N-CSR 1 f30066nvcsr.htm FORM N-CSR nvcsr
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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: 811-22311
Schwab Strategic Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
     
211 Main Street, San Francisco, California   94105
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)
Marie Chandoha
Schwab Strategic Trust — Schwab U.S. REIT ETF Fund
     211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105     
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 636-7000
Date of fiscal year end: February 28
Date of reporting period: February 28, 2013
 
 
Item 1: Report(s) to Shareholders.

 


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Annual report dated February 28, 2013, enclosed.
 
 
Schwab U.S. REIT ETFtm
 
 
 
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This wrapper is not part of the shareholder report.


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Schwab U.S. REIT ETFtm
 
Annual Report
February 28, 2013
 
 
 
 
(SCHWAB ETF LOGO)
 


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This page is intentionally left blank.
 


 

 
 
In This Report
 
 
 
 
Fund investment adviser: Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM).
Distributor: SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO).
 
The Sector/Industry classifications in this report use the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) which was developed by and is the exclusive property of Morgan Stanley Capital International Inc. (MSCI) and Standard & Poor’s (S&P). GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. The Industry classifications used in the schedule of Portfolio Holdings are sub-categories of Sector classifications.
 


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Performance at a Glance
 
 
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.schwabetfs.com.
 
         
Total Return for the 12 Months Ended February 28, 2013  
   
Schwab U.S. REIT ETFtm (Ticker Symbol: SCHH)        
 
 
NAV Return1
    15.83%  
Market Price Return1
    15.78%  
Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT IndexSM     16.02%  
ETF Category: Morningstar Real Estate2     19.81%  
 
 
Performance Details     pages 6-7  
 
 
 
 
All fund and index figures on this page assume dividends and distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged, and you cannot invest in them directly. Performance results less than one year are not annualized. Performance does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares.
 
Investment returns will fluctuate and are subject to market volatility, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed or sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than the net asset value (NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
 
Index ownership —“Standard & Poor’s” and “S&P” are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and “Dow Jones” is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates and sublicensed for certain purposes by CSIM. The “Dow Jones U.S. U.S. Select REIT Index” is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates, and has been licensed for use by CSIM. The Schwab U.S. REIT ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, or their respective affiliates and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, nor their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product.
 
1 The fund’s per share net asset value (“NAV”) is the value of one share of the fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets (including the market value of securities owned), subtracting liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV Return is based on the NAV of the fund, and the Market Price Return is based on the market price per share of the fund. The price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which the shares of the fund are listed for trading, as of the time that the fund’s NAV is calculated. Market Price and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund at Market Price and NAV, respectively.
2 Source for category information: Morningstar, Inc. The Morningstar Category return represents all passively- and actively-managed ETFs within the category as of the report date.
 
 
 
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From the President
 

CHANDOHA PHOTO
 
Marie Chandoha is President and CEO of Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. and the fund covered in this report.

 
Dear Shareholder,
 
As President and CEO of Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., I’d like to thank you for trusting us to help you meet your investment goals, and for reading this important report concerning the Schwab U.S. REIT ETF. This fund is designed to track the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index, while also providing the full benefits of an ETF, including transparency, trading flexibility, and potential tax efficiency.
 
For the 12 months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s performance reflected a rally by U.S. real estate securities, as the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index returned 16.0%. Supporting this rally were mixed but encouraging signs of improvement in the U.S. economy, while the Federal Reserve maintained low short-term interest rates and programs aimed at holding down long-term interest rates.
 
This backdrop helped to make long-term financing costs more affordable for businesses and households, and when combined with some signs of improvement in the U.S. housing market, supported the performance of U.S. REITs. However, shareholders should keep in mind that while long-term interest rates are historically low right now, the performance of U.S. REITs and the fund may be negatively affected if these interest rates begin to rise.
 
Industrial, Health Care, and Retail REITs were some of the better performing U.S. real estate securities for the 12 months, while by comparison, Apartment REITs underperformed. In addition, small- and mid-cap REITs generally provided higher returns than large-cap REITs.

 Asset Class Performance Comparison % returns during the report period
 
This graph compares the performance of various asset classes during the report period. Final performance figures for the period are in the key below.
         
         
(LEGEND)   13.46%   S&P 500® Index: measures U.S. large-cap stocks
         
(LEGEND)   16.02%   Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT IndexSM: measures U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs)
         
(LEGEND)   10.37%   MSCI EAFE® Index: measures (in U.S. dollars) large-cap stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East
         
(LEGEND)   3.12%   Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index: measures the U.S. bond market
 
(LINE GRAPH)
 
These figures assume dividends and distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged and you cannot invest in them directly. Remember that past performance is not an indication of future results.
 
Data source: Index provider websites and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
 
Nothing in this report represents a recommendation of a security by the investment adviser.
 
Management views and portfolio holdings may have changed since the report date.

 
 
 
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF 3


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From the President continued
 

For the 12 months ended February 28, 2013, the fund’s performance reflected a rally by U.S. real estate securities, as the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index returned 16.0%.

 
For more information about the Schwab U.S. REIT ETF, please continue reading this report. In addition, you can find answers to frequently asked questions and further details about this ETF by visiting www.schwabetfs.com, or by contacting us at 1-800-435-4000.
 
Sincerely,
 
-s- Marie Chandoha

 
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested in directly. Index return figures assume dividends and distributions were reinvested.

 
 
 
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF


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Fund Management
 
     
     
(PHOTO)   Agnes Hong, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Passive Equity Strategies, leads the portfolio management teams of Schwab’s index mutual funds and equity ETFs. She also has overall responsibility for all aspects of the management of the fund. Prior to joining CSIM in 2009, Ms. Hong spent five years as a portfolio manager at Barclays Global Investors (subsequently acquired by BlackRock), where she managed institutional index funds and quantitative active funds. Prior to that, Ms. Hong worked in management consulting and product management, servicing global financial services clients.
     
(PHOTO)   Ferian Juwono, CFA, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. Prior to joining CSIM in 2010, Mr. Juwono worked at BlackRock (formerly Barclays Global Investors), where he spent over three years as a portfolio manager, managing equity index funds for institutional clients, and nearly two years as a senior business analyst. Prior to that, Mr. Juwono worked for over four years as a senior financial analyst with Union Bank of California.
     
(PHOTO)   Chuck Craig, CFA, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. Prior to joining CSIM in 2012, Mr. Craig worked at Guggenheim Funds (formerly Claymore Group), where he spent over five years as a managing director of portfolio management & supervision, and three years as vice president of product research and development. Prior to that, he worked as an equity research analyst at First Trust Portfolios (formerly Niké Securities), and a trader and analyst at PMA Securities, Inc.
 
 
 
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF 5


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Schwab U.S. REIT ETF™
 
 
The Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (the fund) seeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index (the index). The index is a float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index comprised of real estate investment trusts (REITs). The index generally includes REITs that own and operate income-producing commercial and/or residential real estate, derive at least 75% of the REIT’s total revenue from the ownership and operation of real estate assets, and have a minimum total market capitalization of $200 million at the time of its inclusion. For more information concerning the fund’s investment objective, strategies, and risks, please see the fund’s prospectus.
 
For the 12 months ended February 28, 2013, the fund closely tracked the index. The fund’s market price return was 15.78% and its NAV return was 15.83% (for an explanation of the market price and NAV returns, please refer to footnote 2 on the following page). The index returned 16.02% for the same period. Because the return of an index does not include operational and transactional costs, the return of a fund tends to differ from that of its respective index.
 
Market Highlights. U.S. REITs generated strong returns for the 12-month report period. Low interest rates made financing relatively affordable for businesses and households, supporting the rally by U.S. REITs. Property market improvements also helped the performance of U.S. REITs, boosting investor confidence as home prices rose across many states and foreclosure rates generally declined. Specialized and Retail REITs outperformed other sub-industries, while Residential and Office REITs underperformed by comparison.
 
Contributors and Detractors. Specialized REITs, which include trusts that operate and invest in health care, leisure, hotel, and storage properties, were the biggest contributors to the fund’s total return. The large average weight of this sub-industry was part of the reason for this contribution, with Specialized REITs comprising approximately 27% of the fund. In addition, specialized REITs returned roughly 23% for the report period. One significant contributor in this sub-industry was Ventas, Inc., a real estate investment trust that owns housing communities for seniors, nursing facilities, hospitals, and medical office buildings. The fund’s Ventas, Inc. holdings returned approximately 32% for the 12-month report period.
 
Retail REITs, which represented an average weight of nearly 27% of the fund, also provided a meaningful total return contribution. The fund’s Retail REITs returned approximately 21%, reflecting the overall performance of companies or trusts engaged in activities concerning shopping malls, outlet malls, and shopping centers. One significant contributor in this sub-industry was Simon Property Group, Inc., which owns, develops, and manages retail real estate properties such as regional malls, outlet centers, and international properties. The fund’s Simon Property Group, Inc. holdings returned roughly 21% for the report period.
 
All sub-industries generated positive returns for the fund, with Diversified REITs contributing the least. Diversified REITs, which include REITs that have significantly diversified operations across two or more property types, represented an average weight of roughly 7% of the fund for the report period, and returned approximately 10%. The biggest detractor from the fund’s total return and only REIT to generate a loss within this sub-industry was Washington Real Estate Investment Trust, which invests in properties such as shopping centers, office buildings, and high-rise apartment buildings. The fund’s Washington Real Estate Investment Trust holdings returned roughly -1%.
 
As of 02/28/13:
 
 Statistics
         
Number of Holdings
    85  
Weighted Average Market Cap ($ x 1,000,000)
    $15,614  
Price/Earnings Ratio (P/E)
    65.6  
Price/Book Ratio (P/B)
    2.4  
Portfolio Turnover Rate1
    7%  
 
 Sector Weightings % of Investments
         
Specialized REITs
    28.5%  
Retail REITs
    26.5%  
Residential REITs
    18.1%  
Office REITs
    14.9%  
Diversified REITs
    6.5%  
Industrial REITs
    5.4%  
Other
    0.1%  
Total
    100.0%  
 
 Top Equity Holdings % of Net Assets2
         
Simon Property Group, Inc.
    11.4%  
HCP, Inc.
    5.1%  
Public Storage
    5.1%  
Ventas, Inc.
    4.9%  
ProLogis, Inc.
    4.2%  
Equity Residential
    4.1%  
Health Care REIT, Inc.
    3.9%  
Boston Properties, Inc.
    3.6%  
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
    3.3%  
Vornado Realty Trust
    3.1%  
Total
    48.7%  
 
Management views and portfolio holdings may have changed since the report date.
 
An index is a statistical composite of a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and its return is not inclusive of operational and transaction costs incurred by the fund.
 
Source of Sector Classification: S&P and MSCI.
 
1 Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from processing of in-kind creations or redemptions.
2 This list is not a recommendation of any security by the investment adviser.
 
 
 
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 Schwab U.S. REIT ETFtm

 
Performance and Fund Facts as of 02/28/13
 
 
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit www.schwabetfs.com.
 
January 13, 2011 – February 28, 2013
Performance of Hypothetical
$10,000 Investment1
 
(LINE GRAPH)
 
 Average Annual Total Returns1
 
               
Fund and Inception Date   1 Year   Since Inception*
 
 
Fund: Schwab U.S. REIT ETFtm (1/13/11)
             
NAV Return2
    15.83 %     14.49%
Market Price Return2
    15.78 %     14.52%
Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT IndexSM
    16.02 %     14.68%
ETF Category: Morningstar Real Estate3
    19.81 %     14.26%
 
Fund Expense Ratio4: 0.13%
 
 
All total returns on this page assume dividends and distributions were reinvested. Index figures do not include trading and management costs, which would lower performance. Indices are unmanaged, and you cannot invest in them directly. Performance results less than one year are not annualized.
 
Investment returns will fluctuate and are subject to market volatility, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed or sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than the net asset value (NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
 
Investing in REITs may pose additional risks such as real estate industry risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk. The Schwab U.S. REIT ETF is non-diversified and may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. As a result, the fund may experience increased volatility.
 
Index ownership —“Standard & Poor’s” and “S&P” are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and “Dow Jones” is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates and sublicensed for certain purposes by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM). The “The Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index“ is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates, and has been licensed for use by CSIM. The Schwab U.S. REIT ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, or their respective affiliates and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, nor their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product.
 
* Inception represents the date that the shares began trading in the secondary market.
1 Performance does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares.
2 The fund’s per share net asset value (“NAV”) is the value of one share of the fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets (including the market value of securities owned), subtracting liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV Return is based on the NAV of the fund, and the Market Price Return is based on the market price per share of the fund. The price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the primary stock exchange on which the shares of the fund are listed for trading, as of the time that the fund’s NAV is calculated. NAV is used as a proxy for purposes of calculating Market Price Return on inception date. Market Price and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund at Market Price and NAV, respectively.
3 Source for category information: Morningstar, Inc. The Morningstar Category return represents all passively- and actively-managed ETFs within the category as of the report date.
4 As stated in the prospectus dated June 28, 2012. Effective September 20, 2012, the management fee was reduced to 0.07%. For more information, see financial note 4 or refer to the prospectus supplement dated September 20, 2012.
 
 
 
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF 7


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Fund Expenses (Unaudited)
 
 Examples for a $1,000 Investment
 
As a fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares; and, (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses.
 
The expense examples below are intended to help you understand your ongoing cost (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare this cost with the ongoing cost of investing in other mutual funds. These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested for six months beginning September 1, 2012 and held through February 28, 2013.
 
Actual Return lines in the table below provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value ¸ $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your fund or share class under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period.”
 
Hypothetical Return lines in the table below provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on a fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed return of 5% per year before expenses. Because the return used is not an actual return, it may not be used to estimate the actual ending account value or expenses you paid for the period.
 
You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
 
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only, and do not reflect any transactional costs, including any redemption fees or brokerage commissions you may pay when purchasing or selling shares of the fund. If these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
 
 
                                 
            Ending
   
        Beginning
  Account Value
  Expenses Paid
    Expense Ratio1
  Account Value
  (Net of Expenses)
  During Period2
    (Annualized)   at 9/1/12   at 2/28/13   9/1/12–2/28/13
 
Schwab U.S. REIT ETFtm                                
Actual Return
    0.08%     $ 1,000     $ 1,045.00     $ 0.41  
Hypothetical 5% Return
    0.08%     $ 1,000     $ 1,024.40     $ 0.40  
 
 
1 Based on the most recent six-month expense ratio; may differ from the expense ratio provided in the Financial Highlights which covers a 12-month period.
2 Expenses for the fund are equal to its annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181 days of the period, and divided by 365 days of the fiscal year.
 
 
 
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Schwab U.S. REIT ETF™
 
 
Financial Statements
 
Financial Highlights
 
                             
    3/1/12–
  3/1/11–
  1/12/111
   
    2/28/13   2/29/12   2/28/11    
 
 
Per-Share Data ($)
Net asset value at beginning of period
    28.30       27.28       25.00      
   
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                           
Net investment income (loss)
    0.72       0.65       0.06      
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)
    3.71       0.98       2.22      
   
Total from investment operations
    4.43       1.63       2.28      
Less distributions:
                           
Distributions from net investment income
    (0.77 )     (0.61 )          
   
Net asset value at end of period
    31.96       28.30       27.28      
   
Total return (%)
    15.83       6.15       9.12 2    
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data (%)
Ratios to average net assets:
                           
Net operating expenses
    0.10 3     0.13       0.13 4    
Gross operating expenses
    0.10 3     0.13       0.13 4    
Net investment income (loss)
    2.43       2.50       3.82 4    
Portfolio turnover rate5
    7       5       2    
Net assets, end of period ($ x 1,000)
    466,567       277,370       69,566      

1 Commencement of operations.
2 Not annualized.
3 Effective September 20, 2012, the annual operating expense ratio was reduced. The ratio presented for the period ended 2/28/13 is a blended ratio. Please see financial note 4 for additional information.
4 Annualized.
5 Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received or delivered from processing of in-kind creations or redemptions.
 
 
 
See financial notes 9


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 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Portfolio Holdings as of February 28, 2013
 
 
This section shows all the securities in the fund’s portfolio and their values as of the report date.
 
The fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be viewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The fund also makes available its complete schedule of portfolio holdings on a daily basis on the fund’s website at www.schwabetfs.com.
 
                         
        Cost
  Value
Holdings by Category   ($)   ($)
 
  99 .9%   Common Stock     433,793,938       465,797,760  
  0 .1%   Other Investment Companies     595,104       596,897  
 
 
  100 .0%   Total Investments     434,389,042       466,394,657  
  —%   Other Assets and
Liabilities, Net
            172,178  
 
 
  100 .0%   Net Assets             466,566,835  
 
                 
    Number
  Value
Security   of Shares   ($)
 
 Common Stock 99.9% of net assets
 
Diversified REITs 6.5%
Cousins Properties, Inc.
    97,708       949,722  
Duke Realty Corp.
    338,428       5,468,996  
First Potomac Realty Trust
    58,692       829,318  
Liberty Property Trust
    128,772       4,995,066  
PS Business Parks, Inc.
    20,045       1,483,129  
Vornado Realty Trust
    183,084       14,685,168  
Washington REIT
    71,453       1,978,534  
                 
              30,389,933  
 
Industrial REITs 5.4%
DCT Industrial Trust, Inc.
    297,256       2,158,079  
EastGroup Properties, Inc.
    31,902       1,812,353  
First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. *
    96,504       1,531,518  
ProLogis, Inc.
    498,152       19,398,039  
                 
              24,899,989  
 
Office REITs 14.9%
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
    69,204       4,923,172  
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.
    182,090       3,845,741  
Boston Properties, Inc.
    163,068       16,939,504  
Brandywine Realty Trust
    158,264       2,176,130  
CommonWealth REIT
    88,184       2,226,646  
Corporate Office Properties Trust
    85,848       2,220,887  
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
    132,992       8,907,804  
Douglas Emmett, Inc.
    143,080       3,506,891  
DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc.
    70,080       1,623,053  
Franklin Street Properties Corp.
    81,468       1,120,185  
Highwoods Properties, Inc.
    85,848       3,133,452  
Kilroy Realty Corp.
    80,400       4,241,904  
Mack-Cali Realty Corp.
    88,184       2,502,662  
Parkway Properties, Inc.
    35,980       608,422  
Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc., Class A
    183,376       3,605,172  
SL Green Realty Corp.
    97,419       7,951,339  
                 
              69,532,964  
 
Residential REITs 18.1%
American Campus Communities, Inc.
    112,844       5,100,549  
Apartment Investment & Management Co., Class A
    157,019       4,650,903  
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
    124,100       15,491,403  
BRE Properties, Inc.
    82,807       4,025,248  
Camden Property Trust
    91,688       6,339,308  
Colonial Properties Trust
    89,404       1,927,550  
Education Realty Trust, Inc.
    122,356       1,334,904  
Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.
    41,938       3,090,411  
Equity Residential
    349,119       19,215,510  
Essex Property Trust, Inc.
    39,447       5,877,209  
Home Properties, Inc.
    55,280       3,450,578  
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.
    45,570       3,164,381  
Post Properties, Inc.
    58,599       2,797,516  
Sun Communities, Inc.
    29,291       1,362,910  
UDR, Inc.
    269,888       6,439,528  
                 
              84,267,908  
 
Retail REITs 26.5%
Acadia Realty Trust
    54,722       1,473,116  
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.
    173,837       3,953,053  
Cedar Realty Trust, Inc.
    59,860       343,596  
DDR Corp.
    260,342       4,496,106  
Equity One, Inc.
    66,610       1,566,001  
Federal Realty Investment Trust
    69,662       7,398,801  
General Growth Properties, Inc.
    486,210       9,306,060  
Glimcher Realty Trust
    153,773       1,731,484  
Inland Real Estate Corp.
    84,408       815,381  
Kimco Realty Corp.
    443,256       9,649,683  
Kite Realty Group Trust
    79,277       522,436  
Pennsylvania REIT
    56,785       1,024,969  
Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust
    51,686       816,639  
Regency Centers Corp.
    97,558       5,061,309  
Rouse Properties, Inc.
    24,149       401,115  
Saul Centers, Inc.
    13,488       590,235  
Simon Property Group, Inc.
    335,216       53,252,414  
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers
    101,251       3,573,148  
Taubman Centers, Inc.
    66,522       5,103,568  
The Macerich Co.
    148,628       8,934,029  
Weingarten Realty Investors
    120,448       3,691,731  
                 
              123,704,874  
 
Specialized REITs 28.5%
Ashford Hospitality Trust
    70,664       831,715  
CubeSmart
    128,275       1,890,774  
DiamondRock Hospitality Co.
    205,860       1,840,388  
Extra Space Storage, Inc.
    110,495       4,136,933  
FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc. *
    110,668       555,553  
HCP, Inc.
    490,268       23,964,300  
Health Care REIT, Inc.
    280,612       17,998,454  
Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.
    93,755       2,493,883  
Hersha Hospitality Trust
    178,704       1,002,530  
Hospitality Properties Trust
    135,117       3,607,624  
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
    784,312       13,074,481  
 
 
 
10 See financial notes


Table of Contents

 
 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Portfolio Holdings continued
 
                 
    Number
  Value
Security   of Shares   ($)
LaSalle Hotel Properties
    103,368       2,624,514  
LTC Properties, Inc.
    33,004       1,272,964  
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
    67,452       1,612,777  
Public Storage
    156,357       23,642,742  
Senior Housing Properties Trust
    201,480       5,055,133  
Sovran Self Storage, Inc.
    32,788       1,994,822  
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. *
    174,616       1,978,399  
Universal Health Realty Income Trust
    13,522       772,241  
Ventas, Inc.
    320,032       22,651,865  
                 
              133,002,092  
                 
Total Common Stock
(Cost $433,793,938)     465,797,760  
         
                 
                 
 
 Other Investment Companies 0.1% of net assets
 
Equity Fund 0.1%
SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF
    6,000       456,480  
 
Money Market Fund 0.0%
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund
    140,417       140,417  
                 
Total Other Investment Companies
(Cost $595,104)     596,897  
         
 
End of Investments
 
At 02/28/13, the tax basis cost of the fund’s investments was $434,675,992 and the unrealized appreciation and depreciation were $37,385,656 and ($5,666,991), respectively, with a net unrealized appreciation of $31,718,665.
 
* Non-income producing security.
 
     
REIT —
  Real Estate Investment Trust
 
 
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s investments as of February 28, 2013 (see financial note 2(a) for additional information):
 
                                 
    Quoted Prices in
      Significant
   
    Active Markets for
  Significant Other
  Unobservable
   
    Identical Assets
  Observable Inputs
  Inputs
   
Description
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Total2
 
Common Stock1
    $465,797,760       $—       $—       $465,797,760  
Other Investment Companies1
    596,897                   596,897  
                                 
Total
    $466,394,657       $—       $—       $466,394,657  
                                 
 
     
1
  As categorized in Portfolio Holdings.
2
  The fund had no Other Financial Instruments.
 
The fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 as of the beginning of the fiscal year. There were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 for the period ended February 28, 2013.
 
 
 
See financial notes 11


Table of Contents

 
 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
As of February 28, 2013
 
             
 
Assets
Investments, at value (cost $434,389,042)
        $466,394,657  
Receivables:
           
Fund shares sold
        6,401,573  
Dividends
        160,837  
Interest
  +     4  
   
Total assets
        472,957,071  
 
Liabilities
Payables:
           
Investments bought
        6,387,575  
Investment adviser fees
  +     2,661  
   
Total liabilities
        6,390,236  
 
Net Assets
Total assets
        472,957,071  
Total liabilities
      6,390,236  
   
Net assets
        $466,566,835  
 
Net Assets by Source
Capital received from investors
        434,386,103  
Net investment income not yet distributed
        793,455  
Net realized capital losses
        (618,338 )
Net unrealized capital gains
        32,005,615  
 
Net Asset Value (NAV)
 
                         
        Shares
             
Net Assets   ÷   Outstanding   =   NAV      
$466,566,835
      14,600,001         $31.96      
 
 
 
12 See financial notes


Table of Contents

 
 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

Statement of
Operations
For March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013
 
             
 
Investment Income
Dividends
        $9,009,964  
Interest
  +     150  
   
Total investment income
        9,010,114  
 
Expenses
Investment adviser fees
        360,232  
   
Total expenses
      360,232  
   
Net investment income
        8,649,882  
 
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses)
Net realized losses on investments
        (505,494 )
Net realized gains on in-kind redemptions
  +     14,012,871  
   
Net realized gains
        13,507,377  
Net unrealized gains on investments
  +     26,002,721  
   
Net realized and unrealized gains
        39,510,098  
             
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
        $48,159,980  
 
 
 
See financial notes 13


Table of Contents

 
 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

Statements of
Changes in Net Assets
For the current and prior report periods
 
                     
 
Operations
                     
3/1/12-2/28/13     3/1/11-2/29/12  
Net investment income
        $8,649,882       $3,729,437  
Net realized gains
        13,507,377       2,654,389  
Net unrealized gains
  +     26,002,721       3,422,076  
   
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
        48,159,980       9,805,902  
 
Distributions to Shareholders
Distributions from net investment income
        ($8,847,056 )     ($2,889,125 )
 
Transactions in Fund Shares
                                     
        3/1/12-2/28/13     3/1/11-2/29/12  
          SHARES       VALUE       SHARES       VALUE  
Shares sold
        8,700,000       $266,668,088       10,200,000       $275,386,254  
Shares redeemed
  +     (3,900,000 )     (116,783,827 )     (2,950,000 )     (74,499,496 )
   
Net transactions in fund shares
        4,800,000       $149,884,261       7,250,000       $200,886,758  
 
Shares Outstanding and Net Assets
        3/1/12-2/28/13     3/1/11-2/29/12  
          SHARES       NET ASSETS       SHARES       NET ASSETS  
Beginning of period
        9,800,001       $277,369,650       2,550,001       $69,566,115  
Total increase
  +     4,800,000       189,197,185       7,250,000       207,803,535  
   
End of period
        14,600,001       $466,566,835       9,800,001       $277,369,650  
   
                                     
Net investment income not yet distributed
                $793,455               $990,629  
 
 
 
14 See financial notes


Table of Contents

 
 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Financial Notes
 
 
1. Business Structure of the Funds
 
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF is a series of Schwab Strategic Trust (the “trust”), a no-load, open-end management investment company. The trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The list below shows all the funds in the trust as of the end of the period, including the fund discussed in this report, which is highlighted:
 
         
 
Schwab Strategic Trust (organized January 27, 2009)
  Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF    
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
  Schwab International Equity ETF    
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF
  Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF    
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF
  Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF    
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
  Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF    
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF
  Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF    
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF
  Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF    
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF
  Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF    
 
 
The fund issues and redeems shares at its net assets value per share (“NAV”) only in large blocks of shares, typically 50,000 shares or more (“Creation Units”). These transactions are usually in exchange for a basket of securities and an amount of cash. As a practical matter, only institutions or large investors purchase or redeem Creation Units. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the fund are not redeemable securities.
 
Individual shares of the fund trade on national securities exchanges and elsewhere during the trading day and can only be bought and sold at market prices throughout the trading day through a broker-dealer. Because fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).
 
The fund maintains its own account for purposes of holding assets and accounting, and is considered a separate entity for tax purposes. Within its account, the fund may also keep certain assets in segregated accounts, as required by securities law.
 
2. Significant Accounting Policies:
 
The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies the fund uses in its preparation of financial statements. The accounting policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
 
(a) Security Valuation:
 
Under procedures approved by the fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), the investment adviser has formed a Pricing Committee to administer the pricing and valuation of portfolio securities and other assets and to ensure that prices used for internal purposes or provided by third parties reasonably reflect fair market value. Among other things, these procedures allow the fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers and other market sources to determine fair value.
 
The fund values the securities in its portfolio every business day. The fund uses the following policies to value various types of securities:
 
  •  Securities traded on an exchange or over-the-counter: valued at the closing value for the day, or, on days when no closing value has been reported, at halfway between the most recent bid and ask quotes. Securities that are primarily traded on foreign exchanges are valued at the official closing price or the last sales price on the exchange where the securities are principally traded with these values then translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate, unless these securities are fair valued as discussed below.
 
  •  Securities for which no quoted value is available: The Board has adopted procedures to fair value the fund’s securities when market prices are not “readily available” or are unreliable. For example, a fund may fair value a security when it is de-listed or its trading is halted or suspended; when a security’s primary pricing source is unable or unwilling to provide a price; or when a security’s primary trading market is closed during regular market hours. The fund makes fair value determinations in good faith in accordance with the fund’s valuation procedures. The Pricing Committee considers a number of factors, including unobservable market inputs when arriving at fair value. The Pricing Committee may employ techniques such as the review of related or comparable assets or liabilities, related market activities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, transactional back-testing, disposition analysis and other relevant information. The Pricing
 
 
 
 15


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 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Financial Notes (continued)
 
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
 
  Committee regularly reviews these inputs and assumptions to calibrate the valuations. The Board convenes on a regular basis to review fair value determinations made by the fund pursuant to the valuation procedures.
 
  •  Short-term securities (60 days or less to maturity): valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
 
  •  Underlying funds: valued at their respective net asset values.
 
In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the fund discloses the fair value of its investments in a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (Level 3 measurements). If the fund determines that either the volume and/or level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased (from normal conditions for that asset or liability) or price quotations or observable inputs are not associated with orderly transactions, increased analysis and management judgment will be required to estimate fair value.
 
The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
 
  •  Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities — Investments whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets, and whose values are therefore classified as Level 1 prices, include active listed equities.
 
  •  Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) — Investments that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but whose values are based on quoted market prices, dealer quotations or valuations provided by alternative pricing sources supported by observable inputs are classified as Level 2 prices. These generally include U.S. government and sovereign obligations, most government agency securities, investment-grade corporate bonds, certain mortgage products, less liquid listed equities, and state, municipal and provincial obligations. As investments whose values are classified as Level 2 prices include positions that are not traded in active markets and/or are subject to transfer restrictions, valuations may be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability, which are generally based on available market information.
 
  •  Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) — Investments whose values are classified as Level 3 prices have significant unobservable inputs, as they may trade infrequently or not at all. When observable prices are not available for these securities, the fund uses one or more valuation techniques for which sufficient and reliable data is available. The inputs used by the fund in estimating the value of Level 3 prices may include the original transaction price, quoted prices for similar securities or assets in active markets, completed or pending third-party transactions in the underlying investment or comparable issuers, and changes in financial ratios or cash flows. Level 3 prices may also be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability, with the amount of such discount estimated by the fund in the absence of market information. Assumptions used by the fund due to the lack of observable inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore the fund’s results of operations.
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
 
The levels associated with valuing the fund’s investments as of February 28, 2013 are disclosed in the Portfolio Holdings.
 
(b) Security Transactions:
 
Security transactions are recorded as of the date the order to buy or sell the security is executed. Realized gains or losses from security transactions are based on the identified costs of the securities involved.
 
(c) Real Estate Investment Trusts:
 
The fund invests in real estate investment trusts (REITs) which report information on the source of their distributions annually. Certain distributions received from REITs during the year, which are known to be a return of capital or realized gains, are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the individual REITs or as realized gains on investments, respectively.
 
 
 
16 


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 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Financial Notes (continued)
 
2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued):
 
(d) Investment Income:
 
Interest income is recorded as it accrues. Dividends and distributions from portfolio securities and underlying funds are recorded on the date they are effective (the ex-dividend date), although the fund records certain foreign security dividends on the day it learns of the ex-dividend date.
 
(e) Expenses:
 
Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisor Agreement”) between Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (“CSIM” or the “investment adviser”) and the trust, the investment adviser will pay the operating expenses of the fund, excluding interest expense, taxes, any brokerage expenses, and extraordinary or non-routine expenses. Interest expense, taxes, any brokerage expenses and extraordinary or non-routine expenses that are specific to the fund are charged directly to the fund.
 
(f) Distributions to Shareholders:
 
The fund declares distributions from net investment income quarterly and distributes net realized capital gains, if any, once a year.
 
(g) Accounting Estimates:
 
The accounting policies described in this report conform to GAAP. Notwithstanding this, shareholders should understand that in order to follow these principles, fund management has to make estimates and assumptions that affect the information reported in the financial statements. It’s possible that once the results are known, they may turn out to be different from these estimates and these differences may be material.
 
(h) Federal Income Taxes:
 
The fund intends to meet federal income and excise tax requirements for regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income and realized net capital gains, if any, to its respective shareholders each year. As long as the fund meets the tax requirements, it is not required to pay federal income tax.
 
(i) Indemnification:
 
Under the fund’s organizational documents, the officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. In addition, in the normal course of business the fund enters into contracts with its vendors and others that provide general indemnifications. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund. However, based on experience, the fund expects the risk of loss attributable to these arrangements to be remote.
 
(j) New Accounting Pronouncements:
 
In December 2011, Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,” was issued and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after January 1, 2013. The ASU enhances disclosure requirements with respect to an entity’s rights of offset and related arrangements associated with its financial and derivative instruments. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU No. 2011-11 may have on the fund’s financial statement disclosures.
 
3. Risk Factors:
 
Investing in the fund may involve certain risks, as discussed in the fund’s prospectus, including, but not limited to, those described below. Any of these risks could cause an investor to lose money.
 
Stock and bond markets and the values of securities held by the fund rise and fall daily. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of the investment in the fund will fluctuate, which means that the investors could lose money.
 
 
 
 17


Table of Contents

 
 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Financial Notes (continued)
 
3. Risk Factors (continued):
 
The fund is not actively managed. Therefore, the fund follows the securities included in the index during upturns as well as downturns. Because of its indexing strategy, the fund does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. In addition, because of the fund’s expenses, the fund’s performance is normally below that of the index.
 
The prices of equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
 
The fund will invest in large-cap segments of the U.S. stock market. Large-cap stocks tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when large-cap U.S. stocks fall behind other types of investments — mid- or small-cap stocks, for instance — the fund’s large-cap holdings could reduce performance.
 
REITs and other real estate companies may be small- to medium- sized companies in relation to the equity markets as a whole. Historically, mid- and small-cap stocks have been riskier than large-cap stocks. Mid- and small-cap companies themselves may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. Stock prices of smaller companies may be based in substantial part on future expectations rather than current achievements and may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns. During a period when mid- and small-cap stocks fall behind other types of investments — bonds or large-cap stocks, for instance — the fund’s small- and mid-cap holdings could reduce performance.
 
In addition to the risks associated with investing in securities of real estate companies and real estate related companies, REITs are subject to certain additional risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the trusts. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills and may have their investments in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type. Failure of a company to qualify as a REIT under federal tax law may have adverse consequences to the fund. In addition, REITs have their own expenses, and the fund will bear a proportionate share of those expenses.
 
The fund has a policy of concentrating its investments in real estate companies and companies related to the real estate industry. As such, the fund is subject to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate securities and an investment in the fund will be closely linked to the performance of the real estate markets. These risks include, among others, declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds or other limits to accessing the credit or capital markets; defaults by borrowers or tenants, particularly during an economic downturn; and changes in interest rates.
 
As an index fund, the fund seeks to track the performance of its benchmark index, although it may not be successful in doing so. The divergence between the performance of the fund and its benchmark index, positive or negative, is called “tracking error.” Tracking error can be caused by many factors and it may be significant.
 
The fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. As a result, a single adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrence may have a more significant effect on the fund’s investments, and the fund may experience increased volatility.
 
The fund may invest in derivative instruments. The principal types of derivatives the fund may use are futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a financial instrument at a specific price on a specific day. The fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Certain of these risks, such as market risk and liquidity risk, are discussed elsewhere in this section. The fund’s use of derivatives is also subject to leverage risk, credit risk, lack of availability risk, valuation risk, correlation risk and tax risk. Leverage risk is the risk that use of derivatives may magnify the effect of any decrease or increase in the value of the fund’s portfolio securities. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations. Lack of availability risk is the risk that suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances for risk management or other purposes. Valuation risk is the risk that a particular derivative may be valued incorrectly. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Tax risk is the risk that the use of derivatives may cause the fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gain. These risks could cause the fund to lose more than the principal amount invested.
 
To the extent that the fund’s or the index’s portfolio is concentrated in the securities of issuers in a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class (including the real estate industry, as described above), the fund may be adversely
 
 
 
18 


Table of Contents

 
 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Financial Notes (continued)
 
3. Risk Factors (continued):
 
affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class.
 
A particular investment may be difficult to purchase or sell. The fund may be unable to sell illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price.
 
Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.
 
Although fund shares are listed on national securities exchanges, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for fund shares will develop or be maintained. If an active market is not maintained, investors may find it difficult to buy or sell fund shares.
 
Fund shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of the shares of a fund will approximate the fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. Investors may pay more than NAV when they buy shares of the fund in the secondary market, and may receive less than NAV when they sell those shares in the secondary market.
 
An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
 
Please refer to the fund’s prospectus for a more complete description of these and other principal risks of investing in the fund.
 
4. Affiliates and Affiliated Transactions:
 
CSIM, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation, serves as the fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an Advisory Agreement between CSIM and the trust.
 
For its advisory services to the fund, CSIM is entitled to receive an annual fee equal to 0.07% of the fund’s average daily net assets. Prior to September 20, 2012, the rate was 0.13%.
 
Certain Schwab Funds may own shares of other Schwab Funds. As of February 28, 2013, the percentages of the outstanding shares of the fund owned by other Schwab Funds are less than 1%.
 
The fund may engage in direct transactions with certain other Schwab ETFs when practical. When one fund is seeking to sell a security that another is seeking to buy, an interfund transaction can allow both funds to benefit by reducing transaction costs. This practice is limited to funds that share the same investment adviser, trustees and/or officers. For the period ended February 28, 2013, the fund had no direct security transactions with other Schwab ETFs.
 
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund may enter into interfund borrowing and lending transactions with other Schwab Funds including Schwab ETFs. All loans are for temporary or emergency purposes only. The interest rate charged on the loan is the average of the overnight repurchase agreement rate and the short-term bank loan rate. The interfund lending facility is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Board. The fund had no interfund borrowing or lending activity during the period.
 
5. Other Service Providers:
 
SEI Investments Distribution Co. is the principal underwriter and distributor of shares of the fund.
 
State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) serves as the fund’s transfer agent. As part of these services, the transfer agent maintains records pertaining to the sale, redemption and transfer of the fund’s shares.
 
State Street also serves as custodian and accountant for the fund. The custodian is responsible for the daily safekeeping of securities and cash held by the fund. The fund’s accountant maintains all books and records related to the fund’s transactions.
 
 
 
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 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Financial Notes (continued)
 
6. Board of Trustees:
 
The Board may include people who are officers and/or directors of the investment adviser or its affiliate. Federal securities law limits the percentage of such “interested persons” who may serve on a trust’s board, and the trust was in compliance with these limitations throughout the report period. The trust did not pay any of these interested persons for their services as trustees. For information regarding the trustees please refer to Trustees and Officers Table at the end of this report.
 
7. Borrowing from Banks:
 
The fund has access to custodian overdraft facilities and to an uncommitted line of credit of $100 million with State Street. The fund pays interest on the amounts it borrows at rates that are negotiated periodically.
 
There were no borrowings from the line of credit by the fund during the period. However, the fund may have utilized its overdraft facility and incurred interest expense, which is disclosed on the Statement of Operations, if any. The interest expense is determined based on a negotiated rate above the current Federal Funds Rate.
 
8. Purchases and Sales/Maturities of Investment Securities:
 
For the period ended February 28, 2013, purchases and sales/maturities of securities (excluding in-kind transactions and short-term obligations) were as follows:
 
             
Purchases of Securities
 
Sales/Maturities of Securities
 
  $29,115,405       $25,539,833  
 
9. In-Kind Transactions:
 
The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of the fund generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of equity securities, which constitutes an optimized representation of the securities involved in a relevant fund’s underlying index, and an amount of cash. Investors purchasing and redeeming Creation Units may pay a purchase transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee directly to the applicable fund, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units.
 
The in-kind transactions for the period ended February 28, 2013 were as follows:
 
             
In-kind Purchases of Securities
 
In-kind Sales of Securities
 
  $250,292,860       $100,977,231  
 
For the period ended February 28, 2013, the fund realized net capital gains or losses resulting from in-kind redemptions of Creation Units. 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 gains or losses to capital received from investors at the end of the fund’s tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The net realized in-kind gains or losses for the period ended February 28, 2013 are disclosed in the fund’s Statement of Operations.
 
10. Federal Income Taxes
 
As of February 28, 2013, the components of distributable earnings on a tax-basis were as follows:
 
         
Undistributed ordinary income
    $793,455  
Undistributed long-term capital gains
     
Unrealized appreciation
    37,385,656  
Unrealized depreciation
    (5,666,991 )
         
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
    31,718,665  
         
 
The primary difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation or unrealized depreciation of investments is the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
 
 
 
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 Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 

 
Financial Notes (continued)
 
10. Federal Income Taxes (continued):
 
Capital loss carryforwards may be used to offset future realized capital gains for federal income tax purposes. As of February 28, 2013, the fund had capital loss carryforwards of $62,851 with no expiration*.
 
     
*
  As a result of the passage of the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, capital losses incurred after December 31, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely, but must retain the character of the original loss. However, such losses must be utilized prior to the pre-enactment capital losses, which may increase the likelihood that the pre-enactment capital losses may expire unused. Under pre-enactment law, capital losses could be carried forward for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital loss, irrespective of the character of the original loss.
 
For tax purposes, realized net capital losses and late-year ordinary losses incurred after October 31 may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year. For the year ended February 28, 2013, the fund had capital losses deferred in the amount of $268,537.
 
The tax-basis components of distributions paid during the current and prior fiscal years were:
 
         
Current period distributions
       
Ordinary Income
    $8,847,056  
Long-term capital gains
     
         
Prior period distributions
       
Ordinary Income
    2,889,125  
Long-term capital gains
     
 
Distributions paid to shareholders are based on net investment income and net realized gains determined on a tax basis, which may differ from net investment income and net realized gains for financial reporting purposes. These differences are due primarily to differing treatment for items such as short-term capital gains and losses, in-kind transactions, capital losses related to wash sales and income on certain investments. The fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year in which the net investment income and net realized gains are recorded by the fund for financial reporting purposes. The fund may also designate a portion of the amount paid to redeeming shareholders as a distribution for tax purposes.
 
The permanent book and tax basis differences may result in reclassifications between components of net assets as required. The adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. As of February 28, 2013, the fund made the following reclassifications:
 
         
Capital shares
    $13,878,558  
Undistributed net investment income
     
Net realized gains and losses
    (13,878,558 )
 
For the period ended February 28, 2013, the fund reclassified $14,012,871 of non-taxable security gains and losses realized on the in-kind redemption of Creation Units (Note 9) as an increase or decrease to capital received from investors in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
 
As of February 28, 2013, management has reviewed the tax positions for open periods (for federal purposes, three years from the date of filing and for state purposes, four years from the date of filing) as applicable to the fund, and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the fund’s financial statements. The fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended February 28, 2013, the fund did not incur any interest or penalties.
 
11. Subsequent Events:
 
Management has determined there are no subsequent events or transactions through the date the financial statements were issued that would have materially impacted the financial statements as presented.
 
 
 
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of:
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
 
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio holdings, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (one of the portfolios constituting Schwab Strategic Trust, hereafter referred to as the “Fund”) at February 28, 2013, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at February 28, 2013 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Francisco, California
April 15, 2013
 
 
 
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Other Information (unaudited)
 
 
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Bid/Offer Midpoint vs. NAV as of February 28, 2013
 
The following charts are provided to show the frequency at which the daily closing market price on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (“Exchange”), the secondary market for shares of the fund, was at a discount or premium to such fund’s daily NAV. The market price of the fund generally is determined using the midpoint between the highest bid and lowest offer on the Exchange, as of the time that the fund’s NAV is calculated (referred to as the “Bid/Offer Midpoint”). The fund’s Bid/Offer Midpoint may at times be at, above or below its NAV. The discount or premium is the percentage difference between the NAV and the Bid/Offer Midpoint of a fund. A discount is the amount that a fund is trading below the reported NAV, expressed as a percentage of NAV. A premium is the amount that a fund is trading above the reported NAV, expressed as a percentage of NAV. The NAV of the fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio holdings. The Bid/Offer Midpoint of the fund will fluctuate in accordance with changes in its NAV, as well as supply and demand.
 
                                                 
    Bid/Offer Midpoint Above NAV   Bid/Offer Midpoint Below NAV
    50-99
  100-199
  >200
  50-99
  100-199
  >200
   
Basis Points
 
Basis Points
 
Basis Points
 
Basis Points
 
Basis Points
 
Basis Points
 
 
Commencement of trading
1/13/11 through 2/28/13*
                                   
 
*During the period 1/13/11 through 2/28/13 the fund did not trade at a premium or discount greater than 50 basis points.
 
 
 
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Trustees and Officers
 
 
The tables below give information about the trustees and officers for the Schwab Strategic Trust which includes the fund covered in this report. The “Fund Complex” includes the Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust, Laudus Trust and Laudus Institutional Trust. The Fund Complex includes 94 funds.
 
The address for all trustees and officers is 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. You can find more information about the trustees and officers in the Statement of Additional Information, which is available free by calling 1-800-435-4000.
 
 Independent Trustees
 
             
Name, Year of Birth,
      Number of
   
and Position(s) with
      Portfolios in
   
the trust; (Terms of
      Fund Complex
   
office, and length of
  Principal Occupations
  Overseen by
   
Time Served1)   During the Past Five Years   the Trustee   Other Directorships
 
Robert W. Burns
1959
Trustee
(Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009.)
  Retired/Private Investor (January 2009 – present).
Consulting Managing Director, PIMCO (investment adviser) (March 2003 – December 2008).
  17   Director, PS Business Parks, Inc. (2005 – 2012).
Trustee, PIMCO Funds (investment company consisting of 84 portfolios) (1997 – 2008).
Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (investment company consisting of 16 portfolios) (2006 – 2008).
Director and Chairman, PIMCO Strategic Global Government Fund (investment company consisting of one portfolio) (1997 – 2008).
Director, PCM Fund, Inc. (investment company consisting of one portfolio) (1997 – 2008).
 
Stephen Timothy Kochis
1946
Trustee
(Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2012.)
  CEO and Owner, Kochis Global (wealth management consulting) (May 2012 – present); Chairman and CEO, Aspiriant (wealth management) (January 2008 – April 2012); CEO, Kochis Fitz (wealth management) (June 1991 – December 2007).   17   None
 
Charles A. Ruffel
1956
Trustee
(Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009.)
  Advisor (January 2008 – present) and Chief Executive Officer (January 1998 – January 2008), Asset International, Inc. (publisher of financial services information); Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Kudu Advisors, LLC (financial services) (June 2008 – present).   17   None
 
 
 
 
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Table of Contents

 Interested Trustees
 
             
Name, Year of Birth,
      Number of
   
and Position(s) with
      Portfolios in
   
the trust; (Terms of
      Fund Complex
   
office, and length of
  Principal Occupations
  Overseen by
   
Time Served )   During the Past Five Years   the Trustee   Other Directorships
 
Walter W. Bettinger II2
1960
Trustee
(Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009.)
  As of October 2008, President and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and The Charles Schwab Corporation. Since October 2008, Director, The Charles Schwab Corporation. Since May 2008, Director, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Schwab Holdings, Inc. Since 2006, Director, Charles Schwab Bank. Until October 2008, President and Chief Operating Officer, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and The Charles Schwab Corporation. From 2004 through 2007, Executive Vice President and President, Schwab Investor Services. From 2004 through 2005, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Individual Investor Enterprise, and from 2002 through 2004, Executive Vice President, Corporate Services.   94   None
 
 
 Officers of the Trust
 
     
Name, Year of Birth, and Position(s)
   
with the trust; (Terms of office, and
   
length of Time Served3)   Principal Occupations During the Past Five Years
 
Marie Chandoha
1961
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Officer of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2010.)
  Executive Vice President, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Sept. 2010 – present); Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2010 – present), Chief Investment Officer (Sept. 2010 – Oct. 2011), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2010 – present), and Chief Investment Officer (Sept. 2010 – Oct. 2011), Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs; Global Head of Fixed Income Business Division, BlackRock, Inc. (formerly Barclays Global Investors) (March 2007 – August 2010).
 
George Pereira
1964
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
(Officer of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009.)
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Nov. 2004 – present); Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2011 – present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Laudus Funds (June 2006 – present); Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer, Schwab Funds (Nov. 2004 – present) and Schwab ETFs (Oct. 2009 – present); Director, Charles Schwab Worldwide Fund, PLC and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited (April 2005 – present).
 
Omar Aguilar
1970
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities
(Officer of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2011.)
  Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer — Equities, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (April 2011 – present); Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer — Equities, Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds (June 2011 – present); Head of the Portfolio Management Group and Vice President of Portfolio Management, Financial Engines, Inc. (May 2009 – April 2011); Head of Quantitative Equity, ING Investment Management (July 2004 – Jan. 2009).
 
Brett Wander
1961
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income
(Officer of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2011.)
  Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (April 2011 – present); Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income, Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds (June 2011 – present); Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Active Fixed Income Strategies, State Street Global Advisors (Jan. 2008 – Oct. 2010); Director of Alpha Strategies, Loomis, Sayles & Company (April 2006 – Jan. 2008).
 
 
 
 
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 Officers of the Trust (continued)
 
     
Name, Year of Birth, and Position(s)
   
with the trust; (Terms of office, and
   
length of Time Served3)   Principal Occupations During the Past Five Years
 
David Lekich
1964
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
(Officer of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2011.)
  Senior Vice President, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Sept. 2011 – present); Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. (Sept. 2011 – present); Vice President, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., (March 2004 – Sept. 2011) and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (Jan 2011 – Sept. 2011); Secretary (April 2011 – present) and Chief Legal Officer (Dec. 2011 – present), Schwab Funds (April 2011 – present); Vice President and Assistant Clerk, Laudus Funds (April 2011 – present); Secretary (May 2011 – present) and Chief Legal Officer (Nov. 2011 – present), Schwab ETFs.
 
Catherine MacGregor
1964
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
(Officer of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009.)
  Vice President, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (July 2005 – present); Vice President (Dec. 2005 – present), Chief Legal Officer and Clerk (March 2007 – present), Laudus Funds; Vice President (Nov. 2005 – present) and Assistant Secretary (June 2007 – present), Schwab Funds; Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Schwab ETFs (Oct. 2009 – present).
 
 
 
1 Each Trustee shall hold office until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed. The Trust’s retirement policy requires that independent trustees retire by December 31 of the year in which the Trustee turns 72 or the Trustee’s twentieth year of service as an independent trustee, whichever comes first.
2 Mr. Bettinger is an Interested Trustee because he owns stock of The Charles Schwab Corporation, the parent company of the investment adviser.
3 The President, Treasurer and Secretary hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each of the other officers serves at the pleasure of the Board.
 
 
 
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Glossary
 
 
ask See “offer.”
 
asset allocation The practice of dividing a portfolio among different asset classes, with each asset class assigned a particular percentage to help offset risks and rewards, based on your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.
 
asset class A group of securities with similar structure and basic characteristics. Stocks, bonds and cash are the three main examples of asset classes.
 
authorized participant (AP) A large institutional investor that places orders for creation units with the funds’ distributor.
 
beta A historical measure of an investment’s volatility relative to a market index (usually the S&P 500®). The index is defined as having a beta of 1.00. Investments with a beta higher than 1.00 have been more volatile than the index; those with a beta of less than 1.00 have been less volatile.
 
bid The highest price at which someone is willing to buy a security.
 
cap, capitalization See “market cap.”
 
capital gain, capital loss The difference between the amount paid for an investment and its value at a later time. If the investment has been sold, the capital gain or loss is considered a realized gain or loss. If the investment is still held, the gain or loss is still “on paper” and is considered unrealized.
 
commencement of operations The date that the first NAV was calculated.
 
creation unit (C.U.) A basket of securities that is delivered by an authorized participant (AP) to the fund equal to the current holdings of the ETF, plus a designated cash component. In return, the APs receive a large block of ETF shares (typically 50,000 shares), which investors can then buy and sell in the secondary market.
 
Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index A float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index comprised of real estate investment trusts (REITs).
 
exchange A marketplace, or any organization or group that provides or maintains a marketplace for trading securities, options, futures, or commodities.
 
expense ratio The amount that is taken from the fund’s assets each year to cover the operating expenses. An expense ratio of 0.50% means that a fund’s expenses amount to half of one percent of its average net assets a year.
 
inception date The date that the shares began trading in the secondary market.
 
indicative optimized portfolio value (IOPV) A calculation disseminated by the stock exchange that approximates the fund’s NAV every 15 seconds throughout the trading day.
 
liquidity The ability to convert a security or asset quickly into cash.
 
market cap, market capitalization The value of a company as determined by the total value of all shares of its stock outstanding.
 
market price return The return based on the change in market price per share of the fund over a given time period. Market price returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund at market price.
 
median market cap The midpoint of the range of market caps of the stocks held by a fund. There are different ways of calculating median market cap. With a simple median, half of the stocks in the fund’s portfolio would be larger than the median, and half would be smaller. With a weighted median (the type that is calculated for this fund), half of the fund’s assets are invested in stocks that are larger than the median market cap, and half in stocks that are smaller.
 
net asset value (NAV) The value of one share of a fund. NAV is calculated by taking the fund’s total assets, subtracting liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding.
 
NAV return The return based on the change in NAV of the fund over a given time period. NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested in the fund.
 
offer (ask) The lowest price at which an individual is willing to sell a security.
 
open The price at which a security opened for trading on a given day.
 
outstanding shares, shares outstanding When speaking of the fund, indicates all shares currently held by investors.
 
price-to-book ratio (P/B)  The market price of a company’s stock compared with its “book value.” A mutual fund’s P/B is the weighted average of the P/B of all stocks in the fund’s portfolio.
 
price-to-earnings ratio (P/E)  The market price of a company’s stock compared with earnings over the past year. A mutual fund’s P/E is the weighted average of the P/E of all stocks in the fund’s portfolio.
 
real estate investment trust (REIT) A real estate company that owns and commonly operates income producing commercial and/or residential real estate.
 
primary market The market that deals with the issuance of new securities.
 
sampling If a fund uses a sampling method, the fund will not fully replicate the benchmark index and may hold securities not included in the index. A fund that utilizes a sampling approach may not track the return of the index.
 
secondary market The market in which investors purchase securities from other investors rather than directly from the issuing companies. Organized exchanges facilitate the trading of securities in the secondary market.
 
spread The gap between bid and ask prices of a security.
 
stock A share of ownership, or equity, in the issuing company.
 
total return The percentage that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the fund assuming dividends and distributions were reinvested.
 
tracking error The difference between the performance of the fund and its benchmark index, positive or negative.
 
 
 
 
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PRIVACY NOTICE
THIS IS NOT PART OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPORT
 
A Commitment to Your Privacy
 
Your Privacy Is Not for Sale
 
We do not and will not sell your personal information to anyone, for any reason.
 
We are committed to protecting the privacy of information we maintain about you. Below are details about our commitment, including the types of information we collect and how we use and share that information. This Privacy Notice applies to you only if you are an individual who invests directly in the funds by placing orders through the funds’ transfer agent. If you place orders through your brokerage account at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. or an account with another broker-dealer, investment advisor, 401(k) plan, employee benefit plan, administrator, bank or other financial intermediary, you are covered by the privacy policies of that financial institution and should consult those policies.
 
How We Collect Information About You
 
We collect personal information about you in a number of ways.
 
•  APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION.
 
We collect personal information from you when you open an account or utilize one of our services. We may also collect information about you from third parties such as consumer reporting agencies to verify your identity. The information we collect may include personal information, including your Social Security number, as well as details about your interests, investments and investment experience.
 
•  TRANSACTION AND EXPERIENCE INFORMATION.
 
Once your account has been opened, we collect and maintain personal information about your account activity, including your transactions, balances, positions and history. This information allows us to administer your account and provide the services you have requested.
 
•  WEBSITE USAGE.
 
When you visit our websites, we may use devices known as “cookies,” graphic interchange format files (GIFs), or other similar web tools to enhance your web experience. These tools help us to recognize you, maintain your web session, and provide a more personalized experience. To learn more, please click the Privacy link on our website.
 
How We Share and Use Your Information
 
We provide access to information about you to our affiliated companies, outside companies and other third parties in certain limited circumstances, including:
 
•  to help us process transactions for your account;
 
•  when we use other companies to provide services for us, such as printing and mailing your account statements;
 
•  when we believe that disclosure is required or permitted under law (for example, to cooperate with regulators or law enforcement, resolve consumer disputes, perform credit/authentication checks, or for risk control).
 
State Laws
 
We will comply with state laws that apply to the disclosure or use of information about you.
 
Safeguarding Your Information — Security Is a Partnership
 
We take precautions to ensure the information we collect about you is protected and is accessed only by authorized individuals or organizations.
 
Companies we use to provide support services are not allowed to use information about our shareholders for their own purposes and are contractually obligated to maintain strict confidentiality. We limit their use of information to the performance of the specific services we have requested.
 
We restrict access to personal information by our employees and agents. Our employees are trained about privacy and are required to safeguard personal information.
 
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information.
 
Contact Us
 
To provide us with updated information, report suspected fraud or identity theft, or for any other questions, please call the number below.
 
Schwab ETFtm direct investors:  1-800-435-4000
 
 
© 2012 Schwab ETFs. All rights reserved.
 
 
 
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Schwab ETFstmare designed to be low-cost, diversified investments. Each fund follows broad market indices and provides exposure to specific segments of the market, making each a solid investment option for the core portions of an investor portfolio. The list to the right shows all currently available Schwab ETFs.
 
Investors should carefully consider information contained in the prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. Please call 1-800-435-4000 for a prospectus and brochure for any Schwab ETF. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest. This report must be preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
 
Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Results
 
A description of the proxy voting policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies on behalf of the funds is available without charge, upon request, by visiting the Schwab ETFs’ website at www.schwabetfs.com, the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, or by contacting Schwab ETFs at 1-800-435-4000.
 
Information regarding how a fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, by visiting the fund’s website at www.schwabetfs.com or the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Schwab ETFs
 
U.S. ETFs
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETFtm
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETFtm
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFtm
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETFtm
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETFtm
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETFtm
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFtm
Schwab U.S. REIT ETFtm
 
International ETFs
Schwab International Equity ETFtm
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETFtm
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETFtm
 
Fixed Income ETFs
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETFtm
Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETFtm
Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETFtm
Schwab U.S. TIPS ETFtm


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(SCHWAB ETF LOGO)
 
 
 
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
 
Schwab ETFstm
1-800-435-4000
 
 
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors
unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
© 2013 Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. All rights reserved.
Printed on recycled paper.
MFR60994-02
00093921


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(SCHWAB ETF LOGO)


Table of Contents

Item 2: Code of Ethics.
(a)   Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and any other persons who perform a similar function, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by Registrant or a third party.
 
(c)   During the period covered by the report, no amendments were made to the provisions of this code of ethics.
 
(d)   During the period covered by the report, Registrant did not grant any waivers, including implicit waivers, from the provisions of this code of ethics.
 
(f)(1)   Registrant has filed this code of ethics as an exhibit pursuant to Item 12(a)(1) of Form N-CSR.
Item 3: Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that Robert W. Burns, currently serving on its audit committee, is an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR. Each member of Registrant’s audit committee is “independent” under the standards set forth in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
The designation of Mr. Burns as an “audit committee financial expert” pursuant to Item 3 of Form N-CSR does not (i) impose upon such individual any duties, obligations, or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed upon such individual as a member of Registrant’s audit committee or Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation; and (ii) affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of Registrant’s audit committee or Board of Trustees.
Item 4: Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Registrant is composed of fifteen operational series. Ten series have a fiscal year-end of August 31, four series have a fiscal year-end of December 31 (whose annual financial statements are reported in Item 1), and one series has a fiscal year-end of February 28. Principal accountant fees disclosed in Items 4(a)-(d) and 4(g) include fees billed for services rendered to each of the fifteen operational series, based on their respective 2012 and 2011 fiscal years, as applicable.
(a) Below are the aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements

 


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Audit Fees
     
2012/2013      $225,950   2011/2010:      $157,663
(b) Below are the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) above.
Audit-Related Fees
For services rendered to Registrant:
     
2012/2013      $31,336   2011/2010:      $23,029
Nature of these services: tax provision review.
     In each of the last two fiscal years there were no “Audit-Related Fees” required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(c) Below are the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.
Tax Fees
For services rendered to Registrant:
     
2012/2013      $109,088   2011/2010:      $76,960
Nature of these services: preparation and review of tax returns.
     In each of the last two fiscal years there were no “Tax Fees” required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X
(d) Below are the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) above.
All Other Fees
For services rendered to Registrant:
     
2012/2013      $ None   2011/2010: None

 


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     In each of the last two fiscal years there were no “All Other Fees” required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(e)(1) Registrant’s audit committee does not have pre-approval policies and procedures as described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(2) There were no services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) above (including services required to be approved by Registrant’s audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X) that were approved by Registrant’s audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Below are the aggregate non-audit fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years by Registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to Registrant, to Registrant’s investment adviser, and to any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to Registrant.
     
2012/2013      $140,424   2011/2010: $99,989
(h) During the past fiscal year, all non-audit services provided by Registrant’s principal accountant to either Registrant’s investment adviser or to any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to Registrant were pre-approved. Included in the audit committee’s pre-approval was the review and consideration as to whether the provision of these non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
Item 5: Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
The Registrant is a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and has separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Registrant’s audit committee members are Robert W. Burns, Stephen Timothy Kochis, and Charles A. Ruffel.
Item 6: Schedule of Investments.
The schedules of investments are included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Item 7: Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 


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Not applicable.
Item 8: Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9: Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 11: Controls and Procedures.
(a)   Based on their evaluation of Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date, Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer, Marie Chandoha and Registrant’s Principal Financial Officer, George Pereira, have concluded that Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are: (i) reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately communicated to Registrant’s officers to allow timely decisions regarding disclosures required in this report; (ii) reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner; and (iii) are effective in achieving the goals described in (i) and (ii) above.
 
(b)   During the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that the above officers believe to have materially affected, or to be reasonably likely to materially affect, Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12: Exhibits.
(a) (1)    Registrant’s code of ethics (that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2(a)) is attached.
  (2)   Separate certifications for Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act, are attached.
 
  (3)   Not applicable.
(b)   A certification for Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act, is attached. This

 


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    certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR with the Commission.
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.
(Registrant ) Schwab Strategic Trust — Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
         
By:
  /s/ Marie Chandoha
 
Marie Chandoha
Chief Executive Officer
   
 
       
Date: April 12, 2013    
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/ Marie Chandoha
 
Marie Chandoha
Chief Executive Officer
   
 
       
Date: April 12, 2013    
 
       
By:
  /s/ George Pereira    
 
       
 
  George Pereira
Principal Financial Officer
   
 
       
Date: April 12, 2013