| 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: | (811-07513) |
| Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: | Putnam Funds Trust |
| Address of principal executive offices: | One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 |
| Name and address of agent for service: | Robert T. Burns, Vice President One Post Office Square Boston, Massachusetts 02109 |
| Copy to: | Bryan Chegwidden, Esq. Ropes & Gray LLP 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 |
| Registrant's telephone number, including area code: | (617) 292-1000 |
| Date of fiscal year end: | October 31, 2017 |
| Date of reporting period : | November 1, 2016 — October 31, 2017 |
Item 1. Report to Stockholders: |
| The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940: | |||
Putnam
Absolute Return
100 Fund ®
Annual report
10 | 31 | 17
Consider these risks before investing: Allocation of assets among fixed-income strategies and sectors may hurt performance. Bond prices may fall or fail to rise over time for several reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market or industry perceptions (including perceptions about the risk of default and expectations about monetary policy or interest rates), changes in government intervention in the financial markets, and factors related to a specific issuer. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Unlike bonds, funds that invest in bonds have fees and expenses. Lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Funds that invest in government securities are not guaranteed. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk and the risk that they may increase in value less when interest rates decline and decline in value more when interest rates rise. International investing involves currency, economic, and political risks. Emerging-market securities have illiquidity and volatility risks. The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. Risks associated with derivatives include increased investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) and, in the case of over-the-counter instruments, the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations. The fund’s efforts to produce lower-volatility returns may not be successful and may make it more difficult at times for the fund to achieve its targeted return. Under certain market conditions, the fund may accept greater-than-typical volatility to seek its targeted return. You can lose money by investing in the fund. The fund’s prospectus lists additional risks.
The fund is not intended to outperform stocks and bonds during strong market rallies.
Message from the Trustees
December 13, 2017
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
A fair amount of investor optimism has helped keep financial markets on a steady course throughout 2017. Global stock markets have generally made solid advances with low volatility, while bond market performance has been a bit more uneven. As we look ahead to the new year, it is important to note that a number of macroeconomic and geopolitical risks around the world could disrupt market momentum.
In all market environments, we believe investors should remain focused on time-tested strategies: maintain a well-diversified portfolio, think about long-term goals, and speak regularly with your financial advisor. In the following pages, you will find an overview of your fund’s performance for the reporting period as well as an outlook for the coming months.
We would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Robert J. Darretta, John A. Hill, and W. Thomas Stephens, who recently retired from your fund’s Board of Trustees. We are grateful for their years of work on behalf of you and your fellow shareholders, and we wish them well in their future endeavors.
Thank you for investing with Putnam.
Performance history as of 10/31/17
Annualized total return (%) comparison
Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. Share price, principal value, and return will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance of class A shares assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes. Fund returns in the bar chart do not reflect a sales charge of 1.00%; had they, returns would have been lower. See below and pages 9–11 for additional performance information. For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower. To obtain the most recent month-end performance, visit putnam.com.
The fund seeks to earn a positive total return that exceeds the return on U.S. Treasury bills by 100 basis points (or 1.00%) on an annualized basis over a reasonable period of time (generally at least three years or more) regardless of market conditions.
The fund is not expected to outperform during periods of market rallies.
Recent broad market index and fund performance
This comparison shows your fund’s performance in the context of broad market indexes for the 12 months ended 10/31/17. See above and pages 9–11 for additional fund performance information. Index descriptions can be found on page 15.
| 2 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
Interview with your fund’s portfolio manager
Bill is Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, at Putnam. He has an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego. Bill joined Putnam in 1994 and has been in the investment industry since 1988.
In addition to Bill, your fund’s portfolio managers are Albert Chan, CFA; Michael V. Salm; and Paul D. Scanlon, CFA.
Bill, what was the fund’s investment environment like during the reporting period?
Overall, it was a generally supportive environment for riskier assets. Volatility was low except for a short-lived spike in mid-May, when investors grew more concerned that the Trump administration may continue to struggle to advance its policy agenda.
Looking first at the economic backdrop, U.S. gross domestic product [GDP] improved as the period progressed, and registered two consecutive quarters of 3% or better annualized growth in the second and third quarters of 2017. Despite business disruption in Texas and Florida caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the unemployment rate fell to a 17-year low in October. The jobless rate, which changed little over the course of 2016, dropped from 4.8% to 4.1% since the beginning of 2017, a sign that the labor market is heating up, in our view.
Overseas, the 19-country eurozone economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.6% in 2017’s third quarter, and appears on course for its strongest year since 2007. Meanwhile, Japan’s economy grew at an annualized pace of 1.4% in the July–September quarter, marking the
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 3 |
Portfolio composition
Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 10/31/17. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Summary information may differ from the portfolio schedule included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Allocations may not total 100% because the table includes the notional value of certain derivatives (the economic value for purposes of calculating periodic payment obligations), in addition to the market value of securities. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.
country’s seventh-straight quarter of growth — its longest streak since 2001.
For the first time in a decade, the world’s major economies appear to be growing in sync. This parallel growth trend has been fueled by low interest rates and other stimulus measures by central banks, along with the gradual fading of crises that over the years ricocheted from the United States to Greece, Brazil, and elsewhere. All 45 countries monitored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD] were on track to grow this year, and 33 of them were poised to accelerate from a year ago, according to the OECD.
Turning to interest rates, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury spiked in November and December 2016, as many investors viewed then-President-elect Donald Trump’s economic agenda as stimulative and potentially inflationary. Yields also moved higher on the decision by the Federal Reserve to raise policy interest rates. Longer-term yields declined slightly in the first half of 2017, even though the Fed raised rates in June for the third time in as many quarters.
At its policy meetings in September and October 2017, the Fed left the target for short-term interest rates unchanged at a range of 1% to 1.25%. However, the 10-year Treasury yield moved higher, as the central bank indicated that it still saw the potential for raising rates in December 2017 and three times in 2018. In October 2017, the Fed began the process of shrinking its massive portfolio of Treasuries and agency mortgage-backed securities [MBS] that it accumulated after the 2008 financial crisis.
Also in October, the European Central Bank [ECB] said it would continue purchasing government bonds into 2018, but in reduced monthly amounts. In our view, this announcement marks a milestone policy shift signaling that the ECB will follow the U.S. Fed on a path toward higher interest rates. In our view, this decision marks the beginning of the end of a policy
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tool the ECB adopted to stave off deflation: large-scale purchases of eurozone government bonds, known as quantitative easing.
The fund generated a solid gain for the 12 - month period. Which holdings and strategies bolstered performance?
Our mortgage-credit strategies were the top overall contributor, led by holdings of mezzanine commercial mortgage-backed securities [CMBS]. Our positions in CMBS that were issued before the 2008 financial crisis performed particularly well in January 2017. However, CMBS as a whole faced headwinds during much of the period due to concerns about softness in the retail industry. Although we agree that retailers face challenges as consumers shift from making purchases in traditional brick-and-mortar stores to shopping online, we believe the CMBS held by the fund have enough credit protection to withstand this trend. Additionally, CMBS interest-only securities provided steady, modest gains throughout the period.
Elsewhere within mortgage credit, non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities [RMBS] also aided the fund’s performance. Positions in pay-option adjustable-rate MBS provided a meaningful boost within the fund’s RMBS allocation. These securities benefited from a generally favorable risk environment, as well as the fact that there was no new supply of these bonds coming to market.
Top 10 holdings
This table shows the fund’s top 10 individual holdings and the percentage of the fund’s net assets that each represented as of 10/31/17. Short-term investments, TBA commitments, and derivatives, if any, are excluded. Holdings may vary over time.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 5 |
An allocation to investment-grade corporate bonds provided a further boost to results, driven by favorable security selection among banks and other financial companies. Generally speaking, corporate credit benefited from positive sentiment immediately following the U.S. presidential election, a strengthening U.S. economy, better-than-expected earnings growth at many firms, and a recovery in crude oil prices.
Were there other parts of the portfolio that contributed?
Emerging-market [EM] debt continued to be a productive part of the portfolio, led by investments in Brazil, Russia, and Argentina. In general, relatively stable oil prices aided our EM holdings, as did persistent investor demand for high-yielding securities. Argentine bonds were also helped by pro-business reforms championed by the country’s president. Positions in Brazil responded positively when the country’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by more than investors were expecting, and also rallied when Brazil’s senate passed a labor reform bill in July.
How did your interest-rate and yield-curve positioning affect results?
Our “term structure” strategy slightly detracted this period. We positioned the portfolio to benefit if the U.S. Treasury yield curve steepened. Unfortunately, the curve flattened significantly in 2017 and our positioning dampened performance.
How did prepayment strategies perform during the period?
Strategies targeting prepayment risk had only a marginally positive impact on performance. On the plus side, holdings of interest-only collateralized mortgage obligations [IO CMOs] contributed. A combination of investor demand for higher-yielding securities, rising mortgage rates, and constrained lending activity caused by stringent bank underwriting standards resulted in a subdued rate of mortgage refinancing. As a result, prepayment speeds on the mortgages underlying our IO CMO
Comparison of top sector weightings
This chart shows how the fund’s top weightings have changed over the past six months. Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Current period summary information may differ from the portfolio schedule included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.
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positions stayed below market expectations. However, adverse results from our “mortgage basis” strategy, in which we sought to exploit the yield differential between current-coupon, 30-year agency pass-throughs and 30-year Treasuries, largely negated the benefit of our IO CMO positions.
How did you use derivatives during the period?
We used bond futures and interest-rate swaps to take tactical positions at various points along the yield curve, and to hedge the risk associated with the fund’s curve positioning. We also employed interest-rate swaps to help manage the fund’s duration and yield-curve positioning, and to gain exposure to interest rates in various countries. Lastly, we utilized currency forward contracts to hedge the foreign exchange-rate risk associated with bonds not denominated in U.S. dollars, and to gain exposure to specific currencies.
What is your near-term outlook?
In October, the Fed began the process of reducing its $4.5 trillion bond portfolio. The central bank stopped adding to its portfolio three years ago, but has been reinvesting the proceeds of maturing bonds to maintain the size of its balance sheet. These reinvestments helped keep a lid on long-term interest rates, and we think letting securities mature without reinvesting may put upward pressure on rates. That said, we think the incremental nature of the plan suggests that rate volatility may be limited, at least initially.
Given the synchronized expansion that appears to be occurring across various global economies, we think bond yields are too low. Although we don’t believe yields are likely to
ABOUT DERIVATIVES
Derivatives are an increasingly common type of investment instrument, the performance of which is derived from an underlying security, index, currency, or other area of the capital markets. Derivatives employed by the fund’s managers generally serve one of two main purposes: to implement a strategy that may be difficult or more expensive to invest in through traditional securities, or to hedge unwanted risk associated with a particular position.
For example, the fund’s managers might use currency forward contracts to capitalize on an anticipated change in exchange rates between two currencies. This approach would require a significantly smaller outlay of capital than purchasing traditional bonds denominated in the underlying currencies. In another example, the managers may identify a bond that they believe is undervalued relative to its risk of default, but may seek to reduce the interest-rate risk of that bond by using interest-rate swaps, a derivative through which two parties “swap” payments based on the movement of certain rates.
Like any other investment, derivatives may not appreciate in value and may lose money. Derivatives may amplify traditional investment risks through the creation of leverage and may be less liquid than traditional securities. And because derivatives typically represent contractual agreements between two financial institutions, derivatives entail “counterparty risk,” which is the risk that the other party is unable or unwilling to pay. Putnam monitors the counterparty risks we assume. For example, Putnam often enters into collateral agreements that require the counterparties to post collateral on a regular basis to cover their obligations to the fund. Counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures and centrally cleared swaps is mitigated by the daily exchange of margin and other safeguards against default through their respective clearinghouses.
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rise significantly this year, partly due to strong global demand for U.S. bonds, we think it’s likely that they’ll be higher by the end of 2018. There are a lot of variables influencing our rate outlook: potentially significant changes to the Fed’s Board of Governors in 2018; the prospect of tax reform in the United States; the impact of tighter monetary policy in other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom; and the ongoing potential for geopolitical flare-ups. So, while there are a variety of crosscurrents that could impact the trajectory of bond yields both in the United States and overseas, we think the overall trend will be for yields to rise next year.
Given this outlook, what risk segments do you find to be most attractive?
Prepayment risk remains attractive to us because we think relatively tight mortgage-lending standards may continue to limit refinancing activity.
Within corporate credit, we think valuations are not as attractive as they were a year ago, but continue to look fair to us, in light of our positive outlook for corporate fundamentals and the U.S. economy.
Within mortgage credit, we think CMBS could benefit from employment growth, low interest rates, and a continuation of the current economic expansion. While we expect some degree of losses related to regional malls, we’re also encouraged by the fact that many malls are attempting to repurpose their space to attract new types of tenants. We believe the non-agency RMBS market continues to be supported by an improving housing market and shrinking supply. We continue to like agency credit-risk transfer securities on the basis of fundamentals and underlying collateral, but have become more cautious from a valuation perspective.
Thanks for your time and for bringing us up to date, Bill.
The views expressed in this report are exclusively those of Putnam Management and are subject to change. They are not meant as investment advice.
Please note that the holdings discussed in this report may not have been held by the fund for the entire period. Portfolio composition is subject to review in accordance with the fund’s investment strategy and may vary in the future. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.
| 8 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
Your fund’s performance
This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended October 31, 2017, the end of its most recent fiscal year. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance information as of the most recent calendar quarter-end and expense information taken from the fund’s current prospectus. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance information does not reflect any deduction for taxes a shareholder may owe on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares. For the most recent month-end performance, please visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com or call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. Class P, R, R6, and Y shares are not available to all investors. See the Terms and definitions section in this report for definitions of the share classes offered by your fund.
Fund performance Total return for periods ended 10/31/17
| Annual | Annual | Annual | |||||
| Life of fund | average | 5 years | average | 3 years | average | 1 year | |
| Class A (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before sales charge | 13.77% | 1.47% | 7.69% | 1.49% | 4.42% | 1.45% | 3.60% |
| After sales charge | 12.63 | 1.35 | 6.61 | 1.29 | 3.38 | 1.11 | 2.56 |
| Class B (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before CDSC | 11.34 | 1.22 | 6.47 | 1.26 | 3.72 | 1.22 | 3.34 |
| After CDSC | 11.34 | 1.22 | 6.47 | 1.26 | 3.72 | 1.22 | 2.34 |
| Class C (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before CDSC | 6.45 | 0.71 | 3.63 | 0.72 | 2.02 | 0.67 | 2.71 |
| After CDSC | 6.45 | 0.71 | 3.63 | 0.72 | 2.02 | 0.67 | 1.71 |
| Class M (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before sales charge | 13.13 | 1.40 | 7.37 | 1.43 | 4.21 | 1.38 | 3.48 |
| After sales charge | 12.28 | 1.32 | 6.56 | 1.28 | 3.42 | 1.13 | 2.71 |
| Class P (8/31/16) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 16.35 | 1.72 | 9.03 | 1.74 | 5.26 | 1.72 | 3.87 |
| Class R (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 11.20 | 1.21 | 6.32 | 1.23 | 3.59 | 1.18 | 3.36 |
| Class R6 (7/2/12) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 16.40 | 1.73 | 9.08 | 1.75 | 5.25 | 1.72 | 3.87 |
| Class Y (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 16.35 | 1.73 | 9.03 | 1.74 | 5.26 | 1.72 | 3.88 |
Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. After-sales-charge returns for class A and M shares reflect the deduction of the maximum 1.00% and 0.75% sales charge, respectively, levied at the time of purchase. Class B share returns after contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) reflect the applicable CDSC, which is 1% in the first year, declining over time to 0.50% in the second year, and is eliminated thereafter. Class C share returns after CDSC reflect a 1% CDSC for the first year that is eliminated thereafter. Class P, R, R6, and Y shares have no initial sales charge or CDSC. Performance for class P and R6 shares prior to their inception is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class P and R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.
For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower.
Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 9 |
Comparative index returns For periods ended 10/31/17
| Annual | Annual | Annual | |||||
| Life of fund | average | 5 years | average | 3 years | average | 1 year | |
| ICE BofAML U.S. | |||||||
| Treasury Bill Index | 2.04% | 0.23% | 1.29% | 0.26% | 1.11% | 0.37% | 0.69% |
| Bloomberg | |||||||
| Barclays U.S. | |||||||
| Aggregate | 40.65 | 3.93 | 10.60 | 2.04 | 7.37 | 2.40 | 0.90 |
| Bond Index |
Index results should be compared with fund performance before sales charge, before CDSC, or at net asset value.
Past performance does not indicate future results. At the end of the same time period, a $10,000 investment in the fund’s class B and C shares would have been valued at $11,134 and $10,645, respectively, and no contingent deferred sales charges would apply. A $10,000 investment in the fund’s class M shares ($9,925 after sales charge) would have been valued at $11,228. A $10,000 investment in the fund’s class P, R, R6, and Y shares would have been valued at $11,635, $11,120, $11,640, and $11,635, respectively.
Fund price and distribution information For the 12-month period ended 10/31/17
| Distributions | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class M | Class P | Class R | ClassR6 | Class Y | ||
| Number | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Income | $0.244 | $0.228 | $0.156 | $0.242 | $0.252 | $0.233 | $0.272 | $0.272 | ||
| Capital gains | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Total | $0.244 | $0.228 | $0.156 | $0.242 | $0.252 | $0.233 | $0.272 | $0.272 | ||
| Before | After | Net | Net | Before | After | Net | Net | Net | Net | |
| sales | sales | asset | asset | sales | sales | asset | asset | asset | asset | |
| Share value | charge | charge | value | value | charge | charge | value | value | value | value |
| 10/31/16 | $10.04 | $10.14 | $10.00 | $9.95 | $10.02 | $10.10 | $10.08 | $10.09 | $10.10 | $10.08 |
| 10/31/17 | 10.15 | 10.25 | 10.10 | 10.06 | 10.12 | 10.20 | 10.21 | 10.19 | 10.21 | 10.19 |
The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Before-sales-charge share value and current dividend rate for class A and M shares, if applicable, do not take into account any sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge share value, current dividend rate, and current 30-day SEC yield, if applicable, are calculated assuming that the maximum sales charge (1.00% for class A shares and 0.75% for class M shares) was levied at the time of purchase. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.
| 10 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
Fund performance as of most recent calendar quarter Total return for periods ended 9/30/17
| Annual | Annual | Annual | |||||
| Life of fund | average | 5 years | average | 3 years | average | 1 year | |
| Class A (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before sales charge | 13.66% | 1.47% | 7.79% | 1.51% | 4.32% | 1.42% | 3.50% |
| After sales charge | 12.52 | 1.35 | 6.71 | 1.31 | 3.28 | 1.08 | 2.46 |
| Class B (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before CDSC | 11.23 | 1.22 | 6.68 | 1.30 | 3.62 | 1.19 | 3.24 |
| After CDSC | 11.23 | 1.22 | 6.68 | 1.30 | 3.62 | 1.19 | 2.24 |
| Class C (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before CDSC | 6.45 | 0.71 | 3.73 | 0.74 | 1.92 | 0.63 | 2.61 |
| After CDSC | 6.45 | 0.71 | 3.73 | 0.74 | 1.92 | 0.63 | 1.61 |
| Class M (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Before sales charge | 13.01 | 1.41 | 7.47 | 1.45 | 4.10 | 1.35 | 3.38 |
| After sales charge | 12.17 | 1.32 | 6.67 | 1.30 | 3.32 | 1.10 | 2.61 |
| Class P (8/31/16) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 16.23 | 1.73 | 9.13 | 1.76 | 5.05 | 1.66 | 3.77 |
| Class R (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 11.09 | 1.21 | 6.32 | 1.23 | 3.39 | 1.12 | 3.16 |
| Class R6 (7/2/12) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 16.29 | 1.74 | 9.18 | 1.77 | 5.05 | 1.65 | 3.77 |
| Class Y (12/23/08) | |||||||
| Net asset value | 16.24 | 1.73 | 9.14 | 1.76 | 5.06 | 1.66 | 3.78 |
See the discussion following the fund performance table on page 9 for information about the calculation of fund performance.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 11 |
Your fund’s expenses
As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees, distribution fees (12b-1 fees), and other expenses. Using the following information, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You may also pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial representative.
Expense ratios
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class M | Class P | Class R | Class R6 | Class Y | |
| Total annual operating | ||||||||
| expenses for the fiscal year | ||||||||
| ended 10/31/16 | 0.63% | 0.83% | 1.38% | 0.68% | 0.38%* | 0.88% | 0.38% | 0.38% |
| Annualized expense ratio | ||||||||
| for the six-month period | ||||||||
| ended 10/31/17† | 0.65% | 0.85% | 1.40% | 0.70% | 0.40% | 0.90% | 0.40% | 0.40% |
Fiscal-year expense information in this table is taken from the most recent prospectus, is subject to change, and may differ from that shown for the annualized expense ratio and in the financial highlights of this report.
Expenses are shown as a percentage of average net assets.
* Other expenses are based on expenses of class A shares for the fund’s last fiscal year.
† Expense ratios for each class are for the fund’s most recent fiscal half year. As a result of this, ratios may differ from expense ratios based on one-year data in the financial highlights.
Expenses per $1,000
The following table shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in each class of the fund from 5/1/17 to 10/31/17. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class M | Class P | Class R | Class R6 | Class Y | |
| Expenses paid per $1,000 *† | $3.30 | $4.31 | $7.09 | $3.55 | $2.03 | $4.56 | $2.03 | $2.03 |
| Ending value (after expenses) | $1,013.00 | $1,011.00 | $1,008.00 | $1,012.00 | $1,013.90 | $1,010.90 | $1,013.90 | $1,013.90 |
* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 10/31/17. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.
† Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.
| 12 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
Estimate the expenses you paid
To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended 10/31/17, use the following calculation method. To find the value of your investment on 5/1/17, call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581.
Compare expenses using the SEC’s method
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the following table shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total costs) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class M | Class P | Class R | Class R6 | Class Y | |
| Expenses paid per $1,000 *† | $3.31 | $4.33 | $7.12 | $3.57 | $2.04 | $4.58 | $2.04 | $2.04 |
| Ending value (after expenses) | $1,021.93 | $1,020.92 | $1,018.15 | $1,021.68 | $1,023.19 | $1,020.67 | $1,023.19 | $1,023.19 |
* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 10/31/17. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.
† Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the six-month period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the six-month period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 13 |
Terms and definitions
Important terms
Total return shows how the value of the fund’s shares changed over time, assuming you held the shares through the entire period and reinvested all distributions in the fund.
Before sales charge, or net asset value, is the price, or value, of one share of a mutual fund, without a sales charge. Before-sales-charge figures fluctuate with market conditions, and are calculated by dividing the net assets of each class of shares by the number of outstanding shares in the class.
After sales charge is the price of a mutual fund share plus the maximum sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge performance figures shown here assume the 1.00% maximum sales charge for class A shares and 0.75% for class M shares.
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is generally a charge applied at the time of the redemption of class B or C shares and assumes redemption at the end of the period. Your fund’s class B CDSC declines over time from a 1.00% maximum during the first year to 0.50% during the second year. After the second year, the CDSC no longer applies. The CDSC for class C shares is 1% for one year after purchase.
Share classes
Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge and no CDSC (except on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge).
Class B shares are closed to new investments and are only available by exchange from another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. They are not subject to an initial sales charge and may be subject to a CDSC.
Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge and are subject to a CDSC only if the shares are redeemed during the first year.
Class M shares have a lower initial sales charge and a higher 12b-1 fee than class A shares and no CDSC.
Class P shares require no minimum initial investment amount and no minimum subsequent investment amount. There is no initial or deferred sales charge. They are available only to other Putnam funds and other accounts managed by Putnam Management or its affiliates.
Class R shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and are only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Class R6 shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Class Y shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC, and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to corporate and institutional clients and clients in other approved programs.
Fixed-income terms
Current rate is the annual rate of return earned from dividends or interest of an investment. Current rate is expressed as a percentage of the price of a security, fund share, or principal investment.
Mortgage-backed security (MBS), also known as a mortgage “pass-through,” is a type of asset-backed security that is secured by a mortgage or collection of mortgages. The following are types of MBSs:
• Agency credit-risk transfer security (CRT) is backed by a reference pool of agency mortgages. Unlike a regular agency pass-through, the principal invested in a CRT is not backed by a U.S. government agency. To compensate investors for this risk, a CRT typically offers a higher yield than conventional pass-through securities. Similar to a CMBS, a CRT is structured into
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various tranches for investors, offering different levels of risk and yield based on the underlying reference pool.
• Agency “pass-through” has its principal and interest backed by a U.S. government agency, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).
• Collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) represents claims to specific cash flows from pools of home mortgages. The streams of principal and interest payments on the mortgages are distributed to the different classes of CMO interests in “tranches.” Each tranche may have different principal balances, coupon rates, prepayment risks, and maturity dates. A CMO is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and any resulting change in the rate at which homeowners sell their properties, refinance, or otherwise prepay loans. CMOs are subject to prepayment, market, and liquidity risks.
• Interest-only (IO) security is a type of CMO in which the underlying asset is the interest portion of mortgage, Treasury, or bond payments.
• Non-agency residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) is an MBS not backed by Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae, or Freddie Mac. One type of RMBS is an Alt-A mortgage-backed security.
• Commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) is secured by the loan on a commercial property.
Yield curve is a graph that plots the yields of bonds with equal credit quality against their differing maturity dates, ranging from shortest to longest. It is used as a benchmark for other debt, such as mortgage or bank lending rates.
Comparative indexes
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities.
ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated U.S. Treasury bills publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have a remaining term of at least one month to final maturity and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion.
S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stock performance.
Indexes assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not account for fees. Securities and performance of a fund and an index will differ. You cannot invest directly in an index.
ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom, assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing, and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.
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Other information for shareholders
Proxy voting
Putnam is committed to managing our mutual funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures, as well as information regarding how your fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2017, are available in the Individual Investors section of putnam.com, and on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s website, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.
Fund portfolio holdings
The fund will file a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the fund’s Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information about the SEC’s website or the operation of the Public Reference Room.
Trustee and employee fund ownership
Putnam employees and members of the Board of Trustees place their faith, confidence, and, most importantly, investment dollars in Putnam mutual funds. As of October 31, 2017, Putnam employees had approximately $515,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $91,000,000 invested in Putnam mutual funds. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members as well as investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.
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Important notice regarding Putnam’s privacy policy
In order to conduct business with our shareholders, we must obtain certain personal information such as account holders’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. Using this information, we are able to maintain accurate records of accounts and transactions.
It is our policy to protect the confidentiality of our shareholder information, whether or not a shareholder currently owns shares of our funds. In particular, it is our policy not to sell information about you or your accounts to outside marketing firms. We have safeguards in place designed to prevent unauthorized access to our computer systems and procedures to protect personal information from unauthorized use.
Under certain circumstances, we must share account information with outside vendors who provide services to us, such as mailings and proxy solicitations. In these cases, the service providers enter into confidentiality agreements with us, and we provide only the information necessary to process transactions and perform other services related to your account. Finally, it is our policy to share account information with your financial representative, if you’ve listed one on your Putnam account.
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Trustee approval of management contract
General conclusions
The Board of Trustees of The Putnam Funds oversees the management of each fund and, as required by law, determines annually whether to approve the continuance of your fund’s management contract with Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”), the sub-management contract with respect to your fund between Putnam Management and its affiliate, Putnam Investments Limited (“PIL”), and the sub-advisory contract among Putnam Management, PIL, and another affiliate, The Putnam Advisory Company (“PAC”). The Board, with the assistance of its Contract Committee, requests and evaluates all information it deems reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with its annual contract review. The Contract Committee consists solely of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as this term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of The Putnam Funds (“Independent Trustees”).
At the outset of the review process, members of the Board’s independent staff and independent legal counsel discussed with representatives of Putnam Management the annual contract review materials furnished to the Contract Committee during the course of the previous year’s review, identifying possible changes in these materials that might be necessary or desirable for the coming year. Following these discussions and in consultation with the Contract Committee, the Independent Trustees’ independent legal counsel requested that Putnam Management and its affiliates furnish specified information, together with any additional information that Putnam Management considered relevant, to the Contract Committee. Over the course of several months ending in June 2017, the Contract Committee met on a number of occasions with representatives of Putnam Management, and separately in executive session, to consider the information that Putnam Management provided. Throughout this process, the Contract Committee was assisted by the members of the Board’s independent staff and by independent legal counsel for The Putnam Funds and the Independent Trustees.
In May 2017, the Contract Committee met in executive session to discuss and consider its recommendations with respect to the continuance of the contracts. At the Trustees’ June 2017 meeting, the Contract Committee met in executive session with the other Independent Trustees to review a summary of the key financial, performance and other data that the Contract Committee considered in the course of its review. The Contract Committee then presented its written report, which summarized the key factors that the Committee had considered and set forth its recommendations. The Contract Committee recommended, and the Independent Trustees approved, the continuance of your fund’s management, sub-management and sub-advisory contracts, effective July 1, 2017. (Because PIL and PAC are affiliates of Putnam Management and Putnam Management remains fully responsible for all services provided by PIL and PAC, the Trustees have not attempted to evaluate PIL or PAC as separate entities, and all subsequent references to Putnam Management below should be deemed to include reference to PIL and PAC as necessary or appropriate in the context.)
The Independent Trustees’ approval was based on the following conclusions:
• That the fee schedule in effect for your fund represented reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of the services being provided to the fund, the fees paid by competitive funds, the costs incurred by Putnam Management in providing services to the fund, and the continued application of certain reductions and waivers noted below; and
• That the fee schedule in effect for your fund represented an appropriate sharing between fund shareholders and Putnam Management of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the fund at current asset levels.
These conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Trustees and were not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations and how the Trustees considered these factors are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated the information presented differently, giving different weights to various factors. It is also important to recognize that the management arrangements for your fund and the other Putnam funds are the result of many years of review and discussion between the Independent Trustees and Putnam Management, that some aspects of
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the arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than others, and that the Trustees’ conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of fee arrangements in previous years. For example, with some minor exceptions, the funds’ current fee arrangements under the management contracts were first implemented at the beginning of 2010 following extensive review by the Contract Committee and discussions with representatives of Putnam Management, as well as approval by shareholders.
Management fee schedules and total expenses
The Trustees reviewed the management fee schedules in effect for all Putnam funds, including fee levels and breakpoints. The Trustees also reviewed the total expenses of each Putnam fund, recognizing that in most cases management fees represented the major, but not the sole, determinant of total costs to fund shareholders. (In a few instances, including in the case of your fund, funds have implemented so-called “all-in” management fees covering substantially all routine fund operating costs.)
In reviewing fees and expenses, the Trustees generally focus their attention on material changes in circumstances — for example, changes in assets under management, changes in a fund’s investment strategy, changes in Putnam Management’s operating costs or profitability, or changes in competitive practices in the mutual fund industry — that suggest that consideration of fee changes might be warranted. The Trustees concluded that the circumstances did not indicate that changes to the management fee structure for your fund would be appropriate at this time.
Under its management contract, your fund pays a management fee at a fixed rate of 40 basis points to Putnam Management. Putnam Management is obligated to pay, out of the management fee, all of the fund’s organizational and other operating expenses (including investor servicing fees), excluding only fees payable under the fund’s distribution plans, any applicable performance-based upward or downward adjustments to the fund’s base management fee, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses. This management contract was approved initially by the Trustees on December 14, 2012, and has been in effect since March 2013.
In addition, your fund’s management contract provides that its management fees will be adjusted up or down depending upon whether your fund’s performance is better or worse than the performance of an appropriate index of securities prices specified in the management contract. In the course of reviewing investment performance, the Trustees examined the operation of your fund’s performance fees and concluded that these fees were operating effectively to align further Putnam Management’s economic interests with those of the fund’s shareholders.
As in the past, the Trustees also focused on the competitiveness of each fund’s total expense ratio. In order to support the effort to have fund expenses meet competitive standards, the Trustees and Putnam Management have implemented certain expense limitations that were in effect during your fund’s fiscal year ending in 2016. These expense limitations were: (i) a contractual expense limitation applicable to specified retail open-end funds, including your fund, of 25 basis points (until September 1, 2016, this limitation was 32 basis points) on investor servicing fees and expenses and (ii) a contractual expense limitation applicable to specified open-end funds, including your fund, of 20 basis points on so-called “other expenses” (i.e., all expenses exclusive of management fees, distribution fees, investor servicing fees, investment-related expenses, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses). These expense limitations attempt to maintain competitive expense levels for the funds. Most funds, including your fund, had sufficiently low expenses that these expense limitations were not operative during their fiscal years ending in 2016. (In light of the fact that, under your fund’s management contract, Putnam Management bears many of the fund’s organizational and operating expenses, as a practical matter it is unlikely that these expense limitations would become operative with respect to your fund.) Putnam Management has agreed to maintain these expense limitations until at least February 28, 2019. Putnam Management’s support for these expense limitation arrangements was an important factor in the Trustees’ decision to approve the continuance of your fund’s management, sub-management and sub-advisory contracts.
The Trustees reviewed comparative fee and expense information for a custom group of competitive funds selected by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). This
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comparative information included your fund’s percentile ranking for effective management fees and total expenses (excluding any applicable 12b-1 fee), which provides a general indication of your fund’s relative standing. In the custom peer group, your fund ranked in the first quintile in effective management fees (determined for your fund and the other funds in the custom peer group based on fund asset size and the applicable contractual management fee schedule) and in the first quintile in total expenses (excluding any applicable 12b-1 fees) as of December 31, 2016. The first quintile represents the least expensive funds and the fifth quintile the most expensive funds. The fee and expense data reported by Broadridge as of December 31, 2016 reflected the most recent fiscal year-end data available in Broadridge’s database at that time.
In connection with their review of fund management fees and total expenses, the Trustees also reviewed the costs of the services provided and the profits realized by Putnam Management and its affiliates from their contractual relationships with the funds. This information included trends in revenues, expenses and profitability of Putnam Management and its affiliates relating to the investment management, investor servicing and distribution services provided to the funds. In this regard, the Trustees also reviewed an analysis of Putnam Management’s revenues, expenses and profitability, allocated on a fund-by-fund basis, with respect to the funds’ management, distribution, and investor servicing contracts. For each fund, the analysis presented information about revenues, expenses and profitability for each of the agreements separately and for the agreements taken together on a combined basis. The Trustees concluded that, at current asset levels, the fee schedules in place represented reasonable compensation for the services being provided and represented an appropriate sharing between fund shareholders and Putnam Management of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Putnam funds at that time.
The information examined by the Trustees in connection with their annual contract review for the Putnam funds included information regarding fees charged by Putnam Management and its affiliates to institutional clients, including defined benefit pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, college endowments, foundations, sub-advised third-party mutual funds, state, local and non-U.S. government entities, and corporations. This information included, in cases where an institutional product’s investment strategy corresponds with a fund’s strategy, comparisons of those fees with fees charged to the Putnam funds, as well as an assessment of the differences in the services provided to these different types of clients as compared to the services provided to the Putnam Funds. The Trustees observed that the differences in fee rates between these clients and the Putnam funds are by no means uniform when examined by individual asset sectors, suggesting that differences in the pricing of investment management services to these types of clients may reflect, among other things, historical competitive forces operating in separate markets. The Trustees considered the fact that in many cases fee rates across different asset classes are higher on average for mutual funds than for institutional clients, as well as the differences between the services that Putnam Management provides to the Putnam funds and those that it provides to its other clients. The Trustees did not rely on these comparisons to any significant extent in concluding that the management fees paid by your fund are reasonable.
Investment performance
The quality of the investment process provided by Putnam Management represented a major factor in the Trustees’ evaluation of the quality of services provided by Putnam Management under your fund’s management contract. The Trustees were assisted in their review of the Putnam funds’ investment process and performance by the work of the investment oversight committees of the Trustees, which meet on a regular basis with the funds’ portfolio teams and with the Chief Investment Officers and other senior members of Putnam Management’s Investment Division throughout the year. In addition, in response to a request from the Independent Trustees, Putnam Management provided the Trustees with in-depth presentations regarding each of the equity and fixed income investment teams, including the operation of the teams and their investment approaches. The Trustees concluded that Putnam Management generally provides a high-quality investment process — based on the experience and skills of the individuals assigned to the management of fund portfolios, the resources made available to them, and in general Putnam Management’s ability to attract and retain high-quality personnel — but also recognized that this does not guarantee favorable investment results for every fund in every time period.
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The Trustees considered that 2016 was a challenging year for the performance of the Putnam funds, with generally disappointing results for the international and global equity funds and taxable fixed income funds, mixed results for small-cap equity, Spectrum, global asset allocation, equity research and tax exempt fixed income funds, but generally strong results for U.S. equity funds. The Trustees noted, however, that they were encouraged by the positive performance trend since mid-year 2016 across most Putnam Funds. In particular, from May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017, 51% of Putnam Fund assets were in the top quartile and 87% were above the median of the Putnam Funds’ competitive industry rankings. They noted that the longer-term performance of the Putnam funds generally continued to be strong, exemplified by the fact that the Putnam funds were ranked by the Barron’s/Lipper Fund Families survey as the 5th-best performing mutual fund complex out of 54 complexes for the five-year period ended December 31, 2016. In addition, while the survey ranked the Putnam Funds 52nd out of 61 mutual fund complexes for the one-year period ended 2016, the Putnam Funds have ranked 1st or 2nd in the survey for the one-year period three times since 2009 (most recently in 2013). They also noted, however, the disappointing investment performance of some funds for periods ended December 31, 2016 and considered information provided by Putnam Management regarding the factors contributing to the underperformance and actions being taken to improve the performance of these particular funds. The Trustees indicated their intention to continue to monitor closely the performance of those funds, including the effectiveness of any efforts Putnam Management has undertaken to address underperformance and whether additional actions to address areas of underperformance are warranted.
For purposes of the Trustees’ evaluation of the Putnam Funds’ investment performance, the Trustees generally focus on a competitive industry ranking of each fund’s total net return over a one-year, three-year and five-year period. For a number of Putnam funds with relatively unique investment mandates for which Putnam Management informed the Trustees that meaningful competitive performance rankings are not considered to be available, the Trustees evaluated performance based on their total gross and net returns and, in most cases, comparisons of those returns with the returns of selected investment benchmarks. In the case of your fund, the Trustees considered information about your fund’s total return, its performance relative to its benchmark and its targeted return over the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2016. The fund seeks to achieve its targeted annual return over a reasonable period of time, generally at least three years or more, and the fund’s performance is not necessarily expected to match its targeted annual return over shorter periods. Your fund’s class A shares’ return net of fees and expenses was positive and exceeded the return of its benchmark over the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2016. Your fund’s class A shares’ return net of fees and expenses exceeded the fund’s targeted annual return, which is the return of its benchmark plus 100 basis points, over the one-year and five-year periods, and trailed its targeted annual return over the three-year period. (When considering performance information, shareholders should be mindful that past performance is not a guarantee of future results.) The Trustees also considered Putnam Management’s continued efforts to support fund performance through initiatives including structuring compensation for portfolio managers and research analysts to enhance accountability for fund performance, emphasizing accountability in the portfolio management process, and affirming its commitment to a fundamental-driven approach to investing. The Trustees noted further that Putnam Management continued to strengthen its fundamental research capabilities by adding new investment personnel.
Brokerage and soft-dollar allocations; investor servicing
The Trustees considered various potential benefits that Putnam Management may receive in connection with the services it provides under the management contract with your fund. These include benefits related to brokerage allocation and the use of soft dollars, whereby a portion of the commissions paid by a fund for brokerage may be used to acquire research services that are expected to be useful to Putnam Management in managing the assets of the fund and of other clients. Subject to policies established by the Trustees, soft dollars generated by these means are used predominantly to acquire brokerage and research services (including third-party research and market data) that enhance Putnam Management’s investment capabilities and supplement Putnam Management’s internal research efforts.
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However, the Trustees noted that a portion of available soft dollars continues to be used to pay fund expenses. The Trustees indicated their continued intent to monitor regulatory and industry developments in this area with the assistance of their Brokerage Committee, including any developments with respect to the European Union’s updated Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and its potential impact on PIL’s use of client commissions to obtain investment research. The Trustees also indicated their continued intent to monitor the allocation of the Putnam funds’ brokerage in order to ensure that the principle of seeking best price and execution remains paramount in the portfolio trading process.
Putnam Management may also receive benefits from payments that the funds make to Putnam Management’s affiliates for investor or distribution services. In conjunction with the annual review of your fund’s management, sub-management and sub-advisory contracts, the Trustees reviewed your fund’s investor servicing agreement with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”) and its distributor’s contracts and distribution plans with Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership (“PRM”), both of which are affiliates of Putnam Management. The Trustees concluded that the fees payable by the funds to PSERV and PRM, as applicable, for such services are fair and reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of such services, the fees paid by competitive funds, and the costs incurred by PSERV and PRM, as applicable, in providing such services. Furthermore, the Trustees were of the view that the services provided were required for the operation of the funds, and that they were of a quality at least equal to those provided by other providers.
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Financial statements
These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, preceded by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, constitute the fund’s financial statements.
The fund’s portfolio lists all the fund’s investments and their values as of the last day of the reporting period. Holdings are organized by asset type and industry sector, country, or state to show areas of concentration and diversification.
Statement of assets and liabilities shows how the fund’s net assets and share price are determined. All investment and non-investment assets are added together. Any unpaid expenses and other liabilities are subtracted from this total. The result is divided by the number of shares to determine the net asset value per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares. (For funds with preferred shares, the amount subtracted from total assets includes the liquidation preference of preferred shares.)
Statement of operations shows the fund’s net investment gain or loss. This is done by first adding up all the fund’s earnings — from dividends and interest income — and subtracting its operating expenses to determine net investment income (or loss). Then, any net gain or loss the fund realized on the sales of its holdings — as well as any unrealized gains or losses over the period — is added to or subtracted from the net investment result to determine the fund’s net gain or loss for the fiscal year.
Statement of changes in net assets shows how the fund’s net assets were affected by the fund’s net investment gain or loss, by distributions to shareholders, and by changes in the number of the fund’s shares. It lists distributions and their sources (net investment income or realized capital gains) over the current reporting period and the most recent fiscal year-end. The distributions listed here may not match the sources listed in the Statement of operations because the distributions are determined on a tax basis and may be paid in a different period from the one in which they were earned.
Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semian-nual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Trustees and Shareholders
Putnam Funds Trust:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund (the fund), a series of Putnam Funds Trust, including the fund’s portfolio, as of October 31, 2017, and 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 financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. 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 conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund as of October 31, 2017, 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.
Boston, Massachusetts
December 13, 2017
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The fund’s portfolio 10/31/17
| Principal | ||
| CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (37.2%)* | amount | Value |
| Banking (9.9%) | ||
| ABN AMRO Bank NV 144A sr. unsec. FRN BBA LIBOR USD 3 Month + | ||
| 0.64%, 1.994%, 1/18/19 (Netherlands) | $1,125,000 | $1,130,666 |
| ANZ New Zealand Int’l, Ltd./London 144A company guaranty sr. | ||
| unsec. FRN BBA LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.00%, 2.367%, 1/25/22 | ||
| (United Kingdom) | 1,500,000 | 1,518,992 |
| Bank of America Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.00%, 1/11/18 | 1,159,000 | 1,159,879 |
| Bank of America Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. MTN, | ||
| 2.151%, 11/9/20 | 535,000 | 532,734 |
| Bank of Nova Scotia (The) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.375%, | ||
| 12/18/17 (Canada) | 430,000 | 429,900 |
| Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel SA 144A sr. unsec. unsub. | ||
| notes 2.20%, 7/20/20 (France) | 605,000 | 604,079 |
| BNP Paribas SA company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| Ser. BKNT, 5.00%, 1/15/21 (France) | 600,000 | 649,533 |
| Citigroup, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 2.65%, 10/26/20 | 520,000 | 524,442 |
| Citizens Bank NA/Providence RI sr. unsec. notes 2.25%, 3/2/20 | 695,000 | 695,819 |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia 144A sr. unsec. notes 1.75%, | ||
| 11/7/19 (Australia) | 500,000 | 496,803 |
| HSBC USA, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.00%, 8/7/18 | 1,000,000 | 1,002,441 |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.25%, 1/23/20 | 1,000,000 | 1,004,952 |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. unsec. sub. notes 3.875%, 9/10/24 | 135,000 | 140,844 |
| KeyCorp sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. MTN, 2.30%, 12/13/18 | 447,000 | 448,926 |
| Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co. sr. unsec. notes Ser. BKNT, | ||
| 2.05%, 8/17/20 | 555,000 | 553,792 |
| National Australia Bank, Ltd., NY sr. unsec. notes 2.80%, | ||
| 1/10/22 (Australia) | 1,500,000 | 1,520,325 |
| PNC Bank NA sr. unsec. notes Ser. BKNT, 2.00%, 5/19/20 | 350,000 | 348,984 |
| Royal Bank of Canada sr. unsec. notes Ser. GMTN, 2.125%, | ||
| 3/2/20 (Canada) | 735,000 | 736,700 |
| Royal Bank of Canada sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. GMTN, 2.20%, | ||
| 7/27/18 (Canada) | 435,000 | 436,834 |
| Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC jr. unsec. sub. FRB 7.50%, | ||
| perpetual maturity (United Kingdom) | 200,000 | 214,300 |
| Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC unsec. sub. notes 4.70%, 7/3/18 | ||
| (United Kingdom) | 1,535,000 | 1,555,827 |
| Santander Issuances SAU company guaranty unsec. sub. notes | ||
| 5.179%, 11/19/25 (Spain) | 200,000 | 215,432 |
| Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB sr. unsec. notes 2.30%, | ||
| 3/11/20 (Sweden) | 1,645,000 | 1,650,718 |
| Svenska Handelsbanken AB company guaranty sr. unsec. notes | ||
| 1.95%, 9/8/20 (Sweden) | 630,000 | 627,435 |
| Wells Fargo & Co. sr. unsec. notes Ser. GMTN, 2.60%, 7/22/20 | 1,015,000 | 1,027,394 |
| Westpac Banking Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.15%, | ||
| 3/6/20 (Australia) | 1,500,000 | 1,503,288 |
| 20,731,039 | ||
| Basic materials (1.4%) | ||
| Georgia-Pacific, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes | ||
| 5.40%, 11/1/20 | 1,000,000 | 1,091,979 |
| International Paper Co. sr. unsec. notes 9.375%, 5/15/19 | 1,000,000 | 1,107,702 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 25 |
| Principal | ||
| CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (37.2%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Basic materials cont. | ||
| Southern Copper Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.875%, | ||
| 4/23/45 (Peru) | $200,000 | $232,518 |
| WestRock RKT Co. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 4.45%, 3/1/19 | 450,000 | 462,859 |
| 2,895,058 | ||
| Capital goods (1.6%) | ||
| Boeing Co. (The) sr. unsec. bonds 8.75%, 8/15/21 | 865,000 | 1,064,562 |
| Rockwell Collins, Inc. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.95%, 7/15/19 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,270 |
| United Technologies Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.90%, 5/4/20 | 1,185,000 | 1,181,604 |
| 3,246,436 | ||
| Communication services (1.4%) | ||
| AT&T, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.00%, 6/30/22 | 1,000,000 | 1,012,091 |
| NBCUniversal Media, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. | ||
| notes 5.15%, 4/30/20 | 155,000 | 166,928 |
| Verizon Communications, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. FRN BBA LIBOR | ||
| USD 3 Month + 0.37%, 1.685%, 8/15/19 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,067 |
| Verizon Communications, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 2.946%, 3/15/22 | 833,000 | 846,024 |
| 3,025,110 | ||
| Conglomerates (0.6%) | ||
| Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV 144A company guaranty | ||
| sr. unsec. notes 2.20%, 3/16/20 (Netherlands) | 1,255,000 | 1,260,846 |
| 1,260,846 | ||
| Consumer cyclicals (2.0%) | ||
| Amazon.com, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 1.20%, 11/29/17 | 423,000 | 422,921 |
| Autonation, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 6.75%, 4/15/18 | 365,000 | 372,758 |
| Autonation, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 5.50%, 2/1/20 | 100,000 | 106,472 |
| Dollar General Corp. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.875%, 4/15/18 | 300,000 | 299,931 |
| General Motors Financial Co., Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| unsub. notes 3.10%, 1/15/19 | 1,000,000 | 1,012,532 |
| Moody’s Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.75%, 12/15/21 | 1,000,000 | 1,006,889 |
| S&P Global, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 3.30%, 8/14/20 | 1,010,000 | 1,035,742 |
| 4,257,245 | ||
| Consumer finance (1.0%) | ||
| Air Lease Corp. sr. unsec. notes 2.625%, 9/4/18 | 1,385,000 | 1,393,769 |
| American Express Co. jr. unsec. sub. FRN Ser. C, 4.90%, | ||
| perpetual maturity | 370,000 | 380,175 |
| American Express Co. sr. unsec. notes 7.00%, 3/19/18 | 286,000 | 291,799 |
| 2,065,743 | ||
| Consumer staples (4.4%) | ||
| Altria Group, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 2.625%, 1/14/20 | 1,905,000 | 1,930,509 |
| Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| unsub. bonds 4.90%, 2/1/46 | 577,000 | 648,900 |
| Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| unsub. bonds 3.65%, 2/1/26 | 578,000 | 596,426 |
| 26 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
| Principal | ||
| CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (37.2%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Consumer staples cont. | ||
| Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| unsub. notes 1.90%, 2/1/19 | $1,255,000 | $1,256,231 |
| Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| unsub. notes 1.25%, 1/17/18 | 156,000 | 156,022 |
| Conagra Brands, Inc. sr. unsec. FRN BBA LIBOR USD 3 Month + | ||
| 0.50%, 1.857%, 10/9/20 | 390,000 | 390,782 |
| CVS Health Corp. sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 12/1/22 | 1,030,000 | 1,121,832 |
| CVS Health Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.25%, 12/5/18 | 430,000 | 431,307 |
| Kraft Heinz Co. (The) company guaranty sr. unsec. FRN BBA LIBOR | ||
| USD 3 Month + 0.82%, 2.129%, 8/10/22 | 1,000,000 | 1,009,178 |
| Molson Coors Brewing Co. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| unsub. notes 1.90%, 3/15/19 | 680,000 | 678,433 |
| Mondelez International Holdings Netherlands BV 144A company | ||
| guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.625%, 10/28/19 (Netherlands) | 1,000,000 | 989,879 |
| 9,209,499 | ||
| Energy (3.3%) | ||
| BP Capital Markets PLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 1.768%, 9/19/19 (United Kingdom) | 255,000 | 254,797 |
| Chevron Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.561%, 5/16/19 | 530,000 | 528,612 |
| Chevron Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.104%, 12/5/17 | 423,000 | 422,901 |
| ConocoPhillips Co. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 1.05%, 12/15/17 | 430,000 | 429,816 |
| EQT Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. FRN BBA LIBOR USD 3 Month + 0.77%, | ||
| 2.106%, 10/1/20 | 500,000 | 503,455 |
| Hess Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.30%, 8/15/31 | 25,000 | 30,155 |
| Petrobras Global Finance BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. | ||
| notes 8.75%, 5/23/26 (Brazil) | 312,000 | 377,910 |
| Petrobras Global Finance BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. | ||
| notes 6.25%, 3/17/24 (Brazil) | 1,272,000 | 1,364,220 |
| Petrobras Global Finance BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. | ||
| notes 6.125%, 1/17/22 (Brazil) | 53,000 | 57,306 |
| Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 5.50%, 1/21/21 (Mexico) | 1,500,000 | 1,598,045 |
| Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 4.50%, 1/23/26 (Mexico) | 99,000 | 97,763 |
| Phillips 66 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. FRN BBA LIBOR USD | ||
| 3 Month + 0.75%, 2.109%, 4/15/20 | 1,000,000 | 1,001,935 |
| Statoil ASA company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.90%, | ||
| 11/8/20 (Norway) | 343,000 | 350,964 |
| 7,017,879 | ||
| Financial (2.2%) | ||
| GE Capital International Funding Co. Unlimited Co. company | ||
| guaranty sr. unsec. notes 2.342%, 11/15/20 (Ireland) | 930,000 | 935,012 |
| KKR Group Finance Co., LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| unsub. notes 6.375%, 9/29/20 | 1,977,000 | 2,199,857 |
| Macquarie Bank, Ltd. 144A sr. unsec. notes 4.00%, | ||
| 7/29/25 (Australia) | 310,000 | 325,212 |
| Macquarie Group Ltd. 144A sr. unsec. notes 7.625%, | ||
| 8/13/19 (Australia) | 260,000 | 283,690 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 27 |
| Principal | ||
| CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (37.2%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Financial cont. | ||
| UBS AG/London 144A sr. unsec. notes 2.20%, 6/8/20 | ||
| (United Kingdom) | $380,000 | $380,307 |
| UBS Group Funding Jersey, Ltd. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. | ||
| notes 3.00%, 4/15/21 (Switzerland) | 565,000 | 573,163 |
| 4,697,241 | ||
| Health care (1.1%) | ||
| Biogen, Inc. sr. unsec. sub. notes 3.625%, 9/15/22 | 730,000 | 764,102 |
| Johnson & Johnson sr. unsec. notes 5.15%, 7/15/18 | 269,000 | 276,248 |
| Pfizer, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.70%, 12/15/19 | 635,000 | 634,395 |
| Shire Acquisitions Investments Ireland DAC company guaranty sr. | ||
| unsec. unsub. notes 1.90%, 9/23/19 (Ireland) | 500,000 | 498,082 |
| UnitedHealth Group, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 6.00%, 2/15/18 | 192,000 | 194,414 |
| 2,367,241 | ||
| Insurance (1.9%) | ||
| AIG Global Funding 144A sr. notes 2.15%, 7/2/20 | 325,000 | 324,826 |
| Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) jr. unsec. sub. FRB | ||
| 8.125%, 6/15/38 | 235,000 | 244,400 |
| Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 2.75%, 1/30/22 | 1,000,000 | 1,008,382 |
| MetLife, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.75%, 2/8/21 | 1,180,000 | 1,272,168 |
| Metropolitan Life Global Funding I 144A sr. notes 3.00%, 1/10/23 | 790,000 | 804,376 |
| Protective Life Global Funding 144A notes 2.262%, 4/8/20 | 325,000 | 325,735 |
| 3,979,887 | ||
| Investment banking/Brokerage (1.7%) | ||
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) sr. unsec. unsub. FRN BBA LIBOR | ||
| USD 3 Month + 1.17%, 2.485%, 11/15/21 | 1,500,000 | 1,518,606 |
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 2.60%, 12/27/20 | 280,000 | 281,553 |
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| Ser. GLOB, 2.375%, 1/22/18 | 229,000 | 229,400 |
| Morgan Stanley sr. unsec. unsub. FRN BBA LIBOR USD 3 Month + | ||
| 1.18%, 2.543%, 1/20/22 | 1,500,000 | 1,523,154 |
| 3,552,713 | ||
| Real estate (0.4%) | ||
| Liberty Property LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.375%, 6/15/23 R | 550,000 | 559,275 |
| Select Income REIT sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.60%, 2/1/20 R | 130,000 | 131,702 |
| Select Income REIT sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.85%, 2/1/18 R | 130,000 | 130,180 |
| 821,157 | ||
| Technology (2.5%) | ||
| Apple, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 2.10%, 5/6/19 | 1,395,000 | 1,404,210 |
| Apple, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.00%, 5/6/20 | 359,000 | 360,172 |
| Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance, Ltd. 144A company | ||
| guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.00%, 1/15/22 | 1,000,000 | 1,013,861 |
| Intel Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.35%, 12/15/17 | 430,000 | 430,006 |
| Microsoft Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.55%, 8/8/21 | 990,000 | 970,638 |
| Oracle Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.25%, 10/8/19 | 1,110,000 | 1,120,982 |
| 5,299,869 |
| 28 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| Principal | ||
| CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (37.2%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Transportation (0.4%) | ||
| Continental Airlines, Inc. Pass-Through Trust pass-through | ||
| certificates Ser. 97-4, Class A, 6.90%, 1/2/18 | $67,194 | $67,362 |
| Federal Express Corp. Pass-Through Trust 144A pass-through | ||
| certificates Ser. 12, 2.625%, 1/15/18 | 34,608 | 34,620 |
| FedEx Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 3.20%, 2/1/25 | 625,000 | 637,968 |
| 739,950 | ||
| Utilities and power (1.4%) | ||
| Boardwalk Pipelines LP company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes | ||
| 5.75%, 9/15/19 | 500,000 | 528,918 |
| Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc. sr. unsec. notes | ||
| 7.125%, 12/1/18 | 289,000 | 305,051 |
| Consolidated Edison, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. A, | ||
| 2.00%, 3/15/20 | 320,000 | 319,941 |
| Texas-New Mexico Power Co. 144A 1st sr. bonds Ser. A, | ||
| 9.50%, 4/1/19 | 654,000 | 714,149 |
| TransCanada PipeLines, Ltd. sr. unsec. notes 1.625%, | ||
| 11/9/17 (Canada) | 1,000,000 | 1,000,040 |
| 2,868,099 | ||
| Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $77,329,357) | $78,035,012 | |
| Principal | ||
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (24.1%)* | amount | Value |
| Agency collateralized mortgage obligations (3.1%) | ||
| Bellemeade Re, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 17-1, Class M1, 1 Month | ||
| US LIBOR + 1.70%, 2.738%, 10/25/27 (Bermuda) | $600,000 | $601,125 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation | ||
| IFB Ser. 2976, Class LC (-3.667 x 1 Month US LIBOR) + 24.42%, | ||
| 19.877%, 5/15/35 | 18,387 | 26,513 |
| Ser. 3724, Class CM, 5.50%, 6/15/37 | 40,450 | 44,685 |
| Ser. 2533, Class HB, 5.50%, 12/15/17 | 479 | 479 |
| Ser. 3539, Class PM, 4.50%, 5/15/37 | 17,989 | 18,720 |
| Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 14-HQ3, Class M2, | ||
| IO, 1 Month US LIBOR + 2.65%, 3.888%, 10/25/24 | 26,917 | 26,998 |
| Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-DNA2, Class M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 2.60%, 3.838%, 12/25/27 | 324,960 | 331,979 |
| Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 16-DNA2, Class M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 2.20%, 3.438%, 10/25/28 | 381,000 | 386,091 |
| Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-HQ1, Class M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 2.20%, 3.438%, 3/25/25 | 108,780 | 109,441 |
| Ser. 3876, Class CA, 2.75%, 6/15/26 | 13,079 | 13,116 |
| Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 16-DNA3, Class M1, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 1.10%, 2.338%, 12/25/28 | 179,857 | 180,218 |
| Ser. 3609, Class LK, 2.00%, 12/15/24 | 101,064 | 100,895 |
| FRB Ser. 8, Class A9, IO, 0.456%, 11/15/28 W | 92,064 | 1,266 |
| FRB Ser. 59, Class 1AX, IO, 0.274%, 10/25/43 W | 245,720 | 2,419 |
| Ser. 48, Class A2, IO, 0.212%, 7/25/33 W | 379,275 | 2,785 |
| Ser. 3835, Class FO, PO, zero %, 4/15/41 | 1,188,442 | 1,020,976 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 29 |
| Principal | ||
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (24.1%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Agency collateralized mortgage obligations cont. | ||
| Federal National Mortgage Association | ||
| IFB Ser. 05-75, Class GS (-3 x 1 Month US LIBOR) + 20.25%, | ||
| 16.536%, 8/25/35 | $120,341 | $154,405 |
| IFB Ser. 11-4, Class CS (-2 x 1 Month US LIBOR) + 12.90%, | ||
| 10.424%, 5/25/40 | 168,998 | 195,361 |
| Ser. 05-68, Class PC, 5.50%, 7/25/35 | 18,389 | 18,977 |
| IFB Ser. 12-36, Class SN, IO (-1 x 1 Month US LIBOR) + 6.45%, | ||
| 5.212%, 4/25/42 | 1,350,426 | 237,803 |
| Ser. 09-100, Class PA, 4.50%, 4/25/39 | 3,169 | 3,183 |
| Ser. 11-60, Class PA, 4.00%, 10/25/39 | 19,253 | 19,744 |
| Ser. 03-43, Class YA, 4.00%, 3/25/33 | 169,409 | 170,907 |
| Ser. 04-2, Class QL, 4.00%, 2/25/19 | 23,298 | 23,466 |
| Ser. 10-155, Class A, 3.50%, 9/25/25 | 15,156 | 15,342 |
| Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C05, Class 2M1, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 1.35%, 2.588%, 1/25/29 | 163,951 | 164,887 |
| Ser. 10-81, Class AP, 2.50%, 7/25/40 | 71,670 | 71,303 |
| Ser. 98-W5, Class X, IO, 0.525%, 7/25/28 W | 181,600 | 8,853 |
| Ser. 98-W2, Class X, IO, 0.387%, 6/25/28 W | 594,877 | 29,000 |
| Government National Mortgage Association | ||
| Ser. 14-163, Class NI, IO, 5.00%, 2/20/44 | 694,795 | 129,404 |
| IFB Ser. 14-20, Class SQ, IO (-1 x 1 Month US LIBOR) + 6.10%, | ||
| 4.861%, 7/20/43 | 3,650,716 | 554,453 |
| Ser. 13-20, Class QI, IO, 4.50%, 12/16/42 | 4,190,783 | 710,612 |
| Ser. 09-32, Class AB, 4.00%, 5/16/39 | 22,913 | 24,110 |
| Ser. 13-23, Class IK, IO, 3.00%, 9/20/37 | 9,486,013 | 921,718 |
| Ser. 10-151, Class KO, PO, zero %, 6/16/37 | 135,595 | 115,033 |
| GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 98-2, IO, 1.004%, 5/19/27 W | 16,546 | — |
| FRB Ser. 99-2, IO, 0.84%, 9/19/27 W | 46,655 | 408 |
| FRB Ser. 98-3, IO, zero %, 9/19/27 W | 21,662 | — |
| FRB Ser. 98-4, IO, zero %, 12/19/26 W | 33,480 | — |
| 6,436,675 | ||
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities (15.3%) | ||
| Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 07-1, | ||
| Class XW, IO, 0.218%, 1/15/49 W | 234,006 | 879 |
| Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 04-4, | ||
| Class XC, IO, 0.048%, 7/10/42 W | 33,334 | 12 |
| Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust FRB | ||
| Ser. 07-T26, Class AJ, 5.531%, 1/12/45 W | 701,000 | 634,405 |
| Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 144A FRB | ||
| Ser. 06-PW11, Class B, 5.301%, 3/11/39 W | 702,857 | 549,388 |
| CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 11-C2, Class D, | ||
| 5.754%, 12/15/47 W | 507,000 | 511,680 |
| Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust | ||
| Ser. 14-GC21, Class C, 4.78%, 5/10/47 W | 240,000 | 244,056 |
| Ser. 14-GC21, Class AS, 4.026%, 5/10/47 | 310,000 | 320,534 |
| COBALT CMBS Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 07-C3, | ||
| Class AJ, 5.842%, 5/15/46 W | 398,734 | 407,413 |
| COMM Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates FRB Ser. 14-CR14, | ||
| Class XA, IO, 0.807%, 2/10/47 W | 9,912,161 | 279,523 |
| 30 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| Principal | ||
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (24.1%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont. | ||
| COMM Mortgage Trust | ||
| FRB Ser. 12-LC4, Class C, 5.589%, 12/10/44 W | $522,000 | $554,748 |
| FRB Ser. 14-CR18, Class C, 4.735%, 7/15/47 W | 306,000 | 308,353 |
| FRB Ser. 14-CR17, Class C, 4.735%, 5/10/47 W | 577,000 | 567,355 |
| FRB Ser. 14-LC15, Class XA, IO, 1.33%, 4/10/47 W | 12,194,651 | 627,390 |
| FRB Ser. 13-LC13, Class XA, IO, 1.315%, 8/10/46 W | 11,530,252 | 453,715 |
| FRB Ser. 14-CR17, Class XA, IO, 1.134%, 5/10/47 W | 6,135,302 | 291,715 |
| Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 08-C1, | ||
| Class AJ, 6.307%, 2/15/41 W | 500,000 | 405,000 |
| Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp. 144A | ||
| Ser. 98-C1, Class F, 6.00%, 5/17/40 | 46,664 | 46,866 |
| FRB Ser. 03-C3, Class AX, IO, 2.048%, 5/15/38 W | 272,445 | 3 |
| DBUBS Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 11-LC3A, Class D, | ||
| 5.34%, 8/10/44 W | 1,302,000 | 1,356,663 |
| GE Capital Commercial Mortgage Corp. FRB Ser. 05-C1, Class D, | ||
| 4.412%, 6/10/48 W | 736,087 | 746,267 |
| GE Capital Commercial Mortgage Corp. 144A FRB Ser. 05-C3, | ||
| Class XC, IO, 0.075%, 7/10/45 W | 774,037 | 8 |
| GS Mortgage Securities Trust | ||
| FRB Ser. 14-GC18, Class C, 4.944%, 1/10/47 W | 702,000 | 727,436 |
| FRB Ser. 14-GC22, Class C, 4.646%, 6/10/47 W | 513,000 | 532,807 |
| FRB Ser. 13-GC10, Class XA, IO, 1.561%, 2/10/46 W | 4,688,764 | 293,470 |
| FRB Ser. 13-GC12, Class XA, IO, 1.541%, 6/10/46 W | 4,508,689 | 266,901 |
| FRB Ser. 14-GC24, Class XA, IO, 0.84%, 9/10/47 W | 3,069,035 | 126,702 |
| GS Mortgage Securities Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 10-C1, Class D, 6.051%, 8/10/43 W | 108,000 | 114,647 |
| FRB Ser. 12-GC6, Class D, 5.652%, 1/10/45 W | 389,000 | 373,907 |
| FRB Ser. 11-GC5, Class D, 5.399%, 8/10/44 W | 319,000 | 306,938 |
| FRB Ser. 14-GC18, Class D, 4.944%, 1/10/47 W | 295,000 | 253,363 |
| FRB Ser. 13-GC12, Class D, 4.446%, 6/10/46 W | 790,000 | 706,260 |
| FRB Ser. 13-GC10, Class D, 4.412%, 2/10/46 W | 521,000 | 495,483 |
| JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust | ||
| Ser. 13-C17, Class AS, 4.458%, 1/15/47 | 241,000 | 258,943 |
| FRB Ser. 13-C12, Class C, 4.091%, 7/15/45 W | 417,000 | 419,152 |
| FRB Ser. 15-C33, Class XA, IO, 1.029%, 12/15/48 W | 4,117,894 | 259,427 |
| FRB Ser. 14-C22, Class XA, IO, 0.926%, 9/15/47 W | 6,579,893 | 311,859 |
| JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust | ||
| FRB Ser. 05-LDP5, Class F, 5.701%, 12/15/44 W | 277,528 | 275,693 |
| FRB Ser. 05-CB11, Class C, 5.519%, 8/12/37 W | 500,000 | 508,250 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C6, Class D, 5.136%, 5/15/45 W | 500,000 | 503,220 |
| Ser. 04-LN2, Class A2, 5.115%, 7/15/41 | 2,517 | 2,517 |
| FRB Ser. 13-C10, Class XA, IO, 1.118%, 12/15/47 W | 11,947,995 | 549,584 |
| JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 11-C3, Class E, 5.615%, 2/15/46 W | 645,000 | 644,158 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C6, Class E, 5.136%, 5/15/45 W | 898,000 | 813,317 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C8, Class C, 4.604%, 10/15/45 W | 262,000 | 271,167 |
| FRB Ser. 12-LC9, Class D, 4.373%, 12/15/47 W | 173,000 | 176,773 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 31 |
| Principal | ||
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (24.1%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont. | ||
| LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust | ||
| FRB Ser. 06-C6, Class B, 5.472%, 9/15/39 (In default) † W | $527,000 | $50,065 |
| FRB Ser. 06-C6, Class AJ, 5.452%, 9/15/39 W | 269,549 | 215,284 |
| FRB Ser. 07-C2, Class XW, IO, 0.26%, 2/15/40 W | 91,886 | 12 |
| LSTAR Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 15-3, Class B, 3.178%, 4/20/48 W | 1,713,000 | 1,632,403 |
| FRB Ser. 15-3, Class C, 3.178%, 4/20/48 W | 338,000 | 299,015 |
| Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust Ser. 04-KEY2, Class D, | ||
| 5.046%, 8/12/39 W | 174,028 | 172,474 |
| Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 05-MCP1, Class XC, IO, | ||
| 0.005%, 6/12/43 W | 1,399,189 | 14 |
| ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 06-4, Class XC, | ||
| IO, 0.511%, 12/12/49 W | 1,605,914 | 12,847 |
| Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust | ||
| Ser. 12-C5, Class AS, 3.792%, 8/15/45 | 388,000 | 404,673 |
| FRB Ser. 13-C7, Class XA, IO, 1.479%, 2/15/46 W | 14,846,175 | 881,789 |
| FRB Ser. 14-C17, Class XA, IO, 1.237%, 8/15/47 W | 8,585,945 | 416,676 |
| Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust 144A FRB | ||
| Ser. 13-C7, Class XB, IO, 0.348%, 2/15/46 W | 24,165,000 | 402,686 |
| Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Ser. 07-HQ11, Class AJ, | ||
| 5.508%, 2/12/44 W | 183,325 | 182,134 |
| Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 11-C3, Class E, 5.155%, 7/15/49 W | 301,000 | 288,719 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C4, Class XA, IO, 2.097%, 3/15/45 W | 3,696,991 | 267,860 |
| UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 12-C3, Class C, 5.042%, 8/10/49 W | 300,000 | 315,683 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C2, Class D, 4.898%, 5/10/63 W | 279,000 | 279,538 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C4, Class XA, IO, 1.66%, 12/10/45 W | 5,008,628 | 321,797 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C2, Class XA, IO, 1.373%, 5/10/63 W | 15,731,041 | 784,712 |
| Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust | ||
| FRB Ser. 05-C21, Class D, 5.291%, 10/15/44 W | 240,000 | 238,908 |
| FRB Ser. 06-C29, IO, 0.271%, 11/15/48 W | 3,357,899 | 134 |
| Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 07-C31, | ||
| IO, 0.171%, 4/15/47 W | 14,304,085 | — |
| Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust | ||
| FRB Ser. 13-LC12, Class C, 4.294%, 7/15/46 W | 898,000 | 862,171 |
| Ser. 12-LC5, Class AS, 3.539%, 10/15/45 | 703,000 | 721,690 |
| Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 13-LC12, | ||
| Class D, 4.294%, 7/15/46 W | 964,000 | 896,332 |
| WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust | ||
| Ser. 14-C19, Class C, 4.646%, 3/15/47 W | 174,000 | 181,161 |
| Ser. 13-C18, Class AS, 4.387%, 12/15/46 W | 491,000 | 524,467 |
| FRB Ser. 12-C10, Class C, 4.383%, 12/15/45 W | 544,000 | 535,317 |
| Ser. 13-UBS1, Class AS, 4.306%, 3/15/46 W | 319,000 | 337,824 |
| Ser. 13-C12, Class AS, 3.56%, 3/15/48 | 395,000 | 403,856 |
| Ser. 13-C11, Class AS, 3.311%, 3/15/45 | 115,000 | 116,491 |
| WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 11-C5, Class E, 5.671%, 11/15/44 W | 517,000 | 529,685 |
| FRB Ser. 11-C2, Class D, 5.652%, 2/15/44 W | 269,000 | 274,870 |
| 32 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| Principal | ||
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (24.1%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont. | ||
| WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A | ||
| Ser. 11-C4, Class D, 5.247%, 6/15/44 W | $1,217,000 | $1,207,179 |
| Ser. 11-C4, Class E, 5.247%, 6/15/44 W | 285,000 | 275,557 |
| FRB Ser. 13-C15, Class D, 4.479%, 8/15/46 W | 662,000 | 572,544 |
| FRB Ser. 13-C12, Class XA, IO, 1.362%, 3/15/48 W | 1,144,766 | 59,373 |
| 32,163,887 | ||
| Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) (5.7%) | ||
| BankUnited Trust FRB Ser. 05-1, Class 1A1, 1 Month US LIBOR + | ||
| 0.30%, 1.538%, 9/25/45 | 334,111 | 317,306 |
| Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. FRB Ser. 05-2, Class 1A2A, | ||
| 3.319%, 5/25/35 W | 491,971 | 504,270 |
| Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust | ||
| FRB Ser. 06-OA7, Class 1A2, 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.94%, | ||
| 1.884%, 6/25/46 | 1,925,622 | 1,655,650 |
| FRB Ser. 05-59, Class 1A1, 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.33%, | ||
| 1.569%, 11/20/35 | 579,473 | 550,350 |
| FRB Ser. 06-OA10, Class 4A1, 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.19%, | ||
| 1.428%, 8/25/46 | 2,058,434 | 1,708,501 |
| Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass-Through Trust FRB | ||
| Ser. 05-3, Class 1A1, 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.62%, 1.858%, 4/25/35 | 228,017 | 192,106 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation | ||
| Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 14-HQ3, Class M3, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 4.75%, 5.988%, 10/25/24 | 270,000 | 297,836 |
| Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 13-DN2, Class M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 4.25%, 5.488%, 11/25/23 | 250,000 | 275,348 |
| Federal National Mortgage Association | ||
| Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C03, Class 2M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 5.90%, 7.138%, 10/25/28 | 467,620 | 536,329 |
| Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 15-C04, Class 1M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 5.70%, 6.938%, 4/25/28 | 152,588 | 171,816 |
| Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 15-C04, Class 2M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 5.55%, 6.788%, 4/25/28 | 1,305,936 | 1,446,906 |
| Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 15-C03, Class 2M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 5.00%, 6.238%, 7/25/25 | 9,388 | 10,254 |
| Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C06, Class 1M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 4.25%, 5.488%, 4/25/29 | 20,000 | 22,373 |
| Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 14-C02, Class 1M2, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 2.60%, 3.838%, 5/25/24 | 150,000 | 157,301 |
| GSAA Home Equity Trust FRB Ser. 06-8, Class 2A2, 1 Month | ||
| US LIBOR + 0.18%, 1.418%, 5/25/36 | 659,776 | 348,988 |
| Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust FRB Ser. 05-A2, Class A2, | ||
| 2.974%, 2/25/35 W | 160,108 | 161,659 |
| Morgan Stanley Resecuritization Trust 144A Ser. 15-R4, Class CB1, | ||
| 0.598%, 8/26/47 | 1,265,000 | 1,049,950 |
| Park Place Securities, Inc. Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates | ||
| FRB Ser. 04-WCW2, Class M3, 1 Month US LIBOR + 1.05%, | ||
| 2.288%, 10/25/34 | 200,000 | 198,887 |
| Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust FRB Ser. 07-AR7, | ||
| Class 1A1, 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.85%, 2.088%, 5/25/47 | 771,381 | 694,667 |
| Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Loan Trust FRB | ||
| Ser. 06-AM1, Class A4, 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.16%, 1.398%, 4/25/36 | 220,146 | 217,588 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 33 |
| Principal | ||
| MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (24.1%)* cont. | amount | Value |
| Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) cont. | ||
| Vericrest Opportunity Loan Transferee LXI, LLC 144A Ser. 17-NPL8, | ||
| Class A1, 3.125%, 6/25/47 | $208,230 | $208,750 |
| Vericrest Opportunity Loan Transferee LXIII, LLC 144A Ser. 17-NP10, | ||
| Class A1, 3.00%, 10/25/47 | 310,000 | 310,000 |
| WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust FRB Ser. 05-AR17, | ||
| Class A1B2, 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.41%, 1.647%, 12/25/45 | 1,015,532 | 966,279 |
| 12,003,114 | ||
| Total mortgage-backed securities (cost $50,567,976) | $50,603,676 | |
| U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY | Principal | |
| MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (6.4%)* | amount | Value |
| U.S. Government Guaranteed Mortgage Obligations (3.0%) | ||
| Government National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates | ||
| 4.50%, TBA, 11/1/47 | $3,000,000 | $3,179,766 |
| 4.00%, TBA, 11/1/47 | 3,000,000 | 3,150,234 |
| 6,330,000 | ||
| U.S. Government Agency Mortgage Obligations (3.4%) | ||
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 4.50%, 10/1/18 | 2,714 | 2,733 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pass-Through Certificates | ||
| 4.50%, 8/1/18 | 2,747 | 2,770 |
| Federal National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates | ||
| 6.00%, with due dates from 9/1/18 to 9/1/19 | 5,848 | 5,918 |
| 4.50%, TBA, 11/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 1,069,141 |
| 4.00%, TBA, 11/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 1,049,531 |
| 3.50%, 6/1/56 | 947,054 | 977,353 |
| 3.50%, TBA, 12/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 1,026,133 |
| 3.50%, TBA, 11/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 1,027,891 |
| 3.00%, TBA, 11/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,625 |
| 2.50%, TBA, 11/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 965,547 |
| 7,127,642 | ||
| Total U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations (cost $13,476,357) | $13,457,642 | |
| Principal | ||
| U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (—%)* | amount | Value |
| U.S. Treasury Notes 2.00%, 9/30/20 ∆ | $58,000 | $58,444 |
| Total U.S. treasury obligations (cost $57,984) | $58,444 | |
| FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY | Principal amount/ | |
| BONDS AND NOTES (2.7%)* | units | Value |
| Argentina (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. notes 7.125%, | ||
| 8/1/27 (Argentina) | $230,000 | $244,552 |
| Argentina (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 7.625%, | ||
| 4/22/46 (Argentina) | 275,000 | 308,000 |
| Argentina (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.875%, | ||
| 1/26/27 (Argentina) | 570,000 | 621,300 |
| Cordoba (Province of) 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.125%, | ||
| 6/10/21 (Argentina) | 380,000 | 409,978 |
| Indonesia (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, | ||
| 1/8/26 (Indonesia) | 600,000 | 653,250 |
| 34 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY | Principal amount/ | |
| BONDS AND NOTES (2.7%)* cont. | units | Value |
| Indonesia (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.95%, | ||
| 1/8/46 (Indonesia) | $300,000 | $370,500 |
| Russia (Federation of) 144A sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 12.75%, | ||
| 6/24/28 (Russia) | 750,000 | 1,315,313 |
| Russia (Federation of) 144A sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 5.625%, | ||
| 4/4/42 (Russia) | 1,600,000 | 1,770,000 |
| Total foreign government and agency bonds and notes (cost $5,308,994) | $5,692,893 | |
| Principal | ||
| ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (1.3%)* | amount | Value |
| Mortgage Repurchase Agreement Financing Trust 144A | ||
| FRB Ser. 16-4, Class A1, 1 Month US LIBOR + 1.20%, | ||
| 2.435%, 5/10/19 | $138,000 | $138,000 |
| FRB Ser. 16-5, Class A, 1 Month US LIBOR + 1.17%, | ||
| 2.405%, 6/10/19 | 1,598,000 | 1,598,000 |
| Station Place Securitization Trust 144A FRB Ser. 17-1, Class A, | ||
| 1 Month US LIBOR + 0.90%, 2.138%, 2/25/49 | 923,333 | 923,333 |
| Total asset-backed securities (cost $2,659,355) | $2,659,333 | |
| PURCHASED SWAP OPTIONS OUTSTANDING (0.2%)* | |||
| Counterparty | Notional/ | ||
| Fixed right % to receive or (pay)/ | Expiration | contract | |
| Floating rate index/Maturity date | date/strike | amount | Value |
| Bank of America N.A. | |||
| (1.9325)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/(1.9325) | $7,230,000 | $23,859 |
| (2.2625)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-22 | Aug-21/(2.2625) | 3,253,500 | 18,708 |
| 2.2625/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-22 | Aug-21/2.2625 | 3,253,500 | 16,137 |
| 1.9325/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/1.9325 | 7,230,000 | 9,616 |
| 2.234/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.234 | 3,300,200 | 3,762 |
| 2.172/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.172 | 3,300,200 | 1,518 |
| 2.214/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.214 | 2,892,000 | 376 |
| Citibank, N.A. | |||
| (2.518)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/May-49 | May-19/(2.518) | 318,100 | 27,140 |
| 2.276/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.276 | 5,280,400 | 11,142 |
| (1.896)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-22 | Dec-17/(1.896) | 928,000 | 9,707 |
| (1.975)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-22 | Nov-17/(1.975) | 1,446,000 | 9,399 |
| (2.464)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/(2.464) | 5,280,400 | 7,498 |
| (2.57)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-22 | Nov-17/(2.57) | 1,446,000 | 6,869 |
| 1.9175/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Mar-19 | Mar-18/1.9175 | 4,338,000 | 3,514 |
| 2.301/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.301 | 2,640,200 | 2,323 |
| (2.429)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/(2.429) | 3,963,200 | 2,219 |
| 2.57/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-22 | Nov-17/2.57 | 1,446,000 | 2,155 |
| 2.245/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.245 | 3,963,200 | 1,268 |
| 2.175/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.175 | 2,892,000 | 1,215 |
| 2.248/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.248 | 1,446,000 | 1,171 |
| 1.975/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-22 | Nov-17/1.975 | 1,446,000 | 1,041 |
| 1.6525/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-18 | Dec-17/1.6525 | 4,338,000 | 694 |
| 1.896/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-22 | Dec-17/1.896 | 928,000 | 473 |
| 1.541/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-18 | Nov-17/1.541 | 5,784,000 | 6 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 35 |
| PURCHASED SWAP OPTIONS OUTSTANDING (0.2%)* cont. | |||
| Counterparty | Notional/ | ||
| Fixed right % to receive or (pay)/ | Expiration | contract | |
| Floating rate index/Maturity date | date/strike | amount | Value |
| Credit Suisse International | |||
| (2.18)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/(2.18) | $1,446,000 | $21,980 |
| (2.32)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/(2.32) | 5,784,000 | 16,889 |
| 2.2655/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.2655 | 1,446,000 | 3,225 |
| 2.1975/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.1975 | 2,862,000 | 29 |
| Goldman Sachs International | |||
| (1.6775)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-18 | Nov-17/(1.6775) | 3,470,400 | 11,244 |
| 2.30/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.30 | 2,640,200 | 8,765 |
| (2.41875)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/(2.41875) | 5,280,400 | 7,657 |
| 2.695/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Oct-23 | Oct-18/2.695 | 607,300 | 7,385 |
| 2.27/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Mar-28 | Mar-18/2.27 | 694,100 | 6,580 |
| 2.485/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Mar-48 | Mar-18/2.485 | 289,200 | 6,423 |
| 2.2245/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.2245 | 3,300,200 | 4,653 |
| 1.9175/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Oct-19 | Oct-18/1.9175 | 2,631,700 | 3,737 |
| 2.156/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.156 | 3,300,200 | 2,013 |
| 2.20125/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.20125 | 5,280,400 | 1,795 |
| 1.6775/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-18 | Nov-17/1.6775 | 3,470,400 | 35 |
| 1.95/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/1.95 | 1,982,000 | 2 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | |||
| (1.919)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/(1.919) | 7,230,000 | 24,437 |
| (2.25)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-22 | Aug-21/(2.25) | 3,253,500 | 18,870 |
| 2.25/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-22 | Aug-21/2.25 | 3,253,500 | 15,942 |
| 1.919/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/1.919 | 7,230,000 | 9,254 |
| 2.2425/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-27 | Dec-17/2.2425 | 2,640,200 | 6,284 |
| (1.964)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Jan-21 | Jan-18/(1.964) | 1,446,000 | 3,977 |
| 1.964/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Jan-21 | Jan-18/1.964 | 1,446,000 | 3,123 |
| Total purchased swap options outstanding (cost $575,192) | $346,109 | ||
| PURCHASED OPTIONS | Expiration | |||
| OUTSTANDING (—%)* | date/strike | Notional | Contract | |
| Counterparty | price | amount | amount | Value |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | ||||
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/100.52 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $32,748 |
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/100.42 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 30,240 |
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/100.33 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 27,848 |
| Total purchased options outstanding (cost $86,250) | $90,836 | |||
| 36 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
| Principal amount/ | |||
| SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (33.1%)* | shares | Value | |
| Amcor, Ltd./Australia commercial paper 1.444%, 11/28/17 | $1,000,000 | $998,906 | |
| Autonation, Inc. commercial paper 1.600%, 11/1/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,952 | |
| Bell Canada, Inc. commercial paper 1.402%, 11/20/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,191 | |
| Cabot Corp. commercial paper 1.401%, 11/13/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,500 | |
| Constellation Brands, Inc. commercial paper 1.581%, 11/16/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,222 | |
| Darden Restaurants, Inc. commercial paper 1.500%, 11/1/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,958 | |
| Diageo Capital PLC commercial paper 1.403%, 12/13/17 | 1,000,000 | 998,302 | |
| Dominion Energy Gas Holdings, LLC commercial paper | |||
| 1.424%, 11/13/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,477 | |
| E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. commercial paper | |||
| 1.413%, 11/20/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,226 | |
| Enbridge US, Inc. commercial paper 1.534%, 12/20/17 | 1,000,000 | 998,010 | |
| Energy Transfer Partners LP commercial paper 1.750%, 11/1/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,952 | |
| Eni Finance USA, Inc. commercial paper 1.432%, 11/21/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,167 | |
| Entergy Corp. commercial paper 1.464%, 12/12/17 | 1,000,000 | 998,038 | |
| Enterprise Products Operating, LLC commercial paper | |||
| 1.402%, 11/14/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,460 | |
| Equifax, Inc. commercial paper 1.434%, 11/1/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,962 | |
| FMC Corp. commercial paper 1.400%, 11/1/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,962 | |
| Fortive Corp. commercial paper 1.432%, 11/28/17 | 1,000,000 | 998,911 | |
| Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The) commercial paper | |||
| 1.473%, 12/15/17 | 1,000,000 | 998,219 | |
| KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Co. commercial paper | |||
| 1.350%, 11/1/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,962 | |
| Monsanto Co. commercial paper 1.482%, 11/22/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,146 | |
| Newell Brands, Inc. commercial paper 1.571%, 11/6/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,710 | |
| Omnicom Capital, Inc. commercial paper 1.443%, 11/15/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,421 | |
| Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 1.22% L | Shares | 37,177,199 | 37,177,199 |
| Reckitt Benckiser Treasury Services PLC commercial paper | |||
| 1.403%, 11/30/17 | $1,000,000 | 998,983 | |
| Schlumberger Holdings Corp. commercial paper 1.403%, 12/6/17 | 1,000,000 | 998,524 | |
| Southern Co. Gas Capital Corp. commercial paper | |||
| 1.422%, 11/28/17 | 1,000,000 | 998,911 | |
| Suncor Energy, Inc. commercial paper 1.432%, 11/17/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,342 | |
| Sysco Corp. commercial paper 1.350%, 11/1/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,962 | |
| Thomson Reuters Corp. commercial paper 1.454%, 11/13/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,477 | |
| Tyco International Holding SARL commercial paper | |||
| 1.400%, 11/6/17 | 1,000,000 | 999,772 | |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills 1.029%, 12/14/17 ∆ |
51,000 | 50,941 | |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills 1.059%, 1/18/18 ∆ § |
2,879,000 | 2,872,232 | |
|
U.S. Treasury Bills 1.061%, 1/11/18 § |
57,000 | 56,883 | |
| U.S. Treasury Bills 1.066%, 2/1/18 § | 249,000 | 248,278 | |
| U.S. Treasury Bills 1.067%, 2/8/18 § | 43,000 | 42,868 | |
| U.S. Treasury Bills 1.081%, 2/15/18 § | 79,000 | 78,739 | |
| Total short-term investments (cost $69,507,278) | $69,505,765 | ||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |||
| Total investments (cost $219,568,743) | $220,449,710 | ||
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 37 |
| Key to holding’s abbreviations | |
| BKNT | Bank Note |
| bp | Basis Points |
| FRB | Floating Rate Bonds: the rate shown is the current interest rate at the close of the reporting period. Rates may |
| be subject to a cap or floor. For certain securities, the rate may represent a fixed rate currently in place at the | |
| close of the reporting period. | |
| FRN | Floating Rate Notes: the rate shown is the current interest rate or yield at the close of the reporting period. |
| Rates may be subject to a cap or floor. For certain securities, the rate may represent a fixed rate currently in | |
| place at the close of the reporting period. | |
| GMTN | Global Medium Term Notes |
| IFB | Inverse Floating Rate Bonds, which are securities that pay interest rates that vary inversely to changes in the |
| market interest rates. As interest rates rise, inverse floaters produce less current income. The rate shown is | |
| the current interest rate at the close of the reporting period. Rates may be subject to a cap or floor. | |
| IO | Interest Only |
| MTN | Medium Term Notes |
| PO | Principal Only |
| TBA | To Be Announced Commitments |
Notes to the fund’s portfolio
Unless noted otherwise, the notes to the fund’s portfolio are for the close of the fund’s reporting period, which ran from November 1, 2016 through October 31, 2017 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “OTC”, if any, represent over-the-counter.
* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $210,044,598.
† This security is non-income-producing.
∆ This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on certain derivative contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $830,825 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 8).
§ This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on the initial margin on certain centrally cleared derivative contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $2,269,535 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 8).
L Affiliated company (Note 5). The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.
R Real Estate Investment Trust.
W The rate shown represents the weighted average coupon associated with the underlying mortgage pools. Rates may be subject to a cap or floor.
At the close of the reporting period, the fund maintained liquid assets totaling $24,848,456 to cover certain derivative contracts and delayed delivery securities.
Unless otherwise noted, the rates quoted in Short-term investments security descriptions represent the weighted average yield to maturity.
Debt obligations are considered secured unless otherwise indicated.
144A after the name of an issuer represents securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
See Note 1 to the financial statements regarding TBA commitments.
The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.
| 38 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
| FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 10/31/17 (aggregate face value $269,995) | ||||||
| Unrealized | ||||||
| Contract | Delivery | Aggregate | appreciation/ | |||
| Counterparty | Currency | type* | date | Value | face value | (depreciation) |
| Goldman Sachs International | ||||||
| Turkish Lira | Buy | 12/20/17 | $124,837 | $129,362 | $(4,525) | |
| Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) | ||||||
| Turkish Lira | Sell | 12/20/17 | 129,099 | 140,633 | 11,534 | |
| Unrealized appreciation | 11,534 | |||||
| Unrealized depreciation | (4,525) | |||||
| Total | $7,009 | |||||
* The exchange currency for all contracts listed is the United States Dollar.
| WRITTEN SWAP OPTIONS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 (premiums $3,510,250) | |||
| Counterparty | Notional/ | ||
| Fixed Obligation % to receive or (pay)/ | Expiration | contract | |
| Floating rate index/Maturity date | date/strike | amount | Value |
| Bank of America N.A. | |||
| 2.506/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.506 | $2,892,000 | $174 |
| (2.2625)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/2.2625 | 3,253,500 | 7,125 |
| (2.296)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.296 | 3,300,200 | 8,251 |
| 2.2625/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/2.2625 | 3,253,500 | 9,663 |
| (1.9325)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-20 | Aug-19/1.9325 | 7,230,000 | 15,111 |
| 1.9325/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-20 | Aug-19/1.9325 | 7,230,000 | 29,354 |
| Citibank, N.A. | |||
| (1.755)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-18 | Nov-17/1.755 | 5,784,000 | 6 |
| (2.212)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.212 | 2,640,200 | 132 |
| (1.642)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-19 | Dec-17/1.642 | 2,892,000 | 145 |
| (2.00)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-18 | Dec-17/2.00 | 4,338,000 | 737 |
| 2.39/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.39 | 2,640,200 | 2,640 |
| (2.257)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.257 | 1,446,000 | 2,935 |
| (2.05)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Mar-19 | Mar-18/2.05 | 4,338,000 | 3,514 |
| 2.398/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.398 | 2,169,000 | 4,316 |
| (2.337)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.337 | 1,981,600 | 4,617 |
| 2.337/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.337 | 1,981,600 | 6,678 |
| 2.37/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.37 | 2,640,200 | 10,957 |
| 2.3635/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.3635 | 2,892,000 | 11,684 |
| 1.642/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-19 | Dec-17/1.642 | 2,892,000 | 12,233 |
| (2.37)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.37 | 2,640,200 | 14,653 |
| 2.257/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.257 | 1,446,000 | 15,993 |
| 2.208/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/May-24 | May-19/2.208 | 1,446,000 | 27,431 |
| Credit Suisse International | |||
| (2.32)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.32 | 5,784,000 | 3,008 |
| 2.4155/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.4155 | 2,169,000 | 6,659 |
| 2.295/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.295 | 4,338,000 | 22,728 |
| Goldman Sachs International | |||
| 2.5525/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.5525 | 1,982,000 | 2 |
| (1.495)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-18 | Nov-17/1.495 | 5,784,000 | 6 |
| 2.6025/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.6025 | 2,640,200 | 924 |
| (2.31)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.31 | 2,640,200 | 5,756 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 39 |
| WRITTEN SWAP OPTIONS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 (premiums $3,510,250) cont. | |||
| Counterparty | Notional/ | ||
| Fixed Obligation % to receive or (pay)/ | Expiration | contract | |
| Floating rate index/Maturity date | date/strike | amount | Value |
| Goldman Sachs International cont. | |||
| (2.293)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.293 | $3,300,200 | $9,769 |
| 1.495/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-18 | Nov-17/1.495 | 5,784,000 | 11,105 |
| (2.3025)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Oct-19 | Oct-18/2.3025 | 5,784,000 | 12,320 |
| (2.46)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Mar-38 | Mar-18/2.46 | 780,800 | 13,032 |
| 2.31/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Nov-27 | Nov-17/2.31 | 2,640,200 | 15,577 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | |||
| 2.6525/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Dec-27 | Dec-17/2.6525 | 2,640,200 | 950 |
| (2.3205)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Jan-28 | Jan-18/2.3205 | 466,000 | 3,281 |
| 2.4115/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Jan-28 | Jan-18/2.4115 | 466,000 | 3,560 |
| (2.25)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/2.25 | 3,253,500 | 6,930 |
| 2.25/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-19 | Aug-18/2.25 | 3,253,500 | 9,858 |
| (1.919)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-20 | Aug-19/1.919 | 7,230,000 | 14,677 |
| 1.919/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Aug-20 | Aug-19/1.919 | 7,230,000 | 29,860 |
| (6.00 Floor)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/Mar-18 | Mar-18/6.00 | 16,499,000 | 381,127 |
| Total | $739,478 | ||
| WRITTEN OPTIONS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 (premiums $86,250) | ||||
| Expiration | Notional | Contract | ||
| Counterparty | date/strike price | amount | amount | Value |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | ||||
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/99.96 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $19,584 |
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/99.86 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 17,804 |
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/99.77 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 16,144 |
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/99.40 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 10,720 |
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/99.30 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 9,616 |
| Federal National Mortgage | ||||
| Association 30 yr 3.00% TBA | ||||
| commitments (Put) | Dec-17/99.21 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 8,608 |
| Total | $82,476 | |||
| 40 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 | ||||
| Counterparty | ||||
| Fixed right or obligation % to receive | Notional/ | Premium | Unrealized | |
| or (pay)/Floating rate index/ | Expiration | contract | receivable/ | appreciation/ |
| Maturity date | date/strike | amount | (payable) | (depreciation) |
| Bank of America N.A. | ||||
| (2.647)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Purchased) | Jun-24/2.647 | $723,000 | $(28,269) | $72 |
| (2.203)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-24 (Purchased) | Jun-19/2.203 | 723,000 | (14,460) | (36) |
| 2.785/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jan-47 (Purchased) | Jan-27/2.785 | 433,800 | (46,547) | (1,878) |
| 2.5925/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jan-27 (Purchased) | Jan-19/2.5925 | 433,800 | (15,291) | (2,299) |
| 2.647/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Purchased) | Jun-24/2.647 | 723,000 | (28,269) | (2,704) |
| (2.785)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jan-47 (Purchased) | Jan-27/2.785 | 433,800 | (46,547) | (3,080) |
| 2.203/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-24 (Purchased) | Jun-19/2.203 | 723,000 | (14,460) | (4,143) |
| (2.5925)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jan-27 (Purchased) | Jan-19/2.5925 | 433,800 | (15,291) | (7,661) |
| 2.7175/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jan-47 (Written) | Jan-19/2.7175 | 433,800 | 39,194 | 15,652 |
| (2.7175)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jan-47 (Written) | Jan-19/2.7175 | 433,800 | 39,194 | 9,001 |
| (2.413)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Written) | Jun-19/2.413 | 723,000 | 27,799 | 7,425 |
| 2.413/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Written) | Jun-19/2.413 | 723,000 | 27,799 | 571 |
| Barclays Bank PLC | ||||
| (2.205)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-24 (Purchased) | Jun-19/2.205 | 723,000 | (14,460) | (72) |
| 2.43/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Feb-22 (Purchased) | Feb-19/2.43 | 433,800 | (6,052) | (542) |
| (2.43)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Feb-22 (Purchased) | Feb-19/2.43 | 433,800 | (6,052) | (3,609) |
| 2.205/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-24 (Purchased) | Jun-19/2.205 | 723,000 | (14,460) | (4,114) |
| Citibank, N.A. | ||||
| 2.206/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Nov-27 (Purchased) | Nov-17/2.206 | 1,446,000 | (2,169) | (29) |
| (2.654)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Purchased) | Jun-24/2.654 | 723,000 | (28,269) | (36) |
| 2.654/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Purchased) | Jun-24/2.654 | 723,000 | (28,269) | (2,603) |
| (2.42)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Written) | Jun-19/2.42 | 723,000 | 27,836 | 7,259 |
| 2.42/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Jun-29 (Written) | Jun-19/2.42 | 723,000 | 27,691 | 709 |
| 2.507/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Nov-27 (Written) | Nov-17/2.507 | 1,446,000 | 2,169 | (58) |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 41 |
| FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 cont. | ||||
| Counterparty | ||||
| Fixed right or obligation % to receive | Notional/ | Premium | Unrealized | |
| or (pay)/Floating rate index/ | Expiration | contract | receivable/ | appreciation/ |
| Maturity date | date/strike | amount | (payable) | (depreciation) |
| Credit Suisse International | ||||
| (2.18)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Nov-27 (Written) | Nov-17/2.18 | $1,446,000 | $72 | $72 |
| Goldman Sachs International | ||||
| 2.8175/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Mar-47 (Purchased) | Mar-27/2.8175 | 86,800 | (10,959) | (78) |
| (2.8175)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Mar-47 (Purchased) | Mar-27/2.8175 | 86,800 | (10,959) | (691) |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. | ||||
| 2.8325/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Feb-52 (Purchased) | Feb-22/2.8325 | 433,800 | (60,569) | (2,022) |
| (2.8325)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Feb-52 (Purchased) | Feb-22/2.8325 | 433,800 | (60,569) | (13,422) |
| 2.79/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Feb-49 (Written) | Feb-19/2.79 | 433,800 | 41,189 | 18,792 |
| (2.79)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Feb-49 (Written) | Feb-19/2.79 | 433,800 | 41,189 | 5,067 |
| Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC | ||||
| 1.85125/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Apr-19 (Purchased) | Apr-18/1.85125 | 4,338,000 | (4,555) | (607) |
| (2.01)/3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA/ | ||||
| Apr-19 (Written) | Apr-18/2.01 | 4,338,000 | 4,555 | (4) |
| Unrealized appreciation | 64,620 | |||
| Unrealized depreciation | (49,688) | |||
| Total | $14,932 | |||
| TBA SALE COMMITMENTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 (proceeds receivable $8,400,117) | |||
| Principal | Settlement | ||
| Agency | amount | date | Value |
| Federal National Mortgage Association, 4.50%, 11/1/47 | $3,000,000 | 11/13/17 | $3,207,422 |
| Federal National Mortgage Association, 4.00%, 11/1/47 | 3,000,000 | 11/13/17 | 3,148,594 |
| Federal National Mortgage Association, 3.50%, 11/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 11/13/17 | 1,027,890 |
| Federal National Mortgage Association, 3.00%, 11/1/47 | 1,000,000 | 11/13/17 | 1,000,625 |
| Total | $8,384,531 | ||
| CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Unrealized | |||||
| received | Termination | Payments | Payments | appreciation/ | ||
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | made by fund | received by fund | (depreciation) |
| $1,446,000 | $21,372 | $(9,626) | 10/31/27 | 2.18%— | 3 month USD- | $11,801 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 4,338,000 | 18,914 | 14,067 | 10/31/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.295%— | (5,013) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 42 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 cont. | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Unrealized | |||||
| received | Termination | Payments | Payments | appreciation/ | ||
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | made by fund | received by fund | (depreciation) |
| $1,446,000 | $18,451 | $(2,903) | 10/3/27 | 2.201%— | 3 month USD- | $14,627 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,446,000 | 12,146 | (2,469) | 10/3/27 | 2.2495%— | 3 month USD- | 8,702 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,446,000 | 13,318 | (2,469) | 10/3/27 | 2.2405%— | 3 month USD- | 9,883 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 2,192,000 | 50,263 | (14,191) | 10/31/27 | 2.09%— | 3 month USD- | 36,156 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 6,576,000 | 79,307 | 18,657 | 10/31/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.21%— | (60,901) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 4,384,000 | 2,236 | (4,562) | 10/31/27 | 2.34875%— | 3 month USD- | (6,630) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 542,200 | 8,225 | (3,343) | 10/18/27 | 2.176%— | 3 month USD- | 4,741 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 2,169,000 | 18,285 | (13,897) | 10/31/27 | 2.25%— | 3 month USD- | 4,470 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 6,507,000 | 12,884 | 15,570 | 10/31/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.365%— | 28,204 |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,084,500 | 11,257 | (6,427) | 10/25/27 | 2.23%— | 3 month USD- | 4,716 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 3,253,500 | 1,627 | 7,018 | 10/25/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.33925%— | 5,795 |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 24,338,800 | 31,397 E | (996) | 12/20/19 | 1.80%— | 3 month USD- | 30,401 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 45,343,900 | 131,497 E | 23,143 | 12/20/22 | 2.05%— | 3 month USD- | 154,641 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 8,831,800 | 92,911 E | (42,903) | 12/20/27 | 2.25%— | 3 month USD- | 50,008 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,261,900 | 26,348 E | (13,097) | 12/20/47 | 2.50%— | 3 month USD- | 13,252 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,228,000 | 5,465 | (9) | 10/2/27 | 2.2935%— | 3 month USD- | 4,551 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 43 |
| CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 cont. | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Unrealized | |||||
| received | Termination | Payments | Payments | appreciation/ | ||
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | made by fund | received by fund | (depreciation) |
| $1,920,000 | $6,893 | $11,890 | 11/1/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.306%— | $4,997 |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,101,000 | 4,382 | (9) | 10/17/27 | 2.30%— | 3 month USD- | 4,009 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 347,000 | 1,308 | (3) | 11/1/27 | 2.304%— | 3 month USD- | 1,305 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,920,000 | 7,642 | 7,666 | 10/17/27 | 2.30%— | 3 month USD- | 14,673 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 609,000 | 2,600 | (4) | 10/4/27 | 2.2955%— | 3 month USD- | 2,180 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,379,000 | 5,433 | (10) | 10/10/27 | 2.30%— | 3 month USD- | 4,711 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 311,500 | 1,050 | (2) | 10/5/27 | 2.3057%— | 3 month USD- | 842 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 311,500 | 1,106 | (2) | 10/5/27 | 2.30369%— | 3 month USD- | 899 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,320,100 | 5,650 E | (11) | 11/7/27 | 2.301%— | 3 month USD- | 5,639 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 302,000 | 1,948 | (2) | 10/6/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.2715%— | (1,767) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 648,000 | 2,935 | (5) | 10/10/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.2935%— | (2,608) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 362,000 | 1,593 | (3) | 10/10/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.2949%— | (1,410) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 362,000 | 1,767 | (3) | 10/10/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.28962%— | (1,584) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 411,200 | 715 | (3) | 10/10/27 | 2.3245%— | 3 month USD- | 494 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 411,200 | 773 | (3) | 10/10/27 | 2.32295%— | 3 month USD- | 552 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 426,000 | 72 | (3) | 10/10/27 | 2.34566%— | 3 month USD- | (307) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 44 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 cont. | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Unrealized | |||||
| received | Termination | Payments | Payments | appreciation/ | ||
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | made by fund | received by fund | (depreciation) |
| $426,000 | $507 | $(3) | 10/10/27 | 2.357%— | 3 month USD- | $(744) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,127,900 | 1,579 E | (9) | 11/8/27 | 2.364%— | 3 month USD- | (1,588) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 330,300 | 720 | (2) | 10/17/27 | 2.32%— | 3 month USD- | 606 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 954,400 | 2,720 | (7) | 10/18/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.3125%— | (2,432) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 461,700 | 2,567 | (3) | 10/17/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.2825%— | (2,421) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 361,500 | 3,394 | (3) | 10/18/27 | 2.24%— | 3 month USD- | 3,290 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,590,600 | 11,341 E | (13) | 11/20/27 | 2.275%— | 3 month USD- | 11,328 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 596,800 | 4,661 | (4) | 10/18/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.2576%— | (4,493) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 596,800 | 4,392 | (4) | 10/18/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.26256%— | (4,223) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 596,800 | 4,512 | (4) | 10/18/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.6031%— | (4,343) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 596,800 | 3,885 | (4) | 10/18/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.27191%— | (3,714) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 596,800 | 3,999 | (4) | 10/18/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.26987%— | (3,828) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 5,784,000 | 13,939 E | (42) | 11/3/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.32%— | (13,981) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 542,250 | 5,645 | (4,602) | 10/27/27 | 2.23%— | 3 month USD- | 1,012 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,626,750 | 1,366 | 2,348 | 10/27/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.35425%— | 3,830 |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 913,000 | 3,442 | (7) | 10/23/27 | 2.303%— | 3 month USD- | 3,279 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 45 |
| CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 cont. | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Unrealized | |||||
| received | Termination | Payments | Payments | appreciation/ | ||
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | made by fund | received by fund | (depreciation) |
| $743,000 | $728 | $(5) | 10/24/27 | 2.35552%— | 3 month USD- | $(849) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 667,000 | 60 | (5) | 10/25/27 | 2.3457%— | 3 month USD- | (148) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 667,000 | 140 | (5) | 10/25/27 | 2.34705%— | 3 month USD- | (228) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,010,000 | 3,060 | (7) | 10/26/27 | 2.3784%— | 3 month USD- | (3,171) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 694,100 | 2,075 | (5) | 10/27/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.378%— | 2,121 |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 270,000 | 1,004 | (2) | 10/26/27 | 2.386%— | 3 month USD- | (1,034) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 476,000 | 2,480 | (3) | 10/26/27 | 2.4025%— | 3 month USD- | (2,534) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 565,000 | 3,921 | (4) | 10/27/27 | 2.42166%— | 3 month USD- | (3,969) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 565,000 | 4,158 | (4) | 10/27/27 | 2.4264%— | 3 month USD- | (4,207) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 699,000 | 5,976 | (5) | 10/27/27 | 2.4395%— | 3 month USD- | (6,038) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 1,161,700 | 9,805 E | (9) | 11/29/27 | 2.45%— | 3 month USD- | (9,814) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 792,100 | 5,869 E | (6) | 12/6/27 | 2.4425%— | 3 month USD- | (5,876) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 546,000 | 2,910 | (4) | 10/30/27 | 2.4026%— | 3 month USD- | (2,909) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 546,000 | 2,948 | (4) | 10/30/27 | 2.40336%— | 3 month USD- | (2,947) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 551,000 | 4,237 | (4) | 10/31/27 | 2.428%— | 3 month USD- | (4,220) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 718,400 | 3,053 | (5) | 10/31/27 | 2.38997%— | 3 month USD- | (3,031) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 46 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
| CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 cont. | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Unrealized | |||||
| received | Termination | Payments | Payments | appreciation/ | ||
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | made by fund | received by fund | (depreciation) |
| $718,400 | $2,917 | $(5) | 10/31/27 | 2.38792%— | 3 month USD- | $(2,894) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 718,400 | 3,125 | (5) | 10/31/27 | 2.39108%— | 3 month USD- | (3,103) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 498,000 | 1,001 | (4) | 11/1/27 | 2.36789%— | 3 month USD- | (1,005) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 498,000 | 837 | (4) | 11/1/27 | 2.36421%— | 3 month USD- | (840) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 498,000 | 891 | (4) | 11/1/27 | 2.3654%— | 3 month USD- | (895) |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 237,100 | 128 E | (2) | 11/6/27 | 3 month USD- | 2.342%— | (130) |
| LIBOR-BBA— | Semiannually | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| 491,600 | 172 E | (4) | 12/4/27 | 2.356%— | 3 month USD- | 168 |
| Semiannually | LIBOR-BBA— | |||||
| Quarterly | ||||||
| Total | $(21,412) | $266,054 | ||||
E Extended effective date.
| CENTRALLY CLEARED TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/17 | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Termina- | Payments | Total return | Unrealized | ||
| received | tion | received (paid) | received by | appreciation/ | ||
| Notional amount | Value | (paid) | date | by fund | or paid by fund | (depreciation) |
| $536,000 | $2,750 | $— | 7/3/22 | (1.9225%)—At | USA Non Revised | $2,750 |
| maturity | Consumer Price | |||||
| Index-Urban | ||||||
| (CPI-U)—At maturity | ||||||
| 536,000 | 2,584 | — | 7/3/27 | 2.085%—At | USA Non Revised | (2,584) |
| maturity | Consumer Price | |||||
| Index-Urban | ||||||
| (CPI-U)—At maturity | ||||||
| 616,000 | 4,329 | — | 7/5/22 | (1.89%)—At | USA Non Revised | 4,328 |
| maturity | Consumer Price | |||||
| Index-Urban | ||||||
| (CPI-U)—At maturity | ||||||
| 616,000 | 5,168 | — | 7/5/27 | 2.05%—At | USA Non Revised | (5,168) |
| maturity | Consumer Price | |||||
| Index-Urban | ||||||
| (CPI-U)—At maturity | ||||||
| Total | $— | $(674) | ||||
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 47 |
| OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING—PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/17 | |||||||
| Upfront | |||||||
| premium | Termi- | Payments | Unrealized | ||||
| Swap counterparty/ | received | Notional | nation | received | appreciation/ | ||
| Referenced debt* | Rating*** | (paid)** | amount | Value | date | by fund | (depreciation) |
| Bank of America N.A. | |||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | $2,939 | $43,000 | $7,194 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | $(4,230) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 5,604 | 93,000 | 15,559 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (9,900) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 11,483 | 186,000 | 31,118 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (19,527) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 10,944 | 192,000 | 32,122 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (21,066) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| Credit Suisse International | |||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 82,621 | 1,628,000 | 97,192 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (13,937) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 10,258 | 81,000 | 13,551 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (3,246) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 28,753 | 272,000 | 45,506 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (16,594) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 37,117 | 343,000 | 57,384 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (20,067) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 114,512 | 1,071,000 | 179,178 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (64,041) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 | BBB–/P | 43,610 | 590,000 | 68,853 | 1/17/47 | 300 bp— | (24,899) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| Goldman Sachs International | |||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 1,889 | 62,000 | 3,701 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (1,788) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 5,714 | 87,000 | 5,194 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | 554 |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 6,818 | 138,000 | 8,239 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (1,367) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 4,549 | 145,000 | 8,657 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (4,051) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 6,712 | 217,000 | 12,955 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (6,159) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 35,368 | 695,000 | 41,492 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (5,853) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 54,456 | 849,000 | 50,685 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | 4,100 |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.7 | A–/P | 22,839 | 453,000 | 14,315 | 1/17/47 | 200 bp— | 8,700 |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 4,003 | 37,000 | 6,190 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (2,165) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 4,019 | 37,000 | 6,190 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (2,150) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 2,133 | 43,000 | 7,194 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (5,036) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 2,096 | 43,000 | 7,194 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (5,073) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 11,385 | 82,000 | 13,719 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (2,286) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| 48 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING—PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/17 cont. | |||||||
| Upfront | |||||||
| premium | Termi- | Payments | Unrealized | ||||
| Swap counterparty/ | received | Notional | nation | received | appreciation/ | ||
| Referenced debt* | Rating*** | (paid)** | amount | Value | date | by fund | (depreciation) |
| JPMorgan Securities LLC | |||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | $4,749 | $145,000 | 8,657 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | $(3,851) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 9,469 | 153,000 | 9,134 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | 395 |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 10,705 | 209,000 | 12,477 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (1,691) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 11,255 | 342,000 | 20,417 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (9,030) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 9,935 | 353,000 | 21,074 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (11,002) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 11,614 | 384,000 | 22,925 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (11,162) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA A.6 | A/P | 25,971 | 537,000 | 32,059 | 5/11/63 | 200 bp— | (5,879) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | $4,875 | $39,000 | $6,525 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | $(1,627) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 6,135 | 55,000 | 9,202 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (3,034) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 14,268 | 98,000 | 16,395 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (2,070) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 14,988 | 104,000 | 17,399 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (2,351) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 12,113 | 109,000 | 18,236 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (6,059) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 38,043 | 257,000 | 42,996 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (4,804) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 38,043 | 257,000 | 42,996 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (4,804) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 39,014 | 372,000 | 62,236 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (23,005) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.6 | BBB–/P | 135,202 | 1,129,000 | 188,882 | 5/11/63 | 300 bp— | (53,018) |
| Index | Monthly | ||||||
| Upfront premium received | 896,201 | Unrealized appreciation | 13,749 | ||||
| Upfront premium (paid) | — | Unrealized depreciation | (376,822) | ||||
| Total | $896,201 | Total | $(363,073) | ||||
* Payments related to the referenced debt are made upon a credit default event.
** Upfront premium is based on the difference between the original spread on issue and the market spread on day of execution.
*** Ratings for an underlying index represent the average of the ratings of all the securities included in that index. The Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch ratings are believed to be the most recent ratings available at October 31, 2017. Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 49 |
| OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING—PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/17 | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Termi- | Payments | Unrealized | |||
| Swap counterparty/ | received | Notional | nation | (paid) | appreciation/ | |
| Referenced debt * | (paid)** | amount | Value | date | by fund | (depreciation) |
| Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | $(7,539) | $48,000 | $9,235 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | $1,650 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (7,838) | 48,000 | 9,235 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 1,351 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| Credit Suisse International | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (17,774) | 1,007,000 | 264,539 | 5/11/63 | (500 bp)— | 245,786 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (42,767) | 260,000 | 50,024 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 7,005 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| Goldman Sachs International | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.6 Index | (46,444) | 454,000 | 119,266 | 5/11/63 | (500 bp)— | 72,380 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (4,086) | 27,000 | 5,195 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 1,083 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (15,401) | 94,000 | 18,086 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 2,593 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (5,685) | 28,000 | 5,387 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | (325) |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 Index | (8,458) | 104,000 | 12,137 | 1/17/47 | (300 bp)— | 3,618 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 Index | (135) | 2,000 | 233 | 1/17/47 | (300 bp)— | 97 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 Index | (68) | 1,000 | 117 | 1/17/47 | (300 bp)— | 48 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 Index | (69) | 1,000 | 117 | 1/17/47 | (300 bp)— | 47 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| JPMorgan Securities LLC | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.6 Index | (5,483) | 39,000 | 10,245 | 5/11/63 | (500 bp)— | 4,724 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.6 Index | (3,596) | 25,000 | 6,568 | 5/11/63 | (500 bp)— | 2,948 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.6 Index | (2,792) | 21,000 | 5,517 | 5/11/63 | (500 bp)— | 2,704 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (14,714) | 94,000 | 18,086 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 3,280 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (7,539) | 48,000 | 9,235 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 1,650 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (6,676) | 39,000 | 7,504 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 789 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BB.7 Index | (2,923) | 18,000 | 3,463 | 1/17/47 | (500 bp)— | 522 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 Index | (25,881) | 281,000 | 32,793 | 1/17/47 | (300 bp)— | 6,748 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 Index | (9,318) | 112,000 | 13,070 | 1/17/47 | (300 bp)— | 3,687 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| 50 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING—PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/17 cont. | ||||||
| Upfront | ||||||
| premium | Termi- | Payments | Unrealized | |||
| Swap counterparty/ | received | Notional | nation | (paid) | appreciation/ | |
| Referenced debt* | (paid)** | amount | Value | date | by fund | (depreciation) |
| JPMorgan Securities LLC cont. | ||||||
| CMBX NA BBB–.7 Index | $(6,803) | $86,000 | $10,036 | 1/17/47 | (300 bp)— | $3,183 |
| Monthly | ||||||
| Upfront premium received | — | Unrealized appreciation | 365,893 | |||
| Upfront premium (paid) | (241,989) | Unrealized depreciation | (325) | |||
| Total | $(241,989) | Total | $365,568 | |||
* Payments related to the referenced debt are made upon a credit default event.
** Upfront premium is based on the difference between the original spread on issue and the market spread on day of execution.
ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the fund’s investments. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.
Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s net assets as of the close of the reporting period:
| Valuation inputs | |||
| Investments in securities: | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Asset-backed securities | $— | $2,659,333 | $— |
| Corporate bonds and notes | — | 78,035,012 | — |
| Foreign government and agency bonds and notes | — | 5,692,893 | |
| Mortgage-backed securities | — | 50,603,676 | — |
| Purchased options outstanding | — | 90,836 | — |
| Purchased swap options outstanding | — | 346,109 | — |
| U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations | — | 13,457,642 | — |
| U.S. treasury obligations | — | 58,444 | — |
| Short-term investments | 37,177,199 | 32,328,566 | — |
| Totals by level | $37,177,199 | $183,272,511 | $— |
| Valuation inputs | |||
| Other financial instruments: | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Forward currency contracts | $— | $7,009 | $— |
| Written options outstanding | — | (82,476) | — |
| Written swap options outstanding | — | (739,478) | — |
| Forward premium swap option contracts | — | 14,932 | — |
| TBA sale commitments | — | (8,384,531) | — |
| Interest rate swap contracts | 287,466 | ||
| Total return swap contracts | (674) | ||
| Credit default contracts | — | (651,717) | — |
| Totals by level | $— | $(9,549,469) | $— |
During the reporting period, transfers within the fair value hierarchy, if any, did not represent, in the aggregate, more than 1% of the fund’s net assets measured as of the end of the period. Transfers are accounted for using the end of period pricing valuation method.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 51 |
Statement of assets and liabilities 10/31/17
| ASSETS | |
| Investment in securities, at value (Notes 1 and 8): | |
| Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $182,391,544) | $183,272,511 |
| Affiliated issuers (identified cost $37,177,199) (Notes 1 and 5) | 37,177,199 |
| Interest and other receivables | 760,240 |
| Receivable for shares of the fund sold | 3,542,908 |
| Receivable for investments sold | 303,947 |
| Receivable for sales of delayed delivery securities (Note 1) | 5,281,013 |
| Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note 1) | 37,147 |
| Unrealized appreciation on forward premium swap option contracts (Note 1) | 64,620 |
| Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1) | 11,534 |
| Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1) | 379,642 |
| Premium paid on OTC swap contracts (Note 1) | 241,989 |
| Total assets | 231,072,750 |
| LIABILITIES | |
| Payable for investments purchased | 421,298 |
| Payable for purchases of delayed delivery securities (Note 1) | 9,383,227 |
| Payable for shares of the fund repurchased | 526,226 |
| Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2) | 71,044 |
| Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2) | 46,363 |
| Payable for distribution fees (Note 2) | 29,359 |
| Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note 1) | 15,345 |
| Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1) | 377,147 |
| Premium received on OTC swap contracts (Note 1) | 896,201 |
| Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1) | 4,525 |
| Unrealized depreciation on forward premium swap option contracts (Note 1) | 49,688 |
| Written options outstanding, at value (premiums $3,596,500) (Note 1) | 821,954 |
| TBA sale commitments, at value (proceeds receivable $8,400,117) (Note 1) | 8,384,531 |
| Other accrued expenses | 1,244 |
| Total liabilities | 21,028,152 |
| Net assets | $210,044,598 |
| REPRESENTED BY | |
| Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4) | $219,369,924 |
| Undistributed net investment income (Note 1) | 1,203,740 |
| Accumulated net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions (Note 1) | (14,489,981) |
| Net unrealized appreciation of investments | 3,960,915 |
| Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding | $210,044,598 |
(Continued on next page)
| 52 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
Statement of assets and liabilities cont.
| COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE | |
| Net asset value and redemption price per class A share ($74,648,904 divided by 7,357,111 shares) | $10.15 |
| Offering price per class A share (100/99.00 of $10.15)* | $10.25 |
| Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($1,212,083 divided by 119,957 shares)** | $10.10 |
| Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($15,085,524 divided by 1,498,840 shares)** | $10.06 |
| Net asset value and redemption price per class M share ($1,519,773 divided by 150,188 shares) | $10.12 |
| Offering price per class M share (100/99.25 of $10.12)* | $10.20 |
| Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class P share | |
| ($46,078,331 divided by 4,514,971 shares) | $10.21 |
| Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R share | |
| ($481,633 divided by 47,266 shares) | $10.19 |
| Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R6 share | |
| ($451,527 divided by 44,233 shares) | $10.21 |
| Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share | |
| ($70,566,823 divided by 6,928,444 shares) | $10.19 |
* On single retail sales of less than $500,000.
** Redemption price per share is equal to net asset value less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 53 |
Statement of operations Year ended 10/31/17
| INVESTMENT INCOME | |
| Interest (including interest income of $222,156 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5) | $6,224,375 |
| Total investment income | 6,224,375 |
| EXPENSES | |
| Compensation of Manager (Note 2) | 801,731 |
| Distribution fees (Note 2) | 379,307 |
| Other | 2,465 |
| Total expenses | 1,183,503 |
| Expense reduction (Note 2) | (734) |
| Net expenses | 1,182,769 |
| Net investment income | 5,041,606 |
| Net realized loss on securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3) | (1,095,945) |
| Net realized loss on forward currency contracts (Note 1) | (10,389) |
| Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions (Note 1) | 310 |
| Net realized gain on swap contracts (Note 1) | 1,859,199 |
| Net realized loss on futures contracts (Note 1) | (82,367) |
| Net realized loss on written options (Note 1) | (542,663) |
| Net unrealized appreciation of securities in unaffiliated issuers and TBA sale commitments | |
| during the year | 1,185,196 |
| Net unrealized appreciation of forward currency contracts during the year | 7,009 |
| Net unrealized depreciation of swap contracts during the year | (253,914) |
| Net unrealized appreciation of futures contracts during the year | 11,343 |
| Net unrealized appreciation of written options during the year | 1,146,298 |
| Net gain on investments | 2,224,077 |
| Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | $7,265,683 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 54 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
Statement of changes in net assets
| DECREASE IN NET ASSETS | Year ended 10/31/17 | Year ended 10/31/16 |
| Operations | ||
| Net investment income | $5,041,606 | $4,949,498 |
| Net realized gain (loss) on investments | ||
| and foreign currency transactions | 128,145 | (4,160,073) |
| Net unrealized appreciation of investments | 2,095,932 | 1,840,252 |
| Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | 7,265,683 | 2,629,677 |
| Distributions to shareholders (Note 1): | ||
| From ordinary income | ||
| Net investment income | ||
| Class A | (2,130,656) | (1,760,481) |
| Class B | (37,062) | (20,226) |
| Class C | (293,613) | (189,140) |
| Class M | (43,595) | (28,057) |
| Class P | (898,010) | — |
| Class R | (6,391) | — |
| Class R5 | — | (189) |
| Class R6 | (12,941) | (9,662) |
| Class Y | (1,718,985) | (1,839,348) |
| Decrease from capital share transactions (Note 4) | (5,022,569) | (27,145,909) |
| Total decrease in net assets | (2,898,139) | (28,363,335) |
| NET ASSETS | ||
| Beginning of year | 212,942,737 | 241,306,072 |
| End of year (including undistributed net investment | ||
| income of $1,203,740 and $2,117,826, respectively) | $210,044,598 | $212,942,737 |
| The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 55 |
Financial highlights (For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
| INVESTMENT OPERATIONS | LESS DISTRIBUTIONS | RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA | ||||||||||
| Ratio | ||||||||||||
| Net realized | of net investment | |||||||||||
| Net asset value, | and unrealized | Total from | From | Total return | Net assets, | Ratio of expenses | income (loss) | |||||
| beginning | Net investment | gain (loss) | investment | net investment | Total | Net asset value, | at net asset value | end of period | to average | to average | Portfolio | |
| Period ended | of period | income (loss) a | on investments | operations | income | distributions | end of period | (%) b | (in thousands) | net assets (%) c | net assets (%) | turnover (%) |
| Class A | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $10.04 | .24 | .11 | .35 | (.24) | (.24) | $10.15 | 3.60 | $74,649 | .65 | 2.40 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016 | 10.07 | .21 | (.08) | .13 | (.16) | (.16) | 10.04 | 1.29 | 90,313 | .62 | 2.11 | 129d |
| October 31, 2015 | 10.25 | .13 | (.18) | (.05) | (.13) | (.13) | 10.07 | (.49) | 113,553 | .66 | 1.28 | 105d |
| October 31, 2014 | 10.26 | .13 | .01 | .14 | (.15) | (.15) | 10.25 | 1.37 | 136,276 | .64 | 1.32 | 98d |
| October 31, 2013 | 10.16 | .15 | .03 | .18 | (.08) | (.08) | 10.26 | 1.73 | 160,057 | .64f | 1.49f | 81g |
| Class B | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $10.00 | .22 | .11 | .33 | (.23) | (.23) | $10.10 | 3.34 | $1,212 | .85 | 2.19 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016 | 10.03 | .19 | (.09) | .10 | (.13) | (.13) | 10.00 | 1.01 | 1,633 | .82 | 1.92 | 129d |
| October 31, 2015 | 10.20 | .11 | (.17) | (.06) | (.11) | (.11) | 10.03 | (.64) | 1,617 | .86 | 1.09 | 105d |
| October 31, 2014 | 10.21 | .11 | .01 | .12 | (.13) | (.13) | 10.20 | 1.19 | 2,467 | .84 | 1.12 | 98d |
| October 31, 2013 | 10.12 | .13 | .02 | .15 | (.06) | (.06) | 10.21 | 1.45 | 3,080 | .84f | 1.27f | 81g |
| Class C | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $9.95 | .16 | .11 | .27 | (.16) | (.16) | $10.06 | 2.71 | $15,086 | 1.40 | 1.64 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016 | 9.98 | .13 | (.08) | .05 | (.08) | (.08) | 9.95 | .53 | 19,601 | 1.37 | 1.37 | 129d |
| October 31, 2015 | 10.15 | .05 | (.17) | (.12) | (.05) | (.05) | 9.98 | (1.20) | 23,503 | 1.41 | .53 | 105d |
| October 31, 2014 | 10.15 | .06 | —e | .06 | (.06) | (.06) | 10.15 | .58 | 26,468 | 1.39 | .56 | 98d |
| October 31, 2013 | 10.05 | .08 | .02 | .10 | — | — | 10.15 | 1.00 | 30,621 | 1.39f | .75f | 81g |
| Class M | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $10.02 | .24 | .10 | .34 | (.24) | (.24) | $10.12 | 3.48 | $1,520 | .70 | 2.35 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016 | 10.05 | .21 | (.09) | .12 | (.15) | (.15) | 10.02 | 1.24 | 1,803 | .67 | 2.08 | 129d |
| October 31, 2015 | 10.23 | .12 | (.17) | (.05) | (.13) | (.13) | 10.05 | (.53) | 1,942 | .71 | 1.24 | 105d |
| October 31, 2014 | 10.24 | .13 | —e | .13 | (.14) | (.14) | 10.23 | 1.31 | 2,059 | .69 | 1.27 | 98d |
| October 31, 2013 | 10.14 | .15 | .02 | .17 | (.07) | (.07) | 10.24 | 1.70 | 2,609 | .69f | 1.45f | 81g |
| Class P | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $10.08 | .27 | .11 | .38 | (.25) | (.25) | $10.21 | 3.87 | $46,078 | .40 | 2.69 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016† | 10.07 | .04 | (.03) | .01 | — | — | 10.08 | .10* | 34,724 | .06* | .40 * | 129d |
| Class R | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $10.09 | .24 | .09 | .33 | (.23) | (.23) | $10.19 | 3.36 | $482 | .90 | 2.33 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016 | 10.00 | .19 | (.10) | .09 | — | — | 10.09 | .90 | 286 | .87 | 1.98 | 129d |
| October 31, 2015 | 10.18 | .11 | (.18) | (.07) | (.11) | (.11) | 10.00 | (.67) | 37 | .91 | 1.06 | 105d |
| October 31, 2014 | 10.19 | .11 | —e | .11 | (.12) | (.12) | 10.18 | 1.12 | 214 | .89 | 1.06 | 98d |
| October 31, 2013 | 10.10 | .13 | .02 | .15 | (.06) | (.06) | 10.19 | 1.50 | 311 | .89f | 1.26f | 81g |
| Class R6 | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $10.10 | .27 | .11 | .38 | (.27) | (.27) | $10.21 | 3.87 | $452 | .40 | 2.68 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016 | 10.13 | .24 | (.09) | .15 | (.18) | (.18) | 10.10 | 1.55 | 530 | .37 | 2.38 | 129d |
| October 31, 2015 | 10.31 | .16 | (.18) | (.02) | (.16) | (.16) | 10.13 | (.22) | 525 | .41 | 1.54 | 105d |
| October 31, 2014 | 10.32 | .16 | .01 | .17 | (.18) | (.18) | 10.31 | 1.63 | 583 | .39 | 1.56 | 98d |
| October 31, 2013 | 10.21 | .16h | .04 | .20 | (.09) | (.09) | 10.32 | 1.97 | 509 | .39f | 1.57f,h | 81g |
See notes to financial highlights at the end of this section.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 56 Absolute Return 100 Fund | Absolute Return 100 Fund 57 |
Financial highlights cont.
| INVESTMENT OPERATIONS | LESS DISTRIBUTIONS | RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA | ||||||||||
| Ratio | ||||||||||||
| Net realized | of net investment | |||||||||||
| Net asset value, | and unrealized | Total from | From | Total return | Net assets, | Ratio of expenses | income (loss) | |||||
| beginning | Net investment | gain (loss) | investment | net investment | Total | Net asset value, | at net asset value | end of period | to average | to average | Portfolio | |
| Period ended | of period | income (loss) a | on investments | operations | income | distributions | end of period | (%) b | (in thousands) | net assets (%) c | net assets (%) | turnover (%) |
| Class Y | ||||||||||||
| October 31, 2017 | $10.08 | .27 | .11 | .38 | (.27) | (.27) | $10.19 | 3.88 | $70,567 | .40 | 2.71 | 256d |
| October 31, 2016 | 10.11 | .24 | (.09) | .15 | (.18) | (.18) | 10.08 | 1.55 | 64,053 | .37 | 2.39 | 129d |
| October 31, 2015 | 10.29 | .16 | (.18) | (.02) | (.16) | (.16) | 10.11 | (.22) | 100,119 | .41 | 1.54 | 105d |
| October 31, 2014 | 10.30 | .16 | —e | .16 | (.17) | (.17) | 10.29 | 1.61 | 107,117 | .39 | 1.54 | 98d |
| October 31, 2013 | 10.21 | .18 | .02 | .20 | (.11) | (.11) | 10.30 | 1.94 | 78,562 | .39f | 1.74f | 81g |
* Not annualized.
† For the period August 31, 2016 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 2016.
a Per share net investment income (loss) has been determined on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.
b Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
c Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements, if any (Note 2). Also excludes acquired fund fees, if any.
d Portfolio turnover includes TBA purchase and sale commitments.
e Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
f Reflects an involuntary contractual expense limitation in effect during the period. As a result of such limitation, the expenses of each class reflect a reduction of the following amounts as a percentage of average net assets (Note 2):
| 10/31/13 | ||
| Class A | 0.10% | |
| Class B | 0.10 | |
| Class C | 0.10 | |
| Class M | 0.10 | |
| Class R | 0.10 | |
| Class R6 | 0.07 | |
| Class Y | 0.10 | |
g Portfolio turnover excludes TBA purchase and sale commitments. Including TBA purchase and sale commitments to conform with current year presentation, the portfolio turnover would have been following:
| Portfolio turnover % | |
| October 31, 2013 | 126% |
h The net investment income ratio and per share amount shown for the period ending October 31, 2013 may not correspond with the expected class specific differences for the period due to the timing of subscriptions into the class.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 58 Absolute Return 100 Fund | Absolute Return 100 Fund 59 |
Notes to financial statements 10/31/17
Within the following Notes to financial statements, references to “State Street” represent State Street Bank and Trust Company, references to “the SEC” represent the Securities and Exchange Commission, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “OTC”, if any, represent over-the-counter. Unless otherwise noted, the “reporting period” represents the period from November 1, 2016 through October 31, 2017.
Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund (the fund) is a diversified series of Putnam Funds Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company. The goal of the fund is to seek to earn a positive total return that exceeds the return on U.S. Treasury bills by 100 basis points (or 1.00%) on an annualized basis over a reasonable period of time (generally at least three years or more) regardless of market conditions. The fund is designed to pursue a consistent absolute return through a broadly diversified portfolio reflecting uncorrelated fixed-income strategies designed to exploit market inefficiencies across global markets and fixed-income sectors. These strategies include investments in the following asset categories: (a) sovereign debt: obligations of governments in developed and emerging markets; (b) corporate credit: investment-grade debt, below-investment-grade debt (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), bank loans, convertible bonds and structured credit; and (c) securitized assets: asset-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities (which may be backed by non-qualified or “sub-prime” mortgages), commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. In pursuing a consistent absolute return, the fund’s strategies are also generally intended to produce lower volatility over a reasonable period of time than has been historically associated with traditional asset classes that have earned similar levels of return over long historical periods. These traditional asset classes might include, for example, short-term debt securities. Putnam Management may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments. The fund typically uses derivatives, such as futures, options, certain foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes. Accordingly, the fund may use derivatives to a significant extent to obtain or enhance exposure to the fixed-income sectors and strategies mentioned above, and to hedge against risk.
The fund offers class A, class B, class C, class M, class P, class R, class R6 and class Y shares. The fund registered class T shares in February 2017, however, as of the date of this report, class T shares had not commenced operations and are not available for purchase. Effective April 1, 2017, purchases of class B shares are closed to new and existing investors except by exchange from class B shares of another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. Class A and class M shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 1.00% and 0.75%, respectively. Class A shares generally are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, and class M, class P, class R, class R6 and class Y shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Class B shares, which convert to class A shares after approximately eight years, are not subject to a front-end sales charge and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if those shares are redeemed within two years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a one-year 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge and do not convert to class A shares. Class R shares, which are not available to all investors, are sold at net asset value. The expenses for class A, class B, class C, class M and class R shares may differ based on the distribution fee of each class, which is identified in Note 2. Class P, class R6 and class Y shares, which are sold at net asset value, are generally subject to the same expenses as class A, class B, class C, class M and class R shares, but do not bear a distribution fee and in the case of class P and class R6 shares, bear a lower investor servicing fee, which is identified in Note 2. Class P shares are only available to other Putnam funds and other accounts managed by Putnam Management or its affiliates. Class R6 and class Y shares are not available to all investors. Effective February 1, 2016, the fund terminated its class R5 shares.
In the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that may include agreements to indemnify another party under given circumstances. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the fund. However, the fund’s management team expects the risk of material loss to be remote.
The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent and custodian, who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.
| 60 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
Under the fund’s Declaration of Trust, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the Putnam Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Note 1: Significant accounting policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events after the Statement of assets and liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements.
Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses of the fund are borne pro-rata based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of the fund, except that each class bears expenses unique to that class (including the distribution fees applicable to such classes). Each class votes as a class only with respect to its own distribution plan or other matters on which a class vote is required by law or determined by the Trustees. If the fund were liquidated, shares of each class would receive their pro-rata share of the net assets of the fund. In addition, the Trustees declare separate dividends on each class of shares.
Security valuation Portfolio securities and other investments are valued using policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees have formed a Pricing Committee to oversee the implementation of these procedures and have delegated responsibility for valuing the fund’s assets in accordance with these procedures to Putnam Management. Putnam Management has established an internal Valuation Committee that is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the pricing policies of the fund and reporting to the Pricing Committee.
Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations (including short-term investments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less) and other investments; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Management. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities (which consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings). These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.
Investments in open-end investment companies (excluding exchange-traded funds), if any, which can be classified as Level 1 or Level 2 securities, are valued based on their net asset value. The net asset value of such investment companies equals the total value of their assets less their liabilities and divided by the number of their outstanding shares.
To the extent a pricing service or dealer is unable to value a security or provides a valuation that Putnam Management does not believe accurately reflects the security’s fair value, the security will be valued at fair value by Putnam Management in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Trustees. Certain investments, including certain restricted and illiquid securities and derivatives, are also valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. These valuations consider such factors as significant market or specific security events such as interest rate or credit quality changes, various relationships with other securities, discount rates, U.S. Treasury, U.S. swap and credit yields, index levels, convexity exposures, recovery rates, sales and other multiples and resale restrictions. These securities are classified as Level 2 or as Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs.
To assess the continuing appropriateness of fair valuations, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of such valuations on a regular basis after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. Certain securities may be valued on the basis of a price provided by a single source. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.
Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed). Gains or losses on securities sold are determined on the identified cost basis.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 61 |
Interest income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, is recorded on the accrual basis. All premiums/discounts are amortized/accreted on a yield-to-maturity basis.
Securities purchased or sold on a delayed delivery basis may be settled at a future date beyond customary settlement time; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Losses may arise due to changes in the fair value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.
Stripped securities The fund may invest in stripped securities which represent a participation in securities that may be structured in classes with rights to receive different portions of the interest and principal. Interest-only securities receive all of the interest and principal-only securities receive all of the principal. If the interest-only securities experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, principal-only securities increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are slower than anticipated. The fair value of these securities is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Foreign currency translation The accounting records of the fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. The fair value of foreign securities, currency holdings, and other assets and liabilities is recorded in the books and records of the fund after translation to U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates on that day. The cost of each security is determined using historical exchange rates. Income and withholding taxes are translated at prevailing exchange rates when earned or incurred. The fund does not isolate that portion of realized or unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in the foreign exchange rate on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of the securities. Such gains and losses are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net realized exchange gains or losses on disposition of foreign currencies, currency gains and losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments at the period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate.
Options contracts The fund uses options contracts for hedging duration and convexity, to isolate prepayment risk, and to manage downside risks.
The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. Realized gains and losses on purchased options are included in realized gains and losses on investment securities. If a written call option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as an addition to sales proceeds. If a written put option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as a reduction to the cost of investments.
Exchange-traded options are valued at the last sale price or, if no sales are reported, the last bid price for purchased options and the last ask price for written options. OTC traded options are valued using prices supplied by dealers.
Options on swaps are similar to options on securities except that the premium paid or received is to buy or grant the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default contract. Forward premium swap option contracts include premiums that have extended settlement dates. The delayed settlement of the premiums is factored into the daily valuation of the option contracts. In the case of interest rate cap and floor contracts, in return for a premium, ongoing payments between two parties are based on interest rates exceeding a specified rate, in the case of a cap contract, or falling below a specified rate in the case of a floor contract.
Written option contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
Futures contracts The fund uses futures contracts for hedging treasury term structure risk and for yield curve positioning.
The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of futures contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments, if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the
| 62 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
Statement of assets and liabilities. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.
Futures contracts are valued at the quoted daily settlement prices established by the exchange on which they trade. The fund and the broker agree to exchange an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the futures contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.”
Futures contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
Forward currency contracts The fund buys and sells forward currency contracts, which are agreements between two parties to buy and sell currencies at a set price on a future date. These contracts are used for hedging currency exposures.
The U.S. dollar value of forward currency contracts is determined using current forward currency exchange rates supplied by a quotation service. The fair value of the contract will fluctuate with changes in currency exchange rates. The contract is marked to market daily and the change in fair value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. The fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed when the contract matures or by delivery of the currency. The fund could be exposed to risk if the value of the currency changes unfavorably, if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts or if the fund is unable to enter into a closing position. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
Forward currency contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
Interest rate swap contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts, which are arrangements between two parties to exchange cash flows based on a notional principal amount, for hedging term structure risk, for yield curve positioning, and for gaining exposure to rates in various countries.
An OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap can be purchased or sold with an upfront premium. For OTC interest rate swap contracts, an upfront payment received by the fund is recorded as a liability on the fund’s books. An upfront payment made by the fund is recorded as an asset on the fund’s books. OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market makers. Any change is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on OTC interest rate swaps. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared interest rate swaps are settled through a central clearing agent and are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments, including upfront premiums, received or made are recorded as realized gains or losses at the reset date or the closing of the contract. Certain OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Payments related to these swap contracts are accrued based on the terms of the contract.
The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or if the counterparty defaults, in the case of OTC interest rate contracts, or the central clearing agency or a clearing member defaults, in the case of centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts, on its respective obligation to perform under the contract. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or central clearing risk is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC interest rate swap contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. There is minimal counterparty risk with respect to centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
Total return swap contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts, which are arrangements to exchange a market-linked return for a periodic payment, both based on a notional principal amount, for hedging sector exposure, for gaining exposure to specific sectors, for hedging inflation, and for gaining exposure to inflation.
To the extent that the total return of the security, index or other financial measure underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market maker. Any change is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on OTC total return swaps. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared total return
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 63 |
swaps are settled through a central clearing agent and are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments received or made are recorded as realized gains or losses. Certain OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Payments related to these swap contracts are accrued based on the terms of the contract. The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index, the possibility that there is no liquid market for these agreements or that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or central clearing risk is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC total return swap contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared total return swap contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. There is minimal counterparty risk with respect to centrally cleared total return swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
Credit default contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared credit default contracts for hedging credit risk, for gaining liquid exposure to individual names, for hedging market risk, and for gaining exposure to specific sectors.
In OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts, the protection buyer typically makes a periodic stream of payments to a counterparty, the protection seller, in exchange for the right to receive a contingent payment upon the occurrence of a credit event on the reference obligation or all other equally ranked obligations of the reference entity. Credit events are contract specific but may include bankruptcy, failure to pay, restructuring and obligation acceleration. For OTC credit default contracts, an upfront payment received by the fund is recorded as a liability on the fund’s books. An upfront payment made by the fund is recorded as an asset on the fund’s books. Centrally cleared credit default contracts provide the same rights to the protection buyer and seller except the payments between parties, including upfront premiums, are settled through a central clearing agent through variation margin payments. Upfront and periodic payments received or paid by the fund for OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts are recorded as realized gains or losses at the reset date or close of the contract. The OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market makers. Any change in value of OTC credit default contracts is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared credit default contracts are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Upon the occurrence of a credit event, the difference between the par value and fair value of the reference obligation, net of any proportional amount of the upfront payment, is recorded as a realized gain or loss.
In addition to bearing the risk that the credit event will occur, the fund could be exposed to market risk due to unfavorable changes in interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index or the possibility that the fund may be unable to close out its position at the same time or at the same price as if it had purchased the underlying reference obligations. In certain circumstances, the fund may enter into offsetting OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts which would mitigate its risk of loss. Risks of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, either as the protection seller or as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC credit default contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared credit default contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. Counterparty risk is further mitigated with respect to centrally cleared credit default swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Where the fund is a seller of protection, the maximum potential amount of future payments the fund may be required to make is equal to the notional amount.
OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
TBA commitments The fund may enter into TBA (to be announced) commitments to purchase securities for a fixed unit price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. Although the unit price and par amount have been established, the actual securities have not been specified. However, it is anticipated that the amount of the commitments will not significantly differ from the principal amount. The fund holds, and maintains until settlement date, cash or high-grade debt obligations in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price, or the
| 64 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities it owns. Income on the securities will not be earned until settlement date.
The fund may also enter into TBA sale commitments to hedge its portfolio positions, to sell mortgage-backed securities it owns under delayed delivery arrangements or to take a short position in mortgage-backed securities. Proceeds of TBA sale commitments are not received until the contractual settlement date. During the time a TBA sale commitment is outstanding, either equivalent deliverable securities or an offsetting TBA purchase commitment deliverable on or before the sale commitment date are held as “cover” for the transaction, or other liquid assets in an amount equal to the notional value of the TBA sale commitment are segregated. If the TBA sale commitment is closed through the acquisition of an offsetting TBA purchase commitment, the fund realizes a gain or loss. If the fund delivers securities under the commitment, the fund realizes a gain or a loss from the sale of the securities based upon the unit price established at the date the commitment was entered into.
TBA commitments, which are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions, may be considered securities themselves, and involve a risk of loss due to changes in the value of the security prior to the settlement date as well as the risk that the counterparty to the transaction will not perform its obligations. Counterparty risk is mitigated by having a master agreement between the fund and the counterparty.
Unsettled TBA commitments are valued at their fair value according to the procedures described under “Security valuation” above. The contract is marked to market daily and the change in fair value is recorded by the fund as an unrealized gain or loss. Based on market circumstances, Putnam Management will determine whether to take delivery of the underlying securities or to dispose of the TBA commitments prior to settlement.
TBA purchase commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed within the fund’s portfolio and TBA sale commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.
Master agreements The fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts and Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements that govern transactions involving mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities that may result in delayed delivery (Master Agreements) with certain counterparties entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the fund is held in a segregated account by the fund’s custodian and, with respect to those amounts which can be sold or repledged, are presented in the fund’s portfolio.
Collateral pledged by the fund is segregated by the fund’s custodian and identified in the fund’s portfolio. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the fund’s net position with each counterparty.
With respect to ISDA Master Agreements, termination events applicable to the fund may occur upon a decline in the fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term or short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the fund’s future derivative activity.
At the close of the reporting period, the fund had a net liability position of $1,044,697 on open derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements. Collateral posted by the fund at period end for these agreements totaled $830,825 and may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.
Interfund lending The fund, along with other Putnam funds, may participate in an interfund lending program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. This program allows the fund to borrow from or lend to other Putnam funds that permit such transactions. Interfund lending transactions are subject to each fund’s investment policies and borrowing and lending limits. Interest earned or paid on the interfund lending transaction will be based on the average of certain current market rates. During the reporting period, the fund did not utilize the program.
Lines of credit The fund participates, along with other Putnam funds, in a $317.5 million unsecured committed line of credit and a $235.5 million unsecured uncommitted line of credit, both provided by State Street. Borrowings may be made for temporary or emergency purposes, including the funding of shareholder
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 65 |
redemption requests and trade settlements. Interest is charged to the fund based on the fund’s borrowing at a rate equal to 1.25% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the overnight LIBOR for the committed line of credit and the Federal Funds rate plus 1.30% for the uncommitted line of credit. A closing fee equal to 0.04% of the committed line of credit plus a $25,000 flat fee and 0.04% of the uncommitted line of credit has been paid by the participating funds. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.21% per annum on any unutilized portion of the committed line of credit is allocated to the participating funds based on their relative net assets and paid quarterly. During the reporting period, the fund had no borrowings against these arrangements.
Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its taxable income within the prescribed time period and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), applicable to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.
The fund is subject to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The fund did not have a liability to record for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. No provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains. Each of the fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.
The fund may also be subject to taxes imposed by governments of countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on either income or gains earned or repatriated. The fund accrues and applies such taxes to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized gains as income and/or capital gains are earned. In some cases, the fund may be entitled to reclaim all or a portion of such taxes, and such reclaim amounts, if any, are reflected as an asset on the fund’s books. In many cases, however, the fund may not receive such amounts for an extended period of time, depending on the country of investment.
At October 31, 2017, the fund had a capital loss carryover of $12,716,815 available to the extent allowed by the Code to offset future net capital gain, if any. For any carryover, the amount of the carryover and that carryover’s expiration date is:
| Loss carryover | |||
| Short-term | Long-term | Total | Expiration |
| $10,897,305 | $326,439 | $11,223,744 | * |
| 1,493,071 | N/A | 1,493,071 | October 31, 2019 |
* Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the fund will be permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. However, any losses incurred will be required to be utilized prior to the losses incurred in pre-enactment tax years. As a result of this ordering rule, pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may be more likely to expire unused. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under previous law.
Distributions to shareholders Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are recorded by the fund on the ex-dividend date. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These differences include temporary and/or permanent differences from income on swap contracts, from interest-only securities, and from real estate mortgage investment conduits. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations. At the close of the reporting period, the fund reclassified $814,439 to decrease undistributed net investment income and $814,439 to decrease accumulated net realized loss.
Tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be final tax cost basis adjustments, but closely approximate the tax basis unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. The tax basis components of distributable earnings and the federal tax cost as of the close of the reporting period were as follows:
| 66 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
| Unrealized appreciation | $1,697,836 |
| Unrealized depreciation | (2,226,636) |
| Net unrealized depreciation | (528,800) |
| Undistributed ordinary income | 3,920,289 |
| Capital loss carryforward | (12,716,815) |
| Cost for federal income tax purposes | $211,429,041 |
Expenses of the Trust Expenses directly charged or attributable to any fund will be paid from the assets of that fund. Generally, expenses of the Trust will be allocated among and charged to the assets of each fund on a basis that the Trustees deem fair and equitable, which may be based on the relative assets of each fund or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each fund.
Note 2: Management fee, administrative services and other transactions
The fund pays Putnam Management a monthly base fee equal to 0.40% of the monthly average of the fund’s net asset value. In return for this fee, Putnam Management provides investment management and investor servicing and bears the fund’s organizational and operating expenses, excluding performance fee adjustments, payments under the fund’s distribution plan, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment related expenses, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses.
The applicable base fee is increased or decreased for each month by an amount based on the performance of the fund. The amount of the increase or decrease is calculated monthly based on a performance adjustment rate that is equal to 0.04 multiplied by the difference between the fund’s annualized performance (measured by the fund’s class A shares) and the annualized performance of the ICE BofAML U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 1.00% over the thirty-six month period then ended (the “performance period”). The maximum annualized performance adjustment rate is +/- 0.04%. Each month, the performance adjustment rate is multiplied by the fund’s average net assets over the performance period and the result is divided by twelve. The resulting dollar amount is added to, or subtracted from, the base fee for that month. The monthly base fee is determined based on the fund’s average net assets for the month, while the performance adjustment is determined based on the fund’s average net assets over the performance period of up to thirty-six months. This means it is possible that, if the fund underperforms significantly over the performance period, and the fund’s assets have declined significantly over that period, the negative performance adjustment may exceed the base fee. In this event, Putnam Management would make a payment to the fund.
Because the performance adjustment is based on the fund’s performance relative to its applicable benchmark index, and not its absolute performance, the performance adjustment could increase Putnam Management’s fee even if the fund’s shares lose value during the performance period provided that the fund outperformed its benchmark index, and could decrease Putnam Management’s fee even if the fund’s shares increase in value during the performance period provided that the fund underperformed its benchmark index.
For the reporting period, the base fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact from any expense waivers in effect) of 0.400% of the fund’s average net assets before a decrease of $9,226 (0.005% of the fund’s average net assets) based on performance.
Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through February 28, 2019, to waive fees or reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, investment management contract and distribution plans, on a fiscal year-to-date basis to an annual rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets over such fiscal year-to-date period. During the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were not reduced as a result of this limit.
Putnam Investments Limited (PIL), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. PIL did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management were to engage the services of PIL, Putnam Management would pay a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.35% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund managed by PIL.
The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC (PAC), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund, as designated from time to time by Putnam Management or PIL. PAC did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 67 |
or PIL were to engage the services of PAC, Putnam Management or PIL, as applicable, would pay a quarterly sub-advisory fee to PAC for its services at the annual rate of 0.35% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund’s assets for which PAC is engaged as sub-adviser.
The aggregate amount of all reimbursements for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide administrative services to the fund is determined annually by the Trustees. These fees are being paid by Putnam Management as part of the management contract.
Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by State Street. Custody fees are based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes. These fees are being paid by Putnam Management as part of the management contract.
Putnam Investor Services, Inc., an affiliate of Putnam Management, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. received fees for investor servicing for class A, class B, class C, class M, class R and class Y shares that included (1) a per account fee for each direct and underlying non-defined contribution account (“retail account”) of the fund; (2) a specified rate of the fund’s assets attributable to defined contribution plan accounts; and (3) a specified rate based on the average net assets in retail accounts. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. has agreed that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution accounts for these share classes will not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the fund’s average assets attributable to such accounts. Class P shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class P shares at an annual rate of 0.01%. Class R6 shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class R6 shares at an annual rate of 0.05%. These fees are being paid by Putnam Management as part of the management contract.
The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. and State Street whereby Putnam Investor Services, Inc.’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $734 under the expense offset arrangements.
Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $149, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees. These fees are being paid by Putnam Management as part of the management contract.
The fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the Deferral Plan) which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable on or after July 1, 1995. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.
The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The retirement benefit is payable during a Trustee’s lifetime, beginning the year following retirement, for the number of years of service through December 31, 2006. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003. These fees are being paid by Putnam Management as part of the management contract.
The fund has adopted distribution plans (the Plans) with respect to the following share classes pursuant to Rule 12b–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The purpose of the Plans is to compensate Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC, for services provided and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the fund. The Plans provide payments by the fund to Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership at an annual rate of up to the following amounts (“Maximum %”) of the average net assets attributable to each class. The Trustees have approved payment by the fund at the following annual rate (“Approved %”) of the average net assets attributable to each class. During the reporting period, the class-specific expenses related to distribution fees were as follows:
| 68 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| Maximum % | Approved % | Amount | |
| Class A | 0.35% | 0.25% | $195,241 |
| Class B | 1.00% | 0.45% | 6,312 |
| Class C | 1.00% | 1.00% | 171,429 |
| Class M | 1.00% | 0.30% | 4,800 |
| Class R | 1.00% | 0.50% | 1,525 |
| Total | $379,307 |
For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of no monies and $40 from the sale of class A and class M shares, respectively, and received $63 and $188 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of class B and class C shares, respectively.
A deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of class A shares. For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received $17 on class A redemptions.
Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities
During the reporting period, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:
| Cost of purchases | Proceeds from sales | |
| Investments in securities, including TBA commitments (Long-term) | $362,519,088 | $352,333,134 |
| U.S. government securities (Long-term) | — | — |
| Total | $362,519,088 | $352,333,134 |
The fund may purchase or sell investments from or to other Putnam funds in the ordinary course of business, which can reduce the fund’s transaction costs, at prices determined in accordance with SEC requirements and policies approved by the Trustees. During the reporting period, purchases or sales of long-term securities from or to other Putnam funds, if any, did not represent more than 5% of the fund’s total cost of purchases and/or total proceeds from sales.
Note 4: Capital shares
At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | YEAR ENDED 10/31/16 | |||
| Class A | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 2,721,334 | $27,321,036 | 3,728,803 | $37,017,539 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 184,366 | 1,817,847 | 153,994 | 1,523,000 |
| 2,905,700 | 29,138,883 | 3,882,797 | 38,540,539 | |
| Shares repurchased | (4,545,229) | (45,482,934) | (6,161,123) | (61,032,040) |
| Net decrease | (1,639,529) | $(16,344,051) | (2,278,326) | $(22,491,501) |
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | YEAR ENDED 10/31/16 | |||
| Class B | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 32,842 | $327,479 | 62,796 | $620,513 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 2,607 | 25,623 | 1,655 | 16,336 |
| 35,449 | 353,102 | 64,451 | 636,849 | |
| Shares repurchased | (78,762) | (786,767) | (62,462) | (618,586) |
| Net increase (decrease) | (43,313) | $(433,665) | 1,989 | $18,263 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 69 |
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | YEAR ENDED 10/31/16 | |||
| Class C | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 129,855 | $1,293,728 | 654,938 | $6,436,113 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 25,780 | 253,673 | 15,482 | 152,655 |
| 155,635 | 1,547,401 | 670,420 | 6,588,768 | |
| Shares repurchased | (627,569) | (6,258,963) | (1,055,401) | (10,402,243) |
| Net decrease | (471,934) | $(4,711,562) | (384,981) | $(3,813,475) |
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | YEAR ENDED 10/31/16 | |||
| Class M | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 20,741 | $207,672 | 32,706 | $324,342 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 4,411 | 43,360 | 2,798 | 27,616 |
| 25,152 | 251,032 | 35,504 | 351,958 | |
| Shares repurchased | (54,952) | (547,724) | (48,823) | (484,293) |
| Net decrease | (29,800) | $(296,692) | (13,319) | $(132,335) |
| FOR THE PERIOD 8/31/16 | ||||
| (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS) | ||||
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | TO 10/31/16 | |||
| Class P | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 2,137,662 | $21,556,853 | 3,823,934 | $38,488,438 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 90,800 | 898,010 | — | — |
| 2,228,462 | 22,454,863 | 3,823,934 | 38,488,438 | |
| Shares repurchased | (1,158,568) | (11,670,406) | (378,857) | (3,822,610) |
| Net increase | 1,069,894 | $10,784,457 | 3,445,077 | $34,665,828 |
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | YEAR ENDED 10/31/16 | |||
| Class R | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 30,137 | $305,219 | 70,172 | $701,725 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 521 | 5,170 | — | — |
| 30,658 | 310,389 | 70,172 | 701,725 | |
| Shares repurchased | (11,767) | (118,882) | (45,518) | (456,818) |
| Net increase | 18,891 | $191,507 | 24,654 | $244,907 |
| PERIOD ENDED 10/31/16* | ||||
| Class R5 | Shares | Amount | ||
| Shares sold | — | $— | ||
| Shares issued in connection with reinvestment of distributions | 19 | 189 | ||
| 19 | 189 | |||
| Shares repurchased | (1,048) | (10,338) | ||
| Net decrease | (1,029) | $(10,149) | ||
| 70 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | YEAR ENDED 10/31/16 | |||
| Class R6 | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 5,890 | $59,443 | 14,905 | $147,240 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 1,309 | 12,941 | 973 | 9,662 |
| 7,199 | 72,384 | 15,878 | 156,902 | |
| Shares repurchased | (15,418) | (155,979) | (15,248) | (151,006) |
| Net increase (decrease) | (8,219) | $(83,595) | 630 | $5,896 |
| YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 | YEAR ENDED 10/31/16 | |||
| Class Y | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount |
| Shares sold | 3,993,124 | $40,231,847 | 6,339,402 | $63,037,866 |
| Shares issued in connection with | ||||
| reinvestment of distributions | 164,222 | 1,620,871 | 171,150 | 1,696,096 |
| 4,157,346 | 41,852,718 | 6,510,552 | 64,733,962 | |
| Shares repurchased | (3,583,702) | (35,981,686) | (10,055,815) | (100,367,305) |
| Net increase (decrease) | 573,644 | $5,871,032 | (3,545,263) | $(35,633,343) |
* Effective February 1, 2016, the fund has terminated its class R5 shares.
At the close of the reporting period, Putnam Investments, LLC owned the following shares of the fund:
| Shares owned | Percentage of ownership | Value | |
| Class R6 | 1,078 | 2.4% | $11,006 |
At the close of the reporting period, a fund within the Putnam RetirementReady Funds owned 6.8% of the outstanding shares of the fund.
Note 5: Affiliated transactions
Transactions during the reporting period with any company which is under common ownership or control were as follows:
| Shares | |||||
| outstanding | |||||
| and fair | |||||
| Fair value as | Purchase | Sale | Investment | value as | |
| Name of affiliate | of 10/31/16 | cost | proceeds | income | of 10/31/17 |
| Short-term investments | |||||
| Putnam Short Term | |||||
| Investment Fund* | $16,690,663 | $286,404,850 | $265,918,314 | $222,156 | $37,177,199 |
| Total Short-term | |||||
| investments | $16,690,663 | $286,404,850 | $265,918,314 | $222,156 | $37,177,199 |
* Management fees charged to Putnam Short Term Investment Fund have been waived by Putnam Management. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.
Note 6: Market, credit and other risks
In the normal course of business, the fund trades financial instruments and enters into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the contracting party to the transaction to perform (credit risk). The fund may be exposed to additional credit risk that an institution or other entity with which the fund has unsettled or open transactions will default. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks, including those related to economic instability, unfavorable political developments, and currency fluctuations. The fund may invest in higher-yielding, lower-rated bonds that may have a higher rate of default. The fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securitized debt instruments, including
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 71 |
mortgage-backed and asset-backed investments. The yields and values of these investments are sensitive to changes in interest rates, the rate of principal payments on the underlying assets and the market’s perception of the issuers. The market for these investments may be volatile and limited, which may make them difficult to buy or sell.
Note 7: Summary of derivative activity
The volume of activity for the reporting period for any derivative type that was held during the period is listed below and was based on an average of the holdings at the end of each fiscal quarter:
| Purchased TBA commitment option contracts (contract amount) | $12,600,000 |
| Purchased swap option contracts (contract amount) | $84,800,000 |
| Written TBA commitment option contracts (contract amount) | $25,200,000 |
| Written swap option contracts (contract amount) | $100,300,000 |
| Futures contracts (number of contracts) | 2 |
| Forward currency contracts (contract amount) | $120,000 |
| Centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts (notional) | $110,700,000 |
| OTC total return swap contracts (notional) | $530,000 |
| Centrally cleared total return swap contracts (notional) | $530,000 |
| OTC credit default contracts (notional) | $11,800,000 |
The following is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period:
| Fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period | ||||
| ASSET DERIVATIVES | LIABILITY DERIVATIVES | |||
| Derivatives not | ||||
| accounted for as | Statement of | Statement of | ||
| hedging instruments | assets and | assets and | ||
| under ASC 815 | liabilities location | Fair value | liabilities location | Fair value |
| Credit contracts | Receivables | $607,557 | Payables | $1,259,274 |
| Foreign exchange | ||||
| contracts | Receivables | 11,534 | Payables | 4,525 |
| Investments, | ||||
| Receivables, Net | ||||
| assets — Unrealized | Payables, Net assets — | |||
| Interest rate contracts | appreciation | 1,014,020* | Unrealized depreciation | 1,097,305* |
| Total | $1,633,111 | $2,361,104 | ||
* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the fund’s portfolio. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of assets and liabilities.
| 72 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
The following is a summary of realized and change in unrealized gains or losses of derivative instruments in the Statement of operations for the reporting period (Note 1):
| Amount of realized gain or (loss) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) on investments | |||||
| Derivatives not accounted | Forward | ||||
| for as hedging instruments | currency | ||||
| under ASC 815 | Options | Futures | contracts | Swaps | Total |
| Credit contracts | $— | $— | $— | $76,933 | $76,933 |
| Foreign exchange contracts | — | — | (10,389) | — | $(10,389) |
| Interest rate contracts | (1,065,777) | (82,367) | — | 1,782,266 | $634,122 |
| Total | $(1,065,777) | $(82,367) | $(10,389) | $1,859,199 | $700,666 |
| Change in unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) | |||||
| on investments | |||||
| Derivatives not accounted | Forward | ||||
| for as hedging instruments | currency | ||||
| under ASC 815 | Options | Futures | contracts | Swaps | Total |
| Credit contracts | $— | $— | $— | $(144,967) | $(144,967) |
| Foreign exchange contracts | — | — | 7,009 | — | $7,009 |
| Interest rate contracts | 864,533 | 11,343 | — | (108,947) | $766,929 |
| Total | $864,533 | $11,343 | $7,009 | $(253,914) | $628,971 |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 73 |
Note 8: Offsetting of financial and derivative assets and liabilities
The following table summarizes any derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, at the end of the reporting period, that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement. For securities lending transactions or borrowing transactions associated with securities sold short, if any, see Note 1. For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to the master netting agreements in the Statement of assets and liabilities.
| Bank of America N.A. |
Barclays Bank PLC |
Barclays Capital, Inc. (clearing broker) |
Citibank, N.A. | Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
Credit Suisse International | Goldman Sachs International |
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. |
JPMorgan Securities LLC |
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) |
Total | |
| Assets: | ||||||||||||
| Centrally cleared interest rate | ||||||||||||
| swap contracts§ | $— | $— | $36,722 | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $36,722 |
| Centrally cleared total return swap | ||||||||||||
| contracts§ | — | — | 425 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 425 |
| OTC Credit default contracts — | ||||||||||||
| protection sold *# | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| OTC Credit default contracts — | ||||||||||||
| protection purchased*# | — | — | — | — | 18,378 | 313,332 | 159,887 | — | 115,960 | — | — | 607,557 |
| Forward currency contracts # | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11,534 | 11,534 |
| Forward premium swap | ||||||||||||
| option contracts # | 32,721 | — | — | 7,968 | — | 72 | — | 23,859 | — | — | — | 64,620 |
| Purchased swap options **# | 73,976 | — | — | 87,834 | — | 42,123 | 60,289 | 81,887 | — | — | — | 346,109 |
| Purchased options **# | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 90,836 | — | — | — | 90,836 |
| Total Assets | $106,697 | $— | $37,147 | $95,802 | $18,378 | $355,527 | $220,176 | $196,582 | $115,960 | $— | $11,534 | $1,157,803 |
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Centrally cleared interest rate | ||||||||||||
| swap contracts§ | — | — | 14,998 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14,998 |
| Centrally cleared total return swap | ||||||||||||
| contracts§ | — | — | 347 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 347 |
| OTC Credit default contracts — | ||||||||||||
| protection sold *# | 85,693 | — | — | — | — | 459,655 | 184,555 | — | 529,371 | — | — | 1,259,274 |
| OTC Credit default contracts — | ||||||||||||
| protection purchased*# | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Forward currency contracts # | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4,525 | — | — | — | — | 4,525 |
| Forward premium swap | ||||||||||||
| option contracts # | 21,801 | 8,337 | — | 2,726 | — | — | 769 | 15,444 | — | 611 | — | 49,688 |
| Written swap options # | 69,678 | — | — | 118,671 | — | 32,395 | 68,491 | 450,243 | — | — | — | 739,478 |
| Written options # | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 82,476 | — | — | — | 82,476 |
| Total Liabilities | $177,172 | $8,337 | $15,345 | $121,397 | $— | $492,050 | $258,340 | $548,163 | $529,371 | $611 | $— | $2,150,786 |
| Total Financial and Derivative | ||||||||||||
| Net Assets | $(70,475) | $(8,337) | $21,802 | $(25,595) | $18,378 | $(136,523) | $(38,164) | $(351,581) | $(413,411) | $(611) | $11,534 | $(992,983) |
| 74 Absolute Return 100 Fund | Absolute Return 100 Fund 75 |
| Bank of America N.A. |
Barclays Bank PLC |
Barclays Capital, Inc. (clearing broker) |
Citibank, N.A. | Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
Credit Suisse International | Goldman Sachs International |
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. |
JPMorgan Securities LLC |
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC |
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) |
Total | |
| Total collateral received | ||||||||||||
| (pledged)†## | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $(109,747) | $— | $(351,581) | $(334,286) | $— | $— | |
| Net amount | $(70,475) | $(8,337) | $21,802 | $(25,595) | $18,378 | $(26,776) | $(38,164) | $— | $(79,125) | $(611) | $11,534 | |
| Controlled collateral received | ||||||||||||
| (including TBA commitments)** | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— |
| Uncontrolled collateral received | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— |
| Collateral (pledged) (including | ||||||||||||
| TBA commitments)** | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $(109,747) | $— | $(386,792) | $(334,286) | $— | $— | $(830,825) |
* Excludes premiums, if any. Included in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on OTC swap contracts on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
** Included with Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities.
† Additional collateral may be required from certain brokers based on individual agreements.
# Covered by master netting agreement (Note 1).
## Any over-collateralization of total financial and derivative net assets is not shown. Collateral may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.
§ Includes current day’s variation margin only as reported on the Statement of assets and liabilities, which is not collateralized. Cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) for centrally cleared swap contracts is represented in the tables listed after the fund’s portfolio. Collateral pledged for initial margin on centrally cleared swap contracts, which is not included in the table above, amounted to $2,269,535.
| 76 Absolute Return 100 Fund | Absolute Return 100 Fund 77 |
Federal tax information (Unaudited)
The Form 1099 that will be mailed to you in January 2018 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar 2017.
| 78 Absolute Return 100 Fund |
About the Trustees
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 79 |
* Mr. Reynolds is an “interested person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the fund and Putnam Investments. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Putnam Investments, as well as the President of your fund and each of the other Putnam funds.
The address of each Trustee is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.
As of October 31, 2017, there were 106 Putnam funds. All Trustees serve as Trustees of all Putnam funds.
Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, until his or her resignation, retirement at age 75, removal, or death.
| 80 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
Officers
In addition to Robert L. Reynolds, the other officers of the fund are shown below:
| Jonathan S. Horwitz (Born 1955) | Susan G. Malloy (Born 1957) |
| Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer, | Vice President and Assistant Treasurer |
| and Compliance Liaison | Since 2007 |
| Since 2004 | Head of Accounting, Middle Office, & Control Services, |
| Putnam Investments and Putnam Management | |
| Robert T. Burns (Born 1961) | |
| Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962) |
| Since 2011 | Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer |
| General Counsel, Putnam Investments, | Since 2002 |
| Putnam Management, and Putnam Retail Management | Director of Operational Compliance, Putnam |
| Investments and Putnam Retail Management | |
| James F. Clark (Born 1974) | |
| Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | Nancy E. Florek (Born 1957) |
| Since 2016 | Vice President, Director of Proxy Voting and Corporate |
| Chief Compliance Officer, Putnam Investments | Governance, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer |
| and Putnam Management | Since 2000 |
| Michael J. Higgins (Born 1976) | Denere P. Poulack (Born 1968) |
| Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk | Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk, |
| Since 2010 | and Assistant Treasurer |
| Since 2004 | |
| Janet C. Smith (Born 1965) | |
| Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal | |
| Accounting Officer, and Assistant Treasurer | |
| Since 2007 | |
| Head of Fund Administration Services, | |
| Putnam Investments and Putnam Management |
The principal occupations of the officers for the past five years have been with the employers as shown above, although in some cases they have held different positions with such employers. The address of each officer is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 81 |
Putnam family of funds
The following is a list of Putnam’s open-end mutual funds offered to the public. Investors should carefully consider the investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund before investing. For a prospectus, or a summary prospectus if available, containing this and other information for any Putnam fund or product, contact your financial advisor or call Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
| Blend | Value |
| Capital Opportunities Fund | Convertible Securities Fund |
| Capital Spectrum Fund | Equity Income Fund |
| Emerging Markets Equity Fund | International Value Fund |
| Equity Spectrum Fund | Multi-Cap Value Fund |
| Europe Equity Fund | Small Cap Value Fund |
| Global Equity Fund | |
| International Capital Opportunities Fund | Income |
| International Equity Fund | American Government Income Fund |
| Investors Fund | Diversified Income Trust |
| Low Volatility Equity Fund | Emerging Markets Income Fund |
| Multi-Cap Core Fund | Floating Rate Income Fund |
| Research Fund | Global Income Trust |
| Government Money Market Fund* | |
| Global Sector | High Yield Fund |
| Global Consumer Fund | Income Fund |
| Global Financials Fund | Money Market Fund† |
| Global Health Care Fund | Short Duration Income Fund |
| Global Industrials Fund | U.S. Government Income Trust |
| Global Natural Resources Fund | |
| Global Sector Fund | Tax-free Income |
| Global Technology Fund | AMT-Free Municipal Fund |
| Global Telecommunications Fund | Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund |
| Global Utilities Fund | Short-Term Municipal Income Fund |
| Tax Exempt Income Fund | |
| Growth | Tax-Free High Yield Fund |
| Growth Opportunities Fund | |
| International Growth Fund | State tax-free income funds‡: |
| Multi-Cap Growth Fund | California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, |
| Small Cap Growth Fund | New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. |
| 82 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
| Absolute Return | Asset Allocation |
| Absolute Return 100 Fund® | George Putnam Balanced Fund |
| Absolute Return 300 Fund® | |
| Absolute Return 500 Fund® | Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund |
| Absolute Return 700 Fund® | Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund |
| Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund | |
| Putnam PanAgora** | Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund |
| Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy | |
| Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund | Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 |
| Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2060 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2055 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2050 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2045 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2040 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2035 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2030 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2025 Fund | |
| RetirementReady® 2020 Fund |
* You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.
† You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares or may temporarily suspend your ability to sell shares if the fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.
‡ Not available in all states.
** Sub-advised by PanAgora Asset Management.
Check your account balances and the most recent month-end performance in the Individual Investors section at putnam.com.
| Absolute Return 100 Fund 83 |
Services for shareholders
Investor services
Systematic investment plan Tell us how much you wish to invest regularly — weekly, semimonthly, or monthly — and the amount you choose will be transferred automatically from your checking or savings account. There’s no additional fee for this service, and you can suspend it at any time. This plan may be a great way to save for college expenses or to plan for your retirement.
Please note that regular investing does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. Before arranging a systematic investment plan, consider your financial ability to continue making purchases in periods when prices are low.
Systematic exchange You can make regular transfers from one Putnam fund to another Putnam fund. There are no additional fees for this service, and you can cancel or change your options at any time.
Dividends PLUS You can choose to have the dividend distributions from one of your Putnam funds automatically reinvested in another Putnam fund at no additional charge.
Free exchange privilege You can exchange money between Putnam funds free of charge, as long as they are the same class of shares. A signature guarantee is required if you are exchanging more than $500,000. The fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege.
Reinstatement privilege If you’ve sold Putnam shares or received a check for a dividend or capital gain, you may reinvest the proceeds with Putnam within 90 days of the transaction and they will be reinvested at the fund’s current net asset value — with no sales charge. However, reinstatement of class B shares may have special tax consequences. Ask your financial or tax representative for details.
Check-writing service You have ready access to many Putnam accounts. It’s as simple as writing a check, and there are no special fees or service charges. For more information about the check-writing service, call Putnam or visit our website.
Dollar cost averaging When you’re investing for long-term goals, it’s time, not timing, that counts. Investing on a systematic basis is a better strategy than trying to figure out when the markets will go up or down. This means investing the same amount of money regularly over a long period. This method of investing is called dollar cost averaging. When a fund’s share price declines, your investment dollars buy more shares at lower prices. When it increases, they buy fewer shares. Over time, you will pay a lower average price per share.
For more information
Visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com A secure section of our website contains complete information on your account, including balances and transactions, updated daily. You may also conduct transactions, such as exchanges, additional investments, and address changes. Log on today to get your password.
Call us toll free at 1-800-225-1581 Ask a helpful Putnam representative or your financial advisor for details about any of these or other services, or see your prospectus.
| 84 Absolute Return 100 Fund | |
Fund information
Founded over 80 years ago, Putnam Investments was built around the concept that a balance between risk and reward is the hallmark of a well-rounded financial program. We manage over 100 funds across income, value, blend, growth, asset allocation, absolute return, and global sector categories.
| Investment Manager | Trustees | Michael J. Higgins |
| Putnam Investment | Jameson A. Baxter, Chair | Vice President, Treasurer, |
| Management, LLC | Kenneth R. Leibler, Vice Chair | and Clerk |
| One Post Office Square | Liaquat Ahamed | |
| Boston, MA 02109 | Ravi Akhoury | Janet C. Smith |
| Barbara M. Baumann | Vice President, | |
| Investment Sub-Advisors | Katinka Domotorffy | Principal Financial Officer, |
| Putnam Investments Limited | Catharine Bond Hill | Principal Accounting Officer, |
| 16 St James’s Street | Paul L. Joskow | and Assistant Treasurer |
| London, England SW1A 1ER | Robert E. Patterson | |
| George Putnam, III | Susan G. Malloy | |
| The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC | Robert L. Reynolds | Vice President and |
| One Post Office Square | Manoj P. Singh | Assistant Treasurer |
| Boston, MA 02109 | ||
| Officers | Mark C. Trenchard | |
| Marketing Services | Robert L. Reynolds | Vice President and |
| Putnam Retail Management | President | BSA Compliance Officer |
| One Post Office Square | ||
| Boston, MA 02109 | Jonathan S. Horwitz | Nancy E. Florek |
| Executive Vice President, | Vice President, Director of | |
| Custodian | Principal Executive Officer, | Proxy Voting and Corporate |
| State Street Bank | and Compliance Liaison | Governance, Assistant Clerk, |
| and Trust Company | and Assistant Treasurer | |
| Robert T. Burns | ||
| Legal Counsel | Vice President and | Denere P. Poulack |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | Chief Legal Officer | Assistant Vice President, Assistant |
| Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer | ||
| Independent Registered | James F. Clark | |
| Public Accounting Firm | Vice President and | |
| KPMG LLP | Chief Compliance Officer | |
This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund®. It may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus, the most recent copy of Putnam’s Quarterly Performance Summary, and Putnam’s Quarterly Ranking Summary. For more recent performance, please visit putnam.com. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund, which are described in its prospectus. For this and other information or to request a prospectus or summary prospectus, call 1-800-225-1581 toll free. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the fund’s Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling 1-800-225-1581.
| Item 2. Code of Ethics: |
| (a) The fund's principal executive, financial and accounting officers are employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the Fund's investment manager. As such they are subject to a comprehensive Code of Ethics adopted and administered by Putnam Investments which is designed to protect the interests of the firm and its clients. The Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics which incorporates the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments with respect to all of its officers and Trustees who are employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC. For this reason, the Fund has not adopted a separate code of ethics governing its principal executive, financial and accounting officers. |
| Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert: |
| The Funds' Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee is comprised solely of Trustees who are “independent” (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the “Regulations”)). The Trustees believe that each of the members of the Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee also possess a combination of knowledge and experience with respect to financial accounting matters, as well as other attributes, that qualify them for service on the Committee. In addition, the Trustees have determined that each of Mr. Patterson, Ms. Baumann and Mr. Singh qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” (as such term has been defined by the Regulations) based on their review of his or her pertinent experience and education. The SEC has stated, and the funds' amended and restated agreement and Declaration of Trust provides, that the designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this Item 3 of Form N-CSR does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such person as a member of the Audit, Compliance and Distribution Committee and the Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification. |
| Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services: |
| The following table presents fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for services rendered to the fund by the fund's independent auditor: |
| Fiscal year ended | Audit Fees | Audit-Related Fees | Tax Fees | All Other Fees | |
| October 31, 2017 | $103,873 | $ — | $5,850 | $ — | |
| October 31, 2016 | $94,632 | $ — | $5,700 | $ — | |
| For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, the fund's independent auditor billed aggregate non-audit fees in the amounts of $5,850 and $5,700 respectively, to the fund, Putnam Management and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Putnam Management that provides ongoing services to the fund. |
| Audit Fees represent fees billed for the fund's last two fiscal years relating to the audit and review of the financial statements included in annual reports and registration statements, and other services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. |
| Audit-Related Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for services traditionally performed by the fund's auditor, including accounting consultation for proposed transactions or concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and other audit or attest services not required by statute or regulation. |
| Tax Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services. Tax planning and tax advice services include assistance with tax audits, employee benefit plans and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities. |
| Pre-Approval Policies of the Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee. The Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee of the Putnam funds has determined that, as a matter of policy, all work performed for the funds by the funds' independent auditors will be pre-approved by the Committee itself and thus will generally not be subject to pre-approval procedures. |
| The Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee also has adopted a policy to pre-approve the engagement by Putnam Management and certain of its affiliates of the funds' independent auditors, even in circumstances where pre-approval is not required by applicable law. Any such requests by Putnam Management or certain of its affiliates are typically submitted in writing to the Committee and explain, among other things, the nature of the proposed engagement, the estimated fees, and why this work should be performed by that particular audit firm as opposed to another one. In reviewing such requests, the Committee considers, among other things, whether the provision of such services by the audit firm are compatible with the independence of the audit firm. |
| The following table presents fees billed by the fund's independent auditor for services required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. |
| Fiscal year ended | Audit-Related Fees | Tax Fees | All Other Fees | Total Non-Audit Fees | |
| October 31, 2017 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ — | |
| October 31, 2016 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ — | |
| Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants |
| Not applicable |
Item 6. Schedule of Investments: |
| The registrant's schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the report to shareholders in Item 1 above. |
| Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management Investment Companies: |
| Not applicable |
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies |
| Not Applicable |
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers: |
| Not applicable |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders: |
| Not applicable |
Item 11. Controls and Procedures: |
| (a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms. |
| (b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable |
Item 12. Exhibits: |
| (a)(1) The Code of Ethics of The Putnam Funds, which incorporates the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments, is filed herewith. |
| (a)(2) Separate certifications for the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith. |
| (b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith. |
| 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. |
| Putnam Funds Trust |
| By (Signature and Title): |
| /s/ Janet C. Smith Janet C. Smith Principal Accounting Officer |
| Date: December 28, 2017 |
| Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. |
| By (Signature and Title): |
| /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz Jonathan S. Horwitz Principal Executive Officer |
| Date: December 28, 2017 |
| By (Signature and Title): |
| /s/ Janet C. Smith Janet C. Smith Principal Financial Officer |
| Date: December 28, 2017 |