N-CSRS 1 d586624dncsrs.htm ISHARES TRUST iSHARES TRUST

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT

OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-09729

 

 

iShares Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

c/o BlackRock Fund Advisors

400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

The Corporation Trust Company

1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 670-2000

Date of fiscal year end: April 30, 2024

Date of reporting period: October 31, 2023

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

(a) The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

 


 

LOGO

  OCTOBER 31, 2023

 

  

2023 Semi-Annual Report

(Unaudited)

 

iShares Trust

 

·  

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF | ICLN | NASDAQ


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The combination of continued economic growth and cooling inflation provided a supportive backdrop for investors during the 12-month reporting period ended October 31, 2023. Significantly tighter monetary policy helped to rein in inflation, as the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index declined to its long-term average of approximately 3% in October 2023. Meanwhile, real economic growth proved more resilient than many investors anticipated. A moderating labor market also helped ease inflationary pressure, although wages continued to grow and unemployment rates touched the lowest levels in decades before rising slightly. This robust labor market powered further growth in consumer spending, backstopping the economy. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a horrific attack on Israel. The ensuing war will have a significant humanitarian impact and could lead to heightened economic and market volatility. We see geopolitics as a structural market risk going forward. See our geopolitical risk dashboard at blackrock.com for more details.

Equity returns were solid during the period, as the durability of consumer spending mitigated investors’ concerns about the economy’s trajectory. The U.S. economy continued to show strength, and growth further accelerated in the third quarter of 2023. However, equity returns were uneven, as the performance of a few notable technology companies supported gains among large-capitalization U.S. stocks, while small-capitalization U.S. stocks declined overall. Meanwhile, international developed market equities advanced, and emerging market equities posted solid gains.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose during the reporting period, driving its price down, as investors reacted to elevated inflation and attempted to anticipate future interest rate changes. The corporate bond market benefited from improving economic sentiment, although high-yield corporate bond prices fared significantly better than investment-grade bonds as demand from yield-seeking investors remained strong.

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), attempting to manage persistent inflation, raised interest rates six times during the 12-month period, but slowed and then paused its tightening later in the period. The Fed also wound down its bond-buying programs and incrementally reduced its balance sheet by not replacing securities that reach maturity.

Supply constraints appear to have become an embedded feature of the new macroeconomic environment, making it difficult for developed economies to increase production without sparking higher inflation. Geopolitical fragmentation and an aging population risk further exacerbating these constraints, keeping the labor market tight and wage growth high. Although the Fed has decelerated the pace of interest rate hikes and recently opted for several pauses, we believe that the new economic regime means that the Fed will need to maintain high rates for an extended period to keep inflation under control. Furthermore, ongoing structural changes may mean that the Fed will be hesitant to cut interest rates in the event of faltering economic activity lest inflation accelerate again.

While we favor an overweight position in developed market equities in the long term, we prefer an underweight stance in the near term. Expectations for corporate earnings remain elevated, which seems inconsistent with macroeconomic constraints. Nevertheless, we are overweight on Japanese stocks in the near term as shareholder-friendly policies generate increased investor interest. We also believe that stocks with an AI tilt should benefit from an investment cycle that is set to support revenues and margins. In credit, there are selective opportunities in the near term despite tightening credit and financial conditions. For fixed income investing with a six- to twelve-month horizon, we see the most attractive investments in short-term U.S. Treasuries, U.S. inflation-linked bonds, euro area government bonds and gilts, U.S. mortgage-backed securities, and hard-currency emerging market bonds.

Overall, our view is that investors need to think globally, position themselves to be prepared for a decarbonizing economy, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

 

Total Returns as of October 31, 2023

 

 
     
     6-Month     12-Month  
     

U.S. large cap equities
(S&P 500® Index)

    1.39%       10.14%  
     

U.S. small cap equities
(Russell 2000® Index)

    (5.29)         (8.56)    
     

International equities
(MSCI Europe, Australasia,
Far East Index)

    (7.88)         14.40     
     

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

    (4.78)         10.80     
     

3-month Treasury bills
(ICE BofA 3-Month
U.S. Treasury Bill Index)

    2.63          4.77     
     

U.S. Treasury securities
(ICE BofA 10-Year
U.S. Treasury Index)

    (9.70)         (3.25)    
     

U.S. investment grade bonds
(Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)

    (6.13)         0.36     
     

Tax-exempt municipal bonds
(Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

    (4.65)         2.64     
     

U.S. high yield bonds
(Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index)

    0.02          6.23     

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2  

T H I S    P A G E    I S    N O T    P A R T    O F    Y O U R    F U N D    R E P O R T


Table of Contents

 

      Page  

The Markets in Review

     2  

Semi-Annual Report:

  

Fund Summary

     4  

About Fund Performance

     5  

Disclosure of Expenses

     5  

Schedule of Investments

     6  

Financial Statements

  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     12  

Statement of Operations

     13  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     14  

Financial Highlights

     15  

Notes to Financial Statements

     16  

Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

     24  

Supplemental Information

     26  

General Information

     27  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     28  

 

 

 


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023    iShares® Global Clean Energy ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of global equities in the clean energy sector, as represented by the S&P Global Clean Energy IndexTM (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.

Performance

 

          Average Annual Total Returns     Cumulative Total Returns  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    6-Month
Total Returns
    1 Year     5 Years     10 Years     1 Year     5 Years     10 Years     

 

 

Fund NAV

    (30.01 )%      (30.37 )%      11.26     4.18     (30.37 )%      70.46     50.64%  

Fund Market

    (30.00     (30.54     11.26       4.13       (30.54     70.52       49.94     

Index

    (30.11     (30.54     11.44       3.82       (30.54     71.90       45.48     

 

 

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” for more information.

Expense Example

 

Actual           Hypothetical 5% Return           

 

 

     

 

 

      
 

Beginning
  Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a)  
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a)  
      

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 
  $      1,000.00        $       699.90        $        1.75             $       1,000.00        $       1,023.10        $       2.09          0.41

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

   

Industry

   
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Renewable Electricity

    24.7

Electric Utilities

    18.7  

Semiconductors

    15.0  

Heavy Electrical Equipment

    12.5  

Electrical Components & Equipment

    11.7  

Semiconductor Materials & Equipment

    10.9  

Commodity Chemicals

    1.9  

Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing

    1.8  

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

    1.2  

Other (each representing less than 1%)

    1.6  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

   

Country/Geographic Region

   
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

United States

    36.2

China

    15.7  

Denmark

    9.6  

Brazil

    5.7  

Canada

    4.1  

India

    3.7  

Portugal

    3.5  

Spain

    3.1  

South Korea

    3.0  

Japan

    2.9  

Germany

    2.4  

Switzerland

    1.8  

Taiwan

    1.6  

Thailand

    1.2  

Italy

    1.1  

Other (each representing less than 1%)

    4.4  
 

 

  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

4  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


About Fund Performance

 

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.

Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV, respectively.

An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike a fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred by a fund. These expenses negatively impact fund performance. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower.

Disclosure of Expenses

Shareholders of the Fund may incur the following charges: (1) transactional expenses, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing expenses, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example shown (which is based on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the end of the period) is intended to assist shareholders both in calculating expenses based on an investment in the Fund and in comparing these expenses with similar costs of investing in other funds.

The expense example provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. In order to estimate the expenses a shareholder paid during the period covered by this report, shareholders can divide their account value by $1,000 and then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period.”

The expense example also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on a fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. In order to assist shareholders in comparing the ongoing expenses of investing in the Fund and other funds, compare the 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

The expenses shown in the expense example are intended to highlight shareholders’ ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional expenses, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical example is useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help shareholders determine the relative total expenses of owning different funds. If these transactional expenses were included, shareholder expenses would have been higher.

 

 

A B O U T   F U N D   P E R F O R M A N C E / D I S C L O S U R E   O F   E X P E N S E S

  5


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global Clean Energy ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

   
Austria — 0.9%            

Verbund AG

    273,543     $ 23,767,258  
   

 

 

 
Brazil — 3.7%            

AES Brasil Energia SA(a)

    4,696,123       9,379,671  

Auren Energia SA

    6,001,340       15,974,212  

CPFL Energia SA

    3,688,039       24,461,353  

Energisa SA

    4,995,341       46,180,958  
   

 

 

 
      95,996,194  
Canada — 4.1%            

Ballard Power Systems Inc.(a)(b)

    2,149,865       7,177,844  

Boralex Inc., Class A

    894,586       16,649,911  

Brookfield Renewable Corp., Class A

    679,137       15,451,071  

Canadian Solar Inc.(a)(b)

    1,021,775       20,415,064  

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.

    1,419,810       8,743,593  

Northland Power Inc.

    2,647,365       37,207,243  
   

 

 

 
      105,644,726  
Chile — 0.4%            

Enel Americas SA(a)

    90,826,898       9,338,021  
   

 

 

 
China — 15.6%            

CECEP Solar Energy Co. Ltd., Class A

    6,258,300       4,894,078  

CECEP Wind Power Corp, Class A

    10,361,220       4,475,725  

China Conch Venture Holdings Ltd.

    16,325,000       13,519,927  

China Datang Corp. Renewable Power Co. Ltd., Class H

    46,550,000       10,531,962  

China Green Electricity Investment of Tianjin Co. Ltd.

    2,268,700       3,390,822  

China Three Gorges Renewables Group Co. Ltd., Class A

    45,982,596       30,073,967  

China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd., Class A

    39,304,630       120,849,634  

Chongqing Three Gorges Water Conservancy & Electric Power Co. Ltd.

    3,062,300       3,343,365  

Dajin Heavy Industry Co. Ltd.

    1,021,400       3,856,019  

Flat Glass Group Co. Ltd., Class H

    7,919,000       14,221,563  

GCL System Integration Technology Co. Ltd., Class A(a)

    9,494,100       3,570,809  

Ginlong Technologies Co. Ltd., Class A

    642,950       5,879,054  

Guangxi Guiguan Electric Power Co. Ltd.

    6,397,200       4,777,729  

Hainan Drinda New Energy Technology Co. Ltd.

    368,300       4,381,200  

Hoymiles Power Electronics Inc., NVS

    137,877       4,208,306  

Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Inc.

    10,802,857       11,301,555  

JA Solar Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    5,294,452       16,165,224  

Jiangsu Akcome Science & Technology Co. Ltd.(a)

    7,196,100       2,176,162  

Jiangsu GoodWe Power Supply Technology Co. Ltd., NVS

    282,359       4,494,934  

Jiangsu Haili Wind Power Equipment Technology Co. Ltd.

    351,900       3,109,732  

Jinko Solar Co. Ltd.

    10,147,684       13,121,248  

LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    9,132,440       30,043,384  

Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd., Class A

    3,637,300       6,930,002  

NYOCOR Co. Ltd.

    3,242,700       2,994,650  

Risen Energy Co. Ltd.

    1,825,300       4,417,479  

Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co. Ltd.

    2,964,200       7,916,276  

Sichuan Chuantou Energy Co. Ltd., Class A

    7,137,100       14,298,695  

Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., Class A

    1,782,100       20,468,340  

TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Class A

    6,472,000       16,285,355  

Titan Wind Energy Suzhou Co. Ltd., Class A(a)

    2,887,600       5,249,059  

Trina Solar Co. Ltd.

    3,474,473       14,140,197  
   

 

 

 
      405,086,452  
Security   Shares     Value  
Denmark — 9.6%            

Orsted A/S(c)

    2,045,781     $ 98,850,326  

Vestas Wind Systems A/S(a)

    6,924,809       150,093,611  
   

 

 

 
      248,943,937  
France — 0.4%            

Neoen SA(b)(c)

    374,563       9,891,050  
   

 

 

 
Germany — 2.4%            

Encavis AG(a)(b)

    937,876       12,247,353  

Nordex SE(a)(b)

    1,675,536       17,676,073  

SMA Solar Technology AG(a)(b)

    340,153       20,898,905  

VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG(b)

    312,836       10,586,682  
   

 

 

 
      61,409,013  
Greece — 0.3%            

Terna Energy SA

    614,472       9,220,658  
   

 

 

 
India — 3.7%            

MTAR Technologies Ltd.(a)

    380,683       11,155,563  

NHPC Ltd., NVS

    35,261,770       21,264,163  

SJVN Ltd.

    10,365,281       8,858,083  

Suzlon Energy Ltd.(a)

    151,111,711       55,537,927  
   

 

 

 
      96,815,736  
Israel — 0.4%            

Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd.(a)(b)

    829,997       11,183,061  
   

 

 

 
Italy — 1.0%            

ERG SpA

    1,116,830       27,441,412  
   

 

 

 
Japan — 2.9%            

Abalance Corp.(b)

    217,200       4,628,441  

Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.

    5,267,700       63,655,655  

RENOVA Inc.(a)(b)

    873,500       6,283,744  
   

 

 

 
      74,567,840  
New Zealand — 0.5%            

Contact Energy Ltd.

    1,375,255       6,241,530  

Meridian Energy Ltd.

    2,820,981       7,944,897  
   

 

 

 
      14,186,427  
Norway — 0.5%            

NEL ASA(a)(b)

    18,316,662       12,044,314  
   

 

 

 
Portugal — 3.5%            

EDP - Energias de Portugal SA

    20,614,180       86,631,032  

Greenvolt Energias Renovaveis SA(a)(b)

    775,479       5,181,709  
   

 

 

 
      91,812,741  
Singapore — 0.2%            

Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd.(a)

    652,945       4,074,377  
   

 

 

 
South Korea — 3.0%            

CS Wind Corp.(b)

    556,761       18,892,052  

Doosan Fuel Cell Co. Ltd.(a)(b)

    812,280       9,915,548  

Hanwha Solutions Corp.(a)(b)

    2,278,088       48,523,815  

HD Hyundai Energy Solutions Co. Ltd.

    26,831       435,320  
   

 

 

 
      77,766,735  
Spain — 3.1%            

Corp. ACCIONA Energias Renovables SA(b)

    1,053,523       28,514,870  

EDP Renovaveis SA

    2,183,020       35,118,120  

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente SA(a)

    1,086,233       16,294,126  
   

 

 

 
      79,927,116  
Switzerland — 1.8%            

BKW AG

    175,618       29,522,781  

Meyer Burger Technology AG(a)(b)

    64,764,624       17,351,138  
   

 

 

 
      46,873,919  
 

 

 

6  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global Clean Energy ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Taiwan — 1.5%            

Century Iron & Steel Industrial Co. Ltd.

    3,290,000     $ 15,314,813  

Motech Industries Inc.

    7,850,000       6,623,191  

TSEC Corp.

    10,085,235       8,867,605  

United Renewable Energy Co. Ltd.

    20,903,000       9,629,169  
   

 

 

 
      40,434,778  
Thailand — 1.2%            

Energy Absolute PCL, NVDR

    27,423,400       32,054,251  
   

 

 

 
Turkey — 0.4%            

Biotrend Cevre VE Enerji Yatirimlari AS(a)

    4,501,005       2,856,142  

Smart Gunes Enerjisi Teknolojileri ArGE Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, NVS(a)

    3,030,058       7,377,402  
   

 

 

 
      10,233,544  
United Kingdom — 0.3%            

ReNew Energy Global PLC(a)(b)

    1,681,262       9,078,815  
   

 

 

 
United States — 35.9%            

Altus Power Inc., Class A(a)(b)

    1,208,592       6,417,624  

Array Technologies Inc.(a)(b)

    2,851,523       49,416,894  

Avangrid Inc.

    1,048,457       31,317,411  

Bloom Energy Corp., Class A(a)(b)

    4,205,231       43,734,402  

Clearway Energy Inc., Class C

    1,654,331       35,915,526  

Enphase Energy Inc.(a)(b)

    1,794,696       142,821,908  

First Solar Inc.(a)(b)

    1,523,496       217,022,005  

Green Plains Inc.(a)(b)

    1,049,805       30,843,271  

NEXTracker Inc., Class A(a)

    983,316       34,180,064  

Ormat Technologies Inc.(b)

    1,076,932       66,274,395  

Plug Power Inc.(a)(b)

    10,878,961       64,077,080  

REX American Resources Corp.(a)

    162,365       6,171,494  

Shoals Technologies Group Inc., Class A(a)(b)

    3,412,433       52,414,971  

SolarEdge Technologies Inc.(a)(b)

    1,135,723       86,258,162  

Sunnova Energy International Inc.(a)(b)

    2,025,833       18,495,855  

SunPower Corp.(a)(b)

    1,717,281       7,332,790  

Sunrun Inc.(a)(b)

    4,361,073       42,084,354  
   

 

 

 
      934,778,206  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 97.3%
(Cost: $3,856,266,273)

      2,532,570,581  
   

 

 

 
Security   Shares     Value  

Preferred Stocks

   

Brazil — 2.0%

   

Cia. Energetica de Minas Gerais, Preference Shares, NVS

    22,071,032     $ 51,393,646  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks — 2.0%
(Cost: $49,061,382)

      51,393,646  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 99.3%
(Cost: $3,905,327,655)

      2,583,964,227  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

   

Money Market Funds — 12.7%

   

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 5.54%(d)(e)(f)

    317,617,143       317,744,190  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 5.33%(d)(e)

    12,610,000       12,610,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 12.7%
(Cost: $330,138,190)

      330,354,190  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 112.0%
(Cost: $4,235,465,845)

      2,914,318,417  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (12.0)%

      (312,905,915
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $ 2,601,412,502  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(c) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(d) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(e) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(f) 

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six months ended October 31, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

 

 
Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/23
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sale
     Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/23
     Shares
Held at
10/31/23
     Income      Capital
Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

 

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares

   $ 709,863,596      $      $ (392,180,100 )(a)     $ 91,235      $ (30,541    $ 317,744,190        317,617,143      $ 1,602,379 (b)     $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

     14,710,000               (2,100,000 )(a)                      12,610,000        12,610,000        258,360         
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ 91,235      $ (30,541    $ 330,354,190         $ 1,860,739      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (b) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

 

 

  7


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global Clean Energy ETF

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

 

 
Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount
(000)
     Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

 

 

Long Contracts

           

Euro STOXX 50 Index

     33        12/15/23      $ 1,425      $ 13,902  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

     58        12/15/23        2,665        (36,649

S&P 500 E-Mini Index

     39        12/15/23        8,214        (124,338
           

 

 

 
            $ (147,085
           

 

 

 

OTC Total Return Swaps

 

 

 
Reference Entity    Payment
Frequency
     Counterparty(a)      Termination
Date
     Net Notional      Accrued
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Net Value of
Reference
Entity
     Gross
Notional
Amount
Net Asset
Percentage
 

 

 

Equity Securities Long

     Monthly        Goldman Sachs Bank USA(b)        08/19/26      $ 3,560,271      $ 280,683 (c)     $ 3,845,901        0.2
     Monthly        HSBC Bank PLC(d)        02/10/28        702,663        23,727 (e)       738,613        0.0 (f) 
              

 

 

    

 

 

    
               $ 304,410      $   4,584,514     
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  (a) 

The Fund receives the total return on a portfolio of long positions underlying the total return swap. The Fund pays the total return on a portfolio of short positions underlying the total return swap. In addition, the Fund pays or receives a variable rate of interest, based on a specified benchmark. The benchmark and spread are determined based upon the country and/or currency of the individual underlying positions.

 
  (c) 

Amount includes $(4,947) of net dividends and financing fees.

 
  (e) 

Amount includes $(12,223) of net dividends, payable for referenced securities purchased and financing fees.

 
  (f) 

Rounds to less than 0.1%

 

The following are the specified benchmarks (plus or minus a range) used in determining the variable rate of interest:

 

   (b)    (d)
Range:    65 basis points    40 basis points
Benchmarks:    USD - 1D Overnight Fed Funds Effective Rate (FEDL01)    USD - 1D Overnight Bank Funding Rate (OBFR01)

 

 

8  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global Clean Energy ETF

 

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of equity securities underlying the total return swap with Goldman Sachs Bank USA as of period end, termination date August 19, 2026.

 

    

Shares

    

Value

    

% of

Basket

Value

 

Reference Entity — Long

       
Common Stocks                    

United States

       

Green Plains Inc.(a)

    156,414      $ 3,845,901        100.0
    

 

 

    

Net Value of Reference Entity — Goldman Sachs Bank USA

 

   $ 3,845,901     
    

 

 

    

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of equity securities underlying the total return swap with HSBC Bank PLC as of period end, termination date February 10, 2028.

 

    

Shares

    

Value

    

% of

Basket

Value

 

Reference Entity — Long

       
Common Stocks                    

United States

       

Green Plains Inc.(a)

    25,140      $ 738,613        100.0
    

 

 

    

Net Value of Reference Entity — HSBC Bank PLC

 

   $ 738,613     
    

 

 

    

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

 

 

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Total Return Swaps

 

Description

  

Swap Premiums

Paid

    

Swap Premiums

Received

    

Unrealized

Appreciation

    

Unrealized

Depreciation

 

Total Return Swaps

   $      $      $  304,410      $  

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

 

 
     Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

 

 

Assets — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 13,902      $      $      $      $ 13,902  

Swaps — OTC

                    

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums paid

   $      $      $ 304,410      $      $      $      $ 304,410  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 318,312      $      $      $      $ 318,312  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 160,987      $      $      $      $ 160,987  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

 

 

  9


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global Clean Energy ETF

 

For the period ended October 31, 2023, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statement of Operations was as follows:

 

 

 
     Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

 

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ 361,208      $      $      $      $ 361,208  

Swaps

                   (268,595                           (268,595
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 92,613      $      $      $      $ 92,613  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (678,358    $      $      $      $ (678,358

Swaps

                   (210,776                           (210,776
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ (889,134    $      $      $      $ (889,134
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

 

 

Futures contracts:

  

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ 15,031,587      

Total return swaps:

  

Average notional value

   $ 4,109,737      

 

 

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting as of Period End

The Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:

 

      Assets      Liabilities  

Derivative Financial Instruments:

     

Futures contracts

   $ 13,902      $ 160,987  

Swaps - OTC(a)

     304,410         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     318,312        160,987  

Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

     (13,902      (160,987
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA

     304,410         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Includes unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC swaps and swap premiums (paid/received) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral received by the Fund:

 

Counterparty

    

Derivative

Assets

Subject to

an MNA by

Counterparty

 

 

 

 

 

    

Derivatives

Available

for Offset

 

 

(a) 

    

Non-Cash

Collateral

Received

 

 

 

    

Cash

Collateral

Received

 

 

 

    

Net Amount

of Derivative

Assets(b)

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

                               $ 280,683      $      $      $                                      $ 280,683  

HSBC Bank PLC

        23,727                                23,727  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

 
      $ 304,410      $      $      $         $ 304,410  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA.

 
  (b) 

Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.

 

 

 

10  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global Clean Energy ETF

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

 

 
     Level 1          Level 2          Level 3          Total  

 

 

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

   $ 1,266,171,183        $ 1,266,399,398        $        $ 2,532,570,581  

Preferred Stocks

     51,393,646                            51,393,646  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     330,354,190                            330,354,190  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 1,647,919,019        $ 1,266,399,398        $        $ 2,914,318,417  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

                 

Assets

                 

Equity Contracts

   $        $ 318,312        $        $ 318,312  

Liabilities

                 

Equity Contracts

     (160,987                          (160,987
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ (160,987      $ 318,312        $          157,325  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are swaps and futures contracts. Swaps and futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

  11


 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

 

   

iShares

Global Clean

Energy ETF

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

Investments, at value — unaffiliated(a)(b)

  $ 2,583,964,227  

Investments, at value — affiliated(c)

    330,354,190  

Cash pledged for futures contracts

    520,000  

Foreign currency collateral pledged for futures contracts(d)

    101,577  

Receivables:

 

Investments sold

    5,943,030  

Securities lending income — affiliated

    240,670  

Swaps

    86,677  

Dividends — unaffiliated

    7,833,364  

Dividends — affiliated

    40,710  

From custodian

    8,698,581  

Tax reclaims

    2,146,365  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    48,482  

Unrealized appreciation on OTC swaps

    304,410  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    2,940,282,283  
 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Bank overdraft

    3,103,214  

Foreign bank overdraft(e)

    5,446,584  

Due to broker

    7,911  

Collateral on securities loaned, at value

    317,718,047  

Payables:

 

Investments purchased

    1,645  

Swaps

    420,671  

Capital shares redeemed

    11,167,129  

Investment advisory fees

    1,004,580  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    338,869,781  
 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 2,601,412,502  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 5,475,604,552  

Accumulated loss

    (2,874,192,050
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 2,601,412,502  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 

Shares outstanding

    199,800,000  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 13.02  
 

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited  
 

 

 

 

Par value

    None  
 

 

 

 

(a)  Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 3,905,327,655  

(b)  Securities loaned, at value

  $ 312,823,186  

(c)  Investments, at cost — affiliated

  $ 330,138,190  

(d)  Foreign currency collateral pledged, at cost

  $ 101,695  

(e)  Foreign bank overdraft, at cost

  $ 5,443,737  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

12  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Statement of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended October 31, 2023

 

   

iShares

Global Clean

Energy ETF

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

 

Dividends — unaffiliated

  $ 38,192,726  

Dividends — affiliated

    258,360  

Interest — unaffiliated

    27,546  

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

    1,602,379  

Foreign taxes withheld

    (2,543,377

Foreign withholding tax claims

    42,633  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    37,580,267  
 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

Investment advisory

    7,849,706  

Commitment costs

    21,155  

Professional

    4,263  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    7,875,124  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    29,705,143  
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

 

Net realized gain (loss) from:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    (160,046,045

Investments — affiliated

    91,235  

Foreign currency transactions

    (242,355

Futures contracts

    361,208  

In-kind redemptions — unaffiliated(a)

    60,884,347  

Swaps

    (268,595
 

 

 

 
    (99,220,205
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    (1,143,416,030

Investments — affiliated

    (30,541

Foreign currency translations

    (307,173

Futures contracts

    (678,358

Swaps

    (210,776
 

 

 

 
    (1,144,642,878
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

    (1,243,863,083
 

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ (1,214,157,940
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  13


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    iShares
Global Clean Energy ETF
 
    Six Months Ended
10/31/23
(unaudited)
         Year Ended
04/30/23
 

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

      

OPERATIONS

      

Net investment income

  $ 29,705,143        $ 45,344,322  

Net realized loss

    (99,220,205        (529,875,327

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (1,144,642,878        477,505,167  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    (1,214,157,940        (7,025,838
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

      

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (29,399,981        (44,565,129
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

      

Net decrease in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    (728,133,675        (358,900,445
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

      

Total decrease in net assets

    (1,971,691,596        (410,491,412

Beginning of period

    4,573,104,098          4,983,595,510  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 2,601,412,502        $ 4,573,104,098  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

14  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Financial Highlights  

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

          iShares Global Clean Energy ETF  
        Six Months Ended                 Period From                 
               

10/31/23

(unaudited)

   

Year Ended

04/30/23

          

Year Ended

04/30/22

          

04/01/21

to 04/30/21

          

Year Ended

03/31/21

          

Year Ended

03/31/20

          

Year Ended

03/31/19

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

      $ 18.73     $ 18.88        $ 23.19        $ 24.07        $ 9.62        $ 9.75        $ 9.47  
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

        0.13       0.18          0.23          0.06          0.13          0.11          0.19  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

        (5.72     (0.15        (4.29        (0.94        14.42          (0.08        0.32  
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

        (5.59     0.03          (4.06        (0.88        14.55          0.03          0.51  
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(c)

        (0.12     (0.18        (0.25                 (0.10        (0.16        (0.23
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

      $ 13.02     $ 18.73        $ 18.88        $ 23.19        $ 24.07        $ 9.62        $ 9.75  
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

                                

Based on net asset value

        (30.01 )%(e)       0.04        (17.64 )%         (3.66 )%(e)          151.73        0.12        5.69
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets (f)

                                

Total expenses

        0.41 %(g)       0.41        0.40        0.41 %(g)          0.42        0.46        0.46
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived and excluding professional fees for foreign withholding tax claims

        0.41 %(g)       N/A          N/A          N/A          N/A          N/A          N/A  
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income

        1.55 %(g)       0.90        1.07        3.07 %(g)          0.57        1.01        2.13
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

                                

Net assets, end of period (000)

      $ 2,601,413     $ 4,573,104        $ 4,983,596        $ 5,855,954        $ 5,642,271        $ 499,227        $ 208,595  
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(h)

        18     51        52        54        31        37        42
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities.

(c) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(d) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e) 

Not annualized.

(f) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(g) 

Annualized.

(h) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

F I N A N C I A L   H I G H L I G H T S

  15


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) 

 

1.  

ORGANIZATION

iShares Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios.

These financial statements relate only to the following fund (the “Fund”):

 

   

iShares ETF

  

Diversification

Classification

 

Global Clean Energy

     Non-diversified  

 

2.  

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest.

Foreign Currency Translation: The Fund’s books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using prevailing market rates as quoted by one or more data service providers. Purchases and sales of investments are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the investments denominated in that currency will lose value; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.

The Fund does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of investments for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investments are not segregated in the Statement of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those investments, but are included as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments. The Fund reports realized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Foreign Taxes: The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which the Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by the Fund and are reflected in its Statement of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as “Other foreign taxes”, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of October 31, 2023, if any, are disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The Fund files withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Fund may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdiction’s applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statement of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.

Collateralization: If required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Fund may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments.

In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Fund. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Fund and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Fund’s tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund.

Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Fund, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

 

16  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

3.  

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Fund’s investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund’s listing exchange is open and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) of the Fund has approved the designation of BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), the Fund’s investment adviser, as the valuation designee for the Fund. The Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under BFA’s policies. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value. BFA has formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments, with assistance from other BlackRock pricing committees.

Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of the Fund’s assets and liabilities:

 

   

Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price.

 

   

Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that day’s published NAV.

 

   

Futures contracts are valued based on that day’s last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded.

 

   

Swap agreements are valued utilizing quotes received daily by independent pricing services or through brokers, which are derived using daily swap curves and models that incorporate a number of market data factors, such as discounted cash flows, trades and values of the underlying reference instruments.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Each business day, the Fund uses current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (“Systematic Fair Value Price”). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Valuation Committee, in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Valuation Committee seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Valuation Committee deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement.

Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a fund’s NAV and the prices used by the fund’s underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the fund’s performance and the performance of the fund’s underlying index.

Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access;

 

   

Level 2 – Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs); and

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, (including the Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments).

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.

 

 

N O T E S   T O    F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  17


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

4.  

SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Securities Lending: The Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by the Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, the Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.

As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BFA, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The market value of any securities on loan and the value of any related cash collateral are disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Fund under Master Securities Lending Agreements (each, an “MSLA”) which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate a net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. In the event that a borrower defaults, the Fund, as lender, would offset the market value of the collateral received against the market value of the securities loaned. When the value of the collateral is greater than that of the market value of the securities loaned, the lender is left with a net amount payable to the defaulting party. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of an MSLA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Under the MSLA, absent an event of default, the borrower can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities, and the Fund can reinvest cash collateral received in connection with loaned securities. Upon an event of default, the parties’ obligations to return the securities or collateral to the other party are extinguished, and the parties can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities or the collateral received in connection with the loaned securities in order to satisfy the defaulting party’s net payment obligation for all transactions under the MSLA. The defaulting party remains liable for any deficiency.

As of period end, the following table is a summary of the securities on loan by counterparty which are subject to offset under an MSLA:

 

 

 

iShares ETF and Counterparty

    
Securities Loaned
at Value
 
 
    
Cash Collateral
Received
 
(a) 
    
Non-Cash Collateral
Received, at Fair Value
 
(a)
 
     Net Amount  

 

 

Global Clean Energy

           

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 20,828,971      $ (20,828,971    $      $  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     14,949,348        (14,949,348              

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

     23,300        (22,969             331 (b)  

BNP Paribas SA

     16,611,181        (16,611,181              

BofA Securities, Inc.

     34,523,653        (34,523,653              

Citadel Clearing LLC

     1,148,758        (1,143,761             4,997 (b)  

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

     15,938,272        (15,866,096             72,176 (b)  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     64,478,130        (64,478,130              

HSBC Bank PLC

     515,406        (515,406              

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     39,384,694        (39,384,694              

Jefferies LLC

     99,715        (97,482             2,233 (b)  

Morgan Stanley

     66,552,276        (66,552,276              

National Financial Services LLC

     272,987        (269,120             3,867 (b)  

Natixis SA

     173,340        (173,340              

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

     266,340        (266,340              

Scotia Capital (USA), Inc.

     381,618        (381,618              

SG Americas Securities LLC

     69,613        (69,613              

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

     9,417,530        (9,417,530              

Toronto-Dominion Bank

     1,001,356        (1,001,356              

UBS AG

     25,998,019        (25,901,933             96,086 (b)  

Wells Fargo Securities LLC

     188,679        (187,087             1,592 (b)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 312,823,186      $ (312,641,904    $      $ 181,282  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Collateral received, if any, in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by the Fund is disclosed in the Fund’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 
  (b) 

The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of October 31, 2023. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty.

 

The risks of securities lending include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not return the securities when due. To mitigate these risks, the Fund benefits from a borrower default indemnity provided by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). BlackRock’s indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. The Fund could incur a loss if the

 

 

18  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by the Fund.

 

5.  

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contract’s size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.

Swaps: Swap contracts are entered into to manage exposure to issuers, markets and securities. Such contracts are agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or a net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the OTC market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (“OTC swaps”) or centrally cleared (“centrally cleared swaps”).

For OTC swaps, any upfront premiums paid and any upfront fees received are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received, respectively, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and amortized over the term of the contract. The daily fluctuation in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC Swaps in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received or paid are recorded in the Statement of Operations as realized gains or losses, respectively. When an OTC swap is terminated, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Fund’s basis in the contract, if any. Generally, the basis of the contract is the premium received or paid.

Total return swaps are entered into by the Fund to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in such market or to exchange the risk/return of one security or market (e.g., fixed-income) with another security or market (e.g., equity or commodity prices) (equity risk, commodity price risk and/or interest rate risk).

Total return swaps are agreements in which there is an exchange of cash flows whereby one party commits to make payments based on the total return (distributions plus capital gains/losses) of an underlying instrument, or basket or underlying instruments, in exchange for fixed or floating rate interest payments. If the total return of the instruments or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting fixed or floating interest rate obligation, the Fund receives payment from or makes a payment to the counterparty.

Certain total return swaps are designed to function as a portfolio of direct investments in long and short equity positions. This means that the Fund has the ability to trade in and out of these long and short positions within the swap and will receive the economic benefits and risks equivalent to direct investment in these positions, subject to certain adjustments due to events related to the counterparty. Benefits and risks include capital appreciation (depreciation), corporate actions and dividends received and paid, all of which are reflected in the swap’s market value. The market value also includes interest charges and credits (“financing fees”) related to the notional values of the long and short positions and cash balances within the swap. These interest charges and credits are based on a specified benchmark rate plus or minus a specified spread determined based upon the country and/or currency of the positions in the portfolio.

Positions within the swap and financing fees are reset periodically. During a reset, any unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on positions and accrued financing fees become available for cash settlement between the Fund and the counterparty. The amounts that are available for cash settlement are recorded as realized gains or losses in the Statement of Operations. Cash settlement in and out of the swap may occur at a reset date or any other date, at the discretion of the Fund and the counterparty, over the life of the agreement. Certain swaps have no stated expiration and can be terminated by either party at any time.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit and market risks in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreements, and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates and/or market values associated with these transactions.

Master Netting Arrangements: In order to define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help mitigate its counterparty risk, a Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of

 

 

N O T E S   T O    F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  19


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency, or other events.

For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement, and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by a fund and the counterparty.

Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to a certain minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of business of the Fund. Any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Fund on the next business day. Typically, the counterparty is not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use cash and non-cash collateral it receives. A fund generally agrees not to use non-cash collateral that it receives but may, absent default or certain other circumstances defined in the underlying ISDA Master Agreement, be permitted to use cash collateral received. In such cases, interest may be paid pursuant to the collateral arrangement with the counterparty. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from the counterparty are not fully collateralized, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. Likewise, to the extent the Fund has delivered collateral to a counterparty and stands ready to perform under the terms of its agreement with such counterparty, the Fund bears the risk of loss from a counterparty in the amount of the value of the collateral in the event the counterparty fails to return such collateral. Based on the terms of agreements, collateral may not be required for all derivative contracts.

For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

6.  

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of the Fund’s assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Fund, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).

For its investment advisory services to the Fund, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the Fund’s allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds as follows:

 

 

 
Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets    Investment Advisory Fees    

 

 

First $10 billion

     0.4800%  

Over $10 billion, up to and including $20 billion

     0.4300    

Over $20 billion, up to and including $30 billion

     0.3800    

Over $30 billion, up to and including $40 billion

     0.3420    

Over $40 billion

     0.3078    

 

 

Distributor: BlackRock Investments, LLC, an affiliate of BFA, is the distributor for the Fund. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, BFA is responsible for any fees or expenses for distribution services provided to the Fund.

Securities Lending: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has issued an exemptive order which permits BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”), an affiliate of BFA, to serve as securities lending agent for the Fund, subject to applicable conditions. As securities lending agent, BTC bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending, including any custodial costs. The Fund is responsible for fees in connection with the investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan (the “collateral investment fees”). The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund, BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional or BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, managed by BFA, or its affiliates. However, BTC has agreed to reduce the amount of securities lending income it receives in order to effectively limit the collateral investment fees the Fund bears to an annual rate of 0.04%. The SL Agency Shares of such money market fund will not be subject to a sales load, distribution fee or service fee. The money market fund in which the cash collateral has been invested may, under certain circumstances, impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value redeemed or temporarily restrict redemptions for up to 10 business days during a 90 day period, in the event that the money market fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds.

Securities lending income is equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral, net of fees and other payments to and from borrowers of securities, and less the collateral investment fees. The Fund retains a portion of securities lending income and remits the remaining portion to BTC as compensation for its services as securities lending agent.

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, the Fund retains 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees generated across all 1940 Act iShares exchange-traded funds (the “iShares ETF Complex”) in that calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, the Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

 

 

20  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

The share of securities lending income earned by the Fund is shown as securities lending income – affiliated – net in its Statement of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid BTC $453,378 for securities lending agent services.

Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.

Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, transactions executed by the Fund pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales     

Net Realized    

Gain (Loss)    

 

Global Clean Energy

  $ 1,957,682      $ 6,887      $ 1,390      

The Fund may invest its positive cash balances in certain money market funds managed by BFA or an affiliate. The income earned on these temporary cash investments is shown as dividends – affiliated in the Statement of Operations.

A fund, in order to improve its portfolio liquidity and its ability to track its underlying index, may invest in shares of other iShares funds that invest in securities in the fund’s underlying index.

 

7.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales      

Global Clean Energy

  $ 665,132,450      $ 813,328,559      

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, in-kind transactions were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   In-kind
Purchases
    

In-kind    

Sales    

 

Global Clean Energy

  $      $ 566,928,656      

 

8.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

The Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trust’s other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Fund as of October 31, 2023, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Fund’s financial statements.

As of April 30, 2023, the Fund had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards of $1,384,410,420 available to offset future realized capital gains and qualified late-year losses.

A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as “passive foreign investment companies.” Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.

As of October 31, 2023, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Tax Cost      Gross Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross Unrealized
Depreciation
    Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Global Clean Energy

  $ 4,324,741,063      $     123,101,777      $ (1,533,367,098   $ (1,410,265,321

 

9.

LINE OF CREDIT

The Fund, along with certain other iShares funds (“Participating Funds”), is a party to a $800 million credit agreement (“Syndicated Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders, which expires on October 16, 2024. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion

 

 

N O T E S   T O    F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  21


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 0.10% and 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Fund’s relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Fund’s maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.

During the six months ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not borrow under the Syndicated Credit Agreement.

 

10.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, the Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. The Fund’s prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.

BFA uses a “passive” or index approach to try to achieve the Fund’s investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.

The Fund may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.

Infectious Illness Risk: An outbreak of an infectious illness, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely impact the economies of many nations and the global economy, and may impact individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot be foreseen. An infectious illness outbreak may result in, among other things, closed international borders, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, market volatility or disruptions and other significant economic, social and political impacts.

Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a fund’s NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Fund may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Fund manages counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that BFA believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Fund to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Fund’s exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Fund.

A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund.

Geographic/Asset Class Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within the Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

The Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers located in the United States. A decrease in imports or exports, changes in trade regulations, inflation and/or an economic recession in the United States may have a material adverse effect on the U.S. economy and the securities listed on U.S. exchanges. Proposed and adopted policy and legislative changes in the United States may also have a significant effect on U.S. markets generally, as well as on the value of certain securities. Governmental agencies project that the United States will continue to maintain elevated public debt levels for the foreseeable future which may constrain future economic

 

 

22  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

growth. Circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal on U.S. government debt, such as reaching the legislative “debt ceiling.” Such non-payment would result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system. If U.S. relations with certain countries deteriorate, it could adversely affect issuers that rely on the United States for trade. The United States has also experienced increased internal unrest and discord. If these trends were to continue, they may have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy and the issuers in which the the Fund invests.

Significant Shareholder Redemption Risk: Certain shareholders may own or manage a substantial amount of fund shares and/or hold their fund investments for a limited period of time. Large redemptions of fund shares by these shareholders may force a fund to sell portfolio securities, which may negatively impact the fund’s NAV, increase the fund’s brokerage costs, and/or accelerate the realization of taxable income/gains and cause the fund to make additional taxable distributions to shareholders.

 

11.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Capital shares are issued and redeemed by the Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the Fund are not redeemable.

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

        

Year Ended

04/30/23

 
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
iShares ETF   Shares     Amount          Shares     Amount  

 

 

Global Clean Energy

          

Shares sold

    200,000     $ 3,848,099          16,300,000     $ 333,990,804  

Shares redeemed

    (44,600,000     (731,981,774        (36,000,000     (692,891,249
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (44,400,000   $ (728,133,675        (19,700,000   $ (358,900,445
 

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of a fund in the Trust generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities and a specified amount of cash. Certain funds in the Trust may be offered in Creation Units solely or partially for cash in U.S. dollars. Investors purchasing and redeeming Creation Units may pay a purchase transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee directly to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.

From time to time, settlement of securities related to in-kind contributions or in-kind redemptions may be delayed. In such cases, securities related to in-kind transactions are reflected as a receivable or a payable in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

12.

FOREIGN WITHHOLDING TAX CLAIMS

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has issued guidance to address U.S. income tax liabilities attributable to fund shareholders resulting from the recovery of foreign taxes withheld in prior calendar years. These withheld foreign taxes were passed through to shareholders in the form of foreign tax credits in the year the taxes were withheld. Assuming there are sufficient foreign taxes paid which the Fund is able to pass through to shareholders as a foreign tax credit in the current year, the Fund will be able to offset the prior years’ withholding taxes recovered against the foreign taxes paid in the current year. Accordingly, no federal income tax liability is recorded by the Fund.

 

13.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.

 

 

N O T E S   T O    F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  23


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

 

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (the “Fund”)

Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Board Members who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Board Members”), is required annually to consider the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund. The Board’s consideration entails a year-long process whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRock’s services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 2, 2023 and May 15, 2023, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the “15(c) Committee”), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 7-8, 2023, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.

After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of other fund(s) in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs, objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Fund’s applicable expense peer group pursuant to Broadridge’s proprietary ETF methodology (the “Peer Group”). The Board was provided with a detailed description of the proprietary ETF methodology used by Broadridge to determine the Fund’s Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridge’s report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.

In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Fund’s performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, to that of such relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Fund’s short- and longer-term performance in comparison with its underlying index. Such periodic comparative performance information, including additional detailed information as requested by the Board, was also considered. The Board noted that the Fund generally performed in line with its underlying index over the relevant periods.

Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of ETF pricing, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fee rate and expense level and the historical performance of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on management’s representations, including information about ongoing enhancements and initiatives with respect to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to support the iShares funds and their shareholders and have made significant investments into the iShares business. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund, including related programs implemented pursuant to regulatory requirements. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies provided at the May 2, 2023 meeting and throughout the year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance program and other compliance programs and services.

Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA

 

 

24  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)

 

and its affiliates from the Fund’s operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFA’s estimated profit margin as reflected in the Fund’s profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).

Based on this review, the Board concluded that the information considered with respect to the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRock’s historical estimated profitability (as discussed above), including BFA’s and its affiliates’ estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund already provided for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund, on an aggregated basis with the assets of certain other iShares funds, increase. The Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding new or revised breakpoints in the future.

The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board received and considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the “Other Accounts”). The Board acknowledged BFA’s representation that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts.

The Board received detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts generally differ from the Fund, including in terms of the types of services and generally more extensive services provided to the Fund, as well as other significant differences. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks and challenges of managing and providing other services to the Fund, as a publicly traded investment vehicle, as compared to the Other Accounts, particularly those that are institutional clients, in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board noted that BFA and its affiliates do not manage Other Accounts with substantially the same investment objective and strategy as the Fund and that track the same index as the Fund. The Board also acknowledged management’s assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.

The Board considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement and noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.

Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities, as applicable (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFA’s estimated profitability methodology), payment of advisory fees or other fees to BFA (or its affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Fund in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory services or other services, and BlackRock’s profile in the investment community. The Board further considered other direct benefits that might accrue to BFA, including the potential for reduction in the Fund’s expenses that are borne by BFA under the “all-inclusive” management fee arrangement, due in part to the size and scope of BFA’s investment operations servicing the Fund (and other funds in the iShares complex) as well as in response to a changing market environment. The Board also reviewed and considered information provided by BFA concerning authorized participant primary market order processing services that are provided by BlackRock Investments, LLC (“BRIL”), an affiliate of BFA, and paid for by authorized participants under the ETF Servicing Platform. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRock’s technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds. The Board noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

 

 

B O A R D   R E V I E W   A N D   A P P R O V A L   O F   I N V E S T M E N T   A D V I S O R Y   C O N T R A C T

  25


Supplemental Information (unaudited)

 

Tailored Shareholder Reports for Open-End Mutual Funds and ETFs

Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require open-end mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information. Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in a streamlined shareholder report but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these amendments on the shareholder reports for the Funds.

 

 

26  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


General Information

 

Electronic Delivery

Shareholders can sign up for e-mail notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.

To enroll in electronic delivery:

 

   

Go to icsdelivery.com.

   

If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor.

Householding

Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Additionally, the Fund makes its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year available at iShares.com/fundreports.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

A description of the policies and procedures that the iShares Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the iShares Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ending June 30 is available without charge, upon request (1) by calling toll-free 1-800-474-2737; (2) on the iShares website at iShares.com; and (3) on the SEC website at sec.gov.

A description of the Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.

 

 

G E N E R A L   I N F O R M A T I O N

  27


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Portfolio Abbreviation

 

NVDR    Non-Voting Depositary Receipt
NVS    Non-Voting Shares

    

 

 

 

28  

2 0 2 3   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


 

Want to know more?

iShares.com     |    1-800-474-2737

This report is intended for the Fund’s shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).

The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.

©2023 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

iS-SAR-408-1023

 

 

LOGO

   LOGO


 

LOGO

  OCTOBER 31, 2023

 

    

  

2023 Semi-Annual Report

(Unaudited)

 

 

iShares Trust

 

  iShares International Select Dividend ETF | IDV | Cboe BZX

 

 

 


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The combination of continued economic growth and cooling inflation provided a supportive backdrop for investors during the 12-month reporting period ended October 31, 2023. Significantly tighter monetary policy helped to rein in inflation, as the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index declined to its long-term average of approximately 3% in October 2023. Meanwhile, real economic growth proved more resilient than many investors anticipated. A moderating labor market also helped ease inflationary pressure, although wages continued to grow and unemployment rates touched the lowest levels in decades before rising slightly. This robust labor market powered further growth in consumer spending, backstopping the economy. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a horrific attack on Israel. The ensuing war will have a significant humanitarian impact and could lead to heightened economic and market volatility. We see geopolitics as a structural market risk going forward. See our geopolitical risk dashboard at blackrock.com for more details.

Equity returns were solid during the period, as the durability of consumer spending mitigated investors’ concerns about the economy’s trajectory. The U.S. economy continued to show strength, and growth further accelerated in the third quarter of 2023. However, equity returns were uneven, as the performance of a few notable technology companies supported gains among large-capitalization U.S. stocks, while small-capitalization U.S. stocks declined overall. Meanwhile, international developed market equities advanced, and emerging market equities posted solid gains.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose during the reporting period, driving its price down, as investors reacted to elevated inflation and attempted to anticipate future interest rate changes. The corporate bond market benefited from improving economic sentiment, although high-yield corporate bond prices fared significantly better than investment-grade bonds as demand from yield-seeking investors remained strong.

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), attempting to manage persistent inflation, raised interest rates six times during the 12-month period, but slowed and then paused its tightening later in the period. The Fed also wound down its bond-buying programs and incrementally reduced its balance sheet by not replacing securities that reach maturity.

Supply constraints appear to have become an embedded feature of the new macroeconomic environment, making it difficult for developed economies to increase production without sparking higher inflation. Geopolitical fragmentation and an aging population risk further exacerbating these constraints, keeping the labor market tight and wage growth high. Although the Fed has decelerated the pace of interest rate hikes and recently opted for several pauses, we believe that the new economic regime means that the Fed will need to maintain high rates for an extended period to keep inflation under control. Furthermore, ongoing structural changes may mean that the Fed will be hesitant to cut interest rates in the event of faltering economic activity lest inflation accelerate again.

While we favor an overweight position in developed market equities in the long term, we prefer an underweight stance in the near term. Expectations for corporate earnings remain elevated, which seems inconsistent with macroeconomic constraints. Nevertheless, we are overweight on Japanese stocks in the near term as shareholder-friendly policies generate increased investor interest. We also believe that stocks with an AI tilt should benefit from an investment cycle that is set to support revenues and margins. In credit, there are selective opportunities in the near term despite tightening credit and financial conditions. For fixed income investing with a six- to twelve-month horizon, we see the most attractive investments in short-term U.S. Treasuries, U.S. inflation-linked bonds, euro area government bonds and gilts, U.S. mortgage-backed securities, and hard-currency emerging market bonds.

Overall, our view is that investors need to think globally, position themselves to be prepared for a decarbonizing economy, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

 

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

 

Total Returns as of October 31, 2023

 

 
    

 

 6-Month 

 

   

 

 12-Month 

 

 
   

U.S. large cap equities
(S&P 500® Index)

    1.39%        10.14%  
   

U.S. small cap equities
(Russell 2000® Index)

    (5.29)          (8.56)    
   

International equities
(MSCI Europe, Australasia,

Far East Index)

    (7.88)          14.40     
   

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

    (4.78)          10.80     
   

3-month Treasury bills
(ICE BofA 3-Month

U.S. Treasury Bill Index)

    2.63           4.77     
   

U.S. Treasury securities
(ICE BofA 10-Year

U.S. Treasury Index)

    (9.70)          (3.25)    
   

U.S. investment grade bonds 
(Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)

    (6.13)          0.36     
   

Tax-exempt municipal bonds 
(Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

    (4.65)          2.64     
   

U.S. high yield bonds
(Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index)

    0.02           6.23     
Past performance is not an indication of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

 

 

2  

H I S    A G E    I S     N O T    A R T    O F    O U R    U N D     E P O R T


Table of Contents

 

     

Page

 

 

 

The Markets in Review

  

 

 

 

2

 

 

Semi-Annual Report:

  

Fund Summary

  

 

4

 

About Fund Performance

  

 

5

 

Disclosure of Expenses

  

 

5

 

Schedule of Investments

  

 

6

 

Financial Statements

  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

  

 

12

 

Statement of Operations

  

 

13

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

  

 

14

 

Financial Highlights

  

 

15

 

Notes to Financial Statements

  

 

16

 

Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

  

 

24

 

General Information

  

 

27

 

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

  

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023    iShares® International Select Dividend ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares International Select Dividend ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of relatively high dividend paying equities in non-U.S. developed markets, as represented by the Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend IndexTM (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.

Performance

 

          Average Annual Total Returns          

Cumulative Total Returns

 
     6-Month
Total Returns
    1 Year     5 Years     10 Years            1 Year     5 Years     10 Years  

Fund NAV

    (7.76 )%      11.97     2.10     1.34       11.97     10.96     14.26

Fund Market

    (7.63     11.64       2.16       1.33         11.64       11.29       14.14  

Index

    (8.04     11.34       1.86       1.30               11.34       9.63       13.78  

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” for more information.

Expense Example

 

Actual            Hypothetical 5% Return         

 

 

      

 

 

    
 

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
   


Ending

            Account Value
(10/31/23)

 

 
 

    

Expenses
        Paid During
the  Period
 
 
(a) 
            

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
   


Ending

            Account Value
(10/31/23)

 

 
 

   

Expenses
        Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
    

Annualized
        Expense
Ratio
 
 
 
    $        1,000.00                   $         922.40                $         2.37              $ 1,000.00                   $         1,022.70               $         2.49        0.49

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

   
Sector    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Financials

    26.8

Industrials

    16.7  

Materials

    16.4  

Utilities

    15.0  

Energy

    7.3  

Consumer Discretionary

    6.3  

Communication Services

    4.7  

Consumer Staples

    3.3  

Real Estate

    3.1  

Information Technology

    0.4  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

   
Country/Geographic Region    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

United Kingdom

    14.5

Canada

    10.0  

South Korea

    9.6  

Australia

    9.1  

Japan

    8.6  

Spain

    8.1  

Italy

    7.5  

Hong Kong

    6.0  

France

    5.7  

Belgium

    2.9  

Netherlands

    2.7  

Norway

    2.5  

Denmark

    2.2  

Switzerland

    2.2  

Finland

    2.0  

Sweden

    1.6  

Israel

    1.4  

Germany

    1.3  

New Zealand

    1.2  

Other (each representing less than 1%)

    0.9  
 

 

  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

4  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


About Fund Performance

 

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.

Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV, respectively.

An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike a fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred by a fund. These expenses negatively impact fund performance. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower.

Disclosure of Expenses

Shareholders of the Fund may incur the following charges: (1) transactional expenses, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing expenses, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example shown (which is based on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the end of the period) is intended to assist shareholders both in calculating expenses based on an investment in the Fund and in comparing these expenses with similar costs of investing in other funds.

The expense example provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. In order to estimate the expenses a shareholder paid during the period covered by this report, shareholders can divide their account value by $1,000 and then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period.”

The expense example also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on a fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. In order to assist shareholders in comparing the ongoing expenses of investing in the Fund and other funds, compare the 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

The expenses shown in the expense example are intended to highlight shareholders’ ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional expenses, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical example is useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help shareholders determine the relative total expenses of owning different funds. If these transactional expenses were included, shareholder expenses would have been higher.

 

 

B O U T    U N D    E R F  O R M A N C E / D I S C L O S U R E    O F    X P E N S  E S

  5


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Select Dividend ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

   
Australia — 9.0%            

APA Group

    3,261,970     $         17,099,053  

BHP Group Ltd.

    5,041,327       142,707,213  

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.

    5,494,127       78,158,432  

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd.

    4,989,114       11,661,890  

JB Hi-Fi Ltd.

    1,790,592       51,470,447  

Magellan Financial Group Ltd.

    2,416,825       10,029,539  

Perpetual Ltd.

    1,765,806       21,587,793  

Super Retail Group Ltd.

    2,726,979       22,945,639  

Viva Energy Group Ltd.(a)

    5,543,696       9,982,642  
   

 

 

 
      365,642,648  
Austria — 0.4%            

Oesterreichische Post AG(b)

    515,059       16,431,270  
   

 

 

 
Belgium — 2.9%            

Ageas SA/NV

    2,496,584       95,900,863  

Proximus SADP

    2,693,039       22,321,304  
   

 

 

 
      118,222,167  
Canada — 9.8%            

Bank of Nova Scotia (The)

    1,992,655       80,683,308  

Birchcliff Energy Ltd.

    3,024,558       16,706,771  

Canadian Utilities Ltd., Class A, NVS

    1,686,647       35,685,035  

Emera Inc.

    1,696,946       55,579,800  

Great-West Lifeco Inc.

    1,889,104       52,337,751  

IGM Financial Inc.

    1,293,805       29,127,523  

Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp.

    1,154,675       25,395,772  

Manulife Financial Corp.

    1,791,508       31,185,868  

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.

    2,864,364       30,156,636  

Power Corp. of Canada

    1,763,190       42,479,306  
   

 

 

 
      399,337,770  
Denmark — 2.2%            

AP Moller - Maersk A/S, Class A

    50,407       82,302,591  

D/S Norden A/S

    138,892       7,891,335  
   

 

 

 
      90,193,926  
Finland — 2.0%            

Fortum OYJ

    5,011,814       59,507,417  

Metsa Board OYJ, Class B

    2,898,956       21,949,909  
   

 

 

 
      81,457,326  
France — 5.7%            

ALD SA(a)

    1,828,076       12,296,281  

Bouygues SA

    1,596,230       56,153,787  

Nexity SA(b)

    851,793       11,901,650  

Orange SA

    1,879,970       22,112,285  

Rubis SCA

    1,601,093       34,859,867  

TotalEnergies SE

    1,383,866       92,521,811  
   

 

 

 
      229,845,681  
Germany — 1.2%            

Freenet AG

    396,102       10,054,217  

Hapag-Lloyd AG(a)(b)

    109,762       15,875,415  

Mercedes-Benz Group AG

    390,476       22,973,363  
   

 

 

 
      48,902,995  
Hong Kong — 5.9%            

CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

    12,134,000       61,425,750  

CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd.

    9,808,500       45,462,776  

Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd.(b)

    14,007,000       36,648,729  

Hysan Development Co. Ltd.

    10,697,000       19,690,568  

Kerry Properties Ltd.

    9,666,500       16,266,656  

New World Development Co. Ltd.(b)

    19,177,750       35,197,277  

PCCW Ltd.

    20,671,000       10,117,158  
Security   Shares     Value  
Hong Kong (continued)            

VTech Holdings Ltd.

    2,519,600     $         14,661,104  
   

 

 

 
      239,470,018  

Israel — 1.4%

   

ICL Group Ltd.

    11,738,991       57,096,977  
   

 

 

 

Italy — 7.4%

   

A2A SpA

    6,576,632       12,344,290  

Anima Holding SpA(a)

    3,959,984       16,183,915  

Azimut Holding SpA

    1,938,032       40,836,074  

Enel SpA

    7,317,249       46,446,828  

Eni SpA

    7,005,519       114,523,880  

Italgas SpA

    5,602,975       28,473,232  

Snam SpA

    5,724,568       26,250,242  

UnipolSai Assicurazioni SpA

    6,596,421       15,634,521  
   

 

 

 
      300,692,982  
Japan — 8.5%            

Haseko Corp.

    1,600,800       19,700,792  

Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.

    5,023,800       129,700,922  

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc.

    1,423,900       52,172,424  

Nippon Yusen KK

    4,580,400       112,069,755  

Sojitz Corp.

    1,486,980       30,877,697  
   

 

 

 
      344,521,590  
Netherlands — 2.6%            

Flow Traders Ltd., NVS(b)

    551,497       10,077,721  

NN Group NV

    2,135,366       68,486,279  

SBM Offshore NV

    2,241,623       27,918,205  
   

 

 

 
      106,482,205  

New Zealand — 1.1%

   

Spark New Zealand Ltd.

    16,164,791       46,928,310  
   

 

 

 
Norway — 2.5%            

Norsk Hydro ASA

    1,802,425       10,278,700  

Yara International ASA

    2,806,739       91,841,929  
   

 

 

 
      102,120,629  
Singapore — 0.5%            

Golden Agri-Resources Ltd.

    97,041,300       19,136,801  
   

 

 

 
South Korea — 8.4%            

BNK Financial Group Inc.

    2,840,852       14,298,460  

DB Insurance Co. Ltd.

    864,010       56,211,529  

DGB Financial Group Inc.

    2,487,247       14,486,307  

Hana Financial Group Inc.

    2,293,327       66,682,520  

Industrial Bank of Korea

    2,859,582       23,665,823  

KB Financial Group Inc.

    1,732,911       66,055,512  

Samsung Securities Co. Ltd.

    1,120,010       29,340,157  

Shinhan Financial Group Co. Ltd.

    1,680,943       43,207,327  

Woori Financial Group Inc.

    2,894,350       25,565,073  
   

 

 

 
      339,512,708  
Spain — 8.0%            

ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA

    3,231,281       116,855,927  

Cia. de Distribucion Integral Logista Holdings SA

    1,104,620       27,124,155  

Enagas SA

    3,174,475       53,104,799  

Mapfre SA

    3,291,798       6,842,728  

Naturgy Energy Group SA

    2,124,112       60,101,051  

Redeia Corp. SA

    2,963,064       46,208,737  

Telefonica SA

    3,519,662       13,595,174  
   

 

 

 
      323,832,571  
Sweden — 1.6%            

Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB(b)

    19,477,289       5,665,469  

Telia Co. AB

    27,637,397       58,589,769  
   

 

 

 
      64,255,238  
 

 

 

6  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Select Dividend ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Switzerland — 2.2%            

Swiss Re AG

    170,028     $ 18,577,733  

Zurich Insurance Group AG

    149,894       71,198,531  
   

 

 

 
      89,776,264  
United Kingdom — 14.3%            

abrdn PLC

      3,268,520       6,239,916  

Ashmore Group PLC

    3,400,818       7,006,320  

British American Tobacco PLC

    3,833,724       114,522,550  

Centamin PLC

    3,194,990       3,202,252  

IG Group Holdings PLC

    2,865,424       22,260,316  

Jupiter Fund Management PLC

    3,099,387       2,960,756  

Legal & General Group PLC

    3,760,579       9,689,141  

National Grid PLC

    2,588,811       30,866,312  

Persimmon PLC

    6,191,390       76,674,162  

Phoenix Group Holdings PLC

    4,092,700       22,607,616  

Rio Tinto PLC

    3,577,911       228,272,345  

SSE PLC

    2,594,098       51,553,948  

Vodafone Group PLC

    4,080,640       3,756,382  
   

 

 

 
      579,612,016  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 97.6%
(Cost: $4,635,728,767)

 

    3,963,472,092  
   

 

 

 

Preferred Stocks

   
Germany — 0.0%            

Schaeffler AG, Preference Shares, NVS

    400,994       2,081,183  
   

 

 

 
South Korea — 1.1%            

Hyundai Motor Co., Series 2, Preference
Shares, NVS

    604,921       44,940,824  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks — 1.1%
(Cost: $47,127,589)

 

    47,022,007  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 98.7%
(Cost: $4,682,856,356)

 

    4,010,494,099  
   

 

 

 
Security   Shares     Value  

Short-Term Securities

   
Money Market Funds — 1.2%            

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 5.54%(c)(d)(e)

    44,961,142     $ 44,979,127  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency
Shares, 5.33%(c)(d)

    2,160,000       2,160,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 1.2%
(Cost: $47,121,673)

 

    47,139,127  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 99.9%
(Cost: $4,729,978,029)

 

    4,057,633,226  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 0.1%

 

    4,190,584  
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $  4,061,823,810  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(b) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(c) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(d) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(e) 

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six months ended October 31, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

                   
Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/23
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sale
     Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/23
     Shares
Held at
10/31/23
     Income      Capital
Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds
 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares

   $ 68,492,998      $      $ (23,522,502 )(a)     $ 6,852      $ 1,779      $ 44,979,127        44,961,142      $ 4,187,791 (b)     $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

     4,300,000               (2,140,000 )(a)                     2,160,000        2,160,000        194,253         
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ 6,852      $ 1,779      $ 47,139,127         $ 4,382,044      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (b) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S  T M E N T S

  7


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Select Dividend ETF

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

 

 
Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount
(000)
    

Value/

Unrealized

Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

 

 

Long Contracts

           

Euro STOXX 50 Index

     219        12/15/23        $  9,455      $ (227,224

FTSE 100 Index

     163        12/15/23        14,549        (572,959

SPI 200 Index

     72        12/21/23        7,777        (344,998
           

 

 

 
            $ (1,145,181
           

 

 

 

OTC Total Return Swaps

 

 

 
Reference Entity    Payment
Frequency
     Counterparty(a)      Termination
Date
     Net Notional     

Accrued
Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

     Net Value of
Reference
Entity
     Gross
Notional
Amount
Net Asset
Percentage
 

 

 

Equity Securities Long

     Monthly        Goldman Sachs Bank USA(b)        08/19/26      $ 6,841,650      $ (175,324 )(c)     $ 6,703,643        0.2
     Monthly        HSBC Bank PLC(d)        02/10/28        4,485,368        (64,202 )(e)       4,449,146        0.1  
     Monthly        JPMorgan Chase Bank NA(f)        02/08/24        6,373,261        (120,714 )(g)       6,321,273        0.1  
              

 

 

    

 

 

    
               $ (360,240    $ 17,474,062     
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  (a) 

The Fund receives the total return on a portfolio of long positions underlying the total return swap. The Fund pays the total return on a portfolio of short positions underlying the total return swap. In addition, the Fund pays or receives a variable rate of interest, based on a specified benchmark. The benchmark and spread are determined based upon the country and/or currency of the individual underlying positions.

 
  (c) 

Amount includes $(37,317) of net dividends and financing fees.

  (e) 

Amount includes $(27,980) of net dividends, payable for referenced securities purchased and financing fees.

  (g) 

Amount includes $(68,726) of net dividends, payable for referenced securities purchased and financing fees.

The following are the specified benchmarks (plus or minus a range) used in determining the variable rate of interest:

 

(b)

 

(d)

 

(f)

Range:

 

45 basis points

 

45 basis points

 

40 basis points

Benchmarks:

 

EUR - 1D Euro Short Term Rate (ESTR)

 

EUR - 1D Euro Short Term Rate (ESTR)

 

EUR - 1D Euro Short Term Rate (ESTR)

 

 

8  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Select Dividend ETF

 

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of equity securities underlying the total return swap with Goldman Sachs Bank USA as of period end, termination date August 19, 2026.

 

     Shares     Value    

% of
Basket
Value

 

 

Reference Entity — Long

     

Common Stocks

     

Spain

     

Enagas SA

    401,463     $ 6,703,643       100.0
   

 

 

   

Net Value of Reference Entity — Goldman Sachs Bank USA

 

  $ 6,703,643    
   

 

 

   

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of equity securities underlying the total return swap with HSBC Bank PLC as of period end, termination date February 10, 2028.

 

     Shares     Value    

% of
Basket
Value

 

 

Reference Entity — Long

     

Common Stocks

     

Spain

     

Enagas SA

    258,066     $ 4,312,372       96.9

Red Electrica Corp. SA

    8,780       136,774       3.1  
   

 

 

   

Net Value of Reference Entity — HSBC Bank PLC

    $ 4,449,146    
   

 

 

   

The following table represents the individual long positions and related values of equity securities underlying the total return swap with JPMorgan Chase Bank NA as of period end, termination date February 8, 2024.

 

     Shares     Value    

% of
Basket
Value

 

 

Reference Entity — Long

     

Common Stocks

     

Spain

     

Enagas SA

    378,285     $ 6,321,273       100.0
   

 

 

   

Net Value of Reference Entity — JPMorgan Chase Bank NA

 

  $ 6,321,273    
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances Reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for Total Return Swaps

 

         
Description    Swap Premiums
Paid
     Swap Premiums
Received
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Total Return Swaps

   $      $      $      $ (360,240

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

               
      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 1,145,181      $      $      $      $ 1,145,181  

Swaps — OTC
Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps; Swap premiums received

   $      $      $ 360,240      $      $      $      $ 360,240  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $ 1,505,421      $      $      $      $ 1,505,421  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S  T M E N T S

  9


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Select Dividend ETF

 

For the period ended October 31, 2023, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statement of Operations was as follows:

 

               
      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $  (1,119,430    $      $      $      $  (1,119,430

Swaps

                   (1,304,803                           (1,304,803
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $  (2,424,233    $      $      $      $  (2,424,233
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $  (2,716,318    $      $      $      $  (2,716,318

Swaps

                   (1,324,881                           (1,324,881
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $      $      $  (4,041,199    $      $      $      $  (4,041,199
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

   

Futures contracts:
Average notional value of contracts — long

  $ 32,770,852      

Total return swaps:
Average notional value

  $ 20,523,423      

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting as of Period End

The Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) were as follows:

 

     
      Assets      Liabilities  

Derivative Financial Instruments:

     

Futures contracts

   $                 —      $ 1,145,181  

Swaps - OTC

            360,240  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

            1,505,421  

Derivatives not subject to a Master Netting Agreement or similar agreement (“MNA”)

            (1,145,181
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivative assets and liabilities subject to an MNA

            360,240  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an MNA and net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund:

 

           
Counterparty    Derivative
Liabilities
Subject to
an MNA by
Counterparty
    

Derivatives
Available

for Offset(a)

     Non-Cash
Collateral
Pledged
    

Cash
Collateral

Pledged(b)

    

Net Amount
of Derivative

Liabilities(c)

 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

   $ 175,324      $      $      $ (20,000    $ 155,324  

HSBC Bank PLC

     64,202                             64,202  

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA

     120,714                             120,714  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 360,240      $      $      $ (20,000    $ 340,240  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  (a) 

The amount of derivatives available for offset is limited to the amount of derivative assets and/or liabilities that are subject to an MNA.

 
  (b) 

Excess of collateral received/pledged, if any, from the individual counterparty is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

 
  (c) 

Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.

 

 

 

10  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Select Dividend ETF

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

         
      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total 

Assets

                         

Investments

                         

Long-Term Investments

                         

Common Stocks

     $  451,989,882        $ 3,511,482,210        $        $ 3,963,472,092

Preferred Stocks

    

 

         47,022,007                   47,022,007

Short-Term Securities

                         

Money Market Funds

       47,139,127                                   —          47,139,127
    

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 
     $ 499,129,009        $ 3,558,504,217        $        $ 4,057,633,226
    

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

                         

Liabilities

                         

Equity Contracts

     $        $ (1,505,421 )       

$

       $ (1,505,421 )
    

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are swaps and futures contracts. Swaps and futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S  T M E N T S

  11


Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

 

    

iShares
International Select

Dividend ETF

 

ASSETS

 

Investments, at value — unaffiliated(a)(b)

  $ 4,010,494,099  

Investments, at value — affiliated(c)

    47,139,127  

Cash

    6,723  

Cash pledged as collateral for OTC derivatives

    20,000  

Foreign currency collateral pledged for futures contracts(d)

    2,418,688  

Foreign currency, at value(e)

    29,188,802  

Receivables:

 

Investments sold

    85  

Securities lending income — affiliated

    407,844  

Swaps

    31,679  

Dividends — unaffiliated

    15,775,619  

Dividends — affiliated

    30,074  

Tax reclaims

    14,050,551  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    68,899  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    4,119,632,190  
 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Cash received for futures contracts

    6,344  

Collateral on securities loaned, at value

    44,948,235  

Payables:

 

Investments purchased

    5,976,544  

Swaps

    206,509  

Investment advisory fees

    1,732,363  

IRS compliance fee for foreign withholding tax claims

    4,578,145  

Unrealized depreciation on OTC swaps

    360,240  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    57,808,380  
 

 

 

 
Commitments and contingent liabilities      

NET ASSETS

  $ 4,061,823,810  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 5,967,204,695  

Accumulated loss

    (1,905,380,885
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 4,061,823,810  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 

Shares outstanding

    164,100,000  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 24.75  
 

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited  
 

 

 

 

Par value

    None  
 

 

 

 

(a) Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $  4,682,856,356  

(b) Securities loaned, at value

  $ 42,833,072  

(c)  Investments, at cost — affiliated

  $ 47,121,673  

(d) Foreign currency collateral pledged, at cost

  $ 2,528,989  

(e) Foreign currency, at cost

  $ 29,086,319  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

12  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Statement of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended October 31, 2023

 

     

iShares

International

Select

Dividend ETF

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends — unaffiliated

   $ 185,340,656  

Dividends — affiliated

     194,253  

Interest — unaffiliated

     135,648  

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

     4,187,791  

Other income — unaffiliated

     70,473  

Foreign taxes withheld

     (17,100,210

IRS compliance fee for foreign withholding tax claims

     128,887  
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     172,957,498  
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Investment advisory

     11,411,701  

Professional

     16,338  

Commitment costs

     11,223  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     11,439,262  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     161,518,236  
  

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

  

Net realized gain (loss) from:

  

Investments — unaffiliated

     (65,761,497

Investments — affiliated

     6,852  

Foreign currency transactions

     (3,145,454

Futures contracts

     (1,119,430

In-kind redemptions — unaffiliated(a)

     33,809,993  

Swaps

     (1,304,803
  

 

 

 
     (37,514,339
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

  

Investments — unaffiliated

     (488,704,193

Investments — affiliated

     1,779  

Foreign currency translations

     (353,275

Futures contracts

     (2,716,318

Swaps

     (1,324,881
  

 

 

 
     (493,096,888
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (530,611,227
  

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

   $ (369,092,991
  

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L    T A T E M E N  T S

  13


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    iShares
International Select Dividend ETF
 
    

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

(unaudited)

       Year Ended
04/30/23
 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

      

OPERATIONS

      

Net investment income

  $ 161,518,236        $ 346,145,773  

Net realized loss

    (37,514,339        (158,688,634

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (493,096,888        (219,514,963
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    (369,092,991        (32,057,824
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

      

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (216,248,724        (304,367,747
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

      

Net increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    (375,411,273        749,314,980  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

      

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (960,752,988        412,889,409  

Beginning of period

    5,022,576,798          4,609,687,389  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 4,061,823,810        $ 5,022,576,798  
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

14  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    iShares International Select Dividend ETF  
 

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended

10/31/23
(unaudited)

          Year Ended
04/30/23
    Year Ended
04/30/22
    Year Ended
04/30/21
     Year Ended
04/30/20
     Year Ended
04/30/19
 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 28.14       $ 30.17     $ 32.41     $ 24.14      $ 31.59      $ 34.11  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    0.93         2.06 (b)      1.95 (b)      1.35        1.83        1.71  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

    (3.08       (2.25     (2.48     8.19        (7.10      (2.48
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    (2.15       (0.19     (0.53     9.54        (5.27      (0.77
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(d)

    (1.24       (1.84     (1.71     (1.27      (2.18      (1.75
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 24.75       $ 28.14     $ 30.17     $ 32.41      $ 24.14      $ 31.59  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

               

Based on net asset value

    (7.76 )%(f)        (0.06 )%(b)      (1.76 )%(b)      40.57      (17.15 )%       (2.13 )% 
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(g)

               

Total expenses

    0.49 %(h)        0.51     0.54     0.49      0.49      0.49
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived

    0.49 %(h)        0.51     0.54     0.49      0.49      0.49
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses excluding professional fees for foreign withholding tax claims

    0.49 %(h)        0.49     0.49     N/A        N/A        0.49
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

    6.97 %(h)        7.58 %(b)      6.12 %(b)      4.87      6.06      5.39
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

               

Net assets, end of period (000)

  $ 4,061,824       $ 5,022,579     $ 4,609,687     $ 4,329,942      $ 3,421,123      $ 4,377,418  
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(i)

    3       29     36     86      12      35
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Reflects the one-time, positive effect of foreign withholding tax claims, net of the associated professional fees, which resulted in the following increases for the year ended April 30, 2023 and April 30,2022 respectively:

• Net investment income per share by $0.04 and $0.13.

• Total return by 0.13% and 0.39%.

• Ratio of net investment income to average net assets by 0.15% and 0.41%.

(c) 

The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities.

(d) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Annualized.

(i) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

I N A N C I A L    I G H L I G H  T S

  15


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

iShares Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios.

These financial statements relate only to the following fund (the “Fund”):

 

   
iShares ETF  

Diversification    

Classification    

International Select Dividend

  Diversified    

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis.

Foreign Currency Translation: The Fund’s books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using prevailing market rates as quoted by one or more data service providers. Purchases and sales of investments are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the investments denominated in that currency will lose value; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.

The Fund does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of investments for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investments are not segregated in the Statement of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those investments, but are included as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments. The Fund reports realized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Foreign Taxes: The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which the Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by the Fund and are reflected in its Statement of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as “Other foreign taxes”, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of October 31, 2023, if any, are disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The Fund files withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Fund may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdiction’s applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statement of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.

Collateralization: If required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Fund may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments.

In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Fund. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Fund and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Fund’s tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund.

Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Fund, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

 

16  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Fund’s investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund’s listing exchange is open and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) of the Fund has approved the designation of BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), the Fund’s investment adviser, as the valuation designee for the Fund. The Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under BFA’s policies. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value. BFA has formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments, with assistance from other BlackRock pricing committees.

Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of the Fund’s assets and liabilities:

 

   

Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price.

 

   

Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that day’s published NAV.

 

   

Futures contracts are valued based on that day’s last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded.

 

   

Swap agreements are valued utilizing quotes received daily by independent pricing services or through brokers, which are derived using daily swap curves and models that incorporate a number of market data factors, such as discounted cash flows, trades and values of the underlying reference instruments.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Each business day, the Fund uses current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (“Systematic Fair Value Price”). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Valuation Committee, in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Valuation Committee seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Valuation Committee deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement.

Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a fund’s NAV and the prices used by the fund’s underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the fund’s performance and the performance of the fund’s underlying index.

Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access;

 

   

Level 2 – Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs); and

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, (including the Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments).

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A  L    T A T E M E N T S

  17


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

4.

SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Securities Lending: The Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by the Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, the Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.

As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BFA, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The market value of any securities on loan and the value of any related cash collateral are disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Fund under Master Securities Lending Agreements (each, an “MSLA”) which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate a net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. In the event that a borrower defaults, the Fund, as lender, would offset the market value of the collateral received against the market value of the securities loaned. When the value of the collateral is greater than that of the market value of the securities loaned, the lender is left with a net amount payable to the defaulting party. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of an MSLA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Under the MSLA, absent an event of default, the borrower can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities, and the Fund can reinvest cash collateral received in connection with loaned securities. Upon an event of default, the parties’ obligations to return the securities or collateral to the other party are extinguished, and the parties can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities or the collateral received in connection with the loaned securities in order to satisfy the defaulting party’s net payment obligation for all transactions under the MSLA. The defaulting party remains liable for any deficiency.

As of period end, the following table is a summary of the securities on loan by counterparty which are subject to offset under an MSLA:

 

 

 
iShares ETF and Counterparty    Securities Loaned
at Value
    

Cash Collateral

Received(a)

    

Non-Cash Collateral

Received, at Fair Value(a)

     Net Amount  

 

 

International Select Dividend

           

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

   $         7,452,217      $       (7,383,319    $                               —      $      68,898 (b) 

HSBC Bank PLC

     1,308,229        (1,308,229              

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     6,045,962        (6,045,962              

Jefferies LLC

     176,086        (169,619             6,467 (b) 

Morgan Stanley

     25,435,521        (25,435,521              

SG Americas Securities LLC

     2,415,057        (2,415,057              
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $         42,833,072      $     (42,757,707    $                                —      $      75,365  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Collateral received, if any, in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by the Fund is disclosed in the Fund’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 
  (b) 

The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of October 31, 2023. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty.

 

The risks of securities lending include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not return the securities when due. To mitigate these risks, the Fund benefits from a borrower default indemnity provided by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). BlackRock’s indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. The Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by the Fund.

 

5.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contract’s size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

18  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.

Swaps: Swap contracts are entered into to manage exposure to issuers, markets and securities. Such contracts are agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or a net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the OTC market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (“OTC swaps”) or centrally cleared (“centrally cleared swaps”).

For OTC swaps, any upfront premiums paid and any upfront fees received are shown as swap premiums paid and swap premiums received, respectively, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and amortized over the term of the contract. The daily fluctuation in market value is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on OTC Swaps in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received or paid are recorded in the Statement of Operations as realized gains or losses, respectively. When an OTC swap is terminated, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement of Operations equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Fund’s basis in the contract, if any. Generally, the basis of the contract is the premium received or paid.

Total return swaps are entered into by the Fund to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in such market or to exchange the risk/return of one security or market (e.g., fixed-income) with another security or market (e.g., equity or commodity prices) (equity risk, commodity price risk and/or interest rate risk).

Total return swaps are agreements in which there is an exchange of cash flows whereby one party commits to make payments based on the total return (distributions plus capital gains/losses) of an underlying instrument, or basket or underlying instruments, in exchange for fixed or floating rate interest payments. If the total return of the instruments or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting fixed or floating interest rate obligation, the Fund receives payment from or makes a payment to the counterparty.

Certain total return swaps are designed to function as a portfolio of direct investments in long and short equity positions. This means that the Fund has the ability to trade in and out of these long and short positions within the swap and will receive the economic benefits and risks equivalent to direct investment in these positions, subject to certain adjustments due to events related to the counterparty. Benefits and risks include capital appreciation (depreciation), corporate actions and dividends received and paid, all of which are reflected in the swap’s market value. The market value also includes interest charges and credits (“financing fees”) related to the notional values of the long and short positions and cash balances within the swap. These interest charges and credits are based on a specified benchmark rate plus or minus a specified spread determined based upon the country and/or currency of the positions in the portfolio.

Positions within the swap and financing fees are reset periodically. During a reset, any unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on positions and accrued financing fees become available for cash settlement between the Fund and the counterparty. The amounts that are available for cash settlement are recorded as realized gains or losses in the Statement of Operations. Cash settlement in and out of the swap may occur at a reset date or any other date, at the discretion of the Fund and the counterparty, over the life of the agreement. Certain swaps have no stated expiration and can be terminated by either party at any time.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit and market risks in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreements, and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates and/or market values associated with these transactions.

Master Netting Arrangements: In order to define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help mitigate its counterparty risk, a Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency, or other events.

For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement, and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by a fund and the counterparty.

Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash pledged as collateral and cash received as collateral, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to a certain minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of business of the Fund. Any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Fund on the next business day. Typically, the counterparty is not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use cash and non-cash collateral it receives. A fund generally agrees not to use non-cash collateral that it receives but may, absent default or certain other circumstances defined in the underlying ISDA Master Agreement, be permitted to use cash collateral received. In such cases, interest may be paid pursuant to the collateral arrangement with the counterparty. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from the counterparty are not fully collateralized, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. Likewise, to the extent the Fund has delivered collateral to a counterparty and stands ready to perform under the terms of its agreement with such counterparty, the Fund bears the risk of loss from a counterparty in the amount of the value of the collateral in the event the counterparty fails to return such collateral. Based on the terms of agreements, collateral may not be required for all derivative contracts.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A  L    T A T E M E N T S

  19


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements, if any, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

6.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of the Fund’s assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Fund, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).

For its investment advisory services to the Fund, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the Fund’s allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:

 

   
Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets   Investment Advisory Fees  

First $12 billion

    0.5000

Over $12 billion, up to and including $18 billion

    0.4750  

Over $18 billion, up to and including $24 billion

    0.4513  

Over $24 billion, up to and including $30 billion

    0.4287  

Over $30 billion

    0.4073  

Expense Waivers: BFA may from time to time voluntarily waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, if any). BFA has elected to implement a voluntary fee waiver for the Fund in an amount equal to the acquired fund fees and expenses, if any, attributable to the Fund’s investments in other iShares funds.

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, there were no fees waived by BFA pursuant to this arrangement.

Distributor: BlackRock Investments, LLC, an affiliate of BFA, is the distributor for the Fund. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, BFA is responsible for any fees or expenses for distribution services provided to the Fund.

Securities Lending: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has issued an exemptive order which permits BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”), an affiliate of BFA, to serve as securities lending agent for the Fund, subject to applicable conditions. As securities lending agent, BTC bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending, including any custodial costs. The Fund is responsible for fees in connection with the investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan (the “collateral investment fees”). The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund, BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional or BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, managed by BFA, or its affiliates. However, BTC has agreed to reduce the amount of securities lending income it receives in order to effectively limit the collateral investment fees the Fund bears to an annual rate of 0.04%. The SL Agency Shares of such money market fund will not be subject to a sales load, distribution fee or service fee. The money market fund in which the cash collateral has been invested may, under certain circumstances, impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value redeemed or temporarily restrict redemptions for up to 10 business days during a 90 day period, in the event that the money market fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds.

Securities lending income is equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral, net of fees and other payments to and from borrowers of securities, and less the collateral investment fees. The Fund retains a portion of securities lending income and remits the remaining portion to BTC as compensation for its services as securities lending agent.

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, the Fund retains 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees generated across all 1940 Act iShares exchange-traded funds (the “iShares ETF Complex”) in that calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, the Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

The share of securities lending income earned by the Fund is shown as securities lending income – affiliated – net in its Statement of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid BTC $898,175 for securities lending agent services.

Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.

 

 

20  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, transactions executed by the Fund pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Purchases     Sales    

 

Net Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

International Select Dividend

  $     $ 11,475,458       $ (3,710,187

The Fund may invest its positive cash balances in certain money market funds managed by BFA or an affiliate. The income earned on these temporary cash investments is shown as dividends – affiliated in the Statement of Operations.

A fund, in order to improve its portfolio liquidity and its ability to track its underlying index, may invest in shares of other iShares funds that invest in securities in the fund’s underlying index.

 

7.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

 

 

iShares ETF

 

 

Purchases

    

 

Sales

 

International Select Dividend

  $ 157,733,471      $ 230,209,016  

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, in-kind transactions were as follows:

 

iShares ETF  

 

In-kind
Purchases

    

 

In-kind

Sales

 

International Select Dividend

  $ 9,850,720      $ 341,162,516  

 

8.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

The Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trust’s other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Fund as of October 31, 2023, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Fund’s financial statements.

As of April 30, 2023, the Fund had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards of $1,155,168,435 available to offset future realized capital gains and qualified late-year losses.

A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as “passive foreign investment companies.” Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.

As of October 31, 2023, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Tax Cost     

Gross Unrealized

Appreciation

    

Gross Unrealized

Depreciation

   

 

Net Unrealized
Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

International Select Dividend

  $ 4,795,345,699      $ 260,801,219        $ (1,000,019,113   $ (739,217,894

 

9.

LINE OF CREDIT

The Fund, along with certain other iShares funds (“Participating Funds”), is a party to a $800 million credit agreement (“Syndicated Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders, which expires on October 16, 2024. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 0.10% and 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Fund’s relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Fund’s maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A  L    T A T E M E N T S

  21


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

During the six months ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not borrow under the Syndicated Credit Agreement.

 

10.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, the Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. The Fund’s prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.

BFA uses a “passive” or index approach to try to achieve the Fund’s investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.

The Fund may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.

Infectious Illness Risk: An outbreak of an infectious illness, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely impact the economies of many nations and the global economy, and may impact individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot be foreseen. An infectious illness outbreak may result in, among other things, closed international borders, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, market volatility or disruptions and other significant economic, social and political impacts.

Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a fund’s NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Fund may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Fund manages counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that BFA believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Fund to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Fund’s exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Fund.

A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund.

Geographic/Asset Class Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within the Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

The Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries as well as acts of war in the region. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Fund’s investments.

Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. The United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union, and one or more other countries may withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the Euro, the common currency of the European Union. These events and

 

 

22  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

actions have adversely affected, and may in the future adversely affect, the value and exchange rate of the Euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the Euro and non-European Union member states. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far reaching. In addition, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The extent and duration of the military action, resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions in the region are impossible to predict, but have been, and may continue to be significant and have a severe adverse effect on the region, including significant negative impacts on the economy and the markets for certain securities and commodities, such as oil and natural gas, as well as other sectors.

The Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the fund’s portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.

Significant Shareholder Redemption Risk: Certain shareholders may own or manage a substantial amount of fund shares and/or hold their fund investments for a limited period of time. Large redemptions of fund shares by these shareholders may force a fund to sell portfolio securities, which may negatively impact the fund’s NAV, increase the fund’s brokerage costs, and/or accelerate the realization of taxable income/gains and cause the fund to make additional taxable distributions to shareholders.

 

11.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Capital shares are issued and redeemed by the Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the Fund are not redeemable.

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

    

 

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

 

   

 

Year Ended

04/30/23

 

 

iShares ETF

 

 

 

Shares

 

   

 

Amount

 

   

 

Shares

 

   

 

Amount

 

 

International Select Dividend

       

Shares sold

    800,000     $ 21,597,105       29,750,000     $ 855,301,402  

Shares redeemed

    (15,200,000     (397,008,378     (4,050,000     (105,986,422
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (14,400,000   $  (375,411,273     25,700,000     $ 749,314,980  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of a fund in the Trust generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities and a specified amount of cash. Certain funds in the Trust may be offered in Creation Units solely or partially for cash in U.S. dollars. Investors purchasing and redeeming Creation Units may pay a purchase transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee directly to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.

From time to time, settlement of securities related to in-kind contributions or in-kind redemptions may be delayed. In such cases, securities related to in-kind transactions are reflected as a receivable or a payable in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

12.

FOREIGN WITHHOLDING TAX CLAIMS

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has issued guidance to address U.S. income tax liabilities attributable to fund shareholders resulting from the recovery of foreign taxes withheld in prior calendar years. These withheld foreign taxes were passed through to shareholders in the form of foreign tax credits in the year the taxes were withheld. Assuming there are sufficient foreign taxes paid which the iShares International Select Dividend ETF is able to pass through to shareholders as a foreign tax credit in the current year, the fund will be able to offset the prior years’ withholding taxes recovered against the foreign taxes paid in the current year. Accordingly, no federal income tax liability is recorded by the Fund.

The iShares International Select Dividend ETF is seeking a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) to address any prior years’ U.S. income tax liabilities attributable to Fund shareholders resulting from the recovery of foreign taxes. The closing agreement would result in the Fund paying a compliance fee to the IRS, on behalf of its shareholders, representing the estimated tax savings generated from foreign tax credits claimed by Fund shareholders on their tax returns in prior years. The Fund has accrued a liability for the estimated IRS compliance fee related to foreign withholding tax claims, which is disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The actual IRS compliance fee may differ from the estimate and that difference may be material.

 

13.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A  L    T A T E M E N T S

  23


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

 

iShares International Select Dividend ETF (the “Fund”)

Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Board Members who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Board Members”), is required annually to consider the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund. The Board’s consideration entails a year-long process whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRock’s services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 2, 2023 and May 15, 2023, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the “15(c) Committee”), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 7-8, 2023, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.

After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of other fund(s) in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs, objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Fund’s applicable expense peer group pursuant to Broadridge’s proprietary ETF methodology (the “Peer Group”). The Board was provided with a detailed description of the proprietary ETF methodology used by Broadridge to determine the Fund’s Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridge’s report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were within range of the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.

In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Fund’s performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, to that of such relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Fund’s short- and longer-term performance in comparison with its underlying index. Such periodic comparative performance information, including additional detailed information as requested by the Board, was also considered. The Board noted that the Fund generally performed in line with its underlying index over the relevant periods.

Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of ETF pricing, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fee rate and expense level and the historical performance of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on management’s representations, including information about ongoing enhancements and initiatives with respect to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to support the iShares funds and their shareholders and have made significant investments into the iShares business. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund, including related programs implemented pursuant to regulatory requirements. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies provided at the May 2, 2023 meeting and throughout the year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance program and other compliance programs and services.

Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA

 

 

24  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)

 

and its affiliates from the Fund’s operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFA’s estimated profit margin as reflected in the Fund’s profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).

Based on this review, the Board concluded that the information considered with respect to the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRock’s historical estimated profitability (as discussed above), including BFA’s and its affiliates’ estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund already provided for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund, on an aggregated basis with the assets of certain other iShares funds, increase. The Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding new or revised breakpoints in the future.

The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board received and considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the “Other Accounts”). The Board acknowledged BFA’s representation that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts.

The Board received detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts generally differ from the Fund, including in terms of the types of services and generally more extensive services provided to the Fund, as well as other significant differences. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks and challenges of managing and providing other services to the Fund, as a publicly traded investment vehicle, as compared to the Other Accounts, particularly those that are institutional clients, in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board noted that BFA and its affiliates do not manage Other Accounts with substantially the same investment objective and strategy as the Fund and that track the same index as the Fund. The Board also acknowledged management’s assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.

The Board considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement and noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.

Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities, as applicable (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFA’s estimated profitability methodology), payment of advisory fees or other fees to BFA (or its affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Fund in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory services or other services, and BlackRock’s profile in the investment community. The Board further considered other direct benefits that might accrue to BFA, including the potential for reduction in the Fund’s expenses that are borne by BFA under the “all-inclusive” management fee arrangement, due in part to the size and scope of BFA’s investment operations servicing the Fund (and other funds in the iShares complex) as well as in response to a changing market environment. The Board also reviewed and considered information provided by BFA concerning authorized participant primary market order processing services that are provided by BlackRock Investments, LLC (“BRIL”), an affiliate of BFA, and paid for by authorized participants under the ETF Servicing Platform. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRock’s technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds. The Board noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

 

 

O A R D    E V I E W    A N D     P P R O V A L    O F    N V E S T M E N T    D V I S O R Y    O N T R A C T

  25


Tailored Shareholder Reports for Open-End Mutual Funds and ETFs

Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require open-end mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information. Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in a streamlined shareholder report but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these amendments on the shareholder reports for the Funds.

 

 

26  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


General Information

 

Electronic Delivery

Shareholders can sign up for e-mail notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.

To enroll in electronic delivery:

 

   

Go to icsdelivery.com.

   

If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor.

Householding

Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Additionally, the Fund makes its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year available at iShares.com/fundreports.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

A description of the policies and procedures that the iShares Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the iShares Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ending June 30 is available without charge, upon request (1) by calling toll-free 1-800-474-2737; (2) on the iShares website at iShares.com; and (3) on the SEC website at sec.gov.

A description of the Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.

 

 

E N E R A L    N F O R M A T I O  N

  27


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Portfolio Abbreviation

 

NVS    Non-Voting Shares

 

 

28  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A  L    E P O R T    T O    H A R E H O L D E R  S


 

 

 

 

Want to know more?

iShares.com   |   1-800-474-2737

This report is intended for the Fund’s shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).

The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the companies listed above

©2023 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

iS-SAR-406-1023

 

LOGO

 

LOGO


 

LOGO

 

 

  OCTOBER 31, 2023

 

 

2023 Semi-Annual Report

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

iShares Trust

 

·  

iShares Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF | ERET | NASDAQ

 

·  

iShares Global REIT ETF | REET | NYSE Arca

 

·  

iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF | IFGL | NASDAQ


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The combination of continued economic growth and cooling inflation provided a supportive backdrop for investors during the 12-month reporting period ended October 31, 2023. Significantly tighter monetary policy helped to rein in inflation, as the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index declined to its long-term average of approximately 3% in October 2023. Meanwhile, real economic growth proved more resilient than many investors anticipated. A moderating labor market also helped ease inflationary pressure, although wages continued to grow and unemployment rates touched the lowest levels in decades before rising slightly. This robust labor market powered further growth in consumer spending, backstopping the economy. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a horrific attack on Israel. The ensuing war will have a significant humanitarian impact and could lead to heightened economic and market volatility. We see geopolitics as a structural market risk going forward. See our geopolitical risk dashboard at blackrock.com for more details.

Equity returns were solid during the period, as the durability of consumer spending mitigated investors’ concerns about the economy’s trajectory. The U.S. economy continued to show strength, and growth further accelerated in the third quarter of 2023. However, equity returns were uneven, as the performance of a few notable technology companies supported gains among large-capitalization U.S. stocks, while small-capitalization U.S. stocks declined overall. Meanwhile, international developed market equities advanced, and emerging market equities posted solid gains.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose during the reporting period, driving its price down, as investors reacted to elevated inflation and attempted to anticipate future interest rate changes. The corporate bond market benefited from improving economic sentiment, although high-yield corporate bond prices fared significantly better than investment-grade bonds as demand from yield-seeking investors remained strong.

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), attempting to manage persistent inflation, raised interest rates six times during the 12-month period, but slowed and then paused its tightening later in the period. The Fed also wound down its bond-buying programs and incrementally reduced its balance sheet by not replacing securities that reach maturity.

Supply constraints appear to have become an embedded feature of the new macroeconomic environment, making it difficult for developed economies to increase production without sparking higher inflation. Geopolitical fragmentation and an aging population risk further exacerbating these constraints, keeping the labor market tight and wage growth high. Although the Fed has decelerated the pace of interest rate hikes and recently opted for several pauses, we believe that the new economic regime means that the Fed will need to maintain high rates for an extended period to keep inflation under control. Furthermore, ongoing structural changes may mean that the Fed will be hesitant to cut interest rates in the event of faltering economic activity lest inflation accelerate again.

While we favor an overweight position in developed market equities in the long term, we prefer an underweight stance in the near term. Expectations for corporate earnings remain elevated, which seems inconsistent with macroeconomic constraints. Nevertheless, we are overweight on Japanese stocks in the near term as shareholder-friendly policies generate increased investor interest. We also believe that stocks with an AI tilt should benefit from an investment cycle that is set to support revenues and margins. In credit, there are selective opportunities in the near term despite tightening credit and financial conditions. For fixed income investing with a six- to twelve-month horizon, we see the most attractive investments in short-term U.S. Treasuries, U.S. inflation-linked bonds, euro area government bonds and gilts, U.S. mortgage-backed securities, and hard-currency emerging market bonds.

Overall, our view is that investors need to think globally, position themselves to be prepared for a decarbonizing economy, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

 

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

 

Total Returns as of October 31, 2023  
     
       6-Month       12-Month  
   

U.S. large cap equities

(S&P 500® Index)

    1.39     10.14
   

U.S. small cap equities

(Russell 2000® Index)

    (5.29     (8.56
   

International equities

(MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Index)

    (7.88     14.40  
   

Emerging market equities

(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

    (4.78     10.80  
   

3-month Treasury bills

(ICE BofA 3-Month

U.S. Treasury Bill Index)

    2.63       4.77  
   

U.S. Treasury securities

(ICE BofA 10-Year

U.S. Treasury Index)

    (9.70     (3.25
   

U.S. investment grade bonds

(Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)

    (6.13     0.36  
   

Tax-exempt municipal bonds

(Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

    (4.65     2.64  
   

U.S. high yield bonds

(Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index)

    0.02       6.23  
Past performance is not an indication of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

 

 

2  

H I S    A G E    I S    N  O T    A R T    O F    O U R    U N D     E P O R T


Table of Contents

 

      Page  

The Markets in Review

     2  

Semi-Annual Report:

  

Fund Summary

     4  

About Fund Performance

     7  

Disclosure of Expenses

     7  

Schedules of Investments

     8  

Financial Statements

  

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     24  

Statements of Operations

     25  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     26  

Financial Highlights

     28  

Notes to Financial Statements

     31  

Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

     39  

Supplemental Information

     43  

General Information

     44  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     45  


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023    iShares® Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of developed market real estate equities while targeting increased exposure to green certification and energy efficiency relative to the parent index as represented by FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Green Target Index (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in that Index.

Performance

 

          Cumulative Total Returns  
         
     6-Month
Total Returns
   

Since

Inception

 

Fund NAV

    (11.26 )%      (9.80 )% 

Fund Market

    (11.30     (9.53

Index

    (11.47     (10.37

The inception date of the Fund was November 15, 2022. The first day of secondary market trading was November 17, 2022.

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” for more information.

Expense Example

 

Actual           Hypothetical 5% Return                    
 

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
                 

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 
  $      1,000.00          $        887.40          $       1.42               $      1,000.00          $      1,023.60          $       1.53                     0.30

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

INDUSTRY ALLOCATION

 

Industry    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Retail REITs

    15.4

Industrial REITs

    14.3  

Multi-Family Residential REITs

    11.4  

Data Center REITs

    10.1  

Office REITs

    8.3  

Real Estate Operating Companies

    8.0  

Diversified REITs

    6.2  

Diversified Real Estate Activities

    5.8  

Health Care REITs

    5.7  

Self Storage REITs

    4.2  

Single-Family Residential REITs

    3.5  

Other Specialized REITs

    3.0  

Hotel & Resort REITs

    2.5  

Real Estate Development

    1.5  

Other (each representing less than 1%)

    0.1  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

United States

    59.7

Japan

    10.4  

Hong Kong

    5.8  

Singapore

    5.7  

Australia

    4.1  

United Kingdom

    3.5  

Germany

    2.2  

Canada

    1.9  

Sweden

    1.6  

France

    1.6  
 
  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

4  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023     iShares® Global REIT ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares Global REIT ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of global real estate equities in developed and emerging markets, as represented by the FTSE EPRA Nareit Global REITS Index (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.

Performance

 

           Average Annual Total Returns            Cumulative Total Returns  
                     
     6-Month
Total Returns
     1 Year     5 Years     Since
Inception
            1 Year      5 Years      Since
Inception
 

Fund NAV

    (11.59 )%       (6.19 )%      (0.24 )%      1.70        (6.19 )%       (1.18 )%       17.04

Fund Market

    (11.71      (6.34     (0.21     1.70          (6.34      (1.03      17.01  

Index

    (11.97      (7.04     (1.01     0.92                (7.04      (4.93      8.87  

The inception date of the Fund was July 8, 2014. The first day of secondary market trading was July 10, 2014.

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” for more information.

Expense Example

 

Actual           Hypothetical 5% Return                    
 

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
                 

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

 

 

 

  $      1,000.00          $        884.10          $       0.66               $      1,000.00          $      1,024.40          $       0.71                     0.14

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

INDUSTRY ALLOCATION

 

Industry    

Percent of

Total Investments


(a) 

Retail REITs

    19.3

Industrial REITs

    17.4  

Multi-Family Residential REITs

    10.7  

Data Center REITs

    9.0  

Health Care REITs

    9.0  

Office REITs

    8.2  

Diversified REITs

    8.1  

Self Storage REITs

    6.3  

Single-Family Residential REITs

    4.6  

Other Specialized REITs

    3.9  

Hotel & Resort REITs

    3.3  

Other (each representing less than 1%)

    0.2  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

United States

    71.5

Japan

    7.7  

United Kingdom

    4.4  

Australia

    3.7  

Singapore

    3.4  

Canada

    2.5  

France

    1.7  

Hong Kong

    1.1  

Belgium

    1.1  

Mexico

    0.8  
 

 

  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

U N D    U M M A R Y

  5


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023    iShares® International Developed Real Estate ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of real estate equities in developed non-U.S. markets, as represented by the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed ex-U.S. Index (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.

Performance

 

           Average Annual Total Returns            Cumulative Total Returns  
                     
     6-Month
Total Returns
     1 Year     5 Years     10 Years             1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Fund NAV

    (13.98 )%       (3.27 )%      (4.18 )%      (1.28 )%         (3.27 )%       (19.23 )%       (12.05 )% 

Fund Market

    (14.02      (3.14     (4.15     (1.28        (3.14      (19.09      (12.09

Index

    (14.04      (3.56     (4.15     (1.13              (3.56      (19.10      (10.77

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” for more information.

Expense Example

 

Actual           Hypothetical 5% Return                    
 

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
           

Beginning
Account Value
(05/01/23)
 
 
 
      

Ending
Account Value
(10/31/23)
 
 
 
      

Expenses
Paid During
the Period
 
 
(a) 
                 

Annualized
Expense
Ratio
 
 
 
  $      1,000.00          $        860.20          $       2.24               $      1,000.00          $      1,022.70          $       2.44                     0.48

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

INDUSTRY ALLOCATION

 

Industry    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Real Estate Operating Companies

    20.0

Retail REITs

    16.5  

Diversified Real Estate Activities

    14.5  

Industrial REITs

    13.1  

Diversified REITs

    12.3  

Office REITs

    9.6  

Multi-Family Residential REITs

    5.1  

Real Estate Development

    2.7  

Health Care REITs

    2.3  

Hotel & Resort REITs

    1.7  

Self Storage REITs

    1.1  

Other (each representing less than 1%)

    1.1  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Japan

    28.8

Hong Kong

    11.0  

United Kingdom

    10.9  

Singapore

    9.6  

Australia

    9.0  

Canada

    6.5  

Germany

    5.3  

Sweden

    4.3  

France

    4.1  

Switzerland

    3.6  
 

 

  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

6  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


About Fund Performance

 

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of each Fund’s investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.

Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of the fund, the NAV of the fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV, respectively.

An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike a fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred by a fund. These expenses negatively impact fund performance. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower.

Disclosure of Expenses

Shareholders of each Fund may incur the following charges: (1) transactional expenses, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing expenses, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense examples shown (which are based on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the end of the period) are intended to assist shareholders both in calculating expenses based on an investment in each Fund and in comparing these expenses with similar costs of investing in other funds.

The expense examples provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. In order to estimate the expenses a shareholder paid during the period covered by this report, shareholders can divide their account value by $1,000 and then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period.”

The expense examples also provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on a fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. In order to assist shareholders in comparing the ongoing expenses of investing in the Funds and other funds, compare the 5% hypothetical examples with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

The expenses shown in the expense examples are intended to highlight shareholders’ ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional expenses, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help shareholders determine the relative total expenses of owning different funds. If these transactional expenses were included, shareholder expenses would have been higher.

 

 

A B O U T    F U N D    P E R F O R M A N C E  /  D I S C L O S U R E    O F    E X P E N S E S

  7


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) 

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Common Stocks            
Data Center REITs — 10.1%            

Digital Realty Trust Inc.

    1,875     $ 233,175  

Equinix Inc.

    762       555,985  

Keppel DC REIT

    7,500       9,256  
   

 

 

 
          798,416  
Diversified Real Estate Activities — 5.8%            

Allreal Holding AG, Registered

    63       10,109  

City Developments Ltd.

    2,100       9,693  

Heiwa Real Estate Co. Ltd.

    200       5,120  

Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd.

    7,800       99,842  

Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd.

    5,100       110,542  

New World Development Co. Ltd.(a)

    12,000       22,024  

Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc.

    600       14,014  

Peach Property Group AG(a)(b)

    122       1,601  

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. Ltd.

    1,800       45,169  

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.

    10,500       107,821  

Tokyo Tatemono Co. Ltd.

    1,200       15,934  

UOL Group Ltd.

    3,000       12,921  
   

 

 

 
      454,790  
Diversified REITs — 6.1%            

Abrdn Property Income Trust

    1,956       1,108  

Activia Properties Inc.

    3       8,116  

Alexander & Baldwin Inc.

    387       6,115  

American Assets Trust Inc.

    351       6,230  

Argosy Property Ltd.

    4,323       2,670  

Armada Hoffler Properties Inc.

    363       3,616  

Balanced Commercial Property Trust Ltd.

    1,929       1,483  

British Land Co. PLC (The)

    7,530       27,298  

Broadstone Net Lease Inc.

    780       11,037  

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT

    3,477       6,680  

Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust

    2,400       2,920  

Custodian Reit PLC

    2,010       2,010  

Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp.

    14       24,776  

Empire State Realty Trust Inc., Class A

    1,641       13,276  

Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc.

    795       17,450  

Global Net Lease Inc.

    992       7,877  

GPT Group (The)

    13,752       31,737  

Growthpoint Properties Australia Ltd.

    1,524       1,913  

H&R Real Estate Investment Trust

    1,257       7,732  

Heiwa Real Estate REIT Inc.

    6       5,609  

Hulic Reit Inc.

    6       6,121  

ICADE

    144       4,705  

Land Securities Group PLC

    3,057       21,190  

Lar Espana Real Estate SOCIMI SA

    891       5,166  

LXI REIT PLC

    3,807       3,968  

Merlin Properties SOCIMI SA

    3,687       30,741  

Mirvac Group

    27,777       32,228  

Mori Trust Reit Inc.

    9       4,388  

NIPPON REIT Investment Corp.

    3       6,931  

Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc.

    21       23,173  

NTT UD REIT Investment Corp.

    6       4,946  

OUE Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust

    25,200       4,325  

Picton Property Income Ltd.

    2,436       1,925  

Schroder REIT Ltd.

    3,483       1,717  

Sekisui House Reit Inc.

    24       12,640  

Star Asia Investment Corp.

    6       2,261  

Stockland

    15,855       35,784  

Stride Property Group

    2,178       1,726  

Sunlight REIT

    12,000       3,319  

Suntec REIT

    21,600       17,358  

Takara Leben Real Estate Investment Corp.

    3       1,965  
Security   Shares     Value  
Diversified REITs (continued)            

Tokyu REIT Inc.

    5     $ 5,966  

UK Commercial Property REIT Ltd.

    4,029       2,584  

United Urban Investment Corp.

    12       12,098  

WP Carey Inc.

    891       47,802  
   

 

 

 
          484,680  
Health Care Facilities — 0.1%            

Chartwell Retirement Residences

    1,506       11,034  
   

 

 

 

Health Care REITs — 5.7%

   

Aedifica SA

    228       12,439  

Assura PLC

    6,840       3,404  

CareTrust REIT Inc.

    393       8,457  

Cofinimmo SA

    129       8,022  

Community Healthcare Trust Inc.

    57       1,634  

Healthcare Realty Trust Inc., Class A

    870       12,484  

Healthpeak Properties Inc.

    2,061       32,048  

Impact Healthcare Reit PLC, Class B

    741       747  

LTC Properties Inc.

    93       2,940  

Medical Properties Trust Inc.

    1,614       7,715  

National Health Investors Inc.

    213       10,658  

NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT

    550       1,590  

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc.

    597       19,761  

Parkway Life REIT

    1,500       3,680  

Physicians Realty Trust

    468       5,082  

Primary Health Properties PLC

    2,409       2,628  

Sabra Health Care REIT Inc.

    615       8,389  

Target Healthcare REIT PLC

    1,497       1,312  

Universal Health Realty Income Trust

    54       2,076  

Ventas Inc.

    2,694       114,387  

Vital Healthcare Property Trust

    1,299       1,514  

Welltower Inc.

    2,265       189,377  
   

 

 

 
      450,344  
Hotel & Resort REITs — 2.5%            

Apple Hospitality REIT Inc.

    885       13,877  

CapitaLand Ascott Trust

    8,080       5,313  

CDL Hospitality Trusts

    4,500       3,182  

DiamondRock Hospitality Co.

    1,170       9,044  

Far East Hospitality Trust

    4,800       2,073  

Hoshino Resorts REIT Inc.

    1       3,934  

Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.

    4,179       64,691  

Hotel Property Investments Ltd.

    2,010       3,264  

Invincible Investment Corp.

    15       5,769  

Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp.

    12       5,456  

Park Hotels & Resorts Inc.

    1,041       12,003  

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

    678       8,088  

RLJ Lodging Trust

    749       7,040  

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.

    291       24,909  

Service Properties Trust

    447       3,241  

Summit Hotel Properties Inc.

    465       2,623  

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.

    1,422       13,224  

Xenia Hotels & Resorts Inc.

    779       9,060  
   

 

 

 
      196,791  
Industrial REITs — 14.3%            

Advance Logistics Investment Corp.

    3       2,444  

AIMS APAC REIT

    4,347       3,809  

Americold Realty Trust Inc.

    1,422       37,285  

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT

    28,200       53,581  

Centuria Industrial REIT

    2,265       4,099  

CRE Logistics REIT Inc.

    3       3,152  

Dexus Industria REIT

    1,230       1,859  

Dream Industrial REIT

    966       8,157  
 

 

 

8  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Industrial REITs (continued)            

EastGroup Properties Inc.

    234     $ 38,200  

ESR Kendall Square REIT Co. Ltd.

    861       2,043  

ESR-LOGOS REIT

    49,600       9,962  

First Industrial Realty Trust Inc.

    612       25,888  

Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust

    20,100       15,268  

GLP J-Reit

    48       42,992  

Goodman Property Trust

    4,731       5,540  

Granite REIT

    267       12,159  

Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corp.

    12       10,786  

Innovative Industrial Properties Inc.

    105       7,542  

Intervest Offices & Warehouses NV

    171       3,628  

Japan Logistics Fund Inc.

    6       11,114  

LaSalle Logiport REIT

    15           14,711  

LondonMetric Property PLC

    4,788       9,649  

LXP Industrial Trust

    1,500       11,865  

Mapletree Industrial Trust

    15,600       24,522  

Mapletree Logistics Trust

    21,600       23,195  

Mitsubishi Estate Logistics REIT Investment Corp.

    2       5,033  

Mitsui Fudosan Logistics Park Inc.

    5       15,116  

Montea NV

    57       4,029  

Nippon Prologis REIT Inc.

    33       58,719  

Prologis Inc.

    4,851       488,738  

Rexford Industrial Realty Inc.

    723       31,263  

Segro PLC

    5,595       48,632  

SOSiLA Logistics REIT Inc.

    6       4,754  

STAG Industrial Inc.

    876       29,101  

Terreno Realty Corp.

    360       19,181  

Tritax Big Box REIT PLC

    11,322       18,850  

Urban Logistics REIT PLC

    2,208       2,796  

Warehouse REIT PLC

    1,995       1,758  

Warehouses De Pauw CVA

    705       17,443  
   

 

 

 
        1,128,863  
Multi-Family Residential REITs — 11.3%            

Advance Residence Investment Corp.

    8       17,394  

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

    975       28,480  

Apartment Investment & Management Co.,
Class A(b)

    804       4,711  

AvalonBay Communities Inc.

    1,113       184,469  

Boardwalk REIT

    171       7,985  

Camden Property Trust

    690       58,567  

Canadian Apartment Properties REIT

    846       24,903  

Centerspace

    84       4,081  

Comforia Residential REIT Inc.

    4       8,489  

Daiwa Securities Living Investments Corp.

    12       8,873  

Elme Communities

    765       9,761  

Empiric Student Property PLC

    3,342       3,432  

Equity Residential

    3,321       183,751  

Essex Property Trust Inc.

    468       100,115  

Independence Realty Trust Inc.

    939       11,634  

Ingenia Communities Group

    2,661       6,623  

InterRent REIT

    627       5,317  

Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC

    2,940       2,832  

Kenedix Residential Next Investment Corp.(b)

    6       8,360  

Killam Apartment REIT

    543       6,136  

Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc.

    718       84,832  

NexPoint Residential Trust Inc.

    129       3,482  

Nippon Accommodations Fund Inc.

    3       12,086  

Residential Secure Income PLC, NVS(c)

    819       534  

Samty Residential Investment Corp.

    3       2,240  

Triple Point Social Housing REIT PLC(c)

    1,578       1,042  

UDR Inc.

    2,340       74,435  

UNITE Group PLC (The)

    2,280       24,128  

Veris Residential Inc.

    270       3,615  
Security   Shares     Value  
Multi-Family Residential REITs (continued)            

Xior Student Housing NV

    100     $ 2,877  
   

 

 

 
      895,184  
Office REITs — 8.3%            

Abacus Group

    2,697       1,642  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.

    969       90,243  

Allied Properties REIT

    513       5,863  

Boston Properties Inc.

    1,599       85,658  

Brandywine Realty Trust

    1,653       6,182  

Centuria Office REIT

    1,968       1,370  

Champion REIT

    24,000       7,581  

CLS Holdings PLC

    663       700  

Corporate Office Properties Trust

    672       15,322  

Cousins Properties Inc.

    1,797       32,112  

Covivio

    243       10,414  

Cromwell Property Group

    9,939       2,027  

Daiwa Office Investment Corp.

    1       4,375  

Derwent London PLC

    486       10,801  

Dexus

    6,900       28,498  

Douglas Emmett Inc.

    909       10,190  

Easterly Government Properties Inc., Class A

    519       5,584  

Gecina SA

    282       27,690  

Global One Real Estate Investment Corp.

    3       2,276  

Great Portland Estates PLC

    1,170       5,546  

Helical PLC

    384       896  

Highwoods Properties Inc.

    798       14,276  

Hudson Pacific Properties Inc.

    1,780       7,939  

Ichigo Office REIT Investment Corp.

    6       3,366  

Inmobiliaria Colonial SOCIMI SA

    3,270       18,346  

Japan Excellent Inc.

    6       5,266  

Japan Prime Realty Investment Corp.

    3       7,027  

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.

    6       22,286  

JBG SMITH Properties

    1,545       19,884  

JR Global Reit

    482       1,406  

Kenedix Office Investment Corp.

    8       8,344  

Keppel Pacific Oak US REIT

    6,900       1,270  

Keppel REIT

    27,000       15,678  

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    1,071       30,609  

Mirai Corp.

    9       2,718  

Mori Hills REIT Investment Corp.

    21       19,655  

Nippon Building Fund Inc.

    6       24,108  

NSI NV

    93       1,679  

One REIT Inc.

    1       1,733  

Orix JREIT Inc.

    15       17,239  

Paramount Group Inc.

    1,941       8,308  

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc., Class A

    1,359       7,080  

Precinct Properties New Zealand Ltd.

    7,476       4,835  

Prosperity REIT

    9,000       1,555  

Regional REIT Ltd.(c)

    909       311  

Sankei Real Estate Inc.

    3       1,817  

SL Green Realty Corp.

    768       22,495  

Vornado Realty Trust

    1,417       27,206  

Workspace Group PLC

    357       2,098  
   

 

 

 
        653,504  
Other Specialized REITs — 2.9%            

Arena REIT

    2,172       4,394  

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT

    822       1,246  

EPR Properties

    267       11,401  

Four Corners Property Trust Inc.

    450       9,585  

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc.

    1,068       48,477  

Safehold Inc.

    189       3,075  
 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  9


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Other Specialized REITs (continued)            

VICI Properties Inc., Class A

    5,535     $     154,426  
   

 

 

 
      232,604  
Real Estate Development — 1.5%            

CK Asset Holdings Ltd.

    16,500       82,472  

Lifestyle Communities Ltd.(a)

    627       6,238  

Sino Land Co. Ltd.

    28,000       27,953  
   

 

 

 
      116,663  
Real Estate Operating Companies — 8.0%            

Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income PLC(c)

    2,172       1,348  

Aeon Mall Co. Ltd.

    600       6,823  

Amot Investments Ltd.

    1,170       4,900  

Aroundtown SA(b)

    5,828       13,170  

Atrium Ljungberg AB, Class B

    504       7,750  

Azrieli Group Ltd.

    270       11,625  

CA Immobilien Anlagen AG

    327       11,057  

Capitaland Investment Ltd./Singapore

    21,300       45,735  

Castellum AB

    2,046       19,608  

Catena AB

    159       5,267  

Cibus Nordic Real Estate AB

    210       1,971  

Citycon OYJ

    900       4,761  

Corem Property Group AB, Class B

    2,706       1,747  

Deutsche EuroShop AG

    81       1,469  

Deutsche Wohnen SE

    318       6,843  

Dios Fastigheter AB

    510       2,761  

Entra ASA(c)

    393       3,066  

Fabege AB

    2,124       15,847  

Fastighets AB Balder, Class B(a)(b)

    3,795       16,124  

Grainger PLC

    3,576       9,884  

Grand City Properties SA(b)

    591       5,285  

Hiag Immobilien Holding AG

    15       1,290  

Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd.

    10,500       33,303  

Hufvudstaden AB, Class A

    1,542       16,440  

Hulic Co. Ltd.

    1,800       16,503  

Hysan Development Co. Ltd.

    6,000       11,045  

Intershop Holding AG

    6       3,981  

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc.

    645       8,301  

Kojamo OYJ

    912       7,791  

LEG Immobilien SE(b)

    438       27,380  

Mobimo Holding AG, Registered

    30       8,286  

NP3 Fastigheter AB

    99       1,323  

Nyfosa AB

    909       4,399  

Pandox AB, Class B

    237       2,333  

Phoenix Spree Deutschland Ltd.(b)

    375       711  

Platzer Fastigheter Holding AB, Class B

    249       1,305  

PSP Swiss Property AG, Registered

    165       20,301  

Sagax AB, Class B

    732       13,251  

Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB(a)

    5,823       1,694  

Shurgard Self Storage Ltd.

    117       4,379  

Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

    5,184       5,037  

Swire Properties Ltd.

    16,200       31,367  

Swiss Prime Site AG, Registered

    303       28,163  

TAG Immobilien AG(b)

    966       10,562  

Tricon Residential Inc.

    984       6,521  

VGP NV

    36       2,931  

Vonovia SE

    4,665       107,398  

Wallenstam AB, Class B

    1,788       6,047  

Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. Ltd.

    13,000       45,475  

Wihlborgs Fastigheter AB

    1,392       9,023  
   

 

 

 
      633,581  
Retail REITs — 15.3%            

Acadia Realty Trust

    346       4,955  
Security   Shares     Value  
Retail REITs (continued)            

AEON REIT Investment Corp.

    6     $ 5,712  

Agree Realty Corp.

    347       19,411  

Ascencio

    36       1,630  

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

    1,032       21,455  

BWP Trust

    3,420       7,073  

Capital & Counties Properties PLC

    6,962       8,826  

CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust

    81,900           105,259  

Carmila SA

    420       5,885  

Charter Hall Retail REIT

    3,762       7,310  

Choice Properties REIT

    1,200       10,419  

Crombie REIT

    501       4,400  

Eurocommercial Properties NV

    402       8,630  

Federal Realty Investment Trust

    492       44,866  

First Capital Real Estate Investment Trust

    1,284       12,074  

Fortune REIT

    9,000       5,035  

Frasers Centrepoint Trust

    15,900       24,053  

Frontier Real Estate Investment Corp.

    2       5,983  

Fukuoka REIT Corp.

    3       3,230  

Getty Realty Corp.

    158       4,206  

Hamborner REIT AG

    459       3,037  

Hammerson PLC

    36,531       9,786  

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT

    7,716       5,262  

Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione SIIQ SpA

    348       714  

InvenTrust Properties Corp.

    261       6,551  

Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest

    12       7,744  

Kenedix Retail REIT Corp.(b)

    3       5,240  

Kimco Realty Corp.

    2,838       50,914  

Kite Realty Group Trust

    1,131       24,113  

Kiwi Property Group Ltd.

    8,721       3,938  

Klepierre SA

    1,842       44,731  

Lendlease Global Commercial REIT

    27,600       10,280  

Link REIT

    16,200       74,344  

LOTTE Reit Co. Ltd.

    1,115       2,377  

Macerich Co. (The)

    858       8,340  

Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust

    32,700       31,781  

Mercialys SA

    513       4,370  

NETSTREIT Corp.

    480       6,840  

NewRiver REIT PLC

    2,121       2,011  

NNN REIT Inc.

    531       19,291  

Paragon REIT

    13,800       8,013  

Phillips Edison & Co. Inc.

    942       33,262  

Prinmaris REIT

    330       2,958  

Realty Income Corp.

    2,061       97,650  

Regency Centers Corp.

    750       45,195  

Region RE Ltd.

    8,112       10,143  

Retail Estates NV

    60       3,653  

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

    489       5,741  

RioCan REIT

    1,494       18,153  

RPT Realty

    354       3,820  

Scentre Group

    39,198       60,725  

Simon Property Group Inc.

    1,296       142,417  

SITE Centers Corp.

    699       8,150  

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust

    486       7,531  

Spirit Realty Capital Inc.

    438       15,764  

Starhill Global REIT

    12,300       4,002  

Supermarket Income Reit PLC

    9,084       8,016  

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc.

    627       14,139  

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, New(b)

    477       23,635  

Urban Edge Properties

    450       7,137  

Vastned Retail NV

    81       1,622  

Vicinity Ltd.

    45,078       48,825  

Waypoint REIT Ltd.

    5,403       7,297  
 

 

 

10  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Retail REITs (continued)            

Wereldhave NV

    282     $ 4,252  
   

 

 

 
      1,214,176  
Self Storage REITs — 4.2%            

Abacus Storage King(b)

    2,697       1,702  

Big Yellow Group PLC

    837       9,735  

CubeSmart

    966       32,931  

Extra Space Storage Inc.

    917       94,992  

National Storage Affiliates Trust

    366       10,438  

National Storage REIT

    5,808       7,405  

Public Storage

    697       166,381  

Safestore Holdings PLC

    945       7,864  
   

 

 

 
      331,448  
Single-Family Residential REITs — 3.5%            

American Homes 4 Rent, Class A

    1,444       47,277  

Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc.

    1,026       67,511  

Invitation Homes Inc.

    3,093       91,831  

PRS REIT PLC (The)

    2,934       2,575  

Sun Communities Inc.

    588       65,409  

Tritax EuroBox PLC(c)

    5,097       2,788  
   

 

 

 
      277,391  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 99.6%
(Cost: $9,039,936)

        7,879,469  
   

 

 

 
Security   Shares     Value  
Short-Term Securities            
Money Market Funds — 0.6%            

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 5.54%(d)(e)(f)

    36,972     $ 36,987  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 5.33%(d)(e)

    10,000       10,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short -Term Investments — 0.6%
(Cost: $46,982)

      46,987  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 100.2%
(Cost: $9,086,918)

      7,926,456  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2)%

 

    (12,405
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $   7,914,051  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(b) 

Non-income producing security.

(c) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(d) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(e) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(f) 

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six months ended October 31, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    Value at
04/30/23
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sale
    

Net Realized

Gain (Loss)

     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/23
     Shares
Held at
10/31/23
     Income     

Capital

Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares

   $ 66,735      $      $ (29,761 )(a)     $ 8      $ 5      $ 36,987        36,972      $ 355 (b)     $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

            10,000 (a)                            10,000        10,000        172         
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ 8      $ 5      $ 46,987         $ 527      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

  (b) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount
(000)
     Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Long Contracts

           

Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index

     1        12/15/23      $ 29      $ (1,178
           

 

 

 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  11


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 1,178      $      $      $      $ 1,178  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

For the period ended October 31, 2023, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (3,324    $      $      $      $ (3,324
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (2,029    $      $      $      $ (2,029
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

   

Futures contracts:

 

Average notional value of contracts — long

  $ 31,625  

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

   $ 4,995,024        $ 2,884,445        $        $ 7,879,469  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     46,987                            46,987  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 5,042,011        $ 2,884,445        $             —        $ 7,926,456  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

                 

Liabilities

                 

Equity Contracts

   $ (1,178      $        $        $ (1,178
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

12  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global REIT ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

   
Australia — 3.7%            

Abacus Group

    1,210,886     $ 737,400  

Abacus Storage King(a)

    1,210,886       764,285  

Arena REIT

    778,580       1,575,077  

BWP Trust

    1,166,047       2,411,406  

Centuria Industrial REIT

    1,264,069       2,287,759  

Centuria Office REIT

    1,121,624       780,892  

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT

    1,564,502       3,005,620  

Charter Hall Retail REIT

    1,159,233       2,252,546  

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT

    799,901       1,212,104  

Cromwell Property Group

    3,452,863       704,154  

Dexus

    2,586,074       10,680,968  

Dexus Industria REIT

    508,395       768,440  

GPT Group (The)

    4,607,604       10,633,560  

Growthpoint Properties Australia Ltd.

    677,151       850,160  

HealthCo REIT(b)

    1,072,616       935,569  

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT

    4,130,255       2,816,566  

Hotel Property Investments Ltd.

    469,626       762,642  

Mirvac Group

    9,472,421       10,990,407  

National Storage REIT

    3,007,650       3,834,705  

Region RE Ltd.

    2,763,023       3,454,860  

Scentre Group

    12,422,985       19,245,576  

Stockland

    5,726,104       12,923,478  

Vicinity Ltd.

    8,978,093       9,724,450  

Waypoint REIT Ltd.

    1,611,163       2,175,936  
   

 

 

 
        105,528,560  
Belgium — 1.1%            

Aedifica SA

    112,215       6,121,950  

Ascencio

    12,284       556,058  

Cofinimmo SA

    80,331       4,995,420  

Home Invest Belgium SA, NVS

    23,306       337,350  

Intervest Offices & Warehouses NV

    63,115       1,338,979  

Montea NV

    35,052       2,477,394  

Retail Estates NV

    29,582       1,801,145  

Shurgard Self Storage Ltd.

    60,623       2,268,798  

Warehouses De Pauw CVA

    380,932       9,425,213  

Xior Student Housing NV

    73,158       2,104,976  
   

 

 

 
      31,427,283  
Canada — 2.4%            

Allied Properties REIT

    302,976       3,462,895  

Boardwalk REIT

    89,722       4,189,938  

Canadian Apartment Properties REIT

    396,860       11,681,864  

Choice Properties REIT

    614,013       5,330,966  

Crombie REIT

    254,795       2,237,897  

Dream Industrial REIT

    596,399       5,036,115  

First Capital Real Estate Investment Trust

    503,183       4,731,571  

Granite REIT

    142,212       6,476,068  

H&R Real Estate Investment Trust

    627,193       3,857,910  

InterRent REIT

    315,620       2,676,539  

Killam Apartment REIT

    272,354       3,077,546  

NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT

    519,436       1,502,029  

Prinmaris REIT

    228,704       2,049,966  

RioCan REIT

    719,923       8,747,577  

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust

    308,240       4,776,692  
   

 

 

 
      69,835,573  
China — 0.0%            

Yuexiu REIT(b)

    5,508,000       788,478  
   

 

 

 
France — 1.7%            

ARGAN SA, NVS

    23,542       1,610,695  

Carmila SA

    135,979       1,905,392  
Security   Shares     Value  
France (continued)            

Covivio

    128,062     $ 5,488,017  

Gecina SA

    124,026       12,178,217  

ICADE

    77,790       2,541,809  

Klepierre SA

    494,196       12,000,947  

Mercialys SA

    209,664       1,785,980  

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, New(a)

    244,970       12,138,064  
   

 

 

 
      49,649,121  
Germany — 0.0%            

Hamborner REIT AG

    173,092       1,145,203  
   

 

 

 
Hong Kong — 1.1%            

Champion REIT

    4,360,000       1,377,271  

Fortune REIT

    3,343,000       1,870,374  

Link REIT

    6,103,220       28,008,528  

Prosperity REIT

    2,859,000       493,963  

Sunlight REIT

    2,460,000       680,396  
   

 

 

 
        32,430,532  
India — 0.3%            

Embassy Office Parks REIT

    1,451,388       5,432,937  

Mindspace Business Parks REIT(c)

    522,066       1,938,370  

Nexus Select Trust, NVS(a)

    770,942       1,178,561  
   

 

 

 
      8,549,868  
Ireland — 0.0%            

Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC

    1,069,753       1,030,375  
   

 

 

 
Italy — 0.0%            

Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione SIIQ SpA

    158,275       324,893  
   

 

 

 
Japan — 7.7%            

Activia Properties Inc.

    1,750       4,734,602  

Advance Logistics Investment Corp.

    1,531       1,247,149  

Advance Residence Investment Corp.

    3,073       6,681,326  

AEON REIT Investment Corp.

    4,209       4,006,935  

Comforia Residential REIT Inc.

    1,603       3,401,982  

CRE Logistics REIT Inc.

    1,458       1,532,006  

Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp.

    5,082       8,993,856  

Daiwa Office Investment Corp.

    633       2,769,034  

Daiwa Securities Living Investments Corp.

    4,908       3,629,020  

Frontier Real Estate Investment Corp.

    1,148       3,434,393  

Fukuoka REIT Corp.

    1,763       1,898,154  

Global One Real Estate Investment Corp.

    2,516       1,908,579  

GLP J-Reit

    11,101       9,942,689  

Hankyu Hanshin REIT Inc.

    1,546       1,452,506  

Health Care & Medical Investment Corp.

    868       812,779  

Heiwa Real Estate REIT Inc.

    2,396       2,239,820  

Hoshino Resorts REIT Inc.

    594       2,337,044  

Hulic Reit Inc.

    3,004       3,064,358  

Ichigo Office REIT Investment Corp.

    2,867       1,608,494  

Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corp.

    4,693       4,218,064  

Invincible Investment Corp.

    16,104       6,193,604  

Japan Excellent Inc.

    2,934       2,575,227  

Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp.

    10,725       4,875,942  

Japan Logistics Fund Inc.

    2,143       3,969,451  

Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest

    16,400       10,583,687  

Japan Prime Realty Investment Corp.

    2,176       5,096,833  

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.

    3,186       11,833,828  

Kenedix Office Investment Corp.

    3,638       3,794,391  

Kenedix Residential Next Investment Corp.(a)

    2,513       3,501,273  

Kenedix Retail REIT Corp.(a)

    1,419       2,478,679  

LaSalle Logiport REIT

    4,441       4,355,385  

Mirai Corp.

    3,841       1,159,839  

Mitsubishi Estate Logistics REIT Investment Corp.

    1,170       2,944,559  
 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  13


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global REIT ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Japan (continued)            

Mitsui Fudosan Logistics Park Inc.

    1,284     $ 3,881,828  

Mori Hills REIT Investment Corp.

    3,806       3,562,212  

Mori Trust Reit Inc.

    6,086       2,967,007  

Nippon Accommodations Fund Inc.

    1,110       4,471,965  

Nippon Building Fund Inc.

    3,656       14,689,565  

Nippon Prologis REIT Inc.

    5,897       10,492,976  

NIPPON REIT Investment Corp.

    1,033       2,386,562  

Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc.

    10,695       11,801,485  

NTT UD REIT Investment Corp.

    3,197       2,635,493  

One REIT Inc.

    591       1,023,928  

Orix JREIT Inc.

    6,315       7,257,590  

Samty Residential Investment Corp.

    992       740,670  

Sankei Real Estate Inc.

    1,164       705,153  

Sekisui House Reit Inc.

    9,811       5,167,213  

SOSiLA Logistics REIT Inc.

    1,656       1,311,989  

Star Asia Investment Corp.

    4,032       1,519,164  

Starts Proceed Investment Corp.

    611       839,336  

Takara Leben Real Estate Investment Corp.

    1,622       1,062,188  

Tokyu REIT Inc.

    2,262       2,699,221  

United Urban Investment Corp.

    7,069       7,126,744  
   

 

 

 
        219,617,777  
Malaysia — 0.1%            

Axis Real Estate Investment Trust(b)

    3,253,200       1,235,937  
   

 

 

 
Mexico — 0.8%            

Concentradora Fibra Danhos SA de CV(b)

    572,315       614,249  

FIBRA Macquarie Mexico(c)

    1,741,750       2,699,234  

Fibra Uno Administracion SA de CV

    6,907,834       10,486,850  

PLA Administradora Industrial S. de RL de CV

    1,851,209       3,004,403  

Prologis Property Mexico SA de CV

    1,445,664       5,180,784  
   

 

 

 
      21,985,520  
Netherlands — 0.2%            

Eurocommercial Properties NV

    123,123       2,643,248  

NSI NV

    42,955       775,389  

Vastned Retail NV

    41,173       824,253  

Wereldhave NV

    97,278       1,466,899  
   

 

 

 
      5,709,789  
New Zealand — 0.3%            

Argosy Property Ltd.

    2,020,891       1,248,013  

Goodman Property Trust

    2,622,428       3,070,930  

Kiwi Property Group Ltd.

    3,794,955       1,713,479  

Stride Property Group

    1,164,557       922,720  

Vital Healthcare Property Trust

    1,151,199       1,341,377  
   

 

 

 
      8,296,519  
Philippines — 0.0%            

AREIT Inc.

    1,678,920       970,542  
   

 

 

 
Saudi Arabia — 0.2%            

Al Maather REIT Fund

    112,901       275,567  

Al Rajhi REIT

    275,670       608,420  

Alahli REIT Fund 1

    108,261       225,953  

Alinma Retail REIT Fund, NVS

    216,642       261,592  

Al-Jazira Reit Fund

    29,972       141,248  

Alkhabeer REIT

    303,968       510,448  

Bonyan REIT, NVS

    156,766       386,107  

Derayah REIT

    265,894       559,911  

MEFIC REIT REIT, NVS

    139,240       176,295  

Mulkia Gulf Real Estate REIT Fund, NVS

    141,547       222,606  

Musharaka Real Estate Income Fund, NVS

    196,998       291,958  

Riyad REIT Fund

    355,018       770,297  

Sedco Capital REIT Fund

    171,126       357,615  

Sico Saudi REIT, NVS

    101,614       122,815  
Security   Shares     Value  
Saudi Arabia (continued)            

Taleem REIT

    75,872     $ 221,162  
   

 

 

 
      5,131,994  
Singapore — 3.3%            

AIMS APAC REIT

    1,505,328       1,319,192  

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT

    8,533,214       16,213,481  

CapitaLand Ascott Trust(b)

    5,453,032       3,585,396  

CapitaLand China Trust(b)

    2,719,830       1,569,098  

CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust

    12,161,926       15,630,742  

CDL Hospitality Trusts

    2,090,900       1,478,367  

Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust(b)

    739,700       900,078  

Digital Core REIT Management Pte Ltd.

    1,721,800       870,335  

ESR-LOGOS REIT

    14,707,942       2,954,157  

Far East Hospitality Trust

    2,349,000       1,014,281  

First REIT

    2,709,200       465,005  

Frasers Centrepoint Trust

    2,574,770       3,894,995  

Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust

    6,867,400       5,216,526  

Keppel DC REIT

    3,088,733       3,811,803  

Keppel Pacific Oak US REIT

    2,000,900       368,166  

Keppel REIT

    5,236,000       3,040,345  

Lendlease Global Commercial REIT(b)

    4,552,091       1,695,460  

Mapletree Industrial Trust

    4,686,310       7,366,418  

Mapletree Logistics Trust

    7,870,513       8,451,740  

Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust

    5,539,691       5,384,054  

OUE Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust

    5,219,100       895,803  

Paragon REIT

    2,587,300       1,502,322  

Parkway Life REIT

    914,600       2,243,754  

Sasseur Real Estate Investment Trust(b)

    1,222,700       558,264  

Starhill Global REIT(b)

    3,447,700       1,121,631  

Suntec REIT

    5,093,300       4,093,021  
   

 

 

 
        95,644,434  
South Africa — 0.5%            

Attacq Ltd.

    1,725,607       745,333  

Emira Property Fund Ltd.

    567,816       252,261  

Equites Property Fund Ltd.

    1,791,325       1,101,716  

Growthpoint Properties Ltd.

    8,071,961       4,196,770  

Hyprop Investments Ltd.

    855,576       1,304,194  

Investec Property Fund Ltd.

    1,426,221       566,279  

Redefine Properties Ltd.

    16,423,507       3,088,424  

Resilient REIT Ltd.

    713,323       1,421,862  

Stor-Age Property REIT Ltd.(b)

    971,301       625,385  
   

 

 

 
      13,302,224  
South Korea — 0.1%            

ESR Kendall Square REIT Co. Ltd.

    291,332       691,256  

JR Global Reit

    278,251       811,577  

LOTTE Reit Co. Ltd.

    293,543       625,764  

SK REITs Co. Ltd.

    372,349       1,037,668  
   

 

 

 
      3,166,265  
Spain — 0.4%            

Inmobiliaria Colonial SOCIMI SA

    765,093       4,292,382  

Lar Espana Real Estate SOCIMI SA

    146,907       851,824  

Merlin Properties SOCIMI SA

    795,486       6,632,590  
   

 

 

 
      11,776,796  
Turkey — 0.1%            

AKIS Gayrimenkul Yatirimi AS(a)

    906,101       363,154  

Alarko Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi AS

    160,926       220,483  

Emlak Konut Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi AS

    4,408,979       1,021,316  

Is Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi AS(a)

    1,015,686       776,131  

Ozak Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi(a)

    894,656       276,428  
   

 

 

 
      2,657,512  
 

 

 

14  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global REIT ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
United Kingdom — 4.4%            

Abrdn Property Income Trust

    917,936     $ 519,918  

AEW U.K. REIT PLC

    378,824       431,434  

Assura PLC

    6,952,949       3,459,822  

Balanced Commercial Property Trust Ltd.

    1,302,641       1,001,527  

Big Yellow Group PLC

    407,150       4,735,188  

British Land Co. PLC (The)

    2,212,779       8,021,934  

Capital & Counties Properties PLC

    3,256,602       4,128,375  

CLS Holdings PLC

    398,468       420,930  

Custodian Reit PLC

    979,551       979,469  

Derwent London PLC

    265,059       5,890,666  

Empiric Student Property PLC

    1,319,425       1,355,122  

Great Portland Estates PLC

    510,333       2,419,107  

Hammerson PLC

    9,265,473       2,482,082  

Helical PLC

    245,743       573,481  

Home Reit PLC(d)

    1,719,812       593,950  

Impact Healthcare Reit PLC, Class B

    747,183       753,531  

Land Securities Group PLC

    1,756,187       12,173,364  

Life Science Reit PLC

    843,575       629,548  

LondonMetric Property PLC

    2,541,651       5,121,800  

LXI REIT PLC

    3,614,116       3,766,804  

NewRiver REIT PLC

    730,339       692,398  

Picton Property Income Ltd.

    1,299,453       1,026,623  

Primary Health Properties PLC

    3,152,631       3,439,097  

PRS REIT PLC (The)

    1,241,480       1,089,681  

Regional REIT Ltd.(c)

    1,020,925       349,308  

Residential Secure Income PLC, NVS(c)

    445,546       290,265  

Safestore Holdings PLC

    509,234       4,237,588  

Schroder REIT Ltd.

    1,203,601       593,316  

Segro PLC

    2,930,500       25,472,313  

Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

    2,762,835       2,684,508  

Supermarket Income Reit PLC

    2,969,985       2,620,763  

Target Healthcare REIT PLC

    1,472,463       1,290,377  

Triple Point Social Housing REIT PLC(c)

    761,482       502,665  

Tritax Big Box REIT PLC

    4,471,735       7,445,070  

UK Commercial Property REIT Ltd.

    1,776,956       1,139,852  

UNITE Group PLC (The)

    824,790       8,728,353  

Urban Logistics REIT PLC

    1,110,528       1,406,482  

Warehouse REIT PLC

    954,138       840,787  

Workspace Group PLC

    341,939       2,009,719  
   

 

 

 
        125,317,217  
United States — 71.1%            

Acadia Realty Trust

    218,006       3,121,846  

Agree Realty Corp.

    220,270       12,321,904  

Alexander & Baldwin Inc.

    173,946       2,748,347  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.

    411,049       38,280,993  

American Assets Trust Inc.

    116,066       2,060,171  

American Homes 4 Rent, Class A

    797,853       26,121,707  

Americold Realty Trust Inc.

    645,772       16,932,142  

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

    355,719       10,390,552  

Apartment Investment & Management Co., Class A(a)

    357,708       2,096,169  

Apple Hospitality REIT Inc.

    508,495       7,973,202  

Armada Hoffler Properties Inc.

    159,666       1,590,273  

AvalonBay Communities Inc.

    339,274       56,231,273  

Boston Properties Inc.

    374,668       20,070,965  

Brandywine Realty Trust

    394,698       1,476,171  

Brixmor Property Group Inc.

    716,738       14,900,983  

Broadstone Net Lease Inc.

    450,308       6,371,858  

Camden Property Trust

    247,866       21,038,866  

CareTrust REIT Inc.

    236,220       5,083,454  

Centerspace

    36,476       1,772,004  

Community Healthcare Trust Inc.

    60,621       1,738,004  

Corporate Office Properties Trust

    267,385       6,096,378  
Security   Shares     Value  
United States (continued)            

Cousins Properties Inc.

    365,252     $ 6,527,053  

CubeSmart

    534,524       18,221,923  

DiamondRock Hospitality Co.

    498,515       3,853,521  

Digital Realty Trust Inc.

    714,837       88,897,129  

Douglas Emmett Inc.

    374,099       4,193,650  

Easterly Government Properties Inc., Class A

    225,363       2,424,906  

EastGroup Properties Inc.

    104,813       17,110,722  

Elme Communities

    205,845       2,626,582  

Empire State Realty Trust Inc., Class A

    309,018       2,499,956  

EPR Properties

    176,454       7,534,586  

Equinix Inc.

    223,565       163,121,967  

Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc.

    424,045       27,902,161  

Equity Residential

    893,119       49,416,274  

Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc.

    372,224       8,170,317  

Essex Property Trust Inc.

    152,789       32,684,623  

Extra Space Storage Inc.

    500,617       51,858,915  

Federal Realty Investment Trust

    193,339       17,630,583  

First Industrial Realty Trust Inc.

    315,985       13,366,165  

Four Corners Property Trust Inc.

    207,243       4,414,276  

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc.

    602,892       27,365,268  

Getty Realty Corp.(b)

    106,221       2,827,603  

Global Net Lease Inc.

    458,986       3,644,349  

Healthcare Realty Trust Inc., Class A

    909,902       13,057,094  

Healthpeak Properties Inc.

    1,312,923       20,415,953  

Highwoods Properties Inc.

    252,755       4,521,787  

Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.

    1,689,032       26,146,215  

Hudson Pacific Properties Inc.

    332,278       1,481,960  

Independence Realty Trust Inc.

    534,057       6,616,966  

Innovative Industrial Properties Inc.

    66,261       4,759,528  

InvenTrust Properties Corp.

    161,203       4,046,195  

Invitation Homes Inc.

    1,463,703       43,457,342  

JBG SMITH Properties

    259,144       3,335,183  

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    280,653       8,021,063  

Kimco Realty Corp.

    1,450,974       26,030,474  

Kite Realty Group Trust

    518,449       11,053,333  

LTC Properties Inc.

    97,915       3,095,093  

LXP Industrial Trust

    695,755       5,503,422  

Macerich Co. (The)

    513,969       4,995,779  

Medical Properties Trust Inc.

    1,432,232       6,846,069  

Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc.

    277,696       32,809,782  

National Health Investors Inc.

    99,736       4,990,789  

National Storage Affiliates Trust

    189,704       5,410,358  

NETSTREIT Corp.

    160,839       2,291,956  

NexPoint Residential Trust Inc.

    54,178       1,462,264  

NNN REIT Inc.

    434,226       15,775,431  

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc.

    559,793       18,529,148  

Paramount Group Inc.

    436,248       1,867,141  

Park Hotels & Resorts Inc.

    513,294       5,918,280  

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust(b)

    288,719       3,444,418  

Phillips Edison & Co. Inc.

    281,157       9,927,654  

Physicians Realty Trust

    561,325       6,095,989  

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc., Class A

    292,557       1,524,222  

Prologis Inc.

    2,209,681         222,625,361  

Public Storage

    375,144       89,550,624  

Realty Income Corp.

    1,612,920       76,420,150  

Regency Centers Corp.

    433,076       26,097,160  

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

    293,865       3,449,975  

Rexford Industrial Realty Inc.

    491,497       21,252,330  

RLJ Lodging Trust

    372,978       3,505,993  

RPT Realty

    207,696       2,241,040  

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.

    137,355       11,757,588  

Sabra Health Care REIT Inc.

    548,222       7,477,748  
 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  15


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global REIT ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
United States (continued)            

Safehold Inc.

    104,362     $ 1,697,970  

Service Properties Trust

    393,061       2,849,692  

Simon Property Group Inc.

    776,830       85,365,849  

SITE Centers Corp.

    451,605       5,265,714  

SL Green Realty Corp.

    143,317       4,197,755  

Spirit Realty Capital Inc.

    337,925       12,161,921  

STAG Industrial Inc.

    429,877       14,280,514  

Summit Hotel Properties Inc.

    251,506       1,418,494  

Sun Communities Inc.

    294,109       32,716,685  

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.

    493,912       4,593,382  

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc.

    242,139       5,460,234  

Terreno Realty Corp.

    194,613       10,368,981  

UDR Inc.

    783,132       24,911,429  

Universal Health Realty Income Trust

    30,620       1,177,033  

Urban Edge Properties

    273,556       4,338,598  

Ventas Inc.

    955,105       40,553,758  

Veris Residential Inc.

    187,428       2,509,661  

VICI Properties Inc., Class A

    2,403,150       67,047,885  

Vornado Realty Trust

    422,925       8,120,160  

Welltower Inc.

    1,189,681       99,469,228  

WP Carey Inc.

    507,924       27,250,123  

Xenia Hotels & Resorts Inc.

    265,250       3,084,857  
   

 

 

 
        2,041,358,571  
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks — 99.5%
(Cost: $3,562,153,275)

      2,856,880,983  
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks            
Bermuda — 0.0%            

Brookfield Property Partners LP, 6.25%

    4,496       53,952  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks — 0.0%
(Cost: $110,377)

      53,952  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 99.5%
(Cost: $3,562,263,652)

      2,856,934,935  
   

 

 

 
Security   Shares     Value  

Short-Term Securities

   
Money Market Funds — 0.4%            

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 5.54%(e)(f)(g)

    5,705,520     $ 5,707,802  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 5.33%(e)(f)

    5,400,000       5,400,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 0.4%
(Cost: $11,106,136)

      11,107,802  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 99.9%
(Cost: $3,573,369,788)

      2,868,042,737  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 0.1%

      1,789,388  
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $   2,869,832,125  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(c) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(d) 

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(e) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(f) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(g) 

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six months ended October 31, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    
Value at
04/30/23
 
 
   
Purchases
at Cost
 
 
   
Proceeds
from Sale
 
 
   
Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
 
 
   


Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
 
 
 
   
Value at
10/31/23
 
 
   

Shares
Held at
10/31/23
 
 
 
    Income      




Capital
Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds





 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
SL Agency Shares

  $ 15,717,990     $     $ (10,008,906 )(a)    $ (3,693   $ 2,411     $ 5,707,802       5,705,520     $ 46,651 (b)    $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
SL Agency Shares

    7,630,000             (2,230,000 )(a)                  5,400,000       5,400,000       224,600        
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $ (3,693   $ 2,411     $ 11,107,802       $ 271,251     $  
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

  (b) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

 

16  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global REIT ETF

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount
(000)
     Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Long Contracts

           

Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index

     333        12/15/23      $ 9,710      $ (257,146

SPI 200 Index

     15        12/21/23        1,620        (31,754
           

 

 

 
            $ (288,900
           

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 288,900      $      $      $      $ 288,900  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the period ended October 31, 2023, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (1,579,535    $      $      $      $ (1,579,535
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (686,868    $      $      $      $ (686,868
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

   

Futures contracts:

 

Average notional value of contracts — long

  $ 15,694,286  

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets

           

Investments

           

Long-Term Investments

           

Common Stocks

   $ 2,208,305,978      $ 647,981,055      $ 593,950      $ 2,856,880,983  

Preferred Stocks

     53,952                      53,952  

Short-Term Securities

           

Money Market Funds

     11,107,802                      11,107,802  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 2,219,467,732      $     647,981,055      $         593,950      $ 2,868,042,737  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  17


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® Global REIT ETF

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)

 

      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

           

Liabilities

           

Equity Contracts

     $        (257,146      $        (31,754    $             —        $        (288,900
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

18  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Developed Real Estate ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

 

Australia — 9.0%        

Abacus Group

    110,487     $ 67,284  

Abacus Storage King(a)

    110,487       69,737  

Arena REIT

    70,966       143,565  

BWP Trust

    104,838       216,807  

Centuria Industrial REIT

    114,462       207,158  

Centuria Office REIT

    100,284       69,819  

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT

    143,370       275,433  

Charter Hall Retail REIT

    105,345       204,700  

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT

    72,712       110,182  

Cromwell Property Group

    310,351       63,291  

Dexus

    232,714       961,152  

Dexus Industria REIT

    46,068       69,632  

GPT Group (The)

    414,463       956,509  

Growthpoint Properties Australia Ltd.

    56,925       71,469  

HealthCo REIT(b)

    97,620       85,147  

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT

    377,996       257,769  

Hotel Property Investments Ltd.

    40,708       66,107  

Ingenia Communities Group

    78,954       196,515  

Lifestyle Communities Ltd.

    20,180       200,755  

Mirvac Group

    852,805       989,470  

National Storage REIT

    270,636       345,056  

Region RE Ltd.

    249,933       312,514  

Scentre Group

    1,124,818       1,742,558  

Stockland

    516,034       1,164,658  

Vicinity Ltd.

    815,047       882,803  

Waypoint REIT Ltd.

    146,384       197,697  
   

 

 

 
           9,927,787  
Austria — 0.3%            

CA Immobilien Anlagen AG

    8,823       298,334  
   

 

 

 
Belgium — 2.7%            

Aedifica SA

    10,191       555,975  

Ascencio

    1,149       52,012  

Cofinimmo SA

    7,230       449,601  

Home Invest Belgium SA, NVS

    2,085       30,180  

Intervest Offices & Warehouses NV

    5,909       125,359  

Montea NV

    3,125       220,868  

Retail Estates NV

    2,685       163,480  

Shurgard Self Storage Ltd.

    5,490       205,462  

VGP NV

    2,198       178,932  

Warehouses De Pauw CVA

    34,339       849,633  

Xior Student Housing NV

    6,666       191,801  
   

 

 

 
      3,023,303  
Canada — 6.5%            

Allied Properties REIT

    27,514       314,474  

Boardwalk REIT

    8,006       373,873  

Canadian Apartment Properties REIT

    36,032       1,060,628  

Chartwell Retirement Residences

    50,784       372,068  

Choice Properties REIT

    55,257       479,751  

Crombie REIT

    22,704       199,412  

Dream Industrial REIT

    53,578       452,424  

First Capital Real Estate Investment Trust

    45,608       428,865  

Granite REIT

    12,898       587,351  

H&R Real Estate Investment Trust

    56,736       348,987  

InterRent REIT

    28,480       241,518  

Killam Apartment REIT

    25,067       283,252  

NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT

    45,574       131,784  

Prinmaris REIT

    20,919       187,505  

RioCan REIT

    64,628       785,276  

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust

    27,916       432,605  
Security   Shares     Value  
Canada (continued)            

StorageVault Canada Inc., NVS

    51,821     $ 160,685  

Tricon Residential Inc.

    52,139       345,526  
   

 

 

 
      7,185,984  
Finland — 0.4%            

Citycon OYJ

    15,660       82,833  

Kojamo OYJ

    39,403       336,613  
   

 

 

 
      419,446  
France — 4.0%            

ARGAN SA, NVS

    2,161       147,851  

Carmila SA

    12,243       171,554  

Covivio

    11,483       492,097  

Gecina SA

    11,216       1,101,309  

ICADE

    6,996       228,596  

Klepierre SA

    44,476       1,080,045  

Mercialys SA

    19,005       161,890  

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, New(a)

    22,240       1,101,974  
   

 

 

 
      4,485,316  
Germany — 5.2%            

Aroundtown SA(a)

    147,132       332,492  

Deutsche EuroShop AG

    2,558       46,392  

Deutsche Wohnen SE

    10,630       228,740  

DIC Asset AG(b)

    10,927       45,216  

Grand City Properties SA(a)

    21,576       192,935  

Hamborner REIT AG

    15,458       102,273  

LEG Immobilien SE(a)

    16,035       1,002,374  

TAG Immobilien AG(a)

    32,598       356,426  

Vonovia SE

    150,715       3,469,773  
   

 

 

 
      5,776,621  
Hong Kong — 10.9%            

Champion REIT

    407,000       128,566  

CK Asset Holdings Ltd.

    421,000       2,104,295  

Fortune REIT

    297,000       166,168  

Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd.(b)

    237,700       753,918  

Hysan Development Co. Ltd.

    132,000       242,980  

Link REIT

    551,640       2,531,553  

New World Development Co. Ltd.

    304,333       558,548  

Prosperity REIT

    247,000       42,675  

Sino Land Co. Ltd.(b)

    730,800       729,578  

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.

    307,500       3,157,625  

Sunlight REIT

    238,000       65,827  

Swire Properties Ltd.

    229,600       444,553  

Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. Ltd.

    334,900       1,171,493  
   

 

 

 
          12,097,779  
Ireland — 0.1%            

Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC

    95,813       92,286  
   

 

 

 
Israel — 0.7%            

Amot Investments Ltd.

    46,884       196,343  

Azrieli Group Ltd.

    7,885       339,506  

Melisron Ltd.

    5,409       293,186  
   

 

 

 
      829,035  
Italy — 0.0%            

Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione SIIQ SpA

    14,753       30,284  
   

 

 

 
Japan — 28.6%            

Activia Properties Inc.

    158       427,467  

Advance Logistics Investment Corp.

    140       114,044  

Advance Residence Investment Corp.

    281       610,951  

Aeon Mall Co. Ltd.

    25,800       293,380  

AEON REIT Investment Corp.

    381       362,709  

Comforia Residential REIT Inc.

    146       309,850  
 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  19


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Developed Real Estate ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Japan (continued)            

CRE Logistics REIT Inc.

    133     $ 139,751  

Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp.

    459       812,314  

Daiwa Office Investment Corp.

    57       249,344  

Daiwa Securities Living Investments Corp.

    445       329,037  

Frontier Real Estate Investment Corp.

    105       314,121  

Fukuoka REIT Corp.

    157       169,036  

Global One Real Estate Investment Corp.

    218       165,370  

GLP J-Reit

    1,005       900,135  

Hankyu Hanshin REIT Inc.

    141       132,473  

Health Care & Medical Investment Corp.

    74       69,292  

Heiwa Real Estate Co. Ltd.

    6,900       176,632  

Heiwa Real Estate REIT Inc.

    212       198,181  

Hoshino Resorts REIT Inc.

    55       216,393  

Hulic Co. Ltd.

    89,300       818,714  

Hulic Reit Inc.

    274       279,505  

Ichigo Office REIT Investment Corp.

    253       141,942  

Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corp.

    419       376,597  

Invincible Investment Corp.

    1,451       558,055  

Japan Excellent Inc.

    263       230,840  

Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp.

    967       439,630  

Japan Logistics Fund Inc.

    192       355,639  

Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest

    1,484       957,695  

Japan Prime Realty Investment Corp.

    199       466,117  

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.

    288       1,069,725  

Kenedix Office Investment Corp.

    326       340,014  

Kenedix Residential Next Investment Corp.(a)

    227       316,271  

Kenedix Retail REIT Corp.(a)

    131       228,828  

LaSalle Logiport REIT

    402       394,250  

Mirai Corp.

    350       105,687  

Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd.

    238,800       3,056,716  

Mitsubishi Estate Logistics REIT Investment Corp.

    105       264,255  

Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd.

    193,100       4,185,415  

Mitsui Fudosan Logistics Park Inc.

    116       350,695  

Mori Hills REIT Investment Corp.

    343       321,030  

Mori Trust Reit Inc.

    547       266,670  

Nippon Accommodations Fund Inc.

    100       402,880  

Nippon Building Fund Inc.

    330       1,325,918  

Nippon Prologis REIT Inc.

    531       944,848  

NIPPON REIT Investment Corp.

    94       217,170  

Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc.

    23,300       544,197  

Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc.

    969       1,069,251  

NTT UD REIT Investment Corp.

    293       241,539  

One REIT Inc.

    53       91,824  

Orix JREIT Inc.

    568       652,781  

Samty Residential Investment Corp.

    97       72,424  

Sankei Real Estate Inc.

    99       59,974  

Sekisui House Reit Inc.

    887       467,161  

SOSiLA Logistics REIT Inc.

    154       122,009  

Star Asia Investment Corp.

    369       139,031  

Starts Proceed Investment Corp.

    53       72,807  

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. Ltd.

    85,300       2,140,512  

Takara Leben Real Estate Investment Corp.

    142       92,991  

Tokyo Tatemono Co. Ltd.

    42,700       566,984  

Tokyu REIT Inc.

    201       239,851  

United Urban Investment Corp.

    637       642,203  
   

 

 

 
          31,621,125  
Netherlands — 0.5%            

Eurocommercial Properties NV

    10,945       234,971  

NSI NV

    3,825       69,046  

Vastned Retail NV

    3,755       75,172  
Security   Shares     Value  
Netherlands (continued)            

Wereldhave NV

    8,743     $ 131,840  
   

 

 

 
      511,029  
New Zealand — 0.8%            

Argosy Property Ltd.

    181,362       112,001  

Goodman Property Trust

    239,594       280,571  

Kiwi Property Group Ltd.

    335,890       151,659  

Precinct Properties New Zealand Ltd.

    285,954       184,922  

Stride Property Group

    104,067       82,456  

Vital Healthcare Property Trust

    106,584       124,192  
   

 

 

 
      935,801  
Norway — 0.1%            

Entra ASA(c)

    15,583       121,571  
   

 

 

 
Singapore — 9.5%            

AIMS APAC REIT(b)

    137,926       120,871  

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT

    770,390       1,463,775  

CapitaLand Ascott Trust

    493,930       324,761  

CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust

    1,097,707       1,410,794  

Capitaland Investment Ltd./Singapore

    548,500       1,177,729  

CDL Hospitality Trusts

    191,721       135,556  

City Developments Ltd.

    101,100       466,658  

Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust

    70,500       85,786  

Digital Core REIT Management Pte Ltd.

    151,500       76,580  

ESR-LOGOS REIT

    1,318,720       264,871  

Far East Hospitality Trust

    212,400       91,713  

Frasers Centrepoint Trust

    235,749       356,630  

Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust

    616,200       468,070  

Keppel DC REIT

    278,371       343,537  

Keppel Pacific Oak US REIT

    184,000       33,856  

Keppel REIT

    473,800       275,118  

Lendlease Global Commercial REIT

    406,247       151,310  

Mapletree Industrial Trust

    426,545       670,487  

Mapletree Logistics Trust

    715,060       767,866  

Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust

    494,517       480,624  

OUE Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust(b)

    465,800       79,950  

Paragon REIT

    230,765       133,994  

Parkway Life REIT(b)

    82,800       203,130  

Starhill Global REIT

    309,300       100,624  

Suntec REIT

    454,800       365,481  

UOL Group Ltd.

    106,400       458,247  
   

 

 

 
          10,508,018  
South Korea — 0.3%            

ESR Kendall Square REIT Co. Ltd.

    26,474       62,816  

JR Global Reit

    24,767       72,238  

LOTTE Reit Co. Ltd.

    25,605       54,584  

SK REITs Co. Ltd.

    33,858       94,356  
   

 

 

 
      283,994  
Spain — 1.0%            

Inmobiliaria Colonial SOCIMI SA

    68,324       383,317  

Lar Espana Real Estate SOCIMI SA

    13,158       76,295  

Merlin Properties SOCIMI SA

    72,221       602,163  
   

 

 

 
      1,061,775  
Sweden — 4.3%            

Atrium Ljungberg AB, Class B

    9,614       147,842  

Castellum AB

    92,284       884,427  

Catena AB

    7,263       240,596  

Cibus Nordic Real Estate AB

    12,284       115,284  

Corem Property Group AB, Class B

    142,907       92,255  

Dios Fastigheter AB

    19,043       103,088  

Fabege AB

    54,617       407,501  

Fastighets AB Balder, Class B(a)(b)

    134,885       573,100  
 

 

 

20  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Developed Real Estate ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Sweden (continued)            

Hufvudstaden AB, Class A

    22,998     $ 245,192  

NP3 Fastigheter AB

    6,364       85,044  

Nyfosa AB

    38,926       188,373  

Pandox AB, Class B

    19,226       189,242  

Platzer Fastigheter Holding AB, Class B

    11,843       62,067  

Sagax AB, Class B

    38,547       697,813  

Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB(b)

    243,252       70,756  

Wallenstam AB, Class B

    72,768       246,120  

Wihlborgs Fastigheter AB

    57,053       369,820  
   

 

 

 
      4,718,520  
Switzerland — 3.5%            

Allreal Holding AG, Registered

    3,147       504,985  

Hiag Immobilien Holding AG

    989       85,074  

Intershop Holding AG

    233       154,603  

Mobimo Holding AG, Registered

    1,548       427,577  

Peach Property Group AG(a)(b)

    2,620       34,390  

PSP Swiss Property AG, Registered

    9,755       1,200,247  

Swiss Prime Site AG, Registered

    16,390       1,523,416  
   

 

 

 
          3,930,292  
United Kingdom — 10.8%            

Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income PLC(c)

    84,547       52,472  

Abrdn Property Income Trust

    84,940       48,110  

AEW U.K. REIT PLC

    34,481       39,270  

Assura PLC

    634,074       315,518  

Balanced Commercial Property Trust Ltd.

    116,511       89,579  

Big Yellow Group PLC

    36,844       428,499  

British Land Co. PLC (The)

    199,972       724,954  

Capital & Counties Properties PLC

    293,583       372,173  

CLS Holdings PLC

    35,464       37,463  

Custodian Reit PLC

    88,753       88,745  

Derwent London PLC

    24,026       533,953  

Empiric Student Property PLC

    125,405       128,798  

Grainger PLC

    157,131       434,299  

Great Portland Estates PLC

    46,851       222,086  

Hammerson PLC

    845,602       226,524  

Helical PLC

    21,952       51,229  

Home Reit PLC(d)

    191,393       66,099  

Impact Healthcare Reit PLC, Class B

    68,320       68,900  

Land Securities Group PLC

    159,433       1,105,142  

Life Science Reit PLC

    77,583       57,899  

LondonMetric Property PLC

    227,886       459,224  

LXI REIT PLC

    328,036       341,895  

NewRiver REIT PLC

    67,582       64,071  

Phoenix Spree Deutschland Ltd.(a)

    19,717       37,385  

Picton Property Income Ltd.

    119,846       94,683  

Primary Health Properties PLC

    283,613       309,384  

PRS REIT PLC (The)

    110,327       96,837  
Security   Shares     Value  
United Kingdom (continued)            

Regional REIT Ltd.(c)

    94,675     $ 32,393  

Residential Secure Income PLC, NVS(c)

    39,636       25,822  

Safestore Holdings PLC

    45,820       381,291  

Schroder REIT Ltd.

    100,113       49,351  

Segro PLC

    264,890       2,302,461  

Sirius Real Estate Ltd.

    251,265       244,141  

Supermarket Income Reit PLC

    270,899       239,046  

Target Healthcare REIT PLC

    133,486       116,979  

Triple Point Social Housing REIT PLC(c)

    77,849       51,389  

Tritax Big Box REIT PLC

    403,852       672,380  

Tritax EuroBox PLC(c)

    176,670       96,630  

UK Commercial Property REIT Ltd.

    159,897       102,568  

UNITE Group PLC (The)

    74,875       792,366  

Urban Logistics REIT PLC

    99,557       126,089  

Warehouse REIT PLC

    84,582       74,534  

Workspace Group PLC

    30,611       179,914  
   

 

 

 
      11,982,545  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 99.2%
(Cost: $179,969,473)

      109,840,845  
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Securities            
Money Market Funds — 1.5%            

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
SL Agency Shares, 5.54%(e)(f)(g)

    1,613,472       1,614,117  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
SL Agency Shares, 5.33%(e)(f)

    40,000       40,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 1.5%
(Cost: $1,654,051)

      1,654,117  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 100.7%
(Cost: $181,623,524)

      111,494,962  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.7)%

 

    (792,424
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $   110,702,538  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Non-income producing security.

(b) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(c) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(d) 

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(e) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(f) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(g) 

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  21


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Developed Real Estate ETF

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six months ended October 31, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    
Value at
04/30/23
 
 
   
Purchases
at Cost
 
 
   
Proceeds
from Sale

 
   
Net Realized
Gain (Loss)

 
   


Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)



 
   
Value at
10/31/23
 
 
   

Shares
Held at
10/31/23


 
    Income      




Capital
Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds





 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
SL Agency Shares

  $ 2,371,728     $     $ (757,742 )(a)    $ (266   $ 397     $ 1,614,117       1,613,472     $ 23,603 (b)    $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
SL Agency Shares

    50,000             (10,000 )(a)                  40,000       40,000       2,528        
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $ (266   $ 397     $ 1,654,117       $ 26,131     $  
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (b) 

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

Description    Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount
(000)
   Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Long Contracts                          

MSCI Singapore Index

     9        11/29/23      $    179    $ (1,511

TOPIX Index

     1        12/07/23      151      (4,427

Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index

     13        12/15/23      379      (26,193

Euro STOXX 50 Index

     3        12/15/23      129      (1,240
           

 

 

 
            $ (33,371
           

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

      Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $ 33,371      $      $      $      $ 33,371  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the period ended October 31, 2023, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

 

 
     Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

 

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ 3,496      $      $      $      $ 3,496  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (60,358    $      $      $      $ (60,358
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

22  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® International Developed Real Estate ETF

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

 

 
Futures contracts:       

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ 928,679    

 

 

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the Fund’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

 

 
     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

 

 

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

   $ 12,761,917        $ 97,012,829        $ 66,099        $ 109,840,845  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     1,654,117                            1,654,117  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $  14,416,034        $ 97,012,829        $         66,099        $ 111,494,962  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

                 

Liabilities

                 

Equity Contracts

   $ (26,193      $ (7,178      $        $ (33,371
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

C H E D U L E    O F    N V E S T  M E N T S

  23


 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

October 31, 2023

 

    iShares
Environmentally
Aware Real
Estate ETF
    iShares
Global REIT ETF
    iShares
International
Developed
Real Estate
ETF
 

 

 

ASSETS

     

Investments, at value — unaffiliated(a)(b)

  $ 7,879,469     $ 2,856,934,935     $ 109,840,845  

Investments, at value — affiliated(c)

    46,987       11,107,802       1,654,117  

Cash

    746       31,590       7,367  

Cash pledged for futures contracts

    3,000       707,000       31,000  

Foreign currency collateral pledged for futures contracts(d)

          103,399       25,015  

Foreign currency, at value(e)

    9,255       1,319,751       194,037  

Receivables:

     

Investments sold

    4,151       30,400        

Securities lending income — affiliated

    56       5,866       2,844  

Capital shares sold

          15,036        

Dividends — unaffiliated

    13,624       4,693,493       435,585  

Dividends — affiliated

    20       45,100       380  

Tax reclaims

    159       753,479       162,825  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    528       170,134       11,990  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

    7,957,995       2,875,917,985       112,366,005  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

     

Collateral on securities loaned, at value

    36,974       5,727,238       1,617,612  

Payables:

     

Investments purchased

    4,917       15,034        

Investment advisory fees

    2,053       343,588       45,855  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    43,944       6,085,860       1,663,467  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

     

NET ASSETS

  $ 7,914,051     $ 2,869,832,125     $ 110,702,538  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

     

Paid-in capital

  $ 8,978,314     $ 3,748,637,983     $ 284,253,552  

Accumulated loss

     (1,064,263     (878,805,858      (173,551,014
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 7,914,051     $  2,869,832,125     $ 110,702,538  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

     

Shares outstanding

    360,000       142,200,000       6,100,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 21.98     $ 20.18     $ 18.15  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Par value

    None       None       None  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 9,039,936     $ 3,562,263,652     $ 179,969,473  

(b) Securities loaned, at value

  $ 35,684     $ 5,533,712     $ 1,573,544  

(c)  Investments, at cost — affiliated

  $ 46,982     $ 11,106,136     $ 1,654,051  

(d) Foreign currency collateral pledged, at cost

  $     $ 108,758     $ 25,852  

(e) Foreign currency, at cost

  $ 9,368     $ 1,342,225     $ 195,702  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

24  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


 

Statements of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended October 31, 2023

 

    iShares
Environmentally
Aware Real
Estate ETF
    iShares
Global REIT
ETF
    iShares
International
Developed
Real Estate
ETF
 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

     

Dividends — unaffiliated

  $ 187,424     $ 70,396,196     $ 2,960,775  

Dividends — affiliated

    172       224,600       2,528  

Interest — unaffiliated

    195       36,513       1,499  

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

    355       46,651       23,603  

Foreign taxes withheld

    (7,714     (2,531,149     (259,326
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

    180,432       68,172,811       2,729,079  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES

     

Investment advisory

    13,097       2,151,939       311,230  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    13,097       2,151,939       311,230  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    167,335       66,020,872       2,417,849  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

     

Net realized gain (loss) from:

     

Investments — unaffiliated

    (6,903     (22,329,408     (2,952,297

Investments — affiliated

    8       (3,693     (266

Foreign currency transactions

    (1,362     (281,926     (40,537

Futures contracts

    (3,324     (1,579,535     3,496  

In-kind redemptions — unaffiliated(a)

          4,442,068       (4,096,559
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (11,581     (19,752,494     (7,086,163
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

     

Investments — unaffiliated

    (1,158,354     (413,029,278     (14,279,355

Investments — affiliated

    5       2,411       397  

Foreign currency translations

    (289     (122,214     (13,402

Futures contracts

    (2,029     (686,868     (60,358
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (1,160,667     (413,835,949     (14,352,718
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

    (1,172,248     (433,588,443     (21,438,881
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ (1,004,913   $ (367,567,571   $ (19,021,032
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L    T A T E M E N T  S

  25


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

iShares

Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF

               

iShares

Global REIT ETF

 
 

 

 

       

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/23

(unaudited)

 
 

 

     

Period From
11/15/22

to 04/30/23

 
(a)  

 

     

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

04/30/23

 

 

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

                 

OPERATIONS

                                

Net investment income

    $ 167,335            $ 157,427         $ 66,020,872       $ 116,427,785  

Net realized gain (loss)

                 (11,581       (8,617         (19,752,494       7,324,697  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

      (1,160,667       (1,273         (413,835,949       (584,908,292
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      (1,004,913       147,537           (367,567,571       (461,155,810
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(b)

                 

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

      (150,090       (56,797         (54,294,587       (69,453,870
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

                 

Net increase in net assets derived from capital share transactions

              8,978,314           293,791,384         66,934,776  
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

                 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

        (1,155,003       9,069,054           (128,070,774       (463,674,904

Beginning of period

      9,069,054                     2,997,902,899         3,461,577,803  
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 7,914,051       $   9,069,054         $ 2,869,832,125       $   2,997,902,899  
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

26  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O    H  A R E H O L D E R S


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

 

   

iShares

International Developed Real Estate

ETF

 
 

 

 

 
   

Six Months

Ended

10/31/23

(unaudited)

   

Year Ended

04/30/23

 

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

   

OPERATIONS

   

Net investment income

  $ 2,417,849     $ 6,482,421  

Net realized loss

    (7,086,163     (15,189,405

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (14,352,718     (20,445,849
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    (19,021,032     (29,152,833
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

   

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (2,513,698 )(b)      (3,488,984
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

   

Net decrease in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    (16,272,148     (31,833,293
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   

Total decrease in net assets

    (37,806,878     (64,475,110

Beginning of period

    148,509,416       212,984,526  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $   110,702,538     $   148,509,416  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(b) 

A portion of the distributions from net investment income may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain at fiscal year-end.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L    T A T E M E N T  S

  27


Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    iShares Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF  
 

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/23

(unaudited)

 
 

 

   

    

 

 

      

Period From
11/15/22

to 04/30/23

 
(a)  

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

               $ 25.19            $ 24.94  
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

      0.46            0.44  

Net realized and unrealized loss(c)

      (3.25          (0.03
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      (2.79          0.41  
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(d)

      (0.42          (0.16
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 21.98          $ 25.19  
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

          

Based on net asset value

      (11.26 )%(f)           1.64 %(f) 
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(g)

          

Total expenses

      0.30 %(h)           0.30 %(h) 
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Net investment income

      3.83 %(h)           3.82 %(h) 
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 7,914          $ 9,069  
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(i)

      2          4
   

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities.

(d) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Annualized.

(i) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

28  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

        iShares Global REIT ETF  
 

 

 
 

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

(unaudited)

 

 

 

   
Year Ended
04/30/23
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/22
 
 
    
Year Ended
04/30/21
 
 
    
Year Ended
04/30/20
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/19
 
 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 23.25     $ 27.77     $ 27.22      $ 20.42      $ 26.53     $ 24.82  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.48       0.94       0.68        0.66        0.88       0.98  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

      (3.15     (4.89     0.74        6.75        (5.54     2.08  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      (2.67     (3.95     1.42        7.41        (4.66     3.06  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(c)

      (0.40     (0.57     (0.87      (0.61      (1.45     (1.35
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

           $ 20.18     $ 23.25     $ 27.77      $ 27.22      $ 20.42     $ 26.53  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

               

Based on net asset value

      (11.59 )%(e)      (14.12 )%      5.14      36.95      (18.47 )%      12.77
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(f)

               

Total expenses

      0.14 %(g)      0.14     0.14      0.14      0.14     0.14
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      4.30 %(g)      3.95     2.36      2.91      3.36     3.85
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

               

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 2,869,832     $ 2,997,903     $ 3,461,578      $ 3,083,221      $ 1,900,334     $ 1,637,157  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(h)

      2     7     13      6      8     9
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities.

(c) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(d) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e) 

Not annualized.

(f) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(g) 

Annualized.

(h) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L    I G H L I G H T  S

  29


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

        iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF  
 

 

 
 

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

(unaudited)

 

 

 

   
Year Ended
04/30/23
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/22
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/21
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/20
 
 
   
Year Ended
04/30/19
 
 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

           $ 21.52     $ 25.36     $ 28.82     $ 22.75     $ 29.65     $ 30.40  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.38       0.83       0.79 (b)      0.78       0.86       0.93  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

      (3.35     (4.25     (3.35     5.86       (5.47     (0.55
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      (2.97     (3.42     (2.56     6.64       (4.61     0.38  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(d)

      (0.40 )(e)      (0.42     (0.90     (0.57     (2.29     (1.13
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 18.15     $ 21.52     $ 25.36     $ 28.82     $ 22.75     $ 29.65  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(f)

             

Based on net asset value

      (13.98 )%(g)      (13.44 )%      (9.24 )%(b)      29.62     (16.93 )%      1.39
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(h)

             

Total expenses

      0.48 %(i)      0.48     0.50     0.48     0.48     0.48
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses excluding professional fees for foreign withholding tax claims

      N/A       N/A       0.48     0.48     N/A       0.48
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      3.73 %(i)      3.82     2.75 %(b)      3.08     2.99     3.20
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 110,703     $ 148,509     $ 212,985     $ 256,514     $ 259,384     $ 477,332  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(j)

      5     9     16     9     10     8
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

Reflects the one-time, positive effect of foreign withholding tax claims, net of the associated professional fees, which resulted in the following increases for the year ended April 30, 2022:

 

Net investment income per share by $0.04.

 

Total return by 0.17%.

 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets by 0.15%.

(c) 

The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities.

(d) 

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(e) 

A portion of the distributions from net investment income may be deemed a return of capital or net realized gain at fiscal year-end.

(f) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(g) 

Not annualized.

(h) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(i) 

Annualized.

(j) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

30  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

iShares Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios.

These financial statements relate only to the following funds (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

 

iShares ETF   Diversification
Classification
 

Environmentally Aware Real Estate

    Non-Diversified  

Global REIT

    Diversified  

International Developed Real Estate

    Diversified  

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Funds are informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis.

Foreign Currency Translation: Each Fund’s books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using prevailing market rates as quoted by one or more data service providers. Purchases and sales of investments are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the investments denominated in that currency will lose value; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.

Each Fund does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of investments for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investments are not segregated in the Statements of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those investments, but are included as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments. Each Fund reports realized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Collateralization: If required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments.

In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Funds’ tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds.

Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: Each Fund’s investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund’s listing exchange is open and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) of each Fund has approved the designation of BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), the Funds’ investment adviser, as the valuation designee for each Fund. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under BFA’s policies. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A L     T A T E M E N T S

  31


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value. BFA has formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments, with assistance from other BlackRock pricing committees.

Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Fund’s assets and liabilities:

 

   

Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price.

 

   

Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that day’s published NAV.

 

   

Futures contracts are valued based on that day’s last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Each business day, the Funds use current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (“Systematic Fair Value Price”). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Valuation Committee, in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Valuation Committee seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Valuation Committee deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement.

Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a fund’s NAV and the prices used by the fund’s underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the fund’s performance and the performance of the fund’s underlying index.

Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that each Fund has the ability to access;

 

   

Level 2 – Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs); and

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, (including the Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments).

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.

 

4.

SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Securities Lending: Each Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.

As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BFA, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in each Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The market value of any securities on loan and the value of any related cash collateral are disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

32  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Funds under Master Securities Lending Agreements (each, an “MSLA”) which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate a net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. In the event that a borrower defaults, the Funds, as lender, would offset the market value of the collateral received against the market value of the securities loaned. When the value of the collateral is greater than that of the market value of the securities loaned, the lender is left with a net amount payable to the defaulting party. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of an MSLA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Under the MSLA, absent an event of default, the borrower can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities, and the Funds can reinvest cash collateral received in connection with loaned securities. Upon an event of default, the parties’ obligations to return the securities or collateral to the other party are extinguished, and the parties can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities or the collateral received in connection with the loaned securities in order to satisfy the defaulting party’s net payment obligation for all transactions under the MSLA. The defaulting party remains liable for any deficiency.

As of period end, the following table is a summary of the securities on loan by counterparty which are subject to offset under an MSLA:

 

 

 
iShares ETF and Counterparty    
Securities Loaned
at Value
 
 
    
Cash Collateral
Received
 
(a) 
   
Non-Cash Collateral
Received, at Fair Value
 
(a) 
    Net Amount  

 

 

Environmentally Aware Real Estate

        

BofA Securities, Inc.

  $ 20,188      $ (20,188   $     $  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

    15,496        (15,496            
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 35,684      $ (35,684   $     $  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Global REIT

        

BofA Securities, Inc.

  $ 2,558,102      $ (2,558,102   $     $  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

    485,799        (485,799            

HSBC Bank PLC

    32,875        (32,875            

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    171,643        (171,643            

Jefferies LLC

    535,642        (535,642            

National Financial Services LLC

    760,168        (760,168            

UBS AG

    989,483        (989,483            
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 5,533,712      $ (5,533,712   $     $  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

International Developed Real Estate

        

Barclays Capital, Inc.

  $ 43,612      $ (43,612   $     $  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    55,847        (55,847            

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

    683,355        (675,426           7,929 (b) 

HSBC Bank PLC

    88,586        (88,586            

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    692,840        (692,840            

Morgan Stanley

    3,980        (3,823           157 (b) 

SG Americas Securities LLC

    2,741        (2,741            

UBS AG

    2,583        (2,583            
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 1,573,544      $ (1,565,458   $     $ 8,086  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Collateral received, if any, in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by each Fund is disclosed in the Fund’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 
  (b) 

The market value of the loaned securities is determined as of October 31, 2023. Additional collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day in accordance with the MSLA. The net amount would be subject to the borrower default indemnity in the event of default by a counterparty.

 

The risks of securities lending include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not return the securities when due. To mitigate these risks, each Fund benefits from a borrower default indemnity provided by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). BlackRock’s indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. Each Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by each Fund.

 

5.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contract’s size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A L     T A T E M E N T S

  33


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.

 

6.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of each Fund’s assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Funds, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).

For its investment advisory services to each of the following Funds, BFAis entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Investment Advisory Fees   

Environmentally Aware Real Estate

  0.30%

Global REIT

  0.14   

International Developed Real Estate

  0.48   

Distributor: BlackRock Investments, LLC, an affiliate of BFA, is the distributor for each Fund. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, BFA is responsible for any fees or expenses for distribution services provided to the Funds.

Securities Lending: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has issued an exemptive order which permits BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”), an affiliate of BFA, to serve as securities lending agent for the Funds, subject to applicable conditions. As securities lending agent, BTC bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending, including any custodial costs. Each Fund is responsible for fees in connection with the investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan (the “collateral investment fees”). The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund, BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional or BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, managed by BFA, or its affiliates. However, BTC has agreed to reduce the amount of securities lending income it receives in order to effectively limit the collateral investment fees each Fund bears to an annual rate of 0.04%. The SL Agency Shares of such money market fund will not be subject to a sales load, distribution fee or service fee. The money market fund in which the cash collateral has been invested may, under certain circumstances, impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value redeemed or temporarily restrict redemptions for up to 10 business days during a 90 day period, in the event that the money market fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds.

Securities lending income is equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral, net of fees and other payments to and from borrowers of securities, and less the collateral investment fees. Each Fund retains a portion of securities lending income and remits the remaining portion to BTC as compensation for its services as securities lending agent.

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, the iShares Global REIT ETF(the “Group 1 Funds”), retains 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, each of the iShares Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF and iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF (the “Group 2 Fund”), retains 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees generated across all 1940 Act iShares exchange-traded funds (the “iShares ETF Complex”) in a given calendar year exceeds a specified threshold: (1) the Group 1 Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees, and (2) each Group 2 Fund will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

 

 

34  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

The share of securities lending income earned by each Fund is shown as securities lending income – affiliated – net in its Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2023, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:

 

iShares ETF   Amounts  

Environmentally Aware Real Estate

  $        82  

Global REIT

    8,952  

International Developed Real Estate

    5,332  

Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.

Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:

 

iShares ETF    Purchases      Sales      Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
 

Global REIT

   $   9,509,811      $   18,751,959      $   (3,534,108

International Developed Real Estate

     136,591        360,495        (113,115

Each Fund may invest its positive cash balances in certain money market funds managed by BFA or an affiliate. The income earned on these temporary cash investments is shown as dividends – affiliated in the Statements of Operations.

A fund, in order to improve its portfolio liquidity and its ability to track its underlying index, may invest in shares of other iShares funds that invest in securities in the fund’s underlying index.

 

7.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales  

Environmentally Aware Real Estate

  $          234,874      $        215,361  

Global REIT

    114,622,684        70,395,389  

International Developed Real Estate

    6,355,886        7,061,078  

For the six months ended October 31, 2023, in-kind transactions were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   In-kind
Purchases
     In-kind
Sales
 

Global REIT

  $   287,835,570      $   23,216,166  

International Developed Real Estate

           15,374,423  

 

8.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trust’s other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of October 31, 2023, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds’ financial statements.

As of April 30, 2023, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains and qualified late-year losses as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Non-Expiring
Capital Loss
Carryforwards
 

Environmentally Aware Real Estate

  $ (6,160 )   

Global REIT

    (118,241,339 )   

International Developed Real Estate

    (92,810,171 )   

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A L     T A T E M E N T S

  35


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

A fund may own shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to, under U.S. tax law, as “passive foreign investment companies.” Such fund may elect to mark-to-market annually the shares of each passive foreign investment company and would be required to distribute to shareholders any such marked-to-market gains.

As of October 31, 2023, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Tax Cost      Gross Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross Unrealized
Depreciation
    Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Environmentally Aware Real Estate

  $ 9,133,801      $ 156,728      $ (1,365,251   $ (1,208,523

Global REIT

    3,635,836,065        76,098,762        (844,180,990     (768,082,228

International Developed Real Estate

    184,979,547        516,137        (74,034,093     (73,517,956

 

9.

LINE OF CREDIT

The iShares Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF, along with certain other iShares funds (“Participating Funds”), is a party to a $800 million credit agreement (“Syndicated Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders, which expires on October 16, 2024. The line of credit may be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including redemptions, settlement of trades and rebalancing of portfolio holdings in certain target markets. The Funds may borrow up to the aggregate commitment amount subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Syndicated Credit Agreement. The Syndicated Credit Agreement has the following terms: a commitment fee of 0.15% per annum on the unused portion of the credit agreement and interest at a rate equal to the higher of (a) Daily Simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 0.10% and 1.00% per annum or (b) the U.S. Federal Funds rate plus 1.00% per annum on amounts borrowed. The commitment fee is generally allocated to each Participating Fund based on the lesser of a Participating Fund’s relative exposure to certain target markets or a Participating Fund’s maximum borrowing amount as set forth by the terms of the Syndicated Credit Agreement.

During the six months ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not borrow under the Syndicated Credit Agreement.

 

10.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, each Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Funds and their investments. Each Fund’s prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.

BFA uses a “passive” or index approach to try to achieve each Fund’s investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.

The Funds may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.

Infectious Illness Risk: An outbreak of an infectious illness, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely impact the economies of many nations and the global economy, and may impact individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot be foreseen. An infectious illness outbreak may result in, among other things, closed international borders, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, market volatility or disruptions and other significant economic, social and political impacts.

Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a fund’s NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.

The price each Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from each Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation technique or a price provided by an independent pricing service. Changes to significant unobservable inputs and assumptions (i.e., publicly traded company multiples, growth rate, time to exit) due to the lack of observable inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore each Fund’s results of operations. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by each Fund, and each Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. Each Fund’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.

 

 

36  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that BFA believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds’ exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.

A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.

Geographic/Asset Class Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within each Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. When a fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions in that country or those countries may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the Fund’s portfolio. Unanticipated or sudden political or social developments may cause uncertainty in the markets and as a result adversely affect the Fund’s investments. Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as used in the United States. Foreign securities markets may also be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. securities and may be less subject to governmental supervision not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Investment percentages in specific countries are presented in the Schedule of Investments.

The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in the United States. A decrease in imports or exports, changes in trade regulations, inflation and/or an economic recession in the United States may have a material adverse effect on the U.S. economy and the securities listed on U.S. exchanges. Proposed and adopted policy and legislative changes in the United States may also have a significant effect on U.S. markets generally, as well as on the value of certain securities. Governmental agencies project that the United States will continue to maintain elevated public debt levels for the foreseeable future which may constrain future economic growth. Circumstances could arise that could prevent the timely payment of interest or principal on U.S. government debt, such as reaching the legislative “debt ceiling.” Such non-payment would result in substantial negative consequences for the U.S. economy and the global financial system. If U.S. relations with certain countries deteriorate, it could adversely affect issuers that rely on the United States for trade. The United States has also experienced increased internal unrest and discord. If these trends were to continue, they may have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy and the issuers in which the the Funds invest.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries. The European financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns in, or rising government debt levels of, several European countries as well as acts of war in the region. These events may spread to other countries in Europe and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds’ investments.

Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. The United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union, and one or more other countries may withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the Euro, the common currency of the European Union. These events and actions have adversely affected, and may in the future adversely affect, the value and exchange rate of the Euro and may continue to significantly affect the economies of every country in Europe, including countries that do not use the Euro and non-European Union member states. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far reaching. In addition, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The extent and duration of the military action, resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions in the region are impossible to predict, but have been, and may continue to be significant and have a severe adverse effect on the region, including significant negative impacts on the economy and the markets for certain securities and commodities, such as oil and natural gas, as well as other sectors.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities of issuers located in Asia or with significant exposure to Asian issuers or countries. The Asian financial markets have recently experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns in several Asian countries regarding monetary policy, government intervention in the markets, rising government debt levels or economic downturns. These events may spread to other countries in Asia and may affect the value and liquidity of certain of the Funds’ investments.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the fund’s portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.

 

 

O T E S    T O    I N A N C I A L     T A T E M E N T S

  37


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Significant Shareholder Redemption Risk: Certain shareholders may own or manage a substantial amount of fund shares and/or hold their fund investments for a limited period of time. Large redemptions of fund shares by these shareholders may force a fund to sell portfolio securities, which may negatively impact the fund’s NAV, increase the fund’s brokerage costs, and/or accelerate the realization of taxable income/gains and cause the fund to make additional taxable distributions to shareholders.

 

11.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Capital shares are issued and redeemed by each Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of each Fund are not redeemable.

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

 

 
   

 

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

 

           

 

Period Ended

04/30/23

 

 
 

 

 

       

 

 

 
iShares ETF  

 

Shares

    

 

Amount

           

 

Shares

    

 

Amount

 

 

 

Environmentally Aware Real Estate(a)

             

Shares sold

         $         —           360,000      $ 8,978,314  
 

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 
   

 

Six Months Ended

10/31/23

 

          

 

Year Ended

04/30/23

 

 
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
iShares ETF  

 

Shares

    

 

Amount

          

 

Shares

    

 

Amount

 

 

 

Global REIT

            

Shares sold

    14,350,000      $ 318,678,783          14,400,000      $ 325,705,239  

Shares redeemed

    (1,100,000      (24,887,399        (10,100,000      (258,770,463
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 
    13,250,000      $ 293,791,384          4,300,000      $ 66,934,776  
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

International Developed Real Estate

            

Shares sold

         $ 260          200,000      $ 4,481,991  

Shares redeemed

    (800,000      (16,272,408        (1,700,000      (36,315,284
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 
    (800,000    $ (16,272,148        (1,500,000    $ (31,833,293
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

The Fund commenced operations on November 15, 2022.

 

The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of a fund in the Trust generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities and a specified amount of cash. Certain funds in the Trust may be offered in Creation Units solely or partially for cash in U.S. dollars. Investors purchasing and redeeming Creation Units may pay a purchase transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee directly to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.

From time to time, settlement of securities related to in-kind contributions or in-kind redemptions may be delayed. In such cases, securities related to in-kind transactions are reflected as a receivable or a payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

12.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.

 

 

38  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

 

iShares Environmentally Aware Real Estate ETF, iShares Global REIT ETF (each the “Fund”)

Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Board Members who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Board Members”), is required annually to consider the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund. The Board’s consideration entails a year-long process whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRock’s services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 2, 2023 and May 15, 2023, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the “15(c) Committee”), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 7-8, 2023, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.

After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of other fund(s) in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs, objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Fund’s applicable expense peer group pursuant to Broadridge’s proprietary ETF methodology (the “Peer Group”). The Board was provided with a detailed description of the proprietary ETF methodology used by Broadridge to determine the Fund’s Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridge’s report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.

In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Fund’s performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, to that of such relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Fund’s short- and longer-term performance in comparison with its underlying index. Such periodic comparative performance information, including additional detailed information as requested by the Board, was also considered. The Board noted that the Fund generally performed in line with its underlying index over the relevant periods.

Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of ETF pricing, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fee rate and expense level and the historical performance of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on management’s representations, including information about ongoing enhancements and initiatives with respect to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to support the iShares funds and their shareholders and have made significant investments into the iShares business. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund, including related programs implemented pursuant to regulatory requirements. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies provided at the May 2, 2023 meeting and throughout the year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance program and other compliance programs and services.

Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Fund’s operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFA’s estimated profit margin as reflected in the Fund’s profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).

 

 

O A R D    E V I E W    A N D     P P R O V A L    O F    N V E S T M E N T    D V I S O R Y    O N T R A C T

  39


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)

 

Based on this review, the Board concluded that the information considered with respect to the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRock’s historical estimated profitability (as discussed above), including BFA’s and its affiliates’ estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.

The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board received and considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the “Other Accounts”). The Board acknowledged BFA’s representation that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts.

The Board received detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts generally differ from the Fund, including in terms of the types of services and generally more extensive services provided to the Fund, as well as other significant differences. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks and challenges of managing and providing other services to the Fund, as a publicly traded investment vehicle, as compared to the Other Accounts, particularly those that are institutional clients, in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board noted that BFA and its affiliates do not manage Other Accounts with substantially the same investment objective and strategy as the Fund and that track the same index as the Fund. The Board also acknowledged management’s assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.

The Board considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement and noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.

Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities, as applicable (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFA’s estimated profitability methodology), payment of advisory fees or other fees to BFA (or its affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Fund in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory services or other services, and BlackRock’s profile in the investment community. The Board further considered other direct benefits that might accrue to BFA, including the potential for reduction in the Fund’s expenses that are borne by BFA under the “all-inclusive” management fee arrangement, due in part to the size and scope of BFA’s investment operations servicing the Fund (and other funds in the iShares complex) as well as in response to a changing market environment. The Board also reviewed and considered information provided by BFA concerning authorized participant primary market order processing services that are provided by BlackRock Investments, LLC (“BRIL”), an affiliate of BFA, and paid for by authorized participants under the ETF Servicing Platform. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRock’s technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds. The Board noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF (the “Fund”)

Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Board Members who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Board Members”), is required annually to consider the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund. The Board’s consideration entails a year-long process whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRock’s services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 2, 2023 and May 15, 2023, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the “15(c) Committee”), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 7-8, 2023, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.

 

 

40  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O    H  A R E H O L D E R S


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)

 

After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of other fund(s) in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs, objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Fund’s applicable expense peer group pursuant to Broadridge’s proprietary ETF methodology (the “Peer Group”). The Board was provided with a detailed description of the proprietary ETF methodology used by Broadridge to determine the Fund’s Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridge’s report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that the investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were within range of the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.

In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Fund’s performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, to that of such relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Fund’s short- and longer-term performance in comparison with its underlying index. Such periodic comparative performance information, including additional detailed information as requested by the Board, was also considered. The Board noted that the Fund generally performed in line with its underlying index over the relevant periods.

Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of ETF pricing, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fee rate and expense level and the historical performance of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on management’s representations, including information about ongoing enhancements and initiatives with respect to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to support the iShares funds and their shareholders and have made significant investments into the iShares business. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund, including related programs implemented pursuant to regulatory requirements. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies provided at the May 2, 2023 meeting and throughout the year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance program and other compliance programs and services.

Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Fund’s operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFA’s estimated profit margin as reflected in the Fund’s profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).

Based on this review, the Board concluded that the information considered with respect to the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRock’s historical estimated profitability (as discussed above), including BFA’s and its affiliates’ estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund did not provide for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.

 

 

O A R D    E V I E W    A N D     P P R O V A L    O F    N V E S T M E N T    D V I S O R Y    O N T R A C T

  41


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)

 

The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board received and considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the “Other Accounts”). The Board acknowledged BFA’s representation that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts.

The Board received detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts generally differ from the Fund, including in terms of the types of services and generally more extensive services provided to the Fund, as well as other significant differences. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks and challenges of managing and providing other services to the Fund, as a publicly traded investment vehicle, as compared to the Other Accounts, particularly those that are institutional clients, in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board noted that BFA and its affiliates do not manage Other Accounts with substantially the same investment objective and strategy as the Fund and that track the same index as the Fund. The Board also acknowledged management’s assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.

The Board considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement and noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.

Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities, as applicable (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFA’s estimated profitability methodology), payment of advisory fees or other fees to BFA (or its affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Fund in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory services or other services, and BlackRock’s profile in the investment community. The Board further considered other direct benefits that might accrue to BFA, including the potential for reduction in the Fund’s expenses that are borne by BFA under the “all-inclusive” management fee arrangement, due in part to the size and scope of BFA’s investment operations servicing the Fund (and other funds in the iShares complex) as well as in response to a changing market environment. The Board also reviewed and considered information provided by BFA concerning authorized participant primary market order processing services that are provided by BlackRock Investments, LLC (“BRIL”), an affiliate of BFA, and paid for by authorized participants under the ETF Servicing Platform. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRock’s technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds. The Board noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

 

 

42  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O    H  A R E H O L D E R S


Supplemental Information (unaudited)   

    

 

Section 19(a) Notices

The amounts and sources of distributions reported are estimates and are being provided pursuant to regulatory requirements and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon each Fund’s investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

October 31, 2023

 

       
    Total Cumulative Distributions
for the Fiscal Year-to-Date
          % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative
Distributions for the Fiscal Year-to-Date
 
iShares ETF   Net
Investment
Income
    Net Realized
Capital Gains
    Return of
Capital
    Total Per
Share
           Net
Investment
Income
    Net Realized
Capital Gains
    Return of
Capital
    Total Per
Share
 

International Developed Real Estate(a)

  $ 0.333337     $     $ 0.062831     $ 0.396168               84         16     100

 

  (a) 

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholder’s investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income”. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Fund’s net asset value per share.

 

Tailored Shareholder Reports for Open-End Mutual Funds and ETFs

Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require open-end mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information. Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in a streamlined shareholder report but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these amendments on the shareholder reports for the Funds.

 

 

U P P L E M E N T A L    N F O R M  A T I O N

  43


General Information   

    

 

Electronic Delivery

Shareholders can sign up for e-mail notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.

To enroll in electronic delivery:

 

   

Go to icsdelivery.com.

   

If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor.

Householding

Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Additionally, each Fund makes its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year available at iShares.com/fundreports.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

A description of the policies and procedures that the iShares Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the iShares Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ending June 30 is available without charge, upon request (1) by calling toll-free 1-800-474-2737; (2) on the iShares website at iShares.com; and (3) on the SEC website at sec.gov.

A description of the Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.

 

 

44  

2 0 2 3    H A R E S     E M I - A N N U A L    E P O R T    T O     H A R E H O L D E R S


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Portfolio Abbreviation

 

NVS           Non-Voting Shares
REIT           Real Estate Investment Trust
 

 

 

L O S S A R Y    O F    E R M S     S E D    I N    T H I S    E P O R T

  45


 

 

 

Want to know more?

iShares.com  |  1-800-474-2737

This report is intended for the Funds’ shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).

The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by FTSE International Limited, nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.

©2023 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

iS-SAR-405-1023

 

 

LOGO

   LOGO


(b) Not Applicable

 

Item 2.

Code of Ethics.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

 

Item 3.

Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

 

Item 4.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

 

Item 5.

Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.


Item 6.

Investments.

(a) Schedules of investments are included as part of the reports to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b) Not applicable.

 

Item 7.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

Item 8.

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

Item 9.

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

Item 10.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees.

 

Item 11.

Controls and Procedures.

(a) The President (the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer) and Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (the registrant’s Principal Financial Officer) have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act of 1934.

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

 

Item 12.

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

Not applicable to the registrant.

 

Item 13.

Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.

Not applicable


Item 14.

Exhibits.

(a) (1) Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

(a) (2) Section 302 Certifications are attached.

(a) (3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 – Not Applicable

(a) (4) Change in Registrant’s independent public accountant – Not Applicable

(b) Section 906 Certifications are attached.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

iShares Trust

 

 

By:

    

/s/ Dominik Rohe                                                                                                       

      

Dominik Rohe, President (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: December 21, 2023

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

 

 

By:

    

/s/ Dominik Rohe                                                                                                       

      

Dominik Rohe, President (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: December 21, 2023

 

 

By:

    

/s/ Trent Walker                                                                                                           

      

Trent Walker, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Date: December 21, 2023