Nebraska 0.7% 
Central Plains Energy Project, Revenue Bonds    
2.50%, due 12/1/49 (a)   1,550,000      1,497,073
Gretna Public Schools, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B                         
5.00%, due 12/15/27 6,000,000 6,320,234
    7,817,307
Nevada 0.8% 
Clark County School District, Limited General Obligation    
Series D    
5.00%, due 6/15/23 1,355,000 1,357,689
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 6/15/25 3,780,000 3,949,620
County of Clark, Department of Aviation, Revenue Bonds, Sub. Lien    
Series A-1    
5.00%, due 7/1/24 (b) 2,250,000 2,286,238
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
5.00%, due 7/1/25 1,050,000 1,092,591
    8,686,138
New Jersey 7.8% 
Borough of Ringwood, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.75%, due 4/5/24 6,871,000 7,006,517
City of Jersey City, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/26/23 13,500,000 13,607,931
City of Millville, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM    
3.00%, due 11/1/23 250,000 249,869
County of Morris, Unlimited General Obligation    
2.00%, due 2/1/25 2,830,000 2,760,131
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
New Jersey (continued) 
Essex County Improvement Authority, North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
3.00%, due 8/1/25 (c) $      700,000 $       648,838
Hanover Park Regional High School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: SCH BD RES FD                         
3.00%, due 3/15/26   1,660,000      1,669,694
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series RRR                         
5.00%, due 3/1/28   5,000,000      5,439,474
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Surcharge, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 7/1/28 6,885,000 7,446,263
New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, Trustees of Princeton University (The), Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/1/26 8,220,000 8,411,023
New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series B    
5.00%, due 12/1/24 (b) 1,210,000 1,232,118
New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, Amity Heights Apartments, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: HUD Sector 8    
3.50%, due 7/1/25 (a) 10,067,000 10,001,949
New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Transportation System, Revenue Bonds    
Series C, Insured: AMBAC    
(zero coupon), due 12/15/24 1,130,000 1,068,710
Insured: AMBAC    
(zero coupon), due 12/15/26 1,000,000 887,223
Series A    
5.00%, due 6/15/24 1,100,000 1,118,121
Series D    
5.00%, due 12/15/24 960,000 984,986
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
New Jersey (continued) 
New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1                         
5.00%, due 6/15/27 $   10,000,000 $    10,564,831
New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Highway Reimbursement Notes, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
5.00%, due 6/15/30   4,610,000      4,870,665
Sayreville School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM SCH BD RES FD                         
3.00%, due 1/15/25 1,365,000 1,362,305
State of New Jersey, Unlimited General Obligation    
2.00%, due 6/1/25 3,000,000 2,901,032
5.00%, due 6/1/26 1,000,000 1,046,564
Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 6/1/23 2,945,000 2,948,957
    86,227,201
New Mexico 0.9% 
New Mexico Municipal Energy Acquisition Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 11/1/39 (a) 9,490,000 9,723,502
New York 5.2% 
City of New York, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B-2    
2.90%, due 10/1/27 8,600,000 8,107,954
Series D    
5.00%, due 8/1/25 3,000,000 3,139,014
East Islip Union Free School District, Limited General Obligation    
Insured: State Aid Withholding    
5.00%, due 6/29/23 10,500,000 10,521,418
East Ramapo Central School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: State Aid Withholding    
3.00%, due 5/31/23 6,660,000 6,657,313
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
New York (continued) 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Green Bond, Revenue Bonds    
Series B                         
5.00%, due 11/15/23 $    1,245,000 $     1,252,967
New York City Industrial Development Agency, Yankee Stadium Project, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: NATL-RE                         
6.896%, due 3/1/24 (d)     500,000        508,957
New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, New York State Electric & Gas Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series D                         
3.50%, due 10/1/29 4,400,000 4,329,090
New York State Housing Finance Agency, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: SONYMA HUD Sector 8    
0.75%, due 11/1/25 960,000 878,039
Series E    
0.95%, due 5/1/25 5,050,000 4,729,374
New York State Urban Development Corp., Personal Income Tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
3.32%, due 3/15/29 3,000,000 2,826,643
New York Transportation Development Corp., Terminal 4 John F. Kennedy International Airport Project, Revenue Bonds (b)    
Insured: AGM-CR    
5.00%, due 12/1/26 5,000,000 5,338,969
Insured: AGM-CR    
5.00%, due 12/1/29 4,000,000 4,407,998
5.00%, due 12/1/30 1,000,000 1,091,810
Suffolk Tobacco Asset Securitization Corp., Tobacco Settlement, Asset Backed, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-1    
0.45%, due 6/1/31 425,000 422,107
Town of Oyster Bay, Limited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM    
4.00%, due 3/1/25 2,295,000 2,339,971
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
New York (continued) 
Village of Johnson City, Limited General Obligation    
Series C                         
5.25%, due 9/29/23 $    1,550,000 $     1,550,748
    58,102,372
North Carolina 1.9% 
County of Guilford, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.00%, due 3/1/26     500,000        532,554
Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 7/1/28 1,000,000 1,070,930
Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 7/1/29 1,165,000 1,264,852
Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 7/1/30 1,100,000 1,208,031
North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Triangle Expressway System, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
5.00%, due 2/1/24 10,000,000 10,136,085
Raleigh Durham Airport Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 5/1/28 (b) 1,205,000 1,306,966
State of North Carolina, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B    
4.00%, due 6/1/29 5,000,000 5,221,591
    20,741,009
Ohio 3.0% 
American Municipal Power, Inc., Prairie State Energy Campus Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.00%, due 2/15/25 5,710,000 5,904,701
City of Dayton, Airport, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 12/1/23 (b) 1,155,000 1,155,994
County of Lorain, Limited General Obligation    
4.125%, due 5/2/24 4,450,000 4,460,314
County of Lucas, Revenue Notes    
5.25%, due 10/13/23 12,130,000 12,106,354
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Ohio (continued) 
Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, Ohio Valley Electric Corp. Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
2.875%, due 2/1/26 $    1,000,000 $       946,272
Ohio Turnpike & Infrastructure Commission, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien    
Series A                         
5.00%, due 2/15/26   2,000,000      2,122,375
State of Ohio, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B                         
5.00%, due 8/1/24 4,000,000 4,099,730
Series A    
5.00%, due 5/1/25 1,665,000 1,738,262
Series A    
5.00%, due 5/1/26 1,000,000 1,067,178
    33,601,180
Oregon 1.2% 
Port of Morrow, Bonneville Cooperation Project, Revenue Bonds    
2.179%, due 9/1/24 5,770,000 5,564,464
Salem-Keizer School District No. 24J, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B, Insured: School Bond Guaranty    
(zero coupon), due 6/15/25 6,300,000 5,908,153
Series B, Insured: School Bond Guaranty    
(zero coupon), due 6/15/26 2,335,000 2,130,659
    13,603,276
Pennsylvania 2.1% 
Chichester School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: NATL-RE State Aid Withholding    
(zero coupon), due 3/1/27 1,000,000 882,611
City of Philadelphia, Airport, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/25 (b) 1,750,000 1,797,658
Coatesville School District, Limited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM State Aid Withholding    
5.00%, due 8/1/24 625,000 639,268
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Pennsylvania (continued) 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Certificate of Participation    
Insured: AGM                         
5.00%, due 11/1/24 $    1,660,000 $     1,706,521
Geisinger Authority, Geisinger Health System Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
Series B                         
5.00%, due 4/1/43 (a)   1,625,000      1,706,340
Indiana County Industrial Development Authority, Foundation for Indiana University of Pennsylvania (The), Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM                         
5.00%, due 5/1/23 110,000 110,000
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 5/1/24 110,000 111,311
Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority, Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.25%, due 1/15/45 11,385,000 11,796,938
Reading School District, Limited General Obligation    
Series C, Insured: BAM State Aid Withholding    
5.00%, due 4/1/24 3,325,000 3,371,130
Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: AGM    
4.00%, due 2/1/25 1,630,000 1,647,235
    23,769,012
Puerto Rico 0.1% 
Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority, El Mirador LLC, Revenue Bonds    
Series B, Insured: HUD Sector 8    
5.00%, due 3/1/27 (a) 1,500,000 1,570,457
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Rhode Island 0.3% 
Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corp., City of Providence, Revenue Bonds    
Series D, Insured: BAM State Aid Withholding                         
5.00%, due 5/15/26 $    1,100,000 $     1,171,665
Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series 77A                         
5.00%, due 4/1/26   1,000,000      1,052,931
Series 77A                         
5.00%, due 10/1/26   1,180,000     1,255,217
    3,479,813
South Carolina 0.4% 
City of Anderson, Water & Sewer, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/26 1,325,000 1,416,687
Greenville Housing Authority, Gordon Street Affordable LP, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: FHA 221(D4)    
5.00%, due 10/1/26 (a) 1,000,000 1,029,498
South Carolina Public Service Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM-CR    
5.00%, due 12/1/27 1,670,000 1,765,055
    4,211,240
Tennessee 0.9% 
County of Knox, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B    
2.375%, due 6/1/29 1,000,000 945,084
State of Tennessee, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B    
1.725%, due 11/1/32 1,400,000 1,139,377
Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 11/1/49 (a) 7,650,000 7,652,751
    9,737,212
Texas 6.6% 
Alamito Public Facility Corp., EP WH Cien Palmas LLC, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: HUD Sector 8 FHA 221(D4)    
3.50%, due 9/1/25 (a) 3,500,000 3,478,725
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Texas (continued) 
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Revenue Bonds, Sub. Lien    
5.00%, due 1/1/27 $   10,655,000 $    11,208,004
Central Texas Turnpike System, Revenue Bonds    
Series C                         
5.00%, due 8/15/24     775,000        788,539
City of Austin, Airport System, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 11/15/25 (b)   1,630,000      1,691,180
City of Austin, Water & Wastewater System, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 11/15/26 3,000,000 3,240,241
City of Dallas Housing Finance Corp. Multi-family Housing, Highpoint at Wynnewood, Revenue Bonds    
3.50%, due 2/1/44 (a) 2,900,000 2,880,349
City of Houston, Hotel Occupancy Tax & Special Tax, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 9/1/23 1,005,000 1,010,107
5.00%, due 9/1/24 3,180,000 3,248,809
5.00%, due 9/1/25 1,000,000 1,016,409
5.00%, due 9/1/25 1,520,000 1,586,755
City of Houston, Combined Utility System, Revenue Bonds, First Lien    
Series B    
5.00%, due 11/15/26 2,000,000 2,149,648
City of San Antonio, Electric & Gas Systems, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 2/1/26 2,000,000 2,116,007
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: PSF-GTD    
5.00%, due 2/15/26 1,000,000 1,058,150
Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/26 2,500,000 2,575,567
Dallas College, Unlimited General Obligation    
3.00%, due 2/15/28 4,150,000 4,181,946
Decatur Hospital Authority, Wise Health System, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.00%, due 9/1/28 845,000 836,151
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Texas (continued) 
Decatur Hospital Authority, Wise Health System, Revenue Bonds
(continued)
   
Series B                         
5.00%, due 9/1/29 $    1,070,000 $     1,056,512
Ennis Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: PSF-GTD                         
(zero coupon), due 8/15/26   1,385,000      1,245,526
Insured: PSF-GTD                         
(zero coupon), due 8/25/30     800,000        633,422
Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 134B, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM    
6.50%, due 3/1/27 390,000 437,427
Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 171, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
7.00%, due 12/1/26 930,000 1,046,326
Insured: BAM    
7.00%, due 12/1/27 800,000 927,830
Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 489, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
6.00%, due 9/1/24 680,000 704,388
Insured: BAM    
6.00%, due 9/1/25 980,000 1,041,736
Insured: BAM    
6.00%, due 9/1/26 980,000 1,068,230
Harris County Water Control & Improvement District No. 158, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
7.00%, due 9/1/25 310,000 334,623
Insured: BAM    
7.00%, due 9/1/26 325,000 362,497
McKinney Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: PSF-GTD    
3.75%, due 2/15/29 2,840,000 2,872,821
North Harris County Regional Water Authority, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
5.00%, due 12/15/26 1,315,000 1,416,068
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Texas (continued) 
Pasadena Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: PSF-GTD                         
5.00%, due 2/15/25 $    3,120,000 $     3,239,090
San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facility Corp., Country Club Village LP, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 8/1/26 (a)   2,500,000      2,525,903
State of Texas, Unlimited General Obligation    
2.326%, due 10/1/29   3,000,000      2,676,534
Texas Natural Gas Securitization Finance Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1    
5.102%, due 4/1/35 5,000,000 5,254,389
Texas Public Finance Authority, Financing System-Texas Southern University, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 5/1/24 1,055,000 1,069,229
Texas Water Development Board, State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 4/15/27 2,680,000 2,878,680
    73,857,818
U.S. Virgin Islands 1.8% 
Matching Fund Special Purpose Securitization Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/25 3,850,000 3,911,024
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/26 15,430,000 15,731,289
Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority, Gross Receipts Taxes Loan, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: NATL-RE    
5.00%, due 10/1/24 395,000 399,136
    20,041,449
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Utah 0.4% 
State of Utah, Build America Bonds, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B                         
3.539%, due 7/1/25 $    2,855,519 $     2,821,244
Utah Infrastructure Agency, Telecommunication, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 10/15/26   1,265,000      1,292,092
Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 6/1/23     250,000        250,306
5.00%, due 6/1/24     300,000       305,216
    4,668,858
Virginia 0.6% 
City of Suffolk, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: State Aid Withholding    
4.00%, due 2/1/36 5,085,000 5,120,361
Virginia College Building Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: State Intercept    
3.00%, due 9/1/25 1,365,000 1,361,247
    6,481,608
Washington 3.0% 
City of Seattle, Drainage & Wastewater, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 5/1/27 2,540,000 2,588,015
County of King, Limited General Obligation    
Series A    
4.00%, due 12/1/29 1,000,000 1,031,811
King County School District No. 405, Bellevue, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: School Bond Guaranty    
4.00%, due 12/1/32 4,000,000 4,083,749
King County School District No. 411, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: School Bond Guaranty    
3.00%, due 12/1/30 1,800,000 1,812,935
Port of Seattle, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
5.00%, due 4/1/24 (b) 3,360,000 3,397,838
Series B    
5.00%, due 3/1/25 1,500,000 1,537,393
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Washington (continued) 
Port of Seattle, Revenue Bonds, First Lien    
Series B                         
5.00%, due 10/1/25 (b) $    4,000,000 $     4,146,087
Seattle Housing Authority, Revenue Bonds    
1.00%, due 6/1/26     895,000        821,248
State of Washington, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series F, Insured: AMBAC                         
(zero coupon), due 12/1/26   2,000,000      1,796,554
State of Washington, Various Purpose, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series R-2015A    
5.00%, due 7/1/24 2,000,000 2,043,936
Series R-2015A    
5.00%, due 7/1/25 10,000,000 10,217,372
    33,476,938
Wisconsin 2.4% 
City of Milwaukee, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series N-3, Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 4/1/27 5,840,000 6,249,000
Series N-4, Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 4/1/27 815,000 872,078
Series N-3, Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 4/1/30 1,000,000 1,127,769
County of Waushara, Revenue Notes    
Series A    
4.75%, due 12/1/23 3,600,000 3,611,303
Public Finance Authority, Northwest Nazarene University, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 10/1/25 500,000 511,151
Racine Unified School District, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.125%, due 4/1/25 (e) 4,500,000 4,510,271
State of Wisconsin, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series 1    
5.00%, due 11/1/30 6,860,000 7,515,528
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Wisconsin (continued) 
Village of Mount Pleasant, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: BAM                         
3.00%, due 3/1/27 $    2,450,000 $     2,435,910
    26,833,010
Wyoming 0.1% 
Consolidated Municipalities Electric Power Systems, Joint Powers Board, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 6/1/23     500,000       500,620
Total Long-Term Municipal Bonds
(Cost $866,142,961)
  868,593,657
Short-Term Municipal Notes 21.2%
Alabama 1.8% 
Alabama Housing Finance Authority, Capstone at Kinsey Cove LP, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
3.875%, due 12/1/23 (f) 1,000,000 999,101
Black Belt Energy Gas District, Gas Project No.7, Revenue Bonds    
Series C-2    
4.21%, due 10/1/52 (f) 16,500,000 15,907,738
Southeast Alabama Gas Supply District (The), Project No. 1, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
4.51%, due 4/1/49 (f) 3,000,000 2,990,851
    19,897,690
Arizona 1.3% 
Arizona Health Facilities Authority, Banner Health, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.11%, due 1/1/46 (f) 15,000,000 14,692,206
California 1.8% 
California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank, Brightline West Passenger Rail Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
3.65%, due 1/1/50 (b)(c)(f) 10,000,000 9,978,623
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Short-Term Municipal Notes (continued)
California (continued) 
California Municipal Finance Authority, Waste Management, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
4.125%, due 10/1/41 (b)(f) $    5,000,000 $     5,036,371
California Pollution Control Financing Authority, Waste Management Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
2.50%, due 11/1/38 (f)   5,500,000     5,448,145
    20,463,139
Connecticut 0.6% 
Connecticut State Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Yale University, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
0.375%, due 7/1/35 (f) 7,125,000 6,852,166
District of Columbia 0.4% 
District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, Cascade Park Apartments II Project, Revenue Bonds    
0.70%, due 8/1/42 (f) 4,500,000 4,289,801
Georgia 0.3% 
Bartow County Development Authority, Georgia Power Company Plant Bowen Project, Revenue Bonds    
1.80%, due 9/1/29 (f) 2,800,000 2,377,009
Development Authority of Burke County (The), Georgia Power Co. Vogtle Project, Revenue Bonds    
2.15%, due 10/1/32 (f) 1,000,000 977,740
    3,354,749
Illinois 0.3% 
Illinois Finance Authority, American Water Capital Corp., Revenue Bonds    
2.45%, due 10/1/39 (f) 2,250,000 2,047,862
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Illinois (continued) 
Illinois Finance Authority, Presbyterian Homes Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
Series B                         
4.56%, due 5/1/42 (f) $    1,125,000 $     1,095,849
    3,143,711
Indiana 0.6% 
Indiana Finance Authority, Republic Services, Inc., Revenue Bonds (f)    
Series B                         
3.65%, due 5/1/28   2,500,000      2,499,700
Series A    
4.00%, due 5/1/34 (b) 2,500,000 2,499,690
Indiana Finance Authority, Deaconess Health System, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.16%, due 3/1/39 (f) 1,845,000 1,802,457
    6,801,847
Kansas 0.9% 
City of Wichita, Wichita Senior Housing, Revenue Bonds    
Series IV, Insured: FHA 221(D4)    
0.51%, due 11/1/25 (f) 10,300,000 9,708,434
Louisiana 0.3% 
Parish of St. John the Baptist LA, Marathon Oil Corp. Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-2    
2.375%, due 6/1/37 (f) 3,525,000 3,336,158
Michigan 1.1% 
City of Detroit, Water Sewage Disposal System, Revenue Bonds    
Series D, Insured: AGM    
4.068%, due 7/1/32 (f) 13,500,000 12,584,042
New Jersey 0.5% 
New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Revenue Bonds (f)    
Series C-4    
4.093%, due 1/1/24 3,200,000 3,198,376
Series D-1    
4.093%, due 1/1/24 2,600,000 2,598,680
    5,797,056
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Short-Term Municipal Notes (continued)
New York 2.0% 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series D-2A-2, Insured: AGM                         
4.016%, due 11/1/32 (f) $   10,875,000 $    10,616,350
New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured, Revenue Bonds    
Series A4                         
3.75%, due 11/1/29 (f)   7,000,000      7,000,000
Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-4A                         
3.596%, due 1/1/32 (f) 4,405,000 4,367,909
    21,984,259
North Carolina 0.3% 
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority (The), Atrium Health Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
Series G    
3.80%, due 1/15/48 (f) 3,000,000 3,000,000
Ohio 1.0% 
Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, American Electric Power Co. Project, Revenue Bonds (b)(f)    
Series C    
2.10%, due 12/1/27 2,210,000 2,131,788
2.10%, due 7/1/28 5,000,000 4,823,050
Ohio Higher Educational Facility Commission, Case Western Reserve University, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.09%, due 12/1/42 (f) 3,995,000 3,839,976
State of Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Health System Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
4.26%, due 1/1/52 (f) 120,000 119,995
    10,914,809
Pennsylvania 2.3% 
Lehigh County General Purpose Authority, Muhlenberg College Project, Revenue Bonds    
4.44%, due 11/1/37 (f) 12,445,000 12,431,750
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Pennsylvania (continued) 
Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, Waste Management, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series A                         
4.26%, due 6/1/41 (b)(f) $    9,000,000 $     8,810,677
Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority, Indiana University, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGC                         
4.068%, due 7/1/27 (f)   2,230,000      2,193,863
University of Pittsburgh-of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Revenue Bonds    
4.22%, due 2/15/24 (f)   2,000,000     2,000,168
    25,436,458
South Carolina 1.5% 
Patriots Energy Group Financing Agency, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.108%, due 10/1/48 (f) 2,180,000 2,183,792
South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority, Holcim US, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
4.85%, due 12/1/33 (f) 15,000,000 15,000,000
    17,183,792
Texas 2.7% 
Alamito Public Facility Corp., EP Jackie Robinson LP, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: HUD Sector 8    
4.375%, due 3/1/41 (f) 2,000,000 1,999,965
Capital Area Housing Finance Corp., Grand Avenue Flats Ltd., Revenue Bonds    
0.29%, due 8/1/39 (f) 13,000,000 12,328,936
Texas Municipal Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp. II, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
3.902%, due 9/15/27 (f) 15,775,000 15,553,306
    29,882,207
Washington 1.4% 
County of King, Sewer, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien (f)    
Series A    
0.625%, due 1/1/32 5,845,000 5,717,888
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Principal
Amount
  Value
Short-Term Municipal Notes (continued)
Washington (continued) 
County of King, Sewer, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien (f) (continued)      
Series A                           
4.09%, due 1/1/40 $   10,000,000   $     9,742,917
      15,460,805
Wisconsin 0.1% 
Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds      
Series B, Insured: HUD Sector 8                           
0.50%, due 11/1/50 (f)     750,000         706,817
Total Short-Term Municipal Notes
(Cost $238,720,488)
    235,490,146
Total Municipal Bonds
(Cost $1,104,863,449)
    1,104,083,803
 
Long-Term Bonds 0.4%
Corporate Bond 0.4%
Commercial Services 0.4% 
J Paul Getty Trust (The)      
Series 2021      
0.391%, due 1/1/24 5,000,000   4,847,964
Total Long-Term Bonds
(Cost $4,851,349)
    4,847,964
Total Investments
(Cost $1,109,714,798)
99.7%   1,108,931,767
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 0.3   3,119,244
 Net Assets 100.0%   $ 1,112,051,011
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of April 30, 2023.
(b) Interest on these securities was subject to alternative minimum tax.
(c) May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(d) Floating rate—Rate shown was the rate in effect as of April 30, 2023.
(e) Delayed delivery security.
(f) Variable-rate demand notes (VRDNs)—Provide the right to sell the security at face value on either that day or within the rate-reset period. VRDNs will normally trade as if the maturity is the earlier put date, even though stated maturity is longer. The interest rate is reset on the put date at a stipulated daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or other specified time interval to reflect current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description. The maturity date shown is the final maturity.
    
Abbreviation(s):
AGC—Assured Guaranty Corp.
AGM—Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.
AMBAC—Ambac Assurance Corp.
BAM—Build America Mutual Assurance Co.
CR—Custodial Receipts
FHA—Federal Housing Administration
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association
HUD—Housing and Urban Development
NATL-RE—National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
PSF-GTD—Permanent School Fund Guaranteed
Q-SBLF—Qualified School Board Loan Fund
SD CRED PROG—School District Credit Enhancement Program
SONYMA—State of New York Mortgage Agency
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Municipal Bonds              
Long-Term Municipal Bonds $ —      $  868,593,657   $ —      $  868,593,657
Short-Term Municipal Notes      235,490,146        235,490,146
Total Municipal Bonds   1,104,083,803     1,104,083,803
Long-Term Bonds              
Corporate Bond        4,847,964          4,847,964
Total Investments in Securities $ —   $ 1,108,931,767   $ —   $ 1,108,931,767
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in securities, at value
(identified cost $1,109,714,798)
$1,108,931,767
Cash 9,954,233
Receivables:  
Interest 11,000,304
Fund shares sold 1,904,998
Investment securities sold 1,814,632
Other assets 15,190
Total assets 1,133,621,124
Liabilities
Payables:  
Investment securities purchased 16,380,573
Fund shares redeemed 3,479,795
Manager (See Note 3) 301,600
Custodian 107,345
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 75,997
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 69,241
Shareholder communication 31,782
Professional fees 13,482
Trustees 1,149
Accrued expenses 12,013
Distributions payable 1,097,136
Total liabilities 21,570,113
Net assets $1,112,051,011
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 120,107
Additional paid-in-capital 1,189,110,658
  1,189,230,765
Total distributable earnings (loss) (77,179,754)
Net assets $1,112,051,011
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $306,828,276
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 33,138,172
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 9.26
Maximum sales charge (1.00% of offering price) 0.09
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 9.35
Class A2  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 54,325,768
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 5,860,037
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 9.27
Maximum sales charge (2.00% of offering price) 0.19
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 9.46
Investor Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 2,511,193
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 270,471
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 9.28
Maximum sales charge (0.50% of offering price) 0.05
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 9.33
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $663,174,882
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 71,627,988
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.26
Class R6  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 85,210,892
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 9,209,949
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.25
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Interest $ 32,193,048
Expenses  
Manager (See Note 3) 4,799,723
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 935,547
Distribution/Service—Class A2 (See Note 3) 190,927
Distribution/Service—Investor Class (See Note 3) 6,840
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 423,800
Custodian 330,841
Registration 154,870
Professional fees 152,217
Shareholder communication 48,693
Trustees 34,625
Miscellaneous 56,357
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 7,134,440
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (272,071)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (2,332)
Net expenses 6,860,037
Net investment income (loss) 25,333,011
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on investments (59,327,437)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments 51,945,156
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (7,382,281)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 17,950,730
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 25,333,011 $ 11,016,224
Net realized gain (loss) (59,327,437) (9,580,898)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 51,945,156 (72,063,429)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 17,950,730 (70,628,103)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (6,648,263) (2,489,358)
Class A2 (1,288,784) (604,316)
Investor Class (40,583) (7,453)
Class I (17,108,080) (11,061,272)
Class R6 (1,910,732)
Total distributions to shareholders (26,996,442) (14,162,399)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 876,229,496 1,461,111,895
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 16,530,565 9,157,948
Cost of shares redeemed (1,409,052,393) (1,744,044,217)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions (516,292,332) (273,774,374)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets (525,338,044) (358,564,876)
Net Assets
Beginning of year 1,637,389,055 1,995,953,931
End of year $ 1,112,051,011 $ 1,637,389,055
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
31


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,
Class A 2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.31   $ 9.73   $ 9.54   $ 9.58   $ 9.51
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.15   0.04   0.06   0.13   0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.03)   (0.41)   0.21   (0.03)   0.07
Total from investment operations 0.12   (0.37)   0.27   0.10   0.19
Less distributions:                  
From net investment income (0.17)   (0.05)   (0.08)   (0.14)   (0.12)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.26   $ 9.31   $ 9.73   $ 9.54   $ 9.58
Total investment return (b) 1.32%   (3.81)%   2.85%   1.05%   2.04%(c)
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                  
Net investment income (loss) 1.66%   0.36%   0.63%   1.30%   1.28%
Net expenses 0.68%   0.67%   0.65%   0.69%   0.71%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 0.68%   0.67%   0.65%   0.70%   0.71%
Portfolio turnover rate 99%(d)   62%(d)   28%(d)   94%(d)   96%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 306,828   $ 409,722   $ 503,769   $ 152,614   $ 113,023
    
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) Total investment return may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
(d) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
  Year Ended April 30,   September 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
2021
Class A2 2023   2022  
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.32   $ 9.75   $ 9.70**
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.15   0.03   0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.03)   (0.41)   0.07
Total from investment operations 0.12   (0.38)   0.09
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.17)   (0.05)   (0.04)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.27   $ 9.32   $ 9.75
Total investment return (b) 1.32%   (3.91)%   0.90%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.57%   0.36%   0.40%††
Net expenses 0.68%   0.67%   0.65%††
Portfolio turnover rate (c) 99%   62%   28%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 54,326   $ 98,890   $ 88,248
    
** Based on the net asset value of Class A as of September 30, 2020.
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
32 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,
Investor Class 2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.33   $ 9.76   $ 9.57   $ 9.61   $ 9.54
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.13   0.01   0.04   0.09   0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.04)   (0.42)   0.20   (0.02)   0.07
Total from investment operations 0.09   (0.41)   0.24   0.07   0.15
Less distributions:                  
From net investment income (0.14)   (0.02)   (0.05)   (0.11)   (0.08)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.28   $ 9.33   $ 9.76   $ 9.57   $ 9.61
Total investment return (b) 0.99%   (4.19)%   2.64%   0.61%   1.56%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                  
Net investment income (loss) 1.37%   0.06%   0.41%   0.98%   0.81%
Net expenses 1.00%   0.99%   0.98%   1.09%   1.18%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.30%   1.24%   1.25%   1.28%   1.30%
Portfolio turnover rate 99%(c)   62%(c)   28%(c)   94%(c)   96%
Net assets at end of year (in 000's) $ 2,511   $ 2,884   $ 3,608   $ 4,158   $ 3,834
    
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
  Year Ended April 30,
Class I 2023   2022   2021   2020   2019
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.31   $ 9.73   $ 9.54   $ 9.58   $ 9.51
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18   0.06   0.09   0.15   0.15
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.03)   (0.40)   0.21   (0.02)   0.07
Total from investment operations 0.15   (0.34)   0.30   0.13   0.22
Less distributions:                  
From net investment income (0.20)   (0.08)   (0.11)   (0.17)   (0.15)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.26   $ 9.31   $ 9.73   $ 9.54   $ 9.58
Total investment return (b) 1.60%   (3.55)%   3.12%   1.34%   2.34%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:                  
Net investment income (loss) 1.89%   0.63%   0.89%   1.58%   1.61%
Net expenses 0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%   0.40%
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 0.43%   0.42%   0.40%   0.45%   0.45%
Portfolio turnover rate 99%(c)   62%(c)   28%(c)   94%(c)   96%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 663,175   $ 1,125,893   $ 1,400,328   $ 412,193   $ 337,116
    
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the year.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
33


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  May 2, 2022^ through
April 30,
Class R6 2023
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.30**
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.03)
Total from investment operations 0.15
Less distributions:  
From net investment income (0.20)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.25
Total investment return (b) 1.60%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:  
Net investment income (loss) 2.00%††
Net expenses (c) 0.40%††
Portfolio turnover rate (d) 99%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 85,211
    
** Based on the net asset value of Class I as of May 2, 2022.
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) Expense waiver/reimbursement less than 0.01%.
(d) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
34 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1-Organization and Business
MainStay Funds Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 28, 2009. The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is comprised of thirty-three funds (collectively referred to as the “Funds”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund (the "Fund"), a “diversified” fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
The following table lists the Fund's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class Commenced Operations
Class A January 2, 2004
Class A2 September 30, 2020
Investor Class February 28, 2008
Class I January 2, 1991
Class R6 May 2, 2022
SIMPLE Class N/A*
    
* SIMPLE Class shares were registered for sale effective as of August 31, 2020 but have not yet commenced operations.
Class A and Investor Class shares are offered at net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus an initial sales charge. No initial sales charge applies to investments of $250,000 or more (and certain other qualified purchases) in Class A and Investor Class shares. However, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 0.50% may be imposed on certain redemptions made within 12 months of the date of purchase on shares that were purchased without an initial sales charge. Class A2 shares are offered at NAV without an initial sales charge, although a 0.50% CDSC may be imposed on certain redemptions of such shares made within one year of the date of purchase of Class A2 shares. Class I shares are offered at NAV without a sales charge. Class R6 shares are currently expected to be offered at NAV without a sales charge. SIMPLE Class shares are expected to be offered at NAV without a sales charge if such shares are offered in the future. Additionally, Investor Class shares may convert automatically to Class A shares. Under certain circumstances and as may be permitted by the Trust’s multiple class plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, specified share classes of the Fund may be converted to one or more other share classes of the Fund as disclosed in the capital share transactions within these Notes. The classes of shares have the same voting (except for issues that relate solely to one class), dividend, liquidation and other rights, and the same terms and conditions, except that under distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, Class A, Investor Class and SIMPLE Class shares are subject to a distribution and/or service fee. Class I and Class R6 shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Fund's investment objective is to seek current income exempt from regular federal income tax.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Fund prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation.  Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Fund is open for business ("valuation date").
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") has designated New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager") as its Valuation Designee (the "Valuation Designee"). The Valuation Designee is responsible for performing fair valuations relating to all investments in the Fund’s portfolio for which market quotations are not readily available; periodically assessing and managing material valuation risks; establishing and applying fair value methodologies; testing fair valuation methodologies; evaluating and overseeing pricing services; ensuring appropriate segregation of valuation and portfolio management functions; providing quarterly, annual and prompt reporting to the Board, as appropriate; identifying potential conflicts of interest; and maintaining appropriate records. The Valuation Designee has established a valuation committee ("Valuation Committee") to assist in carrying out the Valuation Designee’s responsibilities and establish prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available. The Fund's and the Valuation Designee's policies and procedures ("Valuation Procedures") govern the Valuation Designee’s selection and application of methodologies for determining and calculating the fair value of Fund investments. The Valuation Designee may value the Fund's portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other Fund assets utilizing inputs from pricing services and other third-party sources. The Valuation Committee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an ad-hoc basis to determine fair valuations and on a quarterly basis to review fair value events with respect to certain securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including valuation risks and back-testing results, and preview reports to the Board.
The Valuation Committee establishes prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. The Board shall oversee the Valuation Designee and review fair valuation materials on a prompt, quarterly and annual basis and approve proposed revisions to the Valuation Procedures.
Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to the Valuation Procedures. A market quotation is readily available only when that
 
35


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the Fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable. "Fair value" is defined as the price the Fund would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
Level 1—quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for an identical asset or liability
Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability)
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of April 30, 2023, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Fund may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields • Reported trades
• Broker/dealer quotes • Issuer spreads
• Two-sided markets • Benchmark securities
• Bids/offers • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices)
• Industry and economic events • Comparable bonds
• Monthly payment information  
An asset or liability for which a market quotation is not readily available is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the Valuation Procedures to represent fair value.
Under these procedures, the Valuation Designee generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Valuation Designee may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined for other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Valuation Procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Fund may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended or otherwise does not have a readily available market quotation on a given day; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vi) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 2 or 3 in the hierarchy.
Municipal debt securities are valued at the evaluated mean prices supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Valuation Designee, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent's good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants' assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Valuation Designee, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values, at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Municipal debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Municipal debt securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
 
36 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The Valuation Procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes.  The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Fund within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Fund’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Fund's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Fund's financial statements. The Fund's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund intends to declare dividends from net investment income, if any, daily and intends to pay them at least monthly and distributions from net realized capital and currency gains, if any, at least annually. Unless a shareholder elects otherwise, all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Fund. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income.  The Fund records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased, other than temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase, for the Fund are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Fund may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses.  Expenses of the Trust are allocated to the individual Funds in proportion to the net assets of the respective Funds when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than transfer agent expenses and fees incurred under the shareholder services plans and/or the distribution plans further discussed in Note 3(B)) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Fund, including those of related parties to the Fund, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
(F) Use of Estimates.  In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Delayed Delivery Transactions.  The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed delivery purchases are outstanding, the Fund will designate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its NAV. The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed delivery transaction after it is entered into, and may sell delayed delivery securities before they are delivered, which may result in a realized gain or loss. When the Fund has sold a security it owns on a delayed delivery basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains and losses with respect to the security. Delayed delivery transactions as of April 30, 2023, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Debt Securities Risk.  The Fund's investments may include securities such as variable rate notes, floaters and mortgage-related and asset-backed securities. If expectations about changes in interest rates or assessments of an issuer's credit worthiness or market conditions are incorrect, investments in these types of securities could lose money for the Fund.
(I) Municipal Bond Risk.  The Fund may invest more heavily in municipal bonds from certain cities, states, territories or regions than others, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to losses resulting from economic, political, regulatory occurrences, or declines in tax revenue impacting these particular cities, states, territories or regions. In addition, many state and municipal governments that issue securities are under significant economic and financial stress and may not be able to satisfy
37


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
their obligations, and these events may be made worse due to economic challenges posed by COVID-19. The Fund may invest a substantial amount of its assets in municipal bonds whose interest is paid solely from revenues of similar projects, such as tobacco settlement bonds. If the Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the legal and economic risks relating to such projects and this may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance.
Certain of the issuers in which the Fund may invest have recently experienced, or may experience, significant financial difficulties and repeated credit rating downgrades. On May 3, 2017, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (the "Commonwealth") began proceedings pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”) to seek bankruptcy-type protections from approximately $74 billion in debt and approximately $48 billion in unfunded pension obligations. In addition, the economic downturn following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting pressure on Puerto Rico’s budget have further contributed to its financial challenges. The federal government has passed certain relief packages, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and the American Rescue Plan, which included an aggregate of more than $7 billion in disaster relief funds for the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.  However, there can be no assurances that the federal funds allocated to the Commonwealth will be sufficient to address the long-term economic challenges that arose from COVID-19.
The Commonwealth concluded its Title III restructuring proceedings on behalf of itself and certain instrumentalities effective March 15, 2022. Approximately $18.75 billion of claims related to debt guaranteed under Puerto Rico's constitution including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in new Puerto Rico General Obligation Bonds, $7.1 billion of cash, and $3.5 billion of new Contingent Value instruments. In addition, the Commonwealth's exit from the restructuring proceedings resolved certain claims relating to the Commonwealth Employee Retirement System, Convention Center, Highway Authority, and Infrastructure Financing Authority. Two of the Commonwealth's agencies are still under Title III restructuring proceedings including the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Authority (PRIDCO).
Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring process and other economic, political, social, environmental or health factors or developments could occur rapidly and may significantly affect the value of municipal securities of Puerto Rico. Any agreement between the Federal Oversight and Management Board and creditors is subject to approval by the judge overseeing the Title III proceedings. The composition of the Federal Oversight and Management Board is subject to change every three years due to existing members either stepping down or being replaced following the expiration of a member's term. There is no assurance that board members will approve the restructuring agreements that a prior board negotiated.
As of May 30, 2023 the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) remains in Title III Bankruptcy after nearly 6 years.  A significant number of net revenue bond creditors, the Oversight Board, and the
Commonwealth have been unable to reach a consensual resolution on PREPA’s debt restructuring following the termination of the previous 2019 PREPA Restructuring Support Agreement by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in March of 2022. Further bankruptcy litigation has ensued between the Oversight Board and a group of net revenue bond creditors over the security provisions of PREPA’s 8.3bln of net revenue bonds resulting in a ruling from Judge Swain that PREPA’s net revenue bonds are unsecured.  The Ad Hoc group of net revenue bond creditors and bond insurer Assured Guaranty have informed Judge Swain they will seek to appeal her decision absent a consensual resolution in the case. The Oversight Board has reached plan confirmation support from at least one creditor class, the ~700mm of claims relating to fuel line lenders.  In addition, the Oversight Board reached a settlement agreement with bond insurer National Public Finance Guaranty regarding ~876mm of PREPA’s net revenue bond claims or~11% of PREPA’s net revenue bond claims.
If a settlement agreement cannot be reached between a majority of net revenue bond holders and the Oversight Board, Judge Swain could approve a cram-down plan or dismiss the bankruptcy case entirely.  A cram-down plan could significantly reduce recoveries.  Furthermore, a dismissal of the case would result in further litigation in local PR courts with guaranty of additional recovery. 
The Fund’s vulnerability to potential losses associated with such developments may be reduced through investing in municipal securities that feature credit enhancements (such as bond insurance). The bond insurance provider pays both principal and interest when due to the bond holder. The magnitude of Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring or other adverse economic developments could pose significant strains on the ability of municipal securities insurers to meet all future claims. As of April 30, 2023, 100.0% of the Puerto Rico municipal securities held by the Fund were insured.
(J) Indemnifications.  Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may 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. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Fund.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company ("New York Life"), serves as the Fund's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the
 
38 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Fund. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Fund, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Fund and certain operational expenses of the Fund. The Fund reimburses New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Fund. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Subadvisor to the Fund and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets as follows: 0.35% on assets up to $ 1 billion; and 0.33% on assets from $1 billion up to $5 billion; and 0.32% on assets over $5 billion. During the year ended April 30, 2023, the effective management fee rate was 0.34% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) fund fees and expenses) do not exceed the following percentages of daily net assets: Class A, 0.70%, Class A2, 0.70% and Class I, 0.40%. New York Life Investments will apply an equivalent waiver or reimbursement, in an equal number of basis points of the Class A shares waiver/reimbursement, to Investor Class shares. In addition, New York Life Investments has also contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments, and acquired (underlying) fund fees and expenses) for Class R6 shares do not exceed those of Class I. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended April 30, 2023, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Fund in the amount of $4,799,723 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $272,071 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $2,263,826.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan") provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Fund pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Fund, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Fund's NAVs, and assisting New York
Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Fund's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Fund, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Trust and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Fund. The Fund will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Fund.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees.  The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Fund has adopted distribution plans (the “Plans”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Pursuant to the Class A, Class A2 and Investor Class Plans, the Distributor receives a monthly fee from Class A, Class A2 and Investor Class shares at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A, Class A2 and Investor Class shares for distribution and/or service activities as designated by the Distributor. Class I shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Plans provide that the distribution and service fees are payable to the Distributor regardless of the amounts actually expended by the Distributor for distribution of the Fund's shares and service activities.
(C) Sales Charges.  The Fund was advised by the Distributor that the amount of initial sales charges retained on sales of Investor Class shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, was $204.
The Fund was also advised that the Distributor retained CDSCs on redemptions of Class A, Investor Class and Class A2 shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, of $127,152, $1,974 and $10,747.
(D) Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder Servicing Agent.  NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments, is the Fund's transfer, dividend disbursing and shareholder servicing agent pursuant to an agreement between NYLIM Service Company LLC and the Trust. NYLIM Service Company LLC has entered into an agreement with SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. ("SS&C"), pursuant to which SS&C performs certain transfer agent services on behalf of NYLIM Service Company LLC. New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to limit the transfer agency expenses charged to the Fund’s share classes to a maximum of 0.35% of that share class’s average daily net assets on an annual basis after deducting any applicable Fund or class-level expense reimbursement or small account fees. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board. During the year ended April 30, 2023, transfer agent expenses incurred by the Fund and any
39


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
reimbursements, pursuant to the aforementioned Transfer Agency expense limitation agreement, were as follows:
Class Expense Waived
Class A $116,321 $
Class A2 23,463
Investor Class 17,806 (8,165)
Class I 262,579
Class R6 3,631
(E) Small Account Fee.  Shareholders with small accounts adversely impact the cost of providing transfer agency services. In an effort to reduce total transfer agency expenses, the Fund has implemented a small account fee on certain types of accounts. As described in the Fund's prospectus, certain shareholders with an account balance of less than $1,000 ($5,000 for Class A share accounts) are charged an annual per account fee of $20 (assessed semi-annually), the proceeds from which offset transfer agent fees as reflected in the Statement of Operations. This small account fee will not apply to certain types of accounts as described further in the Fund’s prospectus.
(F) Capital. As of April 30, 2023, New York Life and its affiliates beneficially held shares of the Fund with the values and percentages of net assets as follows:
Class A $16,023,627 5.2%
Class A2 24,500 0.0‡
Class R6 25,334 0.0‡
    
Less than one-tenth of a percent.
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of April 30, 2023, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Fund’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $1,110,742,136 $6,626,922 $(8,437,291) $(1,810,369)
As of April 30, 2023, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary
Income
Undistributed
Tax Exempt
Income
Accumulated
Capital
and Other
Gain (Loss)
Other
Temporary
Differences
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Total
Accumulated
Gain (Loss)
$— $1,076,158 $(75,348,407) $(1,097,136) $(1,810,369) $(77,179,754)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to premium amortization adjustments. The other temporary differences are primarily due to dividends payable.
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $75,348,407, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $29,217 $46,131
During the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
  2023 2022
Distributions paid from:    
Ordinary Income $ 2,442,564 $ 1,474,609
Exempt Interest Dividends 24,553,878 12,687,790
Total $26,996,442 $14,162,399
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Fund. Custodial fees are charged to the Fund based on the Fund's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Fund and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Fund.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 26, 2022, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate, Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") + 0.10%, or the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 25, 2023, although the Fund, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 26, 2022, the aggregate commitment amount and
 
40 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Fund under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Fund, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Fund.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended April 30, 2023, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $1,282,732 and $1,763,171, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, were as follows:
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 14,755,906 $ 136,977,313
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 417,462 3,867,588
Shares redeemed (26,092,382) (241,951,367)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (10,919,014) (101,106,466)
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 112,523 1,047,020
Shares converted from Class A (See Note 1) (66,834) (614,825)
Net increase (decrease) (10,873,325) $ (100,674,271)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 25,468,868 $ 246,761,379
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 157,184 1,513,215
Shares redeemed (33,406,373) (322,275,514)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (7,780,321) (74,000,920)
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 41,919 402,782
Shares converted from Class A (See Note 1) (261) (2,536)
Net increase (decrease) (7,738,663) $ (73,600,674)
 
Class A2 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 1,728,867 $ 16,042,719
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 138,904 1,288,714
Shares redeemed (6,577,094) (60,995,488)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (4,709,323) (43,664,055)
Shares converted from Class A2 (See Note 1) (41,230) (384,679)
Net increase (decrease) (4,750,553) $ (44,048,734)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 8,256,657 $ 80,252,982
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 62,731 604,025
Shares redeemed (6,763,650) (64,920,522)
Net increase (decrease) 1,555,738 $ 15,936,485
 
Investor Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 97,897 $ 913,758
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 4,211 39,108
Shares redeemed (104,885) (974,735)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (2,777) (21,869)
Shares converted into Investor Class (See Note 1) 114 1,056
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (35,836) (333,994)
Net increase (decrease) (38,499) $ (354,807)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 125,760 $ 1,214,335
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 750 7,255
Shares redeemed (145,542) (1,409,867)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (19,032) (188,277)
Shares converted into Investor Class (See Note 1) 261 2,536
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (41,789) (402,782)
Net increase (decrease) (60,560) $ (588,523)
 
41


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 70,614,891 $ 654,927,375
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,213,482 11,244,993
Shares redeemed (109,796,158) (1,017,816,790)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (37,967,785) (351,644,422)
Shares converted into Class I (See Note 1) 66,720 613,769
Shares converted from Class I (See Note 1) (11,419,110) (105,855,146)
Net increase (decrease) (49,320,175) $ (456,885,799)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 117,202,202 $ 1,132,883,199
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 730,370 7,033,453
Shares redeemed (140,847,545) (1,355,438,314)
Net increase (decrease) (22,914,973) $ (215,521,662)
 
Class R6(a) Shares Amount
Period ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 7,275,651 $ 67,368,331
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 9,739 90,162
Shares redeemed (9,471,562) (87,314,013)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (2,186,172) (19,855,520)
Shares converted into Class R6 (See Note 1) 11,431,231 105,853,196
Shares converted from Class R6 (See Note 1) (35,110) (326,397)
Net increase (decrease) 9,209,949 $ 85,671,279
    
(a) The inception of the class was May 2, 2022.
Note 10–Other Matters
As of the date of this report, interest rates in the United States and many parts of the world, including certain European countries, continue to ascend from historically low levels. Thus, the Fund currently faces a heightened level of risk associated with rising interest rates. This could be driven by a variety of factors, including but not limited to central bank monetary policies, changing inflation or real growth rates, general economic conditions, increasing bond issuances or reduced market demand for low yielding investments.
Social, political, economic and other conditions and events, such as war, natural disasters, health emergencies (e.g., epidemics and pandemics), terrorism, conflicts, social unrest, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes and supply chain disruptions, may occur and could significantly impact the Fund, issuers, industries, governments and other systems, including the financial markets. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, the conflict in
Ukraine, and the failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, may magnify factors that affect the Fund's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended April 30, 2023, events and transactions subsequent to April 30, 2023, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified, other than the following:
At meetings held on December 6-7, 2022, the Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust approved the change of the Fund's fiscal year end from April 30th to October 31st effective May 1, 2023.
 
42 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders of the Fund and Board of Trustees
MainStay Funds Trust:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund (the Fund), one of the funds constituting MainStay Funds Trust, including the portfolio of investments, as of April 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of April 30, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2023, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more New York Life Investment Management investment companies since 2003.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 23, 2023
43


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited)
Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund (“Fund”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Fund (together, “Advisory Agreements”) is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”).  At its December 6–7, 2022 meeting, the Board, which is comprised solely of Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”), unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during October 2022 through December 2022, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below.  Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Fund and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Fund’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses.  The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients.  In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.  The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board.  The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process, and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Fund and investment-related matters for the Fund as well as
presentations from New York Life Investments and, generally annually, MacKay personnel.  In addition, the Board took into account other information provided by New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees. 
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2022 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Fund’s distribution arrangements.  In addition, the Board received information regarding the Fund’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or certain other fees by the applicable share classes of the Fund, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment.  Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors that figured prominently in the Board’s consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements are summarized in more detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Fund and the historical investment performance of the Fund, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Fund; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Fund grows and the extent to which any economies of scale have been shared, have benefited or may benefit the Fund’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses.  Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Fund’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS.  Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations.  The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Fund. With respect to the Subadvisory Agreement, the Board took into account New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the continuation of the Subadvisory Agreement.
 
44 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay.  The Board’s decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience.  In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Fund’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Fund. 
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 6–7, 2022 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund.  The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Fund and considered that the Fund operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure.  The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including overseeing the services provided by MacKay, evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors.  The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund.  The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund, including New York Life Investments’ oversight and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Fund’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Fund.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services
provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Fund’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel.  In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Fund and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers, except for a portion of the salary of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Board recognized that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Fund and has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments, including in connection with the implementation of the MainStay Group of Funds’ derivatives risk management program and policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Board considered benefits to the Fund’s shareholders from the Fund being part of the MainStay Group of Funds, including the ability to exchange investments between the same class of shares of funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, including without the imposition of a sales charge (if any).
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Fund and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements.  The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Fund and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services as well as the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay. The Board considered New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation, financial condition and history.  In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Fund.  The Board also considered MacKay’s ability to recruit and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel and other resources to service and support the Fund.  In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Fund’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued remote work environment. 
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that the Fund would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
45


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
Investment Performance
In evaluating the Fund’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks.  The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Fund’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year.  These reports include, among other items, information on the Fund’s gross and net returns, the Fund’s investment performance compared to a relevant investment category and the Fund’s benchmark, the Fund’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Fund’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions.  The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Fund as compared to peer funds.  In addition, the Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes. 
The Board also took into account its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Fund’s investment performance over various periods as well as discussions between the Fund’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis.  In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Fund investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that its review of the Fund’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits and Other Benefits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Fund as well as the MainStay Group of Funds.  Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital. 
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, the Board considered,
among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’, including MacKay’s, continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Fund, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Fund.  The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to recruit and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Fund.  The Board recognized that the Fund benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board.  The Board noted it had previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds.  The Board also noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review.  The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Fund and considered that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Fund, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Fund with respect to trades in the Fund’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of the management agreement for a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Fund, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Fund, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Fund. 
The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement for managing the Fund, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Fund in various other capacities, including as the Fund’s transfer agent and distributor.  The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the
 
46 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates.  The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the relationship with the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Fund on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Fund were not excessive and other expected benefits that may accrue to New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, are reasonable.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Fund’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Fund to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund.  The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Fund’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. The Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any.  The Board considered the contractual management fee schedules of the Fund as compared to those of such other investment advisory clients, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules.  The Board also took into account information provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Fund, as compared with other investment advisory clients.  Additionally, the Board considered the impact of contractual breakpoints, voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Fund’s net management fee and expenses.  The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Fund, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds. 
The Board took into account information from New York Life Investments, as provided in connection with the Board’s June 2022 meeting, regarding the reasonableness of the Fund’s transfer agent fee schedule, including
industry data demonstrating that the fees that NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments and the Fund’s transfer agent, charges the Fund are within the range of fees charged by transfer agents to other mutual funds.  In addition, the Board considered NYLIM Service Company LLC’s profitability in connection with the transfer agent services it provides to the Fund.  The Board also took into account information provided by NYLIM Service Company LLC regarding the sub-transfer agency payments it made to intermediaries in connection with the provision of sub-transfer agency services to the Fund.
The Board considered the extent to which transfer agent fees contributed to the total expenses of the Fund.  The Board acknowledged the role that the MainStay Group of Funds historically has played in serving the investment needs of New York Life Insurance Company customers, who often maintain smaller account balances than other shareholders of funds, and the impact of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes.  The Board also recognized measures that it and New York Life Investments have taken intended to mitigate the effect of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes, including through the imposition of an expense limitation on net transfer agency expenses.  The Board also considered that NYLIM Service Company LLC had waived its contractual cost of living adjustments during the seven years prior to 2021.
Based on the factors outlined above, among other considerations, the Board concluded that the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses are within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether economies of scale may exist for the Fund and whether the Fund’s expense structure permits any economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Fund’s shareholders.  The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds.  Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Fund in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance the services provided to the Fund.  The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments.  The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels. 
47


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately shared for the benefit of the Fund’s shareholders through the Fund’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale. 
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
48 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Discussion of the Operation and Effectiveness of the Fund's Liquidity Risk Management Program (Unaudited)
In compliance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”), which New York Life Investment Management LLC believes is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk. A Fund's liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (the "Board") previously approved the designation of New York Life Investment Management LLC as administrator of the Program (the “Administrator”). The Administrator has established a Liquidity Risk Management Committee to assist the Administrator in the implementation and day-to-day administration of the Program and to otherwise support the Administrator in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Program.
At a meeting of the Board held on February 28, 2023, the Administrator provided the Board with a written report addressing the Program’s operation and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation for the period from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022 (the "Review Period"), as required under the Liquidity Rule. The report noted that the Administrator concluded that (i) the Program operated effectively to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk, (ii) the Program has been and continues to be adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and, as applicable, respond to the Fund's liquidity developments and (iii) the Fund's investment strategy continues to be appropriate for an open-end fund. In addition, the report summarized the operation of the Program and the information and factors considered by the Administrator in its assessment of the Program’s implementation, such as the liquidity risk assessment framework and the liquidity classification methodologies, and discussed notable geopolitical, market and other economic events that impacted liquidity risk during the Review Period.
In accordance with the Program, the Fund's liquidity risk is assessed no less frequently than annually taking into consideration certain factors, as applicable, such as (i) investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments, (ii) short-term and long-term cash flow projections, and (iii) holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements and other funding sources. Certain factors are considered under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions.
Each Fund portfolio investment is classified into one of four liquidity categories. The classification is based on a determination of the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment into cash, or sell or dispose of the investment, in current market conditions without significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Administrator has delegated liquidity classification determinations to the Fund’s subadvisor, subject to appropriate oversight by the Administrator, and liquidity classification determinations are made by taking into account the Fund's reasonably anticipated trade size, various market, trading and investment-specific considerations, as well as market depth, and, in certain cases, third-party vendor data.
The Liquidity Rule requires funds that do not primarily hold assets that are highly liquid investments to adopt a minimum amount of net assets that must be invested in highly liquid investments that are assets (an “HLIM”). In addition, the Liquidity Rule limits a fund's investments in illiquid investments. Specifically, the Liquidity Rule prohibits acquisition of illiquid investments if, immediately after acquisition, doing so would result in a fund holding more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. The Program includes provisions reasonably designed to determine, periodically review and comply with the HLIM requirement, as applicable, and to comply with the 15% limit on illiquid investments.
There can be no assurance that the Program will achieve its objectives under all circumstances in the future. Please refer to the Fund's prospectus for more information regarding the Fund's exposure to liquidity risk and other risks to which it may be subject.
49


Federal Income Tax
Information   (Unaudited)
The Fund is required under the Internal Revenue Code to advise shareholders in a written statement as to the federal tax status of dividends paid by the Fund during such fiscal years.
For Federal individual income tax purposes, the Fund designated 91.0% of the ordinary income dividends paid during its fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 as attributable to interest income from Tax Exempt Municipal Bonds. Such dividends are currently exempt from Federal income taxes under Section 103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In February 2024, shareholders will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099, which will show the federal tax status of the distributions received by shareholders in calendar year 2023. The amounts that will be reported on such 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099 will be the amounts you are to use on your federal income tax return and will differ from the amounts which we must report for the Fund's fiscal year ended April 30, 2023.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Fund is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Fund is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782; visiting newyorklifeinvestments.com; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Fund's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling New York Life Investments at 800-624-6782.
50 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Funds who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal.
Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Fund (“Independent Trustees”).
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Naïm Abou-Jaoudé*
1966
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023
Chief Executive Officer of New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2023. Previously, Abou-Jaoudé was the Chief Executive Officer of Candriam (an affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC) from 2007 to 2023. 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023 (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee
since June 2023; and
New York Life Investment Management International: Chair since 2015
* This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of his affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.”
   
Interested Trustee
51


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  David H. Chow
1957
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC (since 1999) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Trustee since 2006 and Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2022 (57 portfolios); Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Investment Committee since 2018
  Karen Hammond
1956
MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021)
Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Director since 2018;
Rhode Island State Investment Commission: Member since 2017; and
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island: Director since 2019
  Susan B. Kerley
1951
MainStay Funds: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 1990**
President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC (since 1990) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2011;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios)
  Alan R. Latshaw
1951
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since 2006;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
Independent Trustees
52 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Jacques P. Perold
1958
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015
to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC (since 2018); President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017
  Richard S. Trutanic
1952
MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) (since 2004); Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
* Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
** Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust.
Independent Trustees
53


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
 
         
  Kirk C. Lehneis
1974
President, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust (since 2017) Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC (since 2017); Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since January 2018); President, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2017); Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015-2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC  
  Jack R. Benintende
1964
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay Funds (since 2007), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2007); Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2007)**; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012)  
  J. Kevin Gao
1967
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since 2010) Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2010); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2010)**       
  Scott T. Harrington
1959
Vice President— Administration, MainStay Funds (since 2005), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) (since 2000); Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company (since 2009); Vice President—Administration, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2005)**     
  Kevin M. Gleason
1967
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since June 2022) Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and Index IQ Active ETF Trust (since June 2022); Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, MainStay VP Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2022); Senior Vice President, Voya Investment Management and Chief Compliance Officer, Voya Family of Funds (2012-2022)  
* The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board.
** Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
54 MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund


MainStay Funds
Equity
U.S. Equity
MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund
MainStay Fiera SMID Growth Fund
MainStay S&P 500 Index Fund
MainStay Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund
MainStay WMC Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Small Companies Fund
MainStay WMC Value Fund
International Equity
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund
MainStay MacKay International Equity Fund
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund
Emerging Markets Equity
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Global Equity
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund
MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund
Fixed Income
Taxable Income
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Debt Fund
MainStay Floating Rate Fund
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Total Return Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay U.S. Infrastructure Bond Fund
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund
Tax-Exempt Income
MainStay MacKay California Tax Free Opportunities Fund1
MainStay MacKay High Yield Municipal Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay New York Tax Free Opportunities Fund2
MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund
MainStay MacKay Tax Free Bond Fund
Money Market
MainStay Money Market Fund
Mixed Asset
MainStay Balanced Fund
MainStay Income Builder Fund
MainStay MacKay Convertible Fund
Speciality
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund
MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund
MainStay Cushing MLP Premier Fund
Asset Allocation
MainStay Conservative Allocation Fund
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
 

 
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Candriam3
Strassen, Luxembourg
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Cushing Asset Management, LP
Dallas, Texas
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
Fiera Capital Inc.
New York, New York
IndexIQ Advisors LLC3
New York, New York
MacKay Shields LLC3
New York, New York
NYL Investors LLC3
New York, New York
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC3
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
 
 
  1.  
This Fund is registered for sale in AZ, CA, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA and MI (Class A and Class I shares only), and CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, MA, MD, NH, NJ and NY (Class I shares only).
2. This Fund is registered for sale in CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, NJ, NY and VT.
3. An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC.
Not part of the Annual Report


For more information
800-624-6782
newyorklifeinvestments.com
“New York Life Investments” is both a service mark, and the common trade name, of certain investment advisors affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. The MainStay Funds® are managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a Member FINRA/SIPC.
©2023 NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
5022215MS043-23 MSSTM11-06/23
(NYLIM) NL230





MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund

Message from the President and Annual Report
April 30, 2023
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured Not a Deposit May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee Not Insured by Any Government Agency


This page intentionally left blank


Message from the President
Despite high levels of volatility and sharp, short-term shifts in value, broadly based stock and bond indices saw relatively modest overall changes during the 12-month reporting period ended April 30, 2023. A deeply challenging investment environment during the last eight months of 2022, driven by increasing inflationary pressures and aggressive monetary efforts to curb them, was followed by a more positive, but uneven, economic and monetary backdrop during the first four months of 2023.
In April 2022, before the start of the reporting period, U.S. inflation stood at an annualized rate of 8.3%, up from 4.2% a year earlier. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), had begun to take steps to curb inflation, raising the federal funds rate from near zero in March 2022. Eight separate rate hikes during the reporting period brought the benchmark rate up to 4.75–5.00% in March 2023. Inflation seemed to respond, easing steadily from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 4.9% in April 2023. Although further interest rate increases are expected in 2023, by the end of the reporting period, it appeared that the Fed might be nearing the end of the current rate-hike cycle. Economic growth, although slower, remained positive, supported by historically high levels of employment and robust consumer spending. International economies experienced similar trends, with more modest central bank interest-rate hikes curbing inflation to a degree.
Equity market behavior during the reporting period reflected the arc of monetary policy and economic developments. From May through early October 2022, as inflation raged and interest-rate increases accelerated, investors shied away from perceived risk, favoring relatively defensive and value-oriented sectors over growth-oriented sectors. The S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of U.S. market performance, declined by more than 13% during this time, while international stocks suffered even sharper losses. These trends reversed from mid-October 2022 through the end of the reporting period, as inflationary pressures eased and markets began to anticipate an end to rising interest rates. Between mid-October 2022 and April 30, 2023, the S&P 500® Index regained all the ground it lost earlier, ending in modestly positive territory. International developed-markets stocks bounced back even stronger, prompted by surprisingly robust economic resilience in Europe and further bolstered by China’s
reopening after the government rescinded its “zero-COVID-19” policy and eased regulatory restrictions on key industries. The declining value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies also enhanced international market equity performance. Emerging markets generally lagged their developed-markets counterparts while outperforming U.S. markets.
Fixed-income markets followed a similar pattern of retreat and recovery. Bond prices trended sharply downward early in the reporting period, as yields rose along with interest rates. Short-term yields rose faster than long-term yields, producing a yield curve inversion—with long-term rates lower than short-term rates—that persisted from July through the end of the reporting period. However, market sentiment improved in the second half of the reporting period as inflationary pressures eased. As the Fed decreased the magnitude of rate increases, focus turned toward the possibility of eventual rate reductions and a potential ‘soft landing’ for the economy. On the negative side, a small number of high-profile, regional U.S. bank failures in March and April 2023 raised fears of possible wider banking industry contagion and future credit constraints.
While many market observers believe the Fed has neared the end of the current cycle of rate increases, the central bank’s rhetoric remains sharply focused on its target inflation rate of 2%. Only time will tell if the market’s favorable expectations prove well founded.
However the economic story unfolds in the months and years to come, we remain dedicated to providing you with the one-on-one philosophy and diversified, multi-boutique investment resources that set New York Life Investments apart. Thank you for trusting us to help you meet your investment needs.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
 
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report


Table of Contents

Investors should refer to the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider the Fund’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about the Fund. You may obtain copies of the Fund’s Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about the MainStay Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-6782, by writing to NYLIFE Distributors LLC, Attn: MainStay Marketing Department, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 or by sending an e-mail to MainStayShareholderServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available via the MainStay Funds’ website at newyorklifeinvestments.com. Please read the Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing.


Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date
One
Year
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio1
Class A Shares2 Maximum 3.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 6/28/2019 -1.90% -0.15% 0.97%
    Excluding sales charges   2.73 1.05 0.97
Investor Class Shares3, 4 Maximum 2.50% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 6/28/2019 -1.53 -0.35 1.17
    Excluding sales charges   2.58 0.85 1.17
Class C Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 6/28/2019 1.31 0.57 1.42
  if Redeemed Within 18 months of Purchase Excluding sales charges   2.31 0.57 1.42
Class C2 Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 12/13/2022 N/A 0.29 1.57
  if Redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   N/A 1.29 1.57
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   6/28/2019 2.99 1.24 0.71
Class R6 Shares No Sales Charge   6/28/2019 3.01 1.26 0.70
    
1. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
2. Prior to August 10, 2022, the maximum initial sales charge was 4.50%, which is reflected in the applicable average annual total return figures shown.
3. Prior to June 30, 2020, the maximum initial sales charge was 4.50%, which is reflected in the applicable average annual total return figures shown.
4. Prior to August 10, 2022, the maximum initial sales charge was 4.00%, which is reflected in the applicable average annual total return figures shown.
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
5


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Since
Inception
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index 1-15 Yr Blend1 3.50% 0.85%
Morningstar Muni National Intermediate Category Average2 2.23 0.39
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index 1-15 Yr Blend is the Fund's primary broad-based securities-market index for comparison purposes. The index has four main sectors: state and local general obligations, revenue bonds, and insured bonds. 
2. The Morningstar Municipal National Intermediate Category Average is representative of funds that invest in bonds issued by various state and local governments to fund public projects. The income from these bonds is generally free from federal taxes. To lower risk, these funds spread their assets across many states and sectors. These funds have durations of 4.0 to 6.0 years (or average maturities of five to 12 years). Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
6 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,066.20 $3.94 $1,020.98 $3.86 0.77%
Investor Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,065.50 $4.76 $1,020.18 $4.66 0.93%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,064.20 $6.04 $1,018.94 $5.91 1.18%
Class C2 Shares 3, 4 $1,000.00 $1,012.90 $5.10 $1,013.84 $5.10 1.34%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,066.50 $2.66 $1,022.22 $2.61 0.52%
Class R6 Shares $1,000.00 $1,067.80 $2.56 $1,022.32 $2.51 0.50%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period) and 138 days for Class C2 (to reflect the since-inception period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
3. The inception date was December 13, 2022.
4. Expenses paid during the period reflect ongoing costs for the period from inception through April 30, 2023. Had these shares been offered for the full six-month period ended April 30, 2023, and had the Fund provided a hypothetical 5% annualized return, expenses paid during the period would have been $5.11 for Class C2 shares and the ending account value would have been $1,019.74 for Class C2 shares.
7



Portfolio Composition as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
New York 11.2%
Texas 9.9
California 9.8
Illinois 8.4
Florida 7.0
Alabama 4.8
Colorado 3.9
New Jersey 3.9
Pennsylvania 3.3
Georgia 3.1
Connecticut 2.6
Ohio 2.6
Indiana 2.2
Louisiana 2.1
Utah 2.0
Michigan 2.0
Tennessee 1.9
Wisconsin 1.6
Guam 1.4
Puerto Rico 1.3
Kentucky 1.2
Washington 1.2
North Carolina 1.2
Massachusetts 1.0
Nebraska 0.9
Missouri 0.9%
U.S. Virgin Islands 0.8
Vermont 0.8
Rhode Island 0.6
South Carolina 0.6
Arizona 0.5
Maryland 0.5
West Virginia 0.5
Maine 0.3
Virginia 0.3
District of Columbia 0.3
Oregon 0.3
Mississippi 0.2
New Mexico 0.2
Montana 0.2
South Dakota 0.2
Idaho 0.1
New Hampshire 0.1
Alaska 0.1
Minnesota 0.1
North Dakota 0.1
Hawaii 0.0‡
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 1.8
  100.0%
Less than one–tenth of a percent.
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 11 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund's holdings are subject to change.


Top Ten Holdings and/or Issuers Held as of April 30, 2023 (excluding short-term investments) (Unaudited)
1. Black Belt Energy Gas District, 4.00%-5.50%, due 12/1/26–11/1/53
2. New York City Transitional Finance Authority, 3.75%-5.00%, due 11/1/29–5/1/42
3. New Jersey Economic Development Authority, 4.914%-5.625%, due 3/1/24–11/1/44
4. Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., 4.00%, due 4/1/48–8/1/49
5. State of Louisiana, 5.00%, due 5/1/40
 6. San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency, 5.25%, due 1/15/44–1/15/49
 7. County of Miami-Dade, 5.00%, due 10/1/33
 8. County of Parker, 5.00%, due 2/15/42
 9. State of Connecticut, 2.00%-5.77%, due 7/1/23–3/15/25
10. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 5.00%, due 11/15/29–11/15/42
 

8 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers John Loffredo, CFA, Robert DiMella, CFA, Michael Petty, David Dowden, Scott Sprauer, Frances Lewis, John Lawlor and Michael Denlinger, CFA, of MacKay Shields LLC, the Fund’s Subadvisor.
How did MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund perform relative to its benchmark and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund returned 2.99%, underperforming the 3.50% return of the Fund’s benchmark, the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index 1–15 Year Blend (the “Index”). Over the same period, Class I shares outperformed the 2.23% return of the Morningstar Muni National Intermediate Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, the Fund underperformed the Index partly due to underweight exposure to bonds maturing between one and 15 years. Overweight exposure to bonds maturing beyond 15 years made a positive contribution to relative performance. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) The Fund’s underweight exposure to higher-quality, higher-rated bonds also detracted from relative returns. From a geographic perspective, overweight exposure to holdings from Illinois enhanced relative results, while underweight exposure to California bonds offset some of those gains.
During the reporting period, were there any market events that materially impacted the Fund’s performance or liquidity?
During the reporting period, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance against inflation had a negative impact on performance, as interest rates increased dramatically during the first half of the reporting period, resulting in an inverted U.S. Treasury yield curve.2
During the reporting period, how was the Fund’s performance materially affected by investments in derivatives?
During the reporting period, the Fund held U.S. Treasury futures to hedge the duration3 relative to the Index. This position did not materially impact performance.
What was the Fund’s duration strategy during the reporting period?
As relative value investors, we aim to keep the Fund’s duration within a neutral range relative to that of the Index. At the end of the reporting period, the Fund's modified duration to worst4 was 3.57 years while the modified duration to worst of the Index was 4.18 years.
During the reporting period, which sectors were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s relative performance and which sectors were particularly weak?
Relative to the Index, the Fund’s overweight exposure to the local general obligation and electric sectors contributed positively to relative results. Meanwhile, underweight exposure to state general obligation and education weakened relative performance.
What were some of the Fund’s largest purchases and sales during the reporting period?
As the Fund remained focused on diversification and liquidity, no individual purchase or sale would have been considered significant, although sector overweights and security structure, in their entirety, did have an impact.
How did the Fund’s sector weighting change during the reporting period?
During the reporting period, there were no material changes to the weightings in the Fund. At the margin, the Fund increased sector exposure to state general obligations and transportation. From a ratings perspective, there was an increased credit exposure to
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
2. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
3. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
4. Modified duration is inversely related to the approximate percentage change in price for a given change in yield. Duration to worst is the duration of a bond computed using the bond’s nearest call date or maturity, whichever comes first. This measure ignores future cash flow fluctuations due to embedded optionality.
9


AAA-rated5 bonds, as they are in a relatively strong financial condition and were available at much higher yields. In addition, we increased the Fund’s exposure to bonds maturing beyond 17 years, where municipal yields were more attractive. Conversely, the Fund decreased sector exposure to hospital and education, and to 4+% coupon bonds.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, the Fund held overweight positions relative to the Index in the transportation, special tax and housing sectors, and holdings from the state of Illinois. As of the same date, the Fund held underweight exposure to the state general obligation and prerefunded/ETM (escrowed to maturity) sectors, as well as the states of California and New York. The Fund also held overweight exposure to bonds beyond 17 years, and underweight exposure to bonds maturing between 1 and 10 years. 
5. An obligation rated ‘AAA’ by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) has the highest rating assigned by S&P, and in the opinion of S&P, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. When applied to Fund holdings, ratings are based solely on the creditworthiness of the bonds in the portfolio and are not meant to represent the security or safety of the Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
10 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Principal
Amount
Value
Municipal Bonds 98.2%
Long-Term Municipal Bonds 93.8%
Alabama 4.2% 
Alabama Housing Finance Authority, ECG Dry Creek LP, Revenue Bonds    
Series H                      
5.00%, due 6/1/26 (a) $     500,000 $     511,686
Black Belt Energy Gas District, Gas Project No.4, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1                      
4.00%, due 12/1/49 (a) 1,480,000    1,482,311
Black Belt Energy Gas District, Gas Project No.6, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.00%, due 10/1/52 (a) 1,760,000 1,755,481
Black Belt Energy Gas District, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-1    
4.00%, due 4/1/53 (a) 640,000 637,666
Series C-1    
5.25%, due 12/1/26 1,850,000 1,932,734
Series F    
5.50%, due 11/1/53 (a) 1,600,000 1,704,145
County of Jefferson, Sewer, Revenue Bonds, Sub. Lien    
Series D    
6.00%, due 10/1/42 3,000,000 3,172,750
Prichard Water Works & Sewer Board, Revenue Bonds    
2.375%, due 11/1/28 205,000 115,124
Southeast Energy Authority, A Cooperative District, Project No. 4, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-1    
5.00%, due 5/1/53 (a) 760,000 792,300
Southeast Energy Authority, A Cooperative District, Project No. 3, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1    
5.50%, due 1/1/53 (a) 1,600,000 1,729,531
State of Alabama, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
3.00%, due 8/1/26 1,000,000 1,001,294
    14,835,022
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Alaska 0.1% 
Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority, Interior Gas Utility Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 6/1/28 $     250,000 $     256,511
Arizona 0.5% 
Arizona Industrial Development Authority, Ball Charter Schools Projet, Revenue Bonds    
2.65%, due 7/1/26     90,000       86,208
City of Mesa, Utility System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: BAM                      
5.00%, due 7/1/30 1,050,000 1,206,032
Glendale Industrial Development Authority, Royal Oaks Life Care Community, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 5/15/28 620,000 582,158
    1,874,398
California 8.6% 
California Community Choice Financing Authority, Clean Energy Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
5.25%, due 1/1/54 (a) 1,225,000 1,279,713
California Municipal Finance Authority, LINXS APM Project, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/31/31 (b) 1,240,000 1,320,234
California Municipal Finance Authority, Palomar Health Obligated Group, Certificate of Participation    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 11/1/36 1,300,000 1,452,491
California Public Finance Authority, Enso Village Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-3    
2.125%, due 11/15/27 (c) 250,000 237,717
California School Finance Authority, Classical Academies Oceanside Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.00%, due 10/1/27 (c) 500,000 503,293
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
11


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
California (continued) 
California School Finance Authority, Sonoma County Junior College District Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
4.00%, due 11/1/41 (c) $     240,000 $     197,807
California Statewide Communities Development Authority, Community Infrastructure Program, Special Assessment    
Series A                      
4.00%, due 9/2/26    260,000      258,466
City of Long Beach, Airport System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM                      
5.00%, due 6/1/31 250,000 298,972
City of San Jose, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A-1    
5.00%, due 9/1/41 1,500,000 1,636,018
City of San Mateo, Community Facilities District No. 2008-1, Special Tax    
Insured: BAM    
5.25%, due 9/1/35 1,000,000 1,139,390
City of Vernon, Electric System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/27 250,000 264,656
Compton Community College District, Election of 2002, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series D, Insured: BAM    
(zero coupon), due 8/1/38 1,000,000 362,775
Corona Community Facilities District, Community Facilities District No. 2018-2, Special Tax    
Series A    
5.00%, due 9/1/29 100,000 108,653
County of Los Angeles Community Facilities District No. 2021-01, Improvement Area No. 1, Special Tax    
5.00%, due 9/1/27 100,000 106,724
5.00%, due 9/1/30 175,000 190,018
5.00%, due 9/1/32 175,000 191,538
County of Sacramento, Airport System, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/41 1,000,000 1,041,225
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
California (continued) 
Foothill-De Anza Community College District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B, Insured: NATL-RE FGIC                      
(zero coupon), due 8/1/29 $   1,045,000 $     872,720
Hercules Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency, Tax Allocation    
Series A, Insured: AGM                      
5.00%, due 8/1/37    500,000      565,136
Kern Community College District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series D                      
5.25%, due 8/1/37 1,500,000 1,762,833
Madera Unified School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
4.00%, due 8/1/44 100,000 100,068
Oakland Unified School District, Election of 2020, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: BAM    
4.00%, due 8/1/46 500,000 494,059
Sacramento City Financing Authority, Capital Appreciation, Tax Allocation    
Insured: NATL-RE    
(zero coupon), due 12/1/23 735,000 720,208
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.00%, due 7/1/33 (b) 4,500,000 5,028,140
San Diego Unified School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series I    
5.00%, due 7/1/47 1,000,000 1,061,823
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien    
Series B    
5.25%, due 1/15/44 5,000,000 5,090,111
Series B    
5.25%, due 1/15/49 1,500,000 1,523,682
Southern California Public Power Authority, Southern Transmissional System Renewal Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1    
5.00%, due 7/1/40 (d) 1,000,000 1,147,371
University of California, Revenue Bonds    
Series BN    
5.50%, due 5/15/40 1,400,000 1,687,888
    30,643,729
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Colorado 3.9% 
Arapahoe County School District No. 6 Littleton, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: State Aid Withholding                      
5.50%, due 12/1/43 $     750,000 $     839,545
Arkansas River Power Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 10/1/38 2,000,000    2,035,637
City & County of Denver, Pledged Excise Tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 8/1/42 1,000,000 1,039,644
City & County of Denver, Airport System, Revenue Bonds    
Series D    
5.75%, due 11/15/41 (b) 1,715,000 1,973,310
City of Colorado Springs, Utilities System, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 11/15/40 3,000,000 3,105,219
Colorado Health Facilities Authority, Aberdeen Ridge, Inc. Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-3    
2.125%, due 5/15/28 250,000 226,458
Colorado Health Facilities Authority, CommonSpirit Health, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-1    
4.00%, due 8/1/44 250,000 235,319
Series A-1    
5.00%, due 8/1/35 180,000 191,964
Series A    
5.25%, due 11/1/37 1,450,000 1,589,931
Fiddlers Business Improvement District, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.00%, due 12/1/32 (c) 200,000 202,676
Ground Water Management Subdistrict of Central Colorado, Water Conservancy District, Limited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
4.00%, due 12/1/40 250,000 249,072
VDW Metropolitan District No. 2, Limited General Obligation    
Series A-2, Insured: BAM    
4.00%, due 12/1/45 580,000 555,443
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Colorado (continued) 
Weld County School District No. RE-2, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: State Aid Withholding                      
5.00%, due 12/1/36 $   1,425,000 $   1,591,344
    13,835,562
Connecticut 2.6% 
Hartford Stadium Authority, Stadium Authority Lease, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 2/1/36    230,000      230,822
State of Connecticut, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
2.00%, due 7/1/23 1,605,000 1,596,726
Series A    
3.13%, due 1/15/24 4,000,000 3,953,178
Series A    
5.77%, due 3/15/25 500,000 508,612
State of Connecticut, Special Tax, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 5/1/36 1,040,000 1,085,543
State of Connecticut, Transportation Infrastructure, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.25%, due 7/1/40 1,500,000 1,733,566
    9,108,447
District of Columbia 0.3% 
District of Columbia, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series C    
5.00%, due 6/1/38 1,000,000 1,014,086
Florida 7.0% 
CFM Community Development District, Capital Improvement, Special Assessment    
2.875%, due 5/1/31 100,000 86,656
City of Gainesville, Utilities System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/47 635,000 675,238
City of Palmetto, Renaissance Arts and Education, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.25%, due 6/1/27 160,000 160,438
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Florida (continued) 
City of Palmetto, Renaissance Arts and Education, Inc., Revenue Bonds
(continued)
   
Series A                      
5.00%, due 6/1/32 $     100,000 $     105,172
City of Pompano Beach, John Knox Village Projet, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-2                      
1.45%, due 1/1/27    250,000      220,001
City of West Palm Beach, Utility System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 10/1/42 2,500,000 2,645,594
Cobblestone Community Development District, Assessment Area Two, Special Assessment    
Series 2    
3.40%, due 5/1/27 (c) 160,000 153,479
Collier County Educational Facilities Authority, Ave Maria University, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 6/1/29 1,065,000 1,115,165
County of Miami-Dade, Aviation, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/33 (b) 6,500,000 6,587,566
County of Miami-Dade, Transit System, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/43 2,300,000 2,541,834
County of Pasco, State of Florida Cigarette Tax Revenue, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.50%, due 9/1/37 2,040,000 2,341,011
Florida Development Finance Corp., Mater Academy Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 6/15/31 515,000 533,230
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 10/1/30 350,000 401,870
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 10/1/32 150,000 175,852
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 10/1/34 325,000 378,600
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Florida (continued) 
Harbor Bay Community Development District, Special Assessment    
Series A-1                      
3.10%, due 5/1/24 $     280,000 $     276,500
Series A-2                      
3.10%, due 5/1/24    185,000      182,688
Hilltop Point Community Development District, Assessment Area One, Special Assessment    
Series 1                      
4.60%, due 5/1/27    100,000       99,280
Hilltop Point Community Development District, Assessment Area Two, Special Assessment    
Series 2    
4.75%, due 5/1/27 200,000 198,994
Laurel Road Community Development District, Special Assessment    
Series A2    
3.125%, due 5/1/31 235,000 207,244
Palm Coast Park Community Development District, Spring Lake Tracts 2 and 3, Special Assessment    
2.40%, due 5/1/26 100,000 94,089
Palm Coast Park Community Development District, Sawmill Branch Phase 2, Special Assessment    
4.15%, due 5/1/27 400,000 396,731
Pinellas County Industrial Development Authority, Drs Kiran & Pallavi Patel 2017 Foundation for Global Understanding, Inc. Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/29 500,000 512,067
Preston Cove Community Development District, Special Assessment    
3.25%, due 5/1/27 170,000 162,149
Reunion East Community Development District, Series 2021 Project, Special Assessment    
2.85%, due 5/1/31 100,000 86,806
Reunion West Community Development District, Special Assessment    
3.00%, due 5/1/36 100,000 81,808
Rolling Hills Community Development District, Special Assessment    
Series A-2    
3.65%, due 5/1/32 200,000 180,898
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Florida (continued) 
Seminole Improvement District, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 10/1/32 $     250,000 $     250,775
Southshore Bay Community Development District, District Assessment Area One, Special Assessment    
3.00%, due 5/1/33 (c)    395,000      333,120
Sunbridge Stewardship District, Weslyn Park Project Assessment, Special Assessment    
4.60%, due 5/1/32    460,000      448,749
Tampa Bay Water, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 10/1/40 1,580,000    1,793,060
Verano No. 3 Community Development District, Special Assessment    
2.375%, due 5/1/26 40,000 37,764
Village Community Development District No. 13, Special Assessment    
2.85%, due 5/1/36 1,495,000 1,188,015
Watergrass Community Development District II, Special Assessment    
2.50%, due 5/1/31 100,000 84,200
Windward at Lakewood Ranch Community Development District, Phase 2 Project, Special Assessment    
3.625%, due 5/1/32 135,000 122,238
Wiregrass II Community Development District, Assessment Area Two, Special Assessment    
4.80%, due 5/1/32 100,000 98,751
    24,957,632
Georgia 3.1% 
Atlanta Urban Redevelopment Agency, Atlanta BeltLine Special Service District, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM    
2.875%, due 7/1/31 (c) 500,000 468,537
City of Atlanta, Department of Aviation, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.00%, due 7/1/34 (b) 450,000 507,827
DeKalb Private Hospital Authority, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.00%, due 7/1/38 820,000 832,359
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Georgia (continued) 
Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., Revenue Bonds (a)    
Series A                      
4.00%, due 4/1/48 $   4,750,000 $   4,753,686
Series B                      
4.00%, due 8/1/49 2,000,000    2,010,159
Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 1/1/38    500,000      527,597
Walton County Water & Sewer Authority, Walton-Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Water Treatment Facility Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.25%, due 2/1/47 1,700,000 1,925,430
    11,025,595
Guam 1.4% 
Guam Government Waterworks Authority, Water and Wastewater System, Revenue Bonds    
5.25%, due 7/1/24 590,000 591,093
Guam Power Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/34 500,000 546,359
Territory of Guam, Business Privilege Tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series F    
4.00%, due 1/1/36 400,000 390,013
Series D    
5.00%, due 11/15/27 365,000 373,691
Territory of Guam, Revenue Bonds    
Series F    
4.00%, due 1/1/42 335,000 301,737
Territory of Guam, Section 30, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/32 1,000,000 1,037,819
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/34 1,750,000 1,806,175
    5,046,887
Hawaii 0.0%  ‡
Kauai County Community Facilities District, Kukui'ula Development Project, Special Tax    
4.00%, due 5/15/26 80,000 79,547
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Idaho 0.1% 
Idaho Health Facilities Authority, Madison Memorial Hospital, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 9/1/37 $     370,000 $     372,392
Illinois 8.4% 
Chicago Board of Education, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B                      
5.00%, due 12/1/31 1,000,000    1,049,459
Series A                      
5.00%, due 12/1/33    500,000      523,291
Series B    
5.00%, due 12/1/33 500,000 501,192
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/37 1,085,000 1,108,001
Series C    
5.25%, due 12/1/39 1,000,000 1,005,611
Chicago Board of Education, Dedicated Capital Improvement, Revenue Bonds    
6.00%, due 4/1/46 1,000,000 1,051,405
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, General, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series D    
5.00%, due 1/1/36 1,000,000 1,138,739
Series D    
5.00%, due 1/1/37 1,000,000 1,124,743
Series B    
5.00%, due 1/1/39 1,350,000 1,452,417
City of Chicago, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
4.00%, due 1/1/36 500,000 482,716
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/32 1,500,000 1,623,895
Series A    
6.00%, due 1/1/38 2,500,000 2,662,536
City of Chicago, Wastewater Transmission Project, Revenue Bonds, Second Lien    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 1/1/42 450,000 465,530
City of Joliet, Rock Run Crossing Project, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
5.50%, due 12/15/42 2,000,000 2,271,429
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Illinois (continued) 
Illinois Finance Authority, Washington and Jane Smith Home (The), Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 10/15/23 $     205,000 $     204,174
4.00%, due 10/15/24    215,000      211,871
Illinois Finance Authority, Acero Charter Schools, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 10/1/33 (c)    250,000      227,606
Illinois Finance Authority, Carle Foundation, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 8/15/33    250,000      287,001
Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.00%, due 2/1/34 1,500,000 1,518,906
Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (The), Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 6/15/30 1,000,000 1,025,949
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series B    
5.00%, due 1/1/37 400,000 404,227
Lake County Consolidated High School District No. 120 Mundelein, Limited General Obligation    
Series A    
5.50%, due 12/1/38 825,000 931,532
Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, McCormick Place Expansion Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series B, Insured: NATL-RE    
5.70%, due 6/15/23 820,000 821,453
Sales Tax Securitization Corp., Revenue Bonds, Second Lien    
Series A, Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 1/1/37 1,285,000 1,393,851
Sangamon & Morgan Counties Community Unit School District No. 16 New Berlin, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.50%, due 12/1/36 350,000 402,058
State of Illinois, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/26 500,000 528,340
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Illinois (continued) 
State of Illinois, Unlimited General Obligation (continued)    
Series D                      
5.00%, due 11/1/28 $   1,000,000 $   1,073,966
5.00%, due 2/1/39 1,370,000    1,376,176
5.50%, due 5/1/39    500,000      547,661
Village of Mundelein, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM                      
4.00%, due 12/15/39    250,000      252,825
Will County School District No. 114, Manhattan, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
5.25%, due 1/1/39 175,000 197,767
Insured: BAM    
5.50%, due 1/1/43 1,825,000 2,075,509
    29,941,836
Indiana 1.9% 
Center Grove Community School Corp., Limited General Obligation    
Insured: State Intercept    
5.00%, due 1/1/24 1,500,000 1,510,871
City of Bloomington, Waterworks, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 7/1/30 225,000 259,227
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 7/1/31 250,000 287,085
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 7/1/32 300,000 344,229
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 7/1/36 1,495,000 1,678,467
Indiana Finance Authority, Indianapolis Power & Light Co., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
1.40%, due 8/1/29 (a) 250,000 220,751
Indiana Finance Authority, CWA Authority, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/41 1,000,000 1,045,875
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Indiana (continued) 
Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: FHA 223(F)                      
5.00%, due 10/1/26 (a) $   1,500,000 $   1,537,621
    6,884,126
Kentucky 1.2% 
Kentucky Bond Development Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM                      
5.00%, due 9/1/38 1,000,000    1,098,455
Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Next Generation Information Highway Project, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/45 535,000 529,529
Kentucky Public Energy Authority, Gas Supply, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
4.00%, due 2/1/50 (a) 2,600,000 2,603,833
    4,231,817
Louisiana 2.1% 
Jefferson Parish Consolidated Sewerage District No. 1, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM    
4.00%, due 2/1/42 260,000 257,898
State of Louisiana, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
5.00%, due 3/1/38 390,000 441,925
State of Louisiana, Gasoline & Fuels Tax, Revenue Bonds, Second Lien    
5.00%, due 5/1/40 6,250,000 6,631,654
    7,331,477
Maine 0.3% 
Maine Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority, Northern Light Health Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
Series C, Insured: AGM State Aid Withholding    
5.50%, due 7/1/38 1,000,000 1,143,500
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Maryland 0.5% 
City of Baltimore, Harbor Point Project, Revenue Bonds    
4.50%, due 6/1/33 $     100,000 $      98,406
Maryland Community Development Administration, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: GNMA / FNMA / FHLMC                      
5.00%, due 9/1/42 1,000,000    1,039,208
Maryland Economic Development Corp., Morgan View & Thurgood Marshall Student Housing, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.25%, due 7/1/32    465,000      514,088
State of Maryland, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
5.00%, due 3/15/32 225,000 261,592
    1,913,294
Massachusetts 1.0% 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, COVID-19 Recovery Assessment, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
3.564%, due 7/15/23 2,000,000 1,994,801
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Provident Commonwealth Education Resources, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 10/1/30 1,200,000 1,225,595
5.00%, due 10/1/34 500,000 507,821
    3,728,217
Michigan 2.0% 
Calhoun County Hospital Finance Authority, Oaklawn Hospital, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 2/15/28 240,000 249,773
City of Detroit, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.00%, due 4/1/34 275,000 289,215
Great Lakes Water Authority, Sewage Disposal System, Revenue Bonds, Second Lien    
Series C    
5.00%, due 7/1/36 1,000,000 1,051,019
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Michigan (continued) 
Michigan Finance Authority, Tobacco Settlement Asset-Backed, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series A, Class 1                      
4.00%, due 6/1/34 $     500,000 $     509,724
Michigan Finance Authority, BHSH System Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 4/15/29 1,000,000    1,122,273
Michigan Finance Authority, Public Lighting Authority Local Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/31    100,000      101,158
Michigan Finance Authority, Beaumont Health Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 11/1/44 1,000,000 1,016,905
Michigan Finance Authority, Universal Learning Academy, Revenue Bonds    
6.00%, due 11/1/32 500,000 516,743
Richmond Community Schools, School Building and Site, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series I, Insured: Q-SBLF    
4.00%, due 5/1/36 750,000 781,816
State of Michigan, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
3.625%, due 5/15/24 1,000,000 985,038
Summit Academy North, Michigan Public School Academy, Revenue Bonds    
2.25%, due 11/1/26 205,000 187,671
Wyoming Public Schools, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series III, Insured: AGM    
4.00%, due 5/1/41 500,000 497,825
    7,309,160
Minnesota 0.1% 
City of Independence, Global Academy Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.00%, due 7/1/41 280,000 227,549
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Mississippi 0.2% 
Mississippi Hospital Equipment & Facilities Authority, Forrest County General Hospital Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 1/1/34 $     810,000 $     884,087
Missouri 0.9% 
Hickman Mills C-1 School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series C-1, Insured: BAM                      
5.75%, due 3/1/42 2,000,000    2,271,798
Wright City R-II School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM                      
6.00%, due 3/1/30 350,000 421,255
Insured: AGM    
6.00%, due 3/1/32 415,000 520,997
    3,214,050
Montana 0.2% 
County of Gallatin, Bozeman Fiber Project, Revenue Bonds (c)    
Series A    
4.00%, due 10/15/32 300,000 280,933
Series A    
4.00%, due 10/15/36 300,000 265,099
    546,032
Nebraska 0.9% 
Central Plains Energy, Nebraska Gas Project No. 4, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 3/1/50 (a) 1,500,000 1,511,078
Omaha Public Power District Nebraska City Station Unit 2, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.25%, due 2/1/42 1,500,000 1,532,635
    3,043,713
New Hampshire 0.1% 
New Hampshire Business Finance Authority, Pennichuck Water Works, Inc. Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.00%, due 4/1/30 (b) 495,000 508,347
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
New Jersey 3.9% 
Essex County Improvement Authority, North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 7/15/30 (c) $     250,000 $     251,173
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
4.914%, due 3/1/24 1,000,000      996,021
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, School Facilities Construction, Revenue Bonds    
Series UU                      
5.00%, due 6/15/40    470,000      479,809
Series WW    
5.25%, due 6/15/33 2,500,000 2,628,321
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, New Jersey Transit Transportation Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 11/1/44 3,000,000 3,168,581
New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Continental Airlines, Inc. Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.625%, due 11/15/30 (b) 250,000 253,726
New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, Amity Heights Apartments, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: HUD Sector 8    
3.50%, due 7/1/25 (a) 2,000,000 1,987,076
New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series CC    
5.25%, due 6/15/32 2,000,000 2,334,093
New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.00%, due 1/1/42 1,000,000 1,120,156
State of New Jersey, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.00%, due 6/1/39 500,000 547,408
    13,766,364
New Mexico 0.2% 
New Mexico Hospital Equipment Loan Council, La Vida Expansion Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
2.25%, due 7/1/23 555,000 551,951
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
New York 9.2% 
Albany Capital Resource Corp., Albany Leadership Charter High School For Girls Project, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 6/1/29 $     360,000 $     342,037
Build NYC Resource Corp., New York Law School, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/23    500,000      500,350
City of New York, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series F-1                      
5.00%, due 6/1/35 1,000,000    1,037,581
Series B-1                      
5.25%, due 10/1/47 1,500,000 1,685,369
County of Nassau, Limited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: AGM-CR    
5.00%, due 1/1/26 1,000,000 1,062,340
Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corp., Second Indenture, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
4.00%, due 2/15/47 540,000 528,272
Long Island Power Authority, Electric System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 9/1/39 1,000,000 1,013,289
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Green Bond, Revenue Bonds    
Series A1    
5.00%, due 11/15/29 500,000 518,925
Series A-1    
5.00%, due 11/15/32 1,295,000 1,338,889
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Dedicated Tax Fund, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-1    
5.00%, due 11/15/36 3,000,000 3,175,264
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
5.00%, due 11/15/38 250,000 250,472
Series C    
5.00%, due 11/15/42 500,000 500,943
New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, Water & Sewer System Second General Resolution, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 6/15/39 1,000,000 1,030,285
5.00%, due 6/15/49 305,000 323,842
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
New York (continued) 
New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured, Revenue Bonds    
Series F-1                      
5.00%, due 5/1/42 $     750,000 $     794,448
New York Liberty Development Corp., Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park Project, Revenue Bonds    
2.45%, due 9/15/69    500,000      452,303
New York Liberty Development Corp., Green Bond, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM-CR                      
2.75%, due 11/15/41    370,000      288,212
New York Liberty Development Corp., 1 World Trade Center, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM    
4.00%, due 2/15/43 1,500,000 1,485,473
New York Liberty Development Corp., 3 World Trade Center LLC, Revenue Bonds    
Class 1    
5.00%, due 11/15/44 (c) 1,250,000 1,214,657
New York State Dormitory Authority, State Personal Income Tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series E    
3.00%, due 3/15/41 250,000 210,742
Series E    
4.00%, due 3/15/45 1,950,000 1,925,283
New York State Dormitory Authority, Personal Income Tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series C    
5.00%, due 3/15/41 750,000 758,464
New York State Dormitory Authority, Sales tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series E-3    
5.00%, due 3/15/41 1,500,000 1,620,044
New York State Thruway Authority, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien    
Series A    
5.00%, due 1/1/41 1,000,000 1,035,657
New York State Urban Development Corp., Personal Income Tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.00%, due 3/15/38 250,000 253,446
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
New York (continued) 
New York Transportation Development Corp., John F. kennedy International Airport Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 12/1/25 (b) $   1,400,000 $   1,439,666
New York Transportation Development Corp., LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/46 (b) 3,000,000    2,980,680
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Consolidated 218th, Revenue Bonds    
Series 218                      
4.00%, due 11/1/37 (b)    380,000      378,442
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Consolidated 234th, Revenue Bonds    
Series 234    
5.00%, due 8/1/38 (b) 3,500,000 3,840,926
Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, Payroll Mobility Tax, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series A-2, Insured: AGM-CR    
2.00%, due 5/15/45 (a) 250,000 231,573
Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-3    
5.00%, due 11/15/38 640,000 666,235
    32,884,109
North Carolina 1.2% 
Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 7/1/30 (b) 1,500,000 1,648,012
Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 7/1/40 500,000 548,105
Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 7/1/43 500,000 541,640
North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Triangle Expressway System, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 1/1/36 1,545,000 1,664,165
    4,401,922
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
North Dakota 0.1% 
City of Grand Forks, Altru Health System, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 12/1/37 $     310,000 $     285,002
Ohio 2.6% 
American Municipal Power, Inc., Hydroelectric Projects, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 2/15/41 3,000,000    3,075,489
City of Toledo, Various Purpose Improvement, Limited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM                      
5.25%, due 12/1/35 1,000,000 1,159,556
Insured: AGM    
5.25%, due 12/1/37 750,000 854,480
City of Upper Arlington, Various Purpose, Limited General Obligation    
5.75%, due 12/1/38 700,000 742,337
Cloverleaf Local School District, Certificate of Participation    
Insured: BAM    
5.375%, due 12/1/37 750,000 817,384
Euclid City School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: SD CRED PROG    
5.25%, due 1/15/44 2,000,000 2,062,455
Forest Hills Local School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.00%, due 12/1/44 490,000 496,851
Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, Ohio Valley Electric Corp. Project, Revenue Bonds    
2.875%, due 2/1/26 250,000 236,568
    9,445,120
Oregon 0.3% 
State of Oregon, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series F    
5.00%, due 5/1/35 1,195,000 1,234,856
Pennsylvania 3.3% 
Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority, Revenue Bonds    
6.00%, due 5/1/42 (c) 500,000 510,169
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
21


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Pennsylvania (continued) 
Bucks County Industrial Development Authority, Grand View Hospital Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 7/1/34 $     300,000 $     292,255
5.00%, due 7/1/35    300,000      290,643
Chester County Industrial Development Authority, Collegium Charter School, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 10/15/32 (c)    250,000      246,296
Dauphin County General Authority, Harrisburg University Science Technology Project (The), Revenue Bonds (c)    
4.25%, due 10/15/26    100,000       96,846
5.00%, due 10/15/30 1,000,000      976,293
Indiana County Industrial Development Authority, Foundation for Indiana University of Pennsylvania (The), Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 5/1/29 250,000 273,294
Lancaster Industrial Development Authority, Landis Homes Retirement Community, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 7/1/37 100,000 84,577
Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, Penndot Major Bridges Project, Revenue Bonds (b)    
5.25%, due 6/30/35 1,800,000 2,000,893
5.50%, due 6/30/37 250,000 278,406
5.50%, due 6/30/38 500,000 554,529
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Revenue Bonds    
Series A-141    
5.75%, due 10/1/53 660,000 713,388
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.00%, due 12/1/42 250,000 245,602
Series A-1    
5.00%, due 12/1/41 1,000,000 1,040,808
Series A    
5.50%, due 12/1/46 1,155,000 1,209,202
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Pennsylvania (continued) 
Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School Project, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 6/15/30 (c) $     435,000 $     452,080
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, Revenue Bonds, First Lien    
Series A, Insured: AGM                      
5.00%, due 9/1/35 1,200,000    1,375,454
West Shore School District, Limited General Obligation    
Insured: State Aid Withholding                      
5.00%, due 11/15/43 1,000,000   1,047,940
    11,688,675
Puerto Rico 1.3% 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico    
(zero coupon), due 11/1/43 98,097 46,228
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A-1    
4.00%, due 7/1/35 518,717 465,261
Series A-1    
5.625%, due 7/1/27 625,000 652,109
Series A-1    
5.75%, due 7/1/31 265,000 284,224
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Aqueduct & Sewer Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.00%, due 7/1/28 (c) 1,000,000 1,017,219
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Aqueduct & Sewer Authority, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/1/33 (c) 1,000,000 1,003,456
Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority, El Mirador LLC, Revenue Bonds    
Series B, Insured: HUD Sector 8    
5.00%, due 3/1/27 (a) 750,000 785,228
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A-2    
4.329%, due 7/1/40 500,000 466,154
    4,719,879
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
22 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Rhode Island 0.6% 
Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corp., Public Schools Financing Program, Revenue Bonds    
Series F                      
5.50%, due 5/15/47 $   1,500,000 $   1,679,564
Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series 77A                      
5.00%, due 4/1/27    555,000     594,504
    2,274,068
South Carolina 0.6% 
City of Spartanburg, Water System, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/34 1,000,000 1,052,917
Greenville Housing Authority, Gordon Street Affordable LP, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: FHA 221(D4)    
5.00%, due 10/1/26 (a) 1,000,000 1,029,498
    2,082,415
South Dakota 0.2% 
Baltic School District No. 49-1, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: AGM    
4.50%, due 12/1/40 575,000 599,535
Tennessee 1.9% 
Health Educational and Housing Facility Board of the City of Memphis (The), Strategies LP, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: HUD Sector 8 FHA 221(D4)    
5.00%, due 7/1/27 (a) 500,000 518,880
Health Educational and Housing Facility Board of the City of Memphis (The), Strategies II LP, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: HUD Sector 8 FHA 221(D4)    
5.00%, due 7/1/27 (a) 500,000 519,031
Metropolitan Government Nashville & Davidson County Health & Educational Facilities Board, 619 at Old Stone Bridge Crossings LP, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.00%, due 4/1/26 (a) 1,511,000 1,518,839
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Tennessee (continued) 
Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (The), Revenue Bonds    
Series B                      
5.00%, due 7/1/36 (b) $   3,500,000 $   3,766,201
Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series B                      
5.625%, due 9/1/26    500,000     518,896
    6,841,847
Texas 9.8% 
Alamito Public Facility Corp., EP WH Mesa Franklin LLC, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: FHA 221(D4)    
3.50%, due 9/1/25 (a) 1,003,000 996,903
Alamito Public Facility Corp., EP WH Cien Palmas LLC, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: HUD Sector 8 FHA 221(D4)    
3.50%, due 9/1/25 (a) 1,008,000 1,001,873
Allen Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: PSF-GTD    
5.00%, due 2/15/35 2,000,000 2,105,857
Barbers Hill Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: PSF-GTD    
4.00%, due 2/15/41 1,000,000 1,004,957
Belmont Fresh Water Supply District No. 1, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
5.00%, due 3/1/30 440,000 482,325
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Revenue Bonds    
(zero coupon), due 1/1/27 1,900,000 1,666,092
City of Arlington, Special Tax, Special Tax, Senior Lien    
Series A, Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 2/15/43 250,000 262,670
City of Georgetown, Utility System, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: AGM    
5.00%, due 8/15/28 1,035,000 1,148,336
City of Houston, Hotel Occupancy Tax & Special Tax, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 9/1/28 365,000 402,476
County of Parker, Unlimited General Obligation    
5.00%, due 2/15/42 6,000,000 6,276,835
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
23


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Texas (continued) 
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
4.00%, due 11/1/46 $     250,000 $     244,885
Series B                      
5.00%, due 11/1/36 1,000,000    1,144,726
Dallas Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: PSF-GTD                      
5.00%, due 2/15/48    845,000      931,575
Forney Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: BAM    
(zero coupon), due 8/15/41 255,000 83,120
Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 423, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A, Insured: BAM    
7.25%, due 4/1/26 300,000 332,779
Series A, Insured: BAM    
7.25%, due 4/1/27 300,000 344,401
Harris County Toll Road, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
5.00%, due 8/15/43 2,290,000 2,421,451
Houston Higher Education Finance Corp., KIPP, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: PSF-GTD    
4.00%, due 2/15/39 1,000,000 974,824
Midlothian Independent School District, Unlimited General Obligation    
Insured: PSF-GTD    
5.00%, due 2/15/43 3,460,000 3,644,913
New Hope Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Jubilee Academic Center, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 8/15/29 (c) 795,000 749,239
New Hope Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corp., Outlook at Windhaven Forefront Living, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-3    
4.25%, due 10/1/26 1,100,000 1,081,117
North Texas Tollway Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
5.00%, due 1/1/45 1,000,000 1,018,344
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Texas (continued) 
North Texas Tollway Authority, Revenue Bonds, First Tier    
Series A                      
5.25%, due 1/1/38 $   1,000,000 $   1,134,298
Sabine-Neches Navigation District, Waterway Project, Limited General Obligation    
5.25%, due 2/15/39 1,500,000    1,688,314
State of Texas, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A                      
5.00%, due 10/1/32 1,500,000    1,569,683
Series A    
5.00%, due 4/1/37 750,000 781,400
Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs, Revenue Bonds    
Series A, Insured: GNMA    
3.50%, due 7/1/52 635,000 625,968
Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp., Blueridge Transportation Group LLC, Revenue Bonds, Senior Lien    
5.00%, due 12/31/45 (b) 1,000,000 1,003,443
    35,122,804
U.S. Virgin Islands 0.8% 
Matching Fund Special Purpose Securitization Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/26 860,000 876,793
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/1/30 2,000,000 2,035,860
Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority, Gross Receipts Taxes Loan, Revenue Bonds    
Series C, Insured: AGM-CR    
5.00%, due 10/1/30 100,000 100,072
    3,012,725
Utah 2.0% 
Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.00%, due 10/1/39 1,000,000 1,011,260
Intermountain Power Agency, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 7/1/41 880,000 979,077
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
24 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Principal
Amount
Value
Long-Term Municipal Bonds (continued)
Utah (continued) 
State of Utah, Build America Bonds, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series B                      
3.539%, due 7/1/25 $   3,138,135 $   3,100,467
UIPA Crossroads Public Infrastructure District, Tax Allocation    
4.125%, due 6/1/41 (c)    500,000      434,818
Utah Charter School Finance Authority, Spectrum Academy Project, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: BAM UT CSCE                      
4.00%, due 4/15/40    250,000      239,001
Utah Charter School Finance Authority, Summit Academy, Inc. Project, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: UT CSCE    
5.00%, due 4/15/28 200,000 214,852
Insured: UT CSCE    
5.00%, due 4/15/29 185,000 201,365
Utah Infrastructure Agency, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 10/15/35 700,000 647,634
Series A    
5.00%, due 10/15/28 460,000 473,880
    7,302,354
Vermont 0.8% 
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 10/1/40 1,500,000 1,535,535
Vermont Student Assistance Corp., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 6/15/23 (b) 1,250,000 1,251,222
    2,786,757
Virginia 0.3% 
James City County Economic Development Authority, Blaine Landing Phase II LP, Revenue Bonds    
Insured: FHA 221(D4)    
5.00%, due 2/1/26 (a) 1,000,000 1,018,595
  Principal
Amount
Value
 
Washington 1.0% 
State of Washington, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series D                      
5.00%, due 2/1/35 $     500,000 $     506,211
Series A                      
5.00%, due 6/1/38 1,000,000    1,119,709
Series A                      
5.00%, due 8/1/42    655,000      716,525
Washington State Convention Center Public Facilities District, Lodging Tax, Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
4.00%, due 7/1/36 1,000,000 959,585
Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Eliseo Project, Revenue Bonds    
Series B-2    
2.125%, due 7/1/27 (c) 250,000 224,409
    3,526,439
West Virginia 0.5% 
State of West Virginia, Unlimited General Obligation    
Series A    
5.00%, due 12/1/35 470,000 527,319
West Virginia Hospital Finance Authority, Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. Obligated Group, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
5.00%, due 9/1/39 1,125,000 1,143,817
    1,671,136
Wisconsin 1.6% 
County of Waushara, Revenue Notes    
Series A    
4.75%, due 12/1/23 1,000,000 1,003,140
Public Finance Authority, Revenue Bonds    
4.00%, due 4/1/32 (c) 215,000 204,738
Public Finance Authority, University of Kansas, Revenue Bonds    
5.00%, due 3/1/41 3,400,000 3,476,423
Racine Unified School District, Revenue Notes    
4.00%, due 8/9/23 1,000,000 1,000,122
    5,684,423
Total Long-Term Municipal Bonds
(Cost $330,071,741)
  334,857,989
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
25


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Principal
Amount
Value
Short-Term Municipal Notes 4.4%
Alabama 0.6% 
Alabama Housing Finance Authority, Capstone at Kinsey Cove LP, Revenue Bonds    
Series A                      
3.875%, due 12/1/23 (e) $   1,500,000 $   1,498,652
Black Belt Energy Gas District, Gas Project No.7, Revenue Bonds    
Series C-2                      
4.21%, due 10/1/52 (e)    700,000     674,874
    2,173,526
California 1.2% 
Bay Area Toll Authority, Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
3.10%, due 4/1/55 (e) 2,200,000 2,200,000
California Municipal Finance Authority, Waste Management, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series A    
4.125%, due 10/1/41 (b)(e) 1,500,000 1,510,911
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Waterworks, Revenue Bonds    
Series E    
4.00%, due 7/1/37 (e) 500,000 498,332
    4,209,243
Indiana 0.3% 
Indiana Finance Authority, Republic Services, Inc., Revenue Bonds    
Series B    
3.65%, due 5/1/28 (e) 1,000,000 999,880
New York 2.0% 
New York City Housing Development Corp., Multi-Family Housing, Sustainable Neighborhood, Revenue Bonds    
Series F-2A, Insured: FHA 542(C)    
3.40%, due 11/1/62 (e) 500,000 499,289
New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured, Revenue Bonds (e)    
Series A4    
3.75%, due 11/1/29 6,000,000 6,000,000
  Principal
Amount
  Value
 
New York (continued) 
New York City Transitional Finance Authority, Future Tax Secured, Revenue Bonds (e) (continued)      
Series A-4                        
3.75%, due 8/1/39 $     800,000   $     800,000
      7,299,289
Texas 0.1% 
Alamito Public Facility Corp., EP Jackie Robinson LP, Revenue Bonds      
Insured: HUD Sector 8                        
4.375%, due 3/1/41 (e)    500,000       499,991
Washington 0.2% 
County of King, Sewer, Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien      
Series A      
4.09%, due 1/1/40 (e) 655,000   638,161
Total Short-Term Municipal Notes
(Cost $15,855,000)
    15,820,090
Total Investments
(Cost $345,926,741)
98.2%   350,678,079
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 1.8   6,402,362
 Net Assets 100.0%   $ 357,080,441
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
Less than one-tenth of a percent.
(a) Coupon rate may change based on changes of the underlying collateral or prepayments of principal. Rate shown was the rate in effect as of April 30, 2023.
(b) Interest on these securities was subject to alternative minimum tax.
(c) May be sold to institutional investors only under Rule 144A or securities offered pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(d) Delayed delivery security.
(e) Variable-rate demand notes (VRDNs)—Provide the right to sell the security at face value on either that day or within the rate-reset period. VRDNs will normally trade as if the maturity is the earlier put date, even though stated maturity is longer. The interest rate is reset on the put date at a stipulated daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or other specified time interval to reflect current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description. The maturity date shown is the final maturity.
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
26 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Futures Contracts
As of April 30, 2023, the Fund held the following futures contracts1:
Type Number of
Contracts
Expiration
Date
Value at
Trade Date
Current
Notional
Amount
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)2
Short Contracts          
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Ultra Bonds (290) June 2023  $ (33,920,270)  $ (35,221,406)  $ (1,301,136)
    
1. As of April 30, 2023, cash in the amount of $899,000 was on deposit with a broker or futures commission merchant for futures transactions.
2. Represents the difference between the value of the contracts at the time they were opened and the value as of April 30, 2023.
Abbreviation(s):
AGM—Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.
BAM—Build America Mutual Assurance Co.
CR—Custodial Receipts
FGIC—Financial Guaranty Insurance Company
FHA—Federal Housing Administration
FHLMC—Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association
GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association
HUD—Housing and Urban Development
NATL-RE—National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
PSF-GTD—Permanent School Fund Guaranteed
Q-SBLF—Qualified School Board Loan Fund
SD CRED PROG—School District Credit Enhancement Program
UT CSCE—Utah Charter School Credit Enhancement Program
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Municipal Bonds              
Long-Term Municipal Bonds         $  —    $ 334,857,989   $ —    $ 334,857,989
Short-Term Municipal Notes         —     15,820,090       15,820,090
Total Municipal Bonds   350,678,079     350,678,079
Total Investments in Securities $  —   $ 350,678,079   $ —   $ 350,678,079
Liability Valuation Inputs              
Other Financial Instruments              
Futures Contracts (b)  $ (1,301,136)             $  —   $ —      $  (1,301,136)
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments and their industries, see the Portfolio of Investments.
(b) The value listed for these securities reflects unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as shown on the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
27


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in securities, at value
(identified cost $345,926,741)
$350,678,079
Cash 2,254,936
Cash collateral on deposit at broker for futures contracts 899,000
Receivables:  
Interest 4,590,083
Fund shares sold 1,372,824
Investment securities sold 991,280
Other assets 98,038
Total assets 360,884,240
Liabilities
Payables:  
Investment securities purchased 2,747,630
Fund shares redeemed 673,912
Variation margin on futures contracts 217,499
Manager (See Note 3) 93,624
Custodian 23,997
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 18,784
Shareholder communication 15,732
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 9,693
Professional fees 459
Accrued expenses 2,286
Distributions payable 183
Total liabilities 3,803,799
Net assets $357,080,441
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 37,767
Additional paid-in-capital 361,159,620
  361,197,387
Total distributable earnings (loss) (4,116,946)
Net assets $357,080,441
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 43,202,809
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 4,562,843
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 9.47
Maximum sales charge (3.00% of offering price) 0.29
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 9.76
Investor Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 99,511
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 10,521
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 9.46
Maximum sales charge (2.50% of offering price) 0.24
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 9.70
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 3,291,493
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 348,251
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.45
Class C2  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 214,212
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 22,657
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.45
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $310,246,184
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 32,819,459
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.45
Class R6  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 26,232
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 2,775
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.45
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Interest $ 7,200,859
Expenses  
Manager (See Note 3) 839,511
Registration 125,861
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 103,820
Professional fees 76,071
Custodian 67,847
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 47,557
Distribution/Service—Investor Class (See Note 3) 322
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 8,620
Distribution/Service—Class C2 (See Note 3) 348
Shareholder communication 17,528
Trustees 4,259
Miscellaneous 9,660
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 1,301,404
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (153,643)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (597)
Net expenses 1,147,164
Net investment income (loss) 6,053,695
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on:  
Unaffiliated investment transactions (8,103,792)
Futures transactions 2,229,229
Net realized gain (loss) (5,874,563)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:  
Unaffiliated investments 9,869,490
Futures contracts (1,835,660)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 8,033,830
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 2,159,267
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 8,212,962
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 6,053,695 $ 1,039,155
Net realized gain (loss) (5,874,563) 417,800
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 8,033,830 (7,062,471)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 8,212,962 (5,605,516)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (630,063) (32,170)
Investor Class (3,510) (1,324)
Class C (50,794) (5,882)
Class C2 (1,515)
Class I (6,462,197) (1,888,346)
Class R6 (842) (768)
Total distributions to shareholders (7,148,921) (1,928,490)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 434,866,901 58,605,291
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 7,136,822 1,927,984
Cost of shares redeemed (183,989,524) (16,807,791)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 258,014,199 43,725,484
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 259,078,240 36,191,478
Net Assets
Beginning of year 98,002,201 61,810,723
End of year $ 357,080,441 $ 98,002,201
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 28, 2019^ through
April 30,
Class A 2023   2022   2021   2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.50   $ 10.43   $ 9.65   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) 0.26(a)   0.12(a)   0.15(a)   0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.01)   (0.78)   0.82   (0.29)
Total from investment operations 0.25   (0.66)   0.97   (0.15)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.26)   (0.17)   (0.19)   (0.14)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.10)     (0.06)
Total distributions (0.28)   (0.27)   (0.19)   (0.20)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.47   $ 9.50   $ 10.43   $ 9.65
Total investment return (b) 2.73%   (6.54)%   10.02%   (1.44)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 2.78%   1.22%   1.47%   1.39%††
Net expenses 0.77%   0.77%   0.72%   0.77%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 0.84%   0.97%   0.98%   1.12%††
Portfolio turnover rate (c) 81%   32%   66%   108%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 43,203   $ 5,246   $ 454   $ 136
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
  Year Ended April 30,   June 28, 2019^ through
April 30,
Investor Class 2023   2022   2021   2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.49   $ 10.41   $ 9.65   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) 0.21(a)   0.11(a)   0.13(a)   0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.03   (0.79)   0.80   (0.29)
Total from investment operations 0.24   (0.68)   0.93   (0.15)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.25)   (0.14)   (0.17)   (0.14)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.10)     (0.06)
Total distributions (0.27)   (0.24)   (0.17)   (0.20)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.46   $ 9.49   $ 10.41   $ 9.65
Total investment return (b) 2.58%   (6.69)%   9.65%   (1.56)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 2.23%   1.04%   1.23%   1.30%††
Net expenses 0.92%   0.97%   0.98%   0.79%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 0.99%   1.17%   1.24%   1.14%††
Portfolio turnover rate (c) 81%   32%   66%   108%
Net assets at end of period (in 000's) $ 100   $ 46   $ 33   $ 34
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
31


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 28, 2019^ through
April 30,
Class C 2023   2022   2021   2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.48   $ 10.42   $ 9.65   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) 0.22(a)   0.08(a)   0.10(a)   0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.01)   (0.80)   0.81   (0.29)
Total from investment operations 0.21   (0.72)   0.91   (0.17)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.22)   (0.12)   (0.14)   (0.12)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.10)     (0.06)
Total distributions (0.24)   (0.22)   (0.14)   (0.18)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.45   $ 9.48   $ 10.42   $ 9.65
Total investment return (b) 2.31%   (7.12)%   9.49%   (1.76)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 2.34%   0.76%   0.97%   1.11%††
Net expenses 1.18%   1.22%   1.23%   1.03%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.25%   1.42%   1.49%   1.38%††
Portfolio turnover rate (c) 81%   32%   66%   108%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 3,291   $ 558   $ 113   $ 79
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
  December 13, 2022^ through
April 30,
Class C2 2023
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.43*
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.03
Total from investment operations 0.12
Less distributions:  
From net investment income (0.10)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.45
Total investment return (b) 1.29%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:  
Net investment income (loss) 2.49%††
Net expenses 1.34%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 1.41%††
Portfolio turnover rate (c) 81%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 214
    
* Based on the net asset value of Class C as of December 13, 2022.
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
32 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 28, 2019^ through
April 30,
Class I 2023   2022   2021   2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.48   $ 10.42   $ 9.65   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) 0.27(a)   0.15(a)   0.18(a)   0.16
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.00‡   (0.80)   0.81   (0.29)
Total from investment operations 0.27   (0.65)   0.99   (0.13)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.28)   (0.19)   (0.22)   (0.16)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.10)     (0.06)
Total distributions (0.30)   (0.29)   (0.22)   (0.22)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.45   $ 9.48   $ 10.42   $ 9.65
Total investment return (b) 2.99%   (6.43)%   10.28%   (1.35)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 2.90%   1.49%   1.72%   1.57%††
Net expenses 0.52%   0.51%   0.50%   0.53%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 0.59%   0.71%   0.76%   0.88%††
Portfolio turnover rate (c) 81%   32%   66%   108%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 310,246   $ 92,126   $ 61,183   $ 51,059
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
33


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 28, 2019^ through
April 30,
Class R6 2023   2022   2021   2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 9.48   $ 10.42   $ 9.65   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) 0.26(a)   0.16(a)   0.18(a)   0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.02   (0.80)   0.81   (0.29)
Total from investment operations 0.28   (0.64)   0.99   (0.12)
Less distributions:              
From net investment income (0.29)   (0.20)   (0.22)   (0.17)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.10)     (0.06)
Total distributions (0.31)   (0.30)   (0.22)   (0.23)
Net asset value at end of period $ 9.45   $ 9.48   $ 10.42   $ 9.65
Total investment return (b) 3.01%   (6.41)%   10.28%   (1.32)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:              
Net investment income (loss) 2.75%   1.51%   1.72%   1.60%††
Net expenses 0.50%   0.50%   0.50%   0.50%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) 0.55%   0.70%   0.77%   0.86%††
Portfolio turnover rate (c) 81%   32%   66%   108%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 26   $ 25   $ 27   $ 25
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R6 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) The portfolio turnover rate includes variable rate demand notes.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
34 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1-Organization and Business
MainStay Funds Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 28, 2009. The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is comprised of thirty-three funds (collectively referred to as the “Funds”). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund (the "Fund"), a “diversified” fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
The following table lists the Fund's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Class Commenced Operations
Class A June 28, 2019
Investor Class June 28, 2019
Class C June 28, 2019
Class C2 December 13, 2022
Class I June 28, 2019
Class R6 June 28, 2019
SIMPLE Class N/A*
    
* SIMPLE Class shares were registered for sale effective as of August 31, 2020 but have not yet commenced operations.
Class A and Investor Class shares are offered at net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus an initial sales charge. No initial sales charge applies to investments of $250,000 or more (and certain other qualified purchases) in Class A and Investor Class shares. A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be imposed on certain redemptions of Class A and Investor Class shares made within 18 months of the date of purchase on shares that were purchased without an initial sales charge. Class C and Class C2 shares are offered at NAV without an initial sales charge, although a 1.00% CDSC may be imposed on certain redemptions of such shares made within one year of the date of purchase of Class C and Class C2 shares. Class I and Class R6 shares are offered at NAV without a sales charge. SIMPLE Class share are expected to be offered at NAV without a sales charge if such shares are offered in the future. In addition, depending upon eligibility, Class C and Class C2 shares convert to either Class A or Investor Class shares at the end of the calendar quarter eight years after the date they were purchased. Additionally, Investor Class shares may convert automatically to Class A shares based on a shareholder’s account balance as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Under certain circumstances and as may be permitted by the Trust’s multiple class plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, specified share classes of the Fund may be converted to one or more other share classes of the Fund as disclosed in the capital share transactions within these Notes. The classes of shares have the same voting (except for issues that relate solely to one class), dividend, liquidation and other rights, and the same terms and conditions, except that under distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, Class C, Class C2 and SIMPLE Class shares are subject to higher
distribution and/or service fees than Class A and Investor Class shares. Class I and Class R6 shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Fund's investment objective is to seek current income exempt from regular federal income tax.
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Fund prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follows the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation.  Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Fund is open for business ("valuation date").
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") has designated New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager") as its Valuation Designee (the "Valuation Designee"). The Valuation Designee is responsible for performing fair valuations relating to all investments in the Fund’s portfolio for which market quotations are not readily available; periodically assessing and managing material valuation risks; establishing and applying fair value methodologies; testing fair valuation methodologies; evaluating and overseeing pricing services; ensuring appropriate segregation of valuation and portfolio management functions; providing quarterly, annual and prompt reporting to the Board, as appropriate; identifying potential conflicts of interest; and maintaining appropriate records. The Valuation Designee has established a valuation committee ("Valuation Committee") to assist in carrying out the Valuation Designee’s responsibilities and establish prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available. The Fund's and the Valuation Designee's policies and procedures ("Valuation Procedures") govern the Valuation Designee’s selection and application of methodologies for determining and calculating the fair value of Fund investments. The Valuation Designee may value the Fund's portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other Fund assets utilizing inputs from pricing services and other third-party sources. The Valuation Committee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an ad-hoc basis to determine fair valuations and on a quarterly basis to review fair value events with respect to certain securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including valuation risks and back-testing results, and preview reports to the Board.
The Valuation Committee establishes prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee.
 
35


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The Board shall oversee the Valuation Designee and review fair valuation materials on a prompt, quarterly and annual basis and approve proposed revisions to the Valuation Procedures.
Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to the Valuation Procedures. A market quotation is readily available only when that quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the Fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable. "Fair value" is defined as the price the Fund would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
Level 1—quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for an identical asset or liability
Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability)
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of April 30, 2023, is included at the end of the Portfolio of Investments.
The Fund may use third-party vendor evaluations, whose prices may be derived from one or more of the following standard inputs, among others:
• Benchmark yields • Reported trades
• Broker/dealer quotes • Issuer spreads
• Two-sided markets • Benchmark securities
• Bids/offers • Reference data (corporate actions or material event notices)
• Industry and economic events • Comparable bonds
• Monthly payment information  
An asset or liability for which a market quotation is not readily available is valued by methods deemed reasonable in good faith by the Valuation Committee, following the Valuation Procedures to represent fair value. Under these procedures, the Valuation Designee generally uses a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information. The Valuation Designee may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the asset or liability are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature and/or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the asset or liability. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances and the exercise of judgment. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined for other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Valuation Procedures are designed to value a security at the price the Fund may reasonably expect to receive upon the security's sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the security or the price at which the security would trade if a reliable market price were readily available. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no material changes to the fair value methodologies.
Securities which may be valued in this manner include, but are not limited to: (i) a security for which trading has been halted or suspended or otherwise does not have a readily available market quotation on a given day; (ii) a debt security that has recently gone into default and for which there is not a current market quotation; (iii) a security of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (iv) a security that has been delisted from a national exchange; (v) a security subject to trading collars for which no or limited trading takes place; and (vi) a security whose principal market has been temporarily closed at a time when, under normal conditions, it would be open. Securities valued in this manner are generally categorized as Level 2 or 3 in the hierarchy.
Futures contracts are valued at the last posted settlement price on the market where such futures are primarily traded. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
 
36 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Municipal debt securities are valued at the evaluated mean prices supplied by a pricing agent or broker selected by the Valuation Designee, in consultation with the Subadvisor. The evaluations are market-based measurements processed through a pricing application and represents the pricing agent's good faith determination as to what a holder may receive in an orderly transaction under market conditions. The rules-based logic utilizes valuation techniques that reflect participants' assumptions and vary by asset class and per methodology, maximizing the use of relevant observable data including quoted prices for similar assets, benchmark yield curves and market corroborated inputs. The evaluated bid or mean prices are deemed by the Valuation Designee, in consultation with the Subadvisor, to be representative of market values, at the regular close of trading of the Exchange on each valuation date. Municipal debt securities purchased on a delayed delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Municipal debt securities are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The Valuation Procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes.  The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of the Fund within the allowable time limits.
The Manager evaluates the Fund’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. The Manager analyzed the Fund's tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Fund's financial statements. The Fund's federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund intends to declare dividends from net investment income, if any, daily and intends to pay them at least monthly and declares and pays distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. Unless a shareholder elects
otherwise, all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV in the same class of shares of the Fund. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income.  The Fund records security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest rate method. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased, other than temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase, for the Fund are accreted and amortized, respectively, on the effective interest rate method.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the Fund are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
The Fund may place a debt security on non-accrual status and reduce related interest income by ceasing current accruals and writing off all or a portion of any interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of such interest has become doubtful. A debt security is removed from non-accrual status when the issuer resumes interest payments or when collectability of interest is reasonably assured.
(E) Expenses.  Expenses of the Trust are allocated to the individual Funds in proportion to the net assets of the respective Funds when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than transfer agent expenses and fees incurred under the shareholder services plans and/or the distribution plans further discussed in Note 3(B)) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the Fund, including those of related parties to the Fund, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
(F) Use of Estimates.  In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Futures Contracts.  A futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date and price, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a financial instrument (e.g., foreign currency, interest rate, security or securities index). The Fund is subject to risks such as market price risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk, operational risk, legal risk and/or interest rate risk in the normal course of investing in these contracts. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash and/or U.S. government securities equal to a certain percentage of the collateral amount, known as the “initial margin.” During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market
37


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. The Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker or futures commission merchant an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” When the futures contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Fund's basis in the contract.
The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The contract or notional amounts and variation margin reflect the extent of the Fund's involvement in open futures positions. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts as hedging techniques. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at the time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures contract. If no liquid market exists, the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures contracts may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed, which could result in losses greater than if the Fund did not invest in futures contracts. Futures contracts may be more volatile than direct investments in the instrument underlying the futures and may not correlate to the underlying instrument, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The Fund's activities in futures contracts have minimal counterparty risk as they are conducted through regulated exchanges that guarantee the futures against default by the counterparty. In the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of a futures commission merchant that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may not be entitled to the return of the entire margin owed to the Fund, potentially resulting in a loss. The Fund may invest in futures contracts to seek enhanced returns or to reduce the risk of loss by hedging certain of its holdings. The Fund's investment in futures contracts and other derivatives may increase the volatility of the Fund's NAVs and may result in a loss to the Fund. Open futures contracts as of April 30, 2023, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Delayed Delivery Transactions.  The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a delayed delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed delivery purchases are outstanding, the Fund will designate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its NAV. The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed delivery transaction after it is entered into, and may sell delayed delivery securities before they are delivered, which may result in a realized gain or loss. When the Fund has sold a security it owns on a delayed delivery basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains and losses with respect to the security. Delayed delivery transactions as of April 30, 2023, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(I) Municipal Bond Risk.  The Fund may invest more heavily in municipal bonds from certain cities, states, territories or regions than others, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to losses resulting from economic, political, regulatory occurrences, or declines in tax revenue impacting these particular cities, states, territories or regions. In addition, many state and municipal governments that issue securities are under significant economic and financial stress and may not be able to satisfy their obligations, and these events may be made worse due to economic challenges posed by COVID-19. The Fund may invest a substantial amount of its assets in municipal bonds whose interest is paid solely from revenues of similar projects, such as tobacco settlement bonds. If the Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the legal and economic risks relating to such projects and this may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance.
Certain of the issuers in which the Fund may invest have recently experienced, or may experience, significant financial difficulties and repeated credit rating downgrades. On May 3, 2017, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (the "Commonwealth") began proceedings pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”) to seek bankruptcy-type protections from approximately $74 billion in debt and approximately $48 billion in unfunded pension obligations. In addition, the economic downturn following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting pressure on Puerto Rico’s budget have further contributed to its financial challenges. The federal government has passed certain relief packages, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and the American Rescue Plan, which included an aggregate of more than $7 billion in disaster relief funds for the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.  However, there can be no assurances that the federal funds allocated to the Commonwealth will be sufficient to address the long-term economic challenges that arose from COVID-19.
The Commonwealth concluded its Title III restructuring proceedings on behalf of itself and certain instrumentalities effective March 15, 2022. Approximately $18.75 billion of claims related to debt guaranteed under Puerto Rico's constitution including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in new Puerto Rico General Obligation Bonds, $7.1 billion of cash, and $3.5 billion of new Contingent Value instruments. In addition, the Commonwealth's exit from the restructuring proceedings resolved certain claims relating to the Commonwealth Employee Retirement System, Convention Center, Highway Authority, and Infrastructure Financing Authority. Two of the Commonwealth's agencies are still under Title III restructuring proceedings including the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Authority (PRIDCO).
Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring process and other economic, political, social, environmental or health factors or developments could occur rapidly and may significantly affect the value of municipal securities of Puerto Rico. Any agreement between the Federal Oversight and Management Board and creditors is subject to approval by the judge overseeing the Title III proceedings. The composition of the Federal Oversight and Management Board is subject to change every three years
 
38 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


due to existing members either stepping down or being replaced following the expiration of a member's term. There is no assurance that board members will approve the restructuring agreements that a prior board negotiated.
As of May 30, 2023 the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) remains in Title III Bankruptcy after nearly 6 years.  A significant number of net revenue bond creditors, the Oversight Board, and the Commonwealth have been unable to reach a consensual resolution on PREPA’s debt restructuring following the termination of the previous 2019 PREPA Restructuring Support Agreement by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in March of 2022. Further bankruptcy litigation has ensued between the Oversight Board and a group of net revenue bond creditors over the security provisions of PREPA’s 8.3bln of net revenue bonds resulting in a ruling from Judge Swain that PREPA’s net revenue bonds are unsecured.  The Ad Hoc group of net revenue bond creditors and bond insurer Assured Guaranty have informed Judge Swain they will seek to appeal her decision absent a consensual resolution in the case. The Oversight Board has reached plan confirmation support from at least one creditor class, the ~700mm of claims relating to fuel line lenders.  In addition, the Oversight Board reached a settlement agreement with bond insurer National Public Finance Guaranty regarding ~876mm of PREPA’s net revenue bond claims or~11% of PREPA’s net revenue bond claims.
If a settlement agreement cannot be reached between a majority of net revenue bond holders and the Oversight Board, Judge Swain could approve a cram-down plan or dismiss the bankruptcy case entirely.  A cram-down plan could significantly reduce recoveries.  Furthermore, a dismissal of the case would result in further litigation in local PR courts with guaranty of additional recovery. 
The Fund’s vulnerability to potential losses associated with such developments may be reduced through investing in municipal securities that feature credit enhancements (such as bond insurance). The bond insurance provider pays both principal and interest when due to the bond holder. The magnitude of Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring or other adverse economic developments could pose significant strains on the ability of municipal securities insurers to meet all future claims. As of April 30, 2023, 12.5% of the Puerto Rico municipal securities held by the Fund were insured.
(J) Indemnifications.  Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may 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. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the Fund.
(K) Quantitative Disclosure of Derivative Holdings. The following tables show additional disclosures related to the Fund's derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on the Fund's financial positions, performance and cash flows.
The Fund entered into futures contracts to manage its exposure to the securities markets or to movements in interest rates and currency values.
Fair value of derivative instruments as of April 30, 2023:
Liability Derivatives Interest
Rate
Contracts
Risk
Total
Futures Contracts - Net Assets—Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (a) $(1,301,136) $(1,301,136)
Total Fair Value $(1,301,136) $(1,301,136)
    
(a) Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: Interest
Rate
Contracts
Risk
Total
Futures Contracts $2,229,229 $2,229,229
Total Net Realized Gain (Loss) $2,229,229 $2,229,229
    
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) Interest
Rate
Contracts
Risk
Total
Futures Contracts $(1,835,660) $(1,835,660)
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) $(1,835,660) $(1,835,660)
    
Average Notional Amount Total
Futures Contracts Short $(22,486,810)
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager and Subadvisor. New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company ("New York Life"), serves as the Fund's Manager, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement ("Management Agreement"). The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the Fund. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the Fund, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the Fund and certain operational expenses of the Fund. The
39


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Fund reimburses New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the Fund. MacKay Shields LLC ("MacKay Shields" or the "Subadvisor"), a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, serves as the Subadvisor to the Fund and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement ("Subadvisory Agreement") between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields, New York Life Investments pays for the services of the Subadvisor.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee for the services performed and the facilities furnished at an annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments and acquired (underlying) fund fees and expenses) do not exceed the following percentages of daily net assets: Class A, 0.77% and Class R6, 0.50%. New York Life Investments will apply an equivalent waiver or reimbursement, in an equal number of basis points of the Class A shares waiver/reimbursement, to Investor Class, Class C, Class C2 and Class I shares. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2024, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the year ended April 30, 2023, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Fund in the amount of $839,511 and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $153,643 and paid the Subadvisor fees of $342,934.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan") provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the Fund pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the Fund, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the Fund's NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the Fund's administrative operations. For providing these services to the Fund, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Trust and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the Fund. The Fund will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the Fund.
(B) Distribution and Service Fees.  The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The Fund has adopted distribution plans (the “Plans”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Pursuant to the Class A and Investor Class Plans, the Distributor receives a monthly fee from the Class A and Investor Class shares at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A and Investor Class shares for distribution and/or service activities as designated by the Distributor. Pursuant to the Class C Plan, Class C shares pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares, along with a service fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares, for a total 12b-1 fee of 0.50%. Pursuant to the Class C2 Plan, Class C2 shares pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.40% of the average daily net assets of the Class C2 shares, along with a service fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class C2 shares, for a total 12b-1 fee of 0.65%. Class I and Class R6 shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Plans provide that the distribution and service fees are payable to the Distributor regardless of the amounts actually expended by the Distributor for distribution of the Fund's shares and service activities.
(C) Sales Charges.  The Fund was advised by the Distributor that the amount of initial sales charges retained on sales of Class A and Investor Class shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, were $1,362 and $32, respectively.
The Fund was also advised that the Distributor retained CDSCs on redemptions of Class A, Investor Class and Class C shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, of $7,525, $99 and $966, respectively.
(D) Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder Servicing Agent.  NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments, is the Fund's transfer, dividend disbursing and shareholder servicing agent pursuant to an agreement between NYLIM Service Company LLC and the Trust. NYLIM Service Company LLC has entered into an agreement with SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. ("SS&C"), pursuant to which SS&C performs certain transfer agent services on behalf of NYLIM Service Company LLC. New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to limit the transfer agency expenses charged to the Fund’s share classes to a maximum of 0.35% of that share class’s average daily net assets on an annual basis after deducting any applicable Fund or class-level expense reimbursement or small account fees. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board. During the year ended April 30, 2023, transfer agent expenses incurred by the Fund and any
 
40 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


reimbursements, pursuant to the aforementioned Transfer Agency expense limitation agreement, were as follows:
Class Expense Waived
Class A $ 9,676 $—
Investor Class 251
Class C 3,636
Class C2 119
Class I 90,138
Class R6
(E) Small Account Fee.  Shareholders with small accounts adversely impact the cost of providing transfer agency services. In an effort to reduce total transfer agency expenses, the Fund has implemented a small account fee on certain types of accounts. As described in the Fund's prospectus, certain shareholders with an account balance of less than $1,000 ($5,000 for Class A share accounts) are charged an annual per account fee of $20 (assessed semi-annually), the proceeds from which offset transfer agent fees as reflected in the Statement of Operations. This small account fee will not apply to certain types of accounts as described further in the Fund’s prospectus.
(F) Capital. As of April 30, 2023, New York Life and its affiliates beneficially held shares of the Fund with the values and percentages of net assets as follows:
Class A $25,948 0.1%
Investor Class 25,760 25.9
Class C 25,489 0.8
Class C2 25,262 11.8
Class R6 26,148 99.7
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of April 30, 2023, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Fund’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $346,621,794 $6,876,603 $(2,820,318) $4,056,285
As of April 30, 2023, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Ordinary
Income
Undistributed
Tax Exempt
Income
Accumulated
Capital
and Other
Gain (Loss)
Other
Temporary
Differences
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Total
Accumulated
Gain (Loss)
$— $2,409 $(8,175,457) $(183) $4,056,285 $(4,116,946)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to due to mark to market of futures contracts and premium amortization.
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $8,175,457, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of the Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $4,755 $3,420
During the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
  2023 2022
Distributions paid from:    
Ordinary Income $ 288,952 $ 17,770
Long-Term Capital Gains 365,818 594,960
Exempt Interest Dividends 6,494,151 1,315,760
Total $7,148,921 $1,928,490
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the Fund. Custodial fees are charged to the Fund based on the Fund's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by the Fund and the number of certain transactions incurred by the Fund.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 26, 2022, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate, Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") + 0.10%, or the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 25, 2023, although the Fund, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate
41


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
of banks. Prior to July 26, 2022, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the Fund under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the Fund, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the Fund and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the Fund.
Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended April 30, 2023, purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, were $409,814 and $160,451, respectively.
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022, were as follows:
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 4,521,934 $ 42,589,581
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 66,760 629,178
Shares redeemed (595,824) (5,610,827)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 3,992,870 37,607,932
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 17,915 166,839
Net increase (decrease) 4,010,785 $ 37,774,771
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 627,789 $ 6,160,870
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 3,108 31,706
Shares redeemed (123,551) (1,239,097)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 507,346 4,953,479
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 1,148 11,409
Net increase (decrease) 508,494 $ 4,964,888
 
Investor Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 51,856 $ 492,143
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 345 3,235
Shares redeemed (28,623) (267,552)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 23,578 227,826
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (17,939) (166,839)
Net increase (decrease) 5,639 $ 60,987
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 7,351 $ 75,661
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 128 1,306
Shares redeemed (5,527) (54,397)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,952 22,570
Shares converted from Investor Class (See Note 1) (269) (2,812)
Net increase (decrease) 1,683 $ 19,758
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 330,090 $ 3,098,482
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 5,401 50,790
Shares redeemed (46,116) (431,464)
Net increase (decrease) 289,375 $ 2,717,808
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 67,637 $ 681,825
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 577 5,875
Shares redeemed (19,293) (192,733)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 48,921 494,967
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (882) (8,597)
Net increase (decrease) 48,039 $ 486,370
 
Class C2(a) Shares Amount
Period ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 22,951 $ 215,964
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 160 1,515
Shares redeemed (454) (4,320)
Net increase (decrease) 22,657 $ 213,159
 
 
42 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 41,397,550 $ 388,470,731
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 686,149 6,451,262
Shares redeemed (18,977,575) (177,675,361)
Net increase (decrease) 23,106,124 $ 217,246,632
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 5,207,450 $ 51,686,935
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 184,680 1,888,329
Shares redeemed (1,552,936) (15,321,564)
Net increase (decrease) 3,839,194 $ 38,253,700
 
Class R6 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 89 $ 842
Net increase (decrease) 89 $ 842
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 75 $ 768
Net increase (decrease) 75 $ 768
    
(a) The inception of the class was December 13, 2023.
Note 10–Other Matters
As of the date of this report, interest rates in the United States and many parts of the world, including certain European countries, continue to ascend from historically low levels. Thus, the Fund currently faces a heightened level of risk associated with rising interest rates. This could be driven by a variety of factors, including but not limited to central bank monetary policies, changing inflation or real growth rates, general economic conditions, increasing bond issuances or reduced market demand for low yielding investments.
Social, political, economic and other conditions and events, such as war, natural disasters, health emergencies (e.g., epidemics and pandemics), terrorism, conflicts, social unrest, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes and supply chain disruptions, may occur and could significantly impact the Fund, issuers, industries, governments and other systems, including the financial markets. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, the conflict in Ukraine, and the failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, may magnify factors that affect the Fund's performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended April 30, 2023, events and transactions subsequent to April 30, 2023, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment
and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified, other than the following:
At meetings held on December 6-7, 2022, the Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust approved the change of the Fund's fiscal year end from April 30th to October 31st effective May 1, 2023.
43


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders of the Fund and Board of Trustees
MainStay Funds Trust:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund (the Fund), one of the funds constituting MainStay Funds Trust, including the portfolio of investments, as of April 30, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the three-year period then ended and the period June 28, 2019 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2020. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of April 30, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the three-year period then ended and the period June 28, 2019 through April 30, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2023, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more New York Life Investment Management investment companies since 2003.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 23, 2023
44 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund (“Fund”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) and the Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments and MacKay Shields LLC (“MacKay”) with respect to the Fund (together, “Advisory Agreements”) is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 6–7, 2022 meeting, the Board, which is comprised solely of Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”), unanimously approved the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during October 2022 through December 2022, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments and MacKay in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on the Fund and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on the Fund’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments and/or MacKay that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements reflect a year-long process, and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of the Fund and investment-related matters for the Fund as well as presentations from New York Life Investments and, generally annually, MacKay personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information provided by New York Life Investments throughout the year,
including, among other items, periodic reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2022 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding the Fund’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding the Fund’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or certain other fees by the applicable share classes of the Fund, among other information.
In considering the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors that figured prominently in the Board’s consideration of the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements are summarized in more detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by New York Life Investments and MacKay; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of the Fund and the historical investment performance of the Fund, New York Life Investments and MacKay; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay with respect to their relationships with the Fund; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if the Fund grows and the extent to which any economies of scale have been shared, have benefited or may benefit the Fund’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of the Fund’s management and subadvisory fees and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between the Fund’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing the Fund. With respect to the Subadvisory Agreement, the Board took into account New York Life Investments’ recommendation to approve the continuation of the Subadvisory Agreement.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments and MacKay. The Board’s
 
45


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
decision with respect to each of the Advisory Agreements may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments and MacKay resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of each of the Advisory Agreements in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace there are a range of investment options available to investors and that the Fund’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Fund.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements during its December 6–7, 2022 meeting are summarized in more detail below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of the Fund and considered that the Fund operates in a “manager-of-managers” structure. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities and services provided pursuant to this structure, including overseeing the services provided by MacKay, evaluating the performance of MacKay, making recommendations to the Board as to whether the Subadvisory Agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated and periodically reporting to the Board regarding the results of New York Life Investments’ evaluation and monitoring functions. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers, including subadvisors. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to the Fund, including New York Life Investments’ oversight and due diligence reviews of MacKay and ongoing analysis of, and interactions with, MacKay with respect to, among other things, the Fund’s investment performance and risks as well as MacKay’s investment capabilities and subadvisory services with respect to the Fund.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Fund under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including
supervision and implementation of the Fund’s compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Fund and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers, except for a portion of the salary of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Fund and has provided an increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments, including in connection with the implementation of the MainStay Group of Funds’ derivatives risk management program and policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. The Board considered benefits to the Fund’s shareholders from the Fund being part of the MainStay Group of Funds, including the ability to exchange investments between the same class of shares of funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, including without the imposition of a sales charge (if any).
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that MacKay provides to the Fund and considered the terms of each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board evaluated MacKay’s experience and performance in serving as subadvisor to the Fund and advising other portfolios and MacKay’s track record and experience in providing investment advisory services as well as the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at MacKay. The Board considered New York Life Investments’ and MacKay’s overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation, financial condition and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged their commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Fund. The Board also considered MacKay’s ability to recruit and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel and other resources to service and support the Fund. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of the Fund’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay regarding the operations of their respective business continuity plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued remote work environment.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that the Fund would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
 
46 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Investment Performance
In evaluating the Fund’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered investment reports on, and analysis of, the Fund’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on the Fund’s gross and net returns, the Fund’s investment performance compared to a relevant investment category and the Fund’s benchmark, the Fund’s risk-adjusted investment performance and the Fund’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of the Fund as compared to peer funds. In addition, the Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes.
The Board also took into account its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning the Fund’s investment performance over various periods as well as discussions between the Fund’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments or MacKay had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance Fund investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that its review of the Fund’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits and Other Benefits Realized, by New York Life Investments and MacKay
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under each of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Fund as well as the MainStay Group of Funds. Because MacKay is an affiliate of New York Life Investments whose subadvisory fee is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund, the Board considered cost and profitability information for New York Life Investments and MacKay in the aggregate.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, the Board considered,
among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’, including MacKay’s, continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of the Fund, and that New York Life Investments is responsible for paying the subadvisory fee for the Fund. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and MacKay and acknowledged that New York Life Investments and MacKay must be in a position to recruit and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments and MacKay to continue to provide high-quality services to the Fund. The Board recognized that the Fund benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board noted it had previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board also noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to the Fund and considered that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Fund, including reputational and other indirect benefits. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to MacKay from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers provide research and other services to MacKay in exchange for commissions paid by the Fund with respect to trades in the Fund’s portfolio securities. In addition, the Board considered its review of the management agreement for a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Fund, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Fund, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Fund.
The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement for managing the Fund, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving the Fund in various other capacities, including as the Fund’s transfer agent and distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with the
47


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement and Subadvisory Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the relationship with the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Fund on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, due to their relationships with the Fund were not excessive and other expected benefits that may accrue to New York Life Investments and its affiliates, including MacKay, are reasonable.
Management and Subadvisory Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under each of the Advisory Agreements and the Fund’s total ordinary operating expenses. The Board primarily considered the reasonableness of the management fee paid by the Fund to New York Life Investments because the subadvisory fee paid to MacKay is paid by New York Life Investments, not the Fund. The Board also considered the reasonableness of the subadvisory fee paid by New York Life Investments and the amount of the management fee retained by New York Life Investments.
In assessing the reasonableness of the Fund’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. The Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments and MacKay on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund, if any. The Board considered the contractual management fee schedules of the Fund as compared to those of such other investment advisory clients, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account information provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Fund, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on the Fund’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for the Fund, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
The Board took into account information from New York Life Investments, as provided in connection with the Board’s June 2022 meeting, regarding the reasonableness of the Fund’s transfer agent fee schedule, including industry data demonstrating that the fees that NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments and the Fund’s
transfer agent, charges the Fund are within the range of fees charged by transfer agents to other mutual funds. In addition, the Board considered NYLIM Service Company LLC’s profitability in connection with the transfer agent services it provides to the Fund. The Board also took into account information provided by NYLIM Service Company LLC regarding the sub-transfer agency payments it made to intermediaries in connection with the provision of sub-transfer agency services to the Fund.
The Board considered the extent to which transfer agent fees contributed to the total expenses of the Fund. The Board acknowledged the role that the MainStay Group of Funds historically has played in serving the investment needs of New York Life Insurance Company customers, who often maintain smaller account balances than other shareholders of funds, and the impact of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes. The Board also recognized measures that it and New York Life Investments have taken intended to mitigate the effect of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes, including through the imposition of an expense limitation on net transfer agency expenses. The Board also considered that NYLIM Service Company LLC had waived its contractual cost of living adjustments during the seven years prior to 2021.
Based on the factors outlined above, among other considerations, the Board concluded that the Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses are within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether economies of scale may exist for the Fund and whether the Fund’s expense structure permits any economies of scale to be appropriately shared with the Fund’s shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Fund in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance the services provided to the Fund. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately shared for the benefit of the Fund’s shareholders through the Fund’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
 
48 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board unanimously voted to approve the continuation of each of the Advisory Agreements.
49


Discussion of the Operation and Effectiveness of the Fund's Liquidity Risk Management Program (Unaudited)
In compliance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”), which New York Life Investment Management LLC believes is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk. A Fund's liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (the "Board") previously approved the designation of New York Life Investment Management LLC as administrator of the Program (the “Administrator”). The Administrator has established a Liquidity Risk Management Committee to assist the Administrator in the implementation and day-to-day administration of the Program and to otherwise support the Administrator in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Program.
At a meeting of the Board held on February 28, 2023, the Administrator provided the Board with a written report addressing the Program’s operation and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation for the period from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022 (the "Review Period"), as required under the Liquidity Rule. The report noted that the Administrator concluded that (i) the Program operated effectively to assess and manage the Fund's liquidity risk, (ii) the Program has been and continues to be adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and, as applicable, respond to the Fund's liquidity developments and (iii) the Fund's investment strategy continues to be appropriate for an open-end fund. In addition, the report summarized the operation of the Program and the information and factors considered by the Administrator in its assessment of the Program’s implementation, such as the liquidity risk assessment framework and the liquidity classification methodologies, and discussed notable geopolitical, market and other economic events that impacted liquidity risk during the Review Period.
In accordance with the Program, the Fund's liquidity risk is assessed no less frequently than annually taking into consideration certain factors, as applicable, such as (i) investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments, (ii) short-term and long-term cash flow projections, and (iii) holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements and other funding sources. Certain factors are considered under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions.
Each Fund portfolio investment is classified into one of four liquidity categories. The classification is based on a determination of the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment into cash, or sell or dispose of the investment, in current market conditions without significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Administrator has delegated liquidity classification determinations to the Fund’s subadvisor, subject to appropriate oversight by the Administrator, and liquidity classification determinations are made by taking into account the Fund's reasonably anticipated trade size, various market, trading and investment-specific considerations, as well as market depth, and, in certain cases, third-party vendor data.
The Liquidity Rule requires funds that do not primarily hold assets that are highly liquid investments to adopt a minimum amount of net assets that must be invested in highly liquid investments that are assets (an “HLIM”). In addition, the Liquidity Rule limits a fund's investments in illiquid investments. Specifically, the Liquidity Rule prohibits acquisition of illiquid investments if, immediately after acquisition, doing so would result in a fund holding more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. The Program includes provisions reasonably designed to determine, periodically review and comply with the HLIM requirement, as applicable, and to comply with the 15% limit on illiquid investments.
There can be no assurance that the Program will achieve its objectives under all circumstances in the future. Please refer to the Fund's prospectus for more information regarding the Fund's exposure to liquidity risk and other risks to which it may be subject.
50 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


Federal Income Tax
Information   (Unaudited)
The Fund is required under the Internal Revenue Code to advise shareholders in a written statement as to the federal tax status of dividends paid by the Fund during such fiscal years. Accordingly, the Fund paid $365,818 as long term capital gain distributions.
For Federal individual income tax purposes, the Fund designated 95.7% of the ordinary income dividends paid during its fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 as attributable to interest income from Tax Exempt Municipal Bonds. Such dividends are currently exempt from Federal income taxes under Section 103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In February 2024, shareholders will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099, which will show the federal tax status of the distributions received by shareholders in calendar year 2023. The amounts that will be reported on such 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099 will be the amounts you are to use on your federal income tax return and will differ from the amounts which we must report for the Fund's fiscal year ended April 30, 2023.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Fund is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Fund is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782; visiting newyorklifeinvestments.com; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The Fund's holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling New York Life Investments at 800-624-6782.
51


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Funds who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal.
Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Fund (“Independent Trustees”).
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Naïm Abou-Jaoudé*
1966
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023
Chief Executive Officer of New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2023. Previously, Abou-Jaoudé was the Chief Executive Officer of Candriam (an affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC) from 2007 to 2023. 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023 (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee
since June 2023; and
New York Life Investment Management International: Chair since 2015
* This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of his affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.”
   
Interested Trustee
52 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  David H. Chow
1957
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC (since 1999) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Trustee since 2006 and Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2022 (57 portfolios); Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Investment Committee since 2018
  Karen Hammond
1956
MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021)
Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Director since 2018;
Rhode Island State Investment Commission: Member since 2017; and
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island: Director since 2019
  Susan B. Kerley
1951
MainStay Funds: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 1990**
President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC (since 1990) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2011;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios)
  Alan R. Latshaw
1951
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since 2006;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
Independent Trustees
53


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Jacques P. Perold
1958
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015
to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC (since 2018); President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017
  Richard S. Trutanic
1952
MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) (since 2004); Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
* Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
** Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust.
Independent Trustees
54 MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund


  Name and
Year of Birth
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
 
         
  Kirk C. Lehneis
1974
President, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust (since 2017) Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC (since 2017); Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since January 2018); President, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2017); Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015-2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC  
  Jack R. Benintende
1964
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay Funds (since 2007), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2007); Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2007)**; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012)  
  J. Kevin Gao
1967
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since 2010) Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2010); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2010)**       
  Scott T. Harrington
1959
Vice President— Administration, MainStay Funds (since 2005), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) (since 2000); Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company (since 2009); Vice President—Administration, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2005)**     
  Kevin M. Gleason
1967
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since June 2022) Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and Index IQ Active ETF Trust (since June 2022); Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, MainStay VP Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2022); Senior Vice President, Voya Investment Management and Chief Compliance Officer, Voya Family of Funds (2012-2022)  
* The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board.
** Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
55


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MainStay Funds
Equity
U.S. Equity
MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund
MainStay Fiera SMID Growth Fund
MainStay S&P 500 Index Fund
MainStay Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund
MainStay WMC Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Small Companies Fund
MainStay WMC Value Fund
International Equity
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund
MainStay MacKay International Equity Fund
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund
Emerging Markets Equity
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Global Equity
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund
MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund
Fixed Income
Taxable Income
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Debt Fund
MainStay Floating Rate Fund
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Total Return Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay U.S. Infrastructure Bond Fund
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund
Tax-Exempt Income
MainStay MacKay California Tax Free Opportunities Fund1
MainStay MacKay High Yield Municipal Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay New York Tax Free Opportunities Fund2
MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund
MainStay MacKay Tax Free Bond Fund
Money Market
MainStay Money Market Fund
Mixed Asset
MainStay Balanced Fund
MainStay Income Builder Fund
MainStay MacKay Convertible Fund
Speciality
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund
MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund
MainStay Cushing MLP Premier Fund
Asset Allocation
MainStay Conservative Allocation Fund
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
 

 
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Candriam3
Strassen, Luxembourg
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Cushing Asset Management, LP
Dallas, Texas
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
Fiera Capital Inc.
New York, New York
IndexIQ Advisors LLC3
New York, New York
MacKay Shields LLC3
New York, New York
NYL Investors LLC3
New York, New York
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC3
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
 
 
  1.  
This Fund is registered for sale in AZ, CA, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA and MI (Class A and Class I shares only), and CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, MA, MD, NH, NJ and NY (Class I shares only).
2. This Fund is registered for sale in CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, NJ, NY and VT.
3. An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC.
Not part of the Annual Report


For more information
800-624-6782
newyorklifeinvestments.com
“New York Life Investments” is both a service mark, and the common trade name, of certain investment advisors affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. The MainStay Funds® are managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a Member FINRA/SIPC.
©2023 NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
5022210MS043-23 MSMSMA11-06/23
(NYLIM) NL466





MainStay ETF Asset Allocation Funds

Message from the President and Annual Report
April 30, 2023
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
Sign up for e-delivery of your shareholder reports. For full details on e-delivery, including who can participate and what you can receive via e-delivery,
please log in to newyorklifeinvestments.com/accounts.
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured Not a Deposit May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee Not Insured by Any Government Agency


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Message from the President
Despite high levels of volatility and sharp, short-term shifts in value, broadly based stock and bond indices saw relatively modest overall changes during the 12-month reporting period ended April 30, 2023.A deeply challenging investment environment during the last eight months of 2022, driven by increasing inflationary pressures and aggressive monetary efforts to curb them, was followed by a more positive, but uneven, economic and monetary backdrop during the first four months of 2023.
In April 2022, before the start of the reporting period, U.S. inflation stood at an annualized rate of 8.3%, up from 4.2% a year earlier. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), had begun to take steps to curb inflation, raising the federal funds rate from near zero in March 2022. Eight separate rate hikes during the reporting period brought the benchmark rate up to 4.75–5.00% in March 2023. Inflation seemed to respond, easing steadily from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 4.9% in April 2023. Although further interest rate increases are expected in 2023, by the end of the reporting period, it appeared that the Fed might be nearing the end of the current rate-hike cycle. Economic growth, although slower, remained positive, supported by historically high levels of employment and robust consumer spending. International economies experienced similar trends, with more modest central bank interest-rate hikes curbing inflation to a degree.
Equity market behavior during the reporting period reflected the arc of monetary policy and economic developments. From May through early October 2022, as inflation raged and interest-rate increases accelerated, investors shied away from perceived risk, favoring relatively defensive and value-oriented sectors over growth-oriented sectors. The S&P 500® Index, a widely regarded benchmark of U.S. market performance, declined by more than 13% during this time, while international stocks suffered even sharper losses. These trends reversed from mid-October 2022 through the end of the reporting period, as inflationary pressures eased and markets began to anticipate an end to rising interest rates. Between mid-October 2022 and April 30, 2023, the S&P 500® Index regained all the ground it lost earlier, ending in modestly positive territory. International developed-markets stocks bounced back even stronger, prompted by surprisingly robust economic resilience in Europe and further bolstered by China’s
reopening after the government rescinded its “zero-COVID-19” policy and eased regulatory restrictions on key industries. The declining value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies also enhanced international market equity performance. Emerging markets generally lagged their developed-markets counterparts while outperforming U.S. markets.
Fixed-income markets followed a similar pattern of retreat and recovery. Bond prices trended sharply downward early in the reporting period, as yields rose along with interest rates. Short-term yields rose faster than long-term yields, producing a yield curve inversion—with long-term rates lower than short-term rates—that persisted from July through the end of the reporting period. However, market sentiment improved in the second half of the reporting period as inflationary pressures eased. As the Fed decreased the magnitude of rate increases, focus turned toward the possibility of eventual rate reductions and a potential ‘soft landing’ for the economy. On the negative side, a small number of high-profile, regional U.S. bank failures in March and April 2023 raised fears of possible wider banking industry contagion and future credit constraints.
While many market observers believe the Fed has neared the end of the current cycle of rate increases, the central bank’s rhetoric remains sharply focused on its target inflation rate of 2%. Only time will tell if the market’s favorable expectations prove well founded.
However the economic story unfolds in the months and years to come, we remain dedicated to providing you with the one-on-one philosophy and diversified, multi-boutique investment resources that set New York Life Investments apart. Thank you for trusting us to help you meet your investment needs.
Sincerely,
Kirk C. Lehneis
President
 
The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecast made will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Not part of the Annual Report


Table of Contents

Investors should refer to each Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus and consider each Fund’s investment objectives, strategies, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus contain this and other information about each Fund. You may obtain copies of each Fund’s Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, which includes information about the MainStay Funds Trust's Trustees, free of charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 800-624-6782, by writing to NYLIFE Distributors LLC, Attn: MainStay Marketing Department, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 or by sending an e-mail to MainStayShareholderServices@nylim.com. These documents are also available via the MainStay Funds’ website at newyorklifeinvestments.com. Please read each Fund’s Summary Prospectus and/or Prospectus carefully before investing.


MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date
One
Year
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio1
Class A Shares Maximum 3.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 6/30/2020 -2.28% -1.32% 1.89%
    Excluding sales charges   0.74 -0.26 1.89
Class C Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 6/30/2020 -1.00 -1.00 2.74
  if redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   -0.02 -1.00 2.74
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 1.00 0.01 1.64
Class R3 Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 0.36 -0.62 2.24
SIMPLE Class Shares No Sales Charge   8/31/2020 0.47 -1.48 2.24
    
1. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
    
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
5


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Since
Inception
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1 -0.43% -3.70%
S&P 500® Index2 2.66 12.77
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)3 8.42 9.43
Defensive Allocation Composite Index4 0.66 -0.57
Morningstar Conservative Allocation Category Average5 -0.27 1.41
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The Fund has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as the primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
2. The S&P 500® Index is the Fund's secondary benchmark. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance.
3. The Fund has selected the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) as an additional benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America.
4. The Fund has selected the Defensive Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Defensive Allocation Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 15%, 5% and 80%, respectively.
5. The Morningstar Conservative Allocation Category Average is representative of funds in allocation categories that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by primarily investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These conservative strategies prioritize preservation of capital over appreciation. They typically expect volatility similar to a strategic equity exposure between 15% and 30%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
6 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,056.90 $4.08 $1,020.83 $4.01 0.80%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,053.10 $7.89 $1,017.11 $7.75 1.55%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,059.40 $2.81 $1,022.07 $2.76 0.55%
Class R3 Shares $1,000.00 $1,055.20 $5.86 $1,019.09 $5.76 1.15%
SIMPLE Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,055.50 $5.35 $1,019.59 $5.26 1.05%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
7



Asset Diversification as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds 18.0 %
Fixed Income Funds 72.8
Short-Term Investments 25.9
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (16.7)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 12 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund’s holdings are subject to change.

8 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Fund’s Manager.
How did MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund perform relative to its benchmarks and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund returned 1.00%, outperforming the −0.43% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the "Index"), and underperforming the 2.66% return of the S&P 500® Index, which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark. Over the same period, Class I shares of the Fund underperformed the 8.42% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), and outperformed the 0.66% return of the Defensive Allocation Composite Index, both of which are additional benchmarks of the Fund. For the six months ended October 31, 2022, Class I shares of the Fund outperformed the −0.27% return of the Morningstar Conservative Allocation Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Fund is a “fund of funds" that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in unaffiliated, passively-managed, exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”). The Underlying ETFs may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. During the reporting period, asset class policy was the primary determinant of the Fund’s relative performance.
Fund management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Fund. During the reporting period, the Fund modestly underperformed the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to asset class policy decisions. Management of the Fund’s stock/bond blend itself was not the issue, as positive returns were generated in the process of controlling the blend. The allocation was held near neutral for much of the reporting period, although capital was added to equities during periods of pricing softness and removed again as the market recovered. This tactical “buy the dip, sell the rally” practice boosted returns at the margin.
Rather, the issue was within asset classes. A persistent bias toward small-cap names, expressed through exposure to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index,2 detracted materially from relative performance. While relative valuations for small-cap stocks were much more attractive than the historical norm, smaller companies are significantly more sensitive to changes in bank financing conditions than larger companies that can issue
bonds. Fast-rising costs on bank loans, coupled with concerns about future credit availability in the wake of the bank crisis that emerged in March and April 2023, weighed heavily on the smaller end of the capitalization spectrum. In contrast, mega-cap technology and technology-related companies—including Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Meta Platforms and Amazon.com—performed well.
Significantly underweight exposure to non-U.S. developed markets also detracted materially from relative performance. In our estimation, Europe was particularly vulnerable to disruption, owing largely to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying strain on energy supplies. An unusually mild winter, however, granted a reprieve, and these markets ultimately performed quite well.
Exposure to gold miners further detracted from relative performance. The price of bullion rose over the course of the reporting period, but companies that extract gold fared less well, possibly due to rising extraction costs (particularly labor) and currency effects.
On the upside, maintaining a large cash position within the fixed-income portion of the Fund made a substantial positive contribution to performance, as bond yields climbed. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Similarly, skewing high yield bond holdings to favor shorter-duration3 instruments boosted returns at the margin.
Even within equities, the news was not universally negative. Exposure to energy stocks, for example, proved helpful as gains in the first half of the reporting period more than offset the underperformance experienced during the second half. We believe energy remains a compelling strategic opportunity, particularly among producers and firms that provide extraction services.
How did you allocate the Fund’s assets during the reporting period and why?
Stock/bond blend: Equity exposure within the Fund was held relatively close to neutral during the reporting period, with the exception of a modest bias favoring stocks that we implemented tactically in response to swings in pricing (adding on drawdowns and trimming on rallies). We are generally reluctant to position the Fund with underweight equity exposure, since stocks tend to perform well over time and anticipating drawdowns is challenging. The opposite is less true. We are happy to lean into equities when we believe they are well-supported fundamentally or when a correction has run further than we believe appropriate. This strategy worked well during the reporting period, producing a
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
2. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index covers roughly the small-cap range of American stocks, using a capitalization-weighted index. Capitalization range is from $850 million to $3.7 billion.
3. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
9


modestly positive contribution to performance. The policy stance shifted slightly in 2023, however, when the Fund adopted a small underweight position in equities following a sharp rally in January. We increased this underweight posture later in the reporting period as turmoil among banks increased the likelihood of a near-term recession.
Duration: Believing inflationary pressures to be at least partially structural in nature and likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future, we skewed the Fund’s fixed-income holdings to favor shorter-maturity instruments less sensitive to rising bond yields, although duration was added as yields rose. Over the latter half of the reporting period, duration was slightly shorter than that of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Equity style: In the same way that inflation threatens long-duration bonds, equities with values disproportionately reflected in more distant cash flows (i.e., growth stocks with high prices relative to current earnings) are likewise vulnerable. Accordingly, the Fund remained tilted to emphasize value stocks that offered more attractive near-term cash flows, placing particular focus on traditionally defensive sectors: real estate, utilities, consumer staples and (most of all) health care. While this positioning made a modest, positive contribution to the Fund’s return during the first half of the reporting period, the opposite was true during the second half, as market performance was dominated by a handful of large, high-growth companies, including NVDIA, Tesla, Apple and others.
Equity size: Small-company stocks were more heavily represented in the Fund than in the Index. The thesis behind this positioning was based on attractive small-cap valuations, insulation from economic weakness abroad, less sensitivity to dollar strength and disproportionate exposure to domestic demand, which remained robust. This stance was helpful for much of the reporting period, but reversed abruptly in the spring of 2023 as small companies, which tend to be heavily dependent on bank financing, proved vulnerable to the aggressive, tightening lending standards implemented during the bank crisis mentioned above.
Geographic exposure: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that ensued, the Fund maintained underweight exposure to developed international markets. However, non-U.S. developed markets fared well during the reporting period, benefiting from both an unusually mild winter that reduced the strain on energy reserves, and the reopening of China following the end of the country’s zero-COVID-19 restrictions.
Energy: The Fund maintained exposure to upstream energy producers and oilfield/gas field service providers as a commodity play to provide an additional inflation hedge. These holdings also positioned the Fund to take advantage of opportunities for
domestic producers to benefit as Western nations revisit energy policy to source supplies from stable and friendly jurisdictions rather than autocratic petrostates that present national security risks. While the Fund’s position was small, it had a disproportionately positive impact on performance as oil and gas prices soared during the first half of the reporting period, although some of those gains were later reversed.
How did the Fund’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
The Fund’s cash position saw the largest allocation increase, as we trimmed both equity and fixed income positions. Allocations to full-duration investment-grade bonds also increased through additional exposure to iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF. The Fund also added several new holdings. The Fund established a stake in iShares® Core S&P® Mid-Cap ETF, reflecting our favorable view of the mid-cap asset class’s attractive relative valuations and reduced sensitivity to bank lending conditions compared to the small cap universe; the position also offset a reduction in the Fund’s position in Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF. The Fund took a position in The Materials Select Sector SPDR® Fund as a hedge against stubborn inflation, protection against a potentially weakening dollar and as a way to benefit from supply-chain reengineering and the desire of manufacturers to source raw materials from more friendly, reliable geographies. The Fund also initiated a position in iShares® MSCI Japan ETF, since we viewed Japanese equity valuations as attractive, export conditions as favorable and we believe the Japanese yen is likely to appreciate should the country’s central bank further relax, or even abandon, its existing yield curve4 control policy. These positions were funded in large part from Vanguard Mega Cap ETF.
A reduced position in iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF reflected the Fund’s shift away from non-U.S. developed equity markets. We trimmed holdings of Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF in response to the ongoing bank crisis. Sales of iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corp Bond ETF and Invesco Senior Loan ETF were prompted by our strategy of shifting Fund assets away from lower-credit-quality fixed-income instruments in preparation for a potentially fast-approaching recession.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Equity ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Fund’s top-performing Underlying Equity ETFs that were held for the entire reporting period included iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF, VanEck Oil Services ETF and Health Care Select SPDR® Fund. The lowest total returns were seen in iShares® Core S&P®
4. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
10 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


Small-Cap ETF, Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF and Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF.
Which Underlying Equity ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Equity ETFs were particularly weak?
Contribution to return is a function not only of Underlying ETF performance and average allocation, but also the variation in that allocation across time. The Underlying Equity ETFs making the largest positive contributions to return—Vanguard Mega Cap ETF, VanEck Oil Services ETF and SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF—were neither the highest-returning funds nor the largest positions. The most significant detractors were iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF, VanEck Gold Miners ETF and iShares® Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs posting the highest total returns included iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Invesco Senior Loan ETF and iShares® Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF. The only two Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs to experience losses were iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF.
Which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were particularly weak?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs making the largest contributions to return were Invesco Senior Loan ETF, iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF. The only Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs to detract from absolute performance was iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, which was used for duration management. The smallest positive contributions came from Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, we believe a near-term recession looks highly probable. Our opinion is based on a wide range of variables, including, but not limited to, the shape of the yield curve, trends in business surveys, a decline in money supply, tightening credit conditions and the steady drawdown of savings accumulated during the pandemic. We expect corporate profits to decline over the next several quarters, eventually driving stock prices lower while pushing credit spreads out. Accordingly, we continue to position the Fund defensively.
The Fund’s defensive posture begins at the top of the portfolio, with a modest tilt away from equities. We generally avoid underweight equity allocations, as they usually stand on the wrong side of history—stocks rise more often than not. However, we firmly believe that current valuations are rich given the daunting array of risks the economy and the markets face, including an historically extreme rise in rates, the looming debt ceiling, the unresolved bank crisis and geopolitical uncertainty, to name a few. We maintain that caution is the better part of valor under these circumstances.
Defensive positioning is clearly visible within asset classes as well. On the equity side, the Fund favors sectors—such as consumer staples, utilities and healthcare—that have generally exhibited lower volatility and retained their value better during drawdowns. Additionally, the Fund’s bias toward historically higher-beta, small-cap stocks, in place for the past several quarters, has been effectively removed. Within fixed income, the Fund now has a below-Index-weight position in bank loans, and holdings of high yield bonds are skewed to favor lower-duration instruments, which tend to exhibit less volatility and smaller losses than longer maturity bonds.
Energy stocks tend to be more cyclical. The Fund’s overweight allocation to the sector may seem inconsistent with the otherwise cautious posture of the portfolio, although relative valuation is attractive, and we believe supply/demand dynamics will prove supportive of pricing over time for both the underlying commodities and the stock prices of companies involved in the production, processing and distribution of these resources. 
None of Schwab Strategic Trust, Schwab® U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF, Schwab U.S. Small Cap ETF or Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund.
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock (BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
11


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares   Value
Investment Companies 90.8%
Equity Funds 18.0% 
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund       771   $    102,952
Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF     1,616       103,327
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF     2,260       155,420
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF       771       191,362
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF     5,008       470,752
iShares MSCI Japan ETF     1,783       104,912
Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund     1,265       101,896
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF       680        45,839
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (a)       833       105,883
VanEck Oil Services ETF (a)       179        49,069
Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (a)     1,092       159,246
Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF       994       102,302
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF       860      179,989
Total Equity Funds
(Cost $1,843,029)
    1,872,949
Fixed Income Funds 72.8% 
Invesco Senior Loan ETF (a)    44,560       930,413
iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (a) 16,289   676,808
iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 10,403   368,682
iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF 21,712   1,104,924
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 21,995   2,198,620
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 46,741   2,199,632
Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF 1,366   104,690
Total Fixed Income Funds
(Cost $8,138,158)
    7,583,769
Total Investment Companies
(Cost $9,981,187)
    9,456,718
Short-Term Investments 25.9%
Affiliated Investment Company 9.0% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (b) 935,146   935,146
Unaffiliated Investment Company 16.9% 
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, 4.857% (b)(c) 1,754,877   1,754,877
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $2,690,023)
    2,690,023
Total Investments
(Cost $12,671,210)
116.7%   12,146,741
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (16.7)   (1,735,133)
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 10,411,608
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
12 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of April 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $1,717,982. The Fund received cash collateral with a value of $1,754,877. (See Note 2(G))
(b) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
(c) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund $ 274 $ 5,714 $ (5,053) $ — $ — $ 935 $ 18 $ — 935
Abbreviation(s):
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt
USD—United States Dollar
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Investment Companies              
Equity Funds   $  1,872,949   $ —   $ —     $  1,872,949
Fixed Income Funds   7,583,769         7,583,769
Total Investment Companies 9,456,718       9,456,718
Short-Term Investments              
Affiliated Investment Company     935,146           935,146
Unaffiliated Investment Company   1,754,877         1,754,877
Total Short-Term Investments 2,690,023       2,690,023
Total Investments in Securities $ 12,146,741   $ —   $ —   $ 12,146,741
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
13


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $11,736,064) including securities on loan of $1,717,982
$11,211,595
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $935,146)
935,146
Receivables:  
Manager (See Note 3) 9,517
Fund shares sold 5,119
Securities lending 3,128
Dividends 2,972
Other assets 16,853
Total assets 12,184,330
Liabilities
Cash collateral received for securities on loan 1,754,877
Payables:  
Shareholder communication 5,892
Custodian 5,267
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 2,436
Fund shares redeemed 2,000
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 1,710
Professional fees 78
Trustees 47
Accrued expenses 415
Total liabilities 1,772,722
Net assets $10,411,608
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 1,128
Additional paid-in-capital 11,371,284
  11,372,412
Total distributable earnings (loss) (960,804)
Net assets $10,411,608
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $9,400,293
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 1,018,801
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 9.23
Maximum sales charge (3.00% of offering price) 0.29
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 9.52
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 228,760
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 24,811
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.22
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 41,118
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 4,456
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.23
Class R3  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 75,734
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 8,212
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.22
SIMPLE Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 665,703
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 72,139
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 9.23
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
14 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated $ 320,465
Securities lending, net 40,066
Dividends-affiliated 17,794
Total income 378,325
Expenses  
Registration 89,683
Professional fees 31,247
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 23,433
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 1,600
Distribution/Service—Class R3 (See Note 3) 220
Distribution/Service—SIMPLE Class (See Note 3) 2,255
Manager (See Note 3) 20,134
Custodian 17,358
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 8,330
Shareholder communication 3,673
Trustees 48
Shareholder service (See Note 3) 44
Miscellaneous 4,311
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 202,336
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (119,414)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (21)
Net expenses 82,901
Net investment income (loss) 295,424
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments (350,565)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments 138,487
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (212,078)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 83,346
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
15


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 295,424 $ 169,523
Net realized gain (loss) (350,565) 29,411
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 138,487 (878,389)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 83,346 (679,455)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (337,870) (248,280)
Class C (5,491) (2,845)
Class I (1,493) (1,116)
Class R3 (1,517) (758)
SIMPLE Class (16,132) (3,645)
Total distributions to shareholders (362,503) (256,644)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 3,467,813 5,073,474
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 361,248 254,651
Cost of shares redeemed (2,959,484) (5,451,399)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 869,577 (123,274)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 590,420 (1,059,373)
Net Assets
Beginning of year 9,821,188 10,880,561
End of year $10,411,608 $ 9,821,188
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
16 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class A 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.50   $ 10.44   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.27   0.18   0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.21)   (0.84)   0.41
Total from investment operations 0.06   (0.66)   0.54
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.26)   (0.19)   (0.10)
From net realized gain on investments (0.07)   (0.09)  
Total distributions (0.33)   (0.28)   (0.10)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.23   $ 9.50   $ 10.44
Total investment return (b) 0.74%   (6.49)%   5.38%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.96%   1.79%   1.45%††
Net expenses (c) 0.80%   0.80%   0.80%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.98%   1.75%   2.36%††
Portfolio turnover rate 64%   79%   69%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 9,400   $ 9,366   $ 8,572
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class C 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.49   $ 10.44   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.21   0.11   0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.22)   (0.85)   0.43
Total from investment operations (0.01)   (0.74)   0.49
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.19)   (0.12)   (0.05)
From net realized gain on investments (0.07)   (0.09)  
Total distributions (0.26)   (0.21)   (0.05)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.22   $ 9.49   $ 10.44
Total investment return (b) (0.02)%   (7.28)%   4.85%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.32%   1.07%   0.74%††
Net expenses (c) 1.55%   1.55%   1.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 2.83%   2.60%   3.13%††
Portfolio turnover rate 64%   79%   69%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 229   $ 117   $ 162
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
17


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class I 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.50   $ 10.44   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.30   0.24   0.16
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.22)   (0.87)   0.40
Total from investment operations 0.08   (0.63)   0.56
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.28)   (0.22)   (0.12)
From net realized gain on investments (0.07)   (0.09)  
Total distributions (0.35)   (0.31)   (0.12)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.23   $ 9.50   $ 10.44
Total investment return (b) 1.00%   (6.25)%   5.65%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 3.24%   2.33%   1.82%††
Net expenses (c) 0.55%   0.55%   0.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.73%   1.50%   2.11%††
Portfolio turnover rate 64%   79%   69%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 41   $ 35   $ 2,040
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
18 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class R3 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.49   $ 10.44   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.24   0.15   0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.22)   (0.85)   0.41
Total from investment operations 0.02   (0.70)   0.52
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.22)   (0.16)   (0.08)
From net realized gain on investments (0.07)   (0.09)  
Total distributions (0.29)   (0.25)   (0.08)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.22   $ 9.49   $ 10.44
Total investment return (b) 0.36%   (6.91)%   5.18%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.58%   1.45%   1.22%††
Net expenses (c) 1.15%   1.15%   1.15%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 2.35%   2.10%   2.71%††
Portfolio turnover rate 64%   79%   69%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 76   $ 32   $ 26
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R3 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
19


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   August 31, 2020^ through
April 30,
SIMPLE Class 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 9.50   $ 10.44   $ 10.26
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.25   0.15   0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.22)   (0.83)   0.16
Total from investment operations 0.03   (0.68)   0.26
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.23)   (0.17)   (0.08)
From net realized gain on investments (0.07)   (0.09)  
Total distributions (0.30)   (0.26)   (0.08)
Net asset value at end of year $ 9.23   $ 9.50   $ 10.44
Total investment return (b) 0.47%   (6.74)%   2.56%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.68%   1.45%   1.13%††
Net expenses (c) 1.05%   1.05%   1.05%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 2.32%   2.10%   2.63%††
Portfolio turnover rate 64%   79%   69%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 666   $ 271   $ 80
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. SIMPLE Class shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
20 MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund


MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date
One
Year
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio1
Class A Shares Maximum 3.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 6/30/2020 -2.07% 1.15% 1.03%
    Excluding sales charges   0.96 2.25 1.03
Class C Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 6/30/2020 -0.69 1.47 1.85
  if redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   0.29 1.47 1.85
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 1.32 2.51 0.78
Class R3 Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 0.60 1.87 1.38
SIMPLE Class Shares No Sales Charge   8/31/2020 0.72 0.42 1.35
    
1. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
    
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
21


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Since
Inception
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1 -0.43% -3.70%
S&P 500® Index2 2.66 12.77
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)3 8.42 9.43
Conservative Allocation Composite Index4 1.66 2.58
Morningstar Moderately Conservative Allocation Category Average5 -0.35 3.20
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The Fund has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as the primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
2. The S&P 500® Index is the Fund's secondary benchmark. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance.
3. The Fund has selected the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) as an additional benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America.
4. The Fund has selected the Conservative Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Conservative Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 30%, 10% and 60%, respectively.
5. The Morningstar Moderately Conservative Allocation Category Average is a representative of funds in allocation categories that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by primarily investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These moderately conservative strategies prioritize preservation of capital over appreciation. They typically expect volatility similar to a strategic equity exposure between 30% and 50%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
22 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,063.40 $4.09 $1,020.83 $4.01 0.80%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,059.60 $7.92 $1,017.11 $7.75 1.55%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,065.90 $2.82 $1,022.07 $2.76 0.55%
Class R3 Shares $1,000.00 $1,061.70 $5.88 $1,019.09 $5.76 1.15%
SIMPLE Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,062.20 $5.37 $1,019.59 $5.26 1.05%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
23



Asset Diversification as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds 37.9 %
Fixed Income Funds 52.7
Short-Term Investments 20.8
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (11.4)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 28 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund’s holdings are subject to change.

24 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Fund’s Manager.
How did MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund perform relative to its benchmarks and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund returned 1.32%, outperforming the −0.43% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the “Index”), and underperforming the 2.66% return of the S&P 500® Index, which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark. Over the same period, Class I shares the Fund underperformed the 8.42% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), and the 1.66% return of the Conservative Allocation Composite Index, both of which are additional benchmarks of the Fund. For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of the Fund outperformed the −0.35% return of the Morningstar Moderately Conservative Allocation Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Fund is a “fund of funds" that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in unaffiliated, passively-managed, exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”). The Underlying ETFs may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. During the reporting period, asset class policy was the primary determinant of the Fund’s relative performance.
Fund management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Fund. During the reporting period, the Fund modestly underperformed the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to asset class policy decisions. Management of the Fund’s stock/bond blend itself was not the issue, as positive returns were generated in the process of controlling the blend. The allocation was held near neutral for much of the reporting period, although capital was added to equities during periods of pricing softness and removed again as the market recovered. This tactical “buy the dip, sell the rally” practice boosted returns at the margin.
Rather, the issue was within asset classes. A persistent bias toward small-cap names, expressed through exposure to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index,2 detracted materially from relative performance. While relative valuations for small-cap stocks were much more attractive than the historical norm, smaller companies are significantly more sensitive to changes in bank financing conditions than larger companies that can issue bonds. Fast-rising costs on bank loans, coupled with concerns about future credit availability in the wake of the bank crisis that emerged in March and April 2023, weighed heavily on the smaller end of the capitalization spectrum. In contrast, mega-cap technology and technology-related companies—including
Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Meta Platforms and Amazon.com—performed well.
Significantly underweight exposure to non-U.S. developed markets also detracted materially from relative performance. In our estimation, Europe was particularly vulnerable to disruption, owing largely to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying strain on energy supplies. An unusally mild winter, however, granted a reprieve, and these markets ultimately performed quite well.
Exposure to gold miners further detracted from relative performance. The price of bullion rose over the course of the reporting period, but companies that extract gold fared less well, possibly due to rising extraction costs (particularly labor) and currency effects.
On the upside, maintaining a large cash position within the fixed-income portion of the Fund made a substantial positive contribution to performance, as bond yields climbed. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Similarly, skewing high yield bond holdings to favor shorter-duration3 instruments boosted returns at the margin.
Even within equities, the news was not universally negative. Exposure to energy stocks, for example, proved helpful as gains in the first half of the reporting period more than offset the underperformance experienced during the second half. We believe energy remains a compelling strategic opportunity, particularly among producers and firms that provide extraction services.
How did you allocate the Fund’s assets during the reporting period and why?
Stock/bond blend: Equity exposure within the Fund was held relatively close to neutral during the reporting period, with the exception of a modest bias favoring stocks that we implemented tactically in response to swings in pricing (adding on drawdowns and trimming on rallies). We are generally reluctant to position the Fund with underweight equity exposure, since stocks tend to perform well over time, and anticipating drawdowns is challenging. The opposite is less true. We are happy to lean into equities when we believe they are well-supported fundamentally or when a correction has run further than we believe appropriate. This strategy worked well during the reporting period, producing a modestly positive contribution to performance. The policy stance shifted slightly in 2023, however, when the Fund adopted a small underweight position in equities following a sharp rally in January. We increased this underweight posture later in the reporting period as turmoil among banks increased the likelihood of a near-term recession.
Duration: Believing inflationary pressures to be at least partially structural in nature and likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future, we skewed the Fund’s fixed-income holdings to favor shorter-maturity instruments less sensitive to rising bond
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
2. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index covers roughly the small-cap range of American stocks, using a capitalization-weighted index. Capitalization range is from $850 million to $3.7 billion.
3. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
25


yields, although duration was added as yields rose. Over the latter half of the reporting period, duration was slightly shorter than that of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Equity style: In the same way that inflation threatens long-duration bonds, equities with values disproportionately reflected in more distant cash flows (i.e., growth stocks with high prices relative to current earnings) are likewise vulnerable. Accordingly, the Fund remained tilted to emphasize value stocks that offered more attractive near-term cash flows, placing particular focus on traditionally defensive sectors: real estate, utilities, consumer staples and (most of all) health care. While this positioning made a modest, positive contribution to the Fund’s return during the first half of the reporting period, the opposite was true during the second half; market performance was dominated by a handful of large, high-growth companies, including NVDIA, Tesla, Apple and others.
Equity size: Small-company stocks were more heavily represented in the Fund than in the Index. The thesis behind this positioning was based on attractive small-cap valuations, insulation from economic weakness abroad, less sensitivity to dollar strength, and disproportionate exposure to domestic demand which remained robust. This stance was helpful for much of the reporting period, but reversed abruptly in the spring of 2023 as small companies, which tend to be heavily dependent on bank financing, proved vulnerable to the aggressive, tightening lending standards implemented during the bank crisis mentioned above.
Geographic exposure: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that ensued, the Fund maintained underweight exposure to developed international markets. However, non-U.S. developed markets fared well during the reporting period, benefiting from both an unusually mild winter that reduced the strain on energy reserves, and the reopening of China following the end of the country’s ‘zero-COVID-19’ restrictions.
Gold miners: The Fund maintained a varying position in gold miners as a hedge against inflation and/or a monetary policy mistake. With month-over-month readings on inflation starting to improve, the Fed aggressively tightened monetary policy, driving input costs for energy and labor sharply higher while creating an unfavorable environment for miners. As a consequence, the Fund’s gold mining position detracted significantly from relative performance.
Energy: Similar to gold miners, the Fund maintained exposure to upstream energy producers and oilfield/gas field service providers as a commodity play to provide an additional inflation hedge. These holdings also positioned the Fund to take advantage of opportunities for domestic producers to benefit as Western nations revisit energy policy to source supplies from stable and friendly jurisdictions rather than autocratic petrostates that present national security risks. While the Fund’s position was small, it had a disproportionately positive impact on performance as oil and gas prices soared during the first half of the reporting period, although some of those gains were later reversed.
How did the Fund’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
The Fund’s cash position saw the largest allocation increase, as we trimmed both equity and fixed income positions. Allocations to full-duration investment-grade bonds also increased through additional exposure to iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF. The Fund also added several new holdings. The Fund established a stake in iShares® Core S&P® Mid-Cap ETF, reflecting our favorable view of the mid-cap asset class’s attractive relative valuations and reduced sensitivity to bank lending conditions compared to the small cap universe; the position also offset a reduction in the Fund’s position in Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF. The Fund took a position in The Materials Select Sector SPDR® Fund as a hedge against stubborn inflation, protection against a potentially weakening dollar and as a way to benefit from supply-chain reengineering and the desire of manufacturers to source raw materials from more friendly, reliable geographies. The Fund also initiated a position in iShares® MSCI Japan ETF, since we viewed Japanese equity valuations as attractive, export conditions as favorable and we believe the Japanese yen is likely to appreciate should the country’s central bank further relax, or even abandon, its existing yield curve4 control policy. These positions were funded in large part from Vanguard Mega Cap ETF.
A reduced position in iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF reflected the Fund’s shift away from non-U.S. developed equity markets. We trimmed holdings of Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF in response to the ongoing bank crisis. Sales of iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corp Bond ETF and Invesco Senior Loan ETF were prompted by our strategy of shifting Fund assets away from lower-credit-quality fixed-income instruments in preparation for a potentially fast-approaching recession.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Equity ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Fund’s top-performing Underlying Equity ETFs that were held for the entire reporting period included iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF, VanEck Oil Services ETF and Health Care Select SPDR® Fund. The lowest total returns were seen in iShares® Core S&P® Small-Cap ETF, Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF.
Which Underlying Equity ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Equity ETFs were particularly weak?
Contribution to return is a function not only of Underlying ETF performance and average allocation, but also the variation in that allocation across time. The Underlying Equity ETFs making the largest positive contributions to return included Vanguard Mega Cap ETF, iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF and VanEck Oil Services ETF. The most significant detractors were Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF, iShares® Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and VanEck Gold Miners ETF.
4. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
26 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


During the reporting period, which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs posting the highest total returns included iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Invesco Senior Loan ETF and iShares® Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF. The only two Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs to experience losses were iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF.
Which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were particularly weak?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs making the largest contributions to return were Invesco Senior Loan ETF, iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF. The only Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs to detract from absolute performance was iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, which was used for duration management. The smallest positive contributions came from Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, we believe a near-term recession looks highly probable. Our opinion is based on a wide range of variables, including, but not limited to, the shape of the yield curve, trends in business surveys, a decline in money supply, tightening credit conditions, and the steady drawdown of savings accumulated during the pandemic. We expect corporate profits to decline over the next several quarters, eventually driving stock prices lower while pushing credit spreads out. Accordingly, we continue to position the Fund defensively.
The Fund’s defensive posture begins at the top of the portfolio, with a modest tilt away from equities. We generally avoid underweight equity allocations, as they usually stand on the wrong side of history—stocks rise more often than not. However, we firmly believe that current valuations are rich given the daunting array of risks the economy and the markets face, including an historically extreme rise in rates, the looming debt ceiling, the unresolved bank crisis and geopolitical uncertainty, to name a few. We maintain that caution is the better part of valor under these circumstances.
Defensive positioning is clearly visible within asset classes as well. On the equity side, the Fund favors sectors—such as consumer staples, utilities and healthcare—that have generally exhibited
lower volatility and retained their value better during drawdowns. Additionally, the Fund’s bias toward historically higher-beta, small-cap stocks, in place for the past several quarters, has been effectively removed. Within fixed income, the Fund now has a below-Index-weight position in bank loans, and holdings of high yield bonds are skewed to favor lower-duration instruments, which tend to exhibit less volatility and smaller losses than longer maturity bonds.
Energy stocks tend to be more cyclical. The Fund’s overweight allocation to the sector may seem inconsistent with the otherwise cautious posture of the portfolio, although relative valuation is attractive, and we believe supply/demand dynamics will prove supportive of pricing over time for both the underlying commodities and the stock prices of companies involved in the production, processing and distribution of these resources.
None of Schwab Strategic Trust, Schwab® U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF, Schwab U.S. Small Cap ETF or Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund.
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock (BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
27


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares   Value
Investment Companies 90.6%
Equity Funds 37.9% 
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund     2,829   $    377,756
Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF     6,026       385,302
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF    33,589     2,309,916
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF     4,140     1,027,548
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF    20,507     1,927,658
iShares MSCI Japan ETF     6,492       381,989
Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)     4,709       379,310
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF     4,933       332,534
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF    18,508       762,160
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (a)     3,024       384,381
VanEck Oil Services ETF (a)       667       182,845
Vanguard Mega Cap ETF    26,886     3,920,785
Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF     9,385       965,904
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF     6,359    1,330,875
Total Equity Funds
(Cost $13,573,448)
    14,668,963
Fixed Income Funds 52.7% 
Invesco Senior Loan ETF (a) 119,995   2,505,496
iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (a) 41,788   1,736,291
iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 32,696   1,158,746
iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (a) 57,400   2,921,086
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 58,438   5,841,462
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 124,133   5,841,699
Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (a) 5,038   386,112
Total Fixed Income Funds
(Cost $21,857,090)
    20,390,892
Total Investment Companies
(Cost $35,430,538)
    35,059,855
Short-Term Investments 20.8%
Affiliated Investment Company 9.4% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (b) 3,634,122   3,634,122
Unaffiliated Investment Company 11.4% 
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, 4.857% (b)(c) 4,396,289   4,396,289
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $8,030,411)
    8,030,411
Total Investments
(Cost $43,460,949)
111.4%   43,090,266
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (11.4)   (4,407,412)
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 38,682,854
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
28 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of April 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $4,309,641. The Fund received cash collateral with a value of $4,396,289. (See Note 2(G))
(b) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
(c) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund $ 919 $ 15,281 $ (12,566) $ — $ — $ 3,634 $ 62 $ — 3,634
Abbreviation(s):
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt
USD—United States Dollar
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Investment Companies              
Equity Funds  $ 14,668,963   $ —   $ —    $ 14,668,963
Fixed Income Funds  20,390,892        20,390,892
Total Investment Companies 35,059,855       35,059,855
Short-Term Investments              
Affiliated Investment Company   3,634,122         3,634,122
Unaffiliated Investment Company   4,396,289         4,396,289
Total Short-Term Investments 8,030,411       8,030,411
Total Investments in Securities $ 43,090,266   $ —   $ —   $ 43,090,266
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
29


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $39,826,827) including securities on loan of $4,309,641
$39,456,144
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $3,634,122)
3,634,122
Receivables:  
Fund shares sold 25,660
Dividends 10,910
Securities lending 8,186
Manager (See Note 3) 131
Other assets 17,131
Total assets 43,152,284
Liabilities
Cash collateral received for securities on loan 4,396,289
Due to custodian 72
Payables:  
Investment securities purchased 30,983
Fund shares redeemed 16,799
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 8,614
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 6,248
Custodian 5,540
Shareholder communication 4,579
Professional fees 276
Accrued expenses 30
Total liabilities 4,469,430
Net assets $38,682,854
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 3,860
Additional paid-in-capital 40,963,864
  40,967,724
Total distributable earnings (loss) (2,284,870)
Net assets $38,682,854
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $35,480,956
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 3,539,719
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 10.02
Maximum sales charge (3.00% of offering price) 0.31
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 10.33
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 368,667
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 36,865
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 10.00
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 33,769
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 3,375
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 10.01
Class R3  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 432,904
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 43,252
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 10.01
SIMPLE Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 2,366,558
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 236,392
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 10.01
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
30 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated $ 1,007,843
Securities lending, net 122,510
Dividends-affiliated 62,216
Total income 1,192,569
Expenses  
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 82,957
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 3,803
Distribution/Service—Class R3 (See Note 3) 1,698
Distribution/Service—SIMPLE Class (See Note 3) 8,012
Registration 89,154
Manager (See Note 3) 71,076
Professional fees 33,005
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 29,956
Custodian 18,225
Shareholder communication 6,716
Trustees 856
Shareholder service (See Note 3) 340
Miscellaneous 4,890
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 350,688
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (58,419)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (72)
Net expenses 292,197
Net investment income (loss) 900,372
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments (1,445,003)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments 985,170
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (459,833)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 440,539
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
31


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 900,372 $ 513,281
Net realized gain (loss) (1,445,003) (90,363)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 985,170 (2,811,868)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 440,539 (2,388,950)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (961,007) (713,856)
Class C (7,847) (6,834)
Class I (1,028) (1,541)
Class R3 (9,791) (1,667)
SIMPLE Class (45,805) (13,388)
Total distributions to shareholders (1,025,478) (737,286)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 10,453,424 19,899,906
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,017,247 727,750
Cost of shares redeemed (6,741,449) (7,710,201)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 4,729,222 12,917,455
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 4,144,283 9,791,219
Net Assets
Beginning of year 34,538,571 24,747,352
End of year $38,682,854 $34,538,571
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
32 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class A 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 10.22   $ 11.13   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.25   0.18   0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.16)   (0.84)   1.12
Total from investment operations 0.09   (0.66)   1.23
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.25)   (0.18)   (0.09)
From net realized gain on investments (0.04)   (0.07)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.29)   (0.25)   (0.10)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.02   $ 10.22   $ 11.13
Total investment return (b) 0.96%   (6.09)%   12.33%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.56%   1.63%   1.25%††
Net expenses (c) 0.80%   0.80%   0.80%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.96%   0.91%   1.49%††
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   62%   56%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 35,481   $ 32,925   $ 23,951
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class C 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 10.19   $ 11.10   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18   0.10   0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.16)   (0.85)   1.10
Total from investment operations 0.02   (0.75)   1.15
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.17)   (0.09)   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments (0.04)   (0.07)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.21)   (0.16)   (0.05)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.00   $ 10.19   $ 11.10
Total investment return (b) 0.29%   (6.81)%   11.51%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.81%   0.90%   0.58%††
Net expenses (c) 1.55%   1.55%   1.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.76%   1.73%   2.24%††
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   62%   56%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 369   $ 413   $ 472
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
33


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class I 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 10.20   $ 11.13   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.28   0.21   0.15
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.16)   (0.85)   1.10
Total from investment operations 0.12   (0.64)   1.25
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.27)   (0.22)   (0.11)
From net realized gain on investments (0.04)   (0.07)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.31)   (0.29)   (0.12)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.01   $ 10.20   $ 11.13
Total investment return (b) 1.32%   (5.86)%   12.47%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.81%   1.89%   1.71%††
Net expenses (c) 0.55%   0.55%   0.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.71%   0.66%   1.24%††
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   62%   56%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 34   $ 33   $ 61
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
34 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class R3 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 10.21   $ 11.12   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.21   0.14   0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.16)   (0.84)   1.12
Total from investment operations 0.05   (0.70)   1.19
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.21)   (0.14)   (0.06)
From net realized gain on investments (0.04)   (0.07)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.25)   (0.21)   (0.07)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.01   $ 10.21   $ 11.12
Total investment return (b) 0.60%   (6.42)%   11.96%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.13%   1.29%   0.79%††
Net expenses (c) 1.15%   1.15%   1.15%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.31%   1.26%   1.84%††
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   62%   56%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 433   $ 90   $ 68
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R3 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
35


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   August 31, 2020^ through
April 30,
SIMPLE Class 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 10.21   $ 11.12   $ 10.46
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.22   0.14   0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.15)   (0.82)   0.66
Total from investment operations 0.07   (0.68)   0.74
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.23)   (0.16)   (0.07)
From net realized gain on investments (0.04)   (0.07)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.27)   (0.23)   (0.08)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.01   $ 10.21   $ 11.12
Total investment return (b) 0.72%   (6.29)%   7.13%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.27%   1.30%   0.92%††
Net expenses (c) 1.05%   1.05%   1.05%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.27%   1.23%   1.74%††
Portfolio turnover rate 65%   62%   56%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 2,367   $ 1,077   $ 195
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. SIMPLE Class shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
36 MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund


MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date
One
Year
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio1
Class A Shares Maximum 3.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 6/30/2020 -1.74% 3.70% 0.81%
    Excluding sales charges   1.30 4.82 0.81
Class C Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 6/30/2020 -0.52 3.98 1.66
  if redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   0.48 3.98 1.66
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 1.56 5.12 0.56
Class R3 Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 0.94 4.48 1.16
SIMPLE Class Shares No Sales Charge   8/31/2020 0.97 2.28 1.16
    
1. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
    
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
37


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Since
Inception
S&P 500® Index1 2.66% 12.77%
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 8.42 9.43
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index3 -0.43 -3.70
Moderate Allocation Composite Index4 2.58 5.72
Morningstar Moderate Allocation Category Average5 -0.20 6.24
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The S&P 500® Index is the Fund’s primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. S&P 500®  is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance.
2. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Fund's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America.
3. The Fund has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as an additional benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
4. The Fund has selected the Moderate Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Moderate Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 45%, 15% and 40%, respectively.
5. The Morningstar Moderate Allocation Category Average is representative of funds in allocation categories that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by primarily investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These moderate strategies seek to balance preservation of capital with appreciation. They typically expect volatility similar to a strategic equity exposure between 50% and 70%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
38 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,072.10 $3.65 $1,021.27 $3.56 0.71%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,067.90 $7.84 $1,017.21 $7.65 1.53%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,073.80 $2.37 $1,022.51 $2.31 0.46%
Class R3 Shares $1,000.00 $1,070.50 $5.44 $1,019.54 $5.31 1.06%
SIMPLE Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,070.90 $5.34 $1,019.64 $5.21 1.04%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
39



Asset Diversification as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds 57.9 %
Fixed Income Funds 32.8
Short-Term Investments 19.9
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (10.6)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 44 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund’s holdings are subject to change.

40 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Fund’s Manager.
How did MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund perform relative to its benchmarks and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund returned 1.56%, underperforming the 2.66% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the S&P 500® Index (the “Index”), and the 8.42% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark. Over the same period, Class I shares of the Fund outperformed the −0.43% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and underperformed the 2.58% return of the Moderate Allocation Composite Index, both of which are additional benchmarks of the Fund. For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of the Fund outperformed the −0.20% return of the Morningstar Moderate Allocation Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Fund is a “fund of funds" that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in unaffiliated, passively-managed, exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”). The Underlying ETFs may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. During the reporting period, asset class policy was the primary determinant of the Fund’s relative performance.
Fund management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Fund. During the reporting period, the Fund modestly underperformed the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to asset class policy decisions. Management of the Fund’s stock/bond blend itself was not the issue, as positive returns were generated in the process of controlling the blend. The allocation was held near neutral for much of the reporting period, although capital was added to equities during periods of pricing softness and removed again as the market recovered. This tactical “buy the dip, sell the rally” practice boosted returns at the margin.
Rather, the issue was within asset classes. A persistent bias toward small-cap names, expressed through exposure to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index,2 detracted materially from relative performance. While relative valuations for small-cap stocks were much more attractive than the historical norm, smaller companies are significantly more sensitive to changes in bank financing conditions than larger companies that can issue bonds.
Fast-rising costs on bank loans, coupled with concerns about future credit availability in the wake of the bank crisis that emerged in March and April 2023, weighed heavily on the small end of the capitalization spectrum. In contrast, mega-cap technology and technology-related companies—including Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Meta Platforms and Amazon.com—performed well.
Significantly underweight exposure to non-U.S. developed markets also detracted materially from relative performance. In our estimation, Europe was particularly vulnerable to disruption, owing largely to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying strain on energy supplies. An unusually mild winter, however, granted a reprieve, and these markets ultimately performed quite well.
Exposure to gold miners further detracted from relative performance. The price of bullion rose over the course of the reporting period, but companies that extract gold fared less well, possibly due to rising extraction costs (particularly labor) and currency effects.
On the upside, maintaining a large cash position within the fixed-income portion of the Fund made a substantial positive contribution to performance, as bond yields climbed. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Similarly, skewing high yield bond holdings to favor shorter-duration3 instruments boosted returns at the margin.
Even within equities, the news was not universally negative. Exposure to energy stocks, for example, proved helpful as gains in the first half of the reporting period more than offset the underperformance experienced during the second half. We believe energy remains a compelling strategic opportunity, particularly among producers and firms that provide extraction services.
How did you allocate the Fund’s assets during the reporting period and why?
Stock/bond blend: Equity exposure within the Fund was held relatively close to neutral during the reporting period, with the exception of a modest bias favoring stocks that we implemented tactically in response to swings in pricing (adding on drawdowns and trimming on rallies). We are generally reluctant to position the Fund with underweight equity exposure, since stocks tend to perform well over time and anticipating drawdowns is challenging. The opposite is less true. We are happy to lean into equities when we believe they are well-supported fundamentally or when a correction has run further than we believe appropriate. This strategy worked well during the reporting period, producing a
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
2. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index covers roughly the small-cap range of American stocks, using a capitalization-weighted index. Capitalization range is from $850 million to $3.7 billion.
3. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
41


modestly positive contribution to performance. The policy stance shifted slightly in 2023, however, when the Fund adopted a small underweight position in equities following a sharp rally in January. We increased this underweight posture later in the reporting period as turmoil among banks increased the likelihood of a near-term recession.
Duration: Believing inflationary pressures to be at least partially structural in nature and likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future, we skewed the Fund’s fixed-income holdings to favor shorter-maturity instruments less sensitive to rising bond yields, although duration was added as yields rose. Over the latter half of the reporting period, duration was slightly shorter than that of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Equity style: In the same way that inflation threatens long-duration bonds, equities with values disproportionately reflected in more distant cash flows (i.e., growth stocks with high prices relative to current earnings) are likewise vulnerable. Accordingly, the Fund remained tilted to emphasize value stocks that offered more attractive near-term cash flows, placing particular focus on traditionally defensive sectors: real estate, utilities, consumer staples and (most of all) health care. While this positioning made a modest, positive contribution to the Fund’s return during the first half of the reporting period, the opposite was true during the second half; market performance was dominated by a handful of large, high-growth companies, including NVDIA, Tesla, Apple and others.
Equity size: Small-company stocks were more heavily represented in the Fund than in the Index. The thesis behind this positioning was based on attractive small-cap valuations, insulation from economic weakness abroad, less sensitivity to dollar strength and disproportionate exposure to domestic demand, which remained robust. This stance was helpful for much of the reporting period, but reversed abruptly in the spring of 2023 as small companies, which tend to be heavily dependent on bank financing, proved vulnerable to the aggressive, tightening lending standards implemented during the bank crisis mentioned above.
Geographic exposure: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that ensued, the Fund maintained underweight exposure to developed international markets. However, non-U.S. developed markets fared well during the reporting period, benefiting from both an unusually mild winter that reduced the strain on energy reserves, and the reopening of China following the end of the country’s zero-COVID-19 restrictions.
Energy: The Fund maintained exposure to upstream energy producers and oilfield/gas field service providers as a commodity play to provide an additional inflation hedge. These holdings also positioned the Fund to take advantage of opportunities for
domestic producers to benefit as Western nations revisit energy policy to source supplies from stable and friendly jurisdictions rather than autocratic petrostates that present national security risks. While the Fund’s position was small, it had a disproportionately positive impact on performance as oil and gas prices soared during the first half of the reporting period, although some of those gains were later reversed.
How did the Fund’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
The Fund’s cash position saw the largest allocation increase, as we trimmed both equity and fixed income positions. Allocations to full-duration investment-grade bonds also increased through additional exposure to iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF. The Fund also added several new holdings. The Fund established a stake in iShares® Core S&P® Mid-Cap ETF, reflecting our favorable view of the mid-cap asset class’s attractive relative valuations and reduced sensitivity to bank lending conditions compared to the small cap universe; the position also offset a reduction in the Fund’s position in Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF. The Fund took a position in The Materials Select Sector SPDR® Fund as a hedge against stubborn inflation, protection against a potentially weakening dollar and as a way to benefit from supply-chain reengineering and the desire of manufacturers to source raw materials from more friendly, reliable geographies. The Fund also initiated a position in iShares® MSCI Japan ETF, since we viewed Japanese equity valuations as attractive, export conditions as favorable and we believe the Japanese yen is likely to appreciate should the country’s central bank further relax, or even abandon, its existing yield curve4 control policy. These positions were funded in large part from Vanguard Mega Cap ETF.
A reduced position in iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF reflected the Fund’s shift away from non- U.S. developed equity markets. We trimmed holdings of Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF in response to the ongoing bank crisis. Sales of iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corp Bond ETF and Invesco Senior Loan ETF were prompted by our strategy of shifting Fund assets away from lower-credit-quality fixed-income instruments in preparation for a potentially fast-approaching recession.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Equity ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Fund’s top-performing Underlying Equity ETFs that were held for the entire reporting period included iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF, VanEck Oil Services ETF and Health Care Select SPDR® Fund. The lowest total returns were seen in iShares® Core MSCI
4. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
42 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


Emerging Markets ETF, iShares® Core S&P® Small-Cap ETF and Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF.
Which Underlying Equity ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Equity ETFs were particularly weak?
Contribution to return is a function not only of Underlying ETF performance and average allocation, but also the variation in that allocation across time. The Underlying Equity ETFs making the largest positive contributions to return included Vanguard Mega Cap ETF, iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF and VanEck Oil Services ETF. The most significant detractors were iShares® Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, VanEck Gold Miners ETF and iShares® Core S&P® Small Cap ETF.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs posting the highest total returns included iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Invesco Senior Loan ETF and iShares® Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF. The only two Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs to experience losses were iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF.
Which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were particularly weak?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs making the largest contributions to return were Invesco Senior Loan ETF, iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF. The only Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs to detract from absolute performance was iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, which was used for duration management. The smallest positive contributions came from Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, we believe a near-term recession looks highly probable. Our opinion is based on a wide range of
variables, including, but not limited to, the shape of the yield curve, trends in business surveys, a decline in money supply, tightening credit conditions and the steady drawdown of savings accumulated during the pandemic. We expect corporate profits to decline over the next several quarters, eventually driving stock prices lower while pushing credit spreads out. Accordingly, we continue to position the Fund defensively.
The Fund’s defensive posture begins at the top of the portfolio, with a modest tilt away from equities. We generally avoid underweight equity allocations, as they usually stand on the wrong side of history—stocks rise more often than not. However, we firmly believe that current valuations are rich given the daunting array of risks the economy and the markets face, including an historically extreme rise in rates, the looming debt ceiling, the unresolved bank crisis and geopolitical uncertainty, to name a few. We maintain that caution is the better part of valor under these circumstances.
Defensive positioning is clearly visible within asset classes as well. On the equity side, the Fund favors sectors—such as consumer staples, utilities and healthcare—that have generally exhibited lower volatility and retained their value better during drawdowns. Additionally, the Fund’s bias toward historically higher-beta, small-cap stocks, in place for the past several quarters, has been effectively removed. Within fixed income, the Fund now has a below-Index-weight position in bank loans, and holdings of high yield bonds are skewed to favor lower-duration instruments, which tend to exhibit less volatility and smaller losses than longer maturity bonds.
Energy stocks tend to be more cyclical. The Fund’s overweight allocation to the sector may seem inconsistent with the otherwise cautious posture of the portfolio, although relative valuation is attractive, and we believe supply/demand dynamics will prove supportive of pricing over time for both the underlying commodities and the stock prices of companies involved in the production, processing and distribution of these resources. 
None of Schwab Strategic Trust, Schwab® U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF, Schwab U.S. Small Cap ETF or Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund.
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock (BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
43


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares Value
Investment Companies 90.7%
Equity Funds 57.9% 
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)     7,760 $   1,036,193
Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF    16,277    1,040,751
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF   153,109   10,529,306
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF    21,412    1,040,195
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF    14,024    3,480,757
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF    55,166    5,185,604
iShares MSCI Japan ETF    17,820    1,048,529
Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund    12,914    1,040,223
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF    27,070    1,824,789
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF    50,228    2,068,389
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (a)     8,212    1,043,827
VanEck Oil Services ETF (a)     1,866      511,526
Vanguard Mega Cap ETF   145,424   21,207,182
Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF    25,412    2,615,403
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF    34,505   7,221,551
Total Equity Funds
(Cost $56,263,608)
  60,894,225
Fixed Income Funds 32.8% 
Invesco Senior Loan ETF (a) 199,574 4,167,105
iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (a) 63,363 2,632,733
iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (a) 74,443 2,638,260
iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (a) 94,713 4,819,945
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 96,171 9,613,253
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 204,400 9,619,064
Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF 13,691 1,049,278
Total Fixed Income Funds
(Cost $36,453,447)
  34,539,638
Total Investment Companies
(Cost $92,717,055)
  95,433,863
Short-Term Investments 19.9%
Affiliated Investment Company 9.3% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (b) 9,770,512 9,770,512
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 10.6% 
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund, 4.865% (b)(c) 5,000,000 5,000,000
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
44 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


  Shares   Value
Short-Term Investments (continued)
Unaffiliated Investment Companies (continued) 
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, 4.857% (b)(c) 6,243,074   $   6,243,074
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies
(Cost $11,243,074)
    11,243,074
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $21,013,586)
    21,013,586
Total Investments
(Cost $113,730,641)
110.6%   116,447,449
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (10.6)   (11,195,905)
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 105,251,544
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of April 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $11,034,450. The Fund received cash collateral with a value of $11,243,074. (See Note 2(G))
(b) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
(c) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund $ 2,260 $ 33,773 $ (26,262) $ — $ — $ 9,771 $ 170 $ — 9,771
Abbreviation(s):
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt
USD—United States Dollar
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
45


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Investment Companies              
Equity Funds   $  60,894,225   $ —   $ —     $  60,894,225
Fixed Income Funds   34,539,638         34,539,638
Total Investment Companies 95,433,863       95,433,863
Short-Term Investments              
Affiliated Investment Company    9,770,512          9,770,512
Unaffiliated Investment Companies   11,243,074         11,243,074
Total Short-Term Investments 21,013,586       21,013,586
Total Investments in Securities $ 116,447,449   $ —   $ —   $ 116,447,449
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
46 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $103,960,129) including securities on loan of $11,034,450
$106,676,937
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $9,770,512)
9,770,512
Receivables:  
Fund shares sold 165,058
Dividends 29,858
Securities lending 15,415
Other assets 18,649
Total assets 116,676,429
Liabilities
Cash collateral received for securities on loan 11,243,074
Payables:  
Fund shares redeemed 73,614
Investment securities purchased 40,915
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 23,489
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 17,401
Manager (See Note 3) 17,055
Custodian 5,854
Shareholder communication 2,765
Professional fees 718
Total liabilities 11,424,885
Net assets $105,251,544
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 9,573
Additional paid-in-capital 107,967,669
  107,977,242
Total distributable earnings (loss) (2,725,698)
Net assets $105,251,544
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $95,456,355
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 8,679,911
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 11.00
Maximum sales charge (3.00% of offering price) 0.34
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 11.34
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 340,862
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 31,126
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 10.95
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 73,843
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 6,709
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 11.01
Class R3  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 1,240,325
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 112,962
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 10.98
SIMPLE Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 8,140,159
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 741,981
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 10.97
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
47


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated $ 2,344,184
Securities lending, net 210,732
Dividends-affiliated 170,067
Total income 2,724,983
Expenses  
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 219,395
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 3,499
Distribution/Service—Class R3 (See Note 3) 6,053
Distribution/Service—SIMPLE Class (See Note 3) 26,081
Manager (See Note 3) 189,214
Registration 92,390
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 82,817
Professional fees 36,502
Custodian 19,096
Shareholder communication 10,119
Trustees 2,215
Shareholder service (See Note 3) 1,211
Miscellaneous 6,405
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 694,997
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (196)
Net expenses 694,801
Net investment income (loss) 2,030,182
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments (5,100,556)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments 4,653,294
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (447,262)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 1,582,920
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
48 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 2,030,182 $ 1,203,799
Net realized gain (loss) (5,100,556) (597,640)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 4,653,294 (6,742,990)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 1,582,920 (6,136,831)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (1,597,645) (1,190,376)
Class C (3,083) (3,546)
Class I (1,463) (1,128)
Class R3 (20,458) (9,056)
SIMPLE Class (88,538) (22,031)
Total distributions to shareholders (1,711,187) (1,226,137)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 26,632,045 54,296,195
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,708,293 1,224,058
Cost of shares redeemed (13,571,395) (13,327,228)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 14,768,943 42,193,025
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 14,640,676 34,830,057
Net Assets
Beginning of year 90,610,868 55,780,811
End of year $105,251,544 $ 90,610,868
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
49


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class A 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 11.06   $ 11.88   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.23   0.18   0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.10)   (0.83)   1.85
Total from investment operations 0.13   (0.65)   1.95
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.17)   (0.15)   (0.06)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.02)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.19)   (0.17)   (0.07)
Net asset value at end of year $ 11.00   $ 11.06   $ 11.88
Total investment return (b) 1.30%   (5.60)%   19.50%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.17%   1.53%   1.02%††
Net expenses (c) 0.71%   0.70%   0.80%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.71%   0.70%   1.04%††
Portfolio turnover rate 63%   58%   45%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 95,456   $ 86,128   $ 54,345
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class C 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 11.00   $ 11.83   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.15   0.08   0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.10)   (0.83)   1.85
Total from investment operations 0.05   (0.75)   1.88
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.08)   (0.06)   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.02)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.10)   (0.08)   (0.05)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.95   $ 11.00   $ 11.83
Total investment return (b) 0.48%   (6.44)%   18.82%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.37%   0.70%   0.29%††
Net expenses (c) 1.53%   1.54%   1.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.53%   1.54%   1.77%††
Portfolio turnover rate 63%   58%   45%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 341   $ 389   $ 506
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
50 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class I 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 11.07   $ 11.87   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.27   0.22   0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.11)   (0.83)   1.84
Total from investment operations 0.16   (0.61)   1.97
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.20)   (0.17)   (0.09)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.02)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.22)   (0.19)   (0.10)
Net asset value at end of year $ 11.01   $ 11.07   $ 11.87
Total investment return (b) 1.56%   (5.31)%   19.79%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 2.52%   1.83%   1.40%††
Net expenses (c) 0.46%   0.45%   0.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.46%   0.45%   0.79%††
Portfolio turnover rate 63%   58%   45%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 74   $ 73   $ 52
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
51


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class R3 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 11.04   $ 11.86   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.20   0.15   0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.10)   (0.84)   1.85
Total from investment operations 0.10   (0.69)   1.92
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.14)   (0.11)   (0.05)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.02)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.16)   (0.13)   (0.06)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.98   $ 11.04   $ 11.86
Total investment return (b) 0.94%   (5.92)%   19.22%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.83%   1.22%   0.76%††
Net expenses (c) 1.06%   1.05%   1.15%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.06%   1.05%   1.39%††
Portfolio turnover rate 63%   58%   45%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 1,240   $ 854   $ 403
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R3 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
52 MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   August 31, 2020^ through
April 30,
SIMPLE Class 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of year $ 11.03   $ 11.85   $ 10.66
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.19   0.13   0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.09)   (0.81)   1.19
Total from investment operations 0.10   (0.68)   1.25
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.14)   (0.12)   (0.05)
From net realized gain on investments (0.02)   (0.02)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.16)   (0.14)   (0.06)
Net asset value at end of year $ 10.97   $ 11.03   $ 11.85
Total investment return (b) 0.97%   (5.89)%   11.75%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.78%   1.07%   0.62%††
Net expenses (c) 1.03%   1.05%   1.05%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.03%   1.05%   1.27%††
Portfolio turnover rate 63%   58%   45%
Net assets at end of year (in 000’s) $ 8,140   $ 3,167   $ 475
    
^ Inception date.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. SIMPLE Class shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
53


MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date
One
Year
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio1
Class A Shares Maximum 3.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 6/30/2020 -1.72% 6.39% 0.96%
    Excluding sales charges   1.32 7.54 0.96
Class C Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 6/30/2020 -0.46 6.71 1.75
  if redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   0.54 6.71 1.75
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 1.58 7.81 0.71
Class R3 Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 0.96 7.15 1.31
SIMPLE Class Shares No Sales Charge   8/31/2020 1.06 4.45 1.25
    
1. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
    
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
54 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Since
Inception
S&P 500® Index1 2.66% 12.77%
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 8.42 9.43
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index3 -0.43 -3.70
Growth Allocation Composite Index4 3.42 8.87
Morningstar Moderately Aggressive Allocation Category Average5 0.44 7.78
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The S&P 500® Index is the Fund’s primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. S&P 500®  is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance.
2. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Fund's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America.
3. The Fund has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as an additional benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
4. The Fund has selected the Growth Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Growth Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 60%, 20% and 20%, respectively.
5. The Morningstar Moderately Aggressive Allocation Category Average is representative of funds in allocation categories that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by primarily investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These moderately aggressive strategies prioritize capital appreciation over preservation. They typically expect volatility similar to a strategic equity exposure between 70% and 85%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
55


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,073.50 $4.11 $1,020.83 $4.01 0.80%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,068.50 $7.95 $1,017.11 $7.75 1.55%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,074.50 $2.83 $1,022.07 $2.76 0.55%
Class R3 Shares $1,000.00 $1,070.70 $5.90 $1,019.09 $5.76 1.15%
SIMPLE Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,071.80 $5.39 $1,019.59 $5.26 1.05%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
56 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund



Asset Diversification as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds 77.9 %
Fixed Income Funds 12.7
Short-Term Investments 17.4
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (8.0)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 61 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund’s holdings are subject to change.

57


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Fund’s Manager.
How did MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund perform relative to its benchmarks and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund returned 1.58%, underperforming the 2.66% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the S&P 500® Index (the “Index”), and the 8.42% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark. Over the same period, Class I shares of the Fund outperformed the −0.43% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and underperformed the 3.42% return of the Growth Allocation Composite Index, both of which are additional benchmarks of the Fund. For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of the Fund outperformed the 0.44% return of the Morningstar Moderately Aggressive Allocation Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Fund is a “fund of funds" that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in unaffiliated, passively-managed, exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”). The Underlying ETFs may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. During the reporting period, asset class policy was the primary determinant of the Fund’s relative performance.
Fund management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Fund. During the reporting period, the Fund modestly underperformed the internally maintained blend of indices, primarily due to asset class policy decisions, although frictions between the Underlying ETFs that were held and the indices that comprise the Index also played a role. Management of the Fund’s stock/bond blend itself was not the issue, as positive returns were generated in the process of controlling the blend. The allocation was held near neutral for much of the reporting period, although capital was added to equities during periods of pricing softness and removed again as the market recovered. This tactical “buy the dip, sell the rally” practice boosted returns at the margin.
Rather, the issue was within asset classes. A persistent bias toward small-cap names, expressed through exposure to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index,2 detracted materially from relative performance. While relative valuations for small-cap stocks were much more attractive than the historical norm, smaller companies
are significantly more sensitive to changes in bank financing conditions than larger companies that can issue bonds. Fast-rising costs on bank loans, coupled with concerns about future credit availability in the wake of the bank crisis that emerged in March and April 2023, weighed heavily on the smaller end of the capitalization spectrum. In contrast, mega-cap technology and technology-related companies—including Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Meta Platforms and Amazon.com—performed well.
Significantly underweight exposure to non-U.S. developed markets also detracted materially from relative performance. In our estimation, Europe was particularly vulnerable to disruption, owing largely to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying strain on energy supplies. An unusually mild winter, however, granted a reprieve, and these markets ultimately performed quite well.
Exposure to gold miners further detracted from relative performance. The price of bullion rose over the course of the reporting period, but companies that extract gold fared less well, possibly due to rising extraction costs (particularly labor) and currency effects.
On the upside, maintaining a large cash position within the fixed-income portion of the Fund made a substantial positive contribution to performance, as bond yields climbed. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.) Similarly, skewing high yield bond holdings to favor shorter-duration3 instruments boosted returns at the margin.
Even within equities, the news was not universally negative. Exposure to energy stocks, for example, proved helpful as gains in the first half of the reporting period more than offset the underperformance experienced during the second half. We believe energy remains a compelling strategic opportunity, particularly among producers and firms that provide extraction services.
How did you allocate the Fund’s assets during the reporting period and why?
Stock/bond blend: Equity exposure within the Fund was held relatively close to neutral during the reporting period, with the exception of a modest bias favoring stocks that we implemented tactically in response to swings in pricing (adding on drawdowns and trimming on rallies). We are generally reluctant to position the Fund with underweight equity exposure, since stocks tend to perform well over time and anticipating drawdowns is challenging. The opposite is less true. We are happy to lean into equities when we believe they are well-supported fundamentally or when a
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
2. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index covers roughly the small-cap range of American stocks, using a capitalization-weighted index. Capitalization range is from $850 million to $3.7 billion.
3. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
58 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


correction has run further than we believe appropriate. This strategy worked well during the reporting period, producing a modestly positive contribution to performance. The policy stance shifted slightly in 2023, however, when the Fund adopted a small underweight position in equities following a sharp rally in January. We increased this underweight posture later in the reporting period as turmoil among banks increased the likelihood of a near-term recession.
Duration: Believing inflationary pressures to be at least partially structural in nature and likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future, we skewed the Fund’s fixed-income holdings to favor shorter-maturity instruments less sensitive to rising bond yields, although duration was added as yields rose. Over the latter half of the reporting period, duration was slightly shorter than that of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Equity style: In the same way that inflation threatens long-duration bonds, equities with values disproportionately reflected in more distant cash flows (i.e., growth stocks with high prices relative to current earnings) are likewise vulnerable. Accordingly, the Fund remained tilted to emphasize value stocks that offered more attractive near-term cash flows, placing particular focus on traditionally defensive sectors: real estate, utilities, consumer staples and (most of all) health care. While this positioning made a modest, positive contribution to the Fund’s return during the first half of the reporting period, the opposite was true during the second half; market performance was dominated by a handful of large, high-growth companies, including NVDIA, Tesla, Apple and others.
Equity size: Small-company stocks were more heavily represented in the Fund than in the Index. The thesis behind this positioning was based on attractive small-cap valuations, insulation from economic weakness abroad, less sensitivity to dollar strength, and disproportionate exposure to domestic demand, which remained robust. This stance was helpful for much of the reporting period, but reversed abruptly in the spring of 2023 as small companies, which tend to be heavily dependent on bank financing, proved vulnerable to the aggressive, tightening lending standards implemented during the bank crisis mentioned above.
Geographic exposure: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that ensured, the Fund maintained underweight exposure to developed international markets. However, non-U.S. developed markets fared well during the reporting period, benefiting from both an unusually mild winter that reduced the strain on energy reserves, and the reopening of China following the end of the country’s zero-COVID-19 restrictions.
Energy: The Fund maintained exposure to upstream energy producers and oilfield/gas field service providers as a commodity
play to provide an additional inflation hedge. These holdings also positioned the Fund to take advantage of opportunities for domestic producers to benefit as Western nations revisit energy policy to source supplies from stable and friendly jurisdictions rather than autocratic petrostates that present national security risks. While the Fund’s position was small, it had a disproportionately positive impact on performance as oil and gas prices soared during the first half of the reporting period, although some of those gains were later reversed.
How did the Fund’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
The Fund’s cash position saw the largest allocation increase, as we trimmed both equity and fixed income positions. Allocations to full-duration investment-grade bonds also increased through additional exposure to iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF. The Fund also added several new holdings. The Fund established a stake in iShares® Core S&P® Mid-Cap ETF, reflecting our favorable view of the mid-cap asset class’s attractive relative valuations and reduced sensitivity to bank lending conditions compared to the small cap universe; the position also offset a reduction in the Fund’s position in Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF. The Fund took a position in The Materials Select Sector SPDR® Fund as a hedge against stubborn inflation, protection against a potentially weakening dollar and as a way to benefit from supply-chain reengineering and the desire of manufacturers to source raw materials from more friendly, reliable geographies. The Fund also initiated a position in iShares® MSCI Japan ETF, since we viewed Japanese equity valuations as attractive, export conditions as favorable and we believe the Japanese yen is likely to appreciate should the country’s central bank further relax, or even abandon, its existing yield curve4 control policy. These positions were funded in large part from Vanguard Mega Cap ETF.
A reduced position in iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF reflected the Fund’s shift away from non-U.S. developed equity markets. We trimmed holdings of Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF in response to the ongoing bank crisis. Sales of iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corp Bond ETF and Invesco Senior Loan ETF were prompted by our strategy of shifting Fund assets away from lower-credit-quality fixed-income instruments in preparation for a potentially fast-approaching recession.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Equity ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Fund’s top-performing Underlying Equity ETFs that were held for the entire reporting period included iShares® Core MSCI EAFE
4. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
59


ETF, VanEck Oil Services ETF and Health Care Select SPDR® Fund. The lowest total returns were seen in iShares® Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, iShares® Core S&P® Small-Cap ETF and Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF.
Which Underlying Equity ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Equity ETFs were particularly weak?
Contribution to return is a function not only of Underlying ETF performance and average allocation, but also the variation in that allocation across time. The Underlying Equity ETFs making the largest positive contributions to return included Vanguard Mega Cap ETF, iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF and VanEck Oil Services ETF. The most significant detractors were iShares® Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, VanEck Gold Miners ETF and iShares® Core S&P® Small Cap ETF.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Fixed-ETFs Funds had the lowest total returns?
The only three Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs held for the entire period all posted gains. They were iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, Invesco Senior Loan ETF and iShares® Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF.
Which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were particularly weak?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs making the largest contributions to return were Invesco Senior Loan ETF, iShares® Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and iShares® 0–5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF. The only Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs to detract from absolute performance was iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, which was used for duration management. The smallest positive contributions came from Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF and iShares® Broad USD Investment Grade Bond ETF.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, we believe a near-term recession looks highly probable. Our opinion is based on a wide range of
variables, including, but not limited to, the shape of the yield curve, trends in business surveys, a decline in money supply, tightening credit conditions and the steady drawdown of savings accumulated during the pandemic. We expect corporate profits to decline over the next several quarters, eventually driving stock prices lower while pushing credit spreads out. Accordingly, we continue to position the Fund defensively.
The Fund’s defensive posture begins at the top of the portfolio, with a modest tilt away from equities. We generally avoid underweight equity allocations, as they usually stand on the wrong side of history—stocks rise more often than not. However, we firmly believe that current valuations are rich given the daunting array of risks the economy and the markets face, including an historically extreme rise in rates, the looming debt ceiling, the unresolved bank crisis and geopolitical uncertainty, to name a few. We maintain that caution is the better part of valor under these circumstances.
Defensive positioning is clearly visible within asset classes as well. On the equity side, the Fund favors sectors—such as consumer staples, utilities and healthcare—that have generally exhibited lower volatility and retained their value better during drawdowns. Additionally, the Fund’s bias toward historically higher-beta, small-cap stocks, in place for the past several quarters, has been effectively removed. Within fixed income, the Fund now holds a below-Index-weight position in bank loans, and holdings of high yield bonds are skewed to favor lower-duration instruments, which tend to exhibit less volatility and smaller losses than longer maturity bonds.
Energy stocks tend to be more cyclical. The Fund’s overweight allocation to the sector may seem inconsistent with the otherwise cautious posture of the portfolio, although relative valuation is attractive, and we believe supply/demand dynamics will prove supportive of pricing over time for both the underlying commodities and the stock prices of companies involved in the production, processing and distribution of these resources. 
None of Schwab Strategic Trust, Schwab® U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF, Schwab U.S. Small Cap ETF or Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund.
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock (BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
60 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares Value
Investment Companies 90.6%
Equity Funds 77.9% 
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)     5,885 $    785,824
Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF    12,432     794,902
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF   161,793 11,126,505
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF    31,983   1,553,734
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF    12,731   3,159,834
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF    41,883   3,937,002
iShares MSCI Japan ETF    13,448     791,280
Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund     9,720     782,946
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF    30,639   2,065,375
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF   134,277   5,529,527
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (a)     6,073     771,939
VanEck Oil Services ETF (a)     1,366     374,462
Vanguard Mega Cap ETF   137,093 19,992,272
Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF    19,110   1,966,801
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (a)    39,226  8,209,610
Total Equity Funds
(Cost $58,467,407)
  61,842,013
Fixed Income Funds 12.7% 
Invesco Senior Loan ETF (a) 150,663 3,145,844
iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (a) 43,029 1,787,855
iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 56,095 1,988,007
iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF 9,424 479,587
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 9,600 959,616
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (a) 20,403 960,165
Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF 10,380 795,523
Total Fixed Income Funds
(Cost $10,242,185)
  10,116,597
Total Investment Companies
(Cost $68,709,592)
  71,958,610
Short-Term Investments 17.4%
Affiliated Investment Company 9.3% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (b) 7,400,311 7,400,311
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 8.1% 
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund, 4.865% (b)(c) 2,000,000 2,000,000
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
61


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Shares   Value
Short-Term Investments (continued)
Unaffiliated Investment Companies (continued) 
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, 4.857% (b)(c) 4,401,824   $  4,401,824
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies
(Cost $6,401,824)
    6,401,824
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $13,802,135)
    13,802,135
Total Investments
(Cost $82,511,727)
108.0%   85,760,745
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (8.0)   (6,327,947)
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 79,432,798
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of April 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $6,655,125; the total market value of collateral held by the Fund was $6,764,188. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $362,364. The Fund received cash collateral with a value of $6,401,824. (See Note 2(G))
(b) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
(c) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund $ 1,514 $ 24,891 $ (19,005) $ — $ — $ 7,400 $ 121 $ — 7,400
Abbreviation(s):
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt
USD—United States Dollar
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
62 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Investment Companies              
Equity Funds  $ 61,842,013   $ —   $ —    $ 61,842,013
Fixed Income Funds  10,116,597        10,116,597
Total Investment Companies 71,958,610       71,958,610
Short-Term Investments              
Affiliated Investment Company   7,400,311         7,400,311
Unaffiliated Investment Companies   6,401,824         6,401,824
Total Short-Term Investments 13,802,135       13,802,135
Total Investments in Securities $ 85,760,745   $ —   $ —   $ 85,760,745
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
63


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $75,111,416) including securities on loan of $6,655,125
$78,360,434
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $7,400,311)
7,400,311
Due from custodian 20,860
Receivables:  
Fund shares sold 147,031
Dividends 22,697
Securities lending 11,986
Other assets 19,807
Total assets 85,983,126
Liabilities
Cash collateral received for securities on loan 6,401,824
Payables:  
Investment securities purchased 90,381
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 17,975
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 16,579
Manager (See Note 3) 10,461
Custodian 5,785
Fund shares redeemed 3,567
Shareholder communication 3,300
Professional fees 443
Accrued expenses 13
Total liabilities 6,550,328
Net assets $79,432,798
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 6,681
Additional paid-in-capital 79,791,787
  79,798,468
Total distributable earnings (loss) (365,670)
Net assets $79,432,798
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $68,880,279
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 5,793,211
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 11.89
Maximum sales charge (3.00% of offering price) 0.37
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 12.26
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 313,624
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 26,500
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 11.83
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 106,902
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 9,016
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 11.86
Class R3  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 685,176
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 57,713
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 11.87
SIMPLE Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 9,446,817
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 795,000
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 11.88
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
64 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated $ 1,453,203
Securities lending, net 151,174
Dividends-affiliated 120,639
Total income 1,725,016
Expenses  
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 142,949
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 3,097
Distribution/Service—Class R3 (See Note 3) 2,771
Distribution/Service—SIMPLE Class (See Note 3) 31,615
Manager (See Note 3) 128,885
Registration 93,875
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 76,845
Professional fees 34,715
Custodian 19,086
Shareholder communication 8,805
Trustees 1,497
Shareholder service (See Note 3) 554
Miscellaneous 5,516
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 550,210
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (14,790)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (140)
Net expenses 535,280
Net investment income (loss) 1,189,736
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments (3,507,501)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments 3,790,020
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 282,519
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 1,472,255
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
65


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 1,189,736 $ 656,387
Net realized gain (loss) (3,507,501) (352,275)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 3,790,020 (4,308,393)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 1,472,255 (4,004,281)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (904,515) (591,463)
Class C (2,440) (1,516)
Class I (1,696) (635)
Class R3 (7,027) (2,146)
SIMPLE Class (91,952) (28,130)
Total distributions to shareholders (1,007,630) (623,890)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 29,043,850 36,077,108
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,007,165 623,525
Cost of shares redeemed (8,232,844) (6,073,472)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 21,818,171 30,627,161
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 22,282,796 25,998,990
Net Assets
Beginning of year 57,150,002 31,151,012
End of year $79,432,798 $57,150,002
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
66 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class A 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 11.92   $ 12.79   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.22   0.18   0.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.07)   (0.89)   2.76
Total from investment operations 0.15   (0.71)   2.85
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.18)   (0.15)   (0.05)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.18)   (0.16)   (0.06)
Net asset value at end of period $ 11.89   $ 11.92   $ 12.79
Total investment return (b) 1.32%   (5.69)%   28.56%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.88%   1.41%   0.90%††
Net expenses (c) 0.80%   0.80%   0.80%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.82%   0.85%   1.41%††
Portfolio turnover rate 57%   54%   47%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 68,880   $ 52,475   $ 29,705
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
67


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class C 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 11.86   $ 12.73   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.13   0.09   0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.07)   (0.90)   2.74
Total from investment operations 0.06   (0.81)   2.77
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.09)   (0.05)   (0.03)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.09)   (0.06)   (0.04)
Net asset value at end of period $ 11.83   $ 11.86   $ 12.73
Total investment return (b) 0.54%   (6.40)%   27.72%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.15%   0.67%   0.28%††
Net expenses (c) 1.55%   1.55%   1.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.60%   1.64%   2.12%††
Portfolio turnover rate 57%   54%   47%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 314   $ 310   $ 288
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
68 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class I 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 11.89   $ 12.75   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.22   0.22   0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.05)   (0.89)   2.75
Total from investment operations 0.17   (0.67)   2.87
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.20)   (0.18)   (0.11)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.20)   (0.19)   (0.12)
Net asset value at end of period $ 11.86   $ 11.89   $ 12.75
Total investment return (b) 1.58%   (5.41)%   28.79%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.95%   1.70%   1.23%††
Net expenses (c) 0.55%   0.55%   0.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.57%   0.60%   1.16%††
Portfolio turnover rate 57%   54%   47%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 107   $ 40   $ 40
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
69


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class R3 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 11.90   $ 12.77   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18   0.11   0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.08)   (0.87)   2.76
Total from investment operations 0.10   (0.76)   2.81
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.13)   (0.10)   (0.03)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.13)   (0.11)   (0.04)
Net asset value at end of period $ 11.87   $ 11.90   $ 12.77
Total investment return (b) 0.96%   (6.01)%   28.16%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.54%   0.83%   0.48%††
Net expenses (c) 1.15%   1.15%   1.15%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.17%   1.20%   1.76%††
Portfolio turnover rate 57%   54%   47%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 685   $ 486   $ 158
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R3 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
70 MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   August 31, 2020^ through
April 30,
SIMPLE Class 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 11.91   $ 12.78   $ 10.86
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18   0.14   0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.06)   (0.89)   1.90
Total from investment operations 0.12   (0.75)   1.97
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.15)   (0.11)   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.15)   (0.12)   (0.05)
Net asset value at end of period $ 11.88   $ 11.91   $ 12.78
Total investment return (b) 1.06%   (5.92)%   18.11%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.57%   1.11%   0.71%††
Net expenses (c) 1.05%   1.05%   1.05%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.10%   1.14%   1.62%††
Portfolio turnover rate 57%   54%   47%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 9,447   $ 3,838   $ 962
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. SIMPLE Class shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
71


MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date
One
Year
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio1
Class A Shares Maximum 3.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 6/30/2020 -2.47% 7.89% 0.99%
    Excluding sales charges   0.54 9.06 0.99
Class C Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 6/30/2020 -1.16 8.24 1.82
  if redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   -0.16 8.24 1.82
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 0.73 9.31 0.71
Class R3 Shares No Sales Charge   6/30/2020 0.18 8.69 1.34
SIMPLE Class Shares No Sales Charge   8/31/2020 0.28 5.23 1.32
    
1. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
    
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
72 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Since
Inception
S&P 500® Index1 2.66% 12.77%
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 8.42 9.43
Equity Allocation Composite Index3 4.17 12.01
Morningstar Aggressive Allocation Category Average4 -0.50 8.10
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The S&P 500® Index is the Fund’s primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. S&P 500®  is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance.
2. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Fund's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America.
3. The Fund has selected the Equity Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Equity Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index and the MSCI EAFE® Index weighted 75% and 25%, respectively.
4. The Morningstar Aggressive Allocation Category Average is representative of funds in allocation categories that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by primarily investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These aggressive strategies typically allocate at least 10% to equities of foreign companies and prioritize capital appreciation over preservation. They typically expect volatility similar to a strategic equity exposure of more than 85%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
73


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,078.50 $4.12 $1,020.83 $4.01 0.80%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,075.20 $7.98 $1,017.11 $7.75 1.55%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,080.00 $2.84 $1,022.07 $2.76 0.55%
Class R3 Shares $1,000.00 $1,077.60 $5.92 $1,019.09 $5.76 1.15%
SIMPLE Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,077.80 $5.41 $1,019.59 $5.26 1.05%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
74 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund



Asset Diversification as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Equity Funds 97.8 %
Short-Term Investments 5.4
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (3.2)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 78 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund’s holdings are subject to change.

75


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Fund’s Manager.
How did MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund perform relative to its benchmarks and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund returned 0.73%, underperforming the 2.66% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the S&P 500® Index, (the “Index”) and the 8.42% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark. Over the same period, Class I shares of the Fund underperformed the 4.17% return of the Equity Allocation Composite Index, which is an additional benchmark of the Fund, and outperformed the −0.50% return of the Morningstar Aggressive Allocation Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Fund is a “fund of funds" that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in unaffiliated, passively-managed, exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”). The Underlying ETFs may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments that span a range of capitalizations and geographies, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. During the reporting period, asset class policy was the primary determinant of the Fund’s relative performance.
Fund management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Fund. During the reporting period, the Fund’s performance trailed that of the internally maintained blend of indices, largely due to asset class policy decisions, although frictions between the Underlying ETFs that were held and the indices that comprise the Index also played a role. A persistent bias toward small-cap names, expressed through exposure to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index,2 detracted materially from performance. While relative valuations for small-cap stocks were much more attractive than the historical norm, smaller companies are significantly more sensitive to changes in bank financing conditions than larger companies that can issue bonds. Fast-rising costs on bank loans, coupled with concerns about future credit availability in the wake of the bank crisis that emerged in March and April 2023, weighed heavily on the smaller end of the capitalization spectrum. In contrast, mega-cap technology and technology-related companies—including Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Meta Platforms and Amazon.com—performed well.
Significantly underweight exposure to non-U.S. developed markets also detracted materially from relative performance. In our estimation, Europe was particularly vulnerable to disruption, owing largely to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying strain on energy supplies. An unusually mild winter, however, granted a reprieve, and these markets ultimately performed quite well.
The news was not universally negative, however. Exposure to energy stocks, for example, proved helpful, as gains in the first half of the reporting period more than offset the underperformance experienced during the second half. We believe energy remains a compelling strategic opportunity, particularly among producers and firms that provide extraction services.
How did you allocate the Fund’s assets during the reporting period and why?
Equity style: In the same way that inflation threatens long-duration3 bonds, equities with values disproportionately reflected in more distant cash flows (i.e., growth stocks with high prices relative to current earnings) are likewise vulnerable. Accordingly, the Fund remained tilted to emphasize value stocks that offered more attractive near-term cash flows, placing particular focus on traditionally defensive sectors: real estate, utilities, consumer staples and (most of all) health care. While this positioning made a modest, positive contribution to the Fund’s return during the first half of the reporting period, the opposite was true during the second half; the market performance was dominated by a handful of large, high-growth companies, including NVDIA, Tesla, Apple and others. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.)
Equity size: Small-company stocks were more heavily represented in the Fund than in the Index. The thesis behind this positioning was based on attractive small-cap valuations, insulation from economic weakness abroad, less sensitivity to dollar strength and disproportionate exposure to domestic demand, which remained robust. This stance was helpful for much of the reporting period, but reversed abruptly in the spring of 2023 as small companies, which tend to be heavily dependent on bank financing, proved vulnerable to the aggressive, tightening lending standards implemented during the bank crisis mentioned above.
Geographic exposure: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that provoked, the Fund maintained underweight exposure to developed international markets. However, non-U.S. developed markets fared well during the reporting period, benefiting from both an unusually mild winter that reduced the strain on energy reserves, and the reopening of China following the end of the country’s zero-COVID-19 restrictions.
Energy: The Fund maintained exposure to upstream energy producers and oilfield/gas field service providers as a commodity play to provide an additional inflation hedge. These holdings also positioned the Fund to take advantage of opportunities for domestic producers to benefit as Western nations revisit energy policy to source supplies from stable and friendly jurisdictions rather than autocratic petrostates that present national security risks. While the Fund’s position was small, it had a disproportionately positive impact on performance as oil and gas prices soared during the first half of the reporting period, although some of those gains were later reversed.
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
2. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index covers roughly the small-cap range of American stocks, using a capitalization-weighted index. Capitalization range is from $850 million to $3.7 billion.
3. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
76 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund


How did the Fund’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
The Fund added several new holdings during the reporting period. The Fund established a stake in iShares® Core S&P® Mid-Cap ETF, reflecting our favorable view of the mid-cap asset class’s attractive relative valuations and reduced sensitivity to bank lending conditions compared to the small cap universe; the position also offset a reduction in the Fund’s position in Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF. The Fund took a position in The Materials Select Sector SPDR® Fund as a hedge against stubborn inflation, protection against a potentially weakening dollar and as a way to benefit from supply-chain reengineering and the desire of manufacturers to source raw materials from more friendly, reliable geographies. The Fund also initiated a position in iShares® MSCI Japan ETF, since we viewed Japanese equity valuations as attractive, export conditions as favorable and we believe the Japanese yen is likely to appreciate should the country’s central bank further relax, or even abandon, its existing yield curve4 control policy. These positions were funded in large part from Vanguard Mega Cap ETF.
A reduced position in iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF reflected the Fund’s shift away from non- U.S. developed equity markets. We also trimmed holdings of Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF in response to the ongoing bank crisis.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Equity ETFs had the lowest total returns?
Among the Underlying Equity ETFs held for the entire reporting period, top performers included iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF, VanEck Oil Services ETF and Health Care Select SPDR® Fund. The lowest total returns were seen in iShares® Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, iShares® Core S&P® Small-Cap ETF and Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF.
Which Underlying Equity ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Equity ETFs were particularly weak?
Contribution to return is a function not only of Underlying ETF performance and average allocation, but also the variation in that allocation across time. The Underlying Equity ETFs making the largest positive contributions to return included Vanguard Mega Cap ETF, iShares® Core MSCI EAFE ETF and Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF. The most significant detractors were iShares® Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, iShares® Core S&P® Small Cap ETF and The Materials Select Sector SPDR® Fund.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, we believe a near-term recession looks highly probable. Our opinion is based on a wide range of variables, including, but not limited to, the shape of the yield curve, trends in business surveys, a decline in money supply, tightening credit conditions and the steady drawdown of savings accumulated during the pandemic. We expect corporate profits to decline over the next several quarters, eventually driving stock prices lower while pushing credit spreads out. Accordingly, we continue to position the Fund defensively.
The Fund favors sectors—such as consumer staples, utilities and healthcare—that have generally exhibited lower volatility and retained their value better during drawdowns. Additionally, the Fund’s bias toward historically higher-beta, small-cap stocks, in place for the past several quarters, has been effectively removed.
Energy stocks tend to be more cyclical. The Fund’s overweight allocation to the sector may seem inconsistent with the otherwise cautious posture of the portfolio, although relative valuation is attractive, and we believe supply/demand dynamics will prove supportive of pricing over time for both the underlying commodities and the stock prices of companies involved in the production, processing and distribution of these resources.
4. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
None of Schwab Strategic Trust, Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF, Schwab U.S. Small Cap ETF or Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund.
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock (BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
77


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares   Value
Investment Companies 97.8%
Equity Funds 97.8% 
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)     4,200   $    560,826
Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF     8,886       568,171
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF   144,183     9,915,465
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF    40,473     1,966,178
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF     9,078     2,253,160
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF    29,724     2,794,056
iShares MSCI Japan ETF (a)     9,623       566,217
Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)     6,900       555,795
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF    21,873     1,474,459
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF   164,496     6,773,945
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (a)     4,419       561,699
VanEck Oil Services ETF (a)     1,000       274,130
Vanguard Mega Cap ETF   137,283   20,019,981
Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF (a)    13,712     1,411,239
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF    27,887    5,836,470
Total Investment Companies
(Cost $53,587,813)
    55,531,791
Short-Term Investments 5.4%
Affiliated Investment Company 2.1% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (b) 1,198,896   1,198,896
Unaffiliated Investment Company 3.3% 
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, 4.857% (b)(c) 1,898,485   1,898,485
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $3,097,381)
    3,097,381
Total Investments
(Cost $56,685,194)
103.2%   58,629,172
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (3.2)   (1,840,091)
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 56,789,081
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of April 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $1,860,604. The Fund received cash collateral with a value of $1,898,485. (See Note 2(G))
(b) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
(c) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
78 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund


Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund $ 342 $ 9,342 $ (8,485) $ — $ — $ 1,199 $ 12 $ — 1,199
Abbreviation(s):
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt
The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Investment Companies              
Equity Funds  $ 55,531,791   $ —   $ —    $ 55,531,791
Short-Term Investments              
Affiliated Investment Company   1,198,896         1,198,896
Unaffiliated Investment Company   1,898,485         1,898,485
Total Short-Term Investments 3,097,381       3,097,381
Total Investments in Securities $ 58,629,172   $ —   $ —   $ 58,629,172
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
79


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $55,486,298) including securities on loan of $1,860,604
$57,430,276
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $1,198,896)
1,198,896
Receivables:  
Fund shares sold 113,383
Dividends 3,957
Securities lending 704
Other assets 18,368
Total assets 58,765,584
Liabilities
Cash collateral received for securities on loan 1,898,485
Payables:  
Investment securities purchased 40,309
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 13,084
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 11,844
Custodian 5,523
Shareholder communication 4,002
Manager (See Note 3) 2,666
Professional fees 326
Fund shares redeemed 264
Total liabilities 1,976,503
Net assets $56,789,081
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 4,552
Additional paid-in-capital 57,702,130
  57,706,682
Total distributable earnings (loss) (917,601)
Net assets $56,789,081
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $48,992,195
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 3,925,604
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 12.48
Maximum sales charge (3.00% of offering price) 0.39
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 12.87
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 171,532
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 13,825
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 12.41
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 113,480
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 9,148
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 12.40
Class R3  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 334,134
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 26,841
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 12.45
SIMPLE Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 7,177,740
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 576,557
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 12.45
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
80 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated $ 861,209
Securities lending, net 21,187
Dividends-affiliated 12,177
Total income 894,573
Expenses  
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 104,292
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 1,672
Distribution/Service—Class R3 (See Note 3) 2,252
Distribution/Service—SIMPLE Class (See Note 3) 24,140
Registration 104,708
Manager (See Note 3) 94,581
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 55,665
Professional fees 33,740
Custodian 18,179
Shareholder communication 8,104
Trustees 1,103
Shareholder service (See Note 3) 450
Miscellaneous 5,101
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 453,987
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (61,084)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (103)
Net expenses 392,800
Net investment income (loss) 501,773
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on unaffiliated investments (2,533,214)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on unaffiliated investments 2,796,287
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 263,073
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 764,846
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
81


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 501,773 $ 363,970
Net realized gain (loss) (2,533,214) (332,770)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 2,796,287 (3,768,943)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 764,846 (3,737,743)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (428,787) (362,336)
Class C (386) (590)
Class I (1,373) (2,163)
Class R3 (3,242) (3,445)
SIMPLE Class (41,309) (17,161)
Total distributions to shareholders (475,097) (385,695)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 21,075,269 29,127,682
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 470,614 381,517
Cost of shares redeemed (6,921,340) (7,847,877)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 14,624,543 21,661,322
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 14,914,292 17,537,884
Net Assets
Beginning of year 41,874,789 24,336,905
End of year $56,789,081 $41,874,789
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
82 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class A 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 12.54   $ 13.64   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.13   0.15   0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.07)   (1.10)   3.62
Total from investment operations 0.06   (0.95)   3.69
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.12)   (0.14)   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.12)   (0.15)   (0.05)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.48   $ 12.54   $ 13.64
Total investment return (b) 0.54%   (7.21)%   37.04%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.10%   1.08%   0.63%††
Net expenses (c) 0.80%   0.80%   0.80%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.92%   0.92%   1.90%††
Portfolio turnover rate 35%   43%   24%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 48,992   $ 38,162   $ 20,221
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
83


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class C 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 12.46   $ 13.57   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.05   0.05   (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.07)   (1.11)   3.63
Total from investment operations (0.02)   (1.06)   3.61
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.03)   (0.04)   (0.03)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.03)   (0.05)   (0.04)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.41   $ 12.46   $ 13.57
Total investment return (b) (0.16)%   (7.92)%   36.13%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 0.39%   0.38%   (0.20)%††
Net expenses (c) 1.55%   1.55%   1.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.72%   1.75%   2.61%††
Portfolio turnover rate 35%   43%   24%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 172   $ 177   $ 175
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
84 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class I 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 12.47   $ 13.56   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.17   0.07   0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.09)   (0.98)   3.62
Total from investment operations 0.08   (0.91)   3.70
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.15)   (0.17)   (0.13)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.15)   (0.18)   (0.14)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.40   $ 12.47   $ 13.56
Total investment return (b) 0.73%   (6.96)%   37.30%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 1.42%   0.49%   0.80%††
Net expenses (c) 0.55%   0.48%   0.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 0.67%   0.60%   1.65%††
Portfolio turnover rate 35%   43%   24%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 113   $ 152   $ 2,684
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
85


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   June 30, 2020^ through
April 30,
Class R3 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 12.51   $ 13.61   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.09   0.10   0.04
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.07)   (1.10)   3.62
Total from investment operations 0.02   (1.00)   3.66
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.08)   (0.09)   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.08)   (0.10)   (0.05)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.45   $ 12.51   $ 13.61
Total investment return (b) 0.18%   (7.47)%   36.62%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 0.78%   0.74%   0.39%††
Net expenses (c) 1.15%   1.15%   1.15%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.27%   1.27%   2.25%††
Portfolio turnover rate 35%   43%   24%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 334   $ 472   $ 445
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R3 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
86 MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   August 31, 2020^ through
April 30,
SIMPLE Class 2023   2022   2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 12.51   $ 13.61   $ 11.08
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.09   0.11   0.06
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.06)   (1.10)   2.52
Total from investment operations 0.03   (0.99)   2.58
Less distributions:          
From net investment income (0.09)   (0.10)   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments (0.00)‡   (0.01)   (0.01)
Total distributions (0.09)   (0.11)   (0.05)
Net asset value at end of period $ 12.45   $ 12.51   $ 13.61
Total investment return (b) 0.28%   (7.38)%   23.32%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:          
Net investment income (loss) 0.77%   0.78%   0.51%††
Net expenses (c) 1.05%   1.05%   1.05%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.22%   1.25%   2.11%††
Portfolio turnover rate 35%   43%   24%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 7,178   $ 2,911   $ 811
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. SIMPLE Class shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
87


MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
Investment and Performance Comparison (Unaudited)
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Because of market volatility and other factors, current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and as a result, when shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph below depicts the historical performance of Class I shares of the Fund. Performance will vary from class to class based on differences in class-specific expenses and sales charges. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 800-624-6782 or visit newyorklifeinvestments.com.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions or Fund share redemptions. Total returns reflect maximum applicable sales charges as indicated in the table below, if any, changes in share price, and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions. The graph assumes the initial investment amount shown below and reflects the deduction of all sales charges that would have applied for the period of investment. Performance figures may reflect certain fee waivers and/or expense limitations, without which total returns may have been lower. For more information on share classes and current fee waivers and/or expense limitations (if any), please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Average Annual Total Returns for the Year-Ended April 30, 2023
Class Sales Charge   Inception
Date
One
Year
Since
Inception
Gross
Expense
Ratio1
Class A Shares Maximum 3.00% Initial Sales Charge With sales charges 9/30/2021 -2.44% -6.60% 2.53%
    Excluding sales charges   0.58 -4.79 2.53
Class C Shares Maximum 1.00% CDSC With sales charges 9/30/2021 -1.19 -5.50 3.28
  if redeemed Within One Year of Purchase Excluding sales charges   -0.20 -5.50 3.28
Class I Shares No Sales Charge   9/30/2021 0.73 -4.59 2.28
Class R3 Shares No Sales Charge   9/30/2021 0.22 -5.12 2.88
SIMPLE Class Shares No Sales Charge   9/30/2021 0.31 -5.05 2.78
    
1. The gross expense ratios presented reflect the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” from the most recent Prospectus, as supplemented, and may differ from other expense ratios disclosed in this report.
    
The footnotes on the next page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
88 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund


Benchmark Performance* One
Year
Since
Inception
S&P 500® Index1 2.66% -0.47%
MSCI EAFE® Index (Net)2 8.42 -1.28
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index3 -0.43 -6.36
Multi-Asset Allocation Composite Index4 2.58 -2.68
Morningstar Moderate Allocation Category Average5 -0.20 -3.56
    
* Returns for indices reflect no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes, except for foreign withholding taxes where applicable. Results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. An investment cannot be made directly in an index.
1. The S&P 500® Index is the Fund’s primary broad-based securities market index for comparison purposes. S&P 500®  is a trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The S&P 500® Index is widely regarded as the standard index for measuring large-cap U.S. stock market performance.
2. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) is the Fund's secondary benchmark. The MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) consists of international stocks representing the developed world outside of North America.
3. The Fund has selected the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index as an additional benchmark. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the performance of the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs), asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
4. The Fund has selected the Multi-Asset Allocation Composite Index as an additional benchmark. The Multi-Asset Allocation Composite Index consists of the S&P 500® Index, the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net) and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index weighted 45%, 15% and 40%, respectively.
5. The Morningstar Moderate Allocation Category Average is representative of funds in allocation categories that seek to provide both income and capital appreciation by primarily investing in multiple asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and cash. These moderate strategies seek to balance preservation of capital with appreciation. They typically expect volatility similar to a strategic equity exposure between 50% and 70%. Results are based on average total returns of similar funds with all dividends and capital gain distributions reinvested.
The footnotes on the preceding page are an integral part of the table and graph and should be carefully read in conjunction with them.
89


Cost in Dollars of a $1,000 Investment in MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund (Unaudited)
The example below is intended to describe the fees and expenses borne by shareholders during the six-month period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, and the impact of those costs on your investment.
Example
As a shareholder of the Fund you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including exchange fees and sales charges (loads) on purchases (as applicable), and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses (as applicable). This example is 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. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from November 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023.
This example illustrates your Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual Expenses
The second and third data columns in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in these columns, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the six months ended April 30, 2023. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an
$8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The fourth and fifth data columns in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the six-month period shown. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other mutual funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as exchange fees or sales charges (loads). Therefore, the fourth and fifth data columns of the table are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Share Class Beginning
Account
Value
11/1/22
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Actual
Returns and
Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Ending Account
Value (Based
on Hypothetical
5% Annualized
Return and
Actual Expenses)
4/30/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period1
Net Expense
Ratio
During
Period2
Class A Shares $1,000.00 $1,075.30 $3.91 $1,021.03 $3.81 0.76%
Class C Shares $1,000.00 $1,071.00 $7.96 $1,017.11 $7.75 1.55%
Class I Shares $1,000.00 $1,075.60 $2.83 $1,022.07 $2.76 0.55%
Class R3 Shares $1,000.00 $1,072.80 $5.91 $1,019.09 $5.76 1.15%
SIMPLE Class Shares $1,000.00 $1,072.50 $5.40 $1,019.59 $5.26 1.05%
    
1. Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, divided by 365 and multiplied by 181 (to reflect the six-month period). The table above represents the actual expenses incurred during the six-month period. In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above-reported expense figures.
2. Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio to reflect the six-month period.
90 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund



Asset Diversification as of April 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 85.0 %
Affiliated Investment Companies 5.9
Short-Term Investments 21.8
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (12.7)
See Portfolio of Investments beginning on page 95 for specific holdings within these categories. The Fund’s holdings are subject to change.

91


Portfolio Management Discussion and Analysis (Unaudited)
Questions answered by portfolio managers Jae S. Yoon, CFA, Jonathan Swaney, Poul Kristensen, CFA, and Amit Soni, CFA, of New York Life Investment Management LLC, the Fund’s Manager.
How did MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund perform relative to its benchmarks and peer group during the 12 months ended April 30, 2023?
For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares of MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund returned 0.73%, underperforming the 2.66% return of the Fund’s primary benchmark, the S&P 500® Index (the “Index”), and the 8.42% return of the MSCI EAFE® Index (Net), which is the Fund’s secondary benchmark. Over the same period, Class I shares of the Fund outperformed the −0.43% return of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and underperformed the 2.58% return of the Multi-Asset Allocation Composite Index, both of which are additional benchmarks of the Fund. For the 12 months ended April 30, 2023, Class I shares outperformed the −0.20% return of the Morningstar Moderate Allocation Category Average.1
What factors affected the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period?
The Fund is a “fund of funds" that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in both affiliated and unaffiliated exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”) where the consideration of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors is a significant part of the investment strategy and that meet the Fund’s overall investment criteria. The Underlying ETFs may invest in U.S. equities, international equities and fixed-income instruments, making comparisons to any single index generally less suitable than a weighted combination of indices, which is a more useful yardstick by which to measure performance. During the reporting period, asset class policy was the primary determinant of the Fund’s relative performance.
Fund management internally maintains a blend of indices that are taken into consideration when managing the Fund. During the reporting period, the Fund’s performance trailed that of the internally maintained blend of indices, driven mostly by the emphasis placed on ESG factors, as ESG has fallen out of favor of late. Using average returns for ESG-focused funds in the different asset classes included in the Fund, and comparing them to the broad market indices that represent those same asset classes, suggests that the ESG orientation likely detracted almost a full percent from Fund performance over the reporting period. Underperformance during 2022, when traditional energy firms led the market, comes as little surprise. It is more difficult to determine the cause of the continuing shortfall in the first four months of 2023, when large technology-related and consumer discretionary companies outperformed energy producers, although we suspect it may be related to the political environment, with some investors effectively boycotting ESG-branded strategies.
Asset class policy decisions netted out to have little aggregate impact. Management of the stock/bond blend itself proved helpful, as positive returns were generated in the process of controlling the mix. The allocation was held near neutral for much of the reporting period, although capital was added to equities during periods of softness in pricing and removed again as the market recovered. This tactical “buy the dip, sell the rally” practice boosted returns at the margin.
These gains were fully offset by performance within asset classes. A persistent bias toward small-cap names detracted materially from performance. While relative valuations for small-cap stocks were more attractive than the historical norm, smaller companies are significantly more sensitive to changes in bank financing conditions than larger companies that can issue bonds. Fast-rising costs on bank loans, coupled with concerns about future credit availability in the wake of the bank crisis that emerged in March and April 2023, weighed heavily on the smaller end of the capitalization spectrum. In contrast, mega-cap technology and technology-related companies—including Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Meta Platforms and Amazon.com—performed well.
Underweight exposure to non-US developed markets also detracted materially from relative performance. In our estimation, Europe was particularly vulnerable to disruption, owing in large part to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying strain on energy supplies. An unusually mild winter, however, granted a reprieve, and these markets ultimately performed quite well.
On the upside, maintaining a large cash position within the fixed-income portion of the Fund made a substantial positive contribution to performance, as bond yields climbed in response to persistent inflation and aggressive policy tightening by the U.S. Federal Reserve. (Contributions take weightings and total returns into account.)
How did you allocate the Fund’s assets during the reporting period and why?
Stock/bond blend: Equity exposure within the Fund was held relatively close to neutral during the reporting period, with the exception of a modest bias favoring stocks that we implemented tactically in response to swings in pricing (adding on drawdowns and trimming on rallies). We are generally reluctant to position the Fund with underweight equity exposure, as stocks tend to perform well over time and anticipating drawdowns is challenging. The opposite is less true. We are happy to lean into equities when we believe they are well-supported fundamentally or when a correction has run further than we believe appropriate. This strategy worked well during the reporting period, producing a modestly positive contribution to performance. The policy stance
 
1. See "Investment and Performance Comparison" for other share class returns, which may be higher or lower than Class I share returns, and for more information on benchmark and peer group returns.
92 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund


shifted slightly in 2023, however, when the Fund adopted a small underweight position in equities following a sharp rally in January. We increased this underweight posture later in the reporting period as turmoil among banks increased the likelihood of a near-term recession.
Duration:2 Believing inflationary pressures to be at least partially structural in nature and likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future, we skewed the Fund’s fixed-income holdings to favor shorter-maturity instruments less sensitive to rising bond yields, although duration was added as yields rose. Over the latter half of the reporting period, duration was slightly shorter than that of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Equity style: In the same way that inflation threatens long-duration bonds, equities with values disproportionately reflected in more distant cash flows (i.e., growth stocks with high prices relative to current earnings) are likewise vulnerable. Accordingly, the Fund remained tilted to emphasize value stocks that offered more attractive near-term cash flows.
Equity size: Small-company stocks were more heavily represented in the Fund than in the Index. The thesis behind this positioning was based on attractive small-cap valuations, insulation from economic weakness abroad, less sensitivity to dollar strength and disproportionate exposure to domestic demand, which remained robust. This stance was helpful for much of the reporting period, but reversed abruptly in the spring of 2023 as small companies, which tend to be heavily dependent on bank financing, proved vulnerable to the aggressive, tightening lending standards implemented during the bank crisis mentioned above.
Geographic exposure: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that ensued, the Fund maintained underweight exposure to developed international markets. However, non-U.S. developed markets fared well during the reporting period, benefiting from both an unusually mild winter that reduced the strain on energy reserves, and the reopening of China following the end of the country’s zero-COVID-19 restrictions.
ESG: We seek to find Underlying ETFs with favorable ESG metrics, that carry low expense ratios, offer sufficient liquidity and most effectively capture the return potential of the asset class in which they invest, as evidenced by a low tracking error to a respective market index.
How did the Fund’s allocations change over the course of the reporting period?
Many of the larger shifts in the Fund’s allocations tie back to evolving ESG scores, as we regularly adjust holdings to maintain elevated ESG ratings. For example, a significant reduction in holdings of iShares® ESG Screened S&P 500® ETF was largely
offset by an increased position in SPDR® S&P 500® ESG ETF. At the same time, exiting a position in iShares® ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF was similarly offset by reallocating the assets to iShares® ESG Advanced Total USD Bond Market ETF. While these were large allocation changes, they had little impact on performance, since the Underlying Equity ETFs were quite similar to one another.
In terms of shifts that more directly affect Fund performance, the most consequential involved an accumulation of cash holdings as both equity and fixed income positions were trimmed. We reduced the Fund’s position in Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF in response to the ongoing bank crisis and sold shares of iShares® ESG Advanced High Yield Corporate Bond ETF to reduce the Fund’s exposure to lower-credit-quality fixed income instruments ahead of a potentially fast-approaching recession.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Equity ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Equity ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Fund held few Underlying Equity ETFs for the entire reporting period. Of those that were held, three generated positive returns: iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares® ESG Screened S&P 500® ETF and IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF. Those generating losses included Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF, iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF and Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF.
Which Underlying Equity ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Equity ETFs were particularly weak?
Contribution to return is a function not only of Underlying ETF performance and average allocation, but also the variation in that allocation across time. The Underlying Equity ETFs making the largest contributors to returns over the reporting period included iShares® ESG Screened S&P 500® ETF, IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF and iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF. The most significant detractors were Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF, iShares® ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF and Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF.
During the reporting period, which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the highest total returns and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs had the lowest total returns?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs posting the highest total returns included iShares® ESG Aware 1–5 Year USD Corporate Bond ETF, Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF and iShares® ESG Advanced High Yield Corporate Bond ETF. The only Underlying Fixed-Income ETF held for the entire reporting period that posted
2. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income investment to changes in interest rates. Duration is expressed as a number of years and is considered a more accurate sensitivity gauge than average maturity.
93


a loss was iShares® ESG Advanced Total USD Bond ETF. The smallest gain came from Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF.
Which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were the strongest positive contributors to the Fund’s performance and which Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs were particularly weak?
The Underlying Fixed-Income ETFs making the largest contributions to return were iShares® ESG Aware U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF and iShares® ESG Advanced High Yield Bond ETF. The only fixed income investment to detract (barely) from absolute performance was Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF. The smallest positive contributions came from Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and iShares® ESG Aware 1–5 Year USD Corporate Bond ETF.
How was the Fund positioned at the end of the reporting period?
As of April 30, 2023, we believe a near-term recession looks highly probable. Our opinion is based on a wide range of variables, including, but not limited to, the shape of the yield curve,3 trends in business surveys, a decline in money supply, tightening credit conditions and the steady drawdown of savings accumulated during the pandemic. We expect corporate profits to decline over the next several quarters, eventually driving stock prices lower while pushing credit spreads out. Accordingly, we continue to position the Fund defensively.
The Fund’s defensive posture begins at the top of the portfolio, with a modest tilt away from equities. We generally avoid underweight equity allocations, as they usually stand on the wrong side of history—stocks rise more often than not. However, we firmly believe that current valuations are rich given the daunting array of risks the economy and the markets face, including an historically extreme rise in rates, the looming debt ceiling, the unresolved bank crisis and geopolitical uncertainty, to name a few. We maintain that caution is the better part of valor under these circumstances.
Defensive positioning is clearly visible within asset classes as well. On the equity side, the Fund the portfolio shies away from growth stocks, which historically tend to exhibit higher volatility. Additionally, the Fund’s bias toward historically higher-beta, small-cap stocks, in place for the past several quarters, has been
effectively removed. Within fixed income, the Fund now holds a slightly below-Index-weight position in lower-quality credits. 
3. The yield curve is a line that plots the yields of various securities of similar quality—typically U.S. Treasury issues—across a range of maturities. The U.S. Treasury yield curve serves as a benchmark for other debt and is used in economic forecasting.
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock (BlackRock, Inc. and its subsidiaries). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund.
The opinions expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report and are subject to change. There is no guarantee that any forecasts will come to pass. This material does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment.
94 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^
  Shares Value
Affiliated Investment Companies 5.9%
Equity Funds 5.9% 
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF (a)    13,468 $    369,293
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (a)     9,821    350,241
Total Affiliated Investment Companies
(Cost $661,191)
  719,534
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 85.0%
Equity Funds 52.0% 
American Century Sustainable Equity ETF     8,966     464,410
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (a)       692      24,023
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (a)    13,430     991,000
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF     3,018      93,890
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF     5,753     192,725
iShares ESG Screened S&P 500 ETF    14,951     468,005
Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (a)    14,212     487,898
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF    12,735     464,700
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF    34,797   1,002,850
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (a)    18,693     655,377
SPDR S&P 500 ESG ETF (a)    38,850  1,562,935
Total Equity Funds
(Cost $6,507,749)
  6,407,813
Fixed Income Funds 33.0% 
iShares ESG Advanced High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (a) 13,727 608,106
iShares ESG Advanced Total USD Bond Market ETF (a) 37,214 1,612,483
iShares ESG Aware 1-5 Year USD Corporate Bond ETF 19,155 462,976
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (a) 13,297 275,713
Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (a) 24,948 558,960
Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF 8,618 541,393
Total Fixed Income Funds
(Cost $4,151,543)
  4,059,631
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies
(Cost $10,659,292)
  10,467,444
Short-Term Investments 21.8%
Affiliated Investment Company 8.9% 
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund, 3.98% (b) 1,098,637 1,098,637
Unaffiliated Investment Companies 12.9% 
Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, 4.857% (b)(c) 1,067,645 1,067,645
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
95


Portfolio of Investments April 30, 2023†^ (continued)
  Shares   Value
Short-Term Investments (continued)
Unaffiliated Investment Companies (continued) 
RBC U.S. Government Money Market Fund, 4.829% (b)(c)   523,600   $    523,600
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies
(Cost $1,591,245)
    1,591,245
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $2,689,882)
21.8%   2,689,882
Total Investments
(Cost $14,010,365)
112.7%   13,876,860
Other Assets, Less Liabilities (12.7)   (1,560,364)
Net Assets 100.0%   $ 12,316,496
    
Percentages indicated are based on Fund net assets.
^ Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes.
(a) All or a portion of this security was held on loan. As of April 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of securities on loan was $1,585,213; the total market value of collateral held by the Fund was $1,610,479. The market value of the collateral held included non-cash collateral in the form of U.S. Treasury securities with a value of $19,234. The Fund received cash collateral with a value of $1,591,245. (See Note 2(G))
(b) Current yield as of April 30, 2023.
(c) Represents a security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan.
Investments in Affiliates (in 000's)
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:
Affiliated Investment Companies Value,
Beginning
of Year
Purchases
at Cost
Proceeds
from
Sales
Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Value,
End of
Year
Dividend
Income
Other
Distributions
Shares
End of
Year
IQ Candriam ESG International Equity ETF $ 152 $  342 $  (147) $ (19) $ 41 $  369 $ 2 $ — 13
IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (a) 73 1,767 (1,536) 9 37 350 11 10
MainStay U.S. Government Liquidity Fund 362 7,119 (6,382) 1,099 20 1,099
  $ 587 $9,228 $(8,065) $ (10) $ 78 $1,818 $ 33 $  
    
   
(a) Prior to August 31, 2022, known as IQ Candriam ESG U.S. Equity ETF.
    
Abbreviation(s):
EAFE—Europe, Australasia and Far East
EM—Emerging Markets
ETF—Exchange-Traded Fund
MSCI—Morgan Stanley Capital International
SPDR—Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt
USD—United States Dollar
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
96 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund


The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of April 30, 2023, for valuing the Fund’s assets:
Description Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total
Asset Valuation Inputs              
Investments in Securities (a)              
Affiliated Investment Companies              
Equity Funds     $  719,534   $ —   $ —       $  719,534
Unaffiliated Investment Companies              
Equity Funds   6,407,813         6,407,813
Fixed Income Funds   4,059,631         4,059,631
Total Unaffiliated Investment Companies 10,467,444       10,467,444
Short-Term Investments              
Affiliated Investment Company   1,098,637         1,098,637
Unaffiliated Investment Companies   1,591,245         1,591,245
Total Short-Term Investments 2,689,882       2,689,882
Total Investments in Securities $ 13,876,860   $ —   $ —   $ 13,876,860
    
(a) For a complete listing of investments, see the Portfolio of Investments.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
97


Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2023
Assets
Investment in unaffiliated securities, at value
(identified cost $12,250,537) including securities on loan of $1,585,213
$12,058,689
Investment in affiliated investment companies, at value
(identified cost $1,759,828)
1,818,171
Receivables:  
Manager (See Note 3) 14,496
Securities lending 6,301
Dividends 3,358
Fund shares sold 550
Other assets 31,127
Total assets 13,932,692
Liabilities
Cash collateral received for securities on loan 1,591,245
Payables:  
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 13,025
Custodian 5,622
Shareholder communication 5,307
NYLIFE Distributors (See Note 3) 704
Professional fees 293
Total liabilities 1,616,196
Net assets $12,316,496
Composition of Net Assets
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (par value of $.001 per share) unlimited number of shares authorized $ 1,385
Additional paid-in-capital 13,538,134
  13,539,519
Total distributable earnings (loss) (1,223,023)
Net assets $12,316,496
Class A  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $2,747,011
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 308,993
Net asset value per share outstanding $ 8.89
Maximum sales charge (3.00% of offering price) 0.27
Maximum offering price per share outstanding $ 9.16
Class C  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 22,861
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 2,577
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 8.87
Class I  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $9,209,183
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 1,035,317
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 8.90
Class R3  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 64,350
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 7,245
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 8.88
SIMPLE Class  
Net assets applicable to outstanding shares $ 273,091
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding 30,742
Net asset value and offering price per share outstanding $ 8.88
 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
98 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund


Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2023
Investment Income (Loss)
Income  
Dividends-unaffiliated $ 225,289
Securities lending, net 48,817
Dividends-affiliated 32,926
Total income 307,032
Expenses  
Registration 51,828
Offering (See Note 2) 44,673
Professional fees 30,139
Manager (See Note 3) 22,238
Custodian 15,645
Distribution/Service—Class A (See Note 3) 5,018
Distribution/Service—Class C (See Note 3) 222
Distribution/Service—Class R3 (See Note 3) 195
Distribution/Service—SIMPLE Class (See Note 3) 807
Shareholder communication 6,180
Transfer agent (See Note 3) 2,361
Trustees 103
Shareholder service (See Note 3) 39
Miscellaneous 3,706
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement 183,154
Expense waiver/reimbursement from Manager (See Note 3) (116,244)
Reimbursement from prior custodian(a) (23)
Net expenses 66,887
Net investment income (loss) 240,145
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on:  
Unaffiliated investments (861,974)
Affiliated investments (10,126)
Net realized gain (loss) (872,100)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:  
Unaffiliated investments 703,557
Affiliated investments 77,613
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 781,170
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (90,930)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 149,215
    
(a) Represents a refund for overbilling of custody fees.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
99


Statements of Changes in Net Assets
for the year ended April 30, 2023 and the period September 30, 2021 (inception date) through April 30, 2022
  2023 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss) $ 240,145 $ 82,549
Net realized gain (loss) (872,100) (66,802)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 781,170 (914,675)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 149,215 (898,928)
Distributions to shareholders:    
Class A (33,195) (18,787)
Class C (152) (605)
Class I (151,197) (265,161)
Class R3 (423) (1,096)
SIMPLE Class (2,415) (637)
Total distributions to shareholders (187,382) (286,286)
Capital share transactions:    
Net proceeds from sales of shares 1,918,429 11,393,208
Net asset value of shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 187,382 286,286
Cost of shares redeemed (183,624) (61,804)
Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions 1,922,187 11,617,690
Net increase (decrease) in net assets 1,884,020 10,432,476
Net Assets
Beginning of year 10,432,476
End of year $12,316,496 $10,432,476
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
100 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   September 30, 2021^ through
April 30,
Class A 2023   2022
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 8.97   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.18   0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.13)   (0.82)
Total from investment operations 0.05   (0.77)
Less distributions:      
From net investment income (0.13)   (0.26)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.00)‡
Net asset value at end of period $ 8.89   $ 8.97
Total investment return (b) 0.58%   (7.99)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:      
Net investment income (loss) 2.06%   0.93%††
Net expenses (c) 0.77%   0.80%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.82%   2.40%††
Portfolio turnover rate 142%   70%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 2,747   $ 1,161
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
  Year Ended April 30,   September 30, 2021^ through
April 30,
Class C 2023   2022
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 8.95   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.10   0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.12)   (0.83)
Total from investment operations (0.02)   (0.81)
Less distributions:      
From net investment income (0.06)   (0.24)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.00)‡
Net asset value at end of period $ 8.87   $ 8.95
Total investment return (b) (0.20)%   (8.37)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:      
Net investment income (loss) 1.20%   0.36%††
Net expenses (c) 1.55%   1.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 2.70%   3.15%††
Portfolio turnover rate 142%   70%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 23   $ 23
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
101


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   September 30, 2021^ through
April 30,
Class I 2023   2022
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 8.98   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.19   0.08
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.12)   (0.84)
Total from investment operations 0.07   (0.76)
Less distributions:      
From net investment income (0.15)   (0.26)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.00)‡
Net asset value at end of period $ 8.90   $ 8.98
Total investment return (b) 0.73%   (7.83)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:      
Net investment income (loss) 2.19%   1.36%††
Net expenses (c) 0.55%   0.55%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 1.59%   2.15%††
Portfolio turnover rate 142%   70%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 9,209   $ 9,135
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class I shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
  Year Ended April 30,   September 30, 2021^ through
April 30,
Class R3 2023   2022
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 8.96   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.14   0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.12)   (0.82)
Total from investment operations 0.02   (0.79)
Less distributions:      
From net investment income (0.10)   (0.25)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.00)‡
Net asset value at end of period $ 8.88   $ 8.96
Total investment return (b) 0.22%   (8.17)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:      
Net investment income (loss) 1.58%   0.52%††
Net expenses (c) 1.15%   1.15%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 2.20%   2.75%††
Portfolio turnover rate 142%   70%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 64   $ 40
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Class R3 shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
    
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
102 MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund


Financial Highlights selected per share data and ratios
  Year Ended April 30,   September 30, 2021^ through
April 30,
SIMPLE Class 2023   2022
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 8.96   $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) (a) 0.15   0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.13)   (0.82)
Total from investment operations 0.02   (0.79)
Less distributions:      
From net investment income (0.10)   (0.25)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.00)‡
Net asset value at end of period $ 8.88   $ 8.96
Total investment return (b) 0.31%   (8.15)%
Ratios (to average net assets)/Supplemental Data:      
Net investment income (loss) 1.75%   0.57%††
Net expenses (c) 1.05%   1.05%††
Expenses (before waiver/reimbursement) (c) 2.20%   2.65%††
Portfolio turnover rate 142%   70%
Net assets at end of period (in 000’s) $ 273   $ 74
    
^ Inception date.
Less than one cent per share.
†† Annualized.
(a) Per share data based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total investment return is calculated exclusive of sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. SIMPLE Class shares are not subject to sales charges. For periods of less than one year, total return is not annualized.
(c) In addition to the fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, it also indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the fees and expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above expense ratios.
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements.
103


Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1-Organization and Business
MainStay Funds Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 28, 2009. The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is comprised of thirty-three funds (collectively referred to as the “Funds” and each individually, referred to as a “Fund"). These financial statements and notes relate to the MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund and MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund (commenced operations September 30, 2021) (collectively referred to as the "ETF Allocation Funds" and each individually referred to as an "ETF Allocation Fund"). Each is a “diversified” fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.
The following table lists each ETF Allocation Fund's share classes that have been registered and commenced operations:
Fund Share Classes Commenced Operations1
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund Class A, Class C, Class I, Class R3, SIMPLE Class
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund Class A, Class C, Class I, Class R3, SIMPLE Class
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund Class A, Class C, Class I, Class R3, SIMPLE Class
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund Class A, Class C, Class I, Class R3, SIMPLE Class
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund Class A, Class C, Class I, Class R3, SIMPLE Class
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund Class A, Class C, Class I, Class R3, SIMPLE Class
1. For each ETF Allocation Fund, other than MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund, Investor Class and Class R6 shares were registered for sale as of June 30, 2020, but as of April 30, 2023 were not yet offered for sale. For MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund, Investor Class and Class R6 shares were registered for sale as of September 30, 2021, but as of April 30, 2023 were not yet offered for sale.
Class A shares are offered at net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus an initial sales charge. No initial sales charge applies to investments of $250,000 or more (and certain other qualified purchases) in Class A shares. However, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 0.50% may be imposed on certain redemptions made within 18 months of the date of purchase on shares that were purchased without an initial sales charge. Class C shares are offered at NAV without an initial sales charge, although a CDSC of 1.00% may be imposed on certain redemptions of such shares made within one year of the date of purchase of Class C shares. Class I, Class R3 and SIMPLE Class shares are offered at NAV without a sales charge. Depending upon eligibility, Class C shares convert to Class A shares at the end of the calendar quarter eight years after the date they were purchased. SIMPLE Class shares convert to Class A shares, or Investor Class shares if you are not eligible to hold Class A shares, at the end of the calendar quarter, ten years after the date they were purchased. Share class conversions are based on the relevant NAVs of the two classes at the time of the conversion, and no sales load or
other charge is imposed. Under certain circumstances and as may be permitted by the Trust’s multiple class plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, specified share classes of an ETF Allocation Fund may be converted to one or more other share classes of the ETF Allocation Fund as disclosed in the capital share transactions within these Notes. The classes of shares have the same voting (except for issues that relate solely to one class), dividend, liquidation and other rights, and the same terms and conditions, except that under distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, Class C shares are subject to higher distribution and/or service fees than Class A, Class R3 and SIMPLE Class shares. Class I shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee. Class R3 shares are subject to a shareholder service fee, which is in addition to fees paid under the distribution plans for Class R3 shares.
The investment objective for each of the ETF Allocation Funds is as follows:
The MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund seeks current income.
The MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund seeks current income and, secondarily, long-term growth of capital.
The MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and, secondarily, current income.
The MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and, secondarily, current income.
The MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
The MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and, secondarily, current income.
The ETF Allocation Funds are "funds-of-funds" that seek to achieve their investment objectives by investing in passively-managed exchange-traded funds (the “Underlying ETFs”).
Note 2–Significant Accounting Policies
The ETF Allocation Funds are investment companies and accordingly follow the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services—Investment Companies. The ETF Allocation Funds prepare their financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follow the significant accounting policies described below.
(A) Securities Valuation.  Investments are usually valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the ETF Allocation Funds are open for business ("valuation date").
Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") has designated New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments” or the "Manager") as its
 
104 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


Valuation Designee (the "Valuation Designee"). The Valuation Designee is responsible for performing fair valuations relating to all investments in each ETF Allocation Fund’s portfolio for which market quotations are not readily available; periodically assessing and managing material valuation risks; establishing and applying fair value methodologies; testing fair valuation methodologies; evaluating and overseeing pricing services; ensuring appropriate segregation of valuation and portfolio management functions; providing quarterly, annual and prompt reporting to the Board, as appropriate; identifying potential conflicts of interest; and maintaining appropriate records. The Valuation Designee has established a valuation committee ("Valuation Committee") to assist in carrying out the Valuation Designee’s responsibilities and establish prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available. The ETF Allocation Funds' and the Valuation Designee's policies and procedures ("Valuation Procedures") govern the Valuation Designee’s selection and application of methodologies for determining and calculating the fair value of ETF Allocation Fund investments. The Valuation Designee may value the ETF Allocation Funds' portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other ETF Allocation Fund assets utilizing inputs from pricing services and other third-party sources. The Valuation Committee meets (in person, via electronic mail or via teleconference) on an ad-hoc basis to determine fair valuations and on a quarterly basis to review fair value events with respect to certain securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including valuation risks and back-testing results, and preview reports to the Board.
The Valuation Committee establishes prices of securities for which market quotations are not readily available based on such methodologies and measurements on a regular basis after considering information that is reasonably available and deemed relevant by the Valuation Committee. The Board shall oversee the Valuation Designee and review fair valuation materials on a prompt, quarterly and annual basis and approve proposed revisions to the Valuation Procedures.
Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to the Valuation Procedures. A market quotation is readily available only when that quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that each ETF Allocation Fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable. "Fair value" is defined as the price the ETF Allocation Fund would reasonably expect to receive upon selling an asset or liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements are determined within a framework that establishes a three-tier hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable market data and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. "Inputs" refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value using a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs for the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the
assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of each ETF Allocation Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect each ETF Allocation Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the information available. The inputs or methodology used for valuing assets or liabilities may not be an indication of the risks associated with investing in those assets or liabilities. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
Level 1—quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for an identical asset or liability
Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in active markets, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including each ETF Allocation Fund's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in measuring fair value of an asset or liability)
The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of an input, both individually and in the aggregate, that is significant to the fair value measurement. The aggregate value by input level of each ETF Allocation Fund’s assets and liabilities as of April 30, 2023, is included at the end of each ETF Allocation Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
Exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are valued at the last quoted sales prices as of the close of regular trading on the relevant exchange on each valuation date. Securities that are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Prices are normally taken from the principal market in which each security trades. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their respective NAVs at the close of business each day on the valuation date. These securities are generally categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
Temporary cash investments acquired in excess of 60 days to maturity at the time of purchase are valued using the latest bid prices or using valuations based on a matrix system (which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings), both as furnished by independent pricing services. Temporary cash investments that mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase ("Short-Term Investments") are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation, unless the use of such method would be inappropriate. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between such cost and the value on maturity date. Amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security. Securities valued using the amortized cost method are not valued using quoted prices in an active market and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
The information above is not intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies that may be used to value portfolio investments. The
105


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Valuation Procedures permit the use of a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing portfolio investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on the market data available or other considerations. The methodologies summarized above may not represent the specific means by which portfolio investments are valued on any particular business day.
(B) Income Taxes.  Each ETF Allocation Fund is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The ETF Allocation Funds' policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to the shareholders of each ETF Allocation Fund within the allowable time limits. Therefore, no federal, state and local income tax provisions are required.
Management evaluates each ETF Allocation Fund’s tax positions to determine if the tax positions taken meet the minimum recognition threshold in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for the purposes of measuring and recognizing tax liabilities in the financial statements. Recognition of tax benefits of an uncertain tax position is permitted only to the extent the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by taxing authorities. Management has analyzed the ETF Allocation Funds' tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (for up to three tax years) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the ETF Allocation Funds' financial statements. The ETF Allocation Funds' federal, state and local income tax and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state and local departments of revenue.
(C) Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders.  Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund and MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund and MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund each intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income, if any, at least annually. The MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund and MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund each intends to declare and pay dividends from net investment income, if any, at least quarterly. Each MainStay ETF Allocation Fund declare and distribute capital gains, if any, at least annually. Unless a shareholder elects otherwise, all dividends and distributions are reinvested in the same class of shares of the respective ETF Allocation Fund at NAV. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and may differ from determinations using GAAP.
(D) Security Transactions and Investment Income.  The ETF Allocation Funds record security transactions on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined using the identified cost method. Dividends and distributions received by the ETF Allocation Funds from the Underlying ETFs are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Investment income and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of the ETF Allocation Funds are allocated pro rata to the separate classes of shares based upon their relative net assets on the date the income is earned or realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
(E) Expenses.  Expenses of the Trust are allocated to the individual Funds in proportion to the net assets of the respective Funds when the expenses are incurred, except where direct allocations of expenses can be made. Expenses (other than transfer agent expenses and fees incurred under the shareholder services plans and/or the distribution plans further discussed in Note 3(B)) are allocated to separate classes of shares pro rata based upon their relative net assets on the date the expenses are incurred. The expenses borne by the ETF Allocation Funds, including those of related parties to the ETF Allocation Funds, are shown in the Statement of Operations.
In addition, the ETF Allocation Funds bear a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the Underlying ETFs in which they invest. Because the Underlying ETFs have varied expense and fee levels and the ETF Allocation Funds may own different proportions of the Underlying ETFs at different times, the amount of fees and expenses incurred indirectly by each ETF Allocation Fund may vary. Shares of the Underlying ETFs are subject to management fees and other fees that may cause the costs of investing in Underlying ETFs to be greater than the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. These indirect expenses of the Underlying ETFs are not included in the amounts shown in the Statement of Operations or in the expense ratios included in the Financial Highlights.
(F) Use of Estimates.  In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Manager makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
(G) Securities Lending. In order to realize additional income, the ETF Allocation Funds may engage in securities lending, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and relevant guidance by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If the ETF Allocation Funds engage in securities lending, the ETF Allocation Funds will lend through their custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., ("JPMorgan"), acting as securities lending agent on behalf of the ETF Allocation Funds. Under the current arrangement, JPMorgan will manage the ETF Allocation Funds' collateral in accordance with the securities lending agency agreement between the ETF Allocation Funds and JPMorgan, and indemnify the ETF Allocation Funds against counterparty risk. The loans will be collateralized by cash (which may be invested in a money market fund) and/or non-cash collateral (which may include U.S. Treasury securities and/or U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities) at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities loaned. Non-cash collateral held at year end is segregated and cannot be transferred by the ETF Allocation Funds. The ETF Allocation Funds bear the risk of delay in recovery of, or loss of rights in, the securities loaned. The ETF Allocation Funds may also record a realized gain or loss on
 
106 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. The ETF Allocation Funds bear the risk of any loss on investment of cash collateral. The ETF Allocation Funds will receive compensation for lending its securities in the form of fees or it will retain a portion of interest earned on the investment of any cash collateral. The ETF Allocation Funds will also continue to receive interest and dividends on the securities loaned and any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the ETF Allocation Funds. Income earned from securities lending activities, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Securities on loan as of April 30, 2023, are shown in the Portfolio of Investments.
(H) Indemnifications.  Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the ETF Allocation Funds enter into contracts with third-party service providers that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that may provide general indemnifications. The ETF Allocation Funds' maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the ETF Allocation Funds that have not yet occurred. The Manager believes that the risk of loss in connection with these potential indemnification obligations is remote. However, there can be no assurance that material liabilities related to such obligations will not arise in the future, which could adversely impact the ETF Allocation Funds.
Note 3–Fees and Related Party Transactions
(A) Manager.  New York Life Investments, a registered investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”), serves as the ETF Allocation Funds' Manager pursuant to an Amended and Restated Management Agreement (“Management Agreement”) and is responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the ETF Allocation Funds. The Manager provides offices, conducts clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services, and keeps most of the financial and accounting records required to be maintained by the ETF Allocation Funds. Except for the portion of salaries and expenses that are the responsibility of the ETF Allocation Funds, the Manager pays the salaries and expenses of all personnel affiliated with the ETF Allocation Funds and certain operational expenses of the ETF Allocation Funds. The ETF Allocation Funds reimburse New York Life Investments in an amount equal to the portion of the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer attributable to the ETF Allocation Funds.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement, each ETF Allocation Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee for the services performed and facilities furnished at an annual rate of 0.20% of each ETF Allocation Fund's average daily net assets.
107


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, extraordinary expenses, brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase and sale of portfolio investments, and acquired (underlying) fund fees and expenses) of a class do not exceed the following percentages of average daily net assets for each class:
Fund Class A Class C Class I Class R3 SIMPLE Class
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund 0.80% 1.55% 0.55% 1.15% 1.05%
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 0.80 1.55 0.55 1.15 1.05
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 0.80 1.55 0.55 1.15 1.05
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 0.80 1.55 0.55 1.15 1.05
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 0.80 1.55 0.55 1.15 1.05
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 0.80 1.55 0.55 1.15 1.05
 
This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board.
During the period ended April 30, 2023, New York Life Investments earned fees from the ETF Allocation Funds and waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses as follows:
Fund Earned Waived/Reimbursed
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund $ 20,134 $(119,414)
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 71,076 (58,419)
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 189,214
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 128,885 (14,790)
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 94,581 (61,084)
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 22,238 (116,244)
JPMorgan provides sub-administration and sub-accounting services to the ETF Allocation Funds pursuant to an agreement with New York Life Investments. These services include calculating the daily NAVs of the ETF Allocation Funds, maintaining the general ledger and sub-ledger accounts for the calculation of the ETF Allocation Funds' respective NAVs, and assisting New York Life Investments in conducting various aspects of the ETF Allocation Funds' administrative operations. For providing these services to the ETF Allocation Funds, JPMorgan is compensated by New York Life Investments.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Trust and New York Life Investments, New York Life Investments is responsible for providing or procuring certain regulatory reporting services for the ETF Allocation Funds. The ETF Allocation Funds will reimburse New York Life Investments for the actual costs incurred by New York Life Investments in connection with providing or procuring these services for the ETF Allocation Funds.
(B) Distribution, Service and Shareholder Service Fees.  The Trust, on behalf of the ETF Allocation Funds, has entered into a distribution agreement with NYLIFE Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments. The ETF Allocation Funds have
adopted distribution plans (the “Plans”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Pursuant to the Class A Plan, the Distributor receives a monthly fee from the Class A shares at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares for distribution and/or service activities as designated by the Distributor. Pursuant to the Class C Plan, Class C shares pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares, along with a service fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class C shares, for a total 12b-1 fee of 1.00%. Pursuant to the Class R3 and SIMPLE Class Plans, Class R3 and SIMPLE Class shares pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class R3 and SIMPLE Class shares, along with a service fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class R3 and SIMPLE Class shares, for a total 12b-1 fee of 0.50%. Class I shares are not subject to a distribution and/or service fee.
The Plans provide that the distribution and service fees are payable to the Distributor regardless of the amounts actually expended by the Distributor for distribution of the ETF Allocation Funds' shares and service activities.
In accordance with the Shareholder Services Plans for the Class R3 shares, the Manager has agreed to provide, through its affiliates or independent third parties, various shareholder and administrative support services to shareholders of the Class R3 shares. For its services, the Manager, its affiliates or independent third-party service providers are entitled to a shareholder service fee accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Class R3 shares. This is in addition to any fees paid under the Class R3 Plan.
During the year ended April 30, 2023, shareholder service fees incurred by the Fund were as follows:
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
Class R3 $ 44
 
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
Class R3 $ 340
 
 
108 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
Class R3 $1,211
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
Class R3 $ 554
 
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
Class R3 $ 450
 
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
Class R3 $ 39
(C) Sales Charges.  The ETF Allocation Funds were advised by the Distributor that the amount of initial sales charges retained on sales of each class of shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, was as follows:
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 4,275
 
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 14,206
 
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 42,266
 
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 41,451
 
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 34,627
 
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 1,150
The ETF Allocation Funds were also advised that the Distributor retained CDSCs on redemptions of Class A shares during the year ended April 30, 2023, as follows:
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 673
 
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 450
 
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 3,611
 
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 2,625
Class C 17
 
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund  
Class A $ 1,139
Class C 11
(D) Transfer, Dividend Disbursing and Shareholder Servicing Agent.  NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments, is the ETF Allocation Funds' transfer, dividend disbursing and shareholder servicing agent pursuant to an agreement between NYLIM Service Company LLC and the Trust. NYLIM Service Company LLC has entered into an agreement with SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. ("SS&C"), pursuant to which SS&C performs certain transfer agent services on behalf of NYLIM Service Company LLC. Effective June 30, 2020, New York Life Investments has contractually agreed to limit the transfer agency expenses charged to each of the Fund’s share classes to a maximum of 0.35% of that share class’s average daily net assets on an annual basis after deducting any applicable Fund or class-level expense reimbursement or small account fees. This agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2023, and shall renew automatically for one-year terms unless New York Life Investments provides written notice of termination prior to the start of the next term or upon approval of the Board. During the year ended April 30, 2023, transfer agent expenses incurred by the ETF Allocation Funds and any reimbursements, pursuant to the aforementioned Transfer Agency expense limitation agreement, were as follows:
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund Expense Waived
Class A $ 7,347 $
Class C 242
Class I 31
Class R3 36
SIMPLE Class 674
    
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund Expense Waived
Class A $ 26,969 $
Class C 509
Class I 27
Class R3 272
SIMPLE Class 2,179
    
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund Expense Waived
Class A $ 73,251 $
Class C 526
Class I 61
Class R3 1,007
SIMPLE Class 7,972
    
109


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund Expense Waived
Class A $ 66,188 $
Class C 462
Class I 88
Class R3 643
SIMPLE Class 9,464
    
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund Expense Waived
Class A $ 47,115 $
Class C 266
Class I 143
Class R3 505
SIMPLE Class 7,636
    
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund Expense Waived
Class A $ 269 $
Class C 27
Class I 1,833
Class R3 8
SIMPLE Class 224
(E) Capital. As of April 30, 2023, New York Life and its affiliates beneficially held shares of the ETF Allocation Funds with the values and percentages of net assets as follows:
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund    
Class C $ 24,297 10.6%
Class I 24,726 60.1
Class R3 24,540 32.4
 
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund    
Class C $ 26,052 7.1%
Class I 33,769 100.0
Class R3 26,330 6.1
 
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund    
Class I $ 29,623 40.1%
Class R3 28,305 2.3
 
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund    
Class C $ 30,048 9.6%
Class I 29,734 27.8
Class R3 30,401 4.4
 
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund    
Class C $ 31,285 18.2%
Class I 17,342 15.3
Class R3 31,660 9.5
 
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund    
Class A $ 23,135 0.8%
Class C 22,861 100.0
Class I 9,191,908 99.8
Class R3 23,007 35.8
SIMPLE Class 23,034 8.4
Note 4-Federal Income Tax
As of April 30, 2023, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of each ETF Allocation Fund’s investment portfolio, including applicable derivative contracts and other financial instruments, as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $13,044,057 $65,869 $(963,185) $(897,316)
    
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $44,597,957 $1,285,191 $(2,792,882) $(1,507,691)
    
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $116,987,786 $1,986,114 $(2,526,451) $(540,337)
    
 
110 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $84,934,860 $1,592,534 $(766,649) $825,885
    
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $58,683,545 $2,470,581 $(2,524,954) $(54,373)
    
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
  Federal Tax
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Investments in Securities $14,351,395 $246,376 $(720,911) $(474,535)
As of April 30, 2023, the components of accumulated gain (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
Fund Ordinary
Income
Accumulated
Capital
and Other
Gain (Loss)
Other
Temporary
Differences
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Total
Accumulated
Gain (Loss)
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund $ 23,136 $ (86,624) $ $ (897,316) $ (960,804)
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 33,938 (811,117) (1,507,691) (2,284,870)
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 719,918 (2,905,279) (540,337) (2,725,698)
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 312,594 (1,504,149) 825,885 (365,670)
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 31,711 (894,939) (54,373) (917,601)
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 55,324 (718,337) (85,475) (474,535) (1,223,023)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily due to wash sales adjustments.
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $86,624, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $49 $37
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $811,117, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $402 $409
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $2,905,279, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $1,467 $1,438
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $1,504,149, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $870 $634
 
111


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $894,939, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $474 $421
As of April 30, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $718,337, as shown in the table below, were available to the extent provided by the regulations to offset future realized gains of MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund. Accordingly, no capital gains distributions are expected to be paid to shareholders until net gains have been realized in excess of such amounts.
Capital Loss
Available Through
Short-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Long-Term
Capital Loss
Amounts (000’s)
Unlimited $492 $226
 
During the period ended April 30, 2023 the tax character of distributions paid as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
  2023   2022
Fund Ordinary
Income
Long-Term
Capital Gains
Total   Ordinary
Income
Long-Term
Capital Gains
Total
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund $ 292,414 $ 70,089 $ 362,503   $ 255,743 $ 901 $ 256,644
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 911,176 114,302 1,025,478   737,286 737,286
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 1,538,434 172,753 1,711,187   1,226,137 1,226,137
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 990,454 17,176 1,007,630   623,890 623,890
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 470,068 5,029 475,097   384,052 1,643 385,695
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 187,382 187,382   286,286 286,286
 
Note 5–Custodian
JPMorgan is the custodian of cash and securities held by the ETF Allocation Funds. Custodial fees are charged to each ETF Allocation Fund based on each ETF Allocation Fund's net assets and/or the market value of securities held by each ETF Allocation Fund and the number of certain transactions incurred by each ETF Allocation Fund.
Note 6–Line of Credit
The ETF Allocation Funds and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments maintain a line of credit with a syndicate of banks in order to secure a source of funds for temporary purposes to meet unanticipated or excessive redemption requests.
Effective July 26, 2022, under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), the aggregate commitment amount is $600,000,000 with an additional uncommitted amount of $100,000,000. The commitment fee is an annual rate of 0.15% of the average commitment amount payable quarterly, regardless of usage, to JPMorgan, who serves as the agent to the syndicate. The commitment fee is allocated among the ETF Allocation Funds and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments based upon their respective net assets and other factors. Interest on any revolving credit loan is charged based upon the Federal Funds Rate, Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") + 0.10%, or the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, whichever is higher. The Credit Agreement expires on July 25, 2023, although the ETF Allocation Funds, certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments and
the syndicate of banks may renew the Credit Agreement for an additional year on the same or different terms or enter into a credit agreement with a different syndicate of banks. Prior to July 26, 2022, the aggregate commitment amount and the commitment fee were the same as those under the current Credit Agreement. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no borrowings made or outstanding with respect to the ETF Allocation Funds under the Credit Agreement.
Note 7–Interfund Lending Program
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the ETF Allocation Funds, along with certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program provides an alternative credit facility that permits the ETF Allocation Funds and certain other funds managed by New York Life Investments to lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from one another, subject to the conditions of the exemptive order. During the year ended April 30, 2023, there were no interfund loans made or outstanding with respect to the ETF Allocation Funds.
 
112 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


Note 8–Purchases and Sales of Securities (in 000’s)
During the year ended April 30, 2023, purchases and sales of securities were as follows:
Fund Purchases Sales
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund $ 6,093 $ 6,038
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 23,326 21,743
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 62,920 56,260
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 50,556 35,034
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 30,083 16,387
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 16,094 14,919
Note 9–Capital Share Transactions
Transactions in capital shares for the period ended April 30, 2023, were as follows:
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 310,910 $ 2,857,044
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 37,215 336,689
Shares redeemed (315,645) (2,899,248)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 32,480 294,485
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 702 6,430
Net increase (decrease) 33,182 $ 300,915
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 467,406 $ 4,822,274
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 23,782 246,509
Shares redeemed (328,586) (3,404,083)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 162,602 1,664,700
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 2,196 22,510
Net increase (decrease) 164,798 $ 1,687,210
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 16,427 $ 150,140
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 596 5,417
Shares redeemed (3,878) (35,650)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 13,145 119,907
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (703) (6,430)
Net increase (decrease) 12,442 $ 113,477
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 115 $ 1,200
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 252 2,623
Shares redeemed (1,322) (13,767)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (955) (9,944)
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (2,198) (22,510)
Net increase (decrease) (3,153) $ (32,454)
 
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 623 $ 5,793
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 165 1,493
Net increase (decrease) 788 $ 7,286
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 108 $ 1,116
Shares redeemed (191,795) (2,002,016)
Net increase (decrease) (191,687) $(2,000,900)
 
Class R3 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 4,693 $ 43,058
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 168 1,517
Net increase (decrease) 4,861 $ 44,575
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 762 $ 8,000
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 73 758
Shares redeemed (1)
Net increase (decrease) 835 $ 8,757
 
113


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
SIMPLE Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 44,509 $ 411,778
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,779 16,132
Shares redeemed (2,700) (24,586)
Net increase (decrease) 43,588 $ 403,324
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 23,576 $ 242,000
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 353 3,645
Shares redeemed (3,023) (31,532)
Net increase (decrease) 20,906 $ 214,113
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 873,450 $ 8,657,169
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 98,111 952,780
Shares redeemed (660,115) (6,526,437)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 311,446 3,083,512
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 5,356 53,415
Net increase (decrease) 316,802 $ 3,136,927
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 1,692,280 $18,824,810
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 62,856 704,321
Shares redeemed (685,361) (7,574,739)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,069,775 11,954,392
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 408 4,556
Net increase (decrease) 1,070,183 $11,958,948
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 2,612 $ 26,020
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 809 7,847
Shares redeemed (2,009) (19,773)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,412 14,094
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (5,042) (50,072)
Net increase (decrease) (3,630) $ (35,978)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 2,366 $ 26,521
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 608 6,833
Shares redeemed (4,591) (51,480)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (1,617) (18,126)
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (409) (4,556)
Net increase (decrease) (2,026) $ (22,682)
 
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 107 $ 1,028
Net increase (decrease) 107 $ 1,028
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 137 $ 1,541
Shares redeemed (2,385) (25,619)
Net increase (decrease) (2,248) $ (24,078)
 
Class R3 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 33,419 $ 324,331
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,008 9,791
Net increase (decrease) 34,427 $ 334,122
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 2,565 $ 28,919
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 149 1,667
Net increase (decrease) 2,714 $ 30,586
 
 
114 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


SIMPLE Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 146,265 $ 1,445,904
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 4,700 45,801
Shares redeemed (19,775) (195,239)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 131,190 1,296,466
Shares converted from SIMPLE Class (See Note 1) (336) (3,343)
Net increase (decrease) 130,854 $ 1,293,123
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 92,080 $ 1,019,656
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,200 13,388
Shares redeemed (5,244) (58,363)
Net increase (decrease) 88,036 $ 974,681
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 1,931,302 $ 20,758,714
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 151,908 1,594,972
Shares redeemed (1,196,225) (12,811,527)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 886,985 9,542,159
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 4,114 43,271
Net increase (decrease) 891,099 $ 9,585,430
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 4,186,889 $ 50,473,072
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 96,219 1,188,297
Shares redeemed (1,080,298) (13,019,569)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 3,202,810 38,641,800
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 11,038 130,131
Net increase (decrease) 3,213,848 $ 38,771,931
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 3,362 $ 35,869
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 294 3,083
Shares redeemed (3,751) (39,764)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion (95) (812)
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (4,140) (43,271)
Net increase (decrease) (4,235) $ (44,083)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 14,807 $ 177,884
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 288 3,546
Shares redeemed (11,428) (135,584)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 3,667 45,846
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (11,079) (130,131)
Net increase (decrease) (7,412) $ (84,285)
 
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 2,321 $ 25,321
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 139 1,463
Shares redeemed (2,354) (25,251)
Net increase (decrease) 106 $ 1,533
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 2,979 $ 36,029
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 91 1,128
Shares redeemed (850) (10,430)
Net increase (decrease) 2,220 $ 26,727
 
Class R3 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 67,966 $ 715,346
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,930 20,241
Shares redeemed (34,261) (373,494)
Net increase (decrease) 35,635 $ 362,093
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 42,794 $ 519,787
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 733 9,056
Shares redeemed (141) (1,748)
Net increase (decrease) 43,386 $ 527,095
 
115


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
SIMPLE Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 476,351 $ 5,096,795
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 8,448 88,534
Shares redeemed (29,925) (321,359)
Net increase (decrease) 454,874 $ 4,863,970
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 258,797 $ 3,089,423
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,785 22,031
Shares redeemed (13,574) (159,897)
Net increase (decrease) 247,008 $ 2,951,557
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 1,965,632 $22,781,235
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 79,943 904,151
Shares redeemed (656,085) (7,574,788)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,389,490 16,110,598
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 1,891 21,668
Net increase (decrease) 1,391,381 $16,132,266
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 2,481,741 $32,173,386
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 43,915 591,099
Shares redeemed (446,604) (5,771,438)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 2,079,052 26,993,047
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 339 4,447
Shares converted from Class A (See Note 1) (283) (3,802)
Net increase (decrease) 2,079,108 $26,993,692
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 2,576 $ 29,341
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 216 2,440
Shares redeemed (561) (6,530)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 2,231 25,251
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (1,900) (21,668)
Net increase (decrease) 331 $ 3,583
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 5,581 $ 72,514
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 113 1,516
Shares redeemed (1,785) (23,688)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 3,909 50,342
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (342) (4,447)
Net increase (decrease) 3,567 $ 45,895
 
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 5,656 $ 64,602
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 151 1,696
Shares redeemed (196) (2,291)
Net increase (decrease) 5,611 $ 64,007
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 249 $ 3,250
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 47 635
Net increase (decrease) 296 $ 3,885
 
Class R3 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 21,476 $ 247,926
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 622 7,027
Shares redeemed (5,214) (60,043)
Net increase (decrease) 16,884 $ 194,910
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 28,331 $ 367,189
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 160 2,146
Net increase (decrease) 28,491 $ 369,335
 
 
116 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


SIMPLE Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 514,843 $ 5,920,746
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 8,121 91,851
Shares redeemed (50,203) (589,192)
Net increase (decrease) 472,761 $ 5,423,405
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 266,287 $ 3,460,769
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 2,090 28,129
Shares redeemed (21,687) (278,346)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 246,690 3,210,552
Shares converted into SIMPLE Class (See Note 1) 283 3,802
Net increase (decrease) 246,973 $ 3,214,354
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 1,356,954 $16,425,863
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 36,098 425,944
Shares redeemed (512,629) (6,190,399)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 880,423 10,661,408
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 1,808 21,760
Net increase (decrease) 882,231 $10,683,168
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 1,900,803 $26,331,795
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 24,833 360,078
Shares redeemed (366,165) (5,060,167)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,559,471 21,631,706
Shares converted into Class A (See Note 1) 1,883 25,918
Net increase (decrease) 1,561,354 $21,657,624
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 2,381 $ 28,448
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 33 386
Shares redeemed (998) (11,796)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 1,416 17,038
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (1,824) (21,760)
Net increase (decrease) (408) $ (4,722)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 4,078 $ 56,581
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 41 590
Shares redeemed (904) (12,511)
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding before conversion 3,215 44,660
Shares converted from Class C (See Note 1) (1,894) (25,918)
Net increase (decrease) 1,321 $ 18,742
 
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 389 $ 4,804
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 117 1,373
Shares redeemed (3,552) (40,820)
Net increase (decrease) (3,046) $ (34,643)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 7,559 $ 104,738
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 150 2,163
Shares redeemed (193,413) (2,596,830)
Net increase (decrease) (185,704) $ (2,489,929)
 
Class R3 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 7,075 $ 85,264
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 141 1,664
Shares redeemed (18,147) (223,350)
Net increase (decrease) (10,931) $ (136,422)
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 4,977 $ 70,234
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 106 1,525
Shares redeemed (13)
Net increase (decrease) 5,083 $ 71,746
 
117


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
SIMPLE Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 377,568 $ 4,530,890
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 3,502 41,247
Shares redeemed (37,224) (454,975)
Net increase (decrease) 343,846 $ 4,117,162
Year ended April 30, 2022:    
Shares sold 184,935 $ 2,564,334
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,185 17,161
Shares redeemed (13,008) (178,356)
Net increase (decrease) 173,112 $ 2,403,139
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
Class A Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 195,321 $ 1,692,800
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 3,919 33,195
Shares redeemed (19,676) (173,318)
Net increase (decrease) 179,564 $ 1,552,677
Year ended April 30, 2022:(a)    
Shares sold 134,088 $ 1,332,493
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 1,853 18,787
Shares redeemed (6,512) (61,804)
Net increase (decrease) 129,429 $ 1,289,476
 
Class C Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 17 $ 152
Net increase (decrease) 17 $ 152
Year ended April 30, 2022:(a)    
Shares sold 2,501 $ 24,999
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 59 605
Net increase (decrease) 2,560 $ 25,604
 
Class I Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 17,851 $ 151,197
Net increase (decrease) 17,851 $ 151,197
Year ended April 30, 2022:(a)    
Shares sold 991,316 $ 9,913,000
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 26,150 265,161
Net increase (decrease) 1,017,466 $10,178,161
 
Class R3 Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 2,737 $ 23,980
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 50 423
Net increase (decrease) 2,787 $ 24,403
Year ended April 30, 2022:(a)    
Shares sold 4,350 $ 43,898
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 108 1,096
Net increase (decrease) 4,458 $ 44,994
 
SIMPLE Class Shares Amount
Year ended April 30, 2023:    
Shares sold 23,250 $ 201,649
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 285 2,415
Shares redeemed (1,080) (10,306)
Net increase (decrease) 22,455 $ 193,758
Year ended April 30, 2022:(a)    
Shares sold 8,224 $ 78,818
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions 63 637
Net increase (decrease) 8,287 $ 79,455
    
(a) The inception date of the class was September 30, 2021.
Note 10–Other Matters
As of the date of this report, interest rates in the United States and many parts of the world, including certain European countries, continue to ascend from historically low levels. Thus, the ETF Allocation Funds currently face a heightened level of risk associated with rising interest rates. This could be driven by a variety of factors, including but not limited to central bank monetary policies, changing inflation or real growth rates, general economic conditions, increasing bond issuances or reduced market demand for low yielding investments.
Social, political, economic and other conditions and events, such as war, natural disasters, health emergencies (e.g., epidemics and pandemics), terrorism, conflicts, social unrest, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes and supply chain disruptions, may occur and could significantly impact the ETF Allocation Funds, issuers, industries, governments and other systems, including the financial markets. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as COVID-19, the conflict in Ukraine, and the failures of certain U.S. and non-U.S. banks, may magnify factors that affect the ETF Allocation Funds' performance.
Note 11–Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the ETF Allocation Funds as of and for the year ended April 30, 2023, events and transactions subsequent to April 30, 2023, through the date the financial statements were issued have been evaluated by the Manager for possible adjustment and/or disclosure. No subsequent events requiring financial statement adjustment or disclosure have been identified.
 
118 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders of the Funds and Board of Trustees
MainStay Funds Trust:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund and MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund (the Funds), six of the funds constituting MainStay Funds Trust, including the portfolios of investments, as of April 30, 2023, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, except for the MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund which is for the year ended April 30, 2023 and the period from September 30, 2021 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the three-year period ended April 30, 2023. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Funds as of April 30, 2023, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, except for the MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund which is for the year ended April 30, 2023 and the period from September 30, 2021 through April 30, 2022, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the three-year period ended April 30, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds' management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2023, by correspondence with the custodians, transfer agent, and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more New York Life Investment Management investment companies since 2003.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 23, 2023
119


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement  (Unaudited)
The continuation of the Management Agreement with respect to the MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund, MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund and MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund (“Funds”) and New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”) is subject to annual review and approval by the Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (“Board” of the “Trust”) in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). At its December 6–7, 2022 meeting, the Board, which is comprised solely of Trustees who are not an “interested person” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”), unanimously approved the continuation of the Management Agreement for a one-year period.
In reaching the decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Board considered information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in connection with an annual contract review process undertaken by the Board that took place at meetings of the Board and its Contracts Committee during October 2022 through December 2022, including information and materials furnished by New York Life Investments in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees, which encompassed a variety of topics, including those summarized below. Information and materials requested by and furnished to the Board for consideration in connection with the contract review process included, among other items, reports on each Fund and “peer funds” prepared by Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third-party service provider engaged by the Board to report objectively on each Fund’s investment performance, management fee and total expenses. The Board also considered information on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients of New York Life Investments that follow investment strategies similar to those of each Fund, if any, and, when applicable, the rationale for any differences in each Fund’s management fee and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients. In addition, the Board considered information regarding the legal standards and fiduciary obligations applicable to its consideration of the continuation of the Management Agreement. The contract review process, including the structure and format for information and materials provided to the Board, has been developed in consultation with the Board. The Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel and, for portions thereof, with senior management of New York Life Investments.
The Board’s deliberations with respect to the continuation of the Management Agreement reflect a year-long process, and the Board also took into account information furnished to the Board and its Committees throughout the year, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees, including, among other items, reports on investment performance of each Fund and investment-related matters for each Fund as well as presentations from New York Life Investments personnel. In addition, the Board took into account other information provided by New York Life Investments throughout the year, including, among other items, periodic
reports on legal and compliance matters, risk management, portfolio turnover, brokerage commissions and non-advisory services provided to each Fund by New York Life Investments, as deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition to information provided to the Board throughout the year, the Board received information in connection with its June 2022 meeting provided specifically in response to requests prepared on behalf of the Board, and in consultation with the Board, by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees regarding each Fund’s distribution arrangements. In addition, the Board received information regarding each Fund’s asset levels, share purchase and redemption activity and the payment of Rule 12b-1 and/or certain other fees by the applicable share classes of each Fund, among other information.
In considering the continuation of the Management Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to reasonably be necessary and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees and through the exercise of their own business judgment. Although individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently and the Board did not consider any single factor or information controlling in reaching its decision, the factors that figured prominently in the Board’s consideration of the continuation of the Management Agreement are summarized in more detail below and include, among other factors: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to each Fund by New York Life Investments; (ii) the qualifications of the portfolio managers of each Fund and the historical investment performance of each Fund and New York Life Investments; (iii) the costs of the services provided, and profits realized, by New York Life Investments with respect to its relationship with each Fund; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale have been realized or may be realized if each Fund grows and the extent to which any economies of scale have been shared, have benefited or may benefit each Fund’s shareholders; and (v) the reasonableness of each Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses. Although the Board recognized that comparisons between each Fund’s fees and expenses and those of other funds are imprecise given different terms of agreements, variations in fund strategies and other factors, the Board considered the reasonableness of each Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses as compared to the peer funds identified by ISS. Throughout their considerations, the Trustees acknowledged the commitment of New York Life Investments and its affiliates to serve the MainStay Group of Funds, as well as their capacity, experience, resources, financial stability and reputations. The Trustees also acknowledged the entrepreneurial and other risks assumed by New York Life Investments in sponsoring and managing each Fund.
The Trustees noted that, throughout the year, the Trustees are afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and request additional information or materials from, New York Life Investments. The Board’s decision with respect to the Management Agreement may have also been based, in part, on the Board’s knowledge of New York Life Investments resulting from, among other things, the Board’s consideration of the Management
 
120 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


Agreement in prior years, the advisory agreements for other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, the Board’s review throughout the year of the performance and operations of other funds in the MainStay Group of Funds and each Trustee’s business judgment and industry experience. In addition to considering the above-referenced factors, the Board observed that in the marketplace there are a range of investment options available to investors and that each Fund’s shareholders, having had the opportunity to consider other investment options, have chosen to invest in the Fund.
The factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement during its December 6–7, 2022 meeting are summarized in more detail below. The Board considered on a Fund-by-Fund basis the factors and information deemed relevant and appropriate by the Trustees to evaluate the continuation of the Management Agreement, and the Board’s decision was made separately with respect to each Fund.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided by New York Life Investments
The Board examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that New York Life Investments provides to each Fund. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and capabilities in serving as manager of each Fund. The Board noted that New York Life Investments manages other mutual funds, serves a variety of other investment advisory clients, including other pooled investment vehicles, and has experience overseeing mutual fund service providers. The Board considered the experience of senior personnel at New York Life Investments providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to each Fund. The Board observed that New York Life Investments devotes significant resources and time to providing management and administrative and other non-advisory services to each Fund.
The Board also considered the range of services that New York Life Investments provides to the Funds under the terms of the Management Agreement, including: (i) fund accounting and ongoing supervisory services provided by New York Life Investments’ Fund Administration and Accounting Group; (ii) investment supervisory and analytical services provided by New York Life Investments’ Investment Consulting Group; (iii) compliance services provided by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as New York Life Investments’ compliance department, including supervision and implementation of the Funds’ compliance program; (iv) legal services provided by New York Life Investments’ Office of the General Counsel; and (v) risk management monitoring and analysis by compliance and investment personnel. In addition, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ willingness to invest in personnel and other resources, such as cyber security, information security and business continuity planning, designed to benefit the Funds and noted that New York Life Investments is responsible for compensating the Trust’s officers, except for a portion of the salary of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Board recognized that New York Life Investments provides certain other non-advisory services to the Funds and has provided an
increasingly broad array of non-advisory services to the MainStay Group of Funds as a result of regulatory and other developments, including in connection with the implementation of the MainStay Group of Funds’ derivatives risk management program and policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. The Board considered benefits to each Fund’s shareholders from the Fund being part of the MainStay Group of Funds, including the ability to exchange investments between the same class of shares of funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, including without the imposition of a sales charge (if any).
The Board also examined the range, and the nature, extent and quality, of the investment advisory services that New York Life Investments provides to each Fund and considered the terms of the Management Agreement. The Board evaluated New York Life Investments’ experience and performance in serving as investment adviser to the Funds and advising other portfolios and New York Life Investments’ track record and experience in providing investment advisory services as well as the experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel at New York Life Investments. The Board considered New York Life Investments’ overall resources, legal and compliance environment, capabilities, reputation, financial condition and history. In addition to information provided in connection with quarterly meetings with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Board considered information regarding the compliance policies and procedures of New York Life Investments and acknowledged New York Life Investments’ commitment to further developing and strengthening compliance programs relating to the Funds. The Board also considered New York Life Investments’ ability to recruit and retain qualified investment professionals and willingness to invest in personnel and other resources to service and support the Funds. In this regard, the Board considered the qualifications and experience of each Fund’s portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the method for compensating the portfolio managers.
Because the Funds invest substantially all their assets in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), the Board considered information from New York Life Investments regarding the investment rationale and process for the allocation among and selection of the underlying ETFs in which the Funds invest.
In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments regarding the operations of its business continuity plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued remote work environment.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that each Fund would likely continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of these services.
Investment Performance
In evaluating each Fund’s investment performance, the Board considered investment performance results over various periods in light of each Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks. The Board considered
121


Board Consideration and Approval of Management Agreement  (Unaudited) (continued)
investment reports on, and analysis of, each Fund’s performance provided to the Board throughout the year. These reports include, among other items, information on each Fund’s gross and net returns, each Fund’s investment performance compared to a relevant investment category and each Fund’s benchmarks, each Fund’s risk-adjusted investment performance and each Fund’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, as appropriate, as well as portfolio attribution information and commentary on the effect of market conditions. The Board also considered information provided by ISS showing the investment performance of each Fund as compared to peer funds. In addition, the Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes.
The Board also took into account its discussions with senior management at New York Life Investments concerning each Fund’s investment performance over various periods as well as discussions between each Fund’s portfolio management team and the members of the Board’s Investment Committee, which generally occur on an annual basis. In addition, the Board considered any specific actions that New York Life Investments had taken, or had agreed to take, to seek to enhance each Fund’s investment performance and the results of those actions.
Based on these considerations, among others, the Board concluded that its review of each Fund’s investment performance and related information supported a determination to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
Costs of the Services Provided, and Profits and Other Benefits Realized, by New York Life Investments
The Board considered the costs of the services provided under the Management Agreement. The Board also considered the profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Funds as well as the MainStay Group of Funds.
With respect to the MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund, the Board considered that the Fund’s investments in underlying funds managed by New York Life Investments or its affiliates indirectly benefit New York Life Investments or its affiliates.
In addition, the Board acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining reliable comparative data about mutual fund managers’ profitability because such information generally is not publicly available and may be impacted by numerous factors, including the structure of a fund manager’s organization, the types of funds it manages, the methodology used to allocate certain fixed costs to specific funds and the manager’s capital structure and costs of capital.
In evaluating the costs of the services provided by New York Life Investments and profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates, the Board considered, among other factors, New York Life Investments’ and its affiliates’ continuing investments in, or willingness to invest in, personnel and other resources to support and further enhance the management of each Fund. The Board also considered the financial resources of New York Life Investments and acknowledged that New York
Life Investments must be in a position to recruit and retain experienced professional personnel and to maintain a strong financial position for New York Life Investments to continue to provide high-quality services to the Funds. The Board recognized that each Fund benefits from the allocation of certain fixed costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds, among other expected benefits resulting from its relationship with New York Life Investments.
The Board considered information regarding New York Life Investments’ methodology for calculating profitability and allocating costs provided by New York Life Investments in connection with the fund profitability analysis presented to the Board. The Board noted it had previously engaged an independent consultant to review the methods used to allocate costs among the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. The Board also noted that the independent consultant had concluded that New York Life Investments’ methods for allocating costs and procedures for estimating overall profitability of the relationship with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds are reasonable and that New York Life Investments continued to use the same method of calculating profit and allocating costs since the independent consultant’s review. The Board recognized the difficulty in calculating and evaluating a manager’s profitability with respect to each Fund and considered that other profitability methodologies may also be reasonable.
The Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with each Fund, including reputational and other indirect benefits. In addition, the Board considered its review of the management agreement for a money market fund advised by New York Life Investments and an affiliated subadvisor that serves as an investment option for the Funds, including the potential rationale for and costs associated with investments in this money market fund by the Funds, if any, and considered information from New York Life Investments that the nature and type of specific investment advisory services provided to this money market fund are distinct from, or in addition to, the investment advisory services provided to the Funds.
The Board observed that, in addition to fees earned by New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement for managing each Fund, New York Life Investments’ affiliates also earn revenues from serving each Fund in various other capacities, including as each Fund’s transfer agent and distributor. The Board considered information about these other revenues and their impact on the profitability of the relationship with each Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates. The Board noted that, although it assessed the overall profitability of the relationship with each Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates as part of the contract review process, when considering the reasonableness of the fee paid to New York Life Investments under the Management Agreement, the Board considered the profitability of New York Life Investments’ relationship with the Funds on a pre-tax basis and without regard to distribution expenses incurred by New York Life Investments from its own resources.
 
122 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


After evaluating the information deemed relevant by the Trustees, the Board concluded that any profits realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with each Fund were not excessive.
Management Fees and Total Ordinary Operating Expenses
The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fee paid under the Management Agreement and each Fund’s total ordinary operating expenses.
In assessing the reasonableness of each Fund’s fees and expenses, the Board primarily considered comparative data provided by ISS on the fees and expenses charged by similar mutual funds managed by other investment advisers. The Board reviewed the methodology used by ISS to construct the group of peer funds for comparative purposes. With respect to the MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ process for monitoring and addressing potential conflicts of interest in the selection of underlying funds. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments on fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and/or other funds that follow investment strategies similar to those of each Fund, if any. The Board considered the contractual management fee schedules of each Fund as compared to those of such other investment advisory clients, taking into account the rationale for any differences in fee schedules. The Board also took into account information provided by New York Life Investments about the more extensive scope of services provided to registered investment companies, such as the Funds, as compared with other investment advisory clients. Additionally, the Board considered the impact of voluntary waivers and expense limitation arrangements on each Fund’s net management fee and expenses. The Board also considered that in proposing fees for each Fund, New York Life Investments considers the competitive marketplace for mutual funds.
Because the Funds invest substantially all their assets in ETFs, the Board also considered information provided by New York Life Investments regarding the fees and expenses associated with the Funds’ investments in ETFs.
The Board took into account information from New York Life Investments, as provided in connection with the Board’s June 2022 meeting, regarding the reasonableness of each Fund’s transfer agent fee schedule, including industry data demonstrating that the fees that NYLIM Service Company LLC, an affiliate of New York Life Investments and each Fund’s transfer agent, charges each Fund are within the range of fees charged by transfer agents to other mutual funds. In addition, the Board considered NYLIM Service Company LLC’s profitability in connection with the transfer agent services it provides to the Funds. The Board also took into account information provided by NYLIM Service Company LLC regarding the sub-transfer agency payments it made to intermediaries in connection with the provision of sub-transfer agency services to the Funds.
The Board considered the extent to which transfer agent fees contributed to the total expenses of each Fund. The Board acknowledged the role that the MainStay Group of Funds historically has played in serving the investment needs of New York Life Insurance Company customers, who often maintain smaller account balances than other shareholders of funds, and the impact of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes. The Board also recognized measures that it and New York Life Investments have taken intended to mitigate the effect of small accounts on the expense ratios of Fund share classes, including through the imposition of an expense limitation on net transfer agency expenses. The Board also considered that NYLIM Service Company LLC had waived its contractual cost of living adjustments during the seven years prior to 2021.
Based on the factors outlined above, among other considerations, the Board concluded that each Fund’s management fee and total ordinary operating expenses are within a range that is competitive and support a conclusion that these fees and expenses are reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered information regarding economies of scale, including whether economies of scale may exist for each Fund and whether each Fund’s expense structure permits any economies of scale to be appropriately shared with each Fund’s shareholders. The Board also considered a report from New York Life Investments, previously prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale, including with respect to the mutual fund business generally, and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the funds in the MainStay Group of Funds. Although the Board recognized the difficulty of determining economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with each Fund in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of fee breakpoints, initially setting management fee rates at scale or making additional investments to enhance the services provided to each Fund. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how each Fund’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments. The Board also reviewed information from ISS showing how each Fund’s management fee schedule compared with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels.
Based on this information, the Board concluded that economies of scale are appropriately shared for the benefit of each Fund’s shareholders through each Fund’s expense structure and other methods to share benefits from economies of scale.
Conclusion
On the basis of the information and factors summarized above, among other information and factors deemed relevant by the Trustees, and the evaluation thereof, the Board unanimously voted to approve the continuation of the Management Agreement.
123


Discussion of the Operation and Effectiveness of the ETF Allocation Funds' Liquidity Risk Management Program (Unaudited)
In compliance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”), the ETF Allocation Funds have adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”), which New York Life Investment Management LLC believes is reasonably designed to assess and manage the ETF Allocation Funds' liquidity risk. The ETF Allocation Funds' liquidity risk is the risk that the ETF Allocation Funds could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the ETF Allocation Funds without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the ETF Allocation Funds. The Board of Trustees of MainStay Funds Trust (the "Board") previously approved the designation of New York Life Investment Management LLC as administrator of the Program (the “Administrator”). The Administrator has established a Liquidity Risk Management Committee to assist the Administrator in the implementation and day-to-day administration of the Program and to otherwise support the Administrator in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Program.
At a meeting of the Board held on February 28, 2023, the Administrator provided the Board with a written report addressing the Program’s operation and assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of its implementation for the period from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022 (the "Review Period"), as required under the Liquidity Rule. The report noted that the Administrator concluded that (i) the Program operated effectively to assess and manage the ETF Allocation Funds' liquidity risk, (ii) the Program has been and continues to be adequately and effectively implemented to monitor and, as applicable, respond to the ETF Allocation Funds' liquidity developments and (iii) the ETF Allocation Funds' investment strategy continues to be appropriate for an open-end fund. In addition, the report summarized the operation of the Program and the information and factors considered by the Administrator in its assessment of the Program’s implementation, such as the liquidity risk assessment framework and the liquidity classification methodologies, and discussed notable geopolitical, market and other economic events that impacted liquidity risk during the Review Period.
In accordance with the Program, the ETF Allocation Funds' liquidity risk is assessed no less frequently than annually taking into consideration certain factors, as applicable, such as (i) investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments, (ii) short-term and long-term cash flow projections, and (iii) holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements and other funding sources. Certain factors are considered under both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions.
Each ETF Allocation Fund's portfolio investment is classified into one of four liquidity categories. The classification is based on a determination of the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment into cash, or sell or dispose of the investment, in current market conditions without significantly changing the market value of the investment. The Administrator's liquidity classification determinations are made by taking into account the ETF Allocation Funds' reasonably anticipated trade size, various market, trading and investment-specific considerations, as well as market depth, and, in certain cases, third-party vendor data.
The Liquidity Rule requires funds that do not primarily hold assets that are highly liquid investments to adopt a minimum amount of net assets that must be invested in highly liquid investments that are assets (an “HLIM”). In addition, the Liquidity Rule limits a fund's investments in illiquid investments. Specifically, the Liquidity Rule prohibits acquisition of illiquid investments if, immediately after acquisition, doing so would result in a fund holding more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. The Program includes provisions reasonably designed to determine, periodically review and comply with the HLIM requirement, as applicable, and to comply with the 15% limit on illiquid investments.
There can be no assurance that the Program will achieve its objectives under all circumstances in the future. Please refer to the ETF Allocation Funds' prospectus for more information regarding the ETF Allocation Funds' exposure to liquidity risk and other risks to which it may be subject.
124 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


Federal Income Tax
Information   (Unaudited)
The ETF Allocation Funds are required under the Internal Revenue Code to advise shareholders in a written statement as to the federal tax status of dividends paid by the ETF Allocation Funds during such fiscal years.
Accordingly, the ETF Allocation Funds paid the following as long term capital gain distributions.
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund $ 70,089
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 114,316
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 172,797
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 17,176
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 5,043
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 0
For the fiscal period ended April 30, 2023, the ETF Allocation Funds designated approximately the following amounts under the Internal Revenue Code as qualified dividend income eligible for reduced tax rates.
  QDI$
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund $ 29,670
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 188,525
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 405,869
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 580,888
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 470,068
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 56,664
The dividends paid by the following ETF Allocation Funds during the fiscal period ended April 30, 2023 which are not designated as capital gain distributions should be multiplied by the following percentages to arrive at the amount eligible for the corporate dividend received deduction.
  DRD%
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund 4.21%
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund 5.79%
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund 7.79%
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund 14.42%
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund 24.36%
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund 23.37%
In February 2024, shareholders will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099, which will show the federal tax status of the distributions received by shareholders in calendar year 2023. The amounts that will be reported on such 1099-DIV or substitute Form 1099 will be the amounts you are to use on your federal income tax return and will differ from the amounts which we must report for the ETF Allocation Funds' fiscal period ended April 30, 2023.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
Each ETF Allocation Fund is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the 12-month period ending June 30 on Form N-PX. A description of the policies and procedures that are used to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of each ETF Allocation Fund is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The most recent Form N-PX or proxy voting record is available free of charge upon request by calling 800-624-6782; visiting newyorklifeinvestments.com; or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
Each ETF Allocation Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC 60 days after its first and third fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. The ETF Allocation Funds' holdings report is available free of charge upon request by calling New York Life Investments at 800-624-6782.
125


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
The Trustees and officers of the Fund are listed below. The Board oversees the MainStay Group of Funds (which consists of MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust), MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisors, and elects the officers of the Funds who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers is set forth below. Each Trustee serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her resignation, death or removal.
Under the Board’s retirement policy, unless an exception is made, a Trustee must tender his or her resignation by the end of the calendar year during which he or she reaches the age of 75. Officers are elected annually by the Board. The business address of each Trustee and officer listed below is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder) of the Fund (“Independent Trustees”).
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Naïm Abou-Jaoudé*
1966
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023
Chief Executive Officer of New York Life Investment Management LLC since 2023. Previously, Abou-Jaoudé was the Chief Executive Officer of Candriam (an affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC) from 2007 to 2023. 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust:
Trustee since June 2023 (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee
since June 2023;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee
since June 2023; and
New York Life Investment Management International: Chair since 2015
* This Trustee is considered to be an “interested person” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund, within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of his affiliation with New York Life Insurance Company, New York Life Investment Management LLC, Candriam, IndexIQ Advisors LLC, MacKay Shields LLC, NYL Investors LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail above in the column entitled “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.”
   
Interested Trustee
126 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  David H. Chow
1957
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and CEO, DanCourt Management, LLC (since 1999) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; VanEck Vectors Group of Exchange-Traded Funds: Trustee since 2006 and Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2022 (57 portfolios); Berea College of Kentucky: Trustee since 2009, Chair of the Investment Committee since 2018
  Karen Hammond
1956
MainStay Funds: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021)
Retired, Managing Director, Devonshire Investors (2007 to 2013); Senior Vice President, Fidelity Management & Research Co. (2005 to 2007); Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, FMR Corp. (2003 to 2005); Chief Operating Officer, Fidelity Investments Japan (2001 to 2003) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since December 2021, Advisory Board Member (June 2021 to December 2021);
Two Harbors Investment Corp.: Director since 2018;
Rhode Island State Investment Commission: Member since 2017; and
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island: Director since 2019
  Susan B. Kerley
1951
MainStay Funds: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 1990**
President, Strategic Management Advisors LLC (since 1990) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Chairman since January 2017 and Trustee since 2011;
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; and Legg Mason Partners Funds: Trustee since 1991 (45 portfolios)
  Alan R. Latshaw
1951
MainStay Funds: Trustee
since 2006;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Retired; Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2003); Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (1989 to 2002); Consultant to the MainStay Funds Audit and Compliance Committee (2004 to 2006) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
Independent Trustees
127


Board of Trustees and Officers (Unaudited) (continued)
  Name and
Year of Birth
Term of Office,
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
           
  Jacques P. Perold
1958
MainStay Funds: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015
to December 2015);
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CapShift Advisors LLC (since 2018); President, Fidelity Management & Research Company (2009 to 2014); President and Chief Investment Officer, Geode Capital Management, LLC (2001 to 2009) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015) (31 portfolios);
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since January 2016, Advisory Board Member (June 2015 to December 2015);
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021; Allstate Corporation: Director since 2015; and MSCI Inc.: Director since 2017
  Richard S. Trutanic
1952
MainStay Funds: Trustee since 1994;
MainStay Funds Trust:
Trustee since 2007**
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Somerset & Company (financial advisory firm) (since 2004); Managing Director, The Carlyle Group (private investment firm) (2002 to 2004); Senior Managing Director, Partner and Board Member, Groupe Arnault S.A. (private investment firm) (1999 to 2002) 79 MainStay VP Funds Trust: Trustee since 2007 (31 portfolios)*;
MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund: Trustee since 2011; and MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund: Trustee since June 2021
* Includes prior service as a Director of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
** Includes prior service as a Director/Trustee of certain predecessor entities to MainStay Funds Trust.
Independent Trustees
128 Mainstay ETF Asset Allocation Funds


  Name and
Year of Birth
Position(s) Held and
Length of Service
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
 
         
  Kirk C. Lehneis
1974
President, MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust (since 2017) Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director (since 2016), New York Life Investment Management LLC and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC; Member of the Board of Managers (since 2017) and Senior Managing Director (since 2018), NYLIFE Distributors LLC; Chairman of the Board and Senior Managing Director, NYLIM Service Company LLC (since 2017); Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer of IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and IndexIQ Active ETF Trust (since January 2018); President, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2017); Senior Managing Director, Global Product Development (2015-2016); Managing Director, Product Development (2010 to 2015), New York Life Investment Management LLC  
  Jack R. Benintende
1964
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay Funds (since 2007), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2007); Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2007)**; and Assistant Treasurer, New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (2008 to 2012)  
  J. Kevin Gao
1967
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since 2010) Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (since 2010); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2010)**       
  Scott T. Harrington
1959
Vice President— Administration, MainStay Funds (since 2005), MainStay Funds Trust (since 2009) Managing Director, New York Life Investment Management LLC (including predecessor advisory organizations) (since 2000); Member of the Board of Directors, New York Life Trust Company (since 2009); Vice President—Administration, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund (since 2021), MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since 2011) and MainStay VP Funds Trust (since 2005)**     
  Kevin M. Gleason
1967
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay Funds and MainStay Funds Trust (since June 2022) Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust and Index IQ Active ETF Trust (since June 2022); Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund, MainStay VP Funds Trust and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund (since June 2022); Senior Vice President, Voya Investment Management and Chief Compliance Officer, Voya Family of Funds (2012-2022)  
* The officers listed above are considered to be “interested persons” of the MainStay Group of Funds, MainStay VP Funds Trust, MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Fund and MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act because of their affiliation with the MainStay Group of Funds, New York Life Insurance Company and/or its affiliates, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, NYLIM Service Company LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC and/or NYLIFE Distributors LLC, as described in detail in the column captioned “Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.” Officers are elected annually by the Board.
** Includes prior service as an Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., the predecessor to MainStay VP Funds Trust.
Officers of the Trust (Who are not Trustees)*
129


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MainStay Funds
Equity
U.S. Equity
MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund
MainStay Fiera SMID Growth Fund
MainStay S&P 500 Index Fund
MainStay Winslow Large Cap Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Enduring Capital Fund
MainStay WMC Growth Fund
MainStay WMC Small Companies Fund
MainStay WMC Value Fund
International Equity
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund
MainStay MacKay International Equity Fund
MainStay WMC International Research Equity Fund
Emerging Markets Equity
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Global Equity
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund
MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund
Fixed Income
Taxable Income
MainStay Candriam Emerging Markets Debt Fund
MainStay Floating Rate Fund
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay Total Return Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay U.S. Infrastructure Bond Fund
MainStay Short Term Bond Fund
Tax-Exempt Income
MainStay MacKay California Tax Free Opportunities Fund1
MainStay MacKay High Yield Municipal Bond Fund
MainStay MacKay New York Tax Free Opportunities Fund2
MainStay MacKay Short Term Municipal Fund
MainStay MacKay Strategic Municipal Allocation Fund
MainStay MacKay Tax Free Bond Fund
Money Market
MainStay Money Market Fund
Mixed Asset
MainStay Balanced Fund
MainStay Income Builder Fund
MainStay MacKay Convertible Fund
Speciality
MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund
MainStay CBRE Real Estate Fund
MainStay Cushing MLP Premier Fund
Asset Allocation
MainStay Conservative Allocation Fund
MainStay Conservative ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Defensive ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity Allocation Fund
MainStay Equity ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay ESG Multi-Asset Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth Allocation Fund
MainStay Growth ETF Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate Allocation Fund
MainStay Moderate ETF Allocation Fund
 

 
Manager
New York Life Investment Management LLC
New York, New York
Subadvisors
Candriam3
Strassen, Luxembourg
CBRE Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Cushing Asset Management, LP
Dallas, Texas
Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.
New York, New York
Fiera Capital Inc.
New York, New York
IndexIQ Advisors LLC3
New York, New York
MacKay Shields LLC3
New York, New York
NYL Investors LLC3
New York, New York
Wellington Management Company LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
Winslow Capital Management, LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distributor
NYLIFE Distributors LLC3
Jersey City, New Jersey
Custodian
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York, New York
 
 
  1.  
This Fund is registered for sale in AZ, CA, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA and MI (Class A and Class I shares only), and CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, MA, MD, NH, NJ and NY (Class I shares only).
2. This Fund is registered for sale in CA, CT, DE, FL, MA, NJ, NY and VT.
3. An affiliate of New York Life Investment Management LLC.
Not part of the Annual Report


For more information
800-624-6782
newyorklifeinvestments.com
“New York Life Investments” is both a service mark, and the common trade name, of certain investment advisors affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. The MainStay Funds® are managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC and distributed by NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a Member FINRA/SIPC.
©2023 NYLIFE Distributors LLC. All rights reserved.
5022157MS043-23 MSAAETF11-06/23
(NYLIM) NL486


Item 2.    Code of Ethics.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Registrant has adopted a code of ethics (the “Code”) that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer (“PEO”) and principal financial officer (“PFO”). During the period covered by this report, no amendments were made to the provisions of the Code. The Registrant did not grant any waivers, including implicit waivers, from any provisions of the Code to the PEO or PFO during the period covered by this report. A copy of the Code is filed herewith.

 

Item 3.

Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The Board of Trustees has determined that the Registrant has “three audit committee financial experts” (as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR) serving on its Audit Committee. The Audit Committee financial experts are Alan R. Latshaw, Karen Hammond and Susan B. Kerley. Mr. Latshaw, Ms. Hammond and Ms. Kerley are “independent” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

 

Item 4.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

(a)  Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by KPMG in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for that fiscal year were $405,200.

The aggregate fees billed for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022 for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by KPMG in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for that fiscal year were $370,400.

(b)  Audit-Related Fees

The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by KPMG that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were (i) $0 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023; and (ii) $0 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022.

(c)  Tax Fees


The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were (i) $0 during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023; and (ii) $0 during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022. These services primarily included preparation of federal, state and local income tax returns and excise tax returns, as well as services relating to excise tax distribution requirements.

(d)  All Other Fees

The aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by KPMG, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were (i) $0 during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023; and (ii) $0 during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022.

(e)  Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

  (1)

The Registrant’s Audit Committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures (the “Procedures”) to govern the Committee’s pre-approval of (i) all audit services and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Registrant by its independent accountant, and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by such independent accountant to the Registrant’s investment adviser and to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant (collectively, the “Service Affiliates”) if the services directly relate to the Registrant’s operations and financial reporting. In accordance with the Procedures, the Audit Committee is responsible for the engagement of the independent accountant to certify the Registrant’s financial statements for each fiscal year. With respect to the pre-approval of non-audit services provided to the Registrant and its Service Affiliates, the Procedures provide that the Audit Committee may annually pre-approve a list of the types of services that may be provided to the Registrant or its Service Affiliates, or the Audit Committee may pre-approve such services on a project-by-project basis as they arise. Unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the independent accountant. The Procedures also permit the Audit Committee to delegate authority to one or more of its members to pre-approve any proposed non-audit services that have not been previously pre-approved by the Audit Committee, subject to the ratification by the full Audit Committee no later than its next scheduled meeting. To date, the Audit Committee has not delegated such authority.

 

  (2)

With respect to the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item 4, no amount was approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) There were no hours expended on KPMG’s engagement to audit the Registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year was attributable to work performed by persons other than KPMG’s full-time, permanent employees.

(g) All non-audit fees billed by KPMG for services rendered to the Registrant for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022 are disclosed in 4(b)-(d) above.

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by KPMG for services rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant were approximately (i) $369,972 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023; and (ii) $32,255 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022.


(h) The Registrant’s Audit Committee has determined that the non-audit services rendered by KPMG for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 to the Registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant that were not required to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee because they did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant were compatible with maintaining the respective independence of KPMG during the relevant time period.

 

Item 5.

Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Investments.

The Schedule of Investments is included as part of Item 1 of this report.

 

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.

Since the Registrant’s last response to this Item, there have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees.

 

Item 11.

Controls and Procedures.

(a)        Based on an evaluation of the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) (the “Disclosure Controls”), as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date (the “Filing Date”) of this Form N-CSR (the “Report”), the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Disclosure Controls are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the Report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by the Filing Date, including ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the Report is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

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


Item 12.

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

 

Item 13.

Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)

Code of Ethics

 

(a)(2)

Section 302 Certifications are attached.

 

(b)

Section 906 Certifications are attached.


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.

MAINSTAY FUNDS TRUST

 

By:    /s/ Kirk C. Lehneis  
  

Kirk C. Lehneis

President and Principal Executive Officer

Date:        July 6, 2023

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

 

By:    /s/ Kirk C. Lehneis  
  

Kirk C. Lehneis

President and Principal Executive Officer

Date:        July 6, 2023
By:    /s/ Jack Benintende  
  

Jack R. Benintende

Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Date:        July 6, 2023