N-CSR 1 a_fixedincabsreturn.htm PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST a_fixedincabsreturn.htm


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: 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Name and address of agent for service: Stephen Tate, Vice President
100 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
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, 2022
Date of reporting period: November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2022



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:






Message from the Trustees

December 8, 2022

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

Financial markets are reminding us that the journey to long-term returns often involves weathering periods of heightened volatility. This year, stocks and bonds have experienced losses, and U.S. gross domestic product has declined slightly. Persistent inflation has caused the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, and it may maintain high interest rates in 2023 until inflation indicators move meaningfully lower.

While this environment is challenging, you can be confident that Putnam portfolio managers are working for you. Our teams are actively researching new and attractive investment opportunities for your fund while assessing risks.

We also would like to announce changes to the Board of Trustees. In July 2022, we welcomed Jennifer Williams Murphy and Marie Pillai as new Trustees. Both have a wealth of investment advisory and executive management experience. We also want to thank our Trustees who retired from the Board on June 30, 2022. Paul Joskow served with us since 1997, and Ravi Akhoury joined the Board in 2009. We wish them well.

Thank you for investing with Putnam.




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 2.25%; 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.

This comparison shows your fund’s performance in the context of broad market indexes for the 12 months ended 10/31/22. See above and pages 9–11 for additional fund performance information. Index descriptions can be found on page 16.

All Bloomberg indices are provided by Bloomberg Index Services Limited.

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Please describe the investing environment for the 12 months ended October 31, 2022.

After a relatively stable fourth quarter of calendar 2021, the market environment changed dramatically in 2022, with several headwinds stoking market volatility. Chief among these was the Federal Reserve’s accelerated plan to hike interest rates and aggressively reduce its asset portfolio to rein in historically high inflation. In addition, geopolitical tension increased as Russia invaded Ukraine in February and escalated its attack in the ensuing months.

In this environment, credit spreads widened and interest rates rose. [Spreads are the yield advantage credit-sensitive bonds offer over comparable-maturity U.S. Treasuries. Bond prices rise as yield spreads tighten and decline as spreads widen.] The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed from 1.55% at the start of the period to 4.10% by period-end. In anticipation of Fed policy changes, short-term yields rose even more, causing the yield curve to flatten, and then invert.

Tightening policy for the first time since 2018, the Fed approved a 0.25% hike in its target for short-term interest rates in March. The central

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Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 10/31/22. 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 chart 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.


bank implemented five more increases during 2022 — including one shortly after the period ended — to a range of 3.75% to 4.00% and signaled at least one more hike this year.

Sentiment began to shift following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments about the pace of interest-rate hikes at the Jackson Hole symposium in August. Risk assets fell and U.S. Treasury yields rose across the curve as recession concerns grew.

From a sector perspective, all fixed income categories, except for short-term U.S. Treasury bills, posted losses. Government agency securities and securitized categories, such as commercial mortgage-backed securities [CMBS] and asset-backed securities, as well as floating-rate bank loans held up better than the broad fixed income market. With rising interest rates, risk aversion, and a strengthening dollar, investment-grade [IG] corporate credit and emerging market [EM] debt were among the weakest performers.

How did the fund perform during the reporting period?

The fund returned –3.51%, while its benchmark, the ICE BofA U.S. Treasury Bill Index, returned 0.62%.

What were the positive drivers of performance during the reporting period?

Mortgage credit strategies were the largest contributors to performance, driven primarily by CMBS. Exposure to CMBS mezzanine and CMBX added to returns as technicals remained

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strong and fundamentals improved. By way of explanation, CMBX is a group of tradeable indexes that each reference a basket of 25 CMBS issued in a particular year. Forbearance deals on commercial properties were supportive of the sector. We believe the outlook for certain property types has continued to improve, including hotel properties.

Currency risk strategies also added to returns. The strategy employs a hedge of safe-haven currencies, which typically do well in risk-off environments. The fund’s positioning is long in U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, and Swiss franc relative to the rest of G10 currencies, and this contributed to performance. The U.S. dollar strengthened against all major currencies through period-end.


Can you discuss detractors from the fund’s performance during the reporting period?

Term structure risk strategies were the largest detractors during the period, with primary underperformance in Q3 2022. The portfolio was positioned with long duration relative to the benchmark, and this weighed on returns as rates sold off sharply due to hawkish comments from the Fed. The fund’s structural duration positioning and discretionary relative


This table shows the fund’s top 10 individual holdings and the percentage of the fund’s net assets that each represented as of 10/31/22. Short-term investments, to-be-announced (TBA) commitments, and derivatives, if any, are excluded. Holdings may vary over time.

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value strategies have been the largest drivers of underperformance.

Corporate credit risk strategies also detracted from performance. Both high-yield and investment-grade corporate spreads widened during the period as Fed tightening, inflation, and the Russia-Ukraine War spurred risk-off sentiment. Exposure to high yield, most notably in June 2022, was a large detractor. High-yield corporate spreads, as illustrated by the JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index, widened substantially — by 153 basis points [bps] — during the month to end at 621 bps, contributing to the high-yield corporate sector’s underperformance. Fed uncertainty and recession fears also stoked risk-off sentiment and added illiquidity to the challenges of the CLO [collateralized loan obligation] market, impacting the fund’s holdings. Exposure to convertible securities weighed slightly as recession concerns contributed to a decline in equity markets.

Prepayment strategies weighed on returns during the period. At the start of the year, the higher-interest-rate environment was supportive of prepayment strategies as rates rose significantly across the yield curve. The fund’s short mortgage basis positioning added to returns and benefited as the spread between mortgage interest rates and U.S. Treasuries widened. While prepayment speeds slowed, contributions from the agency interest-only [IO] positions took time to materialize. We believe the market has not yet priced in the fundamental improvements as investors have generally avoided risk and remain wary of prepayment surprises.

EM risk strategies modestly detracted. Spreads across EM have widened in 2022, causing underperformance across the sector. Higher interest rates have negatively impacted the sector, and increased recession risk has put downward pressure on the asset class.

How did the fund use derivatives during the reporting period?

The fund used 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 yield curve positioning.


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. 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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Interest-rate swaps were also used to gain exposure to interest rates in various countries. The fund used currency forward contracts for hedging currency exposures and for gaining exposure to currencies. The fund also used options to hedge duration and convexity, as well as to isolate prepayment risks and manage downside risks. In addition, credit default swaps were used for hedging credit risk, gaining liquid exposure to individual names, hedging market risk, and gaining exposure to specific sectors.

What is your outlook for the fixed income markets?

We have a more cautious outlook for the high-yield market. Valuation is substantially more attractive in high yield today compared with the start of the calendar year. Corporate fundamentals remain solid overall but will likely weaken due to slower growth and margin pressure, in our view. High inflation, central bank tightening, and the impact of geopolitical developments on energy supplies remain, in our opinion, considerable headwinds for both fundamentals and the supply and demand backdrop.

We believe the fundamental environment in the CMBS market will be mixed. While travel, office use, and retail spending have rebounded, we believe Fed policy will likely result in a recession. Broadly, we think property categories that can effectively pass along higher costs, such as hotels and apartments, will maintain their value. At the same time, we believe property types that have struggled to gain new tenants will be exposed to rising capital costs. As a result, we believe these properties will be pressured to refinance loans to their values. Consistent with risk markets in general, CMBS spreads have widened during 2022. From our perspective, the increased liquidity premium has enhanced the appeal of select market segments.

Home prices soared to record highs during the past year. During the next few years, we expect home prices to experience tepid growth due to affordability constraints for many buyers and

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. In other examples, the managers may use options and futures contracts to hedge against a variety of risks.

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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a gradual increase in housing supply. Within residential mortgage credit, we believe that wider spreads have created better value across all credit tiers. As of period-end, we were finding attractive opportunities in higher-quality areas of the market and among seasoned collateral that we believe can withstand declining home prices.

We believe many prepayment-sensitive securities offer attractive risk-adjusted returns at current price levels and prepayment speeds. Many of these securities may also offer meaningful upside potential if the pace of mortgage prepayment continues to slow, which we believe is likely. We think the fund’s prepayment-related strategies provide an important source of diversification in the portfolio. We are finding what we consider to be compelling investment opportunities across a variety of collateral types.

Thanks for your time and for bringing us up to date, Mike.

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.

Of special interest

The fund’s monthly dividend rate for class A shares was increased from $0.025 to $0.030 per share in July 2022 and was also raised again to $0.033 per share in October 2022. These adjustments reflects Putnam Management’s earnings expectations in the current fixed income environment. The fund seeks positive returns with a similar level of volatility. The portfolio team will continue to dynamically allocate to the sectors and strategies that they perceive as offering the best opportunity for total return, through price appreciation, income, or both. Similar increases were made to other share classes.

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Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended October 31, 2022, 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.

Annualized fund performance Total return for periods ended 10/31/22

  Life of fund  10 years  5 years  3 years  1 year 
Class A (12/23/08)           
Before sales charge  1.89%  1.51%  0.67%  –1.64%  –3.51% 
After sales charge  1.73  1.28  0.22  –2.39  –5.68 
Class B (12/23/08)           
Before CDSC  1.73  1.34  0.47  –1.85  –3.64 
After CDSC  1.73  1.34  0.47  –1.85  –4.56 
Class C (12/23/08)           
Before CDSC  1.45  0.90  –0.08  –2.38  –4.16 
After CDSC  1.45  0.90  –0.08  –2.38  –5.08 
Class P (8/31/16)           
Net asset value  2.15  1.77  0.93  –1.38  –3.24 
Class R (12/23/08)           
Net asset value  1.63  1.26  0.42  –1.89  –3.76 
Class R6 (7/2/12)           
Net asset value  2.15  1.77  0.93  –1.38  –3.24 
Class Y (12/23/08)           
Net asset value  2.14  1.76  0.91  –1.39  –3.25 

 

Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. After-sales-charge returns for class A shares reflect the deduction of the maximum 2.25% sales charge 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 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.

The fund has had performance fee adjustments that may have had a positive or negative impact on returns.

Class B and C share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

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Comparative annualized index returns For periods ended 10/31/22

  Life of fund  10 years  5 years  3 years  1 year 
ICE BofA U.S. Treasury           
Bill Index  0.56%  0.71%  1.16%  0.56%  0.62% 

 

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 $11,419 and $10,934, respectively, and no contingent deferred sales charges would apply. A $10,000 investment in the fund’s class P, R, R6, and Y shares would have been valued at $11,913, $11,333, $11,919, and $11,904, respectively.

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Fund price and distribution information For the 12-month period ended 10/31/22

Distributions  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class P  Class R  Class R6  Class Y 
Number  12  12  12  12  12  12  12 
Income  $0.432  $0.412  $0.365  $0.456  $0.408  $0.456  $0.456 
Capital gains               
Total  $0.432  $0.412  $0.365  $0.456  $0.408  $0.456  $0.456 
  Before  After  Net  Net  Net  Net  Net  Net 
  sales  sales  asset  asset  asset  asset  asset  asset 
Share value  charge  charge  value  value  value  value  value  value 
10/31/21  $9.04  $9.25  $9.01  $9.00  $9.07  $9.09  $9.07  $9.04 
10/31/22  8.30  8.49  8.28  8.27  8.33  8.35  8.33  8.30 
  Before  After  Net  Net  Net  Net  Net  Net 
Current rate  sales  sales  asset  asset  asset  asset  asset  asset 
(end of period)  charge  charge  value  value  value  value  value  value 
Current dividend rate1  4.77%  4.66%  4.49%  3.92%  5.04%  4.60%  5.04%  5.06% 
Current 30-day                 
SEC yield2  N/A  5.63  5.48  4.94  5.94  5.44  5.94  5.94 

 

The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Before-sales-charge share value and current dividend rate for class A 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 (2.25% for class A shares) was levied at the time of purchase. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.

1 Most recent distribution, including any return of capital and excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by share price before or after sales charge at period-end.

2 Based only on investment income and calculated using the maximum offering price for each share class, in accordance with SEC guidelines.

Annualized fund performance as of most recent calendar quarter
Total return for periods ended 9/30/22

  Life of fund  10 years  5 years  3 years  1 year 
Class A (12/23/08)           
Before sales charge  1.87%  1.51%  0.63%  –1.71%  –5.32% 
After sales charge  1.70  1.28  0.17  –2.45  –7.45 
Class B (12/23/08)           
Before CDSC  1.71  1.35  0.41  –1.91  –5.55 
After CDSC  1.71  1.35  0.41  –1.91  –6.45 
Class C (12/23/08)           
Before CDSC  1.42  0.91  –0.13  –2.48  –6.06 
After CDSC  1.42  0.91  –0.13  –2.48  –6.96 
Class P (8/31/16)           
Net asset value  2.12  1.77  0.89  –1.48  –5.04 
Class R (12/23/08)           
Net asset value  1.61  1.26  0.36  –1.99  –5.56 
Class R6 (7/2/12)           
Net asset value  2.12  1.77  0.86  –1.49  –5.04 
Class Y (12/23/08)           
Net asset value  2.12  1.76  0.87  –1.49  –5.06 

 

See the discussion following the fund performance table on page 9 for information about the calculation of fund performance.

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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 P  Class R  Class R6  Class Y 
Total annual operating expenses for the               
fiscal year ended 10/31/21  0.77%  0.97%  1.52%  0.52%  1.02%  0.52%  0.52% 
Annualized expense ratio for the               
six-month period ended 10/31/22*†  0.70%  0.90%  1.45%  0.45%  0.95%  0.45%  0.45% 

 

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.

* 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.

Includes a decrease of 0.15% from annualizing the performance fee adjustment for the six months ended 10/31/22.

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 5/1/22 to 10/31/22. 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 P  Class R  Class R6  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000*†  $3.48  $4.47  $7.20  $2.24  $4.72  $2.24  $2.24 
Ending value (after expenses)  $973.70  $972.40  $969.70  $975.10  $972.60  $975.10  $973.90 

 

* 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 10/31/22. 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 (184); and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year (365).

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Estimate the expenses you paid

To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended 10/31/22, use the following calculation method. To find the value of your investment on 5/1/22, 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 P  Class R  Class R6  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000*†  $3.57  $4.58  $7.37  $2.29  $4.84  $2.29  $2.29 
Ending value (after expenses)  $1,021.68  $1,020.67  $1,017.90  $1,022.94  $1,020.42  $1,022.94  $1,022.94 

 

* 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 10/31/22. 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 (184); and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year (365).

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Consider these risks before investing

Allocation of assets among fixed income strategies and sectors may hurt performance. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political, or financial market conditions; investor sentiment and market perceptions; government actions; geopolitical events or changes; and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry, or sector. 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 generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally 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 investments, unlike traditional debt investments, are subject to prepayment risk, which means that they may increase in value less when interest rates decline and decline in value more when interest rates rise. The fund’s investments in mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, and in certain other securities and derivatives, may be or become illiquid. The fund currently has significant investment exposure to mortgage-backed securities, which may make the fund’s net asset value more susceptible to economic, market, political, and other developments affecting the housing or real estate markets and the servicing of mortgage loans secured by real estate properties. 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. The fund is not intended to outperform stocks and bonds during strong market rallies. The fund’s prospectus lists additional risks.

Our investment techniques, analyses, and judgments may not produce the intended outcome, and the investments we select for the fund may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the fund. We, or the fund’s other service providers, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could negatively impact the fund. You can lose money by investing in the fund.

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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. They 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 2.25% maximum sales charge for class A 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 1.00% 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 class B shares of 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 P shares require no minimum initial investment amount and no minimum subsequent investment amount. There is no initial or deferred sales charge. They are only available 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 generally only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and institutional clients, and clients in other approved programs.

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 (CRT) security 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 various tranches for investors, offering

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 15 

 



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 U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed income securities.

CMBX Index is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of a basket of CMBS issued in a particular year.

ICE BofA (Intercontinental Exchange Bank of America) 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.

JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index is an unmanaged index of high-yield fixed income securities issued in developed countries.

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.

BLOOMBERG®  is a trademark and service mark of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates (collectively “Bloomberg”). Bloomberg or Bloomberg’s licensors own all proprietary rights in the Bloomberg Indices. Neither Bloomberg nor Bloomberg’s licensors approve or endorse this material, or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information herein, or make any warranty, express or implied, as to the results to be obtained therefrom, and to the maximum extent allowed by law, neither shall have any liability or responsibility for injury or damages arising in connection therewith.

ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofA”), used with permission. ICE BofA permits use of the ICE BofA 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 BofA 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, 2022, 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-PORT within 60 days of the end of such fiscal quarter. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Prior to its use of Form N-PORT, the fund filed its complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q, which is available online at www.sec.gov.

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, 2022, Putnam employees had approximately $449,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $60,000,000 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.

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 17 

 



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

At their meeting on June 24, 2022, the Trustees of the fund, including all of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as this term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the Putnam funds (the “Independent Trustees”), approved, subject to approval by the fund’s shareholders, an amended and restated management contract with Putnam Investment Management (“Putnam Management”).

In substance, the amended and restated management contract differed from the existing management contract only in that it reduced the fund’s base management fee and eliminated the performance adjustment (subject to an eighteen-month transition period) in calculating the fund’s management fee. In approving the reduction of the fund’s base management fee and the elimination of the performance fee for the fund, the Trustees considered information provided by Putnam Management, including, among other things, hypothetical examples comparing the total management fees under both the current and proposed contracts. In addition, the Trustees considered that, following the eighteen-month transition period, the removal of the performance adjustment component of the management fee could result in lower or higher management fees under the proposed management contract depending on the fund’s performance. The Trustees noted that the proposed amended and restated management contract was substantially identical to your fund’s existing management contract, other than the reduction of the fund’s base management fee, the elimination of the performance adjustment, the effective date of the contract, and the initial term of the contract.

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 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 Independent Trustees.

At the outset of the review process, members of the Board’s independent staff and independent legal counsel considered any possible changes to the annual contract review materials furnished to the Contract Committee during the course of the previous year’s review and, as applicable, identified those changes to Putnam Management. 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 2022, 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 2022, the Contract Committee met in executive session to discuss and consider its recommendations with respect to the continuance of the existing contracts. At the Trustees’ June 2022 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 existing management contract, effective July 1, 2022. The Contract Committee also recommended approval of, and the Independent Trustees approved, your fund’s amended and restated sub-management and sub-advisory contracts, effective July 1, 2022, and your fund’s proposed amended and restated management contract, subject to approval by the fund’s shareholders. (Because PIL and PAC are affiliates of Putnam Management and Putnam

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 19 

 



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 and the fee schedule under the fund’s proposed management contract each represented reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of the services being and to be provided to the fund, the fees paid by competitive funds, the costs incurred by Putnam Management in providing services to the fund and the application of certain reductions and waivers noted below; and

• That the fee schedule in effect for your fund and the fee schedule under the fund’s proposed management contract each represented an appropriate sharing between fund shareholders and Putnam Management of any 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 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 certain exceptions primarily involving newer or repositioned funds, the current fee arrangements under the vast majority of the funds’ 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, including fee levels and breakpoints, in effect for all Putnam funds, including your fund. 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 also considered the management fee schedule proposed for your fund, subject to approval by the fund’s shareholders.

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. (Two funds, one of which is your fund, have implemented so-called “all-in” management fees covering substantially all routine fund operating costs.) The Trustees considered that the proposed amended and restated sub-management and sub-advisory contracts would lower the sub-management and sub-advisory fees paid by Putnam Management to PIL and PAC, respectively.

Under its existing management contract, your fund pays a base management fee at a fixed rate of 60 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. Under its proposed management contract, your fund would pay a base management fee at a fixed rate of 39 basis points to Putnam Management.

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. Under its proposed management contract,

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subject to approval by the fund’s shareholders, the performance adjustment component of your fund’s management fee would be eliminated.

As in the past, the Trustees also focused on the competitiveness of each fund’s total expense ratio. The Trustees and Putnam Management and the funds’ investor servicing agent, Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”), have implemented expense limitations that were in effect during your fund’s fiscal year ending in 2021. These expense limitations were: (i) a contractual expense limitation applicable to specified open-end funds, including your fund, of 25 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 2021. (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 and PSERV have agreed to maintain these expense limitations until at least February 28, 2024. Putnam Management and PSERV’s commitment to these expense limitation arrangements, which were intended to support an effort to have fund expenses meet competitive standards, was an important factor in the Trustees’ decision to approve the continuance of your fund’s management contract, to approve your fund’s amended and restated sub-management and sub-advisory contracts and to approve your fund’s proposed amended and restated management contract, subject to approval of the fund’s shareholders.

The Trustees reviewed comparative fee and expense information for a custom group of competitive funds selected by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). This comparative information included your fund’s percentile ranking for effective management fees and total expenses (excluding any applicable 12b-1 fees), 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, 2021. 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, 2021 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 the revenues, expenses and profitability of Putnam Management and its affiliates, 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 for the Putnam funds, including the fee schedule for your fund, represented reasonable compensation for the services being provided and represented an appropriate sharing between fund shareholders and Putnam Management of any 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 services provided and fees charged by Putnam Management and its affiliates to other clients, including collective investment trusts offered in the defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plan markets, sub-advised mutual funds, private funds sponsored by affiliates of Putnam Management, model-only separately managed accounts and Putnam Management’s exchange-traded funds. This information

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 21 

 



included, in cases where a 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 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 marketplaces. The Trustees considered the fact that in many cases fee rates across different asset classes are higher on average for mutual funds than for other clients, and the Trustees also considered 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 Putnam Management’s investment process and performance by the work of the investment oversight committees of the Trustees and the full Board of Trustees, which meet on a regular basis with individual portfolio managers and with senior management of Putnam Management’s Investment Division throughout the year. 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.

The Trustees considered that, in the aggregate, the Putnam funds’ performance was generally solid in 2021 against a backdrop of strong U.S. economic and financial market growth. The Trustees considered Putnam Management’s observation that, despite an environment of generally strong growth, there had been various headwinds experienced in 2021. For the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, the Trustees noted that the Putnam funds, on an asset-weighted basis, ranked in the 52nd percentile of their peers as determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) and, on an asset-weighted-basis, delivered a gross return that trailed their benchmarks by 0.1%. Over the longer-term, the Committee noted that, on an asset-weighted basis, the Putnam funds delivered strong aggregate performance relative to their Lipper peers over the three-, five- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2021, ranking in the 31st, 29th and 21st percentiles, respectively, and that the funds, in the aggregate, outperformed their benchmarks on a gross basis for each of those periods.

In addition to the performance of the individual Putnam funds, the Trustees considered, as they had in prior years, the performance of The Putnam Fund complex versus competitor fund complexes. In particular, the Trustees considered The Putnam Fund complex’s performance as reported in the Barron’s/Lipper Fund Families survey (the “Survey”), which ranks mutual fund companies based on their performance across a variety of asset types. The Trustees noted that The Putnam Fund complex continued to rank highly in the Survey, especially over the longer-term, with The Putnam Funds ranking as the 6th best performing mutual fund complex out of 45 complexes for the ten-year period and 13th out of 49 complexes for the five-year period. The Trustees noted that 2021 marked the fifth consecutive year that The Putnam Funds have ranked in the top ten fund complexes for the ten-year period. The Trustees also considered that The Putnam Fund complex’s Survey performance over the one-year period was solid, with The Putnam Funds ranking 27th out of 51 complexes. In addition to the Survey, the Trustees also considered the Putnam funds’ ratings assigned by Morningstar Inc., noting that 25 of the funds were four- or five-star rated at the end of 2021 (representing a decrease of one fund year-over-year) and that this included nine funds that had achieved a five-star rating (representing an increase of two funds year-over-year). They also noted, however, the disappointing investment performance of some Putnam funds for periods ended December 31, 2021 and considered information provided by Putnam Management regarding the factors contributing to the underperformance and actions being taken

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to improve the performance of these particular funds. The Trustees indicated their intention to continue to monitor closely the performance of those funds and evaluate whether additional actions to address areas of underperformance may be 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 comparisons of those returns to the returns of selected investment benchmarks. In the case of your fund, the Trustees considered information about your fund’s total return and its performance relative to its benchmark over the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2021. Your fund’s class A shares’ return, net of fees and expenses, was negative and trailed the return of its benchmark over the one-year period ended December 31, 2021, and was positive and exceeded the return of its benchmark over the three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2021. (When considering performance information, shareholders should be mindful that past performance is not a guarantee of future results.)

The Trustees expressed concern about your fund’s significant underperformance relative to its benchmark over the one-year period ended December 31, 2021 and considered the circumstances that may have contributed to this disappointing performance. The Trustees considered the negative impact that the fund’s term structure and prepayment strategies had on performance in 2021. The Trustees observed that significant underperformance in the securitized products sector in 2021 had contributed to the fund’s disappointing results, noting that prepayment strategies had suffered as a result of significantly elevated refinancing (given strong home price appreciation and low interest rates) relative to expectations. The Trustees also considered Putnam Management’s view that the fund’s active quantitative currency model had underperformed due to the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing policy, and noted that the fund had halted its use of the model due to Putnam Management’s expectations with respect to the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.

The Trustees noted Putnam Management’s observation that the corporate and emerging market sovereign credit sectors contributed to the fund’s performance over the one-year period and that the commercial mortgage-backed securities sector had rebounded somewhat in 2021 after struggling in 2020. The Trustees also considered the fund’s outperformance of its benchmark year to date as of March 31, 2022 and the fund’s outperformance of its benchmark over the three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2021. The Trustees noted that one portfolio manager had retired in June 2021 and that another portfolio manager had been replaced in March 2022. The Trustees considered that Putnam Management remained confident in the fund’s portfolio managers.

The Trustees considered that, if the proposed management contract were approved by shareholders, the fund is expected to be repositioned as a relative return core bond fund, and its name, investment objective and investment policy and strategies are expected to change. The Trustees also considered Putnam Management’s continued efforts to support fund performance through certain initiatives, including structuring compensation for portfolio managers 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 had made selective hires and internal promotions in 2021 to strengthen its investment team.

As a general matter, the Trustees believe that cooperative efforts between the Trustees and Putnam Management represent the most effective way to address investment performance concerns that may arise from time to time. The Trustees noted that investors in the Putnam funds have, in effect, placed their trust in the Putnam organization, under the oversight of the funds’ Trustees, to make appropriate decisions regarding the management of the funds. The Trustees also considered that Putnam Management has made changes in light of subpar investment performance when warranted. Based on Putnam Management’s willingness to take appropriate measures to address fund performance issues, the Trustees concluded that it continued to be advisable to seek change within Putnam

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Management to address performance shortcomings. In the Trustees’ view, the alternative of engaging a new investment adviser for an underperforming fund, with all the attendant risks and disruptions, would not likely provide any greater assurance of improved investment performance.

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. The Trustees indicated their continued intent to monitor regulatory and industry developments in this area with the assistance of their Brokerage Committee. In addition, with the assistance of their Brokerage Committee, the Trustees 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 PSERV and its distributor’s contract 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 investor services provided by PSERV 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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Audited 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 audited 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 period.

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 semiannual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees of Putnam Funds Trust and Shareholders of
Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the fund’s portfolio, of Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund (one of the funds constituting Putnam Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of October 31, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year ended October 31, 2022, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2022, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2022 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2022, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2022 and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended October 31, 2019 and the financial highlights for each of the periods ended on or prior to October 31, 2019 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated December 11, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent, agent banks and brokers; when replies were not received from agent banks and brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 8, 2022

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Putnam Investments family of funds since at least 1957. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor.

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The fund’s portfolio 10/31/22

U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY
MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (118.2%)*
Principal
amount
Value
U.S. Government Guaranteed Mortgage Obligations (7.3%)
Government National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates    
5.50%, 5/20/49 $45,721 $46,305
5.00%, with due dates from 5/20/49 to 3/20/50 153,269 150,072
4.50%, TBA, 11/1/52 12,000,000 11,367,370
4.00%, TBA, 11/1/52 8,000,000 7,368,245
4.00%, 1/20/50 16,853 15,632
3.50%, with due dates from 9/20/49 to 11/20/49 213,978 192,315
3.00%, TBA, 11/1/52 8,000,000 6,953,245
26,093,184
U.S. Government Agency Mortgage Obligations (110.9%)
Federal National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates    
5.00%, with due dates from 1/1/49 to 8/1/49 82,198 79,544
4.50%, 5/1/49 18,529 17,607
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities    
5.50%, TBA, 12/1/52 52,000,000 51,188,675
5.50%, TBA, 11/1/52 52,000,000 51,273,992
5.00%, TBA, 12/1/52 90,000,000 86,646,114
5.00%, TBA, 11/1/52 164,000,000 158,067,858
4.50%, TBA, 11/1/52 40,000,000 37,509,356
3.50%, TBA, 11/1/52 7,000,000 6,155,622
2.50%, TBA, 11/1/52 5,000,000 4,093,362
2.00%, TBA, 11/1/52 5,000,000 3,938,123
398,970,253
Total U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations (cost $431,159,571) $425,063,437

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (0.7%)* Principal
amount
Value
U.S. Treasury Bonds 6.75%, 8/15/26 i $114,000 $124,768
U.S. Treasury FRN 4.146%, 4/30/23 i 740,000 740,820
U.S. Treasury Notes 1.625%, 5/15/31 i 1,777,000 1,481,858
Total U.S. treasury obligations (cost $2,347,446) $2,347,446

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations (16.3%)
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation      
REMICs IFB Ser. 2976, Class LC, ((-3.667 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 24.42%), 11.909%, 5/15/35   $33,642 $45,417
REMICs IFB Ser. 3072, Class SM, ((-3.667 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 23.80%), 11.285%, 11/15/35   77,771 118,211
REMICs IFB Ser. 2990, Class LB, ((-2.556 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 16.95%), 8.225%, 6/15/34   53,013 57,254
REMICs Ser. 4813, IO, 5.50%, 8/15/48   1,979,802 400,656
REMICs Ser. 5117, Class CI, IO, 5.00%, 6/25/51   10,364,246 1,831,673
REMICs Ser. 5115, Class IK, IO, 4.50%, 12/25/50   9,139,617 2,038,986
REMICs Ser. 4964, Class IA, IO, 4.50%, 3/25/50   4,776,095 1,251,241
REMICs Ser. 5121, Class KI, IO, 4.00%, 6/25/51   8,678,407 1,861,254


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 27



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations cont.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation      
REMICs Ser. 5010, Class IE, IO, 4.00%, 9/25/50   $8,576,414 $1,642,333
REMICs Ser. 4982, Class DI, IO, 4.00%, 6/25/50   10,294,913 2,003,777
REMICs Ser. 4193, Class PI, IO, 4.00%, 3/15/43   1,350,457 191,307
REMICs Ser. 4213, Class GI, IO, 4.00%, 11/15/41   287,791 10,544
REMICs Ser. 5065, Class DI, IO, 3.50%, 1/25/51   6,502,724 1,154,451
REMICs Ser. 4136, Class IW, IO, 3.50%, 10/15/42   1,954,703 240,249
REMICs Ser. 4150, Class DI, IO, 3.00%, 1/15/43   2,595,917 332,537
REMICs Ser. 4158, Class TI, IO, 3.00%, 12/15/42   1,319,685 95,941
REMICs IFB Ser. 4727, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.20%), 2.788%, 11/15/47   4,641,899 484,154
REMICs IFB Ser. 4698, Class NS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.15%), 2.738%, 6/15/47   7,085,460 740,706
REMICs IFB Ser. 5023, Class TS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.25%), 2.664%, 10/25/50   5,786,801 635,391
REMICs IFB Ser. 3852, Class NT, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.00%), 2.588%, 5/15/41   1,056,654 867,784
REMICs IFB Ser. 5002, Class SJ, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.514%, 7/25/50   8,153,083 844,800
Structured Pass-Through Certificates FRB Ser. 8, Class A9, IO, 0.46%, 11/15/28 W   61,602 308
Structured Pass-Through Certificates FRB Ser. 59, Class 1AX, IO, 0.281%, 10/25/43 W   387,844 2,713
Structured Pass-Through Certificates Ser. 48, Class A2, IO, 0.212%, 7/25/33 W   609,912 4,570
Federal National Mortgage Association      
REMICs IFB Ser. 07-53, Class SP, ((-3.667 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 24.20%), 11.053%, 6/25/37   57,900 91,481
REMICs IFB Ser. 05-74, Class NK, ((-5 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 27.50%), 9.572%, 5/25/35   22,609 22,836
REMICs Ser. 16-3, Class NI, IO, 6.00%, 2/25/46   1,682,351 301,480
REMICs IFB Ser. 11-4, Class CS, ((-2 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 12.90%), 5.729%, 5/25/40   318,817 320,517
REMICs Ser. 18-58, Class IO, IO, 5.50%, 8/25/48   2,049,835 362,901
REMICs Ser. 15-28, IO, 5.50%, 5/25/45   3,247,240 603,662
Interest Strip Ser. 397, Class 2, IO, 5.00%, 9/25/39   139,738 28,833
REMICs Ser. 21-56, Class QI, IO, 4.50%, 9/25/51   6,708,577 1,579,276
REMICs Ser. 21-15, Class JI, IO, 4.50%, 4/25/51   8,702,479 1,934,561
REMICs Ser. 21-17, Class KI, IO, 4.50%, 4/25/51   10,419,024 2,123,710
REMICs Ser. 17-87, Class IA, IO, 4.50%, 11/25/47   2,332,050 405,917
REMICs Ser. 17-32, Class IP, IO, 4.50%, 5/25/47   2,344,053 460,753
REMICs Ser. 20-47, Class ID, IO, 4.00%, 7/25/50   10,462,725 2,007,237
REMICs Ser. 20-62, Class CI, IO, 4.00%, 6/25/48   6,398,685 1,256,985
REMICs Ser. 12-124, Class UI, IO, 4.00%, 11/25/42   867,163 154,089
REMICs Ser. 12-22, Class CI, IO, 4.00%, 3/25/41   799,159 36,877
REMICs Ser. 12-62, Class MI, IO, 4.00%, 3/25/41   497,858 23,200
REMICs Ser. 12-136, Class PI, IO, 3.50%, 11/25/42   649,725 34,514
REMICs Ser. 13-21, Class AI, IO, 3.50%, 3/25/33   1,377,160 139,016
REMICs IFB Ser. 13-130, Class SD, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.60%), 3.014%, 1/25/44   2,807,296 310,936


28 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations cont.
Federal National Mortgage Association      
REMICs Ser. 21-44, Class NI, IO, 3.00%, 7/25/51   $7,156,245 $1,294,480
REMICs Ser. 12-151, Class PI, IO, 3.00%, 1/25/43   1,865,810 239,406
REMICs Ser. 6, Class BI, IO, 3.00%, 12/25/42   1,253,596 47,881
REMICs Ser. 13-31, Class NI, IO, 3.00%, 6/25/41   446,489 3,979
REMICs IFB Ser. 20-70, Class SD, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.25%), 2.664%, 10/25/50   8,668,078 944,387
REMICs IFB Ser. 15-19, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.20%), 2.614%, 4/25/45   4,188,937 276,901
REMICs IFB Ser. 18-95, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.15%), 2.564%, 1/25/49   2,798,718 287,428
REMICs IFB Ser. 17-108, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.15%), 2.564%, 1/25/48   3,049,436 313,118
REMICs IFB Ser. 17-8, Class SB, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.514%, 2/25/47   10,144,703 787,432
REMICs IFB Ser. 16-83, Class BS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.514%, 11/25/46   2,109,123 157,997
REMICs IFB Ser. 16-65, Class CS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.514%, 9/25/46   3,232,555 230,008
REMICs IFB Ser. 20-16, Class SG, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.05%), 2.464%, 3/25/50   3,852,680 366,062
REMICs IFB Ser. 19-49, Class ST, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.02%), 2.434%, 9/25/49   11,293,102 1,236,099
REMICs IFB Ser. 19-66, Class SC, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.00%), 2.414%, 11/25/49   2,571,192 213,300
REMICs IFB Ser. 16-88, Class SK, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.00%), 2.414%, 12/25/46   3,196,336 258,200
REMICs IFB Ser. 11-53, Class ST, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 5.92%), 2.334%, 6/25/41   5,395,265 377,453
REMICs IFB Ser. 17-74, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 5.75%), 2.164%, 10/25/47   10,631,639 684,276
REMICs Trust Ser. 98-W2, Class X, IO, 0.239%, 6/25/28 W   411,338 6,167
REMICs Trust Ser. 98-W5, Class X, IO, 0.05%, 7/25/28 W   135,948 2,038
Government National Mortgage Association      
Ser. 18-127, Class ID, IO, 5.00%, 7/20/45   687,488 102,958
Ser. 15-167, Class MI, IO, 5.00%, 6/20/45   977,701 188,413
Ser. 15-69, IO, 5.00%, 5/20/45   1,816,251 359,908
Ser. 14-146, Class EI, IO, 5.00%, 10/20/44   2,953,212 613,146
Ser. 13-3, Class IT, IO, 5.00%, 1/20/43   1,307,562 280,080
Ser. 11-116, Class IB, IO, 5.00%, 10/20/40   5,055 424
Ser. 10-35, Class UI, IO, 5.00%, 3/20/40   264,120 54,234
Ser. 10-20, Class UI, IO, 5.00%, 2/20/40   1,652,977 341,620
Ser. 10-9, Class UI, IO, 5.00%, 1/20/40   5,221,751 1,117,194
Ser. 09-121, Class UI, IO, 5.00%, 12/20/39   3,639,094 755,112
Ser. 18-153, Class AI, IO, 4.50%, 9/16/45   2,763,988 511,559
Ser. 15-167, Class BI, IO, 4.50%, 4/16/45   2,346,954 455,731
Ser. 12-129, IO, 4.50%, 11/16/42   1,290,177 239,792
Ser. 09-121, Class BI, IO, 4.50%, 12/16/39   916,844 166,967
Ser. 15-94, IO, 4.00%, 7/20/45   67,282 12,703
Ser. 15-99, Class LI, IO, 4.00%, 7/20/45   132,350 14,934


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 29



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations cont.
Government National Mortgage Association      
Ser. 12-106, Class QI, IO, 4.00%, 7/20/42   $1,185,670 $183,779
Ser. 20-167, Class PI, IO, 3.50%, 11/20/50   5,644,476 1,042,626
Ser. 15-20, Class PI, IO, 3.50%, 2/20/45   2,150,241 345,759
Ser. 13-79, Class PI, IO, 3.50%, 4/20/43   763,391 86,034
Ser. 13-100, Class MI, IO, 3.50%, 2/20/43   525,758 41,614
Ser. 13-37, Class JI, IO, 3.50%, 1/20/43   338,738 37,830
Ser. 18-127, Class IA, IO, 3.50%, 4/20/42   1,018,973 74,008
IFB Ser. 10-125, Class SD, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.68%), 3.268%, 1/16/40   2,573,499 173,478
Ser. 17-H03, Class DI, IO, 3.082%, 12/20/66 W   2,584,612 101,512
Ser. 20-186, Class DI, IO, 3.00%, 12/20/50   10,230,174 1,553,901
Ser. 20-166, Class IA, IO, 3.00%, 11/20/50   15,389,549 2,388,229
Ser. 20-138, Class AI, IO, 3.00%, 9/20/50   5,331,945 821,090
IFB Ser. 20-112, Class MS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.30%), 2.811%, 8/20/50   4,381,271 498,895
IFB Ser. 18-91, Class SJ, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.25%), 2.761%, 7/20/48   2,552,427 201,710
IFB Ser. 13-99, Class VS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.688%, 7/16/43   496,636 25,765
Ser. 16-H13, Class IK, IO, 2.646%, 6/20/66 W   7,851,647 663,570
IFB Ser. 19-121, Class DS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.611%, 8/20/49   1,974,467 159,977
IFB Ser. 16-121, Class JS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.611%, 9/20/46   2,607,581 200,471
IFB Ser. 16-77, Class SC, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.10%), 2.611%, 10/20/45   1,875,570 178,417
IFB Ser. 20-15, Class CS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.05%), 2.561%, 2/20/50   266,490 18,095
IFB Ser. 19-99, Class KS, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.05%), 2.561%, 8/20/49   151,636 12,523
IFB Ser. 19-78, Class SJ, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 6.05%), 2.561%, 6/20/49   166,090 11,755
Ser. 20-173, Class MI, IO, 2.50%, 11/20/50   10,483,256 1,380,016
Ser. 17-H02, Class BI, IO, 2.451%, 1/20/67 W   1,915,604 59,767
IFB Ser. 10-116, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month) + 5.90%), 2.411%, 9/20/40   2,072,573 175,880
Ser. 17-H06, Class BI, IO, 2.386%, 2/20/67 W   7,741,479 409,866
Ser. 18-H02, Class EI, IO, 2.131%, 1/20/68 W   4,215,140 295,060
Ser. 16-H11, Class HI, IO, 2.089%, 1/20/66 W   1,849,194 70,365
Ser. 18-H02, Class GI, IO, 2.026%, 12/20/67 W   5,678,586 297,572
Ser. 15-H15, Class JI, IO, 1.989%, 6/20/65 W   8,596,435 434,120
Ser. 15-H19, Class NI, IO, 1.913%, 7/20/65 W   9,702,273 423,989
Ser. 15-H25, Class EI, IO, 1.886%, 10/20/65 W   6,459,520 288,741
Ser. 18-H05, Class AI, IO, 1.804%, 2/20/68 W   7,159,581 496,696
Ser. 15-H09, Class BI, IO, 1.675%, 3/20/65 W   7,969,482 276,525
Ser. 16-H22, Class AI, IO, 1.645%, 10/20/66 W   3,791,310 133,678
Ser. 15-H25, Class AI, IO, 1.616%, 9/20/65 W   8,382,036 307,621
Ser. 15-H28, Class DI, IO, 1.585%, 8/20/65 W   5,238,253 196,356
Ser. 14-H14, Class CI, IO, 1.547%, 7/20/64 W   6,255,206 143,856


30 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations cont.
Government National Mortgage Association      
Ser. 16-H23, Class MI, IO, 1.527%, 10/20/66 W   $20,389,109 $617,663
Ser. 16-H23, Class NI, IO, 1.506%, 10/20/66 W   5,622,994 178,811
Ser. 17-H16, Class BI, IO, 0.93%, 8/20/67 W   6,145,036 320,613
Ser. 18-H13, Class NI, IO, 0.857%, 8/20/68 W   4,628,326 159,011
Ser. 20-H14, Class AI, IO, 0.703%, 6/20/70   14,867,804 559,490
Ser. 16-H08, Class AI, IO, 0.422%, 8/20/65 W   5,071,258 131,853
Ser. 16-H02, Class BI, IO, 0.08%, 11/20/65   6,422,717 348,754
GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust 144A FRB Ser. 99-2, IO, 0.431%, 9/19/27 W   58,260 146
58,523,912
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (11.0%)
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 07-1, Class XW, IO, 0.313%, 1/15/49 W   76,029 1
BANK      
FRB Ser. 17-BNK9, Class XA, IO, 0.767%, 11/15/54 W   37,084,659 1,143,602
FRB Ser. 18-BN10, Class XA, IO, 0.697%, 2/15/61 W   39,449,924 1,151,847
BBCMS Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 21-C10, Class E, 2.00%, 7/15/54   700,000 386,933
Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust FRB Ser. 07-T26, Class AJ, 5.566%, 1/12/45 W   16,996 16,571
Cantor Commercial Real Estate Lending FRB Ser. 19-CF3, Class XA, IO, 0.709%, 1/15/53 W   10,673,808 370,737
CD Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 17-CD3, Class C, 4.547%, 2/10/50 W   756,000 651,055
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 16-C4, Class XA, IO, 1.608%, 5/10/58 W   5,850,462 242,147
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 11-C2, Class D, 5.08%, 12/15/47 W   251,599 255,152
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 14-GC21, Class XA, IO, 1.135%, 5/10/47 W   8,977,083 115,702
FRB Ser. 14-GC19, Class XA, IO, 1.10%, 3/10/47 W   13,529,561 132,725
FRB Ser. 13-GC17, Class XA, IO, 0.992%, 11/10/46 W   10,723,235 67,472
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 14-GC19, Class D, 5.088%, 3/10/47 W   561,000 536,480
COMM Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 14-CR17, Class C, 4.781%, 5/10/47 W   2,166,000 1,973,978
FRB Ser. 18-COR3, Class C, 4.56%, 5/10/51 W   810,000 681,091
FRB Ser. 15-LC19, Class C, 4.216%, 2/10/48 W   1,031,000 946,902
FRB Ser. 14-UBS4, Class XA, IO, 1.088%, 8/10/47 W   5,822,224 75,297
FRB Ser. 14-CR20, Class XA, IO, 0.946%, 11/10/47 W   20,643,847 287,362
FRB Ser. 14-CR19, Class XA, IO, 0.933%, 8/10/47 W   19,104,451 233,758
FRB Ser. 13-CR11, Class XA, IO, 0.899%, 8/10/50 W   49,403,479 225,774
FRB Ser. 15-CR23, Class XA, IO, 0.868%, 5/10/48 W   19,568,562 307,992
FRB Ser. 15-CR22, Class XA, IO, 0.822%, 3/10/48 W   10,165,750 173,702
FRB Ser. 15-LC21, Class XA, IO, 0.656%, 7/10/48 W   31,456,462 428,380
COMM Mortgage Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 13-CR13, Class E, 4.877%, 11/10/46 W   523,000 381,081
FRB Ser. 14-CR17, Class D, 4.845%, 5/10/47 W   1,498,000 1,296,429
Ser. 12-LC4, Class E, 4.25%, 12/10/44   1,361,000 443,958


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 31



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont.
Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 08-C1, Class AJ, 5.816%, 2/15/41 W   $4,649,202 $2,331,110
CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust Ser. 15-C1, Class XA, IO, 0.818%, 4/15/50 W   18,777,195 237,738
CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 15-C1, Class D, 3.759%, 4/15/50 W   925,000 615,525
DBUBS Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 11-LC3A, Class D, 5.362%, 8/10/44 W   1,262,387 1,153,696
GS Mortgage Securities Trust      
FRB Ser. 14-GC22, Class C, 4.687%, 6/10/47 W   1,251,000 1,175,613
FRB Ser. 14-GC18, Class XA, IO, 1.031%, 1/10/47 W   15,903,875 136,733
GS Mortgage Securities Trust 144A FRB Ser. 14-GC24, Class D, 4.532%, 9/10/47 W   587,000 413,220
JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust      
FRB Ser. 14-C24, Class XA, IO, 0.86%, 11/15/47 W   33,891,248 377,230
FRB Ser. 14-C19, Class XA, IO, 0.623%, 4/15/47 W   11,269,405 65,385
JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. C14, Class D, 4.548%, 8/15/46 W   1,591,000 953,925
FRB Ser. 14-C25, Class D, 3.936%, 11/15/47 W   748,000 489,751
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust FRB Ser. 13-C10, Class XA, IO, 1.016%, 12/15/47 W   18,677,486 14,942
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 144A FRB Ser. 12-LC9, Class D, 4.321%, 12/15/47 W   327,000 323,660
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust      
FRB Ser. 15-C26, Class XA, IO, 0.977%, 10/15/48 W   13,061,011 233,113
FRB Ser. 13-C13, Class XA, IO, 0.934%, 11/15/46 W   44,702,714 286,687
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 14-C15, Class D, 4.892%, 4/15/47 W   580,000 535,688
FRB Ser. 13-C12, Class E, 4.755%, 10/15/46 W   537,000 395,632
FRB Ser. 12-C5, Class E, 4.637%, 8/15/45 W   1,026,000 947,678
FRB Ser. 13-C10, Class D, 4.07%, 7/15/46 W   453,000 306,801
FRB Ser. 13-C10, Class E, 4.07%, 7/15/46 W   3,310,000 1,114,808
FRB Ser. 13-C10, Class F, 4.07%, 7/15/46 W   2,461,000 534,706
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust      
Ser. 06-HQ10, Class B, 5.448%, 11/12/41 W   248,967 231,225
FRB Ser. 16-UB12, Class XA, IO, 0.653%, 12/15/49 W   21,389,540 446,571
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust 144A FRB Ser. 12-C4, Class E, 5.164%, 3/15/45 W   603,000 429,408
Multifamily Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust 144A FRB Ser. 19-01, Class M10, 6.836%, 10/25/49   1,606,774 1,480,192
Ready Capital Mortgage Financing, LLC 144A FRB Ser. 20-FL4, Class C, 8.336%, 2/25/35   2,333,000 2,274,812
UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 17-C7, Class XA, IO, 1.033%, 12/15/50 W   10,987,125 392,606
FRB Ser. 18-C8, Class XA, IO, 0.847%, 2/15/51 W   14,421,127 461,995
UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 13-C5, Class XA, IO, 0.956%, 3/10/46 W   14,466,537 145
FRB Ser. 12-C2, Class XA, IO, 0.63%, 5/10/63 W   1,102,681 11
UBS-Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 11-C1, Class D, 6.448%, 1/10/45 W   646,000 571,707


32 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont.
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 06-C29, IO, 0.166%, 11/15/48 W   $1,816,443 $464
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 13-LC12, Class C, 4.296%, 7/15/46 W   749,000 685,148
FRB Ser. 16-BNK1, Class XA, IO, 1.717%, 8/15/49 W   14,132,882 683,206
FRB Ser. 14-LC16, Class XA, IO, 1.082%, 8/15/50 W   17,067,120 205,522
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 13-LC12, Class D, 4.296%, 7/15/46 W   1,713,000 683,970
Ser. 20-C55, Class D, 2.50%, 2/15/53   2,057,000 1,324,696
WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 12-C10, Class C, 4.298%, 12/15/45 W   401,000 361,290
WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A      
Ser. 11-C4, Class D, 4.843%, 6/15/44 W   771,000 642,419
FRB Ser. 12-C7, Class D, 4.694%, 6/15/45 W   1,621,000 896,069
FRB Ser. 13-C15, Class D, 4.529%, 8/15/46 W   2,015,000 1,225,842
FRB Ser. 12-C10, Class D, 4.363%, 12/15/45 W   1,169,000 845,033
FRB Ser. 12-C10, Class E, 4.363%, 12/15/45 W   1,658,000 474,398
39,486,498
Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) (10.9%)
American Home Mortgage Investment Trust FRB Ser. 07-1, Class GA1C, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.19%), 3.776%, 5/25/47   1,205,407 672,256
Arroyo Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 19-1, Class A3, 4.208%, 1/25/49 W   211,316 196,419
Bellemeade Re, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 20-2A, Class B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 8.50%), 12.086%, 8/26/30 (Bermuda)   421,000 435,408
BRAVO Residential Funding Trust 144A Ser. 21-C, Class A1, 1.62%, 3/1/61   401,981 340,396
Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust FRB Ser. 06-NC2, Class A4, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.24%), 4.066%, 6/25/36   969,199 924,702
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.      
FRB Ser. 07-AMC3, Class A2D, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.35%), 3.936%, 3/25/37   661,193 558,760
FRB Ser. 07-AR5, Class 1A1A, 3.059%, 4/25/37 W   322,937 274,702
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust      
FRB Ser. 05-59, Class 1A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.66%), 4.149%, 11/20/35   1,547,662 1,344,338
FRB Ser. 06-OA10, Class 2A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.38%), 3.966%, 8/25/46   336,123 269,716
FRB Ser. 06-OA10, Class 4A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.38%), 3.966%, 8/25/46   148,845 121,561
FRB Ser. 06-OA7, Class 1A1, 2.562%, 6/25/46 W   400,149 349,931
FRB Ser. 06-OA7, Class 1A2, (Federal Reserve US 12 Month Cumulative Avg 1 yr CMT + 0.94%), 2.311%, 6/25/46   1,263,430 1,036,010
Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass-Through Trust FRB Ser. 05-3, Class 1A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.62%), 4.206%, 4/25/35   246,945 213,344
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation      
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 16-DNA1, Class B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 10.00%), 13.586%, 7/25/28   647,996 691,781
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-DNA3, Class B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 9.35%), 12.936%, 4/25/28   1,529,128 1,576,298


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 33



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) cont.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation      
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-DNA1, Class B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 9.20%), 12.786%, 10/25/27   $987,940 $1,022,518
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-DNA2, Class B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 7.55%), 11.136%, 12/25/27   762,669 769,113
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 17-DNA2, Class B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 5.15%), 8.736%, 10/25/29   300,000 314,803
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-DNA3, Class M3, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.70%), 8.286%, 4/25/28   99,999 103,374
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 18-HQA1, Class B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.35%), 7.936%, 9/25/30   268,000 265,739
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 16-DNA4, Class M3, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 3.80%), 7.386%, 3/25/29   189,860 194,173
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 17-HQA1, Class M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 3.55%), 7.136%, 8/25/29   614,696 628,719
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 17-DNA3, Class M2B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.086%, 3/25/30   361,000 357,391
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 144A      
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 20-HQA3, Class B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 5.75%), 9.336%, 7/25/50   268,000 266,660
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 22-HQA1, Class M2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 5.25%), 8.247%, 3/25/42   2,826,000 2,652,908
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 18-DNA2, Class B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 3.70%), 7.286%, 12/25/30   400,000 394,652
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 18-HRP2, Class M3, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.40%), 5.986%, 2/25/47   811,929 784,442
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 22-HQA2, Class M1A, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 2.65%), 5.647%, 7/25/42   191,222 189,788
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 22-DNA1, Class M1B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 1.85%), 4.847%, 1/25/42   347,000 311,532
Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust FRB Ser. 18-3, Class 3, 4.75%, 8/25/57 W   340,000 294,463
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 18-HRP2, Class M3AS, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 1.00%), 4.586%, 2/25/47   2,941,038 2,835,989
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 22-DNA2, Class M1A, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 1.30%), 4.297%, 2/25/42   311,223 303,199
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 22-DNA1, Class M1A, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 1.00%), 3.997%, 1/25/42   49,420 47,631
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 21-HQA3, Class M1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 0.85%), 3.847%, 9/25/41   234,593 222,038
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 21-DNA6, Class M1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 0.80%), 3.797%, 10/25/41   239,000 233,653
Federal National Mortgage Association      
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C02, Class 1B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 12.25%), 15.836%, 9/25/28   1,575,361 1,739,356
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C03, Class 1B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 11.75%), 15.336%, 10/25/28   834,026 901,562
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C01, Class 1B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 11.75%), 15.336%, 8/25/28   287,667 311,044
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C01, Class 1M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 6.75%), 10.336%, 8/25/28   6,978 7,367


34 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) cont.
Federal National Mortgage Association      
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C02, Class 1M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 6.00%), 9.586%, 9/25/28   $76,046 $79,154
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C03, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 5.90%), 9.486%, 10/25/28   77,117 80,395
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 15-C04, Class 1M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 5.70%), 9.286%, 4/25/28   716,262 754,543
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 15-C04, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 5.55%), 9.136%, 4/25/28   150,669 155,514
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 17-C02, Class 2B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 5.50%), 9.086%, 9/25/29   598,000 634,434
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 14-C04, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 5.00%), 8.586%, 11/25/24   959 970
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 14-C04, Class 1M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.90%), 8.486%, 11/25/24   386,862 401,954
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 17-C03, Class 1B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.85%), 8.436%, 10/25/29   400,000 410,663
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 18-C04, Class 2B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.50%), 8.086%, 12/25/30   842,700 852,332
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 14-C01, Class M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.40%), 7.986%, 1/25/24   825,501 834,788
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 15-C01, Class 1M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.30%), 7.886%, 2/25/25   45,786 46,702
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 15-C02, Class 1M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 4.00%), 7.586%, 5/25/25   4,156 4,196
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 17-C02, Class 2M2C, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 3.65%), 7.236%, 9/25/29   135,000 138,252
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 17-C05, Class 1B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 3.60%), 7.186%, 1/25/30   370,000 360,611
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 14-C03, Class 1M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 3.00%), 6.586%, 7/25/24   2,865 2,878
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 14-C03, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.90%), 6.486%, 7/25/24   266,894 267,228
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 14-C02, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.60%), 6.186%, 5/25/24   86,548 86,602
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 17-C07, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.086%, 5/25/30   395,071 397,043
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 18-C06, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.10%), 5.686%, 3/25/31   243,509 238,955
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 18-C05, Class 1ED1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.65%), 4.236%, 1/25/31   136,249 133,456
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 17-C04, Class 2ED1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.60%), 4.186%, 11/25/29   104,133 101,640
Federal National Mortgage Association 144A      
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 22-R05, Class 2B1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 4.50%), 7.497%, 4/25/42   916,000 825,246
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 20-R01, Class 1B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 3.25%), 6.836%, 1/25/40   1,249,000 1,156,552
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 19-R01, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.45%), 6.036%, 7/25/31   31,316 31,184


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 35




MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (38.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) cont.
Federal National Mortgage Association 144A      
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 22-R02, Class 2M2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 3.00%), 5.997%, 1/25/42   $1,012,000 $903,210
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 19-HRP1, Class M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.15%), 5.736%, 11/25/39   484,131 461,267
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 20-R02, Class 2M2, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.00%), 5.586%, 1/25/40   88,402 86,624
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 22-R09, Class 2M1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 2.50%), 5.525%, 9/25/42   117,963 117,195
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 22-R02, Class 2M1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 1.10%), 4.197%, 1/25/42   176,120 171,057
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 22-R01, Class 1M1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 1.00%), 3.997%, 12/25/41   104,467 101,268
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 21-R02, Class 2M1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 0.90%), 3.897%, 11/25/41   90,417 88,075
GCAT Trust 144A Ser. 20-NQM2, Class A3, 2.935%, 4/25/65   238,989 211,941
GSAA Home Equity Trust Ser. 06-15, Class AF3A, 5.882%, 9/25/36 W   745,610 262,910
HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust FRB Ser. 05-2, Class 1A, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.52%), 4.00%, 5/19/35   756,379 259,313
Home Re, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-2, Class B1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 4.15%), 7.147%, 1/25/34 (Bermuda)   213,000 185,526
Homeward Opportunities Fund I Trust 144A Ser. 20-2, Class A3, 3.196%, 5/25/65 W   647,000 597,519
JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust FRB Ser. 07-A2, Class 12A1, IO, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.20%), 3.986%, 6/25/37   517,305 216,458
Legacy Mortgage Asset Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 19-GS7, Class A1, 6.25%, 11/25/59   536,645 536,198
Ser. 21-GS3, Class A2, 3.25%, 7/25/61   403,000 359,601
Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. FRB Ser. 06-QO5, Class 1A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.43%), 4.016%, 5/25/46   623,159 535,916
Residential Mortgage Loan Trust 144A Ser. 20-2, Class A3, 2.911%, 5/25/60 W   381,000 368,283
ROC Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 21-RTL1, Class A1, 2.487%, 8/25/26 W   870,000 822,150
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust FRB Ser. 06-AR7, Class A1A, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.21%), 4.006%, 8/25/36   299,742 265,271
WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust      
FRB Ser. 05-AR13, Class A1C3, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.98%), 4.566%, 10/25/45   433,530 402,501
FRB Ser. 05-AR10, Class 1A3, 3.835%, 9/25/35 W   241,190 210,751
39,316,062
Total mortgage-backed securities (cost $155,394,153) $137,326,472

CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.2%)* Principal
amount
Value
Basic materials (2.1%)
Axalta Coating Systems, LLC/Axalta Coating Systems Dutch Holding B BV 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 6/15/27   $980,000 $892,998
Boise Cascade Co. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.875%, 7/1/30   660,000 552,110


36 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Basic materials cont.
Celanese US Holdings, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.33%, 7/15/29 (Germany)   $1,080,000 $1,004,628
Celanese US Holdings, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.165%, 7/15/27 (Germany)   450,000 424,570
Graphic Packaging International, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.75%, 2/1/30   430,000 369,697
IHS Holding, Ltd. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 6.25%, 11/29/28 (Nigeria)   410,000 305,450
Minsur SA sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 4.50%, 10/28/31 (Peru)   850,000 684,250
Novelis Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 1/30/30   1,705,000 1,448,474
Sylvamo Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.00%, 9/1/29   425,000 393,125
WR Grace Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. notes 5.625%, 10/1/24   1,520,000 1,489,904
7,565,206
Capital goods (0.8%)
Amsted Industries, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes 5.625%, 7/1/27   793,000 733,525
Howmet Aerospace, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.00%, 1/15/29   586,000 487,775
Panther BF Aggregator 2 LP/Panther Finance Co., Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 6.25%, 5/15/26   196,000 189,630
Stevens Holding Co., Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.125%, 10/1/26   300,000 300,390
TransDigm, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 6.25%, 3/15/26   520,000 512,933
WESCO Distribution, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.125%, 6/15/25   586,000 591,684
2,815,937
Communication services (1.1%)
CCO Holdings, LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 5.50%, 5/1/26   443,000 426,388
Charter Communications Operating, LLC/Charter Communications Operating Capital company guaranty sr. notes 2.25%, 1/15/29   1,048,000 827,016
DISH DBS Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 5.75%, 12/1/28   278,000 224,138
DISH DBS Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 5.25%, 12/1/26   650,000 564,688
Sprint Capital Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.875%, 11/15/28   265,000 273,475
Sprint Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes 7.875%, 9/15/23   1,045,000 1,062,141
T-Mobile USA, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.375%, 4/15/27   526,000 518,917
3,896,763
Consumer cyclicals (1.4%)
Camelot Return Merger Sub, Inc. 144A sr. notes 8.75%, 8/1/28   600,000 499,500
Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.125%, 6/16/25   1,000,000 964,800
Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.00%, 11/13/30   410,000 331,600
Hanesbrands, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.625%, 5/15/24   483,000 469,718
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 3.875%, 9/1/31   471,000 376,800


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 37



CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Consumer cyclicals cont.
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 5.00%, 8/1/27   $680,000 $625,600
Spectrum Brands, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 5.00%, 10/1/29   837,000 686,340
Spectrum Brands, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.50%, 7/15/30   123,000 98,740
Standard Industries, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.00%, 2/15/27   575,000 520,375
Standard Industries, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 1/15/28   520,000 455,650
5,029,123
Consumer staples (2.1%)
Albertsons Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New Albertsons LP/Albertsons, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.625%, 1/15/27   2,280,000 2,112,899
Albertsons Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New Albertsons LP/Albertsons, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.50%, 3/15/29   840,000 695,100
Kraft Heinz Foods Co. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.00%, 6/1/26   2,128,000 1,963,968
Match Group Holdings II, LLC 144A sr. unsec. bonds 5.00%, 12/15/27   515,000 459,516
Match Group Holdings II, LLC 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.625%, 6/1/28   762,000 677,136
Netflix, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.875%, 11/15/28   710,000 704,675
Netflix, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 5.375%, 11/15/29   85,000 80,750
Newell Brands, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.45%, 4/1/26   1,093,000 1,017,091
7,711,135
Energy (4.2%)
Apache Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.10%, 9/1/40   1,085,000 878,546
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings, LLC company guaranty sr. notes 5.875%, 3/31/25   1,119,000 1,119,167
Cheniere Energy Partners LP company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.50%, 10/1/29   605,000 534,185
Chord Energy Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.375%, 6/1/26   840,000 820,596
Continental Resources, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 5.75%, 1/15/31   215,000 194,931
Continental Resources, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 2.875%, 4/1/32   193,000 140,796
Encino Acquisition Partners Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 8.50%, 5/1/28   835,000 782,303
Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 5.75%, 1/30/28   1,230,000 1,195,516
Hess Midstream Operations LP 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes 5.625%, 2/15/26   1,035,000 1,015,097
Holly Energy Partners LP/Holly Energy Finance Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.00%, 2/1/28   867,000 783,590
Nabors Industries, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.375%, 5/15/27   780,000 766,327
Occidental Petroleum Corp. sr. unsec. sub. bonds 6.20%, 3/15/40   758,000 729,226
Occidental Petroleum Corp. sr. unsec. sub. notes 6.45%, 9/15/36   1,259,000 1,248,903
Pertamina Persero PT 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.30%, 5/20/23 (Indonesia)   400,000 396,000
Petrobras Global Finance BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.25%, 3/17/24 (Brazil)   488,000 489,708


38 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund




CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.2%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Energy cont.
Petrobras Global Finance BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.60%, 1/3/31 (Brazil)   $88,000 $79,926
Petrobras Global Finance BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.299%, 1/27/25 (Brazil)   78,000 77,025
Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. FRB 5.95%, 1/28/31 (Mexico)   278,000 200,349
Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.70%, 2/16/32 (Mexico)   1,295,000 979,344
SM Energy Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.75%, 9/15/26   820,000 807,700
Southwestern Energy Co. company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 4.75%, 2/1/32   379,000 327,153
Southwestern Energy Co. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.375%, 3/15/30   1,225,000 1,133,125
Tallgrass Energy Partners LP/Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.50%, 1/15/28   368,000 329,360
15,028,873
Financials (1.7%)
Ally Financial, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 8.00%, 11/1/31   540,000 553,830
Ally Financial, Inc. sub. unsec. notes 5.75%, 11/20/25   1,209,000 1,163,154
Credit Suisse Group AG 144A jr. unsec. sub. FRN 7.50%, perpetual maturity (Switzerland)   1,150,000 1,040,729
GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.375%, 4/15/26   425,000 405,688
Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.25%, 5/15/26   1,095,000 1,051,748
iStar, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 4.25%, 8/1/25 R   346,000 334,772
Itau Unibanco Holding SA/Cayman Islands 144A unsec. sub. FRB 3.875%, 4/15/31 (Brazil)   810,000 696,762
OneMain Finance Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes 7.125%, 3/15/26   1,000,000 963,000
6,209,683
Health care (1.4%)
Centene Corp. sr. unsec. notes 4.625%, 12/15/29   930,000 841,650
HCA, Inc. company guaranty sr. bonds 5.25%, 6/15/26   950,000 920,673
Service Corp. International sr. unsec. notes 3.375%, 8/15/30   140,000 113,011
Tenet Healthcare Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 4.875%, 1/1/26   1,655,000 1,563,975
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.00%, 4/15/24 (Israel)   1,132,000 1,119,508
Viatris, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 2.30%, 6/22/27   340,000 278,083
4,836,900
Technology (0.1%)
Imola Merger Corp. 144A sr. notes 4.75%, 5/15/29   591,000 509,560
509,560
Utilities and power (0.3%)
Calpine Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 4.50%, 2/15/28   755,000 678,513
Energy Transfer LP jr. unsec. sub. FRN 6.625%, perpetual maturity   501,000 358,841
1,037,354
Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $60,784,392) $54,640,534


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 39



COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS (9.5%)* Principal
amount
Value
AB BSL CLO 2, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-2A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.10%), 5.179%, 4/15/34 (Cayman Islands)   $1,245,000 $1,190,808
AGL CLO 6, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-6A, Class AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.20%), 5.443%, 7/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   902,000 868,446
AIG CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.10%), 5.425%, 4/22/34   692,000 662,125
Aimco CLO 14, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-14A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 0.99%), 5.233%, 4/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   556,000 529,331
American Money Management Corp. CLO 21, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 17-21A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.25%), 4.038%, 11/2/30 (Cayman Islands)   1,250,000 1,221,636
Apidos CLO XXXV 144A FRB Ser. 21-35A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.05%), 5.293%, 4/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   250,000 240,097
Ares LXI CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-61A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.15%), 5.393%, 10/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   1,000,000 954,760
Ares LXIV CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 22-64A, Class A1, 5.304%, 4/15/35 (Cayman Islands)   500,000 479,786
Ares XLI CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-41A, Class AR2, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.07%), 5.149%, 4/15/34 (Cayman Islands)   750,000 715,769
Benefit Street Partners CLO V-B, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-5BA, Class A1A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.09%), 5.333%, 4/20/31   631,000 616,155
BlueMountain CLO XXXII, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-32A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.17%), 5.249%, 10/15/34 (Cayman Islands)   619,000 592,050
Carlyle C17 CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. C17A, Class A1AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.03%), 5.445%, 4/30/31   423,000 413,000
Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-1A, Class A1R2, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 0.97%), 5.049%, 4/17/31 (Cayman Islands)   1,495,453 1,454,717
Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-3RA, Class A1A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.05%), 5.408%, 7/27/31 (Cayman Islands)   621,879 605,848
CarVal CLO II, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class ANR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.11%), 5.353%, 4/20/32 (Cayman Islands)   1,119,000 1,086,081
Cent CLO 21, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-21A, Class A1R3, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 0.97%), 5.328%, 7/27/30 (Cayman Islands)   1,253,903 1,226,870
Columbia Cent CLO 29, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-29A, Class AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.17%), 5.413%, 10/20/34   506,000 480,085
Elevation CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 17-2A, Class A1R, (CME TERM SOFR 3 Month + 1.49%), 5.355%, 10/15/29   1,134,408 1,120,986
Elmwood CLO V, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-2A, Class AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.15%), 5.393%, 10/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   607,000 579,349
Galaxy XXII CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-22A, Class ARR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.20%), 5.279%, 4/16/34 (Cayman Islands)   882,000 848,134
Guggenheim 1828 CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-1A, Class A1S1, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.23%), 5.309%, 10/15/31 (Cayman Islands)   796,970 779,280
Gulf Stream Meridian 4, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-4A, Class A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.20%), 5.279%, 7/15/34 (Cayman Islands)   804,000 772,168
HalseyPoint CLO I, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 19-1A, Class A1A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.35%), 5.593%, 1/20/33 (Cayman Islands)   786,000 763,346
ICG US CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-1A, Class A2R, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.55%), 5.777%, 10/19/28 (Cayman Islands)   500,000 479,891
LCM XXI LP 144A FRB Ser. 21A, Class AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 0.88%), 5.123%, 4/20/28 (Cayman Islands)   353,818 350,001


40 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund




COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS (9.5%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Logan CLO I, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.16%), 5.403%, 7/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   $1,261,000 $1,210,150
Madison Park Funding XVIII, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-18A, Class ARR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 0.94%), 5.218%, 10/21/30 (Cayman Islands)   1,150,000 1,122,607
Madison Park Funding XXX, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-30A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 0.75%), 4.829%, 4/15/29   574,182 560,564
Marathon CLO XIII, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class AANR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.32%), 5.399%, 4/15/32 (Cayman Islands)   500,000 484,321
Nassau, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class A1R, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.29%), 5.369%, 1/15/35 (Cayman Islands)   250,000 238,360
Nassau, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-IA, Class ANAR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.35%), 1.482%, 4/15/31 (Cayman Islands)   379,000 369,255
Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 34, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 22-34A, Class A1R, (CME TERM SOFR 3 Month + 1.24%), 5.203%, 1/20/35 (Cayman Islands)   368,000 353,884
Octagon Investment Partners 29, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 20-1A, Class AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.18%), 5.505%, 1/24/33 (Cayman Islands)   1,028,000 992,827
Octagon Investment Partners 48, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-3A, Class AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.15%), 5.393%, 10/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   750,000 715,606
OZLM VII, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-7RA, Class A1R, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.01%), 5.089%, 7/17/29 (Cayman Islands)   668,656 656,185
Palmer Square CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class A1R, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.15%), 4.055%, 11/14/34 (Cayman Islands)   500,000 478,596
Palmer Square CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-2A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.15%), 5.229%, 7/15/34 (Cayman Islands)   547,000 523,367
Park Avenue Institutional Advisers CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 19-1A, Class A2A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.00%), 4.905%, 5/15/32 (Cayman Islands)   983,000 920,753
Park Avenue Institutional Advisers CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class A1AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.00%), 5.243%, 10/20/31 (Cayman Islands)   500,000 483,910
Regatta XX Funding, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-2A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.16%), 5.239%, 10/15/34 (Cayman Islands)   341,000 325,796
Regatta XXIII Funding, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-4A, Class A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.15%), 5.393%, 1/20/35 (Cayman Islands)   518,000 493,796
Rockford Tower CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.17%), 5.413%, 7/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   750,000 718,142
RR, 14, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-14A, Class A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.12%), 5.199%, 4/15/36 (Cayman Islands)   659,000 630,519
Sound Point CLO XXVI, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-1A, Class AR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.17%), 5.413%, 7/20/34 (Cayman Islands)   974,000 926,555
Venture XXVI CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-26A, Class BR, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.70%), 5.943%, 1/20/29 (Cayman Islands)   1,200,000 1,141,975
Wellfleet CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 18-1A, Class A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.10%), 5.179%, 7/17/31   750,000 730,688
Zais CLO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 19-13A, Class A1A, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.49%), 5.569%, 7/15/32   1,214,000 1,178,499
Total collateralized loan obligations (cost $35,229,028) $34,287,074


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 41



FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY
BONDS AND NOTES (5.2%)*
Principal
amount
Value
Brazil (Federal Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 5.00%, 1/27/45 (Brazil)   $800,000 $578,000
Brazil (Federal Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.875%, 6/12/30 (Brazil)   845,000 711,599
Chile (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 4.34%, 3/7/42 (Chile)   1,520,000 1,187,500
Cote d’lvoire (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. REGS, 6.125%, 6/15/33 (Cote d’lvoire)   2,645,000 2,066,406
Cote d’lvoire (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. REGS, 5.75%, 12/31/32 (Cote d’lvoire)   131,658 116,353
Dominican (Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds Ser. REGS, 4.875%, 9/23/32 (Dominican Republic)   572,000 440,753
Dominican (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 8.625%, 4/20/27 (Dominican Republic)   118,000 120,065
Dominican (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 6.875%, 1/29/26 (Dominican Republic)   682,000 668,458
Dominican (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 5.95%, 1/25/27 (Dominican Republic)   379,000 353,985
Dominican (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. bonds 6.00%, 2/22/33 (Dominican Republic)   1,090,000 912,651
Egypt (Arab Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds Ser. REGS, 7.30%, 9/30/33 (Egypt)   230,000 144,037
Egypt (Arab Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 7.60%, 3/1/29 (Egypt)   870,000 626,386
Ghana (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 8.125%, 1/18/26 (Ghana)   380,000 140,125
Ghana (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 6.375%, 2/11/27 (Ghana)   630,000 191,363
Indonesia (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.65%, 9/20/32 (Indonesia)   885,000 817,757
Indonesia (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.85%, 10/15/30 (Indonesia)   1,194,000 1,068,651
Indonesia (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.35%, 1/8/27 (Indonesia)   310,000 296,828
Indonesia (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.375%, 4/15/23 (Indonesia)   1,290,000 1,280,328
Kazakhstan (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. REGS, 6.50%, 7/21/45 (Kazakhstan)   690,000 612,361
Kazakhstan (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. REGS, 4.875%, 10/14/44 (Kazakhstan)   420,000 321,838
Kazakhstan (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 5.125%, 7/21/25 (Kazakhstan)   560,000 571,900
Paraguay (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 4.95%, 4/28/31 (Paraguay)   535,000 492,200
Paraguay (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 4.70%, 3/27/27 (Paraguay)   255,000 244,481
Romania (Government of) 144A unsec. bonds 3.625%, 3/27/32 (Romania)   1,000,000 736,580
Senegal (Republic of) unsec. bonds Ser. REGS, 6.25%, 5/23/33 (Senegal)   845,000 633,750
South Africa (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.875%, 9/16/25 (South Africa)   255,000 252,328


42 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund




FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY
BONDS AND NOTES (5.2%)*
cont.
Principal
amount
Value
South Africa (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.85%, 9/27/27 (South Africa)   $305,000 $277,168
Tunisia (Central Bank of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 5.75%, 1/30/25 (Tunisia)   1,090,000 690,123
United Mexican States sr. unsec. bonds 2.659%, 5/24/31 (Mexico)   2,140,000 1,656,662
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 4.80%, 11/19/24 (Vietnam)   500,000 481,250
Total foreign government and agency bonds and notes (cost $22,650,216) $18,691,886

SENIOR LOANS (4.9%)*c Principal
amount
Value
1011778 BC, ULC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.75%), 5.504%, 11/19/26   $869,430 $844,869
Altice US Finance I Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.25%), 5.662%, 1/15/26   962,500 931,219
AppleCaramel Buyer, LLC bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 3 Month Plus CSA + 0.00%), 7.479%, 10/19/27   510,926 482,774
Brand Industrial Services, Inc. bank term loan FRN (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 4.25%), 8.493%, 6/21/24   710,625 613,362
Calpine Construction Finance Co. LP bank term loan FRN (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.00%), 5.754%, 1/15/25   771,525 758,795
Charter Communications Operating, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B2, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.75%), 5.51%, 2/1/27   729,064 715,525
CSC Holdings, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.25%), 5.662%, 7/17/25   800,864 773,338
Elanco Animal Health, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.75%), 4.878%, 2/4/27   921,981 887,259
Entercom Media Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B1, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.50%), 6.132%, 11/17/24   777,215 593,598
Epicor Software Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 3.25%), 7.004%, 7/30/27   1,004,500 955,280
Gardner Denver, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.75%), 5.579%, 2/28/27   699,075 682,472
GFL Environmental, Inc. bank term loan FRN (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 3.00%), 7.415%, 5/31/25   960,401 954,245
Greeneden US Holdings II, LLC bank term loan FRN (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 4.00%), 7.754%, 12/1/27   476,513 463,709
Grifols Worldwide Operations USA, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.00%), 5.754%, 11/15/27   385,648 369,451
Hilton Worldwide Finance, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.75%), 5.336%, 6/21/26   639,438 627,672
Quikrete Holdings, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.63%), 6.379%, 2/1/27   1,635,323 1,583,990
Reynolds Consumer Products, LLC bank term loan FRN (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 1.75%), 5.504%, 2/4/27   853,788 836,473
Stars Group Holdings BV bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.25%), 5.892%, 7/21/26   758,682 744,138
Terrier Media Buyer, Inc. bank term loan FRN (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 3.50%), 7.254%, 12/17/26   1,029,026 959,084
TransDigm, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. E, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.25%), 5.924%, 5/30/25   243,509 237,670


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 43




SENIOR LOANS (4.9%)*c cont. Principal
amount
Value
TransDigm, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. F, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.25%), 5.924%, 12/9/25   $900,187 $878,205
Vertiv Group Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.75%), 5.878%, 3/2/27   1,474,398 1,417,266
Werner Finco LP bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 4.00%), 7.674%, 7/24/24   474,190 428,350
Total senior loans (cost $18,546,724) $17,738,744

CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (1.0%)* Principal
amount
Value
Capital goods (—%)
John Bean Technologies Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 5/15/26   $44,000 $37,334
37,334
Communication services (0.1%)
Cable One, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.125%, 3/15/28   37,000 27,047
DISH Network Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.375%, 8/15/26   93,000 64,310
Liberty Media Corp. cv. sr. unsec. bonds 1.375%, 10/15/23   21,000 26,880
Liberty Media Corp. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 0.50%, 12/1/50   50,000 53,328
Liberty Media Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 2.75%, 12/1/49   175,000 160,650
332,215
Consumer cyclicals (0.2%)
Block, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.25%, 11/1/27   53,000 39,554
Block, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes zero %, 5/1/26   23,000 18,343
Booking Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.75%, 5/1/25   44,000 56,920
Burlington Stores, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.25%, 4/15/25   27,000 27,338
DraftKings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes zero %, 3/15/28   43,000 26,897
Expedia Group, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes zero %, 2/15/26   52,000 44,680
Ford Motor Co. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/15/26   73,000 73,365
Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. bonds 0.50%, 6/30/51   51,000 35,981
National Vision Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 2.50%, 5/15/25   20,000 26,639
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.50%, 2/15/27   43,000 33,325
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. 144A cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.00%, 8/15/25   56,000 72,884
Shift4 Payments, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes zero %, 12/15/25   49,000 44,192
Vail Resorts, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes zero %, 1/1/26   65,000 57,525
Winnebago Industries, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.50%, 4/1/25   20,000 22,313
579,956
Consumer staples (0.1%)
Airbnb, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes zero %, 3/15/26   75,000 62,738
Beauty Health Co. (The) 144A cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.25%, 10/1/26   35,000 27,615
Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The) cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.375%, 6/15/26   36,000 29,520
Chegg, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 9/1/26   41,000 31,750
Etsy, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 6/15/28   58,000 44,747


44 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (1.0%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Consumer staples cont.
Shake Shack, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/1/28   $39,000 $26,691
Uber Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 12/15/25   50,000 41,296
Upwork, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 8/15/26   39,000 29,061
Wayfair, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.625%, 10/1/25   35,000 22,925
Zillow Group, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.75%, 5/15/25   25,000 23,425
339,768
Energy (0.1%)
Enphase Energy, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes zero %, 3/1/28   49,000 62,843
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 5/15/25   16,000 41,048
Transocean, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.50%, 1/30/23   54,000 51,503
155,394
Financials (—%)
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 3/15/23 R   31,000 30,807
SoFi Technologies, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 10/15/26   43,000 30,788
61,595
Health care (0.1%)
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.25%, 5/15/27   36,000 36,014
CONMED Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.25%, 6/15/27   21,000 18,344
Dexcom, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 0.25%, 11/15/25   46,000 50,577
Exact Sciences Corp. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.375%, 3/1/28   77,000 49,326
Guardant Health, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes zero %, 11/15/27   25,000 17,673
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 3/1/27   80,000 71,500
Insulet Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 9/1/26   31,000 39,618
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.50%, 6/15/26   27,000 27,861
Jazz Investments I, Ltd. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.50%, 8/15/24 (Ireland)   61,000 58,331
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.75%, 8/1/25   50,000 48,563
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.50%, 5/1/25   26,000 24,310
Teladoc Health, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.25%, 6/1/27   37,000 27,705
469,822
Technology (0.4%)
3D Systems Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 11/15/26   42,000 29,190
Akamai Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 9/1/27   111,000 109,113
Akamai Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.125%, 5/1/25   39,000 41,828
Bentley Systems, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.375%, 7/1/27   48,000 37,344
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes zero %, 4/1/27   44,000 34,672
Blackline, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/15/26   25,000 20,200
Box, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 1/15/26   33,000 40,986
Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 3/15/26   37,000 31,413
Coupa Software, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 6/15/26   74,000 58,534
CyberArk Software, Ltd. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 11/15/24 (Israel)   33,000 38,660
Datadog, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.125%, 6/15/25   18,000 20,466
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 12/1/26   41,000 29,984
Everbridge, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/15/26   37,000 31,498
Five9, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.50%, 6/1/25   26,000 23,049


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 45




CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (1.0%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Technology cont.
Impinj, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.125%, 5/15/27   $42,000 $51,895
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.50%, 12/15/26   58,000 56,695
MongoDB, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 1/15/26   18,000 20,232
Okta, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 6/15/26   63,000 50,022
ON Semiconductor Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 5/1/27   34,000 44,523
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 6/1/25   29,000 51,026
Pegasystems, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.75%, 3/1/25   67,000 55,484
Perficient, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.125%, 11/15/26   42,000 31,416
Rapid7, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 3/15/27   34,000 26,796
RingCentral, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/1/25   48,000 39,930
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.625%, 6/15/25   32,000 36,119
Snap, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 5/1/27   51,000 35,114
Splunk, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.125%, 6/15/27   78,000 66,300
Spotify USA, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/15/26   36,000 28,584
Twitter, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes zero %, 3/15/26   35,000 34,475
Tyler Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.25%, 3/15/26   22,000 20,603
Unity Software, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 11/15/26   49,000 35,623
Viavi Solutions, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.00%, 3/1/24   27,000 32,981
Wolfspeed, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 0.25%, 2/15/28   43,000 39,302
Zscaler, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.125%, 7/1/25   23,000 28,187
1,332,244
Transportation (—%)
American Airlines Group, Inc. company guaranty cv. notes 6.50%, 7/1/25   22,000 24,651
JetBlue Airways Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.50%, 4/1/26   39,000 28,880
Southwest Airlines Co. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.25%, 5/1/25   62,000 76,229
129,760
Utilities and power (—%)
NextEra Energy Partners LP 144A company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 11/15/25   56,000 58,044
NRG Energy, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. bonds 2.75%, 6/1/48   48,000 56,136
114,180
Total convertible bonds and notes (cost $4,001,429) $3,552,268

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (0.9%)* Principal
amount
Value
1Sharpe Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 20-1, Class NOTE, (ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month + 2.90%), 3.025%, 7/25/24   $891,971 $889,741
Mello Warehouse Securitization Trust 144A FRB Ser. 21-3, Class D, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 2.00%), 5.586%, 11/25/55   916,000 842,185
MRA Issuance Trust 144A FRB Ser. 22-2, Class A3, (US SOFR + 1.25%), 4.21%, 1/17/23   1,000,000 1,000,000
Station Place Securitization Trust 144A FRB Ser. 21-14, Class A1, (ICE LIBOR USD 1 Month + 0.70%), 4.272%, 12/8/22   490,000 490,000
Total asset-backed securities (cost $3,253,316) $3,221,926


46 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund




SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (23.5%)* Principal amount/
shares
Value
Interest in $426,800,000 joint tri-party repurchase agreement dated 10/31/2022 with Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. due 11/1/2022 — maturity value of $54,165,589 for an effective yield of 3.050% (collateralized by Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities with coupon rates ranging from 2.000% to 6.500% and due dates ranging from 8/20/2052 to 12/20/2071, valued at $435,338,597) $54,161,000 $54,161,000
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund Class P 3.21% L Shares 2,750,000 2,750,000
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class 3.01% P Shares 4,027,000 4,027,000
U.S. Treasury Bills 3.243%, 12/1/22 § Φ $3,300,000 3,290,533
U.S. Treasury Bills 2.988%, 11/22/22 ∆ § Φ 3,000,000 2,994,213
U.S. Treasury Bills 2.911%, 11/15/22 # § Φ 3,400,000 3,396,033
U.S. Treasury Bills 2.816%, 11/25/22 # § Φ 4,200,000 4,190,836
U.S. Treasury Bills 2.800%, 11/8/22 # Φ 500,000 499,742
U.S. Treasury Bills 2.703%, 11/1/22 ∆ Φ 5,800,000 5,800,000
U.S. Treasury Bills zero%, 4/6/23 i 3,126,000 3,067,544
U.S. Treasury Bills zero%, 2/2/23 i 417,000 412,622
Total short-term investments (cost $84,592,481) $84,589,523

TOTAL INVESTMENTS
Total investments (cost $817,958,756) $781,459,310

Key to holding’s currency abbreviations
AUD Australian Dollar
CAD Canadian Dollar
CHF Swiss Franc
EUR Euro
GBP British Pound
JPY Japanese Yen
NOK Norwegian Krone
NZD New Zealand Dollar
SEK Swedish Krona
USD /$ United States Dollar
Key to holding’s abbreviations
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.
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
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate
OTC Over-the-counter
REGS Securities sold under Regulation S may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 47




SOFR Secured Overnight Financing Rate
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, 2021 through October 31, 2022 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, 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 “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $359,707,194.
# This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the broker to cover margin requirements for futures contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $951,084 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 11).
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 $831,896 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 11).
Φ This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on certain TBA commitments at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $3,339,705 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 11).
§ 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 $5,508,945 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 11).
c Senior loans are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but contain certain restrictions on resale and cannot be sold publicly. These loans pay interest at rates which adjust periodically. The interest rates shown for senior loans are the current interest rates at the close of the reporting period. Senior loans are also subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment which cannot be predicted. As a result, the remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturity shown (Notes 1 and 7).
i This security was pledged, or purchased with cash that was pledged, to the fund for collateral on certain derivative contracts (Note 1).
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.
P This security was pledged, or purchased with cash that was pledged, to the fund for collateral on certain derivative contracts. 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.
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.


48 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 10/31/22 (aggregate face value $31,206,217)
Counterparty Currency Contract
type*
Delivery
date
Value Aggregate
face value
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Bank of America N.A.
Australian Dollar Buy 1/18/23 $9,107 $8,885 $222
New Zealand Dollar Sell 1/18/23 6,112 5,959 (153)
Swedish Krona Sell 12/21/22 2,656 2,961 305
Barclays Bank PLC
Swiss Franc Buy 12/21/22 130,805 136,560 (5,755)
Citibank, N.A.
Australian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 10,903 11,017 114
Goldman Sachs International
Euro Buy 12/21/22 139,615 138,147 1,468
Swiss Franc Buy 12/21/22 2,428,739 2,534,718 (105,979)
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
Australian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 76,190 76,985 795
British Pound Sell 12/21/22 3,466,841 3,426,131 (40,710)
Canadian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 26,894 26,772 (122)
Euro Buy 12/21/22 71,743 73,325 (1,582)
New Zealand Dollar Sell 1/18/23 13,039 12,711 (328)
Norwegian Krone Buy 12/21/22 35,526 36,451 (925)
Swedish Krona Buy 12/21/22 18,671 19,265 (594)
Swedish Krona Sell 12/21/22 19,062 18,726 (336)
Swiss Franc Sell 12/21/22 19,691 19,902 211
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
British Pound Sell 12/21/22 180,011 181,544 1,533
Canadian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 178,337 178,070 (267)
Euro Sell 12/21/22 397,213 405,490 8,277
Japanese Yen Sell 11/16/22 300,953 311,651 10,698
Norwegian Krone Buy 12/21/22 4,133 4,143 (10)
Swedish Krona Buy 12/21/22 7,021 6,977 44
Swiss Franc Buy 12/21/22 10,952 11,399 (447)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
Australian Dollar Buy 1/18/23 16,546 16,483 63
British Pound Buy 12/21/22 3,023,190 2,966,834 56,356
Canadian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 111,617 111,279 (338)
Euro Sell 12/21/22 66,979 73,609 6,630
Japanese Yen Sell 11/16/22 1,901,790 2,151,924 250,134
New Zealand Dollar Sell 1/18/23 1,586,831 1,547,229 (39,602)
Swiss Franc Sell 12/21/22 2,713 2,780 67
NatWest Markets PLC
Euro Sell 12/21/22 7,541 7,584 43
State Street Bank and Trust Co.
Australian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 1,375,393 1,393,303 17,910
British Pound Sell 12/21/22 77,541 76,247 (1,294)
Canadian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 2,435,212 2,428,184 (7,028)
Euro Sell 12/21/22 3,436,297 3,444,462 8,165
New Zealand Dollar Sell 1/18/23 81,201 79,196 (2,005)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 49




FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 10/31/22 (aggregate face value $31,206,217) cont.
Counterparty Currency Contract
type*
Delivery
date
Value Aggregate
face value
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
State Street Bank and Trust Co. cont.
Norwegian Krone Sell 12/21/22 $382,573 $404,040 $21,467
Swedish Krona Sell 12/21/22 576,934 607,169 30,235
Swiss Franc Buy 12/21/22 1,478,942 1,545,293 (66,351)
Toronto-Dominion Bank
British Pound Sell 12/21/22 37,335 37,589 254
Canadian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 614,810 612,992 (1,818)
Japanese Yen Buy 11/16/22 6,090 6,973 (883)
Norwegian Krone Sell 12/21/22 267,777 286,211 18,434
Swedish Krona Sell 12/21/22 562,610 592,441 29,831
Swiss Franc Sell 12/21/22 134,323 140,276 5,953
UBS AG
Canadian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 32,846 32,742 (104)
Euro Sell 12/21/22 89,604 91,257 1,653
Japanese Yen Buy 11/16/22 3,128,784 3,583,136 (454,352)
New Zealand Dollar Sell 1/18/23 15,775 15,748 (27)
Norwegian Krone Buy 12/21/22 376 382 (6)
Swedish Krona Sell 12/21/22 7,148 7,526 378
Swiss Franc Sell 12/21/22 302 258 (44)
WestPac Banking Corp.
Australian Dollar Sell 1/18/23 197,016 199,095 2,079
British Pound Buy 12/21/22 19,874 19,949 (75)
Euro Buy 12/21/22 972,840 993,056 (20,216)
New Zealand Dollar Sell 1/18/23 76,195 74,277 (1,918)
Swiss Franc Buy 12/21/22 8,540 8,904 (364)
Unrealized appreciation 473,319
Unrealized (depreciation) (753,633)
Total $(280,314)
* The exchange currency for all contracts listed is the United States Dollar.

FUTURES CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22
Number of
contracts
Notional
amount
Value Expiration
date
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
U.S. Treasury Note 2 yr (Short) 596 $121,812,156 $121,812,156 Dec-22 $2,484,409
U.S. Treasury Note Ultra 10 yr (Short) 19 2,203,703 2,203,703 Dec-22 194,371
Unrealized appreciation 2,678,780
Unrealized (depreciation)
Total $2,678,780


50 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22
Counterparty
Fixed right or obligation % to receive or (pay)/Floating rate index/
Maturity date
Expiration
date/strike
Notional/Contract
amount
Premium
receivable/
(payable)
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Bank of America N.A.
(1.39)/US SOFR/Dec-26 (Purchased) Dec-24/1.39   $52,095,000 $(599,093) $1,615,466
1.39/US SOFR/Dec-26 (Purchased) Dec-24/1.39   52,095,000 (599,093) (419,365)
(1.085)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Apr-34 (Written) Apr-24/1.085   45,010,100 617,764 496,912
2.17/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Apr-34 (Purchased) Apr-24/2.17   22,505,100 (1,086,996) (852,493)
(1.29)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-34 (Written) Mar-24/1.29   11,252,500 175,539 142,007
2.29/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-34 (Purchased) Mar-24/2.29   7,876,800 (387,426) (304,202)
(0.925)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/0.925   6,653,800 (476,412) 941,579
0.925/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/0.925   6,653,800 (476,412) (303,480)
(0.85)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/0.85   3,388,500 (247,361) 490,248
0.85/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/0.85   3,388,500 (247,361) (159,598)
(3.073)/US SOFR/Jun-37 (Written) Jun-27/3.073   3,193,900 232,356 57,522
3.073/US SOFR/Jun-37 (Written) Jun-27/3.073   3,193,900 232,356 (65,156)
(1.275)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-50 (Purchased) Mar-30/1.275   2,999,900 (390,737) 495,014
1.275/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-50 (Purchased) Mar-30/1.275   2,999,900 (390,737) (242,662)
(3.101)/US SOFR/Jun-39 (Written) Jun-29/3.101   1,264,800 98,781 19,668
3.101/US SOFR/Jun-39 (Written) Jun-29/3.101   1,264,800 98,781 (23,841)
(2.35)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Apr-56 (Purchased) Apr-26/2.35   127,500 (16,575) 13,555
2.35/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Apr-56 (Purchased) Apr-26/2.35   127,500 (16,575) (9,049)
(2.396)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Aug-34 (Written) Aug-24/2.396 EUR 9,221,600 498,029 172,696
2.396/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Aug-34 (Written) Aug-24/2.396 EUR 9,221,600 498,029 (370,636)
(2.406)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Aug-34 (Written) Aug-24/2.406 EUR 3,015,500 163,611 56,293
2.406/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Aug-34 (Written) Aug-24/2.406 EUR 3,015,500 163,611 (118,905)
Barclays Bank PLC
(2.232)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jun-51 (Purchased) Jun-31/2.232   $3,001,900 (363,680) 243,784
2.232/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jun-51 (Purchased) Jun-31/2.232   3,001,900 (363,680) (145,712)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 51



FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Counterparty
Fixed right or obligation % to receive or (pay)/Floating rate index/
Maturity date
Expiration
date/strike
Notional/
Contract
amount
Premium
receivable/
(payable)
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citibank, N.A.
4.108/US SOFR/Jan-28 (Purchased) Jan-23/4.108   $34,574,700 $(496,147) $45,639
(4.108)/US SOFR/Jan-28 (Purchased) Jan-23/4.108   34,574,700 (496,147) (138,299)
1.752/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Dec-31 (Purchased) Dec-26/1.752   32,953,000 (1,074,268) (635,334)
(1.752)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Dec-31 (Purchased) Dec-26/1.752   32,953,000 (1,074,268) 1,984,430
(1.90)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jun-28 (Purchased) Jun-26/1.90   15,499,500 (206,608) 383,148
1.90/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jun-28 (Purchased) Jun-26/1.90   15,499,500 (206,608) (109,581)
2.394/US SOFR/Sep-33 (Purchased) Sep-23/2.394   12,287,500 (148,679) (49,396)
(1.826)/US SOFR/Jan-42 (Purchased) Jan-32/1.826   6,581,000 (486,007) 475,346
1.826/US SOFR/Jan-42 (Purchased) Jan-32/1.826   6,581,000 (486,007) (208,354)
1.75/US SOFR/Mar-53 (Purchased) Mar-23/1.75   5,473,600 (409,699) (400,284)
(1.75)/US SOFR/Mar-53 (Purchased) Mar-23/1.75   5,473,600 (409,699) 1,220,284
(1.724)/US SOFR/Mar-53 (Purchased) Mar-23/1.724   4,497,300 (339,321) 1,020,842
1.724/US SOFR/Mar-53 (Purchased) Mar-23/1.724   4,497,300 (339,321) (331,766)
(1.735)/US SOFR/Mar-53 (Purchased) Mar-23/1.735   4,414,500 (326,342) 999,796
1.735/US SOFR/Mar-53 (Purchased) Mar-23/1.735   4,414,500 (326,342) (318,771)
(2.427)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jun-41 (Purchased) Jun-31/2.427   2,929,600 (213,421) 175,249
2.427/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jun-41 (Purchased) Jun-31/2.427   2,929,600 (213,421) (82,703)
(1.625)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jan-61 (Purchased) Jan-41/1.625   2,670,500 (393,899) 130,561
1.625/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Jan-61 (Purchased) Jan-41/1.625   2,670,500 (393,899) (83,480)
(1.102)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Nov-32 (Purchased) Nov-22/1.102   1,348,000 (42,833) 287,407
1.102/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Nov-32 (Purchased) Nov-22/1.102   1,348,000 (42,833) (43,513)
(2.689)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Nov-49 (Purchased) Nov-24/2.689   1,026,000 (132,098) 62,145
2.689/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Nov-49 (Purchased) Nov-24/2.689   1,026,000 (132,098) (85,948)
(0.055)/3 month EUR-EURIBOR/Mar-25 (Written) Mar-24/0.055 EUR 126,823,600 406,903 342,160
0.555/3 month EUR-EURIBOR/Mar-25 (Purchased) Mar-24/0.555 EUR 63,411,800 (400,007) (335,894)
Goldman Sachs International
(2.40)/US SOFR/May-57 (Purchased) May-27/2.40   $17,014,700 (2,194,896) 1,187,626
2.40/US SOFR/May-57 (Purchased) May-27/2.40   17,014,700 (2,194,896) (696,922)
(2.544)/US SOFR/Nov-32 (Purchased) Nov-22/2.544   8,214,400 (168,395) 685,492
2.544/US SOFR/Nov-32 (Purchased) Nov-22/2.544   8,214,400 (168,395) (168,231)


52 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Counterparty
Fixed right or obligation % to receive or (pay)/Floating rate index/
Maturity date
Expiration
date/strike
Notional/
Contract
amount
Premium
receivable/
(payable)
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Goldman Sachs International cont.
(2.8175)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-47 (Purchased) Mar-27/2.8175   $1,042,500 $(131,616) $45,818
2.8175/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-47 (Purchased) Mar-27/2.8175   1,042,500 (131,616) (62,185)
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
(1.70)/US SOFR/Jan-29 (Written) Jan-24/1.70   10,683,100 227,951 183,642
1.70/US SOFR/Jan-29 (Written) Jan-24/1.70   10,683,100 227,951 (733,715)
(2.317)/US SOFR/Apr-42 (Written) Apr-32/2.317   4,541,400 384,657 141,465
2.317/US SOFR/Apr-42 (Written) Apr-32/2.317   4,541,400 384,657 (192,964)
(1.81)/US SOFR/Jan-37 (Written) Jan-27/1.81   1,876,300 110,889 64,695
1.81/US SOFR/Jan-37 (Written) Jan-27/1.81   1,876,300 110,889 (175,078)
(3.315)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/May-52 (Purchased) May-32/3.315 AUD 6,301,900 (529,932) 109,805
3.315/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/May-52 (Purchased) May-32/3.315 AUD 6,301,900 (529,932) (108,958)
(1.445)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/1.445 AUD 3,080,500 (115,473) 296,236
1.445/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/1.445 AUD 3,080,500 (115,473) (79,409)
(2.495)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Nov-46 (Purchased) Nov-26/2.495 AUD 2,708,400 (168,430) 285,019
2.495/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Nov-46 (Purchased) Nov-26/2.495 AUD 2,708,400 (168,430) (100,914)
(1.692)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jan-35 (Purchased) Jan-25/1.692 AUD 2,049,600 (63,945) 245,686
1.692/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jan-35 (Purchased) Jan-25/1.692 AUD 2,049,600 (63,945) (53,529)
(1.441)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jul-45 (Purchased) Jul-25/1.441 AUD 1,475,600 (87,270) 269,937
1.441/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jul-45 (Purchased) Jul-25/1.441 AUD 1,475,600 (87,270) (70,884)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
(2.5375)/US SOFR/Nov-32 (Purchased) Nov-22/2.5375   $16,914,600 (357,744) 1,409,324
2.5375/US SOFR/Nov-32 (Purchased) Nov-22/2.5375   16,914,600 (357,744) (357,236)
(3.27)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Oct-53 (Purchased) Oct-23/3.27   1,569,900 (179,126) (2,182)
3.27/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Oct-53 (Purchased) Oct-23/3.27   1,569,900 (179,126) (95,576)
(2.505)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Nov-49 (Purchased) Nov-24/2.505   1,026,000 (157,183) 61,180
2.505/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Nov-49 (Purchased) Nov-24/2.505   1,026,000 (110,398) (72,631)
(2.3825)/US SOFR/Jul-56 (Purchased) Jul-26/2.3825   395,200 (50,092) 29,087
2.3825/US SOFR/Jul-56 (Purchased) Jul-26/2.3825   395,200 (50,092) (19,720)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 53




FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Counterparty
Fixed right or obligation % to receive or (pay)/Floating rate index/
Maturity date
Expiration
date/strike
Notional/
Contract
amount
Premium
receivable/
(payable)
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Toronto-Dominion Bank
(1.937)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Feb-36 (Purchased) Feb-26/1.937   $3,722,200 $(194,671) $399,392
1.937/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Feb-36 (Purchased) Feb-26/1.937   3,722,200 (194,671) (128,379)
(2.405)/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-41 (Purchased) Mar-31/2.405   1,097,000 (76,516) 69,835
2.405/3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE/Mar-41 (Purchased) Mar-31/2.405   1,097,000 (76,516) (29,531)
UBS AG
(2.00)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Sep-46 (Purchased) Sep-36/2.00 AUD 2,683,700 (142,840) 99,856
2.00/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Sep-46 (Purchased) Sep-36/2.00 AUD 2,683,700 (142,840) (41,834)
(2.70)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Apr-47 (Purchased) Apr-37/2.70 AUD 2,119,200 (128,674) 36,247
2.70/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Apr-47 (Purchased) Apr-37/2.70 AUD 2,119,200 (128,674) (25,525)
3.292/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Oct-24 (Purchased) Oct-23/3.292 EUR 31,838,700 (183,629) 12,586
(3.292)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Oct-24 (Purchased) Oct-23/3.292 EUR 31,838,700 (183,629) (58,524)
3.255/3 month EUR-EURIBOR/Sep-24 (Purchased) Sep-23/3.255 EUR 10,451,200 (67,250) (5,784)
(3.255)/3 month EUR-EURIBOR/Sep-24 (Purchased) Sep-23/3.255 EUR 10,451,200 (67,250) (24,685)
(0.44)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Feb-41 (Purchased) Feb-31/0.44 EUR 4,469,600 (350,650) 611,368
0.44/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Feb-41 (Purchased) Feb-31/0.44 EUR 4,469,600 (350,650) (156,762)
(1.325)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-49 (Purchased) Apr-29/1.325 EUR 3,027,100 (419,688) 298,675
1.325/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-49 (Purchased) Apr-29/1.325 EUR 3,027,100 (419,688) (142,397)
(0.296)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jan-51 (Purchased) Jan-31/0.296 EUR 1,489,900 (225,445) 271,362
0.296/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jan-51 (Purchased) Jan-31/0.296 EUR 1,489,900 (225,445) (95,897)
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
3.0575/US SOFR/Jan-33 (Purchased) Jan-23/3.0575   $13,918,200 (105,082) (53,865)
Unrealized appreciation 18,686,084
Unrealized (depreciation) (9,591,739)
Total $9,094,345


54 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund




TBA SALE COMMITMENTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 (proceeds receivable $203,261,485)
Agency Principal
amount
Settlement
date
Value
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 5.50%, 11/1/52 $52,000,000 11/14/22 $51,273,992
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 5.00%, 11/1/52 111,000,000 11/14/22 106,984,952
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 3.00%, 11/1/52 14,000,000 11/14/22 11,885,775
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 2.50%, 11/1/52 19,000,000 11/14/22 15,554,776
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 2.00%, 11/1/52 19,000,000 11/14/22 14,964,865
Total $200,664,360

CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $5,643,600 $1,176,465 $236,392 9/1/32 3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE — Quarterly 1.512% — Semiannually $(955,324)
  15,664,000 708,013 757 12/23/23 0.695% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 768,722
  11,952,000 1,361,572 1,027 12/23/26 1.085% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,363,117
  2,726,000 526,936 329 12/23/31 1.285% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 522,643
  1,863,000 668,370 (3,317) 12/23/51 US SOFR — Annually 1.437% — Annually (666,064)
  26,213,000 1,184,303 (2,667) 12/24/23 0.697% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,273,046
  2,921,000 331,709 (391) 12/24/26 1.096% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 328,196
  7,708,000 1,490,265 (3,441) 12/24/31 1.285% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,478,066
  10,761,000 3,864,383 (5,816) 12/24/51 1.435% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 3,823,126
  901,000 309,043 (147) 12/31/51 1.525% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 305,093
  3,179,000 357,510 (422) 12/31/26 US SOFR — Annually 1.135% — Annually (354,568)
  834,000 157,034 15,018 12/31/31 US SOFR — Annually 1.355% — Annually (139,996)
  987,200 68,324 E (22) 1/15/47 1.724% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 68,302
  3,763,000 1,187,753 (128) 1/21/52 1.679% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,168,071
  3,135,000 1,019,251 (107) 1/19/52 US SOFR — Annually 1.626% — Annually (1,010,018)
  1,797,000 575,220 (61) 2/1/52 1.6545% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 566,519
  5,673,300 1,607,586 (193) 2/24/52 US SOFR — Annually 1.86% — Annually (1,578,320)
  2,443,000 732,876 (83) 2/29/52 1.7674% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 723,638
  2,297,000 368,117 (31) 2/29/32 US SOFR — Annually 1.75% — Annually (358,331)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 55



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $18,881,000 $1,784,255 $(153) 2/28/27 1.675% — Annually US SOFR — Annually $1,754,613
  27,752,000 1,158,646 (105) 2/29/24 US SOFR — Annually 1.47709% — Annually (1,152,278)
  2,852,100 472,536 (38) 3/7/32 3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE — Quarterly 1.9575% — Semiannually (477,903)
  10,291,300 1,815,797 (136) 3/9/32 1.5475% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,796,445
  10,670,700 1,887,647 (141) 3/9/32 1.5415% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,869,315
  5,625,000 910,013 (75) 3/11/32 1.737% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 891,944
  1,963,000 61,619 (7) 4/7/24 2.45% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 52,968
  4,130,000 266,013 (33) 4/7/27 2.469% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 240,731
  826,000 96,072 (11) 4/7/23 2.3305% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 91,729
  2,738,000 657,777 (93) 4/7/52 US SOFR — Annually 2.1005% — Annually (646,750)
  294,000 30,397 (4) 4/14/32 2.4975% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 28,165
  5,741,000 1,132,125 (196) 4/14/52 US SOFR — Annually 2.3395% — Annually (1,094,909)
  7,704,000 493,210 (62) 4/14/27 2.483% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 445,222
  11,653,000 377,208 (44) 4/14/24 2.405% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 333,732
  20,689,000 1,163,963 (195) 5/2/27 US SOFR — Annually 2.685% — Annually (1,079,580)
  37,049,100 1,170,752 (140) 5/25/24 2.5945% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,080,832
  318,000 53,418 (11) 5/25/52 US SOFR — Annually 2.501% — Annually (52,257)
  2,268,600 255,739 E (77) 5/28/57 2.40% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 255,662
  4,268,000 358,555 (57) 6/7/32 US SOFR — Annually 2.7565% — Annually (338,966)
  1,489,000 217,528 (51) 6/7/52 US SOFR — Annually 2.622% — Annually (212,743)
  41,026,700 3,224,288 (544) 6/8/32 US SOFR — Annually 2.825% — Annually (3,090,756)
  2,249,900 569,967 (282,393) 6/22/52 2.3075% — Semiannually 3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE — Quarterly 278,074
  38,276,500 800,362 (144) 6/15/24 US SOFR — Annually 3.3385% — Annually (638,306)


56 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $24,962,500 $905,390 $(202) 6/15/27 3.185% — Annually US SOFR — Annually $814,202
  3,048,800 183,202 (43) 9/8/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.07% — Annually (181,618)
  7,910,100 609,631 E (112) 2/3/33 3.13% — Semiannually 3 month USD-LIBOR-ICE — Quarterly 609,519
  10,561,100 1,074,064 E (150) 1/31/33 2.545% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,073,914
  10,561,100 1,069,839 E (150) 1/31/33 2.55% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,069,690
  9,947,100 1,051,906 E (141) 2/1/33 2.495% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,051,765
  10,966,000 1,222,270 (145) 8/2/32 US SOFR — Annually 2.4275% — Annually (1,222,957)
  9,726,100 1,097,882 E (138) 2/1/33 2.4075% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,097,744
  702,700 38,698 E (14) 4/1/42 US SOFR — Annually 2.63% — Annually (38,711)
  1,313,700 119,415 E (20) 3/24/35 US SOFR — Annually 2.39% — Annually (119,435)
  2,872,700 420,678 (85) 8/10/42 2.645% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 420,552
  4,869,000 739,991 (10,855) 8/10/42 US SOFR — Annually 2.605% — Annually (750,573)
  1,996,400 307,146 (59) 8/10/42 2.5915% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 306,910
  13,558,000 748,266 E (127) 2/6/29 2.40% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 748,139
  16,366,000 1,584,065 (216) 8/16/32 US SOFR — Annually 2.613% — Annually (1,582,980)
  1,463,400 45,292 E (32) 1/15/47 2.49% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 45,260
  245,000 19,220 (3) 8/25/32 US SOFR — Annually 2.8415% — Annually (19,118)
  1,990,000 122,007 E (30) 2/21/35 2.785% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 121,977
  22,047,400 464,980 (83) 9/6/24 US SOFR — Annually 3.413% — Annually (441,233)
  7,283,800 112,098 E (40) 1/15/27 US SOFR — Annually 2.73% — Annually (112,138)
  10,399,900 648,330 (137) 9/13/32 3.043% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 643,268
  1,812,300 62,470 E (35) 1/15/41 3.0500% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 62,435
  745,000 26,299 E (15) 1/15/42 2.9825% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 26,284
  7,149,000 315,056 E (18,618) 12/21/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.265% — Annually (333,675)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 57



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $72,940,000 $1,665,950 E $1,425,827 12/21/29 US SOFR — Annually 3.50% — Annually $(240,123)
  3,285,000 309,053 (112) 9/26/52 2.905% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 308,514
  17,083,000 421,096 (161) 9/26/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.465% — Annually (409,469)
  915,000 42,419 (12) 9/19/32 3.24% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 41,926
  185,401,000 1,275,559 E (189,725) 12/21/24 4.20% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,085,834
  68,310,000 626,403 E 144,345 12/21/27 3.80% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 770,748
  51,747,000 1,708,686 E (243,098) 12/21/32 3.40% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,465,588
  2,978,000 222,665 E (24,849) 12/21/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.00% — Annually (247,514)
  5,920,000 173,752 (78) 9/26/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.449% — Annually (169,840)
  1,972,000 130,763 (67) 9/29/52 3.0575% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 129,823
  1,972,000 129,679 (67) 9/29/52 3.0605% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 128,733
  7,758,500 112,731 (102) 9/29/32 3.6305% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 105,117
  10,885,250 67,380 (88) 9/29/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.884% — Annually (54,399)
  7,758,500 106,757 (102) 9/29/32 3.64% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 99,076
  10,885,250 61,393 (88) 9/29/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.8965% — Annually (48,288)
  526,000 2,588 (2) 9/29/24 4.321% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,744
  5,298,000 59,655 (70) 9/29/32 3.67061% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 54,261
  5,930,500 88,246 (48) 9/30/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.6865% — Annually (82,363)
  5,930,500 88,780 (48) 9/30/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.6845% — Annually (82,907)
  12,933,000 109,543 (49) 9/30/24 4.1255% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 96,879
  9,359,000 249,137 (124) 9/30/32 3.4825% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 245,233
  1,675,000 117,719 (57) 10/3/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.0355% — Annually (117,356)
  877,000 6,858 (3) 10/3/24 US SOFR — Annually 4.16% — Annually (5,847)
  6,635,000 165,012 (88) 10/3/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.504% — Annually (160,932)


58 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $2,457,500 $58,095 E $(35) 10/3/33 3.394% — Annually US SOFR — Annually $58,061
  8,207,000 98,976 (66) 10/4/27 3.75% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 92,302
  17,729,000 496,057 (234) 10/5/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.466% — Annually (487,639)
  5,522,000 153,622 (73) 10/5/32 3.468% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 150,846
  3,241,000 104,328 (43) 10/5/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.4145% — Annually (102,914)
  3,996,000 316,883 (136) 10/6/52 US SOFR — Annually 2.9857% — Annually (315,149)
  2,402,000 85,031 E (36) 10/21/36 US SOFR — Annually 3.116% — Annually (85,067)
  837,000 31,312 E (12) 1/11/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.34% — Annually (31,324)
  2,947,000 109,481 E (42) 1/31/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.337% — Annually (109,523)
  2,947,000 110,454 E (42) 1/31/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.333% — Annually (110,495)
  7,500,000 281,925 E (106) 8/23/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.237% — Annually (282,031)
  2,751,000 104,731 E (39) 2/1/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.3255% — Annually (104,769)
  7,211,000 275,604 E (102) 9/1/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.225% — Annually (275,706)
  322,000 12,165 E (5) 11/14/32 3.347% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 12,161
  1,447,000 124,080 E (49) 2/3/53 2.9275% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 124,031
  2,309,000 91,182 E (33) 2/1/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.308% — Annually (91,215)
  5,894,000 92,241 (47) 10/7/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.6685% — Annually (86,727)
  52,307,000 676,330 (12,367) 10/7/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.73% — Annually (663,651)
  93,118,000 2,347,505 (36,608) 10/7/32 3.50% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 2,281,185
  25,980,000 1,756,248 17,399 10/7/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.05% — Annually (1,738,678)
  4,669,000 111,776 (62) 10/11/32 3.5155% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 110,414
  12,095,000 71,844 E (25,820) 12/21/24 4.25% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 46,025
  3,776,000 74,349 (50) 10/11/32 3.5675% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 73,134
  9,743,000 7,600 E (67) 4/8/28 3.44% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 7,532


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 59



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $26,250,000 $26,250 E $(98) 1/31/25 US SOFR — Annually 4.035% — Annually $(26,348)
  1,703,000 74,830 (58) 10/13/52 3.1795% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 73,923
  1,736,000 73,433 (59) 10/14/52 3.1885% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 72,507
  2,783,600 31,594 E (39) 1/17/33 3.6575% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 31,555
  1,011,000 44,181 E (34) 1/16/55 2.97% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 44,146
  3,159,000 15,321 (12) 10/14/24 US SOFR — Annually 4.316% — Annually (11,976)
  2,553,000 39,367 (34) 10/14/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.6195% — Annually (37,577)
  5,377,000 36,779 (43) 10/18/27 US SOFR — Annually 3.865% — Annually (33,720)
  19,803,000 10,298 E (110) 1/16/26 US SOFR — Annually 3.605% — Annually (10,407)
  3,763,000 37,931 (50) 10/20/32 3.6845% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 35,473
  2,916,000 86,693 (99) 10/20/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.2571% — Annually (85,341)
  9,496,100 209,104 E (323) 10/9/54 3.115% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 208,781
  38,617,300 290,402 E (545) 10/10/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.594% — Annually (290,947)
  424,000 6,398 (14) 10/20/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.3375% — Annually (6,190)
  1,048,600 16,274 E (36) 1/24/55 3.135% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 16,239
  3,807,100 6,510 E (36) 4/13/28 3.965% — Annually US SOFR — Annually (6,546)
  1,259,100 3,500 E (19) 4/4/35 3.5575% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 3,481
  2,518,100 2,619 E (28) 5/8/30 US SOFR — Annually 3.52% — Annually (2,647)
  3,447,400 3,068 E (30) 4/4/32 3.515% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 3,038
  15,175,400 42,795 E (214) 11/24/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.708% — Annually 42,581
  7,280,300 13,687 E (103) 6/6/34 US SOFR — Annually 3.645% — Annually 13,584
  4,231,000 12,355 (34) 10/21/27 4.0835% — Annually US SOFR — Annually (15,537)
  1,882,000 16,486 (64) 10/24/52 3.372% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 15,802
  555,600 489 E (8) 2/19/36 US SOFR — Annually 3.6145% — Annually 481


60 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $411,800 $329 E $(6) 3/3/36 US SOFR — Annually 3.614% — Annually $323
  16,229,800 104,358 (214) 10/31/32 3.885% — Annually US SOFR — Annually (106,323)
  5,402,000 39,813 (184) 10/24/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.4605% — Annually 41,517
  4,066,000 110,758 (138) 10/25/52 3.5695% — Annually US SOFR — Annually (111,323)
  14,112,300 8,467 E (53) 6/26/25 US SOFR — Annually 4.31% — Annually 8,414
  2,112,000 37,657 (72) 10/27/32 3.5176% — Annually US SOFR — Annually (38,761)
  6,127,300 48,957 E (86) 12/4/33 US SOFR — Annually 3.77% — Annually 48,871
  1,851,200 6,979 E (21) 3/24/32 US SOFR — Annually 3.64% — Annually 6,958
  5,290,200 28,832 E (79) 6/28/37 US SOFR — Annually 3.70% — Annually 28,752
  1,202,300 9,522 E (23) 6/20/40 US SOFR — Annually 3.75% — Annually 9,499
  3,981,000 7,444 (135) 10/28/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.43% — Annually 8,826
  7,259,000 10,235 (27) 10/28/24 4.4905% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 6,586
  5,010,000 13,577 (66) 10/28/32 3.774% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 11,410
  14,604,000 32,421 (55) 11/1/24 4.4465% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 32,366
  3,981,000 22,134 (135) 11/1/52 US SOFR — Annually 3.389% — Annually (22,270)
  15,665,000 67,203 (126) 11/1/27 3.9195% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 67,077
  11,339,000 1,928 (43) 11/2/24 US SOFR — Annually 4.5545% — Annually (1,970)
  6,981,000 18,849 (92) 11/2/32 3.84% — Annually US SOFR — Annually (18,941)
  48,000 20 11/2/24 US SOFR — Annually 4.585% — Annually 20
AUD 117,100 17,101 E (1) 1/30/35 1.692% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 17,100
AUD 394,200 61,636 E (4) 3/5/35 1.47% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 61,632
AUD 146,400 23,348 E (1) 3/25/35 1.4025% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 23,346


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 61



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
AUD 246,400 $31,599 E $(3) 3/28/40 1.445% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually $31,596
AUD 910,700 126,298 E (11) 4/1/40 1.1685% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 126,287
AUD 59,000 14,046 E (1) 7/2/45 1.441% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 14,045
AUD 2,800,000 336,837 (31) 4/6/31 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 1.87% — Semiannually (338,792)
AUD 139,000 2,892 E 2,545 12/21/32 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 4.21% — Semiannually (348)
AUD 7,798,000 32,023 E (24,440) 12/21/24 3.78% — Quarterly 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Quarterly 7,583
AUD 1,679,200 300,308 E 292,173 11/24/42 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 2.50% — Semiannually (8,135)
CAD 118,000 639 E 438 12/21/32 3.69% — Semiannually 3 month CAD-BA-CDOR — Semiannually 1,077
CAD 11,625,000 10,837 E (9,746) 12/21/24 4.425% — Semiannually 3 month CAD-BA-CDOR — Semiannually (20,583)
CHF 1,613,000 1,337 E 4 12/21/32 Swiss Average Rate Overnight — Annually 2.01% — Annually 1,341
EUR 757,000 81,843 E (29) 11/29/58 1.484% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 81,814
EUR 1,029,500 235,041 (40) 2/19/50 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 1.354% — Annually (226,896)
EUR 1,137,000 279,629 (43) 3/11/50 1.267% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 272,418
EUR 1,150,600 295,050 (44) 3/12/50 1.2115% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 288,281
EUR 1,295,500 357,812 (50) 3/26/50 1.113% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 351,413
EUR 1,120,200 148,963 E (42) 11/29/58 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 1.343% — Annually (149,005)


62 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
EUR 1,336,000 $381,501 $(50) 2/19/50 1.051% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually $373,665
EUR 1,095,100 287,279 E (42) 6/7/54 1.054% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 287,237
EUR 999,500 313,277 (38) 2/19/50 0.9035% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 308,446
EUR 531,600 177,112 (20) 2/21/50 0.80% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 174,971
EUR 2,146,300 791,227 E (82) 8/8/54 0.49% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 791,145
EUR 1,338,400 572,189 E (50) 6/6/54 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 0.207% — Annually (572,239)
EUR 1,741,600 766,525 (66) 2/19/50 0.233% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 766,286
EUR 7,327,800 2,723,892 (277) 2/19/50 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 0.595% — Annually (2,704,863)
EUR 835,200 374,007 E (31) 3/4/54 0.134% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 373,976
EUR 371,500 192,463 E (14) 3/13/54 0.2275% plus 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 192,449
EUR 2,672,400 502,133 E (57) 5/13/40 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 0.276% — Annually (502,190)
EUR 1,304,300 239,775 E (28) 6/24/40 0.315% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 239,747
EUR 1,668,900 315,229 E (39) 1/16/40 0.315% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 315,190
EUR 616,100 114,904 E (14) 3/28/40 0.3175% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 114,890
EUR 1,486,800 584,573 (61) 5/21/51 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 0.516% — Annually (580,609)
EUR 1,439,000 304,555 (25) 6/14/31 0.171% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 304,058


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 63



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
EUR 1,449,200 $319,059 $(25) 7/15/31 0.0675% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually $320,337
EUR 402,600 171,175 (16) 9/14/52 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 0.374% — Annually (171,787)
EUR 4,360,000 843,743 (70) 3/7/32 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 0.60% — Annually (835,205)
EUR 4,204,900 90,964 E (67) 2/2/36 2.875% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 90,897
EUR 4,268,300 143,628 (64) 9/8/32 2.615% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 135,803
EUR 17,670,700 449,849 E (67) 6/28/25 1.718% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 449,782
EUR 2,308,000 390,304 (80) 8/29/52 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 1.636% — Annually (387,950)
EUR 5,951,400 336,303 E (68) 9/12/29 1.71% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 336,235
EUR 17,432,000 1,168,002 (167) 9/2/27 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 1.372% — Annually (1,163,985)
EUR 696,400 53,605 E (24) 6/6/54 2.005% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 53,581
EUR 1,029,000 67,136 E (35) 6/7/54 2.065% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 67,102
EUR 742,000 28,217 E 46,150 12/21/32 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 2.624% — Annually 17,933
EUR 9,692,000 3,544 (36) 10/10/24 2.7975% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually (1,332)
EUR 14,927,000 25,520 E (74,549) 12/21/24 2.91% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually (49,028)
EUR 2,722,200 27,898 E (40) 2/18/36 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 3.285% — Annually 27,857
EUR 696,400 3,393 E (13) 8/22/39 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 3.14% — Annually 3,380
EUR 15,698,000 65,467 E (107) 6/26/28 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 3.26% — Annually 65,360


64 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
EUR 1,373,500 $6,420 E $(26) 3/28/40 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 3.09% — Annually $6,394
GBP 1,039,300 264,774 (21) 5/19/31 Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 0.754% — Annually (264,105)
GBP 53,602,900 1,750,717 44,401 9/15/23 Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 0.84% — Annually (1,797,913)
GBP 53,602,900 1,833,089 66,677 9/15/23 Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 0.68% — Annually (1,870,436)
GBP 53,602,900 1,915,461 (104,100) 9/15/23 0.52% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 1,927,810
GBP 21,441,200 654,061 (110) 9/15/23 1.065% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 669,102
GBP 252,000 11,034 E (982) 12/21/32 Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 3.34% — Annually (12,016)
GBP 9,410,000 248,418 (142) 9/21/32 3.522% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 231,218
GBP 1,109,000 11,332 E (24) 1/14/40 3.306% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually (11,355)
GBP 571,000 5,298 E (12) 8/20/39 3.299% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually (5,310)
GBP 2,735,000 38,548 E (17,186) 12/21/24 5.34% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually (55,734)
GBP 31,236,000 620,069 E (131) 11/7/24 5.495% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually (620,200)
GBP 12,449,000 630,023 E (197) 11/9/32 Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 4.35% — Annually 629,825


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 65




CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 10/31/22 cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
GBP 816,700 $36,574 E $(18) 2/26/39 Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 3.778% — Annually $36,556
JPY 121,551,800 114,934 E (35) 8/29/43 Bank of Japan Unsecured Overnight Call Rate Expected Index — Annually 0.343% — Annually (114,969)
JPY 176,833,300 46,166 (39,307) 2/25/31 0.003% — Annually Tokyo Overnight Average Rate — Annually 6,698
JPY 49,318,800 20,335 E (8,047) 8/29/43 0.7495% — Annually Tokyo Overnight Average Rate — Annually 12,288
JPY 66,881,600 73,595 E (64,521) 8/29/43 0.194% — Annually Tokyo Overnight Average Rate — Annually 9,074
NOK 4,760,000 8,745 E 545 12/21/32 3.48% — Annually 6 month NOK-NIBOR-NIBR — Semiannually 9,290
NZD 2,097,000 48,878 E (2,794) 12/21/32 3 month NZD-BBR-FRA — Quarterly 4.175% — Semiannually (51,672)
SEK 29,913,000 45,921 E (5,745) 12/21/32 2.925% — Annually 3 month SEK-STIBOR-SIDE — Quarterly 40,176
Total $1,068,078 $10,490,784
E Extended effective date.
OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/22
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Bank of America N.A.
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index B+/P $11,962   $122,502 $27,808 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly $(15,775)
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index B+/P 22,719   263,905 59,906 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly (37,033)
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index B+/P 46,609   528,509 119,972 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly (73,054)
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index B+/P 44,403   545,309 123,785 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly (79,064)
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 2,789   13,370 1,471 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 1,323
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 3,878   19,183 2,110 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 1,775


66 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. cont.
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P $5,828   $24,415 $2,686 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly $3,151
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 8,016   30,810 3,389 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 4,639
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 8,498   41,273 4,540 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 3,974
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 9,789   47,668 5,243 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 4,564
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 13,284   63,363 6,970 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 6,339
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 15,280   74,408 8,185 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 7,124
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 16,700   81,965 9,016 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 7,715
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 23,398   113,937 12,533 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 10,909
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 28,780   141,259 15,538 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 13,297
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 31,313   152,885 16,817 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 14,556
CMBX NA BB.11 Index BB−/P 203,965   361,000 77,687 11/18/54 500 bp — Monthly 126,629
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 4,099   41,000 10,730 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (6,591)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 14,062   149,000 38,993 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (24,787)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 24,693   271,000 70,921 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (45,964)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 102,843   1,128,000 295,198 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (191,258)
CMBX NA BB.14 Index BB/P 15,130   138,000 32,237 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (16,972)
CMBX NA BB.6 Index B-/P 154,927   777,600 296,965 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly (141,282)
CMBX NA BB.7 Index B-/P 50,574   991,000 329,508 1/17/47 500 bp — Monthly (277,970)
CMBX NA BB.9 Index B/P 2,036   10,000 3,163 9/17/58 500 bp — Monthly (1,117)
CMBX NA BB.9 Index B/P 34,922   171,000 54,087 9/17/58 500 bp — Monthly (18,999)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index BB+/P 15,634   126,000 22,327 11/17/59 300 bp — Monthly (6,619)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index BB+/P 23,891   219,000 38,807 11/17/59 300 bp — Monthly (14,788)
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index BBB−/P 22,737   363,000 56,483 11/18/54 300 bp — Monthly (33,534)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 67



OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. cont.
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index BBB−/P $3,709   $73,000 $14,206 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly $(10,454)
CMBX NA BBB−.15 Index BBB−/P 10,237   98,000 18,395 11/18/64 300 bp — Monthly (8,101)
CMBX NA BBB−.15 Index BBB−/P 3,908   23,000 4,317 11/18/64 300 bp — Monthly (396)
Credit Suisse International
CMBX NA BB.7 Index B-/P 27,822   208,000 69,160 1/17/47 500 bp — Monthly (41,136)
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index BB−/P 139,477   1,887,000 392,685 1/17/47 300 bp — Monthly (252,107)
Goldman Sachs International
CMBX NA A.13 Index A-/P (1,723)   325,000 26,683 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (28,279)
CMBX NA BB.6 Index B-/P 114,295   241,200 92,114 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly 22,415
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index BBB−/P 296   5,000 973 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (674)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index BBB−/P 16,780   106,000 20,628 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (3,786)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index BBB−/P 18,648   119,000 23,157 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (4,440)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index BBB−/P 7,982   127,000 24,714 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (16,658)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index BBB−/P 28,946   171,000 33,277 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (4,231)
CMBX NA BBB−.14 Index BBB−/P 89   2,000 369 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (279)
CMBX NA BBB−.14 Index BBB−/P 237   5,000 923 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (683)
CMBX NA BBB−.14 Index BBB−/P 233   5,000 923 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (686)
CMBX NA BBB−.14 Index BBB−/P 379   10,000 1,845 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (1,460)
CMBX NA BBB−.15 Index BBB−/P 9,319   150,000 28,155 11/18/64 300 bp — Monthly (18,749)
CMBX NA BBB−.15 Index BBB−/P 16,361   177,000 33,223 11/18/64 300 bp — Monthly (16,759)
CMBX NA BBB−.15 Index BBB−/P 15,760   177,000 33,223 11/18/64 300 bp — Monthly (17,360)
JPMorgan Securities LLC
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P (94)   16,000 1,349 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (1,437)
CMBX NA BB.10 Index B+/P 10,591   132,000 42,926 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly (32,207)
CMBX NA BB.6 Index B-/P 167,824   234,720 89,640 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly 78,413


68 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
JPMorgan Securities LLC cont.
CMBX NA BB.7 Index B-/P $272,738   $557,000 $185,203 1/17/47 500 bp — Monthly $88,077
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index BBB−/P 441   4,000 622 11/18/54 300 bp — Monthly (180)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index BBB−/P 529   4,000 778 12/16/72 300 bp — Monthly (247)
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index BB/P 9,980   64,000 10,758 10/17/57 300 bp — Monthly (741)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
CMBX NA A.13 Index A-/P (67)   8,000 657 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (721)
CMBX NA A.13 Index A-/P (1,128)   188,000 15,435 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (16,489)
CMBX NA A.13 Index A-/P (8,231)   552,000 45,319 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (53,336)
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P (25)   2,000 169 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (193)
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P (163)   11,000 927 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (1,086)
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P (386)   29,000 2,445 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (2,820)
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P 1,152   41,000 3,456 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (2,289)
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P (382)   65,000 5,480 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (5,837)
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P (1,340)   86,000 7,250 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (8,556)
CMBX NA A.14 Index A-/P (1,917)   123,000 10,369 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly (12,238)
CMBX NA A.6 Index A-/P 8,076   52,899 5,819 5/11/63 200 bp — Monthly 2,278
CMBX NA A.7 Index BBB+/P 199   41,000 2,317 1/17/47 200 bp — Monthly (2,101)
CMBX NA A.7 Index BBB+/P (96)   99,000 5,594 1/17/47 200 bp — Monthly (5,651)
CMBX NA BB.11 Index BB−/P 4,232   50,000 10,760 11/18/54 500 bp — Monthly (6,479)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 3,325   36,000 9,421 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (6,061)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 4,401   47,000 12,300 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (7,854)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 6,237   68,000 17,796 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (11,493)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 10,770   112,000 29,310 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (18,431)
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P 11,626   125,000 32,713 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly (20,965)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 69




OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC cont.
CMBX NA BB.13 Index BB−/P $22,127   $241,000 $63,070 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly $(40,708)
CMBX NA BB.6 Index B-/P 47,886   140,400 53,619 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly (5,596)
CMBX NA BB.6 Index B-/P 96,100   280,800 107,238 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly (10,864)
CMBX NA BBB−.15 Index BBB−/P 8,179   145,000 27,217 11/18/64 300 bp — Monthly (18,953)
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index BB−/P 6,261   92,000 19,145 1/17/47 300 bp — Monthly (12,830)
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index BB−/P 9,520   143,000 29,758 1/17/47 300 bp — Monthly (20,154)
CMBX NA BBB−.9 Index BB+/P 291   3,000 607 9/17/58 300 bp — Monthly (314)
Upfront premium received 2,079,722 Unrealized appreciation 397,178
Upfront premium (paid) (15,552) Unrealized (depreciation) (1,737,876)
Total $2,064,170 Total $(1,340,698)
* 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, 2022. Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications.

OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/22
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
CMBX NA A.7 Index   $(1,038)   $140,000 $7,910 1/17/47 (200 bp) — Monthly $6,818
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (84,868)   352,000 114,470 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 29,261
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (77,265)   303,000 98,536 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 20,976
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (13,254)   127,000 41,300 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 27,923
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (11,403)   104,000 33,821 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 22,316
CMBX NA BB.11 Index   (8,181)   119,000 25,609 11/18/54 (500 bp) — Monthly 17,312
CMBX NA BB.11 Index   (8,376)   116,000 24,963 11/18/54 (500 bp) — Monthly 16,474
CMBX NA BB.11 Index   (3,775)   74,000 15,925 11/18/54 (500 bp) — Monthly 12,078


70 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. cont.
CMBX NA BB.11 Index   $(3,839)   $74,000 $15,925 11/18/54 (500 bp) — Monthly $12,014
CMBX NA BB.8 Index   (42,146)   117,890 43,384 10/17/57 (500 bp) — Monthly 1,123
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (605)   15,000 4,745 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 4,125
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (128,609)   748,000 132,546 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 3,500
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (50,836)   219,000 38,807 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (12,157)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (36,025)   151,000 26,757 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (9,356)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (27,941)   128,000 22,682 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (5,334)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (22,416)   103,000 18,252 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (4,225)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (25,919)   87,000 15,416 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (10,554)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (6,884)   54,000 9,569 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 2,654
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (11,811)   48,000 8,506 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (3,334)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (5,991)   47,000 8,328 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 2,310
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (2,447)   20,000 3,544 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 1,086
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index   (18,545)   126,000 19,606 11/18/54 (300 bp) — Monthly 987
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index   (37,724)   115,000 17,894 11/18/54 (300 bp) — Monthly (19,897)
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index   (16,668)   52,000 8,091 11/18/54 (300 bp) — Monthly (8,607)
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index   (5,740)   39,000 6,068 11/18/54 (300 bp) — Monthly 306
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (65,030)   370,000 64,898 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (286)
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (96,979)   279,000 48,937 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (48,205)
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (17,830)   259,000 45,429 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly 27,447
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (62,518)   183,000 32,098 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (30,526)
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (21,090)   60,000 10,524 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (10,601)
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (18,378)   55,000 9,647 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (8,763)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 71



OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. cont.
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   $(8,458)   $24,000 $4,210 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly $(4,262)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index   (5,532)   73,000 14,206 12/16/72 (300 bp) — Monthly 8,631
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index   (2,852)   56,000 10,898 12/16/72 (300 bp) — Monthly 8,013
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index   (2,824)   56,000 10,898 12/16/72 (300 bp) — Monthly 8,041
CMBX NA BBB−.14 Index   (2,785)   14,000 2,583 12/16/72 (300 bp) — Monthly (210)
CMBX NA BBB−.14 Index   (1,538)   8,000 1,476 12/16/72 (300 bp) — Monthly (67)
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (56,811)   363,000 61,020 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 3,998
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (24,698)   178,000 29,922 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 5,120
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (24,063)   154,000 25,887 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 1,735
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (17,483)   126,000 21,181 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 3,625
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (6,870)   48,000 8,069 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 1,171
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (3,861)   29,000 4,875 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 997
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (3,000)   20,000 3,362 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 350
CMBX NA BBB−.9 Index   (1,656)   7,000 1,415 9/17/58 (300 bp) — Monthly (245)
Credit Suisse International
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (31,275)   263,000 85,528 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 53,997
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (35,090)   263,000 85,528 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 50,181
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (17,278)   139,000 45,203 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 27,790
CMBX NA BB.7 Index   (31,365)   1,279,440 488,618 5/11/63 (500 bp) — Monthly 456,009
Goldman Sachs International
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (32,595)   286,005 31,461 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (1,246)
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (23,414)   163,349 17,968 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (5,510)
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (18,150)   127,889 14,068 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (4,132)
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (14,603)   102,892 11,318 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (3,324)


72 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Goldman Sachs International cont.
CMBX NA A.6 Index   $(7,269)   $51,737 $5,691 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly $(1,598)
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (96)   581 64 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (33)
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (107,469)   475,000 154,470 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 46,539
CMBX NA BB.6 Index   (31,267)   154,080 58,843 5/11/63 (500 bp) — Monthly 27,426
CMBX NA BB.7 Index   (303,312)   1,794,000 596,505 1/17/47 (500 bp) — Monthly 291,448
CMBX NA BB.7 Index   (2,270)   15,000 4,988 1/17/47 (500 bp) — Monthly 2,703
CMBX NA BB.7 Index   (1,147)   7,000 2,328 1/17/47 (500 bp) — Monthly 1,174
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (2,155)   20,000 6,326 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 4,151
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (731)   7,000 2,214 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 1,477
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (476)   4,000 1,265 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 785
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (49,648)   278,000 48,761 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (1,049)
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (4,289)   22,000 3,859 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (443)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index   (3,713)   49,000 9,535 12/16/72 (300 bp) — Monthly 5,794
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index   (9,501)   141,000 29,342 1/17/47 (300 bp) — Monthly 19,759
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index   (4,210)   62,000 12,902 1/17/47 (300 bp) — Monthly 8,656
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index   (759)   11,000 2,289 1/17/47 (300 bp) — Monthly 1,524
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index   (312)   3,000 624 1/17/47 (300 bp) — Monthly 311
JPMorgan Securities LLC
CMBX NA BB.11 Index   (15,271)   28,000 6,026 11/18/54 (500 bp) — Monthly (9,272)
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (31,118)   259,000 45,429 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly 14,160
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index   (416,704)   1,775,000 369,378 1/17/47 (300 bp) — Monthly (48,362)


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 73



OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Merrill Lynch International
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   $(14,452)   $254,000 $82,601 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly $67,901
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index   (311,197)   954,816 216,743 5/11/63 (300 bp) — Monthly (95,011)
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index   (164,301)   505,409 114,728 5/11/63 (300 bp) — Monthly (49,868)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (15,600)   93,010 10,231 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (5,405)
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (4,165)   29,647 3,261 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (916)
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (290)   1,744 192 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (99)
CMBX NA A.6 Index   (84)   581 64 5/11/63 (200 bp) — Monthly (20)
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (78,440)   334,000 108,617 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 29,852
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (54,068)   178,000 57,886 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 3,645
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (13,319)   127,000 41,300 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 27,858
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (3,939)   64,000 20,243 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 16,242
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (1,845)   30,000 9,489 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 7,615
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (977)   25,000 7,908 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 6,906
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (676)   9,000 2,847 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 2,162
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (324)   6,000 1,898 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 1,568
CMBX NA BB.9 Index   (50)   1,000 316 9/17/58 (500 bp) — Monthly 266
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (31,090)   359,000 63,615 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 32,316
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (31,018)   184,000 32,605 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 1,479
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (21,346)   173,000 30,656 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 9,209
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (25,780)   109,000 19,315 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (6,529)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (26,573)   109,000 19,315 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (7,322)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (11,922)   94,000 16,657 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 4,680
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (11,034)   87,000 15,416 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly 4,332


74 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund




OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 10/31/22 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC cont.
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   $(13,752)   $63,000 $11,164 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly $(2,625)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (12,857)   56,000 9,923 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (2,967)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (5,421)   25,000 4,430 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (1,005)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (4,757)   22,000 3,898 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (872)
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index   (6,242)   20,000 3,112 11/18/54 (300 bp) — Monthly (3,142)
CMBX NA BBB−.11 Index   (4,747)   15,000 2,334 11/18/54 (300 bp) — Monthly (2,422)
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (1,319)   32,000 5,613 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly 4,275
CMBX NA BBB−.12 Index   (4,320)   13,000 2,280 8/17/61 (300 bp) — Monthly (2,048)
CMBX NA BBB−.13 Index   (22,865)   371,000 72,197 12/16/72 (300 bp) — Monthly 49,115
CMBX NA BBB−.7 Index   (1,397)   22,000 4,578 1/17/47 (300 bp) — Monthly 3,169
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (2,282)   18,000 3,026 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 733
CMBX NA BBB−.8 Index   (469)   3,000 504 10/17/57 (300 bp) — Monthly 34
Upfront premium received Unrealized appreciation 1,537,632
Upfront premium (paid) (3,194,967) Unrealized (depreciation) (431,849)
Total $(3,194,967) Total $1,105,783
* 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.

CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 10/31/22
Referenced debt* Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
CDX NA HY Series 38 Index B+/P $4,062   $7,928,910 $60,815 6/20/27 500 bp — Quarterly $111,129
Total $4,062 $111,129
* 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, 2022. Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications.


Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 75



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 $— $3,221,926 $—
Collateralized loan obligations 34,287,074
Convertible bonds and notes 3,552,268
Corporate bonds and notes 54,640,534
Foreign government and agency bonds and notes 18,691,886
Mortgage-backed securities 137,326,472
Senior loans 17,738,744
U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations 425,063,437
U.S. treasury obligations 2,347,446
Short-term investments 4,027,000 80,562,523
Totals by level $4,027,000 $777,432,310 $—
Valuation inputs
Other financial instruments: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Forward currency contracts $— $(280,314) $—
Futures contracts 2,678,780
Forward premium swap option contracts 9,094,345
TBA sale commitments (200,664,360)
Interest rate swap contracts 9,422,706
Credit default contracts 1,002,949
Totals by level $2,678,780 $(181,424,674) $—
At the start and close of the reporting period, Level 3 investments in securities represented less than 1% of the fund’s net assets and were not considered a significant portion of the fund’s portfolio.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


76 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund



Statement of assets and liabilities 10/31/22

ASSETS   
Investment in securities, at value (Notes 1 and 11):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $815,208,756)  $778,709,310 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $2,750,000) (Note 5)  2,750,000 
Interest and other receivables  3,554,251 
Receivable for shares of the fund sold  164,859 
Receivable for investments sold  5,289,886 
Receivable for sales of TBA securities (Note 1)  96,842,128 
Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts (Note 1)  453,606 
Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note 1)  3,997,793 
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1)  473,319 
Unrealized appreciation on forward premium swap option contracts (Note 1)  18,686,084 
Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  1,934,810 
Premium paid on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  3,210,519 
Total assets  916,066,565 
 
LIABILITIES   
Payable to custodian  325,428 
Payable for investments purchased  1,660,911 
Payable for purchases of TBA securities (Note 1)  324,612,776 
Payable for shares of the fund repurchased  631,879 
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2)  179,446 
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  114,774 
Payable for distribution fees (Note 2)  27,218 
Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note 1)  3,689,162 
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1)  753,633 
Unrealized depreciation on forward premium swap option contracts (Note 1)  9,591,739 
TBA sale commitments, at value (proceeds receivable $203,261,485) (Note 1)  200,664,360 
Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  2,169,725 
Premium received on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  2,079,722 
Collateral on certain derivative contracts, at value (Notes 1 and 11)  9,854,612 
Other accrued expenses  3,986 
Total liabilities  556,359,371 
 
Net assets  $359,707,194 
 
REPRESENTED BY   
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4)  $548,538,448 
Total distributable earnings (Note 1)  (188,831,254) 
Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $359,707,194 

 

(Continued on next page)

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 77 

 



Statement of assets and liabilities cont.

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE   
Net asset value and redemption price per class A share   
($105,223,391 divided by 12,681,049 shares)  $8.30 
Offering price per class A share (100/97.75 of $8.30)*  $8.49 
Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($361,627 divided by 43,679 shares)**  $8.28 
Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($5,097,138 divided by 616,316 shares)**  $8.27 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class P share   
($180,381,568 divided by 21,660,987 shares)  $8.33 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R share   
($392,146 divided by 46,970 shares)  $8.35 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R6 share   
($1,213,967 divided by 145,752 shares)  $8.33 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share   
($67,037,357 divided by 8,075,058 shares)  $8.30 

 

*On single retail sales of less than $100,000. On sales of $100,000 or more the offering price is reduced.

**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.

78 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 



Statement of operations Year ended 10/31/22

INVESTMENT INCOME   
Interest (including interest income of $19,209 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5)  $20,345,209 
Total investment income  20,345,209 
 
EXPENSES   
Compensation of Manager (Note 2)  1,852,175 
Distribution fees (Note 2)  369,378 
Other  3,695 
Total expenses  2,225,248 
Expense reduction (Note 2)  (1,478) 
Net expenses  2,223,770 
 
Net investment income  18,121,439 
 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)   
Net realized gain (loss) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3)  (19,893,850) 
Foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  22,460 
Forward currency contracts (Note 1)  (929,951) 
Futures contracts (Note 1)  10,236,480 
Swap contracts (Note 1)  (4,725,454) 
Written options (Note 1)  (23,520,429) 
Total net realized loss  (38,810,744) 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers and TBA sale commitments  (16,156,972) 
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  (3,174) 
Forward currency contracts  1,670,339 
Futures contracts  1,147,487 
Swap contracts  16,234,544 
Written options  4,478,479 
Total change in net unrealized appreciation  7,370,703 
 
Net loss on investments  (31,440,041) 
 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations  $(13,318,602) 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 79 

 



Statement of changes in net assets

DECREASE IN NET ASSETS  Year ended 10/31/22  Year ended 10/31/21 
Operations     
Net investment income  $18,121,439  $17,100,826 
Net realized loss on investments     
and foreign currency transactions  (38,810,744)  (14,459,812) 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     
of investments and assets and liabilities     
in foreign currencies  7,370,703  (4,232,749) 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations  (13,318,602)  (1,591,735) 
Distributions to shareholders (Note 1):     
From ordinary income     
Net investment income     
Class A  (5,932,966)  (4,465,400) 
Class B  (23,268)  (23,543) 
Class C  (300,192)  (361,574) 
Class P  (9,885,836)  (6,564,523) 
Class R  (13,124)  (10,921) 
Class R6  (70,732)  (145,568) 
Class Y  (4,537,163)  (4,287,598) 
Decrease from capital share transactions (Note 4)  (45,348,532)  (52,386,295) 
Total decrease in net assets  (79,430,415)  (69,837,157) 
 
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of year  439,137,609  508,974,766 
End of year  $359,707,194  $439,137,609 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

80 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 



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Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 81 

 



Financial highlights
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS  LESS DISTRIBUTIONS  RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA 
                        Ratio of net   
  Net asset    Net realized                Ratio  investment   
  value,    and unrealized  Total from  From net      Net asset  Total return  Net assets,  of expenses  income (loss)  Portfolio 
  beginning  Net investment  gain (loss)  investment  investment  From  Total  value, end  at net asset  end of period  to average  to average  turnover 
Period ended­  of period­  income (loss)a  on investments­  operations­  income­  return of capital­  distributions  of period­  value (%)b  (in thousands)  net assets (%)c  net assets (%)  (%)d 
Class A­                           
October 31, 2022  $9.04­  .37­  (.68)  (.31)  (.43)  —­  (.43)  $8.30­  (3.51)  $105,223­  .71­  4.30­  997 
October 31, 2021  9.40­  .32­  (.38)  (.06)  (.30)  —­  (.30)  9.04­  (.73)  133,135­  .77­  3.42­  908­ 
October 31, 2020  9.83­  .29­  (.36)  (.07)  (.23)  (.13)  (.36)  9.40­  (.67)  139,880­  .78­  3.05­  844­ 
October 31, 2019  9.73­  .34­  .22­  .56­  (.46)  —­  (.46)  9.83­  5.93­  151,339­  .86­  3.49­  632­ 
October 31, 2018  10.06­  .38­  (.13)  .25­  (.58)  —­  (.58)  9.73­  2.59­  160,939­  .79­  3.87­  532­ 
Class B                           
October 31, 2022­  $9.01­  .36­  (.68)  (.32)  (.41)  —­  (.41)  $8.28­  (3.64)  $362­  .91­  4.14­  997 
October 31, 2021  9.37­  .31­  (.39)  (.08)  (.28)  —­  (.28)  9.01­  (.97)  616­  .97­  3.24­  908­ 
October 31, 2020  9.80­  .28­  (.37)  (.09)  (.22)  (.12)  (.34)  9.37­  (.91)  1,033­  .98­  2.97­  844­ 
October 31, 2019  9.70­  .32­  .21­  .53­  (.43)  —­  (.43)  9.80­  5.69­  1,699­  1.06­  3.37­  632­ 
October 31, 2018  10.00­  .36­  (.13)  .23­  (.53)  —­  (.53)  9.70­  2.42­  2,841­  .99­  3.68­  532­ 
Class C                           
October 31, 2022­  $9.00­  .29 e­  (.65)  (.36)  (.37)  —­  (.37)  $8.27­  (4.16)  $5,097­  1.46e  3.38­  997 
October 31, 2021  9.36­  .24­  (.37)  (.13)  (.23)  —­  (.23)  9.00­  (1.52)  9,014­  1.52­  2.53­  908­ 
October 31, 2020  9.79­  .22­  (.36)  (.14)  (.19)  (.10)  (.29)  9.36­  (1.44)  24,205­  1.53­  2.37­  844­ 
October 31, 2019  9.70­  .27­  .20­  .47­  (.38)  —­  (.38)  9.79­  5.04­  40,918­  1.61­  2.76­  632­ 
October 31, 2018  9.96­  .30­  (.11)  .19­  (.45)  —­  (.45)  9.70­  1.92­  54,654­  1.54­  3.11­  532­ 
Class P                           
October 31, 2022­  $9.07­  .40­  (.68)  (.28)  (.46)  —­  (.46)  $8.33­  (3.24)  $180,382­  .46­  4.59­  997 
October 31, 2021  9.43­  .35­  (.39)  (.04)  (.32)  —­  (.32)  9.07­  (.47)  192,596­  .52­  3.69­  908­ 
October 31, 2020  9.86­  .31­  (.35)  (.04)  (.25)  (.14)  (.39)  9.43­  (.42)  188,742­  .53­  3.30­  844­ 
October 31, 2019  9.76­  .36­  .22­  .58­  (.48)  —­  (.48)  9.86­  6.18­  162,120­  .61­  3.73­  632­ 
October 31, 2018  10.11­  .41­  (.13)  .28­  (.63)  —­  (.63)  9.76­  2.88­  138,235­  .54­  4.14­  532­ 
Class R                           
October 31, 2022­  $9.09­  .36­  (.69)  (.33)  (.41)  —­  (.41)  $8.35­  (3.76)  $392­  .96­  4.12­  997 
October 31, 2021  9.45­  .30­  (.38)  (.08)  (.28)  —­  (.28)  9.09­  (.97)  334­  1.02­  3.15­  908­ 
October 31, 2020  9.88­  .26­  (.35)  (.09)  (.22)  (.12)  (.34)  9.45­  (.91)  355­  1.03­  2.77­  844­ 
October 31, 2019  9.78­  .31­  .22­  .53­  (.43)  —­  (.43)  9.88­  5.64­  388­  1.11­  3.20­  632­ 
October 31, 2018  10.09­  .36­  (.13)  .23­  (.54)  —­  (.54)  9.78­  2.36­  196­  1.04­  3.59­  532­ 
Class R6                           
October 31, 2022­  $9.07­  .40­  (.68)  (.28)  (.46)  —­  (.46)  $8.33­  (3.24)  $1,214­  .46­  4.59­  997 
October 31, 2021  9.43­  .35­  (.39)  (.04)  (.32)  —­  (.32)  9.07­  (.47)  1,509­  .52­  3.66­  908­ 
October 31, 2020  9.86­  .31­  (.35)  (.04)  (.25)  (.14)  (.39)  9.43­  (.42)  10,989­  .53­  3.29­  844­ 
October 31, 2019  9.76­  .36­  .22­  .58­  (.48)  —­  (.48)  9.86­  6.17­  9,865­  .61­  3.74­  632­ 
October 31, 2018  10.11­  .41­  (.13)  .28­  (.63)  —­  (.63)  9.76­  2.87­  9,091­  .54­  4.13­  532­ 

 

See notes to financial highlights at the end of this section.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

82 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund  Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 83 

 



Financial highlights cont.

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS  LESS DISTRIBUTIONS  RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA 
                        Ratio of net   
  Net asset    Net realized                Ratio  investment   
  value,    and unrealized  Total from  From net      Net asset  Total return  Net assets,  of expenses  income (loss)  Portfolio 
  beginning  Net investment  gain (loss)  investment  investment  From  Total  value, end  at net asset  end of period  to average  to average  turnover 
Period ended­  of period­  income (loss)a  on investments­  operations­  income­  return of capital­  distributions  of period­  value (%)b  (in thousands)  net assets (%)c  net assets (%)  (%)d 
Class Y                           
October 31, 2022­  $9.04­  .40­  (.68)  (.28)  (.46)  —­  (.46)  $8.30­  (3.25)  $67,037­  .46­  4.59­  997 
October 31, 2021  9.40­  .35­  (.39)  (.04)  (.32)  —­  (.32)  9.04­  (.48)  101,933­  .52­  3.70­  908­ 
October 31, 2020  9.83­  .32­  (.36)  (.04)  (.25)  (.14)  (.39)  9.40­  (.42)  143,770­  .53­  3.38­  844­ 
October 31, 2019  9.74­  .37­  .20­  .57­  (.48)  —­  (.48)  9.83­  6.08­  194,904­  .61­  3.77­  632­ 
October 31, 2018  10.09­  .41­  (.13)  .28­  (.63)  —­  (.63)  9.74­  2.89­  192,459­  .54­  4.15­  532­ 

 

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 and/or brokerage/service arrangements, if any (Note 2). Also excludes acquired fund fees and expenses, if any.

d Portfolio turnover includes TBA purchase and sale commitments.

e The net investment income ratio and per share amount shown for the period ending may not correspond with the expected class differences for the period due to the timing of subscriptions into the class or redemptions out of the class.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

84 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund  Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 85 

 



Notes to financial statements 10/31/22

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, 2021 through October 31, 2022.

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return 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 positive total return. 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, collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), and collateralized mortgage obligations. The fund currently has significant investment exposure to residential and commercial mortgage-backed investments. 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, bonds with moderate exposure to interest rate and credit risks. Under normal circumstances, Putnam Management will invest at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in fixed-income securities (fixed-income securities include any debt instrument, and may be represented by other investment instruments, including derivatives). This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. 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 the following share classes. The expenses for each class of shares may differ based on the distribution and investor servicing fees of each class, which are identified in Note 2.

Share class  Sales charge  Contingent deferred sales charge  Conversion feature 
    1.00% on certain redemptions of shares   
Class A*  Up to 2.25%  bought with no initial sales charge  None 
      Converts to class A shares 
Class B#  None  1.00% phased out over two years  after 8 years 
      Converts to class A shares 
Class C  None  1.00% eliminated after one year  after 8 years 
Class P  None  None  None 
Class R  None  None  None 
Class R6  None  None  None 
Class Y  None  None  None 

 

* Effective February 28, 2023, the sales charge will be increased to a percentage of up to 4.00%.

# 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.

§ Intended for institutional and other investors who meet the $5,000,000 minimum investment and who are not purchasing through an intermediary.

Only available to other Putnam funds and other accounts managed by Putnam Management or its affiliates.

Not available to all investors.

86 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 



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.

Under the fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and 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.

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sales price on their principal exchange, or official closing price for certain markets, and are classified as Level 1 securities under Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820). If no sales are reported, as in the case of some securities that are traded OTC, a security is valued at its last reported bid price and is generally categorized as a Level 2 security.

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.

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.

Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, on certain days, the fund will fair value certain foreign equity securities taking into account multiple factors including

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 87 

 



movements in the U.S. securities markets, currency valuations and comparisons to the valuation of American Depository Receipts, exchange-traded funds and futures contracts. The foreign equity securities, which would generally be classified as Level 1 securities, will be transferred to Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy when they are valued at fair value. The number of days on which fair value prices will be used will depend on market activity and it is possible that fair value prices will be used by the fund to a significant extent. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

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.

Joint trading account Pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC, the fund may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint trading account along with the cash of other registered investment companies and certain other accounts managed by Putnam Management. These balances may be invested in issues of short-term investments having maturities of up to 90 days.

Repurchase agreements The fund, or any joint trading account, through its custodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities, the fair value of which at the time of purchase is required to be in an amount at least equal to the resale price, including accrued interest. Collateral for certain tri-party repurchase agreements, which totaled $55,244,550 at the end of the reporting period, is held at the counterparty’s custodian in a segregated account for the benefit of the fund and the counterparty. Putnam Management is responsible for determining that the value of these underlying securities is at all times at least equal to the resale price, including accrued interest. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the other party to the agreement, retention of the collateral may be subject to legal proceedings.

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.

Interest income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, if any, and including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis.

The fund may have earned certain fees in connection with its senior loan purchasing activities. These fees, if any, are treated as market discount and are amortized into income in the Statement of operations.

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

88 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 



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 to hedge 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 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 and to gain exposure to currencies.

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.

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 89 

 



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, to hedge 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 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 to hedge credit risk, for gaining liquid exposure to individual names, to hedge market risk and for gaining exposure to specific sectors.

90 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 



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 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.

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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 pledged 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 $395,383 on open derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements. Collateral pledged by the fund at period end for these agreements totaled $831,896 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 $100 million ($317.5 million prior to October 14, 2022) 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 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 Bank Funding Rate for the committed line of credit and 1.30% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate for the uncommitted line of credit. A closing fee equal to 0.04% of the committed line of credit 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.

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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.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the fund will be permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred for an unlimited period and the carry forwards will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. At October 31, 2022, the fund had the following capital loss carryovers available, to the extent allowed by the Code, to offset future net capital gain, if any:

  Loss carryover   
Short-term  Long-term  Total 
$95,481,530  $48,514,538  $143,996,068 

 

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 losses on wash sale transactions, from foreign currency gains and losses, from realized and unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts, from income on swap contracts, from interest-only securities and from litigation and/or restitution payments. 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 $1,483,127 to decrease undistributed net investment income and $1,483,127 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:

Unrealized appreciation  $78,739,412 
Unrealized depreciation  (129,621,199) 
Net unrealized depreciation  (50,881,787) 
Undistributed ordinary income  6,054,771 
Capital loss carryforward  (143,996,068) 
Cost for federal income tax purposes  $653,595,203 

 

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 0.60% 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 BofA U.S. Treasury Bill Index plus 3.00% over the thirty-six month period then ended (the performance period). The maximum annualized performance adjustment rate is +/- 0.12%. Each month, the performance adjustment rate is multiplied by the fund’s average

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 93 

 



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 thirty-six month performance period. 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 management fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact of any expense waiver in effect) of 0.458% of the fund’s average net assets, which included an effective base fee of 0.600% and a decrease of 0.142% ($573,789) based on performance.

Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through February 28, 2023, to waive fees and/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 0.20% (prior to July 1, 2022, the annual rate was 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 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 0.20% (prior to July 1, 2022, the annual rate was 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 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 $1,478 under the expense offset arrangements.

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Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $319, 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:

  Maximum %  Approved %  Amount 
Class A  0.35%  0.25%  $296,844 
Class B  1.00%  0.45%  2,158 
Class C  1.00%  1.00%  68,973 
Class R  1.00%  0.50%  1,403 
Total      $369,378 

 

For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of $8,649 from the sale of class A shares and received $3 and $212 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 $15 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)  $4,548,542,511  $4,524,372,506 
U.S. government securities (Long-term)     
Total  $4,548,542,511  $4,524,372,506 

 

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.

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Note 4: Capital shares

At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions, including, if applicable, direct exchanges pursuant to share conversions, in capital shares were as follows:

  YEAR ENDED 10/31/22  YEAR ENDED 10/31/21 
Class A  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  1,655,800  $14,387,783  3,018,790  $28,769,751 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  651,790  5,657,007  449,507  4,240,597 
  2,307,590  20,044,790  3,468,297  33,010,348 
Shares repurchased  (4,361,331)  (37,908,914)  (3,617,428)  (34,204,534) 
Net decrease  (2,053,741)  $(17,864,124)  (149,131)  $(1,194,186) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 10/31/22  YEAR ENDED 10/31/21 
Class B  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  2,719  $23,710  1,345  $12,777 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  2,682  23,268  2,446  23,060 
  5,401  46,978  3,791  35,837 
Shares repurchased  (30,040)  (261,186)  (45,719)  (432,296) 
Net decrease  (24,639)  $(214,208)  (41,928)  $(396,459) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 10/31/22  YEAR ENDED 10/31/21 
Class C  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  38,705  $336,567  129,031  $1,222,034 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  34,043  295,268  37,577  354,872 
  72,748  631,835  166,608  1,576,906 
Shares repurchased  (457,500)  (3,967,429)  (1,750,668)  (16,683,455) 
Net decrease  (384,752)  $(3,335,594)  (1,584,060)  $(15,106,549) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 10/31/22  YEAR ENDED 10/31/21 
Class P  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  7,954,761  $69,354,955  15,917,117  $151,466,493 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  1,136,023  9,884,543  693,509  6,564,523 
  9,090,784  79,239,498  16,610,626  158,031,016 
Shares repurchased  (8,666,619)  (75,349,909)  (15,382,964)  (146,514,244) 
Net increase  424,165  $3,889,589  1,227,662  $11,516,772 
 
  YEAR ENDED 10/31/22  YEAR ENDED 10/31/21 
Class R  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  24,096  $203,409  8,165  $77,986 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  1,508  13,124  1,151  10,921 
  25,604  216,533  9,316  88,907 
Shares repurchased  (15,439)  (135,968)  (10,063)  (95,054) 
Net increase (decrease)  10,165  $80,565  (747)  $(6,147) 

 

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  YEAR ENDED 10/31/22  YEAR ENDED 10/31/21 
Class R6  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  7,972  $70,214  138,822  $1,332,356 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  8,118  70,732  15,264  145,568 
  16,090  140,946  154,086  1,477,924 
Shares repurchased  (36,745)  (324,726)  (1,152,671)  (11,092,075) 
Net decrease  (20,655)  $(183,780)  (998,585)  $(9,614,151) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 10/31/22  YEAR ENDED 10/31/21 
Class Y  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  3,264,410  $28,503,132  4,352,295  $41,512,026 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  517,412  4,494,864  449,507  4,248,199 
  3,781,822  32,997,996  4,801,802  45,760,225 
Shares repurchased  (6,980,317)  (60,718,976)  (8,814,874)  (83,345,800) 
Net decrease  (3,198,495)  $(27,720,980)  (4,013,072)  $(37,585,575) 

 

At the close of the reporting period, the Putnam RetirementReady Funds owned 50.1% 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 10/31/21  cost  proceeds  income  of 10/31/22 
Short-term investments           
Putnam Short Term           
Investment Fund**  $23,846,323  $50,509,658  $71,605,981  $19,209  $2,750,000 
Total Short-term           
investments  $23,846,323  $50,509,658  $71,605,981  $19,209  $2,750,000 

 

** 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 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.

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On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced its intention to cease compelling banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR after 2021. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis after June 30, 2023. In addition, global regulators have announced that, with limited exceptions, no new LIBOR-based contracts should be entered into after 2021. LIBOR has historically been a common benchmark interest rate index used to make adjustments to variable-rate loans. It is used throughout global banking and financial industries to determine interest rates for a variety of financial instruments and borrowing arrangements. Actions by regulators have resulted in the establishment of alternative reference rates to LIBOR in most major currencies. Various financial industry groups have been planning for the transition away from LIBOR, but there are obstacles to converting certain longer-term securities and transactions to new reference rates. Markets are developing slowly and questions around liquidity in these rates and how to appropriately adjust these rates to mitigate any economic value transfer at the time of transition remain a significant concern. Neither the effect of the transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. The transition process might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates. It could also lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of related transactions, such as hedges. While some LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, not all may have such provisions and there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur at any time.

Beginning in January 2020, global financial markets have experienced, and may continue to experience, significant volatility resulting from the spread of a virus known as Covid–19. The outbreak of Covid–19 has resulted in travel and border restrictions, quarantines, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, and general market uncertainty. The effects of Covid–19 have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the global economy, the economies of certain nations, and individual issuers, all of which may negatively impact the fund’s performance.

Note 7: Senior loan commitments

Senior loans are purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis and may be settled a month or more after the trade date, which from time to time can delay the actual investment of available cash balances; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Senior loans can be acquired through an agent, by assignment from another holder of the loan, or as a participation interest in another holder’s portion of the loan. When the fund invests in a loan or participation, the fund is subject to the risk that an intermediate participant between the fund and the borrower will fail to meet its obligations to the fund, in addition to the risk that the borrower under the loan may default on its obligations.

Note 8: Actions by shareholders

On October 19, 2022 the fund’s shareholders approved a change in the fund’s management fee structure. Effective on or about March 1, 2023, the fund’s base management fee will be reduced from 0.60% to 0.39% of the monthly average of the fund’s average net assets and the fund’s management fee will no longer have a performance adjustment.

Note 9: Strategy and name change

Shareholders were informed through a supplement to the fund’s prospectus dated July 21, 2022 that Putnam Management has recommended, and the fund’s Board of Trustees has approved, changes to the fund’s investment strategy in order to align with the needs of Putnam Management’s clients and the broader marketplace. In connection with these changes, the fund’s name will change to Putnam Core Bond Fund. Putnam Management anticipates that the changes will be effective on or about the first quarter of 2023. See the prospectus supplement for more information.

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Note 10: 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 currency option contracts (contract amount)  $6,800,000 
Purchased swap option contracts (contract amount)  $1,121,000,000 
Written currency option contracts (contract amount)  $510,000 
Written swap option contracts (contract amount)  $932,400,000 
Futures contracts (number of contracts)  900 
Forward currency contracts (contract amount)  $117,900,000 
Centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts (notional)  $1,210,100,000 
Centrally cleared total return swap contracts (notional)  $7,100,000 
OTC credit default contracts (notional)  $48,300,000 
Centrally cleared credit default contracts (notional)  $1,800,000 

 

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 
  Receivables, Net       
  assets — Unrealized       
Credit contracts  appreciation  $4,407,817*  Payables  $3,404,868 
Foreign exchange         
contracts  Receivables  473,319  Payables  753,633 
  Investments,       
  Receivables, Net       
  assets — Unrealized    Payables, Net assets —   
Interest rate contracts  appreciation  70,856,212*  Unrealized depreciation  49,660,381* 
Total    $75,737,348    $53,818,882 

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts and/or 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.

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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  $—  $—  $—  $(3,882,304)  $(3,882,304) 
Foreign exchange contracts  (361,854)    (929,951)    $(1,291,805) 
Interest rate contracts  (13,955,112)  10,236,480    (843,150)  $(4,561,782) 
Total  $(14,316,966)  $10,236,480  $(929,951)  $(4,725,454)  $(9,735,891) 
 
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  $—  $—  $—  $4,576,690  $4,576,690 
Foreign exchange contracts  376,242    1,670,339    $2,046,581 
Interest rate contracts  7,924,282  1,147,487    11,657,854  $20,729,623 
Total  $8,300,524  $1,147,487  $1,670,339  $16,234,544  $27,352,894 

 

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Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 101 

 



Note 11: 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)
BofA
Securities,
Inc.
Citibank, N.A. Citigroup
Global
Markets, Inc.
Credit Suisse International Goldman
Sachs
International
HSBC Bank USA, National Association JPMorgan
Chase Bank N.A.
JPMorgan
Securities LLC
Merrill Lynch International Morgan
Stanley & Co. International
PLC
NatWest
Markets PLC
State Street Bank and
Trust Co.
Toronto- Dominion
Bank
UBS AG Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. WestPac
Banking Corp.
Total
Assets:                                         
Centrally cleared                                         
interest rate                                         
swap contracts§  $—  $—  $3,997,793  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $3,997,793 
OTC Credit                                         
default                                         
contracts —                                         
protection                                         
sold*#                                         
OTC Credit                                         
default                                         
contracts —                                         
protection                                         
purchased*#            1,170,324  702,985  1,011,798      419,619  412,972  583,052              4,300,750 
Centrally cleared                                         
credit default                                         
contracts§                                         
Futures                                         
contracts§                      453,606                  453,606 
Forward                                         
currency                                         
contracts#  527        114      1,468  1,006  20,552      313,250  43  77,777  54,472  2,031    2,079  473,319 
Forward                                         
premium                                         
swap option                                         
contracts#  4,500,960  243,784      7,127,007      1,918,936    1,596,485      1,499,591      469,227  1,330,094      18,686,084 
Repurchase                                         
agreements**            54,161,000                            54,161,000 
Total Assets  $4,501,487  $243,784  $3,997,793  $—  $7,127,121  $55,331,324  $702,985  $2,932,202  $1,006  $1,617,037  $873,225  $412,972  $2,395,893  $43  $77,777  $523,699  $1,332,125  $—  $2,079  $87,072,552 
Liabilities:                                         
Centrally cleared                                         
interest rate                                         
swap contracts§  $—  $—  $3,636,493  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $3,636,493 
OTC Credit                                         
default                                         
contracts —                                         
protection                                         
sold*#  330,619          1,447,757  460,542  319,231      330,331    516,388              3,404,868 
OTC Credit                                         
default                                         
contracts —                                         
protection                                         
purchased*#                                         

 

102 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund  Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 103 

 



  Bank of America N.A. Barclays Bank PLC Barclays
Capital, Inc. (clearing
broker)
BofA
Securities,
Inc.
Citibank, N.A. Citigroup
Global
Markets, Inc.
Credit Suisse International Goldman
Sachs
International
HSBC Bank USA, National Association JPMorgan
Chase Bank N.A.
JPMorgan
Securities LLC
Merrill Lynch International Morgan
Stanley & Co. International
PLC
NatWest
Markets PLC
State Street Bank and
Trust Co.
Toronto- Dominion
Bank
UBS AG Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. WestPac
Banking Corp.
Total
Centrally cleared                                         
credit default                                         
contracts§  $—  $—  $52,669  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $52,669 
Futures                                         
contracts§                                         
Forward                                         
currency                                         
contracts#  153  5,755            105,979  44,597  724      39,940    76,678  2,701  454,533    22,573  753,633 
Forward                                         
premium                                         
swap option                                         
contracts#  2,869,387  145,712      2,823,323      927,338    1,515,451      547,345      157,910  551,408  53,865    9,591,739 
Total Liabilities  $3,200,159  $151,467  $3,689,162  $—  $2,823,323  $1,447,757  $460,542  $1,352,548  $44,597  $1,516,175  $330,331  $—  $1,103,673  $—  $76,678  $160,611  $1,005,941  $53,865  $22,573  $17,439,402 
Total Financial                                         
and Derivative                                         
Net Assets  $1,301,328  $92,317  $308,631  $—  $4,303,798  $53,883,567  $242,443  $1,579,654  $(43,591)  $100,862  $542,894  $412,972  $1,292,220  $43  $1,099  $363,088  $326,184  $(53,865)  $(20,494)  $64,633,150 
Total collateral                                         
received                                         
(pledged)†##  $996,927  $92,317  $—  $—  $4,220,986  $53,883,567  $242,443  $1,050,000  $—  $94,000  $140,000  $412,972  $1,263,000  $—  $—  $340,000  $326,184  $—  $—   
Net amount  $304,401  $—  $308,631  $—  $82,812  $—  $—  $529,654  $(43,591)  $6,862  $402,894  $—  $29,220  $43  $1,099  $23,088  $—  $(53,865)  $(20,494)   
Controlled                                         
collateral                                         
received                                         
(including TBA                                         
commitments)**  $1,481,858  $120,000  $—  $—  $4,220,986  $—  $250,000  $1,050,000  $—  $94,000  $140,000  $494,768  $1,263,000  $—  $—  $340,000  $400,000  $—  $—  $9,854,612 
Uncontrolled                                         
collateral                                         
received  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $55,244,550  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $55,244,550 
Collateral                                         
(pledged)                                         
(including TBA                                         
commitments)**  $(484,931)  $—  $—  $(418,985)  $—  $(1,970,169)  $—  $—  $—  $—  $(1,297,516)  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $(4,171,601) 

 

* 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 futures contracts and centrally cleared swap contracts is represented in the tables listed after the fund’s portfolio. Collateral pledged for initial margin on futures contracts and centrally cleared swap contracts, which is not included in the table above, amounted to $951,084 and $5,508,945, respectively.

Note 12: New accounting pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020–04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) — Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in ASU 2020–04 provide optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021. The discontinuation of LIBOR was subsequently extended to June 30, 2023. ASU 2020–04 is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The adoption of the guidance will not have a material impact on the fund’s financial statements.

104 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund  Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 105 

 



Federal tax information (Unaudited)

The Form 1099 that will be mailed to you in January 2023 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar 2022.

106 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 



Shareholder meeting results (Unaudited)

June 29, 2022 special meeting

At the meeting, each of the nominees for Trustees was elected, with all funds of the Trust voting together as a single class, as follows:

  Votes for  Votes withheld 
Liaquat Ahamed  3,583,882,479  32,417,735 
Barbara M. Baumann  3,584,377,892  31,922,322 
Katinka Domotorffy  3,584,956,517  31,343,697 
Catharine Bond Hill  3,586,682,827  29,617,387 
Kenneth R. Leibler  3,569,431,371  46,868,843 
Jennifer Williams Murphy  3,581,263,937  35,036,277 
Marie Pillai  3,578,125,932  38,174,282 
George Putnam, III  3,576,315,198  39,985,016 
Robert L. Reynolds  3,579,411,077  36,889,137 
Manoj P. Singh  3,582,573,738  33,726,476 
Mona K. Sutphen  3,588,302,923  27,997,291 

 

October 19, 2022 special meeting

A proposal to approve a management contract that will reduce your fund’s base management fee and eliminate the performance adjustment component of your fund’s management fee was approved as follows:

Votes for  Votes against  Abstentions  Broker non-votes 
27,577,176  298,410  507,280   

 

All tabulations are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 107 

 




108 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 




* 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 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

As of October 31, 2022, there were 102 funds in the Putnam fund complex, including 96 Putnam Funds and six funds in Putnam ETF Trust. Each Trustee serves as Trustee of all Putnam Funds. In addition to serving as Trustees of the Putnam Funds, Dr. Hill, Mses. Domotorffy and Sutphen, and Mr. Ahamed serve as Trustees of Putnam ETF Trust.

Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, until his or her resignation, retirement at age 75, removal, or death.

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 109 

 



Officers

In addition to Robert L. Reynolds, the other officers of the fund are shown below:

James F. Clark (Born 1974)  Alan G. McCormack (Born 1964) 
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer  Vice President and Derivatives Risk Manager 
Since 2016  Since 2022 
Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Risk Officer,  Head of Quantitative Equities and Risk, 
Putnam Investments, and Chief Compliance Officer,  Putnam Investments 
Putnam Management 
Denere P. Poulack (Born 1968) 
Nancy E. Florek (Born 1957)  Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk, 
Vice President, Director of Proxy Voting and Corporate  and Assistant Treasurer 
Governance, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer  Since 2004 
Since 2000 
Janet C. Smith (Born 1965) 
Michael J. Higgins (Born 1976)  Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal 
Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk  Accounting Officer, and Assistant Treasurer 
Since 2010  Since 2007 
  Head of Fund Administration Services, 
Jonathan S. Horwitz (Born 1955)  Putnam Investments and Putnam Management 
Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer,   
and Compliance Liaison  Stephen J. Tate (Born 1974) 
Since 2004  Vice President and Chief Legal Officer 
  Since 2021 
Richard T. Kircher (Born 1962)  General Counsel, Putnam Investments, 
Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer  Putnam Management, and Putnam Retail Management 
Since 2019   
Assistant Director, Operational Compliance, Putnam  Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962) 
Investments and Putnam Retail Management  Vice President 
  Since 2002 
Martin Lemaire (Born 1984)  Director of Operational Compliance, Putnam 
Vice President and Derivatives Risk Manager  Investments and Putnam Retail Management 
Since 2022   
Risk Manager and Risk Analyst, Putnam Investments   
 
Susan G. Malloy (Born 1957)   
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer   
Since 2007   
Head of Accounting and Middle Office 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 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

110 Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 

 



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  Income 
Core Equity Fund  Convertible Securities Fund 
Emerging Markets Equity Fund  Diversified Income Trust 
Focused Equity Fund  Floating Rate Income Fund 
Focused International Equity Fund  Global Income Trust 
International Capital Opportunities Fund  Government Money Market Fund* 
International Equity Fund  High Yield Fund 
Research Fund  Income Fund 
Money Market Fund 
Global Sector  Mortgage Opportunities Fund 
Global Health Care Fund  Mortgage Securities Fund 
Global Technology Fund  Short Duration Bond Fund 
  Ultra Short Duration Income Fund 
Growth 
Growth Opportunities Fund  Tax-free Income 
Small Cap Growth Fund  Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund 
Sustainable Future Fund  Short-Term Municipal Income Fund 
Sustainable Leaders Fund  Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 
  Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Value  Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
International Value Fund 
Large Cap Value Fund  State tax-free income funds: 
Small Cap Value Fund  California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, 
  New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania 
 

 

Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 111 

 



Absolute Return  Asset Allocation (cont.) 
Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund  Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund 
Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund  Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund 
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund 
Putnam PanAgora§  Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund 
Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund  Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund 
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund 
Asset Allocation  Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund 
Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund  Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund 
George Putnam Balanced Fund  Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund 
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund 
Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund
Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund  RetirementReady® Maturity Fund 
Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund  RetirementReady® 2065 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 

 

* 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.

112 Fixed Income Absolute Return 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 funds across income, value, blend, growth, sustainable, asset allocation, absolute return, and global sector categories.

Investment Manager  Trustees  Richard T. Kircher 
Putnam Investment  Kenneth R. Leibler, Chair  Vice President and 
Management, LLC  Barbara M. Baumann, Vice Chair  BSA Compliance Officer 
100 Federal Street  Liaquat Ahamed   
Boston, MA 02110  Katinka Domotorffy  Martin Lemaire 
  Catharine Bond Hill  Vice President and 
Investment Sub-Advisors  Jennifer Williams Murphy  Derivatives Risk Manager 
Putnam Investments Limited  Marie Pillai 
16 St James’s Street  George Putnam, III  Susan G. Malloy 
London, England SW1A 1ER  Robert L. Reynolds  Vice President and 
Manoj P. Singh  Assistant Treasurer 
The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC  Mona K. Sutphen 
100 Federal Street    Alan G. McCormack 
Boston, MA 02110  Officers  Vice President and 
Robert L. Reynolds  Derivatives Risk Manager 
Marketing Services  President 
Putnam Retail Management    Denere P. Poulack 
Limited Partnership  James F. Clark  Assistant Vice President, 
100 Federal Street  Vice President, Chief Compliance  Assistant Clerk, and 
Boston, MA 02110  Officer, and Chief Risk Officer  Assistant Treasurer 
   
Custodian  Nancy E. Florek  Janet C. Smith 
State Street Bank  Vice President, Director of  Vice President, 
and Trust Company  Proxy Voting and Corporate  Principal Financial Officer, 
Governance, Assistant Clerk,  Principal Accounting Officer, 
Legal Counsel  and Assistant Treasurer  and Assistant Treasurer 
Ropes & Gray LLP   
Michael J. Higgins  Stephen J. Tate 
Independent Registered  Vice President, Treasurer,  Vice President and 
Public Accounting Firm  and Clerk  Chief Legal Officer 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP   
  Jonathan S. Horwitz  Mark C. Trenchard 
  Executive Vice President,  Vice President 
Principal Executive Officer,   
  and Compliance Liaison   

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return 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 Risk 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 member of the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee also possesses a combination of knowledge and experience with respect to financial accounting matters, as well as other attributes, that qualifies him or her for service on the Committee. In addition, the Trustees have determined that each of Dr. Hill 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 Risk 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, 2022 $103,594 $ — $9,592 $ —
October 31, 2021 $93,237 $ — $10,645 $ —

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021, the fund’s independent auditor billed aggregate non-audit fees in the amounts of $307,875 and $275,544 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 Risk Committee. The Audit, Compliance and Risk 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 Risk 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, 2022 $ — $298,283 $ — $ —
October 31, 2021 $ — $264,899 $ — $ —

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. Disclosures of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies:
Not Applicable

Item 13. 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 29, 2022
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 29, 2022
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Financial Officer

Date: December 29, 2022