485BPOS 2012-10-31 0000005506 2013-01-01 AMERICAN MUTUAL FUND false 2012-12-28 2013-01-01 <tt>The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells <br />securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate <br />may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund <br />shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in <br />annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment <br />results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate <br />was 22% of the average value of its portfolio.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ExpenseExample_S000008999Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/BarChartData_S000008999Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>The fund strives for the balanced accomplishment of three objectives: current<br />income, growth of capital and conservation of principal.</tt> <tt>This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in<br />the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.<br /> <br />The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods<br />indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The<br />example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the<br />fund's operating expenses remain the same.</tt> <tt>The fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of companies that are likely<br />to participate in the growth of the American economy and whose dividends appear<br />to be sustainable. The fund invests primarily in securities of issuers domiciled<br />in the United States and Canada.<br /> <br />The fund's equity investments are limited to securities of companies that are<br />included on its eligible list. In light of the fund's investment objectives and<br />policies, securities are added to, or deleted from, the eligible list by the<br />fund's board of trustees after reviewing and acting upon the recommendations of<br />the fund's investment adviser. The investment adviser bases its recommendations<br />on a number of factors, such as the fund's investment objectives and policies,<br />whether a company is considered a leader in its industry and a company's<br />dividend payment prospects. Although the fund focuses on investments in medium<br />to larger capitalization companies, the fund's investments are not limited to a<br />particular capitalization size.<br /> <br />The fund may also invest in bonds and other debt securities, including those<br />issued by the U.S. government and by federal agencies and instrumentalities.<br />Debt securities purchased by the fund are rated investment grade or better or<br />determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality.<br /> <br />The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in<br />managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is<br />divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their<br />respective segments will be invested.<br /> <br />The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make<br />decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy <br />of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively valued companies <br />that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The <br />investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is through <br />fundamental analysis, which may include meeting with company executives and <br />employees, suppliers, customers and competitors. Securities may be sold when <br />the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively <br />attractive investment opportunities.</tt> American Mutual Fund® You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in American Funds. Example After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Investment objectives Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Lipper Large-Cap Value Funds Index includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objectives and/or strategies. Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index also includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objectives and/or strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. Principal risks Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 0.22 Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your fund shares through a tax-favored arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or 529 college savings plan. Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.) (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.) Investment results 25000 <tt>Class A annualized 30-day yield at October 31, 2012: 2.08% <br />(For current yield information, please call American <br />FundsLine&#xAE; at 800/325-3590.)</tt> The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. <tt>Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were:<br /><br />Highest&#xA0;&#xA0;13.40% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)<br /><br />Lowest&#xA0;&#xA0;-17.52% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)<br /><br />The fund's total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, <br />was 11.50%.</tt> Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge): <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from<br />year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total<br />returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market<br />results.</tt> Portfolio turnover <tt>This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal<br />investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The<br />likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.<br />Investors in the fund should have a long-term perspective and be able to<br />tolerate potentially sharp declines in value.<br /> <br />Market conditions - The prices of, and the income generated by, the common<br />stocks and other securities held by the fund may decline due to market<br />conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of<br />securities held by the fund.<br /> <br />Investing in growth-oriented stocks - Growth-oriented stocks may involve larger<br />price swings and greater potential for loss than other types of investments.<br /> <br />Investing in income-oriented stocks - Income provided by the fund may be reduced<br />by changes in the dividend policies of, and the capital resources available at,<br />the companies in which the fund invests.<br /><br />Investing in bonds - Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of<br />bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be<br />subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In<br />addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance <br />a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to <br />reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.<br /> <br />Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the<br />possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer<br />of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest<br />and the security will go into default. Lower quality debt securities generally<br />have higher rates of interest and may be subject to greater price fluctuations<br />than higher quality debt securities. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the<br />credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are<br />only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as<br />to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk.<br /> <br />Management - The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's<br />investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and<br />analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the<br />desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment<br />results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.<br /> <br />Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or<br />guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other<br />governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund <br />fits into your overall investment program.</tt> Fees and expenses of the fund After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Principal investment strategies americanfunds.com <tt>The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from<br />year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total<br />returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market<br />results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in<br />the fund. Lipper Large-Cap Value Funds Index includes the fund and other funds<br />that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to<br />the fund's objectives and/or strategies. Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index<br />also includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives<br />and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objectives and/or<br />strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive<br />of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment<br />results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.</tt> <tt>This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold<br />shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your<br />family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in American<br />Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your<br />financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section<br />on page 26 of the prospectus and on page 57 of the fund's statement of<br />additional information.</tt> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/OperatingExpensesData_S000008999Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares: <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/PerformanceTableData_S000008999Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <tt>After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other<br />share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest<br />individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods<br />shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual<br />after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ<br />from the results shown above. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if<br />you hold your fund shares through a tax-favored arrangement, such as a 401(k)<br />plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or 529 college savings plan.</tt> Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ExpenseExampleNoRedemption_S000008999Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://www.americanfunds.com/role/ShareholderFeesData_S000008999Member column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes) -0.0182 -0.0117 0.0312 Lipper Large-Cap Value Funds Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes) -0.0217 -0.0226 0.0259 S&P 500 (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) 0.0209 -0.0025 0.0292 0.1093 1950-02-21 Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares -0.0032 0.0002 0.0325 Share class A - After taxes on distributions -0.0161 -0.0046 0.0328 RMFGX 0 0.0000 Share class R-6 (before taxes) 33 103 406 180 0.0508 0.0007 0.0025 0.00 0.0000 0.0032 0.1641 2009-05-01 0.0000 AMRFX 0 0.0000 Share class F-2 (before taxes) 44 138 542 241 0.0499 0.0018 0.0025 0.00 0.0000 0.0043 0.0373 2008-08-05 0.0000 CMLFX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-F-1 (before taxes) 72 203 747 344 0.0495 0.0026 0.0025 0.0142 0.00 0.0000 0.0051 10 0.0656 2002-09-17 0.0000 CMLEX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-E (before taxes) 120 351 1305 600 0.0442 0.0023 0.0025 0.0091 0.00 0.0050 0.0098 10 0.0383 2002-03-07 0.0000 CMLCX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-C (before taxes) 273 173 516 1901 881 0.0288 0.0027 0.0025 1901 0.0040 516 881 0.00 0.0099 0.0151 10 0.0388 2002-02-20 0.0100 CMLBX 0 0.0000 Share class 529-B (before taxes) 674 174 919 1698 1086 -0.0112 0.0028 0.0025 1698 0.0005 519 886 0.00 0.0099 0.0152 10 0.0413 2002-02-19 0.0500 CMLAX 0 0.0575 Share class 529-A (before taxes) 664 831 1523 1011 -0.0132 0.0026 0.0025 0.0001 0.00 0.0021 0.0072 10 0.0422 2002-02-19 0.0100 AMFFX 0 0.0000 Share class F-1 (before taxes) 68 214 835 373 0.0475 0.0017 0.0025 0.0126 0.00 0.0025 0.0448 0.0067 0.0480 2001-03-15 0.0000 AMFCX 0 0.0000 Share class C (before taxes) 246 146 452 1713 782 0.0294 0.0018 0.0025 1713 0.0046 452 782 0.00 0.0100 0.0367 0.0143 0.0405 2001-03-15 0.0100 AMFBX 0 0.0000 Share class B (before taxes) 642 142 840 1461 961 -0.0103 0.0014 0.0025 1461 0.0015 440 761 0.00 0.0100 0.0389 0.0139 0.0535 2000-03-15 0.0500 RMFFX 0 0.0000 Share class R-5 (before taxes) 38 119 468 208 0.0507 0.0012 0.0025 0.0153 0.00 0.0000 0.0037 0.0463 2002-05-15 0.0000 RMFEX 0 0.0000 Share class R-4 (before taxes) 67 211 822 368 0.0473 0.0016 0.0025 0.0123 0.00 0.0025 0.0066 0.0509 2002-06-27 0.0000 RMFCX 0 0.0000 Share class R-3 (before taxes) 99 309 1190 536 0.0444 0.0022 0.0025 0.0092 0.00 0.0050 0.0097 0.0444 2002-06-06 0.0000 RMFBX 0 0.0000 Share class R-2 (before taxes) 146 452 1713 782 0.0395 0.0044 0.0025 0.0041 0.00 0.0074 0.0143 0.0364 2002-05-31 0.0000 RMFAX 0 0.0000 Share class R-1 (before taxes) 146 452 1713 782 0.0392 0.0018 0.0025 0.0045 0.00 0.0100 0.0143 0.0404 2002-06-11 0.0000 AMRMX -0.1218 0 Lowest Highest 0.0575 800/325-3590 2012-09-30 Share class A - Before taxes 636 2009-06-30 0.0208 765 -0.1752 0.1074 0.1223 1316 906 0.0333 0.1340 -0.0124 0.0015 -0.3004 0.0025 2008-12-31 0.2543 0.0010 0.0494 The fund's total return for the nine months ended 0.0477 0.00 0.2331 Class A annualized 30-day yield at October 31, 2012: 0.0023 0.0393 0.0063 0.1624 0.1142 1950-02-21 0.1150 0.0100 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024449Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024450Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024451Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024452Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024453Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024454Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024455Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024456Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024457Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024458Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024459Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024460Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024461Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000024462Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000068556Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:C000077851Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMemberck0000005506:C000024449Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberrr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMemberck0000005506:C000024449Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:RRINDEX00001Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:RRINDEX00002Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Memberck0000005506:RRINDEX00003Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 ck0000005506:SummaryS000008999Memberck0000005506:S000008999Member 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 0000005506 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 pure iso4217:USD A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.