N-CSRS 1 d40276dncsrs.htm SIT LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND INC. Sit Large Cap Growth Fund Inc.

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: 811-03343

– – – – – – – –

Sit Large Cap Growth Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

80 South Eighth Street

3300 IDS Center

Minneapolis, MN55402

(Address of principal executive offices)

Paul E. Rasmussen, VP Treasurer

Sit Mutual Funds, Inc.

80 South Eighth Street

3300 IDS Center

Minneapolis, MN55402

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(612) 332-3223

Date of fiscal year end: June 30, 2020

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2020


Item 1: Reports to Stockholders


 

Semi-Annual Report

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

Balanced Fund

Dividend Growth Fund

Global Dividend Growth Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

ESG Growth Fund

Mid Cap Growth Fund

Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund

Small Cap Growth Fund

International Growth Fund

Developing Markets Growth Fund

 

         LOGO  

Sit Mutual Funds            

 

 


 

Sit Mutual Funds

STOCK FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

     Page  

Chairman’s Letter

     2  

Fund Reviews and Schedules of Investments

  

Balanced Fund

     4  

Dividend Growth Fund

     12  

Global Dividend Growth Fund

     16  

Large Cap Growth Fund

     20  

ESG Growth Fund

     24  

Mid Cap Growth Fund

     28  

Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund

     32  

Small Cap Growth Fund

     36  

International Growth Fund

     40  

Developing Markets Growth Fund

     46  

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     50  

Statements of Operations

     52  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     54  

Financial Highlights

     58  

Notes to Financial Statements

     72  

Expense Example

     80  

Additional Information

     82  

This document must be preceded or accompanied by a Prospectus.


 

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

 

February 4, 2021

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

We expect a post-pandemic, synchronized global recovery to gather steam in 2021, following the deepest economic contraction since World War II in 2020. Unprecedented global stimulus, totaling almost $30 trillion thus far, helped stave off an economic meltdown and is now underwriting a nascent worldwide recovery. However, given elevated equity market valuations, selectivity is now critical as further price gains must be accompanied by improving earnings prospects.

Economic Overview

U.S. health officials predict ready availability of COVID-19 vaccines by midyear, setting the stage for a full reopening of the economy. As the virus is brought under control, a wave of pent-up demand, inventory restocking, and business investment should take hold. Still, potential supply chain bottlenecks, logistical snags, and public resistance represent risks to the inoculation timetable. So far, the U.S. economy has proved relatively resilient post last spring’s stringent lockdowns, as robust demand for home-related and leisure goods has significantly offset a hobbled services sector. A surge in new infections hurt consumer confidence and economic activity, and the prospect of increased restrictions to rein in the outbreak also weighed on the near-term outlook, but confidence has rebounded recently on vaccine progress and an improving economy. While the immunization process is off to a slow start, President Biden has vowed to direct 100 million injections (of a two-dose regimen) in the first 100 days of his administration. We anticipate a challenging first calendar quarter 2021 for COVID-19 caseloads and year-over-year GDP growth (although now buoyed by a fresh $900 billion stimulus package) to give way to improved trends and easy comparisons in the second quarter. In the back half of 2021, the U.S. economy may very well be hitting on all cylinders, assuming no huge delays in vaccine delivery. The services sector, which contributes more than 75% to GDP from a production standpoint, represents the largest source of potential upside as social distancing restrictions end.

We expect some upward pressure on inflation, which has edged higher during the pandemic, as more people become vaccinated and the economy reopens. The CPI (Consumer Price Index) will likely rise above the Federal Reserve’s previously stated target of +2.0 percent by midyear, considering the “easy” comparison to the depressed prices of the previous summer. Nonetheless, we expect the increase in inflation to be a relatively short-term phenomenon, lasting 12 to 18 months. As the economy normalizes and pent-up demand subsides, we believe inflation pressures will naturally subside. We expect longer-term interest rates to rise with higher inflation expectations, which will lead to a steeper yield curve in 2021.

With wins in the two Georgia Senate run-off elections, Democrats now control both chambers of Congress, paving the way for higher federal spending and the party’s other policy priorities. Excluding COVID-19-related aid, President-elect Biden’s agenda calls for additional spending exceeding $7 trillion over

ten years, offset by $4 trillion in higher taxes and other revenue. Yet, razor-thin Senate control suggests moderate Democrats may temper Biden’s more ambitious policies. Increased infrastructure spending, which has bipartisan support, may prove the area with the most upside. The incoming president is seeking nearly $2 trillion in spending immediately to combat the economic downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic, although $1 trillion may be a more realistic expectation. On the negative side, business confidence may be undermined by “re-regulation” and a partial rollback in corporate tax cuts. The timing and magnitude of any change in tax policy will have significant economic and investment implications.

Another round of lockdowns and increased restrictions across Europe, though less severe than those enforced last spring, has helped slow an autumn surge in COVID-19 infections. A notable exception is the U.K., where a more contagious variant has taken hold. The region’s central banks continue to inject considerable liquidity into the financial system to backstop the economies and kickstart growth. In the last ten months alone, the European Central Bank has expanded its balance sheet +50% to €2.3 trillion, versus €2.8 trillion for the prior ten-year period. Manufacturing also continues to recover, thanks in part to solid export demand, with the December manufacturing PMI climbing to a 36-month high in the U.K. and a 32-month high in the Euro Area. Still, with services accounting for more than two-thirds of GDP, continued social distancing restrictions are pummeling economic growth, with double-digit declines in some countries in 2020. Fortunately, despite some recent hiccups, Western Europe appears well-positioned in terms of vaccine readiness and distribution capabilities.

Rock-bottom interest rates, a weakening U.S. dollar, rising commodity prices, and improving global trade are tailwinds for emerging markets. China’s economy has seen a sharp recovery in recent months, driven by increased private consumption and manufacturing capital spending. Notably, China is the only major country to report positive GDP growth for full year 2020. Given the steady economic recovery and vaccine development progress, Beijing stated it would normalize policy as the year progresses. However, insofar as 2021 marks the beginning of the nation’s 14th Five Year Plan and the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, growth stability will remain a top priority. Thus, the pace of normalization will likely be gradual and flexible. Other emerging markets have lagged China’s strong rebound, but we remain optimistic that above-trend growth will occur in most Asian economies, particularly South Korea, India, and Singapore.

Despite our positive outlook for the global economy in the year ahead, a word of caution is in order. Governments worldwide have amassed considerable debt, which is being used to cushion the pandemic’s economic blow. Combined with demographic challenges, this will pressure global GDP growth rates over time and make the economies especially vulnerable to unexpected inflation and higher interest rates. This reality will have direct implications for our investment strategy once the cyclical rebound fades, perhaps by the end of 2021.

 

 

 

   
2    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

 

Equity Strategy

Despite a challenging year for corporate earnings, U.S. stocks surged ahead in 2020 due to a combination of a resilient U.S. economy, massive fiscal and monetary stimulus, and positive vaccine development. To be sure, current valuations broadly reflect further improvement in corporate earnings. We believe stock picking is now critical in determining which companies can generate sufficient earnings growth to justify the valuation rebound.

Rising stock markets are an offshoot of improving prospects for corporate earnings and abundant liquidity. Plus, as central banks employ a low interest rate policy, the T.I.N.A.-effect (i.e., there-is-no-alternative) is pushing some investors out on the risk curve and into equities. The “fear of missing out” return of the day trader has also contributed to positive equity momentum. With the so-called “Fed put” firmly in place and the approval of COVID-19 vaccines, Citigroup’s strategist’s “Panic-Euphoria” model rose to an all-time high in December, surpassing investor euphoria at the height of the 2000 dotcom bubble. While some investor confidence gauges are not as extended, many are near historically peak levels. The maxim, “don’t fight the Fed,” is as true for equities as it is for bonds. However, excess liquidity (and low interest rates) is fostering speculation in some segments of financial markets, which is particularly evident in surging first-day performances of many unprofitable IPOs.

Growth equity indices outperformed their value peers considerably for the year, continuing a trend that has persisted for much of the past decade. Driven by stellar gains in large capitalization technology stocks and stay-at-home beneficiaries, the tech-heavy Russell 1000 Growth® Index produced a whopping +38.49% return in 2020.The so-called FAANG + M technology stocks (i.e., Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google, and Microsoft) contributed 66% and 52% to the annual returns of the S&P 500® and Russell 1000 Growth® indexes, respectively. However, breadth of stock market performance has improved considerably over the last four months of the year on encouraging COVID-19 vaccine developments.

In terms of sector positioning, the prevailing reflationary backdrop has led to a more constructive view on the financial sector, as a combination of higher interest rates, improving credit, and strong asset prices provide an earnings tailwind. We continue to overweight the technology sector but have shifted the emphasis to hardware from software due to significant valuation differentials. We believe select semiconductor and hardware companies will continue to benefit from both cyclical (i.e., business capital investment) and secular trends (e.g., A.I., cloud computing, electric vehicles, 5G communications, Internet of Things, robotics, and autonomous vehicles) that will drive growth for many years to come. We also remain positive on the outlook for industrials, although stock prices are, at least partially, discounting an improvement in most major end markets in 2021. Our holdings in industrial stocks focus on companies that will benefit from potential infrastructure legislation, a clear priority of the Biden administration. Finally,

we continue to find attractive opportunities in the health care sector, although sentiment will continue to be influenced by political and regulatory developments. Hospital and health-care service companies are poised to see accelerating revenue and profit growth, as utilization increases while the global pandemic abates. Medical device manufacturers will also benefit from accelerating procedure volume growth globally and currency tailwinds.

Sentiment has begun to improve for dividend-paying stocks as fears over dividend cuts have subsided in recent months. As of December 31, 2020, we calculate that over two-thirds of the S&P 500® stocks currently offer dividend yields above the 10-year Treasury yield. Corporations have been understandably hesitant to increase payouts in 2020. Nonetheless, we expect dividend growth to resume in the near term, particularly for companies with durable business models, solid balance sheets, and strong cash flow. We believe an improving economy in the year ahead will lead to an acceleration in earnings and dividend growth. This, combined with attractive valuations for dividend-paying stocks, should lead to sustained positive sentiment towards dividend-paying equities. Sentiment has also turned noticeably positive for smaller capitalization stocks. This capitalization size has trailed the overall market for the last several years. Yet, with the U.S. economy poised to gain sustainable traction, the stars are aligned for solid small cap stock performance. Small cap stocks are attractively valued and tend to be more direct beneficiaries of economic improvement.

As for international portfolios, we remain positive on equities in China, South Korea, and India, as these countries are further along in their economic recoveries due to the early implementation of strict social-distancing measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak. The MSCI China Index underperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets and MSCI World indexes in fourth quarter 2020 due to policy tightening concerns and renewed U.S.-China tensions. Nonetheless, we remain constructive on Chinese stocks, given improving earnings growth, a still-benign domestic policy setting, a recovering global economy aided by expanded vaccinations, a more predictable U.S.-China relationship under a Biden administration, and continued Fed policy support. We are cautious on Chinese Internet stocks near term given regulation uncertainties but remain optimistic on the segment’s growth prospects in the intermediate to long term. South Korean holdings include exporters, work-from-home and consumer spending beneficiaries, and electric vehicle companies. Our equity holdings in India are positioned in sectors that will profit from an improving domestic economy, i.e., consumer, financials, energy, information services, and industrials.

 

LOGO

Roger J. Sit

Chairman, President, CEO and Global CIO

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    3


Sit Balanced Fund

 

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The dual objectives of the Sit Balanced Fund are to seek long-term growth of capital consistent with the preservation of principal and to provide regular income. It pursues its objectives by investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. The Fund may emphasize either equity securities or fixed-income securities, or hold equal amounts of each, dependent upon the Adviser’s analysis of market, financial and economic conditions.

The Fund’s permissible investment allocation is: 35-65% in equity securities and 35-65% in fixed-income securities. At all times at least 25% of the fixed-income assets will be invested in fixed-income senior securities.

 

 

 

Fund Performance

The Sit Balanced Fund’s return for the 6-month period ending December 31, 2020 was +15.47%. The S&P 500® Index return was +22.16% over the period, while the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index gained +1.29%.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

Returns for the fixed-income portion of the portfolio exceeded those of the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index for the 6-month period, as the portfolio’s significant income advantage combined with a recovery in the portfolio’s non-government-related positions to drive returns. The dark pessimistic cloud of COVID-19 affecting so many of us was pierced during the second half of the period, as it became increasingly apparent that a vaccine, even multiple vaccines, would be available months sooner than originally predicted. The Federal Reserve anchored short-term rates near zero and indicated they intend to continue to do so in the near term, further boosting bond market investor optimism. Closed-end bond funds, which tend to benefit from “risk-on” market sentiment, experienced significant price appreciation as a result and meaningfully added to returns. The portfolio’s positions in high quality agency mortgage-backed securities under-performed, as they did not experience as much price appreciation as lower quality sectors during the risk-on market environment. In fact, the structured mortgage sectors were the only ones in the portfolio to underperform the benchmark on a relative basis during the period. The outperformance in the equity portion of the Fund during the period was driven heavily by strong stock selection in the health services sector, as well as a large underweight position in the energy minerals sector. Positive stock selection in the electronic technology and consumer durables sectors also boosted returns. Key holdings during the period included HCA Healthcare, Applied Materials, and YETI Holdings. Adversely affecting performance was the Fund’s stock selection in the consumer services and process industries sectors.

Outlook and Positioning

The fixed-income portion of the portfolio is positioned to take advantage of post-COVID-19 economic normalization, which in conjunction with the massive fiscal and monetary stimulus and extensive pent-up demand by consumers is expected to drive a strengthening economy in 2021. We expect non-government holdings to continue to outperform in the near term and have overweighted allocations to closed-end bond funds and corporate bonds and underweighted government bond sectors accordingly. We continue to emphasize main-

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the S&P 500® Index and the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of 500 widely held common stocks of large-cap companies. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the primary index for the equity portion of the Fund.

2 Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged market value-weighted index which measures the performance of investment grade debt securities with maturities of at least one year. This is the primary index for the fixed income portion of the Fund.

 

taining an income advantage relative to the benchmark, which we expect to drive outperformance over the market cycle. In the equity portion of the Fund, we have maintained a large overweight position in technology companies that should benefit from emerging secular trends, some of which have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we have been increasing our exposure to early-stage cyclicals (e.g., transports), which should disproportionally benefit more than the market as economic growth improves in during 2021.

As of December 31, 2020, the asset allocation of the Fund was 63% equity, 33% fixed-income, and 4% cash and equivalents.

Roger J. Sit

Bryce A. Doty

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
4    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

     

Sit

Balanced

Fund

 

S&P 500®

Index 1

 

Bloomberg

Barclays

Aggregate

Bond

Index 2

Six Month

       15.47 %       22.16 %       1.29 %

One Year

       20.74       18.40       7.51

Five Year

       11.79       15.22       4.44

Ten Year

       9.97       13.89       3.84

Since Inception

(12/31/93)

       7.71       10.16       5.31

 

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of 500 widely held common stocks of large-cap companies. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

2 Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged market value-weighted index which measures the performance of investment grade debt securities with maturities of at least one year.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

        

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

     $30.03 Per Share          

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

     $26.37 Per Share  

Total Net Assets:

     $61.2 Million  

 

TOP HOLDINGS

 

 

        

Top Equity Holdings:

1. Apple, Inc.

2. Amazon.com, Inc.

3. Microsoft Corp.

4. Alphabet, Inc.

5. Visa, Inc.

Top Fixed Income Holdings:

1. U.S. Treasury Bond, 0.13%, 4/30/22

2. U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds, 0.25%, 2/15/50

3. U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.07%, 1/21/21

4. Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust

5. Putnam Premier Income Trust

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

FUND DIVERSIFICATION

 

 

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    5


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Balanced Fund

Investments are grouped by economic sectors.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 63.2%

     

Communications - 1.8%

     

American Tower Corp.

     2,975        667,769  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     7,100        417,125  
        1,084,894  

Consumer Durables - 1.1%

     

YETI Holdings, Inc. *

     9,600        657,312  

Consumer Non-Durables - 4.0%

     

Conagra Brands, Inc.

     8,900        322,714  

Constellation Brands, Inc.

     2,275        498,339  

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. - Class A

     2,375        632,201  

Mondelez International, Inc.

     6,300        368,361  

NIKE, Inc.

     1,775        251,109  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     2,475        367,042  
        2,439,766  

Consumer Services - 3.6%

     

McDonald’s Corp.

     2,300        493,534  

Starbucks Corp.

     4,850        518,853  

Visa, Inc.

     5,525        1,208,483  
        2,220,870  

Electronic Technology - 9.4%

     

Apple, Inc.

     18,125        2,405,006  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     9,300        802,590  

Broadcom, Inc.

     1,660        726,831  

Ciena Corp. *

     4,450        235,183  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. *

     5,100        673,659  

NVIDIA Corp.

     1,250        652,750  

Qualcomm, Inc.

     1,625        247,552  
        5,743,571  

Finance - 4.7%

     

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

     2,250        437,242  

Aon, PLC

     1,900        401,413  

Chubb, Ltd.

     2,950        454,064  

First Republic Bank

     1,750        257,128  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     2,100        553,791  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     3,425        435,215  

T Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     2,075        314,134  
                2,852,987  

Health Services - 2.7%

     

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

     3,900        641,394  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     2,925        1,025,739  
        1,667,133  

Health Technology - 6.5%

     

Abbott Laboratories

     3,550        388,690  

AbbVie, Inc.

     2,750        294,662  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     7,300        452,819  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Rights *

     1,025        707  

DexCom, Inc. *

     1,790        661,799  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. *

     620        507,222  

Johnson & Johnson

     3,000        472,140  

Medtronic, PLC

     4,375        512,488  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

     1,525        710,315  
        4,000,842  

Process Industries - 1.4%

     

Ecolab, Inc.

     1,875        405,675  

Sherwin-Williams Co.

     600        440,946  
        846,621  

Producer Manufacturing - 4.1%

     

3M Co.

     875        152,941  

Honeywell International, Inc.

     2,275        483,892  

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

     2,775        524,531  

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

     1,700        289,102  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

     500        152,360  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

     450        122,584  

Safran SA, ADR *

     13,950        494,667  

Trane Technologies, PLC

     2,175        315,723  
        2,535,800  

Retail Trade - 5.7%

     

Amazon.com, Inc. *

     540        1,758,742  

CVS Health Corp.

     7,250        495,175  

Home Depot, Inc.

     2,050        544,521  

TJX Cos., Inc.

     6,550        447,300  

Ulta Beauty, Inc. *

     795        228,292  
                3,474,030  

Technology Services - 16.3%

     

Accenture, PLC

     2,025        528,950  

Adobe, Inc. *

     1,525        762,683  

Alphabet, Inc. - Class A *

     620        1,086,637  

Alphabet, Inc. - Class C *

     205        359,135  

Atlassian Corp., PLC *

     3,250        760,078  

Autodesk, Inc. *

     1,600        488,544  

DocuSign, Inc. *

     525        116,708  

Dynatrace, Inc. *

     5,975        258,538  

Facebook, Inc. *

     3,065        837,235  

Intuit, Inc.

     1,200        455,820  

Microsoft Corp.

     7,800        1,734,876  

Paycom Software, Inc. *

     600        271,350  

PayPal Holdings, Inc. *

     3,300        772,860  

salesforce.com, Inc. *

     3,950        878,994  

ServiceNow, Inc. *

     560        308,241  

Splunk, Inc. *

     1,950        331,286  
        9,951,935  

Transportation - 1.4%

     

FedEx Corp.

     1,725        447,844  

Union Pacific Corp.

     2,050        426,851  
        874,695  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
6    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer   

Quantity

/Principal
Amount ($)

     Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Utilities - 0.5%

 

NextEra Energy, Inc.

     4,140        319,401  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $22,592,457)

              38,669,857  

Bonds - 29.4%

 

Asset-Backed Securities - 1.2%

 

Bayview Opportunity Master Fund, 2017-SPL1 A, 4.00%, 10/28/64 1, 4

     45,442        47,269  

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Corp., 2005-AGE1 M3, 1 Mo. Libor + 0.98, 1.12%, 2/25/32 1

     269        269  

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, 2005-A A4W, 4.71%, 8/25/35 14

     4,037        4,090  

OSCAR US Funding Trust VII, LLC, 2017-2A A4, 2.76%, 12/10/24 4

     89,909        91,181  

Small Business Administration:

     

2008-20A 1, 5.17%, 1/1/28

     31,605        34,360  

2007-20H 1, 5.78%, 8/1/27

     30,194        32,677  

Towd Point Mortgage Trust:

     

2020-MH1 A1A, 2.18%, 2/25/60 1, 4

     163,783        166,700  

2019-MH1 A2, 3.00%, 11/25/58 1, 4

     100,000        103,321  

2019-SJ3 A2, 3.00%, 11/25/59 1, 4

     125,000        128,445  

2019-SJ1 A1, 3.75%, 11/25/58 1, 4

     50,399        50,649  

2019-SJ1 A2, 4.17%, 11/25/58 1, 4

     100,000        101,939  
        760,900  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations - 3.6%

 

Fannie Mae:

     

2017-84 JP, 2.75%, 10/25/47

     51,371        54,488  

2003-34 A1, 6.00%, 4/25/43

     32,899        38,193  

2004-T1 1A1, 6.00%, 1/25/44

     20,324        23,687  

1999-17 C, 6.35%, 4/25/29

     10,045        11,274  

2001-82 ZA, 6.50%, 1/25/32

     14,366        16,253  

2009-30 AG, 6.50%, 5/25/39

     43,400        50,801  

2013-28 WD, 6.50%, 5/25/42

     42,003        50,313  

2004-T1 1A2, 6.50%, 1/25/44

     65,486        77,163  

2004-W9 2A1, 6.50%, 2/25/44

     36,817        43,392  

2010-108 AP, 7.00%, 9/25/40

     1,600        1,879  

2004-T3, 1A3, 7.00%, 2/25/44

     6,751        8,094  

1993-21 KA, 7.70%, 3/25/23

     14,116        14,824  

Freddie Mac:

     

4784 BV, 3.50%, 12/15/32

     100,000        102,097  

4293 BA, 5.28%, 10/15/47 1

     12,235        14,062  

2122 ZE, 6.00%, 2/15/29

     53,621        61,513  

2126 C, 6.00%, 2/15/29

     33,702        38,169  

2485 WG, 6.00%, 8/15/32

     34,288        39,403  

2480 Z, 6.00%, 8/15/32

     33,403        38,097  

2575 QE, 6.00%, 2/15/33

     16,534        19,082  

2980 QA, 6.00%, 5/15/35

     17,842        21,149  

2283 K, 6.50%, 12/15/23

     3,562        3,773  

2357 ZJ, 6.50%, 9/15/31

     22,751        25,664  

4520 HM, 6.50%, 8/15/45

     27,383        32,789  

 

 
Name of Issuer   

    

Principal
Amount ($)

     Fair Value ($)  

 

 

1142 IA, 7.00%, 10/15/21

     1,741        1,745  

3704 CT, 7.00%, 12/15/36

     15,019        18,264  

2238 PZ, 7.50%, 6/15/30

     12,940        15,454  

Government National Mortgage Association:

     

2015-80 BA, 6.99%, 6/20/45 1

     22,007        25,546  

2018-147 AM, 7.00%, 10/20/48

     74,589        83,442  

2018-160 DA, 7.00%, 11/20/48

     72,216        81,289  

2014-69 W, 7.21%, 11/20/34 1

     24,915        29,179  

2013-133 KQ, 7.31%, 8/20/38 1

     25,443        30,139  

2005-74 HA, 7.50%, 9/16/35

     7,255        7,774  

JP Morgan Mortgage Trust:

     

2019-HYB1 A5A, 3.00%, 10/25/49 1, 4

     108,162        110,819  

2020-8 A3, 3.00%, 3/25/51 1, 4

     47,191        48,643  

2019-8 A4, 3.50%, 3/25/50 1, 4

     55,042        55,418  

2019-9 A8, 3.50%, 5/25/50 1, 4

     125,000        127,932  

2020-2 A4, 3.50%, 7/25/50 1, 4

     100,251        101,697  

New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust: 2018-3A A1, 4.50%, 5/25/58 1, 4

     64,249        69,669  

PMT Loan Trust: 2013-J1 A11, 3.50%, 9/25/43 1, 4

     74,409        75,912  

Sequoia Mortgage Trust:

     

2020-4 A5, 2.50%, 11/25/50 1, 4

     94,899        97,487  

2019-5 A4, 3.50%, 12/25/49 1, 4

     58,301        59,217  

2020-2 A4, 3.50%, 3/25/50 1, 4

     95,523        97,169  

Vendee Mortgage Trust:

     

2008-1 B, 6.21%, 3/15/25 1

     10,478        12,177  

1994-2 2, 6.32%, 5/15/24 1

     6,426        6,571  

Wells Fargo Mortgaged Backed Securities Trust:

     

2020-5 A3, 2.50%, 9/25/50 1, 4

     72,216        74,228  

2020-2 A17, 3.00%, 12/25/49 1, 4

     83,044        85,283  

2020-2 A3, 3.00%, 12/25/49 1, 4

     77,392        78,767  
                2,179,980  

Corporate Bonds - 10.5%

 

American Airlines, 3.20%, 6/15/28

     80,950        78,934  

American Financial Group, 5.25%, 4/2/30

     200,000        247,490  

AXIS Specialty Finance, 3.90%, 7/15/29

     100,000        110,270  

Bank of America Corp., 3.25%, 10/21/27

     100,000        111,909  

Booking Holdings, Inc., 4.63%, 4/13/30

     150,000        186,387  

British Airways 2013-1 Class A Pass Through Trust, 4.63%, 6/20/24 4

     187,454        186,407  

Burlington Resources, LLC, 7.40%, 12/1/31

     50,000        74,848  

Cabot Corp., 3.40%, 9/15/26

     183,000        198,069  

Cadence BanCorp. (Subordinated), 3 Mo. Libor + 4.66, 4.88%, 3/11/25 1, 4

     200,000        198,019  

Canadian Pacific Railway Co., 7.13%, 10/15/31

     100,000        148,105  

Charles Schwab Corp., 3.25%, 5/22/29

     100,000        114,813  

Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., 4.39%, 9/1/48

     100,000        120,684  

CNO Financial Group, Inc., 5.25%, 5/30/29

     100,000        120,725  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    7


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

Sit Balanced Fund (Continued)

 

 

 
Name of Issuer   

    

Principal
Amount ($)

     Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Comerica, Inc., 4.00%, 2/1/29

     150,000        178,700  

Cox Communications, Inc., 8.38%, 3/1/39 4

     100,000        172,248  

Delta Air Lines 2015-1 Class A Pass Through Trust, 3.88%, 7/30/27

     156,592        160,408  

Delta Air Lines, Inc./SkyMiles, 4.75%,
10/20/28 4

     200,000        218,302  

Doric Nimrod Air Alpha 2013-1 Trust, 5.25%, 5/30/23 4

     28,899        27,004  

Doric Nimrod Air Finance Alpha 2012-1 Trust, 5.13%, 11/30/22 4

     21,052        19,913  

Duke Energy Florida, LLC, 2.54%, 9/1/29

     50,000        54,065  

Entergy Louisiana, LLC, 4.95%, 1/15/45

     150,000        165,532  

Equifax, Inc., 6.90%, 7/1/28

     150,000        195,897  

Fidus Investment Corp., 4.75%, 1/31/26

     100,000        102,055  

Flex, Ltd., 4.88%, 5/12/30

     200,000        240,470  

Fulton Financial Corp. (Subordinated), 4.50%, 11/15/24

     150,000        166,099  

Georgia-Pacific, LLC, 7.38%, 12/1/25

     100,000        130,358  

ITT, LLC, 7.40%, 11/15/25

     25,000        31,616  

Johnson & Johnson, 3.55%, 3/1/36

     150,000        185,244  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., 8.75%, 9/1/30

     100,000        148,811  

Lincoln National Corp., 7.00%, 6/15/40

     100,000        153,007  

Mercury General Corp., 4.40%, 3/15/27

     100,000        110,734  

Northern Trust Corp. (Subordinated), 3 Mo. Libor + 1.13, 3.38%, 5/8/32 1

     150,000        164,475  

Phillips 66, 2.15%, 12/15/30

     50,000        50,759  

Principal Financial Group, Inc., 3 Mo. Libor + 3.04, 3.27%, 5/15/55 1

     100,000        96,000  

Principal Life Global Funding, 6.13%, 10/15/33 4

     100,000        145,149  

Schlumberger Investment SA, 2.65%, 6/26/30

     150,000        160,136  

Security Benefit Life Insurance Co. (Subordinated), 7.45%, 10/1/33 4

     100,000        102,363  

Simon Property Group LP, 2.45%, 9/13/29

     150,000        157,564  

Southwest Airlines Co., 2.63%, 2/10/30

     185,000        188,301  

Spirit Airlines 2015-1A Trust, 4.10%, 4/1/28

     123,916        117,793  

Union Pacific Railroad Co., 2014-1 Pass Through Trust, 3.23%, 5/14/26

     119,040        131,380  

United Airlines 2013-1 Class A Pass Through Trust, 4.30%, 8/15/25

     175,701        177,454  

United Airlines 2015-1 Class A Pass Through Trust, 3.70%, 12/1/22

     125,000        123,878  

Unum Group, 4.50%, 12/15/49

     25,000        26,344  

Wachovia Corp., (Subordinated), 7.57%,
8/1/26 14

     100,000        131,704  

Webster Financial Corp., 4.38%, 2/15/24

     125,000        133,729  

WestRock MWV, LLC, 7.95%, 2/15/31

     100,000        142,779  
                6,406,931  

 

 
Name of Issuer   

    

Principal
Amount ($)

     Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation - 0.2%

 

6.50%, 2/1/22

     1,983        1,998  

7.50%, 7/1/29

     101,148        118,414  

8.00%, 2/1/34

     12,109        14,548  

8.50%, 9/1/24

     5,252        5,316  
        140,276  

Federal National Mortgage Association - 1.1%

 

2.68%, 2/1/35

     150,000        163,979  

5.50%, 10/1/33

     67,840        76,920  

6.50%, 2/1/24

     11,863        12,413  

6.50%, 9/1/27

     37,996        42,570  

6.50%, 6/1/40

     98,095        111,478  

7.00%, 1/1/32

     10,204        11,166  

7.00%, 3/1/33

     18,611        21,052  

7.00%, 12/1/38

     35,234        39,235  

8.00%, 6/1/24

     7,590        8,115  

8.00%, 1/1/31

     9,976        10,085  

8.00%, 2/1/31

     17,647        21,993  

8.00%, 9/1/37

     57,857        71,822  

8.43%, 7/15/26

     2,443        2,495  

8.50%, 10/1/30

     22,743        27,120  

10.00%, 6/1/31

     23,649        26,405  
            646,848  

Government National Mortgage Association - 0.3%

 

5.00%, 5/20/48

     69,156        76,696  

5.75%, 12/15/22

     12,928        13,842  

6.50%, 11/20/38

     14,918        16,720  

7.00%, 12/15/24

     6,997        7,460  

7.00%, 11/20/27

     10,602        12,156  

7.00%, 9/20/29

     27,479        31,741  

7.00%, 9/20/38

     9,980        11,963  

7.50%, 4/20/32

     19,205        21,726  

8.00%, 7/15/24

     4,017        4,196  
        196,500  

Taxable Municipal Securities - 7.4%

 

Bucks Co. Industrial Dev. Auth., 4.00%, 10/1/21

     30,000        30,101  

Buffalo State Col. Foundation Hsg. Corp., 2.80%, 11/1/30

     100,000        104,075  

Colorado Health Fac. Auth., 4.48%, 12/1/40

     150,000        157,150  

Coventry Local Sch. Dist., 2.20%, 11/1/29

     200,000        203,290  

Essex Co. Impt. Auth., 3.97%, 8/1/30 4

     200,000        199,768  

Florida Dev. Fin. Corp., 4.11%, 4/1/50

     150,000        152,792  

GBG, LLC, 3.50%, 6/1/37 4

     150,000        156,653  

Great Lakes Water Auth. Sewage Disposal System, 3.51%, 7/1/44

     150,000        161,194  

Kentucky Higher Edu. Student Loan Corp. (Subordinated), 5.27%, 6/1/36

     100,000        105,717  

LaGrange Co. Regional Utility Dist., 2.98%, 1/1/40

     230,000        232,284  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
8    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Principal
Amount ($)/
Quantity
     Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Massachusetts Edu. Auth.:

     

4.00%, 1/1/32

     90,000        91,720  

4.41%, 7/1/34

     50,000        53,968  

MI Hsg. Dev. Auth., 3.53%, 6/1/50

     65,000        67,293  

Middleburg Heights Hosp., 4.07%, 8/1/47

     100,000        106,872  

MN Hsg. Fin. Agy.:

     

2.31%, 1/1/27

     200,000        205,514  

4.73%, 1/1/49

     85,000        89,049  

ND Hsg. Fin. Agy., 3.70%, 7/1/33

     100,000        105,187  

NH Business Fin. Auth., 3.82%, 9/1/38

     200,000        204,990  

NJ Higher Edu. Student Assit. Auth., 3.50%, 12/1/39 8

     100,000        104,384  

North Hudson Sewer Auth., 2.88%, 6/1/28

     150,000        163,484  

NY Mortgage Agency, 2.98%, 10/1/40

     150,000        151,238  

Oregon State Fac. Auth., 3.29%, 10/1/40

     100,000        98,945  

Public Fin. Auth., 4.23%, 7/1/32

     105,000        126,521  

So. Dakota Hsg. Dev. Auth., 3.89%, 5/1/32

     15,000        15,985  

South Carolina Ports Auth., 3.88%, 7/1/55

     150,000        156,648  

South Carolina Student Loan Corp., 2.92%, 12/1/28

     200,000        200,724  

St. John’s Co. Indst. Dev. Auth.:

     

3.80%, 10/1/50

     235,000        241,298  

4.00%, 8/1/50

     200,000        201,034  

Texas Children’s Hospital, 3.37%, 10/1/29 17

     115,000        130,152  

Tulane University, 0.52%, 2/15/36 1

     90,000        84,833  

Utah Charter Sch. Fin. Auth., 2.40%, 10/15/27

     205,000        207,335  

Westchester Co. Local Dev. Corp., 3.85%, 11/1/50

     200,000        209,044  
        4,519,242  

U.S. Treasury / Federal Agency Securities - 5.1%

 

U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.07%, 1/21/21 6

     350,000        349,985  

U.S. Treasury Bond, 0.13%, 4/30/22

     2,000,000        2,000,469  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds:

     

0.13%, 1/15/30

     101,207        112,891  

0.13%, 7/15/30

     203,118        227,831  

0.25%, 2/15/50

     354,484        422,283  
        3,113,459  

Total Bonds
(cost: $17,371,402)

              17,964,136  

Investment Companies - 3.4%

     

BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund

     4,886        65,746  

BlackRock Income Trust

     23,300        141,431  

DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund

     10,411        204,576  

Duff & Phelps Utility & Corp. Bond Tr., Inc.

     8,900        89,178  

Eaton Vance Short Duration Div. Inc. Fund

     14,000        173,040  

Eaton Vance, Ltd. Duration Inc. Fund

     15,700        196,721  

Franklin, Ltd. Duration, Income Trust

     21,600        203,472  

MFS Intermediate Income Trust

     24,500        93,345  

Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund, Inc.

     3,953        28,422  

 

 
Name of Issue    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Nuveen Preferred & Income Securities Fund

     10,400        101,192  

Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust

     67,300        284,679  

Putnam Premier Income Trust

     60,375        280,744  

WA Inflation-Linked Opp. & Inc. Fund

     209        2,594  

WA Inflation-Linked Sec. & Inc. Fund

     15,200        207,328  

Total Investment Companies
(cost: $1,936,209)

        2,072,468  

Short-Term Securities - 3.7%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     2,295,568        2,295,568  

(cost: $2,295,568)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 99.7%
(cost: $44,195,636)

        61,002,029  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 0.3%

        186,314  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

            $ 61,188,343  
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

1

Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of December 31, 2020. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions, or, for mortgage-backed securities, are impacted by the individual mortgages which are paying off over time. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their descriptions.

 

4

144A Restricted Security. The total value of such securities as of December 31, 2020 was $3,197,571 and represented 5.2% of net assets. These securities have been determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with guidelines established by the Board of Directors.

 

6

Zero coupon or convertible capital appreciation bond, for which the rate disclosed is either the effective yield on purchase date or the coupon rate to be paid upon conversion to coupon paying.

 

8

Securities the income from which is treated as a tax preference that is included in alternative minimum taxable income for purposes of computing federal alternative minimum tax (AMT). At December 31, 2020, 0.2% of net assets in the Fund was invested in such securities.

 

14

Step Coupon: A bond that pays a coupon rate that increases on a specified date(s). Rate disclosed is as of December 31, 2020.

 

17

Security that is either an absolute and unconditional obligation of the United States Government or is collateralized by securities, loans, or leases guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

LLC — Limited Liability Company

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    9


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

Sit Balanced Fund (Continued)

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities
  

 

 

 

    

Level 1

Quoted

    Price ($)    

  

Level 2

Other significant
    observable inputs ($)    

    

Level 3

Significant
    unobservable inputs ($)    

       Total ($)    
  

 

 

 

Common Stocks **

     38,669,857                  38,669,857    

Asset-Backed Securities

            760,900           760,900  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

            2,179,980           2,179,980  

Corporate Bonds

            6,406,931           6,406,931  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

            140,276           140,276  

Federal National Mortgage Association

            646,848           646,848  

Government National Mortgage Association

            196,500           196,500  

Taxable Municipal Securities

            4,519,242           4,519,242  

U.S. Treasury / Federal Agency Securities

            3,113,459           3,113,459  

Investment Companies

     2,072,468                  2,072,468  

Short-Term Securities

     2,295,568                  2,295,568  
  

 

 

 

Total:

          43,037,893        17,964,136           61,002,029  
  

 

 

 

 

**

For equity securities categorized in a single level, refer to the Schedule of Investments for further breakdown.

There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
10    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

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DECEMBER 31, 2020    11


Sit Dividend Growth Fund - Class I and Class S

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit Dividend Growth Fund is to provide current income that exceeds the dividend yield of the S&P 500® Index and that grows over a period of years. Secondarily, the Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in dividend-paying common stocks. The Fund may invest the balance of its assets in preferred stocks, convertible bonds, and U.S. Treasury securities.

 

 

 

Fund Performance

The Sit Dividend Growth Fund Class I posted a +20.66% return during the 6-month period ending December 31, 2020, compared with the +22.16% return for the S&P 500® Index. The Fund’s gross dividend yield (before deducting Fund expenses) was 2.08% as of 12/31/ 20, compared with 1.62% for the S&P 500® Index.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

Although the Fund posted strong absolute returns over the 6-month period, it underperformed the S&P500® Index. The key reason was the exceptional returns for non-dividend-paying stocks during the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., Non-dividend paying stocks in the S&P 500® were up +27% during the period compared with +20% for dividend-paying stocks.). The two main sectors that led to underperformance during the period were utilities and consumer services. The Fund maintained an overweight position in the utilities sector, as valuations and high dividend yields appeared attractive. However, with investors rotating into more cyclical sectors and away from stay-at-home beneficiaries, the sector lagged the overall market. Regarding the consumer services sector, the Fund’s performance was negatively affected by not owning reopening economy beneficiaries, such as Walt Disney and Starbucks, as well as underweighting the group. Numerous companies in the sector benefitted from an increase in technology investment during the pandemic, but many of them do not pay dividends. Conversely, the Fund benefitted from a large overweight position and stock selection in the electronic technology sector. Many of these companies were beneficiaries of increased technology spending. Key holdings included Qualcomm and Analog Devices. Stock selection in the producer manufacturing sector and an underweight position in the retail trade sector also helped performance.

Outlook and Positioning

Sentiment has begun to improve for dividend-paying stocks, as fears over dividend cuts have subsided in recent months. As of December 31, 2020, we calculate that over two-thirds of S&P 500® stocks currently offer dividend yields above the 10-year Treasury yield. With the economy beginning to gradually reopen, we expect attention to shift from fears of payout cuts to focus on companies increasing cash flow returns to shareholders as business models stabilize, which will provide a tailwind for dividend-paying stocks. Within this

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the S&P 500® Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of 500 widely held common stocks of large-cap companies. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

 

framework, we believe one must be selective, and our focus remains on owning only dividend-paying stocks with strong balance sheets and cash flow generation, with business models that are not susceptible to large-scale disruptions from secular changes. Our favorite sectors include electronic technology and healthcare technology. Electronic technology should benefit from secular market shifts, many of which accelerated during the pandemic as companies invested in technology to facilitate a migration to work from home. In health-care technology, the Fund is focused on companies that will benefit from aging demographics and company-specific innovation. We remain positive on the outlook for industrials, although equity prices are already somewhat discounting an improvement in most major end markets in 2021 We continue to believe that a diversified portfolio of high quality, dividend-paying companies provides investors the opportunity to participate in market gains, while also offering them downside protection if market fundamentals deteriorate.

Roger J. Sit

Kent L. Johnson

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
12    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

     Sit Dividend
Growth Fund
  S&P 500®
      Class I   Class S   Index 1

Six Month

       20.66 %       20.56 %       22.16 %

One Year

       13.97       13.67       18.40

Five Year

       12.85       12.58       15.22

Ten Year

       11.98       11.70       13.89
Since Inception - Class I (12/31/03)        10.14       n/a           9.63
Since Inception - Class S (3/31/06)        n/a           9.60       9.74

 

 

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of 500 widely held common stocks of large-cap companies. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

     $15.21 Per Share  

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

     $13.48 Per Share          

Total Net Assets:

     $193.0 Million  

Class S:

  

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

     $15.13 Per Share  

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

     $13.40 Per Share  

Total Net Assets:

     $29.8 Million  

Weighted Average Market Cap:

     $361.5 Billion  

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

 

  1. Apple, Inc.

  2. Microsoft Corp.

  3. Johnson & Johnson

  4. Broadcom, Inc.

  5. Verizon Communications, Inc.

  6. Procter & Gamble Co.

  7. Qualcomm, Inc.

  8. Applied Materials, Inc.

  9. PepsiCo, Inc.

10. Medtronic, PLC

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    13


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Dividend Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by economic sectors.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 99.6%

     

Communications - 3.4%

     

American Tower Corp.

     14,675        3,293,950  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     71,600        4,206,500  
        7,500,450  

Consumer Durables - 1.0%

     

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

     23,625                2,193,581  

Consumer Non-Durables - 8.2%

     

Coca-Cola Co.

     41,075        2,252,553  

Conagra Brands, Inc.

     56,900        2,063,194  

Mondelez International, Inc.

     46,700        2,730,549  

NIKE, Inc.

     12,425        1,757,765  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     25,925        3,844,678  

Procter & Gamble Co.

     29,725        4,135,936  

Tyson Foods, Inc.

     24,425        1,573,947  
        18,358,622  

Consumer Services - 3.0%

     

McDonald’s Corp.

     14,175        3,041,672  

Visa, Inc.

     16,740        3,661,540  
        6,703,212  

Electronic Technology - 19.0%

 

  

Analog Devices, Inc.

     24,225        3,578,759  

Apple, Inc.

     104,125        13,816,346  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     46,225        3,989,218  

Broadcom, Inc.

     11,925        5,221,361  

Garmin, Ltd.

     20,250        2,423,115  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. *

     13,675        1,806,331  

Marvell Technology Group, Ltd.

     38,525        1,831,478  

Qualcomm, Inc.

     26,475        4,033,202  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

     18,875        2,885,610  

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

     21,950        2,657,486  
        42,242,906  

Finance - 16.1%

     

American Financial Group, Inc.

     34,975        3,064,510  

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

     14,025        2,725,478  

Aon, PLC

     10,675        2,255,307  

BlackRock, Inc.

     3,600        2,597,544  

Chubb, Ltd.

     19,950        3,070,704  

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

     9,600        2,247,264  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     12,650        3,335,932  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     25,125        3,192,634  

MetLife, Inc.

     69,900        3,281,805  

Morgan Stanley

     51,950        3,560,134  

Physicians Realty Trust

     69,400        1,235,320  

Realty Income Corp.

     44,875        2,789,879  

Synchrony Financial

     70,000        2,429,700  
        35,786,211  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Health Services - 2.3%

     

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

     14,600        1,739,882  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     9,550        3,348,994  
                5,088,876  

Health Technology - 13.6%

     

Abbott Laboratories

     27,400        3,000,026  

AbbVie, Inc.

     31,200        3,343,080  

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

     13,225        1,567,030  

AstraZeneca, PLC, ADR

     44,625        2,230,804  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     57,175        3,546,565  

Johnson & Johnson

     37,700        5,933,226  

Medtronic, PLC

     32,475        3,804,122  

Merck & Co., Inc.

     34,825        2,848,685  

Sanofi, ADR

     40,500        1,967,895  

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

     14,225        2,191,930  
        30,433,363  

Industrial Services - 1.5%

     

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

     13,575        1,479,132  

TC Energy Corp.

     48,400        1,970,848  
        3,449,980  

Non-Energy Minerals - 1.1%

     

BHP Group, Ltd., ADR

     37,450        2,446,983  

Process Industries - 1.4%

     

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

     11,225        3,066,894  

Producer Manufacturing - 6.0%

 

  

Deere & Co.

     8,050        2,165,852  

Dover Corp.

     19,625        2,477,656  

Eaton Corp., PLC

     17,900        2,150,506  

Honeywell International, Inc.

     12,050        2,563,035  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

     5,365        1,904,468  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

     8,050        2,192,900  
        13,454,417  

Retail Trade - 4.9%

     

CVS Health Corp.

     29,200        1,994,360  

Home Depot, Inc.

     13,575        3,605,792  

Target Corp.

     18,625        3,287,871  

TJX Cos., Inc.

     28,575        1,951,387  
        10,839,410  

Technology Services - 10.7%

     

Accenture, PLC

     11,300        2,951,673  

Alphabet, Inc. - Class A *

     1,600        2,804,224  

Facebook, Inc. *

     8,000        2,185,280  

Microsoft Corp.

     56,850        12,644,577  

Oracle Corp.

     49,075        3,174,662  
        23,760,416  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
14    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Transportation - 2.7%

     

FedEx Corp.

     11,225        2,914,234  

Union Pacific Corp.

     15,300        3,185,766  
        6,100,000  

Utilities - 4.7%

     

Dominion Resources, Inc.

     48,025        3,611,480  

Entergy Corp.

     35,025        3,496,896  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

     43,100        3,325,165  
        10,433,541  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $159,168,745)

             221,858,862  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Short-Term Securities - 0.1%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     283,830        283,830  

(cost: $283,830)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 99.7%
(cost: $159,452,575)

        222,142,692  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 0.3%

        577,684  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

          $ 222,720,376  
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities  
  

 

 

 
    

Level 1

Quoted

    Price ($)    

    

Level 2

Other significant

    observable inputs ($)    

  

Level 3

Significant
    unobservable inputs ($)    

       Total ($)      
  

 

 

 

Common Stocks **

     221,858,862              221,858,862  

Short-Term Securities

     283,830              283,830  
  

 

 

 

Total:

         222,142,692              222,142,692  
  

 

 

 

 

**

For equity securities categorized in a single level, refer to the Schedule of Investments for further breakdown.

There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    15


Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund - Class I and Class S

 

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund is to provide current income that exceeds the dividend yield of the MSCI World Index and that grows over a period of years. Secondarily, the Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in dividend-paying common stocks issued by U.S. and foreign companies. The Fund may invest the balance of its assets in preferred stocks, convertible bonds, and U.S. Treasury securities.

 

 

 

Fund Performance

Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund Class I shares provided a return of +20.65% during the 6-month period ending December 31, 2020, compared with the +23.00% return for the MSCI World Index. Currently, the Fund has a dividend yield of 1.82%, versus a 1.87% dividend yield for the MSCI World Index.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

Contributing favorably to performance during the 6-month period were the Fund’s holdings in the technology hardware & equipment (Logitech International and Apple) and consumer services (Starbucks) sectors, its underweight of the household & personal products sector, and its overweight of the diversified financial sector (Partners Group, Macquarie Group, and Goldman Sachs Group). Conversely, underweighting and stock selection (RELX) in the media & entertainment sector, underweighting the automobiles sector, and overweighting the food beverage & tobacco sector detracted from relative performance. The Fund was also hurt by its cash position.

Geographically, the Fund’s exposure to the Euroland (Logitech International and Partners Group) and Asia/Pacific Ex Japan (Broadcom, Atlassian and Macquarie Group) regions added value due to positive stock selection during the 6-month period. However, exposure to the United Kingdom (AstraZeneca, DS Smith, and RELX) and North America (owning Microsoft and Lockheed Martin, and not owning Tesla) regions negatively impacted relative performance, due to both stock selection and geographic allocation.

Outlook and Positioning

We remain constructive on U.S. equities over the intermediate term and think participation in market gains will continue to broaden beyond the large capitalization FAANG + M tech stocks, as the pandemic comes under control and global economies normalize. Near-term tailwinds for stocks include positive seasonality, elevated cash levels, global stimulus, vaccine deployment, easing financial conditions, and valuations that are attractive relative to bonds. However, with investor enthusiasm at historic highs and overall market price-to-earnings multiples now discounting a lot of good news, stocks remain vulnerable to pullbacks on disappointments. With vaccines now being deployed, investors are looking past the current surge in new COVID-19 infections to an acceleration in economic growth by the second half of 2021. We continue to overweight the technology

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years (or for the life of the Fund if shorter) as compared to the performance of the MSCI World Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

sector but have shifted the emphasis to hardware from software due to valuation concerns. We also remain positive on the outlook for industrials, although stock prices are, at least partially, discounting an improvement in most major end markets in 2021. Finally, we continue to find attractive opportunities in the health care sector, although sentiment will continue to be influenced by political and regulatory developments.

For non-U.S. equities, we continue to overweight the Euroland and United Kingdom regions, most notably Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Germany. This positioning is more a function of our confidence in individual stock performances than our expectation for regional outperformance. As a firm, we also remain positive on equities in China, South Korea, and India, as these nations are further along in their economic recoveries due to the early implementation of strict social-distancing measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak.

Roger J. Sit             Raymond E. Sit

Kent L. Johnson

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
16    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

     Sit Global    
     Dividend   MSCI
     Growth Fund   World
      Class I   Class S   Index 1

Six Months

       20.65 %       20.57 %       23.00 %

One Year

       16.00       15.77       15.90

Five Year

       10.79       10.53       12.19

Ten Year

       8.77       8.50       9.87

Since Inception

(9/30/08)

       9.53       9.26       9.11

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

     $20.17 Per Share      

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

     $16.87 Per Share      

Total Net Assets:

     $37.4 Million      

Class S:

           

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

     $20.17 Per Share      

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

     $16.85 Per Share      

Total Net Assets:

     $3.7 Million      

Weighted Average Market Cap:

     $367.0 Billion      

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Microsoft Corp.

  2. Apple, Inc.

  3. Logitech International SA

  4. Johnson & Johnson

  5. Accenture, PLC

  6. JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  7. Lonza Group AG

  8. Atlassian Corp., PLC

  9. Abbott Laboratories

10. Nestle SA

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    17


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by geographic region.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 98.8%

     

Asia - 6.6%

     

Australia - 3.3%

     

Atlassian Corp., PLC *

     3,925        917,940  

Macquarie Group, Ltd.

     3,900        416,369  
        1,334,309  

Japan - 2.2%

     

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

     29,900        461,582  

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

     10,800        451,957  
        913,539  

Singapore - 1.1%

     

Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.

     158,600        458,423  

Europe - 31.8%

     

France - 0.9%

     

Safran SA, ADR *

     4,900        173,754  

Sanofi, ADR

     3,800        184,642  
        358,396  

Germany - 5.0%

     

adidas AG *

     1,385        504,042  

Allianz SE, ADR

     35,000        862,750  

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs AG

     650        192,801  

Siemens AG

     3,200        459,419  

Siemens Energy AG *

     1,600        58,639  
                2,077,651  

Ireland - 4.7%

     

Accenture, PLC

     3,675        959,947  

Medtronic, PLC

     4,575        535,916  

Trane Technologies, PLC

     2,950        428,222  
        1,924,085  

Spain - 2.1%

     

Iberdrola SA

     60,400        863,316  

Switzerland - 9.9%

     

Chubb, Ltd.

     1,750        269,360  

Logitech International SA

     11,650        1,132,264  

Lonza Group AG

     1,450        931,616  

Nestle SA

     7,525        886,204  

Partners Group Holding AG

     725        851,689  
        4,071,133  

United Kingdom - 9.2%

     

AstraZeneca, PLC, ADR

     15,400        769,846  

BAE Systems, PLC

     74,675        499,153  

Diageo, PLC, ADR

     4,225        670,972  

HomeServe, PLC

     33,725        472,719  

London Stock Exchange Group, PLC

     6,875        846,893  

RELX, PLC

     21,200        518,757  
        3,778,340  

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

North America - 60.4%

     

United States - 60.4%

     

Abbott Laboratories

     8,300        908,767  

AbbVie, Inc.

     3,975        425,921  

Alphabet, Inc. - Class A *

     450        788,688  

Apple, Inc.

     19,200        2,547,648  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     8,175        705,502  

Arthur J Gallagher & Co.

     3,775        467,005  

Bank of America Corp.

     16,300        494,053  

Broadcom, Inc.

     1,825        799,076  

Constellation Brands, Inc.

     2,750        602,388  

CVS Health Corp.

     7,600        519,080  

Euronet Worldwide, Inc. *

     2,800        405,776  

FedEx Corp.

     1,450        376,449  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     1,400        369,194  

Home Depot, Inc.

     2,550        677,331  

Honeywell International, Inc.

     3,200        680,640  

Johnson & Johnson

     6,925        1,089,856  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     7,350        933,964  

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

     2,050        387,491  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

     1,565        555,544  

McDonald’s Corp.

     1,860        399,119  

Microsoft Corp.

     12,100                2,691,282  

Mondelez International, Inc.

     7,100        415,137  

Otis Worldwide Corp.

     3,875        261,756  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     5,775        856,432  

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

     2,675        532,700  

Sherwin-Williams Co.

     800        587,928  

Starbucks Corp.

     7,975        853,165  

T Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     4,800        726,672  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

     1,175        547,291  

Union Pacific Corp.

     4,050        843,291  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     975        341,913  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     12,750        749,062  

Waste Management, Inc.

     5,900        695,787  

WEC Energy Group, Inc.

     6,150        565,984  
        24,801,892  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $24,136,656)

        40,581,084  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
18    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Short-Term Securities - 1.2%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     480,100        480,100  
     

 

 

 

(cost: $480,100)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 100.0%
(cost: $24,616,756)

        41,061,184  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 0.0%

        19,438  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

          $ 41,080,622  
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

        

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

    Investment in Securities  
 

 

 

 
   

Level 1

Quoted

    Price ($)    

   

Level 2

Other significant

    observable inputs ($)    

 

Level 3

Significant
    unobservable inputs ($)    

      Total ($)      
 

 

 

 

Common Stocks

       

Australia

    1,334,309           1,334,309    

France

    358,396           358,396    

Germany

    2,077,651           2,077,651    

Ireland

    1,924,085           1,924,085    

Japan

    913,539           913,539    

Singapore

    458,423           458,423    

Spain

    863,316           863,316    

Switzerland

    4,071,133           4,071,133    

United Kingdom

    3,778,340           3,778,340    

United States

    24,801,892           24,801,892    

Short-Term Securities

    480,100           480,100    
 

 

 

 

Total:

        41,061,184           41,061,184    
 

 

 

 

Level 1 securities of foreign issuers are primarily American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Public Limited Companies (PLCs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    19


Sit Large Cap Growth Fund

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit Large Cap Growth Fund is to maximize long-term capital appreciation. The Fund pursues this objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in the common stocks of domestic growth companies with capitalizations of $5 billion or more at the time of purchase.

 

 

 

Fund Performance

The Sit Large Cap Growth Fund’s return was +22.92% during the 6-month period ending December 31, 2020, compared with a +26.12% return for the Russell 1000® Growth Index. The S&P 500® Index return for the period was +22.16%.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

The Fund posted strong absolute returns over the period; however, it lagged the Russell 1000® Growth Index due to several factors. The largest detractor to relative performance over the 6-month period was the Fund’s stock selection and underweight position in the consumer durables sector, where the group outperformed the market due to many companies here being stay-at-home beneficiaries. Regarding stock selection in the sector, while our position in YETI Holdings performed well (+60%), not owning Tesla, which was up +227% during the last six months was a major contributor to underperformance. Stock selection in the electronic technology and technology services sectors also contributed, including individual securities Ciena, Intel, and Splunk, which underperformed during the period. Countering this was a combination of strong stock selection and an underweight position in the health technology sector. Positive contributors here included Intuitive Surgical and Thermo Fisher Scientific. The Fund also benefitted from its underweight position in the retail trade sector, where COVID-19-related declines in in-store shopping weighed on the performance of many companies. Finally, stock selection in the producer manufacturing sector benefited performance, where holdings such as Trane Technologies and Honeywell added to returns.

Outlook and Positioning

We expect a post-pandemic, synchronized global recovery to gather steam in 2021, following the deepest economic contraction since World War II in 2020. Accordingly, we remain constructive on U.S. equities over the intermediate-term and think participation in market gains will broaden further beyond the large capitalization FAANG + M tech stocks, as the pandemic comes under control and global economies normalize. However, with investor enthusiasm at historic highs and overall market price-to-earnings multiples now discounting a lot of good news, stocks remain vulnerable to pullbacks on disappointments. The Fund continues to maintain a “barbell” strategy, focused on balancing early-cyclical companies that are likely

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the Russell 1000® Growth Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 Russell 1000® Growth Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

to be major beneficiaries of an uptick in economic activity (such as transports and financials) with stable, long-term earnings growers that should post above-average growth, regardless of market conditions. This includes sectors with large, secular growth tailwinds, such as companies in the technology sector, which will benefit from accelerating growth in 5G, cloud computing, e-commerce, and software. However, we have shifted our emphasis from software to hardware due to valuation concerns. With the increased attention on infrastructure investment and alternative energy expected under the Biden administration, the Fund is focused on owning companies that stand to benefit from improved sentiment and growth in these end markets. We also favor healthcare companies that should benefit from an aging U.S. population and new technology in high growth areas in the sector.

Roger J. Sit

Ronald D. Sit

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
20    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

      Sit Large
Cap Growth
Fund
  Russell
1000®
Growth
Index 1
  Russell    
1000®    
Index 2    

Six Month

       22.92 %       26.12 %       24.46%      

One Year

       33.94       38.49       20.96       

Five Year

       18.12       21.00       15.60       

Ten Year

       14.59       17.21       14.01       

Since Inception 3

(9/2/82)

       10.94       12.25       12.15       

 

 

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 Russell 1000® Growth Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 1000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

2 Russell 1000® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of approximately 1,000 of the largest U.S. companies by market capitalization.

3 On 6/6/93, the Fund’s investment objective changed to allow for a portfolio of 100% stocks. Prior to that time, the portfolio was required to contain no more than 80% stocks.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

   $54.91 Per Share          

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

   $47.07 Per Share    

Total Net Assets:

   $156.9 Million

Weighted Average Market Cap:

   $660.1 Billion

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Apple, Inc.

  2. Microsoft Corp.

  3. Amazon.com, Inc.

  4. Alphabet, Inc.

  5. Facebook, Inc.

  6. Visa, Inc.

  7. PayPal Holdings, Inc.

  8. UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

  9. salesforce.com, Inc.

10. Broadcom, Inc.

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    21


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Large Cap Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by economic sectors.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 98.8%

     

Communications - 1.6%

     

American Tower Corp.

     8,100        1,818,126  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     12,025        706,469  
        2,524,595  

Consumer Durables - 1.6%

     

YETI Holdings, Inc. *

     36,425        2,494,020  

Consumer Non-Durables - 5.1%

     

Constellation Brands, Inc.

     7,425        1,626,446  

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. - Class A

     9,800        2,608,662  

Mondelez International, Inc.

     17,900        1,046,613  

NIKE, Inc.

     5,125        725,034  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     13,125        1,946,438  
        7,953,193  

Consumer Services - 5.3%

     

McDonald’s Corp.

     6,650        1,426,957  

Starbucks Corp.

     19,775        2,115,530  

Visa, Inc.

     21,600        4,724,568  
        8,267,055  

Electronic Technology - 19.0%

     

Apple, Inc.

     132,300        17,554,887  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     38,900        3,357,070  

Broadcom, Inc.

     7,800        3,415,230  

Ciena Corp. *

     17,600        930,160  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. *

     7,875        1,040,209  

NVIDIA Corp.

     4,825        2,519,615  

Qualcomm, Inc.

     6,325        963,550  
                29,780,721  

Finance - 3.5%

     

Aon, PLC

     5,975        1,262,338  

Chubb, Ltd.

     5,050        777,296  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     5,150        1,358,107  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     4,900        622,643  

T Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     9,725        1,472,268  
        5,492,652  

Health Services - 2.8%

     

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

     2,200        361,812  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     11,575        4,059,121  
        4,420,933  

Health Technology - 8.7%

     

Abbott Laboratories

     15,500        1,697,095  

AbbVie, Inc.

     10,750        1,151,862  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     5,675        352,020  

DexCom, Inc. *

     6,275        2,319,993  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. *

     2,800        2,290,680  

Johnson & Johnson

     9,400        1,479,372  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Medtronic, PLC

     15,825        1,853,740  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

     5,250        2,445,345  
        13,590,107  

Process Industries - 2.4%

     

Ecolab, Inc.

     7,125        1,541,565  

Sherwin-Williams Co.

     3,150        2,314,966  
        3,856,531  

Producer Manufacturing - 3.5%

     

3M Co.

     2,225        388,908  

Honeywell International, Inc.

     8,425        1,791,998  

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

     6,550        1,238,081  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

     2,700        822,744  

Trane Technologies, PLC

     8,900        1,291,924  
        5,533,655  

Retail Trade - 8.7%

     

Amazon.com, Inc. *

     3,150        10,259,330  

Home Depot, Inc.

     8,425        2,237,848  

TJX Cos., Inc.

     18,075        1,234,342  
        13,731,520  

Technology Services - 33.7%

     

Accenture, PLC

     10,200        2,664,342  

Adobe, Inc. *

     6,725        3,363,307  

Alphabet, Inc. - Class A *

     625        1,095,400  

Alphabet, Inc. - Class C *

     4,215        7,384,174  

Atlassian Corp., PLC *

     10,375        2,426,401  

Autodesk, Inc. *

     6,900        2,106,846  

DocuSign, Inc. *

     2,075        461,273  

Dynatrace, Inc. *

     12,550        543,038  

Facebook, Inc. *

     21,250        5,804,650  

Intuit, Inc.

     6,100        2,317,085  

Microsoft Corp.

     58,900        13,100,538  

Paycom Software, Inc. *

     2,500        1,130,625  

PayPal Holdings, Inc. *

     17,600        4,121,920  

salesforce.com, Inc. *

     16,525        3,677,308  

ServiceNow, Inc. *

     2,275        1,252,228  

Splunk, Inc. *

     8,100        1,376,109  
        52,825,244  

Transportation - 2.3%

     

FedEx Corp.

     5,650        1,466,853  

Union Pacific Corp.

     10,150        2,113,433  
        3,580,286  

Utilities - 0.6%

     

NextEra Energy, Inc.

     13,100        1,010,665  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $58,992,473)

                155,061,177  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
22    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer   Quantity     Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Short-Term Securities - 1.4%

   

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

    2,182,250       2,182,250  

    (cost: $2,182,250)

   

Total Investments in Securities - 100.2%
(cost: $61,174,723)

      157,243,427  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - (0.2%)

      (385,923

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

        $ 156,857,504  
   

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

        

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

    Investment in Securities  
 

 

 

 
   

Level 1

Quoted

    Price ($)    

   

Level 2

Other significant

    observable inputs ($)    

 

Level 3

Significant
    unobservable inputs ($)    

      Total ($)      
 

 

 

 

Common Stocks **

    155,061,177           155,061,177   

Short-Term Securities

    2,182,250           2,182,250   
 

 

 

 

Total:

    157,243,427           157,243,427   
 

 

 

 

 

**

For equity securities categorized in a single level, refer to the Schedule of Investments for further breakdown.

There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    23


Sit ESG Growth Fund - Class I and Class S

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit ESG Growth Fund is to maximize long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in companies that the Adviser believes have strong environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) practices at the time of purchase. The Fund invests in common stocks of U.S. and foreign companies, primarily of large to medium capitalizations (companies with market capitalization in excess of $2 billion).

 

 

 

Fund Performance

Sit ESG Growth Fund Class I shares provided a return of +18.75% during the 6-month period ending December 31, 2020, compared with the +23.00% return for the MSCI World Index.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

Contributing favorably to performance during the 6-month period were the Fund’s holdings in the technology hardware & equipment (Logitech International and Apple), consumer durables (Nike), and utilities (Iberdrola) sectors. Conversely, underweighting the automobiles and semiconductors sectors, stock selection in the media & entertainment (RELX), health care & services (Baxter International, Terumo, and Boston Scientific), and semiconductors (Intel) sectors, and the Fund’s large cash position detracted from relative performance.

Geographically, the Fund’s exposure to the Euroland (adidas and Safran) region added value due to positive stock selection during the period. However, the Fund’s exposure to the North America (owning Intel, Microsoft, Home Depot, and ConocoPhillips, and not owning Tesla) and United Kingdom (AstraZeneca and RELX) regions negatively impacted relative performance.

Outlook and Positioning

We remain constructive on U.S. equities over the intermediate term and think participation in market gains will continue to broaden beyond large capitalization FAANG + M tech stocks, as the pandemic comes under control and global economies normalize. Near-term tailwinds for stocks include positive seasonality, elevated cash levels, global stimulus, vaccine deployment, easing financial conditions, and valuations that are attractive relative to bonds. However, with investor enthusiasm at historic highs and overall market price-to-earnings multiples now discounting a lot of good news, stocks remain vulnerable to pullbacks on disappointments. With vaccines now being deployed, investors are looking past the current surge in new COVID-19 infections to an acceleration in economic growth by the second half of 2021. We continue to overweight the producer manufacturing and consumer services sectors, in order to take advantage of cyclical recovery as the pandemic hopefully abates. We also continue to overweight the technology sector but have shifted the emphasis to hard-

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years (or for the life of the Fund if shorter) as compared to the performance of the MSCI World Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

ware from software due to valuation concerns. Finally, we continue to find attractive opportunities in the health care sector, although sentiment will continue to be influenced by political and regulatory developments.

For non-U.S. equities, we continue to overweight the Euroland and United Kingdom regions, most notably Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain. This positioning is more a function of our confidence in single stock performances than our expectation for regional outperformance. As a firm, we also remain positive on equities in China, South Korea, and India, as these nations are further along in their economic recoveries due to the early implementation of strict social-distancing measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak.

Roger J. Sit

Ronald D. Sit

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
24    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

   
    Sit ESG   MSCI
    Growth Fund   World
     Class I   Class S   Index 1

Six Month

      18.75 %       18.56 %       23.00%      

One Year

      15.90       15.62       15.90       

Since Inception

(6/30/16)

      12.68       12.40       13.45       

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

   $16.35 Per Share          

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

   $13.85 Per Share

Total Net Assets:

   $4.3     Million

Class S:

  

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

   $16.26 Per Share

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

   $13.78 Per Share

Total Net Assets:

   $3.7     Million

Weighted Average Market Cap:

   $382.0 Billion

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Apple, Inc.

  2. Microsoft Corp.

  3. Iberdrola SA, ADR

  4. Alphabet, Inc. - Class A

  5. Allianz SE, ADR

  6. Lonza Group AG

  7. Home Depot, Inc.

  8. Sony Corp., ADR

  9. Visa, Inc.

10. Facebook, Inc.

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    25


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit ESG Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by geographic region.

 

Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

Common Stocks - 98.2%

     

Asia - 10.2%

     

Japan - 9.1%

     

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

     6,400        98,800  

Keyence Corp.

     200        112,343  

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

     3,100        129,728  

Shiseido Co., Ltd.

     1,100        76,022  

Sony Corp., ADR

     1,925        194,618  

Terumo Corp.

     2,600        108,578  
        720,089  

Singapore - 1.1%

     

Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.

     31,200        90,182  

Europe - 34.4%

     

France - 1.9%

     

Safran SA, ADR *

     2,750        97,515  

Sanofi, ADR

     1,125        54,664  
        152,179  

Germany - 5.8%

     

adidas AG, ADR *

     650        118,944  

Allianz SE, ADR

     8,800        216,920  

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs AG

     125        37,077  

Siemens AG, ADR

     1,175        84,353  
        457,294  

Ireland - 5.8%

     

Accenture, PLC

     575        150,196  

CRH, PLC, ADR

     1,200        51,096  

Medtronic, PLC

     900        105,426  

Trane Technologies, PLC

     1,065        154,595  
        461,313  

Spain - 2.9%

     

Iberdrola SA, ADR

     4,050        232,875  

Sweden - 1.2%

     

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, ADR

     8,275        98,886  

Switzerland - 8.7%

     

Logitech International SA

     1,550              150,644  

Lonza Group AG

     320        205,598  

Nestle SA, ADR

     1,425        167,865  

Novartis AG, ADR

     1,800        169,974  
        694,081  

United Kingdom - 8.1%

     

AstraZeneca, PLC, ADR

     2,950        147,470  

BAE Systems, PLC, ADR

     2,300        62,445  

Coca-Cola European Partners, PLC

     2,100        104,643  

Diageo, PLC, ADR

     785        124,666  

HomeServe, PLC

     6,525        91,460  

RELX, PLC, ADR

     4,700        115,902  
        646,586  

 

 

Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

North America - 53.6%

     

United States - 53.6%

     

3M Co.

     400        69,916  

AbbVie, Inc.

     750        80,362  

Adobe, Inc. *

     360        180,043  

Alphabet, Inc. - Class A *

     125        219,080  

Apple, Inc.

     3,600        477,684  

Baxter International, Inc.

     850        68,204  

CVS Health Corp.

     1,725        117,818  

Ecolab, Inc.

     600        129,816  

Facebook, Inc. *

     700        191,212  

FedEx Corp.

     280        72,694  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     600        158,226  

Home Depot, Inc.

     745        197,887  

Johnson & Johnson

     975        153,446  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     1,075        136,600  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

     185        65,671  

Microsoft Corp.

     2,000        444,840  

NIKE, Inc.

     925        130,860  

NVIDIA Corp.

     175        91,385  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     875        129,763  

salesforce.com, Inc. *

     850        189,150  

Starbucks Corp.

     1,600        171,168  

T Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     1,175        177,883  

TJX Cos., Inc.

     1,380        94,240  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     500        175,340  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     2,600        152,750  

Visa, Inc.

     875        191,389  
            4,267,427  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $4,905,779)

        7,820,912  

Short-Term Securities - 1.7%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     135,143        135,143  

(cost: $135,143)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 99.9%
(cost: $5,040,922)

        7,956,055  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 0.1%

        7,457  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

      $ 7,963,512  
     

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

 

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

 

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
26    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities  
     Level 1      Level 2    Level 3       
     Quoted      Other significant    Significant       
     Price ($)          observable inputs ($)            unobservable inputs ($)            Total ($)      

Common Stocks

           

France

     152,179              152,179   

Germany

     457,294              457,294   

Ireland

     461,313              461,313   

Japan

     720,089              720,089   

Singapore

     90,182              90,182   

Spain

     232,875              232,875   

Sweden

     98,886              98,886   

Switzerland

     694,081              694,081   

United Kingdom

     646,586              646,586   

United States

     4,267,427              4,267,427   

Short-Term Securities

     135,143              135,143   

Total:

     7,956,055              7,956,055   

Level 1 securities of foreign issuers are primarily American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Public Limited Companies (PLCs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    27


Sit Mid Cap Growth Fund

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit Mid Cap Growth Fund is to maximize long-term capital appreciation. The Fund pursues this objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks that, at the time of purchase, have market capitalizations that fall within the range of companies included in the Russell Midcap® Growth Index during the most recent 12-month period. The Russell Midcap® Growth Index ranged from approximately $510 million to $81 billion during the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020.

 

Fund Performance

 

The Sit Mid Cap Growth Fund’s return during the 6-month period ending December 31, 2020 was +28.05%, compared with a +30.18% return for the Russell Midcap® Growth Index. The Russell Midcap® Index increased +28.86% during the period.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

The Fund underperformed its benchmark during the latest 6-month period, mostly due to negative stock selection in three sectors. First, stock selection in the technology services sector weighed on performance. The two main contributors to this were the Fund’s overweight position in Splunk and its lack of ownership in Pinterest. Second, in the commercial services sector, the Fund’s performance was hurt by its position in Booz Allen Hamilton, which, while up +13% during the period, lagged the strong market returns during this time horizon. Not owning Trade Desk from this sector also adversely impacted performance. Finally, owning Ciena and not owning Enphase Energy in the electronic technology sector weighed on performance. The Fund’s cash position also negatively impacted performance. On the positive side, large underweight positions and good stock selection in the retail trade and consumer non-durables sectors benefited returns. Key holdings included TJX, Ulta Beauty, and Coca-Cola European Partners. Good stock selection in the producer manufacturing (Trane Technologies, Ametek) and health services (Tenet Healthcare) sectors also added to returns. In addition, other strong performers in their sectors included iRhythm Technologies, Align Technology, HubSpot, and Advanced Micro Devices.

Outlook and Positioning

During the period, midcap stocks outperformed their large cap peers, as sentiment improved with the gradual reopening of the economy and investors felt comfortable taking on higher levels of risk. Unparalleled global stimulus, totaling almost $30 trillion thus far (or over 30% of world GDP), helped stave off an economic meltdown and is now underwriting a nascent worldwide recovery. Bolstered by ongoing federal stimulus, pent-up demand unleashed by a return to normalcy could kickstart a virtuous cycle of GDP growth. Global real GDP is poised to expand +5.0% or more in 2021, versus a drop of about -4.3% in 2020. However, the pace of new COVID-19 infections and vaccine availability represent sizable swing factors. The

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the Russell Midcap® Growth Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 Russell Midcap® Growth Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell Midcap Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

Fund maintains an overweight position in the electronic technology sector, as we believe emerging technologies – including 5G, investment in cloud computing, and artificial intelligence – will prove to be secular growth drivers and will benefit well-positioned firms. This shift looks to have been accelerated by the large work-at-home migration during the pandemic. Additionally, the Fund remains underweight the retail trade sector, as e-commerce and changing consumer buying patterns continue to pressure many established brick-and-mortar businesses in the space. Selective ownership in this sector is focused on companies that have demonstrated resilient business models with the ability to deliver above-average growth.

Roger J. Sit

Kent L. Johnson

Robert W. Sit

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
28    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

 

as of December 31, 2020

            
         Russell    
     Sit   Midcap®   Russell
     Mid Cap   Growth   Midcap®
      Growth Fund   Index 1   Index 2

Six Month

       28.05 %       30.18 %       28.86%      

One Year

       33.08       35.59       17.10       

Five Year

       14.55       18.66       13.40       

Ten Year

       11.68       15.04       12.41       

Since Inception

(9/2/82)

       11.96       n/a       n/a       

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains and all fee waivers. Without the fee waivers total return and yield figures would have been lower. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 Russell Midcap® Growth Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell Midcap Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

2 Russell Midcap® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of approximately 800 of the smallest companies in the Russell 1000® Index.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

   $23.41 Per Share          

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

   $19.05 Per Share

Total Net Assets:

   $213.8 Million

Weighted Average Market Cap:

   $31.2   Billion

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Atlassian Corp., PLC

  2. Teladoc Health, Inc.

  3. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

  4. DexCom, Inc.

  5. HubSpot, Inc.

  6. PTC, Inc.

  7. Autodesk, Inc.

  8. Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

  9. Trex Co., Inc.

10. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    29


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Mid Cap Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by economic sectors.

 

Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

Common Stocks - 97.5%

     

Commercial Services - 2.5%

     

ASGN, Inc. *

     13,525        1,129,743  

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

     48,200        4,202,076  
        5,331,819  

Consumer Durables - 1.8%

     

YETI Holdings, Inc. *

     57,400        3,930,178  

Consumer Non-Durables - 0.9%

     

Coca-Cola European Partners, PLC

     40,700        2,028,081  

Consumer Services - 4.1%

     

Chegg, Inc. *

     43,600        3,938,388  

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

     20,650        2,254,774  

Service Corp. International

     32,200        1,581,020  

Vail Resorts, Inc.

     3,300        920,568  
        8,694,750  

Electronic Technology - 15.2%

     

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. *

     17,425        1,598,047  

Applied Materials, Inc.

     35,475        3,061,492  

Arista Networks, Inc. *

     13,625        3,959,016  

Broadcom, Inc.

     9,100        3,984,435  

Ciena Corp. *

     23,300        1,231,405  

CMC Materials, Inc.

     10,825        1,637,822  

Garmin, Ltd.

     26,500        3,170,990  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. *

     23,150        3,057,884  

Marvell Technology Group, Ltd.

     70,975        3,374,152  

MKS Instruments, Inc.

     11,750        1,767,788  

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

     5,400        1,977,642  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

     23,900        3,653,832  
        32,474,505  

Finance - 7.4%

     

American Financial Group, Inc.

     11,800        1,033,916  

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

     11,700        2,273,661  

Arthur J Gallagher & Co.

     18,900        2,338,119  

Carlyle Group, Inc.

     96,800        3,043,392  

First Republic Bank

     16,550        2,431,692  

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

     25,300        2,916,837  

T Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     11,800        1,786,402  
        15,824,019  

Health Services - 4.7%

     

Encompass Health Corp.

     34,050        2,815,594  

Teladoc Health, Inc. *

     25,450        5,088,982  

Tenet Healthcare Corp. *

     50,950        2,034,433  
        9,939,009  

Health Technology - 15.7%

     

Align Technology, Inc. *

     7,500        4,007,850  

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. *

     23,500        2,060,715  

Cooper Cos, Inc.

     4,250        1,544,110  

DexCom, Inc. *

     13,050        4,824,846  

 

 

Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

Exact Sciences Corp. *

     29,650        3,928,328  

ICU Medical, Inc. *

     4,575        981,292  

Insulet Corp. *

     11,700        2,990,871  

iRhythm Technologies, Inc. *

     14,700        3,486,987  

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, PLC *

     5,700        940,785  

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. *

     22,600        3,853,074  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

     10,550        4,913,979  
        33,532,837  

Industrial Services - 3.3%

     

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

     27,800        3,029,088  

Waste Connections, Inc.

     38,950        3,995,102  
        7,024,190  

Non-Energy Minerals - 2.0%

     

Trex Co., Inc. *

     50,200        4,202,744  

Process Industries - 3.3%

     

Ecolab, Inc.

     13,000        2,812,680  

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

     21,800        4,341,252  
        7,153,932  

Producer Manufacturing - 7.6%

     

AMETEK, Inc.

     24,000        2,902,560  

Carlisle Cos., Inc.

     17,000        2,655,060  

Dover Corp.

     27,000        3,408,750  

Hubbell, Inc.

     11,000        1,724,690  

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     6,300        1,580,103  

Trane Technologies, PLC

     27,050        3,926,578  
        16,197,741  

Retail Trade - 3.1%

     

TJX Cos., Inc.

     55,175        3,767,901  

Ulta Beauty, Inc. *

     9,700        2,785,452  
        6,553,353  

Technology Services - 23.9%

     

Altair Engineering, Inc. *

     24,800        1,442,864  

ANSYS, Inc. *

     10,750        3,910,850  

Aspen Technology, Inc. *

     19,900        2,591,975  

Atlassian Corp., PLC *

     22,900        5,355,623  

Autodesk, Inc. *

     14,800        4,519,032  

Booking Holdings, Inc. *

     450        1,002,271  

DocuSign, Inc. *

     11,050        2,456,415  

Dynatrace, Inc. *

     65,375        2,828,776  

Euronet Worldwide, Inc. *

     26,275        3,807,773  

GoDaddy, Inc. *

     27,075        2,245,871  

HubSpot, Inc. *

     11,950        4,737,458  

Paycom Software, Inc. *

     6,100        2,758,725  

PTC, Inc. *

     39,600        4,736,556  

Qualys, Inc. *

     7,000        853,090  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
30    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

     
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

RingCentral, Inc. *

     4,825        1,828,530  

Science Applications International Corp.

     25,100        2,375,464  

Splunk, Inc. *

     20,900        3,550,701  
        51,001,974  

Transportation - 1.2%

     

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

     17,300        899,600  

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

     41,600        1,739,712  
        2,639,312  

Utilities - 0.8%

     

WEC Energy Group, Inc.

     18,900        1,739,367  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $92,924,431)

        208,267,811  

 

     
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

Short-Term Securities - 2.7%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     5,813,482        5,813,482  
     

 

 

 

    (cost: $5,813,482)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 100.2%
(cost: $98,737,913)

        214,081,293  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - (0.2%)

        (326,683
     

 

 

 

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

            $213,754,610  
     

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

 

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities  
     Level 1      Level 2    Level 3       
     Quoted      Other significant    Significant       
     Price ($)          observable inputs ($)            unobservable inputs ($)            Total ($)      

Common Stocks **

     208,267,811              208,267,811  

Short-Term Securities

     5,813,482              5,813,482  
       

Total:

     214,081,293              214,081,293  

 

**

For equity securities categorized in a single level, refer to the Schedule of Investments for further breakdown.

There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    31


Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund Class I and Class S

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund is to provide current income that exceeds the Fund’s benchmark index and that grows over a period of years. Secondarily the Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in small cap dividend-paying common stocks that have market capitalizations at the time of purchase of up to $3.0 billion, or up to the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000® Index measured at the end of the previous twelve months ($13.4 billion as of December 31, 2020). The Fund may invest the balance of its assets in preferred stocks, convertible bonds, U.S. Treasury securities (including Treasury bills, notes and bonds), closed-end investment companies, and master limited partnerships.

 

 

Fund Performance

The Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund Class I posted a +28.48% return over the last past 6-months ending December 31, 2020, compared with the +37.85% return for the Russell 2000® Index. The Fund’s gross dividend yield (before deducting Fund expenses) was 1.78% as of 12/31/20, compared with a yield of 1.25% for the Russell 2000® Index.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

Contributing to the Fund’s underperformance during the 6-month period were its stocks in the consumer services, producer manufacturing, and retail trade sectors. Many of the best performing stocks in the producer manufacturing sector were non-dividend-paying, alternative energy companies with zero or minimal prospects of paying a dividend in the future. Consequently, our producer manufacturing sector performance was constrained by the Russell 2000® Index’s lack of the type of companies that the Fund seeks to own (i.e., cash flow-generating enterprises that pay dividends), compared to the more speculative constituents in the benchmark. Within the consumer services and retail trade sectors, holdings in Strategic Education, Chegg, and PetMed Express also detracted from performance. Significant underperformance of dividend-paying stocks relative to non-dividend paying stocks also broadly, negatively affected performance over the period (i.e., Dividend-paying stocks in the Russell 2000® Index were up +27% during the period versus +46% for non-dividend payers). Stock selection and a large underweight position in health technology helped to offset some of this underperformance. Key holdings here were iRhythm Technologies and LeMaitre Vascular. Underweighting the lagging energy minerals sector and stock selection in the consumer non-durables sector (Sensient Technologies) also added to performance.

Outlook and Positioning

Small capitalization stocks outperformed their large capitalization peers, with growth significantly outperforming value within the small cap universe, as more speculative, unprofitable companies led the market. Overall, we believe equity returns in the near to intermediate term will be largely driven by earnings growth and that dividend-paying companies will remain attractive in a market shift to fundamentals as the market broadens out. Accordingly, the Fund is overweighted in those sectors where we believe earnings growth will exceed the market average. The Fund’s overweight positions in the

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the Russell 2000® Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 Russell 2000® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, an index consisting of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on market capitalization. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

electronic technology, commercial services, and producer manufacturing sectors should be helped by easy year-ago comparisons and an expected rebound in economic growth in 2021, as the U.S. economy gradually reopens and vaccination rates increase. Select technology companies should also benefit, as technology capital spending continues to grow, driven by investments in cloud computing and other emerging technologies. Finally, we believe defensive areas of the market with compelling relative valuations, including REITs and select utilities, provide a good hedge to market risks. These risks include historically elevated valuations; the potential of supply chain bottlenecks, logistical snags, public resistance, and new strains that could disturb the COVID-19 inoculation timetable; and continued COVID-19-related economic disruptions. However, given valuation declines during through 2020, these areas look attractive due to both their valuation and their yield advantage to the market and prevailing Treasury yields.

 

Roger J. Sit

  

Michael T. Manns

Kent L. Johnson

  

Robert W. Sit

Portfolio Managers

  
 

 

   
32    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

 

as of December 31, 2020             
     Sit Small Cap    
     Dividend   Russell
     Growth Fund   2000®
      Class I   Class S   Index 1

Six Month

       28.48 %       28.36 %       37.85%      

One Year

       16.20       16.00       19.96       

Five Year

       10.93       10.65       13.26       

Since Inception

(3/31/15)

       8.15       7.88       9.74       

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 Russell 2000® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, an index consisting of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on market capitalization. It is not possible to directly invest in an index.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Class I:

   

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

  $14.52     Per Share            

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

  $11.39     Per Share  

Total Net Assets:

  $14.8     Million  

Class S:

   

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

  $14.52     Per Share  

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

  $11.38     Per Share  

Total Net Assets:

  $4.7     Million  

Weighted Average Market Cap:

  $5.8     Billion  

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

  2. MKS Instruments, Inc.

  3. Chegg, Inc.

  4. Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

  5. Globant SA

  6. Encompass Health Corp.

  7. KBR, Inc.

  8. American Financial Group, Inc.

  9. CMC Materials, Inc.

10. Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    33


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by economic sectors.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 97.7%

     

Commercial Services - 4.6%

     

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

     3,200        278,976  

Brink’s Co.

     3,400        244,800  

Colliers International Group, Inc.

     2,350        209,456  

FTI Consulting, Inc. *

     1,425        159,201  
        892,433  

Communications - 0.9%

     

Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.

     3,800        164,350  

Consumer Durables - 6.5%

     

Acushnet Holdings Corp.

     3,400        137,836  

BRP, Inc.

     3,675        242,476  

Helen of Troy, Ltd. *

     1,075        238,854  

MDC Holdings, Inc.

     3,750        182,250  

National Presto Industries, Inc.

     750        66,322  

Thor Industries, Inc.

     2,300        213,877  

YETI Holdings, Inc. *

     2,700        184,869  
                1,266,484  

Consumer Non-Durables - 1.1%

     

Sensient Technologies Corp.

     3,000        221,310  

Consumer Services - 6.9%

     

Chegg, Inc. *

     4,900        442,617  

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

     2,850        311,192  

Service Corp. International

     3,800        186,580  

Strategic Education, Inc.

     2,290        218,306  

Vail Resorts, Inc.

     690        192,483  
        1,351,178  

Electronic Technology - 10.6%

     

CMC Materials, Inc.

     2,100        317,730  

II-VI, Inc. *

     1,275        96,849  

MKS Instruments, Inc.

     4,300        646,935  

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

     1,975        723,304  

Power Integrations, Inc.

     3,400        278,324  
        2,063,142  

Finance - 24.6%

     

American Financial Group, Inc.

     3,675        322,003  

Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc.

     6,300        317,142  

Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.

     6,300        317,457  

Carlyle Group, Inc.

     8,075        253,878  

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

     14,000        311,220  

CubeSmart

     5,250        176,453  

Donegal Group, Inc.

     9,500        133,665  

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

     7,700        163,240  

Evercore Partners, Inc.

     2,800        306,992  

Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.

     1,275        149,073  

HCI Group, Inc.

     3,600        188,280  

Hercules Capital, Inc.

     13,100        188,902  

Old National Bancorp

     9,550        158,148  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

People’s United Financial, Inc.

     16,325        211,082  

Physicians Realty Trust

     12,550        223,390  

Piper Sandler Cos

     2,875        290,088  

PROG Holdings, Inc.

     3,550        191,238  

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

     4,350        269,178  

Stifel Financial Corp.

     6,000        302,760  

STORE Capital Corp.

     6,225        211,526  

Third Point Reinsurance, Ltd. *

     10,150        96,628  
        4,782,343  

Health Services - 3.1%

     

Encompass Health Corp.

     4,200        347,298  

Tenet Healthcare Corp. *

     6,400        255,552  
        602,850  

Health Technology - 6.4%

     

AtriCure, Inc. *

     5,200        289,484  

Atrion Corp.

     160        102,758  

Bio-Techne Corp.

     325        103,204  

ICU Medical, Inc. *

     425        91,158  

iRhythm Technologies, Inc. *

     1,200        284,652  

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

     4,175        169,088  

STERIS, PLC

     1,100        208,494  
                1,248,838  

Industrial Services - 2.8%

     

EMCOR Group, Inc.

     2,400        219,504  

KBR, Inc.

     10,775        333,271  
        552,775  

Non-Energy Minerals - 2.6%

     

AZEK Co., Inc. *

     5,700        219,165  

Commercial Metals Co.

     3,950        81,133  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

     575        58,276  

PotlatchDeltic Corp.

     2,810        140,556  
        499,130  

Process Industries - 5.2%

     

Huntsman Corp.

     4,650        116,901  

Neenah, Inc.

     2,525        139,683  

Olin Corp.

     5,050        124,028  

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

     2,100        418,194  

Silgan Holdings, Inc.

     5,800        215,064  
        1,013,870  

Producer Manufacturing - 11.0%

     

AGCO Corp.

     925        95,358  

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

     2,475        193,025  

AZZ, Inc.

     1,225        58,114  

Carlisle Cos, Inc.

     1,650        257,697  

Crane Co.

     2,675        207,740  

H&E Equipment Services, Inc.

     7,500        223,575  

Hubbell, Inc.

     1,525        239,105  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
34    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

     1,350        156,938  

MSA Safety, Inc.

     1,700        253,963  

Oshkosh Corp.

     1,175        101,132  

Rexnord Corp.

     5,250        207,322  

Watsco, Inc.

     685        155,187  
                2,149,156  

Retail Trade - 1.9%

     

Casey’s General Stores, Inc.

     1,025        183,086  

PetMed Express, Inc.

     5,625        180,338  
        363,424  

Technology Services - 4.1%

     

Globant SA *

     1,625        353,616  

ManTech International Corp.

     1,800        160,092  

Science Applications International Corp.

     3,075        291,018  
        804,726  

Transportation - 3.2%

     

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

     5,275        220,600  

Marten Transport, Ltd.

     8,450        145,594  

TFI International, Inc.

     5,000        257,900  
        624,094  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Utilities - 2.2%

     

Black Hills Corp.

     4,000        245,800  

Spire, Inc.

     2,750        176,110  
        421,910  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $13,252,842)

        19,022,013  

Short-Term Securities - 2.5%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     482,965        482,965  
     

 

 

 

    (cost: $482,965)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 100.2%
(cost: $13,735,807)

        19,504,978  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - (0.2%)

        (35,875

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

          $ 19,469,103  
     

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

    Investment in Securities  
 

 

 

 
   

Level 1

Quoted

    Price ($)    

   

Level 2

Other significant
    observable inputs ($)    

 

Level 3

Significant

    unobservable inputs ($)    

      Total ($)      
 

 

 

 

Common Stocks **

    19,022,013           19,022,013    

Short-Term Securities

    482,965           482,965    
 

 

 

 

Total:

    19,504,978           19,504,978    
 

 

 

 

 

**

For equity securities categorized in a single level, refer to the Schedule of Investments for further breakdown.

There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    35


Sit Small Cap Growth Fund

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit Small Cap Growth Fund is to maximize long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of companies with market capitalizations at the time of purchase of up to $3.0 billion, or up to the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000® Index measured at the end of the previous twelve months ($13.4 billion as of December 31, 2020).

The Adviser invests in a diversified group of growing small companies it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth. The Adviser believes that a company’s earnings growth is the primary determinant of its potential long-term return and evaluates a company’s potential for above average long-term earnings and revenue growth.

 

 

Fund Performance

The Sit Small Cap Growth Fund return was +33.13% over the 6-month period ending December 31, 2020. This compares to the return of +38.88% for the Russell 2000® Growth Index and a +37.85% increase for the Russell 2000® Index.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

The majority of the Fund’s underperformance during the period can be explained by its stock selection in the producer manufacturing, consumer services, and electronic technology sectors. Within the producer manufacturing sector, performance was negatively affected by not owning unprofitable renewable energy companies, such as Plug Power and Sunrun, which outperformed more traditional companies. In consumer services, ownership of Strategic Education weighed on performance, as new student enrollment was disrupted by COVID- 19. Owning Ciena and not owning alternative energy company SunPower resulted in negative stock selection within the electronic technology sector. The main positive contributor during the period was the Fund’s stock selection and large underweight position in the health technology sector. Here, the Fund owned companies in the medical device space, such as iRhythm Technologies and Align Technology, that were major beneficiaries from a large rebound in medical/dental procedures caused by COVID-19 shutdowns in the first part of 2020, and companies with unique technology in high growth fields, such as Pacific Biosciences. Stock selection in the process industries and finance sectors also contributed to positive performance.

Outlook and Positioning

Sentiment has turned noticeably positive for smaller capitalization stocks, which have trailed the overall market for several years. Now, with the U.S. economy poised to gain sustainable traction, several factors are aligned for solid small cap stock performance. U.S. small cap stocks are attractively valued and more direct beneficiaries of economic improvement. In addition, investors turn to small capitalization stocks when comfortable taking on more risk. Regarding sector positioning, we expect pro-growth/cyclical areas to continue to outperform the market, as economic growth rebounds in 2021. Transportation, select producer manufacturing, and technology stocks should benefit especially, based on potential for upward earnings inflections. Also, a focus on infrastructure investment within the Biden administration should help sentiment and growth for producer manufacturing stocks. Within technology, we expect investor enthusiasm

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the Russell 2000® Growth Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 Russell 2000® Growth Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 2000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

 

for a 5G wireless spending cycle to boost select semiconductor companies. Additionally, despite the shock from the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. consumer remains in good shape, with sentiment improving from low levels and high savings rates. This should release some pent-up demand. Accordingly, the Fund retains significant overweight positions in the consumer durables and consumer services sectors. We are evaluating renewable energy companies, which should benefit from the new administration’s policies and increasingly effective technology but have astronomically high valuations relative to the broader market. The Fund continues to significantly underweight the health technology sector, as many of the biotech companies in the benchmark Russell 2000® Growth Index depend on debt or equity offerings to fund operations and rely on binary events, such as clinical trials and acquisition potential, to drive stock performance. The Fund maintains a preference for investing in proven, cash-generating companies.

Roger J. Sit                Kent L. Johnson

Robert W. Sit

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
36    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

     Sit          
     Small Cap    Russell    Russell
     Growth    2000®    2000®
      Fund    Growth Index 1            Index 2        

Six Month

       33.13%        38.88%        37.85%

One Year

       35.93            34.63            19.96    

Five Year

       13.44            16.36            13.26    

Ten Year

       11.13            13.48            11.20    

Since Inception

(7/1/94)

       10.88            9.20            9.73    

 

 

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 Russell 2000® Growth Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 2000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

2 Russell 2000® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, an index consisting of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on market capitalization.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

   $73.07  Per Share          

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

   $56.81  Per Share    

Total Net Assets:

   $132.2  Million

Weighted Average Market Cap:

   $10.6    Billion

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

  2. Chegg, Inc.

  3. Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.

  4. Paycom Software, Inc.

  5. YETI Holdings, Inc.

  6. HubSpot, Inc.

  7. iRhythm Technologies, Inc.

  8. Trex Co., Inc.

  9. Teladoc Health, Inc.

10. Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

    

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    37


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Small Cap Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by economic sectors.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 97.9%

     

Commercial Services - 4.4%

     

ASGN, Inc. *

     22,375        1,868,984  

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

     20,000        1,743,600  

Colliers International Group, Inc.

     12,700        1,131,951  

FTI Consulting, Inc. *

     8,950        999,894  
        5,744,429  

Communications - 0.7%

     

Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.

     22,700        981,775  

Consumer Durables - 6.8%

     

Acushnet Holdings Corp.

     22,500        912,150  

BRP, Inc.

     19,150        1,263,517  

Helen of Troy, Ltd. *

     7,050        1,566,440  

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. *

     6,350        1,319,466  

Thor Industries, Inc.

     11,200        1,041,488  

YETI Holdings, Inc. *

     42,350        2,899,704  
        9,002,765  

Consumer Services - 6.4%

     

Chegg, Inc. *

     37,500        3,387,375  

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

     15,225        1,662,418  

Service Corp. International

     18,700        918,170  

Strategic Education, Inc.

     9,100        867,503  

Vail Resorts, Inc.

     5,600        1,562,176  
        8,397,642  

Electronic Technology - 9.6%

     

Arista Networks, Inc. *

     6,450        1,874,176  

Ciena Corp. *

     14,150        747,828  

CMC Materials, Inc.

     8,825        1,335,222  

II-VI, Inc. *

     8,750        664,650  

MKS Instruments, Inc.

     15,750        2,369,588  

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

     10,200        3,735,546  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

     13,200        2,018,016  
                12,745,026  

Finance - 6.5%

     

Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc.

     31,825        1,602,070  

Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.

     22,975        1,157,710  

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

     9,700        205,640  

First Republic Bank

     6,400        940,352  

Physicians Realty Trust

     61,600        1,096,480  

PROG Holdings, Inc.

     23,400        1,260,558  

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

     13,300        823,004  

SVB Financial Group *

     3,775        1,464,058  
        8,549,872  

Health Services - 4.4%

     

Encompass Health Corp.

     19,675        1,626,926  

Teladoc Health, Inc. *

     13,125        2,624,475  

Tenet Healthcare Corp. *

     40,100        1,601,193  
        5,852,594  

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Health Technology - 18.1%

     

Align Technology, Inc. *

     2,550        1,362,669  

AtriCure, Inc. *

     34,325        1,910,873  

Bio-Techne Corp.

     4,800        1,524,240  

Exact Sciences Corp. *

     15,700        2,080,093  

ICU Medical, Inc. *

     2,825        605,934  

Insulet Corp. *

     4,950        1,265,368  

iRhythm Technologies, Inc. *

     11,675        2,769,427  

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

     26,775        1,084,388  

NanoString Technologies, Inc. *

     11,650        779,152  

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. *

     130,500        3,385,170  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

     8,400        1,205,400  

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. *

     13,400        2,284,566  

STAAR Surgical Co. *

     24,525        1,942,870  

STERIS, PLC

     9,100        1,724,814  
        23,924,964  

Industrial Services - 3.9%

     

EMCOR Group, Inc.

     15,800        1,445,068  

KBR, Inc.

     43,500        1,345,455  

Waste Connections, Inc.

     23,100        2,369,367  
        5,159,890  

Non-Energy Minerals - 3.1%

     

AZEK Co., Inc. *

     24,200        930,490  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

     3,975        402,866  

Trex Co., Inc. *

     33,075        2,769,039  
        4,102,395  

Process Industries - 2.5%

     

Olin Corp.

     34,300        842,408  

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.

     12,600        2,509,164  
        3,351,572  

Producer Manufacturing - 8.8%

     

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

     7,000        545,930  

AZZ, Inc.

     8,425        399,682  

Carlisle Cos, Inc.

     2,200        343,596  

Crane Co.

     15,400        1,195,964  

H&E Equipment Services, Inc.

     44,200        1,317,602  

Hubbell, Inc.

     8,000        1,254,320  

IDEX Corp.

     3,000        597,600  

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

     8,900        1,034,625  

MSA Safety, Inc.

     11,400        1,703,046  

Oshkosh Corp.

     7,825        673,498  

Rexnord Corp.

     34,700        1,370,303  

TPI Composites, Inc. *

     8,675        457,867  

Watsco, Inc.

     2,925        662,659  
                11,556,692  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
38    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Retail Trade - 2.1%

     

Casey’s General Stores, Inc.

     4,300        768,066  

PetMed Express, Inc.

     34,250        1,098,055  

Ulta Beauty, Inc. *

     3,050        875,838  
        2,741,959  

Technology Services - 16.4%

     

Altair Engineering, Inc. *

     29,983        1,744,411  

ANSYS, Inc. *

     3,725        1,355,155  

Aspen Technology, Inc. *

     12,575        1,637,894  

Euronet Worldwide, Inc. *

     16,600        2,405,672  

Globant SA *

     10,800        2,350,188  

GoDaddy, Inc. *

     15,025        1,246,324  

HubSpot, Inc. *

     7,025        2,784,991  

Paycom Software, Inc. *

     7,450        3,369,263  

PTC, Inc. *

     17,600        2,105,136  

Qualys, Inc. *

     4,350        530,135  

Science Applications International Corp.

     14,800        1,400,672  

Talend SA, ADR *

     19,100        732,294  
                21,662,135  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Transportation - 3.1%

     

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

     11,500        598,000  

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.

     24,375        1,019,362  

Marten Transport, Ltd.

     72,075        1,241,852  

TFI International, Inc.

     25,075        1,293,368  
        4,152,582  

Utilities - 1.1%

     

Fortis, Inc.

     12,107        494,208  

Spire, Inc.

     14,675        939,787  
        1,433,995  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $62,742,704)

        129,360,287  

Short-Term Securities - 2.2%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     2,936,482        2,936,482  

    (cost: $2,936,482)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 100.1%
(cost: $65,679,186)

        132,296,769  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - (0.1%)

        (118,056

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

          $ 132,178,713  
     

 

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

    Investment in Securities  
 

 

 

 
   

Level 1

Quoted

    Price ($)    

   

Level 2

Other significant
    observable inputs ($)    

 

Level 3

Significant
    unobservable inputs ($)    

      Total ($)      
 

 

 

 

Common Stocks **

    129,360,287           129,360,287    

Short-Term Securities

    2,936,482           2,936,482    
 

 

 

 

Total:

        132,296,769           132,296,769    
 

 

 

 

 

**

For equity securities categorized in a single level, refer to the Schedule of Investments for further breakdown.

There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    39


Sit International Growth Fund

 

OBJECTIVE STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit International Growth Fund is long-term growth. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 90% of its net assets in common stocks of growth companies domiciled outside the United States. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser begins by selecting countries or regions in which to invest by considering several factors affecting the economy and equity market of foreign countries and regions. After the country and regional allocations are determined, the Adviser seeks industries and sectors that it believes have earnings growth prospects that are greater than the average. Within the selected industries and sectors, the Adviser invests in foreign growth-oriented companies it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth.

 

 

Fund Performance

The Sit International Growth Fund outperformed the MSCI EAFE Index for the 6-month period ended December 31, 2020, with a return of +22.25%, compared with the +21.61% return for its benchmark.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

Contributing favorably to performance during the 6-month period were the Fund’s holdings in software & services (Globant and Euronet Worldwide) and materials (LG Chemical and Rio Tinto) and both its sector overweights and stock selections in semiconductors (Samsung Electronics and Broadcom) and technology hardware (Logitech International and Keyence). Conversely, sectors that hurt performance were telecommunications services (China Tower and Cellnex Telecom, and not owning SoftBank Group), retailing (Alibaba Group), commercial & professional services (HomeServe and Waste Connections), and automobiles (no holdings, particularly Daimler).

Geographically, stock selection in Asia/Pacific ex-Japan (LG Chemical, Baidu, and Broadcom) and Non-Euroland (Logitech International, Interroll, and Hexagon), and region allocation in Latin America (Globant) contributed value, while allocations in the United Kingdom (AstraZeneca and HomeServe), Japan (Astellas Pharma and Terumo), and cash hurt performance.

Outlook and Positioning

We expect a post-pandemic, synchronized global recovery to gather steam in 2021, following the deepest economic contraction since World War II in 2020. Unparalleled global stimulus, totaling almost $30 trillion thus far (or over 30% of world GDP), helped stave off an economic meltdown and is now underwriting a nascent worldwide recovery. Global real GDP is poised to expand at least +5.0% in 2021, versus a drop of about -4.3% in 2020.As the virus is brought under control, a wave of pent-up demand, inventory restocking, and business investment should take hold. We expect Japan’s economy to grow +2.5% in 2021, following a -5% contraction in 2020, as the uneven recovery from the virus-induced shock continues. China’s economy should grow over +8.0% in 2021, driven by increased private consumption and manufacturing capital spending, which both lagged in 2020. South Korea’s economic growth will be driven by exports and consumer spending, aided by the latest fiscal stimulus package to help small businesses. India’s economy continues to recover, led by domestic demand.

We are overweight Asia ex-Japan and underweight Europe and Japan. We prefer equities in China, South Korea, and India, as these nations are further along in their economic recoveries due to the early imple-

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index and MSCI EAFE Growth Index. The primary index used to compare the Fund’s performance was changed to the MSCI EAFE Index from the MSCI EAFE Growth Index because the Investment Adviser believes that the MSCI EAFE Index more accurately reflects the Fund’s investment objectives and strategies. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization index that measures the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

mentation of strict social-distancing measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak. We are constructive on Chinese stocks, given improving earnings growth, a still-benign domestic policy setting, a recovering global economy aided by expanded vaccinations, a more predictable U.S.-China relationship under a Biden administration, and continued Fed policy support. Our Chinese stocks are in the new economy and domestic demand-driven sectors. South Korean equities include exporters, work-from-home and consumer spending beneficiaries, and electric vehicle companies. In India, our holdings are in sectors that will profit from an improving domestic economy. Our Europe stocks are oriented toward the technology, healthcare, and services sectors. In Japan, our holdings continue to focus on companies with structural growth drivers and exposure to overseas economies, and that are defensive, domestic consumption-oriented.

Roger J. Sit

Portfolio Manager

 

 

   
40    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURNS

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

     Sit         
     International         
     Growth        MSCI EAFE    
      Fund        Index 1    

Six Month

       22.25%        21.61%

One Year

       18.63            7.82    

Five Year

       7.73            7.45    

Ten Year

       5.73            5.51    

Since Inception

(11/1/91)

       4.56            5.49    

 

 

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains and all fee waivers. Without the fee waivers total return and yield figures would have been lower. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization index that measures the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada.

FUND DIVERSIFICATION - BY REGION

     
     Sit Int’l        MSCI EAFE    
      Growth Fund        Index    

Europe

       57.2%        61.6%

Asia

       33.0            37.8    

North America

       6.3            —    

Latin America

       1.7            —    

Africa/Middle East

       —            0.6    

Cash & Other Net Assets

       1.8            —    

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

   $21.20  Per Share          

Net Asset Value 6/30/20:

   $17.38  Per Share    

Total Net Assets:

   $28.6    Million

Weighted Average Market Cap:

   $101.8  Billion

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Logitech International SA

  2. Nestle SA

  3. LG Chem, Ltd.

  4. Schneider Electric SE

  5. ASML Holding NV

  6. Lonza Group AG

  7. Iberdrola SA

  8. Tencent Holdings, Ltd.

  9. Sony Corp., ADR

10. London Stock Exchange Group, PLC

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    41


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit International Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by geographic region.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 97.0%

     

Asia - 31.8%

     

Australia - 5.0%

     

Atlassian Corp., PLC *

     2,125        496,974  

CSL, Ltd.

     1,175        256,523  

Macquarie Group, Ltd.

     2,600        277,579  

Rio Tinto, PLC, ADR

     4,400        330,968  

Westpac Banking Corp., ADR

     4,425        65,932  
        1,427,976  

China/Hong Kong - 11.5%

     

AIA Group, Ltd.

     32,200        394,585  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., ADR *

     2,350        546,915  

Baidu, Inc., ADR *

     2,175        470,322  

Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.

     21,500        70,997  

China Tower Corp., Ltd.

     1,342,000        197,341  

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.

     262,960        268,982  

ENN Energy Holdings, Ltd.

     18,400        270,098  

Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Ltd.

     33,500        410,515  

Tencent Holdings, Ltd.

     9,000        654,761  
        3,284,516  

Japan - 9.7%

     

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

     17,700        273,244  

Keyence Corp.

     1,000        561,716  

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

     11,200        468,696  

Shiseido Co., Ltd.

     4,100        283,353  

Sony Corp., ADR

     6,300        636,930  

Terumo Corp.

     13,100        547,065  
                2,771,004  

Singapore - 1.8%

     

DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.

     15,600        295,569  

Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.

     78,400        226,610  
        522,179  

South Korea - 3.8%

     

LG Chem, Ltd.

     975        739,575  

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., GDR

     185        337,625  
        1,077,200  

Europe - 57.2%

     

Denmark - 0.8%

     

Bavarian Nordic *

     7,550        231,740  

France - 8.3%

     

AXA SA

     11,750        280,083  

Dassault Systemes SE

     2,625        532,815  

Safran SA *

     3,200        453,281  

Sanofi, ADR

     3,800        184,642  

Schneider Electric SE

     5,000        722,606  

Talend SA, ADR *

     4,900        187,866  
        2,361,293  

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Germany - 5.9%

     

adidas AG *

     1,630        593,205  

Allianz SE

     2,250        551,667  

Deutsche Post AG

     1,400        69,268  

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs AG

     435        129,028  

Siemens AG

     2,225        319,439  

Siemens Energy AG *

     1,112        40,754  
        1,703,361  

Ireland - 2.0%

     

CRH, PLC, ADR

     4,800        204,384  

STERIS, PLC

     1,950        369,603  
        573,987  

Netherlands - 3.6%

     

ASML Holding NV

     1,450        707,194  

Koninklijke Philips NV *

     5,866        317,761  
        1,024,955  

Spain - 3.9%

     

Cellnex Telecom SA

     7,733        464,038  

Iberdrola SA

     45,900        656,063  
        1,120,101  

Sweden - 2.2%

     

Hexagon AB

     3,800        346,303  

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, ADR

     23,575        281,721  
        628,024  

Switzerland - 16.7%

     

Garmin, Ltd.

     3,600        430,776  

Interroll Holding AG

     120        365,300  

Logitech International SA

     8,125        789,669  

Lonza Group AG

     1,075        690,681  

Nestle SA

     6,600        777,269  

Novartis AG

     4,325        408,659  

Partners Group Holding AG

     490        575,624  

Roche Holding AG

     1,320        460,725  

Zurich Insurance Group AG

     680        286,886  
                4,785,589  

United Kingdom - 13.8%

     

Ashtead Group, PLC

     9,600        451,341  

AstraZeneca, PLC, ADR

     8,300        414,917  

BAE Systems, PLC

     52,600        351,596  

Coca-Cola European Partners, PLC

     5,400        269,082  

Dechra Pharmaceuticals, PLC

     6,300        297,226  

Diageo, PLC, ADR

     2,775        440,698  

Entain, PLC *

     8,375        129,818  

HomeServe, PLC

     22,975        322,038  

London Stock Exchange Group, PLC

     5,100        628,240  

Reckitt Benckiser Group, PLC

     3,100        277,332  

RELX, PLC

     14,700        359,704  
        3,941,992  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
42    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

    

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Latin America - 1.7%

     

Argentina - 1.7%

     

Globant SA *

     2,225        484,182  

North America - 6.3%

     

Canada - 2.8%

     

Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc.

     5,200        177,214  

BRP, Inc.

     2,925        193,231  

Colliers International Group, Inc.

     1,600        142,608  

Waste Connections, Inc.

     2,750        282,068  
        795,121  

United States - 3.5%

     

Broadcom, Inc.

     1,025        448,796  

Euronet Worldwide, Inc. *

     1,950        282,594  

Mondelez International, Inc.

     4,800        280,656  
        1,012,046  

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $16,970,675)

 

     27,745,266  

Investment Companies - 1.2%

     

iShares MSCI India ETF

     8,700        349,914  

    (cost: $258,117)

     

Short-Term Securities - 1.7%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     470,617        470,617  

    (cost: $470,617)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 99.9%
(cost: $17,699,409)

 

     28,565,797  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 0.1%

        25,679  

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

          $ 28,591,476  
     

 

 

 

 

 

*

 Non-income producing security.

  ADR — American Depositary Receipt

  GDR — Global Depositary Receipt

  PLC — Public Limited Company

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

        

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    43


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

Sit International Growth Fund (Continued)

 

 

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

     Investment in Securities  
  

 

 

 
    

Level 1

Quoted

    Price ($)    

   

Level 2

Other significant
    observable inputs ($)    

 

Level 3

Significant
    unobservable inputs ($)    

       Total ($)      
  

 

 

 

Common Stocks

         

Argentina

     484,182            484,182    

Australia

     1,427,976            1,427,976    

Canada

     795,121            795,121    

China/Hong Kong

     3,284,516            3,284,516    

Denmark

     231,740            231,740    

France

     2,361,293            2,361,293    

Germany

     1,703,361            1,703,361    

Ireland

     573,987            573,987    

Japan

     2,771,004            2,771,004    

Netherlands

     1,024,955            1,024,955    

Singapore

     522,179            522,179    

South Korea

     1,077,200            1,077,200    

Spain

     1,120,101            1,120,101    

Sweden

     628,024            628,024    

Switzerland

     4,785,589            4,785,589    

United Kingdom

     3,941,992            3,941,992    

United States

     1,012,046            1,012,046    

Investment Companies

     349,914            349,914    

Short-Term Securities

     470,617            470,617    
  

 

 

 

Total:

          28,565,797            28,565,797    
  

 

 

 

Level 1 securities of foreign issuers are primarily American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Public Limited Companies (PLCs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
44    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

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DECEMBER 31, 2020    45


Sit Developing Markets Growth Fund

 

OBJECTIVE & STRATEGY

The objective of the Sit Developing Markets Growth Fund is to maximize long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks of companies domiciled or operating in a developing market. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser begins by selecting countries or regions in which to invest by considering several factors affecting the economy and equity market of foreign countries and regions. After the country and regional allocations are determined, the Adviser seeks industries and sectors that appear to have strong earnings growth prospects. Within the selected industries and sectors, the Adviser invests in foreign growth-oriented companies it believes exhibit the potential for superior growth.

 

Fund Performance

The Sit Developing Markets Growth Fund increased +28.28% during the 6-month period ended December 31, 2020, compared with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index return of +29.76%.

Factors that Influenced the Fund’s Performance

Contributing to underperformance during the 6-month period were the Fund’s underweight in automobiles (particularly not owning NIO), its stock selection in consumer services (TAL Education Group), pharmaceuticals (CSPC Pharmaceutical Group) and technology hardware (owning Hon Hai Precision Industry and not owning Xiaomi), and its large cash position. On the positive side, sectors that helped performance were materials (LG Chemical and Southern Copper), banks (HDFC Bank), media & entertainment (Baidu), and real estate (underweight).

Geographically, holdings in the Asia/Pacific ex-Japan region (owning TAL Education Group, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, PT XL Axiata, and China Tower, and not owning NIO) and its weighting in North America detracted from performance, while Latin America (PagSeguro Digital and Globant) and Africa/Mideast (NICE ) added value. By country, the Fund’s holdings in South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States hurt returns, while its sector overweight and holdings in China, its sector overweight in Israel, and its stock selection in Argentina helped performance.

Outlook and Positioning

We expect a post-pandemic, synchronized global recovery to gather steam in 2021, following the deepest economic contraction since World War II in 2020. China’s economy should recover and grow over +8.0% in 2021, driven in part by increased private consumption and manufacturing capital spending, which both lagged in 2020. Also, insofar as 2021 marks the beginning of the nation’s 14th Five Year Plan and the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, growth stability will be a top priority. South Korea’s economic growth will be driven by exports and consumer spending, aided by the latest fiscal stimulus package to help small businesses and vulnerable workers. India’s economic recovery will be led by domestic demand. The outlook for LatinAmerica is more cautious, as new daily coronavirus cases in Brazil and Mexico are rebounding, and Mexico’s fiscal support has been negligible, at just 0.6% of GDP, which will make economic recovery challenging there.

HYPOTHETICAL GROWTH OF $10,000

 

LOGO

The chart above illustrates the total value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 years as compared to the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Returns include the reinvestment of distributions. The chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

1 MSCI Emerging Markets Index is an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization index that measures equity market performance of emerging markets. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. This is the Fund’s primary index.

 

We remain positive on equities in China, South Korea, and India, as these nations are further along in their economic recoveries due to the early implementation of strict social-distancing measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak. We remain constructive on Chinese stocks, given improving earnings growth, a still-benign domestic policy setting, a recovering global economy aided by expanded vaccinations, a more predictable U.S.-China relationship under a Biden administration, and continued Fed policy support. We are cautious on Chinese Internet stocks near term given regulation uncertainties but remain optimistic on the segment’s growth prospects longer term. South Korean equities include exporters, work-from-home and consumer spending beneficiaries, and electric vehicle companies. Electric vehicle demand is expected to rise as part of the secular worldwide commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. Our equity holdings in India are positioned in sectors that will profit from an improving domestic economy, i.e., consumer, financials, energy, information services, and industrials.

Roger J. Sit     Raymond E. Sit

Portfolio Managers

 

 

   
46    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


    

 

COMPARATIVE RATES OF RETURN

 

as of December 31, 2020

 

     

Sit

Developing

Markets

Growth

Fund

 

MSCI

Emerging

Markets

Index 1

Six Month

     28.28     29.76 %     

One Year

     23.14       15.84  

Five Year

     13.28       10.21  

Ten Year

     2.80       1.15  

Since Inception

     4.89       3.81  

(7/1/94)

    

 

 

Performance figures are historical and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will vary, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Contact the Fund for performance data current to the most recent month-end. Returns include changes in share price as well as reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. Returns do not reflect the deduction of the 2% redemption fee imposed if shares are redeemed or exchanged within 30 calendar days from their date of purchase. If imposed, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Management fees and administrative expenses are included in the Fund’s performance. Returns for periods greater than one year are compounded average annual rates of return.

1 MSCI Emerging Markets Index is an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization index that measures equity market performance of emerging markets. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

FUND DIVERSIFICATION - BY REGION

 

     

Sit

Developing

Markets

Growth

Fund

 

MSCI

Emerging

Markets

Index

Asia

     73.3     80.0 %     

Africa/Middle East

     8.8       7.7  

Latin America

     8.1       7.9  

North America

     4.0        

Europe

           4.4  

Cash & Other Net Assets

     5.8        

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

Net Asset Value 12/31/20:

   $20.83 Per Share        
Net Asset Value 6/30/20:    $16.28 Per Share
Total Net Assets:    $13.5 Million
Weighted Average Market Cap:    $181.6 Billion

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

 

  1. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

  2. Tencent Holdings, Ltd.

  3. Taiwan Semiconductor Co.

  4. Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., ADR

  5. TAL Education Group, ADR

  6. iShares MSCI India ETF

  7. LG Chem, Ltd.

  8. NICE Systems, Ltd., ADR

  9. JD.com, Inc., ADR

10. HDFC Bank, Ltd., ADR

 

 

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

LOGO

Based on total net assets as of December 31, 2020. Subject to change.

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    47


 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

 

Sit Developing Markets Growth Fund

Investments are grouped by geographic region.

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Common Stocks - 90.9%

     

Africa/Middle East - 8.8%

     

Israel - 3.1%

     

NICE Systems, Ltd., ADR *

     1,500        425,310  
     

 

 

 

South Africa - 5.7%

     

Bid Corp., Ltd.

     13,200        236,271  

Bidvest Group, Ltd.

     5,525        59,036  

Naspers, Ltd.

     1,425        292,792  

Prosus NV

     1,700        183,506  
     

 

 

 
        771,605  
     

 

 

 

Asia - 70.0%

     

Australia - 1.4%

     

Rio Tinto, PLC, ADR

     2,475        186,169  
     

 

 

 

China/Hong Kong - 39.7%

     

AIA Group, Ltd.

     21,400        262,240  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., ADR *

     2,875        669,099  

Baidu, Inc., ADR *

     1,700        367,608  

Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC, Ltd.

     10,200        33,682  

China Construction Bank Corp.

     125,000        94,970  

China Mengniu Dairy Co., Ltd.

     48,000        289,766  

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., ADR

     1,400        62,440  

China Tower Corp., Ltd.

     704,000        103,523  

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.

     230,400        235,677  

ENN Energy Holdings, Ltd.

     21,900        321,475  

GDS Holdings, Ltd., ADR *

     600        56,184  

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, Ltd.

     5,100        279,589  

JD.com, Inc., ADR *

     4,450        391,155  

Meituan Dianping *

     6,000        228,005  

Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Ltd.

     19,900        243,858  

Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd.

     44,900        109,232  

TAL Education Group, ADR *

     7,900        564,929  

Tencent Holdings, Ltd.

     11,400        829,364  

Tencent Music Entertainment Group, ADR *

     5,525        106,301  

WH Group, Ltd.

     132,500        111,094  
     

 

 

 
        5,360,191  
     

 

 

 

India - 2.9%

     

HDFC Bank, Ltd., ADR *

     5,350        386,591  
     

 

 

 

Indonesia - 1.9%

     

Astra International Tbk PT

     176,000        75,473  

XL Axiata Tbk PT

     948,800        184,358  
     

 

 

 
        259,831  
     

 

 

 

Singapore - 3.0%

     

DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.

     14,500        274,728  

Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.

     44,000        127,179  
     

 

 

 
        401,907  
     

 

 

 

South Korea - 12.4%

     

LG Chem, Ltd.

     575        436,159  

Medytox, Inc.

     322        51,930  

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

NAVER Corp.

     225        60,584  

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

     12,250        913,422  

Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. *

     7,200        212,428  
     

 

 

 
        1,674,523  
     

 

 

 

Taiwan - 7.9%

     

Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd.

     82,085        123,428  

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., GDR

     26,835        174,964  

Taiwan Semiconductor Co.

     37,482        707,006  

Taiwan Semiconductor Co., ADR

     600        65,424  
     

 

 

 
        1,070,822  
     

 

 

 

Thailand - 0.8%

     

Bangkok Bank PCL

     27,700        110,023  
     

 

 

 

Latin America - 8.1%

     

Argentina - 1.9%

     

Globant SA *

     1,175        255,692  
     

 

 

 

Brazil - 3.6%

     

Ambev SA, ADR

     21,575        66,020  

Banco Bradesco SA

     25,083        131,060  

Lojas Renner SA

     9,400        78,795  

Pagseguro Digital, Ltd. *

     3,800        216,144  
     

 

 

 
        492,019  
     

 

 

 

Chile - 0.7%

     

Banco Santander Chile, ADR

     4,700        89,253  
     

 

 

 

Peru - 1.9%

     

Southern Copper Corp.

     3,900        253,968  
     

 

 

 

North America - 4.0%

     

Mexico - 0.9%

     

Fomento Economico Mexicano, ADR

     1,575        119,338  
     

 

 

 

United States - 3.1%

     

Broadcom, Inc.

     550        240,818  

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

     1,150        175,812  
     

 

 

 
        416,630  
     

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(cost: $6,983,272)

        12,273,872  
     

 

 

 

Investment Companies - 3.3%

     

iShares MSCI India ETF

     11,100        446,442  
     

 

 

 

(cost: $333,061)

     
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
48    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

 

 

 

 
Name of Issuer    Quantity      Fair Value ($)  

 

 

Short-Term Securities - 5.7%

     

Fidelity Inst. Money Mkt. Gvt. Fund, 0.01%

     773,736        773,736  
     

 

 

 

(cost: $773,736)

     

Total Investments in Securities - 99.9%
(cost: $8,090,069)

        13,494,050  

Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 0.1%

        7,193  
     

 

 

 

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

      $ 13,501,243  
     

 

 

 
 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

ADR — American Depositary Receipt

GDR — Global Depositary Receipt

Numeric footnotes not disclosed are not applicable to this Schedule of Investments.

A summary of the levels for the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2020 is as follows (see Note 2 - significant accounting policies in the notes to financial statements):

 

          Investment in Securities     
  

 

 

 

     Level 1
Quoted
Price ($)
  

Level 2

Other significant

observable inputs ($)

  

Level 3

Significant

unobservable inputs ($)

   Total ($)   
  

 

 

 

Common Stocks

           

Argentina

     255,692              255,692  

Australia

     186,169              186,169  

Brazil

     492,019              492,019  

Chile

     89,253              89,253  

China/Hong Kong

     5,360,191              5,360,191  

India

     386,591              386,591  

Indonesia

     259,831              259,831  

Israel

     425,310              425,310  

Mexico

     119,338              119,338  

Peru

     253,968              253,968  

Singapore

     401,907              401,907  

South Africa

     771,605              771,605  

South Korea

     1,674,523              1,674,523  

Taiwan

     1,070,822              1,070,822  

Thailand

     110,023              110,023  

United States

     416,630              416,630  

Investment Companies

     446,442              446,442  

Short-Term Securities

     773,736              773,736    
  

 

 

 

Total:

     13,494,050              13,494,050  
  

 

 

 

Level 1 securities of foreign issuers are primarily American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), Public Limited Companies (PLCs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). There were no transfers into or out of level 3 during the reporting period.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    49


 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)

December 31, 2020

    

Sit

Balanced

Fund

  

Sit

Dividend

Growth

Fund

  

Sit

Global

Dividend

Growth

Fund

ASSETS

        

Investments in securities, at identified cost

   $44,195,636    $159,452,575    $24,616,756
  

 

  

 

  

 

Investments in securities, at fair value - see accompanying schedule for detail

   $61,002,029    $222,142,692    $41,061,184

Cash in bank on demand deposit

      99   

Accrued interest and dividends receivable

   145,436    210,409    53,063

Receivable for investment securities sold

   115,136    739,026   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

   44,104    129,166    1,444
  

 

  

 

  

 

Total assets

   61,306,705    223,221,392    41,115,691
  

 

  

 

  

 

LIABILITIES

        

Payable for investment securities purchased

   61,995    199,946   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

   5,638    162,810   

Accrued investment management fees and advisory fees

   50,729    132,014    34,301

Accrued 12b-1 fees (Class S)

      6,246    768
  

 

  

 

  

 

Total liabilities

   118,362    501,016    35,069
  

 

  

 

  

 

Net assets applicable to outstanding capital stock

   $61,188,343    $222,720,376    $41,080,622
  

 

  

 

  

 

Net assets consist of:

        

Capital (par value and paid-in surplus)

   $44,110,269    $160,514,168    $26,225,140

Total distributable earnings (loss), including unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

   17,078,074    62,206,208    14,855,482
  

 

  

 

  

 

   $61,188,343    $222,720,376    $41,080,622
  

 

  

 

  

 

Outstanding shares:

        

Common Shares (Class I) *

   2,037,333    12,687,091    1,852,950
  

 

  

 

  

 

Common Shares (Class S) *

      1,967,282    183,533
  

 

  

 

  

 

Net assets applicable to outstanding shares:

        

Common Shares (Class I) *

   $61,188,343    $192,961,493    $37,379,547
  

 

  

 

  

 

Common Shares (Class S) *

      29,758,883    3,701,075
  

 

  

 

  

 

Net asset value per share of outstanding capital stock:

        

Common Shares (Class I) *

   $30.03    $15.21    $20.17
  

 

  

 

  

 

Common Shares (Class S) *

      $15.13    $20.17
  

 

  

 

  

 

 

*

Dividend Growth, Global Dividend Growth, ESG Growth and Small Cap Dividend Growth Funds offer multiple share classes (I and S). All other Funds offer a single share class.

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
50    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

 

Sit
Large Cap
Growth
Fund
     Sit
ESG
Growth

Fund
     Sit
Mid Cap
Growth

Fund
     Sit
Small Cap
Dividend

Growth
Fund
     Sit
Small Cap
Growth

Fund
     Sit
International
Growth
Fund
     Sit
Developing
Markets
Growth
Fund
 
  $61,174,723        $5,040,922        $98,737,913        $13,735,807        $65,679,186        $17,699,409        $8,090,069  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $157,243,427        $7,956,055        $214,081,293        $19,504,978        $132,296,769        $28,565,797        $13,494,050  
                                     3        47  
  49,353        8,720        29,171        19,485        62,546        59,180        21,311  
                       23,245        609,413                
  11,458        6,049        6,191        1,422        5,079        1,605        1,225  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  157,304,238        7,970,824        214,116,655        19,549,130        132,973,807        28,626,585        13,516,633  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  247,980                      63,043        600,908                
  68,119               139,985               30,376                
  130,635        6,541        222,060        16,020        163,810        35,109        15,390  
         771               964                       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  446,734        7,312        362,045        80,027        795,094        35,109        15,390  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $156,857,504        $7,963,512        $213,754,610        $19,469,103        $132,178,713        $28,591,476        $13,501,243  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $59,505,868        $5,089,431        $92,550,931        $13,755,448        $63,453,982        $19,507,071        $8,071,687  
  97,351,636        2,874,081        121,203,679        5,713,655        68,724,731        9,084,405        5,429,556  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $156,857,504        $7,963,512        $213,754,610        $19,469,103        $132,178,713        $28,591,476        $13,501,243  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  2,856,561        260,002        9,132,154        1,020,206        1,808,986        1,348,440        648,107  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
         228,372               320,705                       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $156,857,504        $4,250,145        $213,754,610        $14,813,101        $132,178,713        $28,591,476        $13,501,243  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
         3,713,367               4,656,002                       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $54.91        $16.35        $23.41        $14.52        $73.07        $21.20        $20.83  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
         $16.26               $14.52                       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    51


 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended December 31, 2020

 

     Sit
Balanced
Fund
     Sit
Dividend
Growth

Fund
    Sit
Global
Dividend
Growth

Fund
 

Investment income:

       

Income:

       

Dividends*

     $258,212        $2,357,667       $375,458  

Interest

     231,135        98       46  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total income

     489,347        2,357,765       375,504  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses (note 4):

       

Investment management and advisory service fee

     271,840        1,071,780       236,732  

12b-1 fees (Class S)

            36,696       4,404  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     271,840        1,108,476       241,136  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less fees and expenses waived by investment adviser

            (321,534     (47,346
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net expenses

     271,840        786,942       193,790  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

     217,507        1,570,823       181,714  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gain (loss):

       

Net realized gain (loss) on investments

     300,391        8,316,872       (536,568

Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions

                  872  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency transactions

     7,134,385        30,094,260       7,423,138  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net gain (loss)

     7,434,776        38,411,132       6,887,442  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     $7,652,283        $39,981,955       $7,069,156  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

       

* Foreign taxes withheld on dividends received

            $10,338       $6,130  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
52    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

 

 

Sit
Large Cap
Growth
Fund
     Sit
ESG
Growth

Fund
    Sit
Mid Cap
Growth

Fund
    Sit
Small Cap
Dividend

Growth
Fund
    Sit
Small Cap
Growth

Fund
    Sit
International
Growth
Fund
    Sit
Developing
Markets
Growth
Fund
 
  $653,213        $56,591       $817,241       $186,010       $546,392       $158,061       $80,714  
  128        28       583       39       269             45  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  653,341        56,619       817,824       186,049       546,661       158,061       80,759  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  724,586        45,705       1,193,568       107,722       854,608       191,842       116,238  
         4,309       —5,090                      

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  724,586        50,014       1,193,568       112,812       854,608       191,842       116,238  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
         (9,141           (21,544                 (34,872

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  724,586        40,873       1,193,568       91,268       854,608       191,842       81,366  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  (71,245)        15,746       (375,744     94,781       (307,947     (33,781     (607

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  5,005,414        59,537       10,495,260       188,950       6,894,306       (305,950     92,855  
         15       (191                 412       (2
  24,387,604        1,162,017       37,317,016       4,045,660       26,354,375       5,460,008       2,784,010  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  29,393,018        1,221,569       47,812,085       4,234,610       33,248,681       5,154,470       2,876,863  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $29,321,773        $1,237,315       $47,436,341       $4,329,391       $32,940,734       $5,120,689       $2,876,256  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
         $1,802       $2,279       $589       $4,629       $11,977       $11,241  

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    53


 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     Sit Balanced Fund            Sit Dividend Growth Fund  
     Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
June 30,

2020
           Six Months Ended
December 31,
2020 (Unaudited)
    Year Ended
June 30,
2020
 

Operations:

           

Net investment income (loss)

     $217,507       $369,252          $1,570,823       $3,661,546  

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

     300,391       696,800          8,316,872       10,697,810  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and foreign currency transactions

     7,134,385       2,719,030          30,094,260       (2,538,615
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     7,652,283       3,785,082          39,981,955       11,820,741  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions from:

           

Net investment income and net realized gains

           

Common shares (Class I)

     (801,971     (2,136,305        (12,575,977     (25,345,878

Common shares (Class S)

                    (1,885,036     (4,407,144
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (801,971     (2,136,305        (14,461,013     (29,753,022
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

           

Proceeds from shares sold

           

Common shares (Class I)

     11,780,134       17,316,727          7,385,110       25,105,046  

Common shares (Class S)

                    481,204       1,253,693  

Reinvested distributions

           

Common shares (Class I)

     791,979       2,103,223          11,888,153       23,804,702  

Common shares (Class S)

                    1,881,095       4,392,885  

Payments for shares redeemed

           

Common shares (Class I)

     (4,891,583     (8,876,091        (20,986,037     (75,291,359

Common shares (Class S)

                    (5,301,885     (13,413,244
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

     7,680,530       10,543,859          (4,652,360     (34,148,277
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     14,530,842       12,192,636          20,868,582       (52,080,558

Net assets:

           

Beginning of period

     46,657,501       34,464,865          201,851,794       253,932,352  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

     $61,188,343       $46,657,501          $222,720,376       $201,851,794  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions in shares:

           

Sold

           

Common shares (Class I)

     414,349       680,555          494,755       1,827,566  

Common shares (Class S)

                    32,805       92,706  

Reinvested distributions

           

Common shares (Class I)

     27,043       83,820          798,249       1,675,670  

Common shares (Class S)

                    126,956       310,474  

Redeemed

           

Common shares (Class I)

     (173,169     (370,549        (1,420,216     (5,513,813

Common shares (Class S)

                    (363,883     (995,697
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     268,223       393,826          (331,334     (2,603,094
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
54    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

        

    

 

  Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund  

           Sit Large Cap Growth Fund                Sit ESG Growth Fund    
Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
   Year Ended
June 30,
2020
       Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
June 30,
2020
       Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
June 30,
2020
    $181,714           $458,867            ($71,245 )       $200,539            $15,746       $48,643
    (535,696)          134,732            5,005,414       7,837,834            59,552       52,787
    7,423,138           942,590            24,387,604       14,917,326            1,162,017       285,159
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    7,069,156           1,536,189            29,321,773       22,955,699            1,237,315       386,589
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    (299,291)          (495,881 )            (7,944,944 )       (10,751,684 )            (24,675 )       (55,450 )
    (24,713)          (45,123 )                             (17,325 )       (44,523 )
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    (324,004)          (541,004 )            (7,944,944 )       (10,751,684 )            (42,000 )       (99,973 )
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    1,632,581           2,566,271            6,371,598       3,793,196            337,381       53,788
    69,541           493,938                             18,276       88,716
    281,789           473,429            7,789,099       10,576,386            24,675       55,450
    24,713           44,849                             17,325       44,523
    (2,003,894)          (3,345,936 )            (7,834,027 )       (14,001,032 )            (220,362 )       (168,614 )
    (421,547)          (538,748 )                             (44,888 )       (6,803 )
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    (416,817)          (306,197 )            6,326,670       368,550            132,407       67,060
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    6,328,335           688,988            27,703,499       12,572,565            1,327,722       353,676
    34,752,287           34,063,299            129,154,005       116,581,440            6,635,790       6,282,114
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    $41,080,622           $34,752,287            $156,857,504       $129,154,005            $7,963,512       $6,635,790
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    86,291           150,362            118,337       90,022            21,499       3,933
    3,782           32,537                             1,154       6,554
    15,797           29,095            143,077       246,824            1,528       3,936
    1,398           2,759                             1,078       3,173
    (108,511)          (206,028 )            (148,919 )       (334,238 )            (14,072 )       (13,142 )
    (22,911)          (32,495 )                             (3,063 )       (491 )
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 
    (24,154)          (23,770 )            112,495       2,608            8,124       3,963
 

 

 

      

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

          

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    55


 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

 

     Sit Mid Cap Growth Fund   Sit Small Cap
Dividend Growth Fund
     Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
June 30,

2020
    Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
June 30,
2020
 

Operations:

        

Net investment income (loss)

     ($375,744     ($449,745     $94,781       $171,566  

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

     10,495,069       8,299,165       188,950       (63,100

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and foreign currency transactions

     37,317,016       5,783,828       4,045,660       (650,584
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     47,436,341       13,633,248       4,329,391       (542,118
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from:

        

Net investment income and net realized gains

        

Common shares (Class I)

     (8,583,537     (12,018,685     (101,665     (143,293

Common shares (Class S)

                 (24,336     (37,709
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (8,583,537     (12,018,685     (126,001     (181,002
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

        

Proceeds from shares sold

        

Common shares (Class I)

     1,200,306       1,783,445       954,609       1,690,858  

Common shares (Class S)

                 94,904       114,119  

Reinvested distributions

        

Common shares (Class I)

     8,275,873       11,531,885       95,549       135,470  

Common shares (Class S)

                 23,008       35,517  

Payments for shares redeemed

        

Common shares (Class I)

     (7,318,564     (11,284,411     (1,230,152     (2,069,396

Common shares (Class S)

                 (178,320     (216,438
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

     2,157,615       2,030,919       (240,402     (309,870
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     41,010,419       3,645,482       3,962,988       (1,032,990

Net assets:

        

Beginning of period

     172,744,191       169,098,709       15,506,115       16,539,105  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of period

     $213,754,610       $172,744,191       $19,469,103       $15,506,115  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital transactions in shares:

        

Sold

        

Common shares (Class I)

     54,492       99,516       71,804       141,777  

Common shares (Class S)

                 7,073       9,990  

Reinvested distributions

        

Common shares (Class I)

     356,565       632,577       7,554       11,483  

Common shares (Class S)

                 1,818       2,979  

Redeemed

        

Common shares (Class I)

     (345,853     (638,495     (93,913     (174,897

Common shares (Class S)

                 (14,961     (21,280
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     65,204       93,598       (20,625     (29,948
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

   
56    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

 

    

 

Sit Small Cap Growth Fund     Sit International Growth Fund   Sit Developing Markets Growth Fund  
Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
     Year Ended
June 30,
2020
    Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
June 30,
2020
    Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
June 30,
2020
 
  ($307,947)        ($502,943     ($33,781     $79,522       ($607     $162,064  
  6,894,306          2,423,438       (305,538     (344,236     92,853       (26,021
  26,354,375          3,290,428       5,460,008       761,010       2,784,010       55,100  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  32,940,734          5,210,923       5,120,689       496,296       2,876,256       191,143  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  (4,398,753)        (3,070,107     (61,407     (227,001     (34,798     (185,000
  —                                   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  (4,398,753)        (3,070,107     (61,407     (227,001     (34,798     (185,000

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  1,910,080          1,513,165       1,342,942       906,266       953,353       936,308  
  —                                   
  4,280,437          3,017,215       60,436       222,999       34,052       180,261  
  —                                   
  (3,166,488)        (5,688,108     (875,743     (1,856,893     (587,409     (858,591
  —                                   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  3,024,029          (1,157,728     527,635       (727,628     399,996       257,978  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  31,566,010          983,088       5,586,917       (458,333     3,241,454       264,121  
  100,612,703          99,629,615       23,004,559       23,462,892       10,259,789       9,995,668  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $132,178,713          $100,612,703       $28,591,476       $23,004,559       $13,501,243       $10,259,789  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  28,222          28,064       67,257       52,331       48,942       57,066  
  —                                   
  59,649          54,719       2,881       12,584       1,656       10,714  
  —                                   
  (49,990)        (108,206     (45,295     (110,718     (32,877     (54,070
  —                                   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  37,881          (25,423     24,843       (45,803     17,721       13,710  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    57


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Balanced Fund

 

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
  December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $26.37                $25.06       $23.76       $22.71       $20.40       $21.54  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income 1

    0.11                0.25       0.32       0.25       0.25       0.26  

Net realized and unrealized gains

    3.96                2.64       1.52       1.96       2.29       0.04  
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    4.07                2.89       1.84       2.21       2.54       0.30  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.16)               (0.27     (0.31     (0.27     (0.23     (0.45

From net realized gains

    (0.25)               (1.31     (0.23     (0.89           (0.99
 

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (0.41)               (1.58     (0.54     (1.16     (0.23     (1.44
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $30.03                $26.37       $25.06       $23.76       $22.71       $20.40  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 2

            15.47%                11.91%       7.98%       9.84%       12.56%       1.47%  
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $61,188                $46,658       $34,465       $37,541       $25,242       $23,511  

Ratios: 3

           

Expenses

    1.00%                1.00%       1.00%       1.00%       1.00%       1.00%  

Net investment income

    0.80%                0.99%       1.33%       1.07%       1.18%       1.25%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    18.01%4                58.63%       50.45%       50.49%       50.31%       54.46%  

 

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

3 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

4 

Not annualized.

 

   
58    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Dividend Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
Class I   December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $13.48               $14.45       $16.69       $16.88       $15.82       $17.40  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income 1

    0.11               0.22       0.38       0.26       0.24       0.26  

Net realized and unrealized gains

    2.65               0.64       0.55       1.49       2.09       0.32  
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    2.76                0.86       0.93       1.75       2.33       0.58  
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees 2

    —                                         
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.17)               (0.24     (0.40     (0.26     (0.23     (0.32

From net realized gains

    (0.86)               (1.59     (2.77     (1.68     (1.04     (1.84
 

 

 

 

Total distributions.

    (1.03)               (1.83     (3.17     (1.94     (1.27     (2.16
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $15.21                $13.48       $14.45       $16.69       $16.88       $15.82  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

          20.66%                5.46%       8.37%       10.36%       15.41%       3.94%  
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $192,961                $172,746       $214,204       $918,584       $1,015,920       $942,244  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.00%5                1.00%5       1.00%5       1.00%5       1.00%       1.00%  

Expenses (with waiver)

    0.70%5                 0.70%5       0.70%5       0.78%5       1.00%       1.00%  

Net investment income (without waiver)

    1.20%                1.30%       2.04%       1.31%       1.49%       1.64%  

Net investment income (with waiver)

    1.50%                1.60%       2.34%       1.53%       1.49%       1.64%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    21.18%6                 68.43%       51.52%       68.38%       61.33%       75.94%  

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.00% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

6 

Not annualized.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    59


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements. (Continued)

 

Sit Dividend Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
Class S   December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $13.40                $14.37       $16.61       $16.81       $15.76       $17.34  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income 1

    0.09                0.19       0.32       0.22       0.20       0.22  

Net realized and unrealized gains

    2.64                0.63       0.57       1.47       2.08       0.32  
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    2.73                0.82       0.89       1.69       2.28       0.54  
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees

    —                2        2        2        2        2 
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.14)               (0.20     (0.36     (0.21     (0.19     (0.28

From net realized gains

    (0.86)               (1.59     (2.77     (1.68     (1.04     (1.84
 

 

 

 

Total distributions.

    (1.00)               (1.79     (3.13     (1.89     (1.23     (2.12
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $15.13                $13.40       $14.37       $16.61       $16.81       $15.76  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

    20.56%                5.19%       8.12%       10.06%       15.11%       3.68%  
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $29,759                $29,106       $39,729       $51,331       $65,278       $67,620  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.25%5                 1.25%5       1.25%5       1.25%5       1.25%       1.25%  

Expenses (with waiver)

    0.95%5                 0.95%5       0.95%5       1.03%5       1.25%       1.25%  

Net investment income (without waiver)

    0.95%                1.05%       1.80%       1.06%       1.24%       1.39%  

Net investment income (with waiver)

    1.25%                1.35%       2.10%       1.28%       1.24%       1.39%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    21.18%6                68.43%       51.52%       68.38%       61.33%       75.94%  

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.25% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

6 

Not annualized.

 

   
60    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
Class I   December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $16.87                $16.34       $15.24       $14.54       $13.19       $14.80  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income 1

    0.09                0.22       0.28       0.27       0.22       0.21  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    3.37                0.57       1.10       0.67       1.34       (0.48
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    3.46                0.79       1.38       0.94       1.56       (0.27
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees

      2                2        2               2       
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.16)              (0.26     (0.28     (0.24     (0.21     (0.34

From net realized gains

    —                                        (1.00
 

 

 

 

Total distributions.

    (0.16)              (0.26     (0.28     (0.24     (0.21     (1.34
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $20.17               $16.87       $16.34       $15.24       $14.54       $13.19  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

    20.65%                4.93%       9.18%       6.46%       11.94%       (1.67%
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $37,380                $31,361       $30,823       $28,778       $25,623       $22,333  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.25%5                 1.25% 5       1.25% 5       1.25% 5       1.25%       1.25%  

Expenses (with waiver)

    1.00%5                 1.00% 5       1.00% 5       1.06% 5       1.25%       1.25%  

Net investment income (without waiver)

    0.73%                1.11%       1.53%       1.59%       1.63%       1.56%  

Net investment income (with waiver)

    0.98%                1.36%       1.78%       1.78%       1.63%       1.56%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    6.98%6                 22.15%       15.07%       19.80%       32.04%       48.30%  

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.25% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

6 

Not annualized.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    61


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements. (Continued)

 

Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
Class S   December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $16.85                $16.33       $15.22       $14.53       $13.18       $14.78  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income 1

    0.07                0.18       0.24       0.23       0.19       0.18  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    3.38                0.56       1.11       0.66       1.33       (0.48
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    3.45                0.74       1.35       0.89       1.52       (0.30
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees

    — 2               2                         
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.13)              (0.22     (0.24     (0.20     (0.17     (0.30

From net realized gains

    —                                        (1.00
 

 

 

 

Total distributions.

    (0.13)              (0.22     (0.24     (0.20     (0.17     (1.30
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $20.17                $16.85       $16.33       $15.22       $14.53       $13.18  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

    20.57%                4.60%       8.98%       6.13%       11.67%       (1.89%
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $3,701                $3,391       $3,241       $3,246       $3,274       $2,861  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.50%5                 1.50% 5       1.50% 5       1.50% 5       1.50%       1.50%  

Expenses (with waiver)

    1.25%5                 1.25% 5       1.25% 5       1.31% 5       1.50%       1.50%  

Net investment income (without waiver)

    0.49%                0.87%       1.28%       1.33%       1.38%       1.31%  

Net investment income (with waiver)

    0.74%                1.12%       1.53%       1.52%       1.38%       1.31%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    6.98%6                 22.15%       15.07%       19.80%       32.04%       48.30%  

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.50% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

6 

Not annualized.

 

   
62    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Large Cap Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
    December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $47.07               $42.53       $42.40       $40.56       $36.02       $47.21  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income (loss) 1

    (0.03)              0.07       0.16       0.13       0.21       0.18  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    10.79               8.60       3.61       6.55       7.07       (0.42
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    10.76               8.67       3.77       6.68       7.28       (0.24
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees 2

    —                                        
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.02)              (0.12     (0.15     (0.17     (0.19     (1.44

From net realized gains

    (2.90)              (4.01     (3.49     (4.67     (2.55     (9.51
 

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (2.92)              (4.13     (3.64     (4.84     (2.74     (10.95
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $54.91                $47.07       $42.53       $42.40       $40.56       $36.02  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

    22.92%                21.34%       10.54%       16.93%       21.18%       (0.89%
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $156,858                $129,154       $116,581       $118,792       $113,620       $117,459  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses

    1.00%                1.00%       1.00%       1.00%       1.00%       1.00%  

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.10%)              0.17%       0.39%       0.30%       0.54%       0.44%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    6.51%5                 14.53%       16.02%       15.20%       17.69%       20.05%  

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Not annualized.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    63


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit ESG Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                          
Class I   December 31, 2020     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended  
    (Unaudited)     June 30, 2020     June 30, 2019     June 30, 2018     June 30, 2017 *  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

         

Beginning of period

    $13.85                $13.21           $12.37           $11.29           $10.00      
 

 

 

 

Operations:

         

Net investment income 1

    0.04                0.12           0.17           0.16           0.11      

Net realized and unrealized gains

    2.56                0.74           0.83           1.03           1.20      
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    2.60                0.86           1.00           1.19           1.31      
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees

    —  2              —           —           —           —      
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

From net investment income

    (0.10)              (0.17)         (0.16)         (0.11)         (0.02)    

From net realized gains

    —                (0.05)         —           —           —      
 

 

 

 

Total distributions.

    (0.10)              (0.22)         (0.16)         (0.11)         (0.02)    
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

         

End of period

    $16.35                $13.85           $13.21           $12.37           $11.29      
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 2

    18.75%                6.47%           8.30%           10.57%           13.13%      
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $4,250                $3,477           $3,387           $3,041           $2,349      

Ratios: 3

                  

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.25%4                 1.25%4            1.25%4           1.25%4            1.25%      

Expenses (with waiver)

    1.00%4                 1.00%4            1.00%4           1.06%4            1.25%      

Net investment income (without waiver)

    0.30%                0.63%           1.14%           1.10%           1.01%      

Net investment income (with waiver)

    0.55%                0.88%           1.38%           1.29%           1.01%      

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    5.75%5                 25.28%           9.26%           14.97%           27.60%      

 

*

The Fund commenced investment operations on June 30, 2016.

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

3 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

4 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.25% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

5 

Not annualized.

 

   
64    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements. (Continued)

 

Sit ESG Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                          
Class S   December 31, 2020     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended  
    (Unaudited)     June 30, 2020     June 30, 2019     June 30, 2018     June 30, 2017 *  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

         

Beginning of period

    $13.78                $13.16           $12.34           $11.28           $10.00        
 

 

 

 

Operations:

         

Net investment income 1

    0.02                0.08           0.14           0.13           0.08        

Net realized and unrealized gains

    2.54                0.74           0.83           1.03           1.21        
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    2.56                0.82           0.97           1.16           1.29        
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

From net investment income

    (0.08)              (0.15)         (0.15)         (0.10)         (0.01)      

From net realized gains

    —                (0.05)         —           —           —        
 

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (0.08)              (0.20)         (0.15)         (0.10)         (0.01)      
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

         

End of period

    $16.26                $13.78           $13.16           $12.34           $11.28        
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 2

    18.56%                6.22%           8.01%           10.37%           12.79%        
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $3,713                $3,158           $2,895           $2,660           $2,321        

Ratios: 3

                

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.50%4                 1.50%4            1.50%4           1.50%4            1.50%        

Expenses (with waiver)

    1.25%4                 1.25%4            1.25%4           1.31%4            1.50%        

Net investment income (without waiver)

    0.05%                0.38%           0.89%           0.84%           0.76%        

Net investment income (with waiver)

    0.30%                0.63%           1.14%           1.03%           0.76%        

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    5.75%5                 25.28%           9.26%           14.97%           27.60%        

 

*

The Fund commenced investment operations on June 30, 2016.

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

3 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

4 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.50% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

5 

Not annualized.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    65


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Mid Cap Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
    December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $19.05                $18.84       $18.96       $18.06       $15.36       $20.22  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment loss 1

    (0.04)               (0.05     (0.03     (0.03     —  2       (0.04

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    5.38                1.64       1.79       1.71       2.86       (1.92
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    5.34                1.59       1.76       1.68       2.86       (1.96
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees 2

    —                                         
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    —                             2              

From net realized gains

    (0.98)               (1.38     (1.88     (0.78     (0.16     (2.90
 

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (0.98)               (1.38     (1.88     (0.78     (0.16     (2.90
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $23.41                $19.05       $18.84       $18.96       $18.06       $15.36  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

    28.05%                8.75%       11.76%       9.42%       18.74%       (9.97%
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

            $213,755                $172,744       $169,099       $158,501       $156,305       $139,523  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses

    1.25%                1.25%       1.25%       1.25%       1.25%       1.25%  

Net investment loss

    (0.39%)               (0.27%     (0.16%     (0.17%     (0.01%     (0.23%

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    9.65%5                25.58%       27.70%       28.89%       23.02%       21.57%  

 

 

1 

The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Not annualized.

 

   
66    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
Class I   December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $11.39                $11.89       $12.27       $11.47       $10.00       $9.96  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income 1

    0.07                0.13       0.15       0.11       0.12       0.14  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    3.16                (0.49     (0.25     0.80       1.46       0.02  
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    3.23                (0.36     (0.10     0.91       1.58       0.16  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.10)               (0.14     (0.15     (0.11     (0.11     (0.12

From net realized gains

    —                      (0.13                  2  
 

 

 

 

Total distributions.

    (0.10)               (0.14     (0.28     (0.11     (0.11     (0.12
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $14.52                $11.39       $11.89       $12.27       $11.47       $10.00  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

            28.48%                (3.05%     (0.54%     8.00%       15.84%       1.71%  
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $14,813                $11,786       $12,559       $14,597       $12,716       $5,777  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.25%5                 1.25%5       1.25%5       1.25%5       1.25%       1.25%  

Expenses (with waiver)

    1.00%5                 1.00%5       1.00%5       1.06%5       1.25%       1.25%  

Net investment income (without waiver)

    0.91%                0.90%       1.07%       0.75%       1.06%       1.46%  

Net investment income (with waiver)

    1.16%                1.15%       1.32%       0.94%       1.06%       1.46%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    14.69%6                27.58%       24.17%       29.74%       19.57%       26.43%  

 

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.25% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

6 

Not annualized.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    67


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements. (Continued)

 

Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
Class S   December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $11.38                $11.88       $12.26       $11.46       $10.00       $9.96  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income 1

    0.06                0.10       0.12       0.08       0.09       0.11  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    3.16                (0.49     (0.25     0.80       1.45       0.03  
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    3.22                (0.39     (0.13     0.88       1.54       0.14  
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.08)               (0.11     (0.12     (0.08     (0.08     (0.10

From net realized gains

    —                      (0.13                  2  
 

 

 

 

Total distributions.

    (0.08)               (0.11     (0.25     (0.08     (0.08     (0.10
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $14.52                $11.38       $11.88       $12.26       $11.46       $10.00  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

            28.36%                (3.30%     (0.80%     7.74%       15.46%       1.46%  
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $4,656                $3,720       $3,981       $3,882       $3,461       $2,587  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses (without waiver)

    1.50%5                1.50%5       1.50%5       1.50%5       1.50%       1.50%  

Expenses (with waiver)

    1.25%5                1.25%5       1.25%5       1.31%5       1.50%       1.50%  

Net investment income (without waiver)

    0.66%                0.64%       0.82%       0.51%       0.81%       1.21%  

Net investment income (with waiver)

    0.91%                0.89%       1.07%       0.70%       0.81%       1.21%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    14.69%6                27.58%       24.17%       29.74%       19.57%       26.43%  

 

 

1 

The net investment income per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 1.50% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

6 

Not annualized.

 

   
68    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Small Cap Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
    December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $56.81                $55.46       $57.18       $54.18       $45.59       $60.10  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment loss 1

    (0.18)               (0.28     (0.25     (0.29     (0.24     (0.33

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    18.95                3.38       2.88       7.01       8.91       (8.97
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    18.77                3.10       2.63       6.72       8.67       (9.30
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees

    —                 2        2        2        2        2 
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net realized gains

    (2.51)               (1.75     (4.35     (3.72     (0.08     (5.21
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $73.07                $56.81       $55.46       $57.18       $54.18       $45.59  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

    33.13%                5.68%       6.45%       12.68%       19.06%       (16.00%
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

            $132,179                $100,613       $99,630       $100,038       $90,817       $81,209  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses

    1.50%                1.50%       1.50%       1.50%       1.50%       1.50%  

Net investment loss

    (0.54%)               (0.53%     (0.47%     (0.51%     (0.47%     (0.65%

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    14.14%5                 25.74%       26.34%       29.01%       29.08%       27.37%  

 

 

1 

The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Not annualized.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    69


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit International Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
    December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $17.38                $17.13       $16.75       $16.23       $14.48       $16.92  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income (loss) 1

    (0.03)               0.06       0.16       0.19       0.14       0.12  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    3.90                0.36       0.40       0.47       1.68       (1.47
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    3.87                0.42       0.56       0.66       1.82       (1.35
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees

    —                —  2              2       2        
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.05)               (0.17     (0.18     (0.14     (0.07     (0.09

From net realized gains

    —                                        (1.00
 

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (0.05)               (0.17     (0.18     (0.14     (0.07     (1.09
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $21.20                $17.38       $17.13       $16.75       $16.23       $14.48  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

            22.25%                2.43%       3.55%       4.06%       12.64%       (8.19%
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $28,591                $23,005       $23,463       $23,875       $22,618       $20,440  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses

    1.50%                1.50%       1.50%       1.50%       1.50%       1.50%  

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.26%)               0.35%       0.97%       1.11%       0.97%       0.76%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    5.03%5                 13.38%       27.38%       16.35%       39.23%       37.94%  

 

 

1 

The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Not annualized.

 

   
70    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout the period. See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Sit Developing Markets Growth Fund

 

 
    Six Months Ended                                
    December 31, 2020           Years Ended June 30,        
    (Unaudited)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

Beginning of period

    $16.28                $16.21       $17.25       $15.23       $12.26       $14.77  
 

 

 

 

Operations:

           

Net investment income (loss) 1

    — 2              0.26       0.10       0.03       (0.02     0.04  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

    4.61                0.11       (0.90     2.24       3.02       (2.18
 

 

 

 

Total from operations

    4.61                0.37       (0.80     2.27       3.00       (2.14
 

 

 

 

Redemption fees

    —                 2              2             2 
 

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

           

From net investment income

    (0.02)               (0.30     (0.08           (0.03     (0.02

From net realized gains

    (0.04)                     (0.16     (0.25           (0.35
 

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (0.06)               (0.30     (0.24     (0.25     (0.03     (0.37
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

           

End of period

    $20.83                $16.28       $16.21       $17.25       $15.23       $12.26  
 

 

 

 

Total investment return 3

    28.28%                2.20%       (4.43%     14.94%       24.56%       (14.42%
 

 

 

 

Net assets at end of period (000’s omitted)

    $13,501                $10,260       $9,996       $11,027       $9,561       $7,297  

Ratios: 4

           

Expenses (without waiver)

    2.00%5                2.00%5       2.00%5       2.00%5       2.00%       2.00%  

Expenses (with waiver)

    1.40%5                 1.40%5       1.40%5       1.54%5       2.00%       2.00%  

Net investment income (loss) (without waiver)

    (0.61%)               1.05%       0.03%       (0.26%     (0.18%     0.31%  

Net investment income (loss) (with waiver)

    (0.01%)               1.65%       0.63%       0.20%       (0.18%     0.31%  

Portfolio turnover rate (excluding short-term securities)

    4.14%6                4.15%       10.28%       30.30%       19.67%       28.14%  

 

1 

The net investment income (loss) per share is based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

2 

Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

 

3 

Total investment return is based on the change in net asset value of a share during the period (not annualized) and assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.

 

4 

Ratios are annualized for periods less than one year. In addition to fees and expenses which the Fund bears directly, the Fund indirectly bears a pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the acquired funds in which it invests. Such indirect expenses are not included in the above reported expense ratios.

 

5 

Total Fund expenses are limited to 2.00% of average daily net assets. However, during the period above, the investment advisor voluntarily absorbed expenses that were otherwise payable by the Fund.

 

6 

Not annualized.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    71


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended December 31, 2020

 

(1)

Organization

Sit Mutual Funds are no-load funds, and are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as amended) as diversified, open-end management investment companies, or series thereof. The Sit Balanced, Sit Dividend Growth, Sit Global Dividend Growth, Sit ESG Growth, Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth, Sit Small Cap Growth, Sit International Growth, and Sit Developing Markets Growth are series funds of Sit Mutual Funds, Inc.

This report covers the equity funds of the Sit Mutual Funds (the Funds). Each fund has 10 billion authorized shares of capital stock with a par value of $0.001. The investment objective for each Fund is as follows:

 

Fund    Investment Objective
Balanced    Long-term growth consistent with the preservation of principal and to provide regular income.
Dividend Growth    Provide current income that exceeds the dividend yield of the S&P 500® Index and that grows over a period of years. Secondarily, maximize long-term capital appreciation.
Global Dividend Growth    Provide current income that exceeds the dividend yield of the MSCI World Index that grows over a period of years. Secondarily, maximize long-term capital appreciation.
Large Cap Growth    Maximize long-term capital appreciation.
ESG Growth    Maximize long-term capital appreciation.
Mid Cap Growth    Maximize long-term capital appreciation.
Small Cap Dividend Growth    Provide current income that exceeds the yield of the Russell 2000® Index and that grows over a period of years. Secondarily, maximize long-term capital appreciation.
Small Cap Growth    Maximize long-term capital appreciation.
International Growth    Maximize long-term growth.
Developing Markets Growth    Maximize long-term capital appreciation.

The Dividend Growth, Global Dividend Growth, ESG Growth and Small Cap Dividend Growth Funds offer Class I and Class S shares. Both classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, and liquidation rights. The distribution fee differs among classes, the Class S shares have a 0.25% distribution fee, whereas Class I has no distribution fee. Income, expenses (other than class specific expenses) and realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments are allocated to each class of shares based upon its relative net assets.

 

(2)

Significant Accounting Policies

The Funds are investment companies and follow accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies”. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

Investments in Securities

Investments in securities traded on national or international securities exchanges are valued at the last reported sales price prior to the time when assets are valued. Equity securities traded on the over-the-counter market are valued at the last reported sales price or if the last sales price is not available, at the last reported bid price. The sale and bid prices or prices deemed best to reflect fair value quoted by dealers who make markets in these securities are obtained from independent pricing services. Consistent with the Funds’ valuation policies and procedures, debt securities maturing in more than 60 days are priced by an independent pricing service. The pricing service may use models that price securities based on current yields and relative security characteristics, such as coupon rate, maturity date, issuer credit quality, and prepayment speeds as applicable. When market quotations are not readily available, or when the Adviser becomes aware that a significant event impacting the value of a security or group of securities has occurred after the closing of the exchange on which the security or securities principally trade, but before the calculation of the daily net asset value, securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith using procedures established by the Board of Directors. The procedures consider, among

 

   
72    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

others, the following factors to determine a security’s fair value: the nature and pricing history (if any) of the security; whether any dealer quotations for the security are available; and possible valuation methodologies that could be used to determine the fair value of the security. Debt securities of sufficient credit quality maturing in less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

Security transactions are accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Securities gains and losses are calculated on the identified-cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or upon the receipt of ex-dividend notification in the case of certain foreign securities. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis, including level-yield amortization of long-term bond premium and discount using the effective yield method.

Fair Value Measurements

The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Funds’ investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

• Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. An active market for the security is a market in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. A quoted price in an active market provides the most reliable evidence of fair value.

• Level 2 – debt securities are valued based on evaluated prices received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. For corporate bonds, U.S. government and government agency obligations, and municipal securities the pricing services utilize matrix pricing which considers yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type as well as dealer supplied prices. For asset-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities, the pricing services utilize matrix pricing which considers prepayment speed assumptions, attributes of the collateral, yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type as well as dealer supplied prices. For foreign equities, the pricing services adjust closing prices by applying a systematic process for events occurring after the close of the foreign exchange by utilizing such inputs as Depositary Receipts, quoted prices for similar securities, exchange rates, and certain indexes. All of these inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. An adjustment to any observable input that is significant to the fair value may render the measurement a Level 3 measurement.

• Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs, including the Adviser’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

A summary of the levels for the Funds’ investments as of December 31, 2020 is included with the Funds’ schedule of investments.

Foreign Currency Translations and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

The fair value of securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies for Global Dividend Growth, ESG Growth, International Growth and Developing Markets Growth Funds are translated daily into U.S. dollars at the closing rate of exchange (approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Purchases and sales of securities, income and expenses are translated at the exchange rate on the transaction date. Dividend and interest income includes currency exchange gains (losses) realized between the accrual and payment dates on such income. Exchange gains (losses) may also be realized between the trade and settlement dates on security and forward contract transactions. For securities denominated in foreign currencies, the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on realized and unrealized gains or losses is reflected as a component of such gains or losses.

The Global Dividend Growth, ESG Growth, International Growth and Developing Markets Growth Funds may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts generally for operational purposes, but the Adviser may occasionally utilize contracts to protect against adverse exchange rate fluctuation. Any gains (losses) generated by these contracts are disclosed separately on the statement of operations. The net U.S. dollar value of foreign currency underlying all contractual commitments held by the Funds and the resulting unrealized appreciation or depreciation is determined using foreign currency exchange rates from an independent pricing service. The Funds are subject to the credit risk that the other party will not complete the obligations of the contract.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    73


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended December 31, 2020 (Continued)

 

Federal Taxes

The Funds’ policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of their taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no income tax provision is required. In order to avoid the payment of any federal excise taxes, the Funds will distribute substantially all of their net investment income and net realized gains on a calendar year basis. Also, the Funds may utilize equalization accounting for tax purposes, whereby a portion of redemption payments are treated as distributions of income or gain for income tax purposes.

Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions taken in federal tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of December 31, 2020, no provision for income tax would be required in the Funds’ financial statements. The Funds’ federal and state income and federal excise tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue until such time as the applicable statute of limitations for audit has expired. For example, U.S. tax returns are generally subject to audit for three years from the date they are filed.

At December 31, 2020, the gross unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and cost of securities on a tax basis for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

   

Unrealized

Appreciation

 

Unrealized

    Depreciation    

 

Net Unrealized

Appreciation

    (Depreciation)    

 

Cost of

    Securities on a    

Tax Basis

Balanced

      $16,924,668       ($118,275 )       $16,806,393       $44,195,636  

Dividend Growth

      63,089,258       (399,141 )       62,690,117       159,452,575  

Global Dividend Growth

      16,531,758       (87,330 )       16,444,428       24,616,756  

Large Cap Growth

      96,337,604       (268,900 )       96,068,704       61,174,723  

ESG Growth

      2,923,106       (7,973 )       2,915,133       5,040,922  

Mid Cap Growth

      115,461,518       (118,138 )       115,343,380       98,737,913  

Small Cap Dividend Growth

      5,977,568       (208,397 )       5,769,171       13,735,807  

Small Cap Growth

      66,914,721       (297,138 )       66,617,583       65,679,186  

International Growth

      11,106,613       (240,225 )       10,866,388       17,699,409  

Developing Markets Growth

      5,967,780       (563,799 )       5,403,981       8,090,069  

Net investment income and net realized gains differ for financial statement and tax purposes because of corporate actions on shares held and/or losses deferred due to “wash sale” transactions. A “wash sale” occurs when a Fund sells a security that it has acquired within a period beginning thirty days before and ending thirty days after the date of sale (a sixty one day period). The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may also differ from its ultimate characterization for tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the year that the income or realized gains (losses) were recorded by the Funds. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

   
74    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

Year Ended June 30, 2020:               
     Ordinary Income             

Long Term

Capital Gain

             Total  

Balanced

     $486,523           $1,649,782           $2,136,305  

Dividend Growth (Class I)

     4,432,308           20,913,570           25,345,878  

Dividend Growth (Class S)

     695,533           3,711,611           4,407,144  

Global Dividend Growth (Class I)

     495,881                     495,881  

Global Dividend Growth (Class S)

     45,123                     45,123  

Large Cap Growth

     313,002           10,438,682           10,751,684  

ESG Growth (Class I)

     43,224           12,226           55,450  

ESG Growth (Class S)

     33,888           10,635           44,523  

Mid Cap Growth

               12,018,685           12,018,685  

Small Cap Dividend Growth (Class I)

     143,293                     143,293  

Small Cap Dividend Growth (Class S)

     37,709                     37,709  

Small Cap Growth

               3,070,107           3,070,107  

International Growth

     227,001                     227,001  

Developing Markets Growth

     185,000                     185,000  

Year Ended June 30, 2019:

              
     Ordinary Income             

Long Term

Capital Gain

             Total  

Balanced

     $459,001           $342,301           $801,302  

Dividend Growth (Class I)

     17,847,831           86,972,912           104,820,743  

Dividend Growth (Class S)

     1,193,973           7,639,936           8,833,909  

Global Dividend Growth (Class I)

     521,860                     521,860  

Global Dividend Growth (Class S)

     49,144                     49,144  

Large Cap Growth

     456,987           9,477,676           9,934,663  

ESG Growth (Class I)

     40,551                     40,551  

ESG Growth (Class S)

     31,449                     31,449  

Mid Cap Growth

     1,152,232           14,273,917           15,426,149  

Small Cap Dividend Growth (Class I)

     169,480           147,220           316,700  

Small Cap Dividend Growth (Class S)

     38,521           42,395           80,916  

Small Cap Growth

               7,455,033           7,455,033  

International Growth

     245,338                     245,338  

Developing Markets Growth

     49,252           102,896           152,148  

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    75


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended December 31, 2020 (Continued)

 

As of June 30, 2020, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

    

Undistributed

Ordinary

Income

    

Undistributed

Long-Term

Capital Gains

    

Accumulated

Capital and

Other Losses

   

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

Balanced

     $183,595        $381,405              $9,662,762    

Dividend Growth

     821,481        12,122,888        ($6,693,354     30,434,251  

Global Dividend Growth

     139,947               (1,047,906     9,018,289  

Large Cap Growth

     63,675        4,230,801              71,680,331  

ESG Growth

     21,980               (96,362     1,753,148  

Mid Cap Growth

            4,894,109        (260,780     77,717,546  

Small Cap Dividend Growth

     37,627               (253,454     1,726,092  

Small Cap Growth

            702,416        (733,699     40,214,033  

International Growth

     61,406               (1,422,363     5,386,080  

Developing Markets Growth

     10,868               (31,404     2,608,634  

Net capital loss carryovers and late year losses, if any, as of June 30, 2020, are available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future capital gains distributions. The Funds’ are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an unlimited period. Capital losses that are carried forward retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. The net capital loss carryovers and the late year losses deferred as of June 30, 2020, were as follows:

 

     Unlimited Period of Net      Late Year      
     Capital Loss Carryover      Losses Deferred       
         Short-Term          Long-Term      Ordinary          Capital        

Dividend Growth

                          $6,693,354         

Global Dividend Growth

     $1,047,906                         

ESG Growth

                          96,362    

Mid Cap Growth

                   $260,780           

Small Cap Dividend Growth

     101,296        $152,158                  

Small Cap Growth

                   286,404        447,295    

International Growth

     1,086,655        335,708                  

Developing Markets Growth

     31,404                         

For the year ended June 30, 2020, the Funds’ utilized capital losses and expired capital losses as follows:

 

             Utilized              Expired                                      

Global Dividend Growth

     $133,881        

ESG Growth

     126,311        

Distributions

Distributions to shareholders are recorded as of the close of business on the record date. Such distributions are payable in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Funds’ capital stock. Distributions from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly for the Balanced, Dividend Growth, Global Dividend Growth and Small Cap Dividend Growth Funds and declared and paid annually for Developing Markets Growth, Small Cap Growth, International Growth, Mid Cap Growth, Large Cap Growth and ESG Growth Funds. Distributions from net realized gains, if any, will be made annually for each of the Funds.

Concentration of Investments

The Developing Markets Growth Fund may concentrate investments in countries with limited or developing capital markets which may involve greater risks than investments in more developed markets and the prices of such investments may be volatile. The consequences

 

   
76    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

of political, social or economic changes in these markets may have disruptive effects on the market prices of the Fund’s investments and the income it generates, as well as the Fund’s ability to repatriate such amounts.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported results for the respective periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

Under each Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and directors are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to each Fund. In addition, certain of each Fund’s contracts with its service providers contain general indemnification clauses. Each Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown since the amount of any future claims that may be made against each Fund cannot be determined and each Fund has no historical basis for predicting the likelihood of any such claims.

 

(3)

Investment Security Transactions

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, other than short-term securities, for the six months ended December 31, 2020, were as follows:

 

     Purchases    Proceeds
    

 

 

 
                 U.S. Government    Other    U.S. Government    Other
    

 

 

 

Balanced

       $3,954,013        $12,943,811        $1,876,147        $7,349,854

Dividend Growth

              44,441,682               61,736,884

Global Dividend Growth

              2,561,756               2,823,307

Large Cap Growth

              9,224,751               10,733,064

ESG Growth

              726,273               400,001

Mid Cap Growth

              17,824,683               21,322,402

Small Cap Dividend Growth

              2,434,551               2,755,829

Small Cap Growth

              15,601,111               16,637,779

International Growth

              1,404,681               1,252,978

Developing Markets Growth

              501,426               453,788

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    77


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended December 31, 2020 (Continued)

 

(4)

Affiliated Fees and Transactions

Investment Adviser

The Funds each have entered into an investment management agreement with Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (SIA), under which SIA manages the Funds’ assets and provides research, statistical and advisory services, and pays related office rental, executive expenses and executive salaries. The current fee for investment management and advisory services is based on the average daily net assets of the Funds at the annual rate of:

 

         Net of Adviser’s
     Management Fee   Voluntary Fee Waiver

Balanced

       1.00 %       N/A

Dividend Growth Fund Class I and Class S

       1.00 %       0.70 %

Global Dividend Growth Fund Class I and Class S

       1.25 %       1.00 %

Large Cap Growth

       1.00 %       N/A

ESG Growth Fund Class I and Class S

       1.25 %       1.00 %

Mid Cap Growth

       1.25 %       N/A

Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund Class I and Class S

       1.25 %       1.00 %

Small Cap Growth

       1.50 %       N/A

International Growth

       1.50 %       N/A

Developing Markets Growth

       2.00 %       1.40 %

SIA is obligated to pay all of the Funds’ expenses (excluding extraordinary expenses, stock transfer taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, 12b-1 fees and other transaction charges relating to investing activities).

In addition to the annual management fees, the Class S shares of Dividend Growth, Global Dividend Growth, ESG Growth and Small Cap Dividend Growth Funds also have a 0.25% annual distribution (12b-1) fee, which is used to pay for distribution fees related to the sale and distribution of its shares.

Effective October 1, 2017, the Adviser has agreed to limit the management fee of the Dividend Growth Fund to 0.70%, the Global Dividend Growth Fund to 1.00%, the ESG Growth Fund to 1.00%, the Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund to 1.00% and the Developing Markets Growth Fund to 1.40% for the period through June 30, 2021 of the Fund’s daily average net assets, respectively.

Transactions with affiliates

The investment adviser, affiliates of the investment adviser, directors and officers of the Funds as a whole owned the following shares as of December 31, 2020:

 

          % Shares     
         Shares                Outstanding                                

Balanced

       371,639        18.2     

Dividend Growth

       1,615,890        11.0     

Global Dividend Growth

       517,211        25.4     

Large Cap Growth

       790,815        27.7     

ESG Growth

       464,165        95.0     

Mid Cap Growth

       4,459,382        48.8     

Small Cap Dividend Growth

       670,250        50.0     

Small Cap Growth

       1,028,178        56.8     

International Growth

       790,726        58.6     

Developing Markets Growth

       310,711        47.9     

 

   
78    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

    

    

 

(5)

Capital Share Activity

Short-Term Trading (Redemption) Fees

The Funds (except Balanced) charge a redemption fee equal to 2.00% of the proceeds on shares held for less than 30 calendar days. The fee is retained by the Fund for the benefit of its long-term shareholders and accounted for as an addition to paid in capital. For the six months ended December 31, 2020, the Funds received the following redemption fees:

 

     Class I            Class S                                            

Dividend Growth

       $44        $—     

Global Dividend Growth

       27        2     

Large Cap Growth

       2,729            

ESG Growth

       1            

Mid Cap Growth

       2            

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    79


 

EXPENSE EXAMPLE (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

Actual Expenses

The first line of the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line of the table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance 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, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs (redemption fees) were included, your costs would have been higher.

Fund  

Beginning

Account

Value

(7/1/20)

 

Ending

Account

Value

(12/31/20)

 

Expenses

Paid During

Period*

(7/1/20-

12/31/20)

 
Balanced Fund

Actual

    $ 1,000     $ 1,154.70     $ 5.43

Hypothetical

    $ 1,000     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09
           
 
Dividend Growth Fund

Actual

           

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,206.60     $ 3.89

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,205.60     $ 5.28

Hypothetical

 

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,021.68     $ 3.57

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,020.42     $ 4.84
           
 
Global Dividend Growth Fund

Actual

           

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,206.50     $ 5.56

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,205.70     $ 6.95

Hypothetical

 

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,018.90     $ 6.36
           
 
Large Cap Growth Fund

Actual

    $ 1,000     $ 1,229.20     $ 5.62

Hypothetical

    $ 1,000     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09
           
 
ESG Growth Fund

Actual

           

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,187.50     $ 5.51

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,185.60     $ 6.89

Hypothetical

 

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,018.90     $ 6.36
           
 
Mid Cap Growth Fund

Actual

    $ 1,000     $ 1,280.50     $ 7.19

Hypothetical

    $ 1,000     $ 1,018.90     $ 6.36
           
 
Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund

Actual

           

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,284.80     $ 5.76

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,283.60     $ 7.19

Hypothetical

 

Class I

    $ 1,000     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09

Class S

    $ 1,000     $ 1,018.90     $ 6.36
 

 

   
80    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

EXPENSE EXAMPLE (Unaudited) (Continued)

    

 

Fund  

Beginning

Account

Value

(7/1/20)

 

Ending

Account

Value

(12/31/20)

 

Expenses

Paid During

Period*

(7/1/20-

12/31/20)

 
Small Cap Growth Fund

Actual

    $ 1,000     $ 1,331.30     $ 8.81

Hypothetical

    $ 1,000     $ 1,017.64     $ 7.63
           
 
International Growth Fund

Actual

    $ 1,000     $ 1,222.50     $ 8.40

Hypothetical

    $ 1,000     $ 1,017.64     $ 7.63
           
 
Developing Markets Growth Fund

Actual

    $ 1,000     $ 1,282.80     $ 8.06

Hypothetical

    $ 1,000     $ 1,018.15     $ 7.12

*Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 0.70% for the Dividend Growth, Class I Fund; 0.95% for the Dividend Growth, Class S Fund; 1.00%, for the Balanced, Global Dividend Growth, Class I, Large Cap Growth, ESG Growth, Class I, and Small Cap Dividend Growth, Class I Funds; 1.25% for Dividend Growth, Class S, Global Dividend Growth, Class S, ESG Growth, Class S, Mid Cap Growth, and Small Cap Dividend Growth, Class S Funds;1.40% for Developing Markets Growth Fund and 1.50% for Small Cap Growth, and International Growth Funds, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period.)

 

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    81


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

    

 

 

PROXY VOTING

A description of the policies and procedures that Sit Investment uses to vote proxies related to the Funds’ portfolio securities is set forth in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, which is available on the Funds’ website at www.sitfunds.com, without charge by calling 800-332-5580 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at www.sec.gov. The Funds’ proxy voting record is available without charge by calling 800-332-5580 and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov no later than August 31 for the prior 12 months ending June.

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS SCHEDULES

Each Fund files a complete schedule of investments with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Form N-PORT is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Each Fund’s complete schedule of investments, as filed on Form N-PORT, is also available on its website at www.sitfunds.com, or without charge by calling 800-332-5580.

STATEMENT REGARDING LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”) to promote effective liquidity risk management throughout the open-end investment company industry, thereby reducing the risk that funds will be unable to meet their redemption obligations and mitigating dilution of the interests of fund shareholders.

At their joint meeting held on October 19, 2020, the Boards of Directors (the “Boards”) of the Sit Mutual Funds (the “Funds”) reviewed the Funds’ liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) pursuant to the Liquidity Rule. Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (“SIA”), the investment adviser to the Funds, serves as the Program Administrator and provided the Boards with a report that addressed the operation of the Program and assessed its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation and any material changes to the Program as of September 30, 2020 (the “Report”).

The Report described its liquidity classification methodology and the determination that a Highly Liquid Investment Minimum is not currently necessary for any Fund. The Report also noted that the Program complied with the key factors for consideration under the Liquidity Rule for assessing, managing, and periodically reviewing liquidity risk, as follows:

A. Each Fund’s investment strategy and liquidity of investments during both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions: SIA reviewed each Fund’s strategy and the determinations that each strategy remains appropriate for an open-end fund. This determination was based on each Fund’s holding’s liquidity, diversification, and average position size.

B. Short-term and long-term cash flow projections during both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions: The Report indicated that it considered historical net redemption activity and shareholder ownership concentration and distribution channels to determine each Fund’s Reasonably Anticipated Trading Size. It was also noted that each Fund has adopted an in-kind redemption policy which may be utilized to meet large redemption requests.

C. Holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as borrowing arrangements: The report reviewed each Fund’s holdings of cash and cash equivalents, available borrowing arrangements if any, and other funding sources.

There were no material changes to the Program during the past year. The Report stated that SIA concluded that the Program is operating as intended and is effective in implementing the requirements of the Liquidity Rule.

 

   
82    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Continued)

    

    

 

RE-APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

At their joint meeting held on October 19, 2020 the Boards of Directors of the Sit Mutual Funds unanimously approved the continuation for another one year period the investment management agreements entered into by and between Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (“SIA”) and Sit Mid Cap Growth Fund, Inc. dated November 1, 1996; Sit Large Cap Growth Fund, Inc. dated November 1, 1996; and Sit Mutual Funds Inc., dated November 1, 1992 (the “Agreements”).

The Boards approved the Agreements after a lengthy discussion and consideration of various factors relating to the Boards’ selection of SIA as the investment adviser, and the Boards’ approval of the fees to be paid under the Agreements.

Investment Adviser Criteria. The Directors began their analysis by discussing their criteria for determining the quality of an investment adviser. The Directors’ noted that their analysis is similar to that used by institutional investors in evaluating and selecting investment advisers. The Directors discussed several factors used to determine the overall quality of an investment adviser and the nature, extent and quality of the services performed by SIA, including the following:

Investment Philosophy and Process. The Directors considered SIA’s philosophy of managing assets. With respect to equity securities, SIA identifies growth-oriented securities issued by companies with the potential for earnings growth at a faster rate than the general economy and market index. SIA believes that earnings growth is the primary determinant of superior long-term returns for equity securities, and invests in companies it believes exhibit above market and consistent growth as well as conservative and cyclical growth companies. SIA’s actively managed portfolios not only concentrate on the best growth opportunities but do so at reasonable valuation levels. The Directors determined that the Stock Funds’ investment objectives are consistent with SIA’s investment philosophy and growth style. The Directors reviewed the Stock Funds’ portfolio characteristics, and noted that SIA has consistently managed the Stock Funds in a growth style and the Directors found no indication of style drift away from growth stocks over market cycles. The Directors noted that in periods during which growth stocks have generally under-performed relative to value stocks, the Stock Funds may not rank favorably in comparisons with other funds investing in value stocks.

The Directors discussed SIA’s consistent and well-defined investment process. With respect to equity securities, SIA utilizes a team based top-down and bottom-up investment decision making process.

Investment Professionals. The Directors discussed the experience, knowledge and organizational stability of SIA and its investment professionals. The Directors noted that SIA’s senior professionals are actively involved in the investment process and have significant investment industry experience.

The Directors discussed the depth of SIA’s investment staff. The Directors noted that SIA has over 30 investment professionals. Given the investment products offered by SIA and the assets under management, the Directors determined that SIA’s investment staff is well positioned to meet the current needs of its clients, including the Funds, and to accommodate growth in the number of clients and assets under management for the near future. The Directors concluded that the depth of the investment staff, and in particular senior management and investment analysts, is actually greater than the Funds currently require at their present asset size. The Directors noted that SIA has the resources of a $14.9 billion investment firm working for the benefit of the Fund shareholders.

Investment Performance. The Directors reviewed and discussed the Funds’ investment performance on an absolute and comparable basis for various periods as discussed below. The Directors noted that the investment performance of the Funds has generally been competitive with indices and other funds with similar investment styles as the Funds, such as equity growth funds.

Corporate Culture. The Directors discussed SIA’s corporate values to operate under the highest ethical and professional standards. SIA’s culture is set and practiced by senior management who insist that all professionals exhibit honesty and integrity. The Board noted that the firm’s values are evident in all of the services provided to the Funds.

Review of Specific Factors. The Directors continued their analysis by reviewing specific information on SIA and the Funds and specific terms of the Agreements, including the following.

 

   
DECEMBER 31, 2020    83


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Continued)

    

 

Investment Performance. The Directors reviewed investment performance of each Fund for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, year-to-date, 1 year, 5 years (as applicable), 10 years (as applicable) and since inception, both on an absolute basis and on a comparative basis to indices and mutual funds within the same investment categories. As noted above, the Directors concluded that the investment performance of the Funds has been competitive in relation to their stated objectives and strategies on a comparable basis with funds with similar objectives and strategies.

Fees and Expenses. The Directors noted that the Funds pay SIA a monthly fee and SIA is responsible for all of the Funds’ expenses, except interest, brokerage commissions and transaction charges, certain extraordinary expenses, and fees paid under a distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for Class S shares of Sit Dividend Growth Fund, Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund, Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund, and Sit ESG Growth Fund. The Directors reviewed fees paid in prior years and the current fees to be paid under the Agreements both before and after fee waivers with respect to Sit Developing Markets Growth Fund, Sit Dividend Growth Fund, Sit Global Dividend Growth Fund, Sit Small Cap Dividend Growth Fund, and Sit ESG Growth Fund.

The Directors compared each Fund’s expense ratio to the average and median expense ratios of no-load mutual funds within the same Morningstar, Inc. investment category, the average expense ratios for load funds within the Morningstar category, and the average expense ratios for all funds within the Morningstar category. Certain of the Fund’s expense ratios were higher than the averages, and certain of the Fund’s expense ratios were lower than the averages. The Directors noted that the Morningstar no-load categories include funds of various asset sizes, some of which are significantly larger in assets than the Funds. The Directors found each Fund’s total expense ratio to be within an acceptable range compared to the total expense ratios of other no-load funds within the Fund’s Morningstar category. The Directors concluded that the fees paid by the Funds are reasonable and appropriate.

The Directors reviewed the extent to which the fees to be paid under the Agreements by each Fund may be affected by an increase in the Fund’s assets, which included reviewing each Fund’s current and historical assets and the likelihood and magnitude of future increases in the Fund’s assets. The Directors agreed that it is appropriate that the Funds benefit from improved economies of scale as the Funds’ assets increase. However, the Directors concluded that given the amount of the Funds’ current assets and the likelihood and magnitude of future increases in the Funds’ assets, negotiating a graduated fee structure for each Fund is unnecessary at this time since the fees to be paid under the current Agreements are reasonable and appropriate.

The Directors reviewed the expenses paid by SIA relating to the operations of the Funds, and SIA’s income with respect to the management of the Funds for the past two calendar years. The Directors concluded that the expenses paid were appropriate.

The Directors reviewed SIA’s investment advisory fee schedule for investment management services provided to other clients. The Directors compared the services provided to the Funds and other clients of SIA and recognized that the Funds’ expenses are borne by SIA except as noted above. The Directors concluded that the fees paid by the Funds in relation to the fees paid by other SIA clients were appropriate and reasonable. The Directors also concluded that SIA’s profit margin with respect to the management of the Funds was appropriate.

The Directors discussed the extent to which SIA receives benefits from the relationship with the Funds such as soft dollar arrangements by which brokers provide research services to SIA as a result of brokerage generated by the Funds. The Board concluded that any benefits SIA receives from its relationship with the Funds are well within industry norms and are reflected in the amount of the fees paid by the Funds to SIA and are appropriate and reasonable.

Non-Advisory Services. The Directors considered the quality of non-advisory services which SIA provides to the Funds (and their shareholders) and the quality and depth of SIA’s non-investment personnel who provide such services. Directors concluded that the level of such services and the quality and depth of such personnel are consistent with industry standards.

Finally, the Directors considered the compliance staff and the regulatory history of SIA and the Funds and concluded that both are consistent with industry standards.

Based on these conclusions, without any single conclusion being dispositive, the Directors determined that renewal of the Agreements was in the interest of each Fund and its shareholders.

 

   
84    SIT MUTUAL FUNDS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


 

Semi-Annual Report

  

December 31, 2020

  

INVESTMENT ADVISER

   INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

Sit Investment Associates, Inc.

   ACCOUNTING FIRM

80 S. Eighth Street

   KPMG LLP

Suite 3300

   Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis, MN 55402

  
   GENERAL COUNSEL

CUSTODIAN

   Dorsey & Whitney LLP

The Bank Of New York Mellon

   Minneapolis, MN

111 Sanders Creek Parkway

  

Syracuse, NY 13057

  

TRANSFER AGENT AND

  

DISBURSING AGENT

  

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

  

4400 Computer Drive

  

Westborough, MA 01581

  

   LOGO

  Sit Mutual Funds   

1-800-332-5580

  

www.sitfunds.com

  

Sit Stock 12-20


Item 2:

Code of Ethics. Not applicable to Semi-Annual Report.

 

Item 3:

Audit Committee Financial Expert.     Not applicable to Semi-Annual Report.

 

Item 4:

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.     Not applicable to Semi-Annual Report.

 

Item 5:

Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

 

Item 6:

Schedule of Investments.

The schedule of investments is 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.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

 

Item 8:

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.


Item 9:

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

 

Item 10.

  Submission of Matters to a vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors.

 

Item 11:

  Controls and Procedures -

(a)    Based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the Filing Date, the Registrant’s Chairman and Treasurer have determined that the Disclosure Controls and Procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Act) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by the filing Date, and that information required to be disclosed in the report is communicated to the Registrant’s management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

b)    There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the Registrant’s last fiscal half-year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12:

  Exhibits:

(a)    The following exhibits are attached to this Form N-CSR:

(2)     A separate certification for each principal executive and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2) (certification required by Section  302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).

(b)     Certification required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (certification required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Sit Large Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
By   (Signature and Title)              /s/ Paul E. Rasmussen
      Paul E. Rasmussen
      Vice President, Treasurer
Date   February 26, 2021    

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By   (Signature and Title)              /s/ Paul E. Rasmussen
      Paul E. Rasmussen
      Vice President, Treasurer
Date   February 26, 2021    
By   (Signature and Title)     /s/ Roger J. Sit
      Roger J. Sit
      Chairman
Date   February 26, 2021