N-CSRS 1 e105224.htm
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549


FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-5032

BARON INVESTMENT FUNDS TRUST f/k/a
BARON ASSET FUND


(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

767 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor
New York, NY 10153

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


Patrick M. Patalino, General Counsel
c/o Baron Investment Funds Trust
767 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor
New York, NY 10153

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)


(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code): 212-583-2000

Date of fiscal year end: September 30

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2015

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17CRF 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. Section 3507.


Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

SEC 2569 (5-07)


Item 1.  Reports to Stockholders.

         
         
  Baron Asset Fund    
Baron Funds®
  Baron Growth Fund    
  Baron Small Cap Fund    
  Baron Opportunity Fund    
  Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund    
  Baron Discovery Fund
 
   
         
         
 
March 31, 2015
    Semi-Annual Financial Report
         
         

 
Baron Asset Fund    
Ticker Symbols:    

Retail Shares: BARAX

   

Institutional Shares: BARIX

   
Performance   2
Top Ten Holdings   3
Sector Breakdown   3
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance   3
 
Baron Growth Fund    
Ticker Symbols:    

Retail Shares: BGRFX

   

Institutional Shares: BGRIX

   
Performance   4
Top Ten Holdings   5
Sector Breakdown   5
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance   5
 
Baron Small Cap Fund    
Ticker Symbols:    

Retail Shares: BSCFX

   

Institutional Shares: BSFIX

   
Performance   6
Top Ten Holdings   7
Sector Breakdown   7
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance   7
 
Baron Opportunity Fund    
Ticker Symbols:    

Retail Shares: BIOPX

   

Institutional Shares: BIOIX

   
Performance   8
Top Ten Holdings   9
Sector Breakdown   9
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance   9
 
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund    
Ticker Symbols:    

Retail Shares: BFTHX

   

Institutional Shares: BFTIX

   
Performance   10
Top Ten Holdings   11
Sector Breakdown   11
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance   11
 
Baron Discovery Fund    
Ticker Symbols:    

Retail Shares: BDFFX

   

Institutional Shares: BDFIX

   
Performance   12
Top Ten Holdings   13
Sector Breakdown   13
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance   13
 
Financial Statements    
 
Statements of Net Assets   14
Statements of Assets and Liabilities   28
Statements of Operations   29
Statements of Changes in Net Assets   30
Notes to Financial Statements   32
 
Financial Highlights   40
 
Fund Expenses   46
 
DEAR BARON FUNDS SHAREHOLDER:
In this report, you will find unaudited financial statements for Baron Asset Fund, Baron Growth Fund, Baron Small Cap Fund, Baron Opportunity Fund, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund and Baron Discovery Fund (the “Funds”) for the six months ended March 31, 2015. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) requires mutual funds to furnish these statements semiannually to their shareholders. We hope you find these statements informative and useful.
We thank you for choosing to join us as fellow shareholders in Baron Funds. We will continue to work hard to justify your confidence.
Sincerely,
   
         
Ronald Baron   Linda S. Martinson   Peggy Wong
Chief Executive Officer and   Chairman, President and   Treasurer and
Chief Investment Officer   Chief Operating Officer   Chief Financial Officer
May 21, 2015   May 21, 2015   May 21, 2015
           
This Semi-Annual Financial Report is for the Baron Investment Funds Trust, which currently has six series: Baron Asset Fund, Baron Growth Fund, Baron Small Cap Fund, Baron Opportunity Fund, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund and Baron Discovery Fund. If you are interested in the Baron Select Funds, which contains the Baron Partners Fund, Baron Focused Growth Fund, Baron International Growth Fund, Baron Real Estate Fund, Baron Emerging Markets Fund, Baron Energy and Resources Fund and Baron Global Advantage Fund series, please visit the Funds' website at www.BaronFunds.com or contact us at 1-800-99BARON.
The Funds’ Proxy Voting Policy is available without charge on the Funds’ website, www.BaronFunds.com or by calling 1-800-99BARON, and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Funds’ most current proxy voting record, Form N-PX, is also available on the Funds’ website and on the SEC’s website.
The Funds file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Funds’ Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-202-551-8090. A copy of the Funds’ Forms N-Q may also be obtained upon request by calling 1-800-99BARON. Schedules of portfolio holdings current to the most recent quarter-end are also available on the Funds’ website.
Some of the comments are based on current management expectations and are considered “forward-looking statements.” Actual future results, however, may prove to be different from our expectations. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “estimate,” “may,” “expect,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “plan” and other similar terms. We cannot promise future returns and our opinions are a reflection of our best judgment at the time this report is compiled.
The views expressed in this report reflect those of BAMCO, Inc. (“BAMCO” or the “Adviser”) only through the end of the period stated in this report. The views are not intended as recommendations or investment advice to any person reading this report and are subject to change at any time without notice based on market and other conditions.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate; an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. For more complete information about Baron Funds, including charges and expenses, call, write or go to www.BaronFunds.com for a prospectus or summary prospectus. Read them carefully before you invest or send money. This report is not authorized for use as an offer of sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Funds, unless accompanied or preceded by the Funds' current prospectus or summary prospectus.
 
 



 Baron Asset Fund (Unaudited)   March 31, 2015 

 
 
COMPARISON OF THE CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN BARON ASSET FUND (RETAIL SHARES)
IN RELATION TO THE RUSSELL MIDCAP GROWTH INDEX AND THE S&P 500 INDEX
                                   
 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
    Six
Months*
  One
Year
  Three
Years
  Five
Years
  Ten
Years
  Since
Inception
(June 12,
1987)
Baron Asset Fund — Retail Shares1, 2     10.29 %     12.57 %     16.63 %     14.98 %     9.06 %     11.60 %
Baron Asset Fund — Institutional Shares1, 2, 4     10.45 %     12.88 %     16.96 %     15.30 %     9.23 %     11.66 %
Russell Midcap Growth Index1     11.53 %     15.56 %     17.41 %     16.43 %     10.19 %     10.24 %3
S&P 500 Index1     5.93 %     12.73 %     16.11 %     14.47 %     8.01 %     9.61 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*  
Not Annualized.
                                     
1  
The indexes are unmanaged. The Russell MidcapTM Growth Index measures the performance of medium-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth and the S&P 500 Index of 500 widely held large cap U.S. companies. The indexes and the Fund are with dividends, which positively impact the performance results.
                                     
2  
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. The performance data does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s transfer agency expenses may be reduced by expense offsets from an unaffiliated transfer agent, without which performance would have been lower.
                                     
3  
For the period June 30, 1987 to March 31, 2015.
                                     
4  
Performance for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 is based on the performance of the Retail Shares, which have a distribution fee. The Institutional Shares do not have a distribution fee. If the annual returns for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 did not reflect this fee, the returns would be higher.

2



 March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) Baron Asset Fund 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
    Percent of  
    Net Assets  
Gartner, Inc.   4.7%  
 
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.   4.4%  
 
Vail Resorts, Inc.   3.6%  
 
Illumina, Inc.   3.5%  
 
Verisk Analytics, Inc.   3.4%  
 
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.   3.2%  
 
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.   3.2%  
 
SBA Communications Corp.   3.0%  
 
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.   2.8%  
 
Arch Capital Group Ltd.   2.8%  
    34.6%  
 
SECTOR BREAKDOWN AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
 
For the six-month period ended March 31, 2015, Baron Asset Fund1 gained 10.29%, while the Russell Midcap Growth Index gained 11.53% and the S&P 500 Index gained 5.93%.
 
Baron Asset Fund invests primarily in medium-sized growth companies for the long term, using a value-oriented purchase discipline.2 The Fund purchases companies that we believe have sustainable competitive advantages, strong financial characteristics, and exceptional management, and operate in industries with favorable growth characteristics.
 
U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility in the six-month period, driven by declining oil prices, the strong dollar, mixed domestic economic data, and concerns over the potential for increased interest rates. Despite the uncertainty, continued low interest rates and the ongoing economic recovery, as evidenced in particular by the improving job market, drove stock prices higher.
 
The Fund’s investments in Health Care, Information Technology (IT), and Financials contributed the most to performance. Energy detracted in the period.
 
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., was the top contributor to performance during the six-month period. Shares of this leader in veterinary diagnostics rose on better-than-expected earnings and progress on moving to a direct distribution model in the U.S. We believe organic revenue growth at current levels is sustainable due to recent innovations in IDEXX’s portfolio of diagnostic products, instruments, data management tools, and geographic expansion.
 
Wynn Resorts, Ltd., a casino operator with locations in Macau and Las Vegas, was the largest detractor during the period. Shares declined due to investor concerns over the Chinese government’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign and increased visa restrictions, which has caused a drop-off in visitors to Macau and spending at the casinos, especially by VIPs. We believe the market will improve in the second half of 2015 as comparisons ease, new supply starts to come online, and infrastructure improves. The opening of Wynn’s new casino in early 2016 should help as well, in our view.
 
We continue to believe that mid-sized growth stocks represent an attractive investment opportunity. The U.S. economy remains among the world’s healthiest, its equity market multiples remain within the range of their long-term historic averages, and interest rates continue to be quite low by historic standards. The recent drop in energy prices should generate ongoing corollary benefits for many domestic companies. We believe our diversified portfolio of fast growing, well managed, competitively advantaged businesses will continue to perform well in this environment. There is, of course, no guarantee that this will be the case.
 
 


 
Industry sector group levels are provided by the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”), developed and exclusively owned by MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, unless otherwise stated that they have been classified by the Adviser. All GICS data is provided “as is” with no warranties.
 
1  
Performance information reflects results of the Retail Shares.
 
2  
Prior to February 15, 2007, the Fund’s strategy was to invest primarily in small- and mid-sized growth companies.

3



 Baron Growth Fund (Unaudited)   March 31, 2015 

 
 
COMPARISON OF THE CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN BARON GROWTH FUND (RETAIL SHARES)
IN RELATION TO THE RUSSELL 2000 GROWTH INDEX AND THE S&P 500 INDEX
                                   
 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
    Six
Months*
  One
Year
  Three
Years
  Five
Years
  Ten
Years
  Since
Inception
(December 31,
1994)
Baron Growth Fund — Retail Shares1, 2     12.25 %     9.07 %     17.31 %     15.69 %     8.76 %     13.78 %
Baron Growth Fund — Institutional Shares1, 2, 3     12.38 %     9.35 %     17.61 %     15.99 %     8.92 %     13.87 %
Russell 2000 Growth Index1     17.36 %     12.06 %     17.74 %     16.58 %     10.02 %     8.07 %
S&P 500 Index1     5.93 %     12.73 %     16.11 %     14.47 %     8.01 %     9.77 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*  
Not Annualized
                                     
1  
The indexes are unmanaged. The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of small-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth and the S&P 500 Index of 500 widely held large cap U.S. companies. The indexes and the Fund are with dividends, which positively impact the performance results.
                                     
2  
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. The performance data does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s transfer agency expenses may be reduced by expense offsets from an unaffiliated transfer agent, without which performance would have been lower.
                                     
3  
Performance for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 is based on the performance of the Retail Shares, which have a distribution fee. The Institutional Shares do not have a distribution fee. If the annual returns for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 did not reflect this fee, the returns would be higher.

4



 March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) Baron Growth Fund 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
    Percent of  
    Net Assets  
Under Armour, Inc.   3.8%  
 
The Middleby Corp.   3.2%  
 
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.   3.1%  
 
ITC Holdings Corp.   3.0%  
 
Arch Capital Group Ltd.   2.9%  
 
Gartner, Inc.   2.9%  
 
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.   2.8%  
 
Vail Resorts, Inc.   2.6%  
 
MAXIMUS, Inc.   2.4%  
 
CoStar Group, Inc.   2.4%  
    29.1%  
 
SECTOR BREAKDOWN AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
 
For the six-month period ended March 31, 2015, Baron Growth Fund1 gained 12.25%, while the Russell 2000 Growth Index gained 17.36% and the S&P 500 Index gained 5.93%.
 
Baron Growth Fund invests primarily in small-sized U.S. growth companies for the long term. Through independent research, we utilize an investment approach that we believe allows us to look at a business’s fundamental characteristics and beyond the current market environment. We invest based on the potential profitability of a business at what we believe are attractive valuations.
 
U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility in the six-month period, driven by declining oil prices, the strong dollar, mixed domestic economic data, and concerns over the potential for increased interest rates. Despite the uncertainty, continued low interest rates and the ongoing economic recovery, as evidenced in particular by the improving job market, drove overall stock prices higher. Small cap growth stocks significantly outperformed their larger peers, due in part to the stronger dollar, which created headwinds for large, export-intensive companies.
 
Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Financials were the top contributing sectors in the six-month period. Energy was the only sector detractor.
 
MAXIMUS, Inc. was the top contributor in the period. Shares of MAXIMUS, a provider of outsourced government health and human services in the U.S., U.K. and Australia, rose on reports of meaningful earnings acceleration. MAXIMUS reported $1.8 billion in signed contracts in the first quarter of 2015 vs. $2 billion for all of 2014. Its pipeline, which represents RFPs to be released in the next six months, is $3.6 billion, which we think will support 15% top line growth through 2016. It also announced the accretive acquisition of government tech contractor Acentia.
 
The biggest detractor was Targa Resources Corp., the General Partner of Targa Resources Partners, a midstream energy Master Limited Partnership. Targa’s acquisition of Atlas Pipeline in February 2015, while helping to grow and diversify Targa’s onshore U.S. presence, increased Targa’s sensitivity to commodity prices, and caused the stock to drop. We believe in management’s ability to identify and execute profitable growth projects and would not be surprised to see a third party interested in buying this high quality asset footprint.
 
The Fund continues to invest in a portfolio of businesses that have significantly better financial characteristics than the benchmark index against which it is compared. These businesses have significantly higher growth rates, operating profit margins, net margins, EBITDA margins, return on invested capital, return on equity, return on assets, and lower standard deviations of earnings growth. While we do not try to predict short-term macro developments or current events, we believe conditions remain favorable for the U.S. economy and equity markets.
 
 


 
Industry sector group levels are provided by the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”), developed and exclusively owned by MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, unless otherwise stated that they have been classified by the Adviser. All GICS data is provided “as is” with no warranties.
 
1  
Performance information reflects results of the Retail Shares.

5



 Baron Small Cap Fund (Unaudited)   March 31, 2015 

 
 
COMPARISON OF THE CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN BARON SMALL CAP FUND (RETAIL SHARES)
IN RELATION TO THE RUSSELL 2000 GROWTH INDEX AND THE S&P 500 INDEX
                                   
 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
    Six
Months*
  One
Year
  Three
Years
  Five
Years
  Ten
Years
  Since
Inception
(September 30,
1997)
Baron Small Cap Fund — Retail Shares1, 2     10.97 %     8.49 %     15.48 %     15.02 %     8.73 %     10.29 %
Baron Small Cap Fund — Institutional Shares1, 2, 3     11.11 %     8.76 %     15.77 %     15.31 %     8.89 %     10.38 %
Russell 2000 Growth Index1     17.36 %     12.06 %     17.74 %     16.58 %     10.02 %     5.80 %
S&P 500 Index1     5.93 %     12.73 %     16.11 %     14.47 %     8.01 %     6.51 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*  
Not Annualized.
                                     
1  
The indexes are unmanaged. The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of small-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth and the S&P 500 Index of 500 widely held large cap U.S. companies. The indexes and the Fund are with dividends, which positively impact the performance results.
                                     
2  
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. The performance data does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s transfer agency expenses may be reduced by expense offsets from an unaffiliated transfer agent, without which performance would have been lower.
                                     
3  
Performance for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 is based on the performance of the Retail Shares, which have a distribution fee. The Institutional Shares do not have a distribution fee. If the annual returns for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 did not reflect this fee, the returns would be higher.

6



 March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) Baron Small Cap Fund 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
    Percent of  
    Net Assets  
SBA Communications Corp.   3.5%  
 
TransDigm Group, Inc.   3.5%  
 
Gartner, Inc.   3.0%  
 
Berry Plastics Group, Inc.   3.0%  
 
Acuity Brands, Inc.   2.5%  
 
Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.   2.4%  
 
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.   2.2%  
 
Waste Connections, Inc.   2.2%  
 
The Ultimate Software Group, Inc.   2.2%  
 
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.   2.1%  
    26.6%  
 
SECTOR BREAKDOWN AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
 
For the six-month period ended March 31, 2015, Baron Small Cap Fund1 gained 10.97%, while the Russell 2000 Growth Index gained 17.36% and the S&P 500 Index gained 5.93%.
 
Baron Small Cap Fund invests primarily in classic small cap growth stocks that we believe have significant long-term growth prospects and can be purchased at what we believe are attractive prices because their prospects have not yet been appreciated by investors. We also invest in fallen angels, which are companies that we believe have strong long-term franchises but have disappointed investors with short-term results, creating what we believe is a buying opportunity. A third category of investment is special situations, including spin-offs and recapitalizations, where lack of investor awareness creates opportunities to purchase what we believe are strong businesses at attractive prices.
 
U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility in the six-month period, driven by declining oil prices, the strong dollar, mixed domestic economic data, and concerns over the potential for increased interest rates. Despite the uncertainty, continued low interest rates and the ongoing economic recovery, as evidenced in particular by the improving job market, drove overall stock prices higher. Small cap growth stocks significantly outperformed their larger peers, due in part to the stronger dollar, which created headwinds for large, export-intensive companies.
 
The Health Care, Information Technology, and Industrials sectors were the top contributors to performance. Energy was the only sector detractor.
 
Berry Plastics Group, Inc. was the top contributor in the six-month period. Shares of this plastics packaging company rose on strong quarterly results and 2015 free cash flow guidance. We think lower resin costs (an oil derivative) will help boost Berry’s margins and working capital management, and accelerate the shift to plastic containers. Dunkin Donuts, among others, is considering a large-scale roll-out of Versalite, Berry’s Styrofoam alternative cup, and we think Versalite has the potential for $500 million in sales, from zero today.
 
The biggest detractor was Targa Resources Corp., the General Partner of Targa Resources Partners, a midstream energy Master Limited Partnership. Targa’s acquisition of Atlas Pipeline in February 2015, while helping to grow and diversify Targa’s onshore U.S. presence, increased Targa’s sensitivity to commodity prices, and caused the stock to drop. We believe in management’s ability to identify and execute profitable growth projects and would not be surprised to see a third party interested in buying this high quality asset footprint.
 
 
 


 
Industry sector group levels are provided by the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”), developed and exclusively owned by MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, unless otherwise stated that they have been classified by the Adviser. All GICS data is provided “as is” with no warranties.
 
1  
Performance information reflects results of the Retail Shares.

7



 Baron Opportunity Fund (Unaudited)   March 31, 2015 

 
 
COMPARISON OF THE CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN BARON OPPORTUNITY FUND (RETAIL SHARES)
IN RELATION TO THE RUSSELL 3000 GROWTH INDEX, THE RUSSELL MIDCAP GROWTH INDEX AND THE S&P 500 INDEX
                                   
 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
    Six
Months*
  One
Year
  Three
Years
  Five
Years
  Ten
Years
  Since
Inception
(February 29,
2000)
Baron Opportunity Fund — Retail Shares1, 2     7.76 %     3.21 %     11.03 %     12.46 %     10.35 %     5.29 %
Baron Opportunity Fund — Institutional Shares1, 2, 3     7.92 %     3.48 %     11.30 %     12.76 %     10.53 %     5.40 %
Russell 3000 Growth Index1     9.43 %     15.76 %     16.45 %     15.71 %     9.41 %     2.52 %
Russell Midcap Growth Index1     11.53 %     15.56 %     17.41 %     16.43 %     10.19 %     4.00 %
S&P 500 Index1     5.93 %     12.73 %     16.11 %     14.47 %     8.01 %     4.77 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
The Fund’s historical performance was impacted by gains from IPOs and/or secondary offerings. There is no guarantee that these results can be repeated or that the Fund’s level of participation in IPOs and secondary offerings will be the same in the future.
                                     
*  
Not Annualized.
                                     
1  
The indexes are unmanaged. The Russell 3000® Growth Index measures the performance of those companies classified as growth among the largest 3,000 U.S. companies, the Russell Midcap® Growth Index measures the performance of medium-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth and the S&P 500 Index of 500 widely held large cap U.S. companies. The Fund no longer considers the Russell Midcap® Growth Index an appropriate benchmark index. The Russell Midcap® Growth Index is included in the table above for comparison purposes for the period before the Fund converted to an all-cap fund. Prior to February 20, 2015, the Fund invested in companies with market capitalizations between $1 billion and $15 billion at the time of purchase. Since then, the Fund may invest in companies of all market capitalizations. The Adviser believes that the Russell 3000® Growth Index is more representative of the Fund’s current investable universe. The indexes and the Fund are with dividends, which positively impact the performance results.
                                     
2  
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. The performance data does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser has reimbursed certain Fund expenses and the Fund’s transfer agency expenses may be reduced by expense offsets from an unaffiliated transfer agent, without which performance would have been lower.
                                     
3  
Performance for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 is based on the performance of the Retail Shares, which have a distribution fee. The Institutional Shares do not have a distribution fee. If the annual returns for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 did not reflect this fee, the returns would be higher.

8



 March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) Baron Opportunity Fund 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
    Percent of  
    Net Assets  
Guidewire Software, Inc.   5.0%  
 
Gartner, Inc.   4.0%  
 
CoStar Group, Inc.   3.5%  
 
Illumina, Inc.   3.0%  
 
Verisk Analytics, Inc.   3.0%  
 
Red Hat, Inc.   2.9%  
 
Shutterstock, Inc.   2.9%  
 
Benefitfocus, Inc.   2.9%  
 
Equinix, Inc.   2.9%  
 
CarMax, Inc.   2.8%  
    32.9%  
 
SECTOR BREAKDOWN AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
 
For the six-month period ended March 31, 2015, Baron Opportunity Fund1 gained 7.76%, while the Russell 3000 Growth Index gained 9.43% and the S&P 500 Index gained 5.93%.
 
Baron Opportunity Fund invests primarily in U.S. growth companies that we believe are driving or benefiting from innovation, through development of pioneering, transformative, or technologically advanced products and services. During the period, we made an important change to the Fund. Prior to February 20, 2015, the Fund invested in companies with market capitalizations between $1 billion and $15 billion at the time of purchase. Since then, the Fund may invest in companies of all market capitalizations. The Adviser believes that the Russell 3000 Growth Index is more representative of the Fund's current investable universe than the previous benchmark, the Russell Midcap Growth Index.
 
U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility in the six-month period, driven by declining oil prices, the strong dollar, mixed domestic economic data, and concerns over the potential for increased interest rates. Despite the uncertainty, continued low interest rates and the ongoing economic recovery, as evidenced in particular by the improving job market, drove stock prices higher.
 
Information Technology, Health Care, and Industrials were the top sector contributors to the Fund. Energy and Materials detracted.
 
CarMax, Inc. was the top contributor in the six-month period. Shares of the nation’s largest used car retailer rose on reports of strong results, highlighted by accelerating sales and earnings growth. Demand for the company’s high quality, late model vehicle inventory has remained strong and coincides with resurgent new car sales and an attractive financing environment. In addition, shares were buoyed by the announcement of a large share repurchase program that we believe will be significantly accretive to earnings over the next several years.
 
The biggest detractor was Oasis Petroleum, Inc., one of the largest exploration & production companies in the Williston Basin Bakken shale oil play in North Dakota. Falling oil prices pressured shares as reduced cash flow forecasts led Oasis to curtail its investment spending and growth outlook. Oasis’s financial flexibility has also been an investor concern. We believe Oasis has ample financial flexibility, but shares remain levered to oil price changes as economics in the Williston basin become increasingly marginal. We exited our position.
 
We remain focused on finding unique businesses across different segments of the economy that we believe offer long-term secular growth, sustainable competitive advantages, high-quality management teams, and attractive stock prices. We believe that investment returns for stocks are driven by earnings growth, and therefore direct our research towards understanding the drivers of business profit and projecting future profit growth as accurately as we can.
 


 
Industry sector group levels are provided by the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”), developed and exclusively owned by MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, unless otherwise stated that they have been classified by the Adviser. All GICS data is provided “as is” with no warranties.
 
1  
Performance information reflects results of the Retail Shares.

9



 Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund (Unaudited)   March 31, 2015 

 
 
COMPARISON OF THE CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN BARON FIFTH AVENUE GROWTH FUND (RETAIL SHARES)
IN RELATION TO THE RUSSELL 1000 GROWTH INDEX AND THE S&P 500 INDEX
                                   
 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
    Six
Months*
  One
Year
  Three
Years
  Five
Years
  Ten
Years
  Since
Inception
(April 30,
2004)
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund — Retail Shares1, 2     8.44 %     13.14 %     14.81 %     13.89 %     7.82 %     7.57 %
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund — Institutional Shares1, 2, 3     8.55 %     13.35 %     15.11 %     14.17 %     7.97 %     7.71 %
Russell 1000 Growth Index1     8.81 %     16.09 %     16.34 %     15.63 %     9.36 %     8.77 %
S&P 500 Index1     5.93 %     12.73 %     16.11 %     14.47 %     8.01 %     8.11 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*  
Not Annualized.
                                     
1  
The indexes are unmanaged. The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of large-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth and the S&P 500 Index of 500 widely held large cap U.S. companies. The indexes and the Fund are with dividends, which positively impact the performance results.
                                     
2  
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. The performance data does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser has reimbursed certain Fund expenses and the Fund’s transfer agency expenses may be reduced by expense offsets from an unaffiliated transfer agent, without which performance would have been lower.
                                     
3  
Performance for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 is based on the performance of the Retail Shares, which have a distribution fee. The Institutional Shares do not have a distribution fee. If the annual returns for the Institutional Shares prior to May 29, 2009 did not reflect this fee, the returns would be higher.

10



 March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
    Percent of  
    Net Assets  
Amazon.com, Inc.   7.9%  
 
Illumina, Inc.   5.8%  
 
Facebook, Inc.   5.5%  
 
Apple, Inc.   5.0%  
 
Google, Inc.   4.9%  
 
MasterCard, Inc.   4.1%  
 
Twitter, Inc.   4.0%  
 
The Priceline Group, Inc.   3.7%  
 
Starbucks Corp.   3.6%  
 
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.   3.5%  
    48.0%  
 
SECTOR BREAKDOWN AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
 
For the six-month period ended March 31, 2015, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund1 gained 8.44%, while the Russell 1000 Growth Index gained 8.81% and the S&P 500 Index gained 5.93%.
 
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund focuses on identifying and investing in unique companies with sustainable competitive advantages that we believe have the ability to redeploy capital at high rates of return. The portfolio is constructed on a bottom-up basis, with the quality of ideas and conviction level the most important determinants of the size of each investment. We expect our highest conviction businesses to have meaningful weight in the portfolio, with our top ten holdings comprising a significant portion of the Fund. Sector weightings are incidental to portfolio construction, and exposure to any sector is a result of stock selection.
 
U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility in the six-month period, driven by declining oil prices, the strong dollar, mixed domestic economic data, and concerns over the potential for increased interest rates. Despite the uncertainty, continued low interest rates and the ongoing economic recovery, as evidenced in particular by the improving job market, drove overall stock prices higher. Large cap stocks lagged their small and mid-cap counterparts, due in part to the stronger dollar, which created headwinds for big, export-intensive companies.
 
Information Technology, Health Care, and Consumer Discretionary were the top contributing sectors in the period. Only Telecommunication Services detracted.
 
Amazon.com, Inc. was the top contributor to the Fund’s performance. Shares of the world’s largest retailer rose on a better-than-expected profitability outlook. The company also provided greater disclosure on its business and plans to break out the contribution of Amazon Web Services separately on its next earnings call. Visibility into improving profitability, especially in North America, buoyed investor confidence in Amazon’s long-term opportunity to grow profits while investing for future growth.
 
Wynn Resorts Ltd. was the biggest detractor in the period. Shares of this operator of casinos in Macau and Las Vegas declined as a result of the Chinese government’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which has produced a slowdown in Macau and lower spend at the casinos. We believe that eventually new supply will draw visitors back to Macau. Wynn continues to generate strong cash flow which, in our view, supports its 5% dividend yield.
 
The Fund seeks to manage risk by focusing on business risk (competition, management, regulations), valuation risk (purchase price providing a large enough margin of safety), financial risk (leverage and capital structure), and analysis risk (our assumptions). Our objective is not to predict how markets may perform in a given year. Instead, we aim to create a portfolio of unique companies with different end markets because, in our experience, this is the best way to manage market risk over time.
 


 
Industry sector group levels are provided by the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”), developed and exclusively owned by MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, unless otherwise stated that they have been classified by the Adviser. All GICS data is provided “as is” with no warranties.
 
1  
Performance information reflects results of the Retail Shares.

11



 Baron Discovery Fund (Unaudited)   March 31, 2015 

 
 
COMPARISON OF THE CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN BARON DISCOVERY FUND (RETAIL SHARES)
IN RELATION TO THE RUSSELL 2000 GROWTH INDEX AND THE S&P 500 INDEX
                                   
 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
                        Six
Months*
  One
Year
  Since
Inception
(September 30,
2013)
Baron Discovery Fund — Retail Shares1, 2                             20.98 %     11.17 %     25.92 %
Baron Discovery Fund — Institutional Shares1, 2                             21.09 %     11.39 %     26.22 %
Russell 2000 Growth Index1                             17.36 %     12.06 %     14.06 %
S&P 500 Index1                             5.93 %     12.73 %     17.17 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
The Fund’s historical performance was impacted by gains from IPOs and/or secondary offerings. There is no guarantee that these results can be repeated or that the Fund’s level of participation in IPOs and secondary offerings will be the same in the future.
                                     
*  
Not Annualized.
                                     
1  
The indexes are unmanaged. The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of small-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth and the S&P 500 Index of 500 widely held large cap U.S. companies. The indexes and the Fund are with dividends, which positively impact the performance results.
                                     
2  
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. The performance data does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares. The Adviser has reimbursed certain Fund expenses and the Fund’s transfer agency expenses may be reduced by expense offsets from an unaffiliated transfer agent, without which performance would have been lower.

12



 March 31, 2015 (Unaudited) Baron Discovery Fund 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
    Percent of  
    Net Assets  
Foundation Medicine, Inc.   4.1%  
 
The Spectranetics Corporation   3.6%  
 
DigitalGlobe, Inc.   3.1%  
 
Amber Road, Inc.   3.0%  
 
JUST EAT plc   2.9%  
 
ExamWorks Group, Inc.   2.9%  
 
Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc.   2.9%  
 
CaesarStone Sdot-Yam Ltd.   2.6%  
 
Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.   2.5%  
 
Intersect ENT, Inc.   2.4%  
    30.0%  
 
SECTOR BREAKDOWN AS OF MARCH 31, 2015
(as a percentage of net assets)
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
 
For the six-month period ended March 31, 2015, Baron Discovery Fund1 gained 20.98%, while the Russell 2000 Growth Index gained 17.36% and the S&P 500 Index gained 5.93%.
 
Baron Discovery Fund invests primarily in small-sized U.S. companies with significant growth potential and market capitalizations up to the weighted median market capitalization of the Russell 2000 Growth Index at reconstitution, or companies with market capitalizations up to $1.5 billion, whichever is larger. The Fund invests for the long term at attractive valuations in companies with, in our view, appropriately capitalized, open-ended growth opportunities, exceptional leadership, and sustainable competitive advantages.
 
U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility in the six-month period, driven by declining oil prices, the strong dollar, mixed domestic economic data, and concerns over the potential for increased interest rates. Despite the uncertainty, continued low interest rates and the ongoing economic recovery, as evidenced in particular by the improving job market, drove overall stock prices moderately higher. Small cap growth stocks significantly outperformed their larger peers, due in part to the stronger dollar, which created headwinds for large, export-intensive companies.
 
Health Care, Information Technology (IT), and Consumer Discretionary contributed the most to Fund performance in the six-month period. Materials, Energy, and Consumer Staples detracted.
 
Foundation Medicine, Inc., a diagnostic lab company that specializes in the most complex cancers, using DNA sequencing to find over 300 cancer genes, was the top contributor to performance during the six-month period. Its IT platform links pharmaceutical firms with oncologists and scientific research. Shares doubled in January when Roche Holdings announced a strategic relationship and initiated a tender for over half of Foundation Medicine’s shares at $50 per share. We believe Foundation Medicine is the best positioned company in the emerging multi-billion dollar complex cancer diagnostics market.
 
Flotek Industries, Inc., a leading supplier of specialized chemicals to the oil & gas industry was the largest detractor during the period. Its proprietary citrus oil based products experienced rapid growth related to the boom in North American shale oil drilling in the last several years. The sharper-than-expected decline in U.S. drilling and completion activity has taken a toll on its earnings outlook and its share price during the period. We continue to see significant potential for differentiated organic growth and a rebound in long-term earnings power at Flotek.
 
We think the long-term fundamentals of our companies remain strong. We believe the companies we own are high quality, innovative and run by excellent management teams. We are optimistic that they will be significantly bigger next year than they are today and that this growth can continue for years after. There is, of course, no guarantee that this will be the case.
 


 
Industry sector group levels are provided by the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”), developed and exclusively owned by MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, unless otherwise stated that they have been classified by the Adviser. All GICS data is provided “as is” with no warranties.
 
1  
Performance information reflects results of the Retail Shares.

13



Baron Asset Fund   March 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (98.63%)              
 
Consumer Discretionary (16.02%)              
   

Apparel, Accessories &
Luxury Goods (0.85%)

             
185,000   Ralph Lauren Corp.   $ 3,279,792   $ 24,327,500  
                   
    Automotive Retail (1.80%)              
750,000   CarMax, Inc.1     14,772,082     51,757,500  
                   
    Casinos & Gaming (0.88%)              
200,000   Wynn Resorts Ltd.     0     25,176,000  
                   
   

Hotels, Resorts &
Cruise Lines (3.90%)

             
800,000   Choice Hotels International, Inc.     3,577,372     51,256,000  
1,025,000   Hyatt Hotels Corp., Cl A1     30,808,659     60,700,500  
               
          34,386,031     111,956,500  
    Internet Retail (1.38%)              
34,000   The Priceline Group, Inc.1     5,449,298     39,581,100  
                   
    Leisure Facilities (3.61%)              
1,000,000   Vail Resorts, Inc.     19,491,425     103,420,000  
                   
    Specialty Stores (3.60%)              
550,000   Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.     14,773,685     31,344,500  
350,000   Tiffany & Co.     10,826,180     30,803,500  
485,000   Tractor Supply Co.     15,846,066     41,254,100  
               
          41,445,931     103,402,100  
               
Total Consumer Discretionary     118,824,559     459,620,700  
               
                   
Consumer Staples (0.97%)              
    Brewers (0.23%)              
25,000  

The Boston Beer Co., Inc., Cl A1

    6,508,072     6,685,000  
                   
    Food Distributors (0.74%)              
275,000  

United Natural Foods, Inc.1

    14,611,786     21,186,000  
               
Total Consumer Staples     21,119,858     27,871,000  
               
                   
Energy (3.85%)              
    Oil & Gas Drilling (0.24%)              
100,000   Helmerich & Payne, Inc.     2,494,869     6,807,000  
                   
   

Oil & Gas Equipment &
Services (0.39%)

             
108,000   Core Laboratories N.V.2     7,365,191     11,284,920  
                   
   

Oil & Gas Exploration &
Production (1.01%)

             
249,500   Concho Resources, Inc.1     10,983,600     28,922,040  
                   
   

Oil & Gas Storage &
Transportation (2.21%)

             
390,000   Phillips 66 Partners LP     10,966,273     27,561,300  
650,000  

Shell Midstream Partners, L.P.

    14,950,000     25,350,000  
174,934  

Western Gas Equity Partners LP

    3,848,548     10,496,040  
               
          29,764,821     63,407,340  
               
Total Energy     50,608,481     110,421,300  
               
                   
Financials (11.30%)              
   

Asset Management & Custody
Banks (0.92%)

             
325,000   T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.     7,848,785     26,318,500  
                   
   

Investment Banking &
Brokerage (2.76%)

             
2,600,000  

The Charles Schwab Corp.

    2,592,634     79,144,000  

Shares         Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)              
 
Financials (continued)              
    Office REITs (1.34%)              
84,200   Alexander’s, Inc.4   $ 3,957,397   $ 38,444,036  
                   
   

Property & Casualty
Insurance (2.79%)

             
1,300,000   Arch Capital Group Ltd.1,2     14,150,604     80,080,000  
                   
    Real Estate Services (2.70%)              
2,000,000   CBRE Group, Inc., Cl A1     26,527,399     77,420,000  
                   
    Regional Banks (0.79%)              
400,000   First Republic Bank     10,477,932     22,836,000  
               
Total Financials     65,554,751     324,242,536  
                 
                   
Health Care (20.93%)              
    Biotechnology (0.48%)              
84,000   Receptos, Inc.1     10,408,132     13,850,760  
                   
    Health Care Distributors (1.71%)              
350,000   Henry Schein, Inc.1     9,382,832     48,867,000  
                   
    Health Care Equipment (4.39%)              
815,000   IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.1     32,146,764     125,901,200  
                   
    Health Care Facilities (1.54%)              
375,000  

Universal Health Services, Inc., Cl B

    23,304,910     44,141,250  
                   
    Health Care Supplies (3.25%)              
265,000  

The Cooper Companies, Inc.

    34,262,522     49,666,300  
725,000  

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

    32,733,319     43,652,250  
               
          66,995,841     93,318,550  
                   
    Health Care Technology (1.89%)              
265,000   Cerner Corp.1     5,777,893     19,413,900  
1,150,000  

Inovalon Holdings, Inc., CI A1

    33,609,506     34,741,500  
               
          39,387,399     54,155,400  
                   
   

Life Sciences Tools &
Services (7.67%)

             
540,000   Illumina, Inc.1     23,556,410     100,245,600  
275,000  

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.1

    17,214,469     90,378,750  
440,000   Quintiles Transnational              
   

Holdings, Inc.1

    20,659,909     29,466,800  
               
          61,430,788     220,091,150  
               
Total Health Care     243,056,666     600,325,310  
               
                   
Industrials (19.22%)              
   

Construction Machinery &
Heavy Trucks (1.98%)

             
115,000   WABCO Holdings, Inc.1     13,390,421     14,131,200  
450,000   Westinghouse Air Brake              
   

Technologies Corporation

    30,445,772     42,754,500  
               
          43,836,193     56,885,700  
                   
   

Environmental &
Facilities Services (1.23%)

             
250,000   Stericycle, Inc.1     7,016,768     35,107,500  
                   
   

Human Resource &
Employment Services (1.91%)

             
415,000   Towers Watson & Co., Cl A     46,333,570     54,856,775  
                   
    Industrial Conglomerates (1.62%)              
270,000   Roper Industries, Inc.     22,869,631     46,440,000  

 
14   See Notes to Financial Statements.

March 31, 2015   Baron Asset Fund

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
  MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares     Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)              
 
Industrials (continued)              
    Industrial Machinery (5.22%)              
635,000   Colfax Corp.1   $ 19,376,285   $ 30,308,550  
450,000   IDEX Corporation     32,880,129     34,123,500  
450,000   The Middleby Corp.1     23,539,575     46,192,500  
390,000   Pall Corp.     25,331,030     39,152,100  
               
          101,127,019     149,776,650  
                   
   

Research & Consulting
Services (5.34%)

             
1,275,000   Nielsen N.V.2     31,314,364     56,826,750  
1,350,000  

Verisk Analytics, Inc., Cl A1

    34,838,770     96,390,000  
               
          66,153,134     153,216,750  
                   
   

Trading Companies & Distributors (1.92%)

             
1,175,000   Fastenal Co.     21,409,224     48,686,125  
545,000   MRC Global, Inc.1     11,990,000     6,458,250  
               
          33,399,224     55,144,375  
               
Total Industrials     320,735,539     551,427,750  
               
                   
Information Technology (21.48%)              
    Application Software (8.22%)              
550,000   ANSYS, Inc.1     14,771,000     48,504,500  
510,000  

FactSet Research Systems, Inc.

    27,948,821     81,192,000  
935,000   Guidewire Software, Inc.1     43,250,976     49,190,350  
425,000   Mobileye N.V.1,2     12,486,735     17,862,750  
627,000  

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.

    35,161,545     39,062,100  
               
          133,619,077     235,811,700  
                   
   

Data Processing & Outsourced
Services (3.16%)

             
600,000  

FleetCor Technologies, Inc.1

    21,892,482     90,552,000  
                   
   

Internet Software &
Services (4.13%)

             
800,000   HomeAway, Inc.1     19,792,142     24,136,000  
155,000   LinkedIn Corp., Cl A1     8,240,401     38,728,300  
226,197   Shutterstock, Inc.1     14,348,414     15,532,948  
600,000   Verisign, Inc.1     27,498,020     40,182,000  
               
          69,878,977     118,579,248  
                   
   

IT Consulting & Other
Services (5.97%)

             
158,659   Equinix, Inc.4     11,589,780     36,943,748  
1,600,000   Gartner, Inc.1     34,958,418     134,160,000  
               
          46,548,198     171,103,748  
               
Total Information Technology     271,938,734     616,046,696  
               
                   
Materials (0.65%)              
    Industrial Gases (0.65%)              
175,000   Airgas, Inc.     11,449,835     18,569,250  
               

Shares     Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)                
 
Telecommunication Services (3.00%)      
   

Wireless Telecommunication
Services (3.00%)

               
735,000  

SBA Communications Corp., Cl A1

  $ 21,480,602     $ 86,068,500  
                 
                     
Utilities (1.21%)                
    Renewable Electricity (1.21%)                
333,334  

TerraForm Power, Inc., Cl A3,5

    10,000,020       12,120,024  
616,980  

TerraForm Power, Inc., Cl A

    17,861,480       22,525,940  
                 
Total Utilities     27,861,500       34,645,964  
                 
Total Common Stocks     1,152,630,525       2,829,239,006  
                 
                     
 
Private Equity Investments (0.22%)      
 
Financials (0.22%)                
   

Asset Management &
Custody Banks (0.22%)

               
7,056,223  

Windy City Investments

               
   

Holdings, L.L.C.1,3,4,6

    0       6,209,476  
                 
                     
 
Principal Amount                
 
Short Term Investments (0.80%)                
 
$22,984,895  

Repurchase Agreement with
Fixed Income Clearing Corp.,
dated 3/31/2015, 0.00%
due 4/1/2015; Proceeds
at maturity - $22,984,895;
(Fully collateralized by
$23,420,000 U.S. Treasury Note,
1.75% due 3/31/2022;
Market value - $23,449,275)5

               
          22,984,895       22,984,895  
                 
Total Investments (99.65%)   $ 1,175,615,420       2,858,433,377  
                   

Cash and Other Assets Less
Liabilities (0.35%)

            9,936,696  
                   
Net Assets           $ 2,868,370,073  
                   

Retail Shares (Equivalent to $65.95 per share
based on 31,753,258 shares outstanding)

          $ 2,094,000,274  
                   

Institutional Shares (Equivalent to $67.27 per share
based on 11,510,989 shares outstanding)

          $ 774,369,799  
                   

   
%   Represents percentage of net assets.
1   Non-income producing securities.
2   Foreign corporation.
3  
At March 31, 2015, the market value of restricted and fair valued securities amounted to $18,329,500 or 0.64% of net assets. $12,120,024 or 0.42% of net assets are deemed liquid. See Note 6 regarding Restricted Securities.
4  
The Adviser has reclassified/classified certain securities in or out of this sub-industry. Such reclassifications/classifications are not supported by S&P or MSCI.
5   Level 2 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
6   Level 3 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
     
    All securities are Level 1, unless otherwise noted.

 
See Notes to Financial Statements.   15

Baron Growth Fund   March 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)
 
 
  MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares     Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (98.39%)              
 
Consumer Discretionary (23.58%)              
   

Apparel, Accessories &
Luxury Goods (3.76%)

             
3,850,000  

Under Armour, Inc., Cl A1

  $ 30,351,345   $ 310,887,500  
                   
    Automotive Retail (0.47%)              
750,000  

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

    13,032,059     38,617,500  
                   
   

Casinos & Gaming (1.82%)

             
3,870,620  

Penn National Gaming, Inc.1

    33,038,240     60,613,909  
2,502,267  

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.1

    39,163,343     90,306,816  
               
          72,201,583     150,920,725  
                   
    Distributors (0.62%)              
2,000,000   LKQ Corp.1     11,441,173     51,120,000  
                   
   

Education Services (2.04%)

             
2,257,170  

Bright Horizons Family
Solutions, Inc.1

    74,787,601     115,725,106  
2,350,000  

Nord Anglia Education, Inc.1,2

    44,365,050     53,392,000  
               
          119,152,651     169,117,106  
                   
   

Hotels, Resorts &
Cruise Lines (4.69%)

             
3,007,500  

Choice Hotels International, Inc.4

    73,061,456     192,690,525  
271,739  

Diamond Resorts
International, Inc.1

    3,804,346     9,084,235  
2,638,652  

Interval Leisure Group, Inc.

    49,668,667     69,159,069  
1,450,000  

Marriott Vacations
Worldwide Corp.

    78,402,845     117,522,500  
               
          204,937,314     388,456,329  
                   
   

Internet Retail (1.13%)

             
34,300,000  

AO World plc
(United Kingdom)1,2,4

    135,535,661     93,213,297  
                   
   

Leisure Facilities (3.03%)

             
925,000   ClubCorp Holdings, Inc.     16,618,824     17,908,000  
2,064,800   Vail Resorts, Inc.4     59,870,980     213,541,616  
1,358,700  

Whistler Blackcomb
Holdings, Inc. (Canada)2

    15,542,103     19,384,713  
               
          92,031,907     250,834,329  
                   
   

Leisure Products (0.19%)

             
800,000   BRP, Inc. (Canada)1,2     16,294,480     15,317,200  
                   
   

Movies & Entertainment (1.04%)

             
5,422,299  

Manchester United plc, Cl A1,2

    76,721,822     86,268,777  
                   
    Publishing (1.06%)              
1,175,000   Morningstar, Inc.     25,213,450     88,019,250  
                   
    Restaurants (0.87%)              
450,000  

Panera Bread Co., Cl A1

    15,602,751     71,997,750  
                   
   

Specialty Stores (2.86%)

             
478,659  

The Container Store Group, Inc.1

    9,427,096     9,118,454  
4,000,000  

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.

    67,565,602     227,960,000  
               
          76,992,698     237,078,454  
               
Total Consumer Discretionary     889,508,894     1,951,848,217  
               
                   
Consumer Staples (6.68%)              
    Brewers (0.65%)              
201,400  

The Boston Beer Co., Inc., Cl A1

    29,104,380     53,854,360  
                   
    Drug Retail (0.38%)              
924,763  

Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.1

    27,474,161     31,978,305  

Shares     Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)            
 
Consumer Staples (continued)              
   

Food Distributors (2.13%)

             
2,290,237  

United Natural Foods, Inc.1

  $ 98,857,949   $ 176,439,858  
                   
    Food Retail (0.12%)              
559,636  

Smart & Final Stores, Inc.1

    8,771,720     9,849,594  
                   
   

Household Products (1.55%)

             
1,500,000  

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

    27,340,827     128,130,000  
                   
   

Packaged Foods &
Meats (1.85%)

             
1,800,000   TreeHouse Foods, Inc.1     85,049,691     153,036,000  
               
Total Consumer Staples     276,598,728     553,288,117  
               
                   
Energy (1.75%)              
    Oil & Gas Drilling (0.35%)              
420,000   Helmerich & Payne, Inc.     9,112,260     28,589,400  
                   
   

Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (0.36%)

             
285,000   Core Laboratories N.V.2     6,459,994     29,779,650  
                   
   

Oil & Gas Storage &
Transportation (1.04%)

             
900,000   Targa Resources Corp.     24,720,322     86,211,000  
               
Total Energy     40,292,576     144,580,050  
               
                   
Financials (15.91%)              
   

Asset Management &
Custody Banks (3.82%)

             
2,100,000   The Carlyle Group     46,651,360     56,910,000  
2,175,000   Cohen & Steers, Inc.     57,433,262     89,066,250  
2,302,818   Financial Engines, Inc.     66,477,436     96,326,877  
1,430,195  

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

    64,458,848     73,883,874  
               
          235,020,906     316,187,001  
                   
   

Diversified REITs (0.37%)

             
712,000  

American Assets Trust, Inc.

    13,782,555     30,815,360  
                   
   

Hotel & Resort REITs (0.77%)

             
1,650,000   LaSalle Hotel Properties     38,657,293     64,119,000  
                   
   

Life & Health Insurance (1.66%)

             
2,700,000   Primerica, Inc.4     65,591,464     137,430,000  
                   
   

Office REITs (1.97%)

             
135,000   Alexander’s, Inc.5     28,435,048     61,638,300  
3,400,000   Douglas Emmett, Inc.     42,596,064     101,354,000  
               
          71,031,112     162,992,300  
                   
   

Property & Casualty
Insurance (2.94%)

             
3,950,000  

Arch Capital Group Ltd.1,2

    38,581,866     243,320,000  
                   
   

Residential REITs (0.31%)

             
600,000  

American Campus Communities, Inc.

    15,009,212     25,722,000  
                   
   

Specialized Finance (1.59%)

             
2,150,000   MSCI, Inc.     42,521,078     131,816,500  
                   
   

Specialized REITs (2.48%)

             
775,000  

Alexandria Real Estate
Equities, Inc.5

    29,095,131     75,981,000  
3,496,074  

Gaming and Leisure
Properties, Inc.

    89,454,329     128,900,248  
               
          118,549,460     204,881,248  
               
Total Financials     638,744,946     1,317,283,409  
               

 
16   See Notes to Financial Statements.

March 31, 2015   Baron Growth Fund

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
  MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares     Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)              
 
Health Care (9.31%)              
    Biotechnology (0.53%)              
575,000  

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.1

  $ 14,591,763   $ 18,739,250  
525,000   Foundation Medicine, Inc.1     25,483,139     25,257,750  
               
          40,074,902     43,997,000  
                   
   

Health Care Equipment (2.19%)

             
300,000  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.1

    4,002,410     42,738,000  
900,000   IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.1     28,558,026     139,032,000  
               
          32,560,436     181,770,000  
                   
   

Health Care Facilities (2.18%)

             
275,000  

Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.1

    5,469,421     10,384,000  
3,250,000  

Community Health Systems, Inc.1

    59,187,483     169,910,000  
               
          64,656,904     180,294,000  
                   
   

Health Care Services (0.10%)

             
170,000  

IPC Healthcare, Inc.
(formerly, IPC The
Hospitalist Co., Inc.)1

    3,899,438     7,928,800  
                   
   

Health Care Supplies (0.99%)

             
365,038   Neogen Corp.1     8,075,677     17,058,226  
1,077,686  

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

    37,684,652     64,887,474  
               
          45,760,329     81,945,700  
                   
   

Health Care Technology (0.07%)

             
200,000  

Inovalon Holdings, Inc., CI A1

    6,102,922     6,042,000  
                   
                   
   

Life Sciences Tools &
Services (3.25%)

             
880,943  

Bio-Techne Corporation

    46,631,249     88,349,773  
550,000  

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.1

    27,486,940     180,757,500  
               
          74,118,189     269,107,273  
               
Total Health Care     267,173,120     771,084,773  
               
                   
Industrials (16.35%)              
   

Building Products (3.54%)

             
1,725,000  

CaesarStone Sdot-Yam Ltd.1,2

    31,551,799     104,724,750  
1,448,500  

Masonite International Corp.1,2

    80,959,738     97,426,110  
1,670,000  

Trex Company, Inc.1,4

    62,696,594     91,065,100  
               
          175,208,131     293,215,960  
                   
   

Construction & Engineering (0.48%)

             
1,850,000  

Badger Daylighting Ltd. (Canada)2

    58,732,816     39,496,269  
                   
   

Diversified Support
Services (1.23%)

             
2,700,000   Copart, Inc.1     32,090,834     101,439,000  
                   
   

Electrical Components &
Equipment (1.65%)

             
2,800,000   Generac Holdings, Inc.1     13,836,546     136,332,000  
                   
   

Industrial Machinery (5.07%)

             
2,275,000   Colfax Corp.1     52,423,266     108,585,750  
2,550,000   The Middleby Corp.1     74,456,718     261,757,500  
400,000   Valmont Industries, Inc.     32,589,034     49,152,000  
               
          159,469,018     419,495,250  
                   
    Railroads (2.33%)              
2,000,000  

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., Cl A1

    32,221,169     192,880,000  

Shares     Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)              
 
Industrials (continued)              
   

Research & Consulting
Services (0.34%)

             
250,000   IHS, Inc., Cl A1   $ 10,136,469   $ 28,440,000  
                   
   

Trading Companies &
Distributors (1.33%)

             
2,000,000   Air Lease Corp.     47,523,423     75,480,000  
485,000  

MSC Industrial
Direct Co., Inc., Cl A

    17,282,737     35,017,000  
               
          64,806,160     110,497,000  
                   
    Trucking (0.38%)              
475,000   Landstar System, Inc.     11,073,375     31,492,500  
               
Total Industrials     557,574,518     1,353,287,979  
               
                   
Information Technology (20.96%)              
   

Application Software (10.05%)

             
2,000,000   Advent Software, Inc.     27,793,289     88,220,000  
1,850,000   ANSYS, Inc.1     44,326,673     163,151,500  
800,000  

Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc.1

    21,533,616     21,896,000  
1,600,000  

FactSet Research Systems, Inc.

    80,624,740     254,720,000  
1,173,796  

Guidewire Software, Inc.1

    37,834,851     61,753,408  
2,309,838  

Pegasystems, Inc.

    34,773,982     50,238,976  
3,087,713  

SS&C Technologies
Holdings, Inc.

    52,369,848     192,364,520  
               
          299,256,999     832,344,404  
                   
   

Data Processing & Outsourced Services (2.42%)

             
3,000,000   MAXIMUS, Inc.     57,528,621     200,280,000  
                   
   

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (0.60%)

             
650,000   FEI Company     24,367,636     49,621,000  
                   
   

Internet Software & Services (3.70%)

             
2,309,223   Benefitfocus, Inc.1,4     86,028,591     84,956,314  
999,653   CoStar Group, Inc.1     44,116,616     197,761,353  
341,096   Shutterstock, Inc.1     22,641,080     23,423,063  
               
          152,786,287     306,140,730  
                   
   

IT Consulting &
Other Services (4.19%)

             
3,800,000  

Booz Allen Hamilton
Holding Corp.

    48,057,122     109,972,000  
2,825,000   Gartner, Inc.1     45,240,023     236,876,250  
               
          93,297,145     346,848,250  
               
Total Information Technology     627,236,688     1,735,234,384  
               
                   
Telecommunication Services (0.88%)    
   

Alternative Carriers (0.88%)

             
7,493,437  

Iridium Communications, Inc.1,4

    45,709,971     72,761,273  
               
                   
Utilities (2.97%)              
   

Electric Utilities (2.97%)

             
6,575,000   ITC Holdings Corp.     67,008,983     246,102,250  
               
Total Common Stocks     3,409,848,424     8,145,470,452  
               

 
See Notes to Financial Statements.   17

Baron Growth Fund   March 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
  MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares     Cost       Value  
 
Preferred Stocks (0.18%)                
 
Telecommunication Services (0.18%)                
   

Alternative Carriers (0.18%)

               
41,074  

Iridium Communications, Inc.,
Series B, 6.75%4,6

  $ 10,268,500     $ 14,603,861  
                 
                     
 
Private Equity Investments (0.03%)                
 
Financials (0.03%)                
   

Asset Management &
Custody Banks (0.03%)

               
2,375,173  

Windy City Investments
Holdings, L.L.C.1,3,5,7

    0       2,090,153  
                 
                     
 
Rights (0.00%)                
 
Materials (0.00%)                
   

Fertilizers & Agricultural
Chemicals (0.00%)

               
393,349  

Agrinos AS (Mexico)
Exp 7/15/20151,2,3,6

    0       41,504  
                 

Principal                    
Amount         Cost       Value  
 
Short Term Investments (1.34%)                
 
$111,009,043  

Repurchase Agreement with
Fixed Income Clearing Corp.,
dated 3/31/2015, 0.00%
due 4/1/2015; Proceeds
at maturity - $111,009,043;
(Fully collateralized by
$113,090,000 U.S. Treasury
Note, 1.75% due 3/31/2022;
Market value - $113,231,363)6

  $ 111,009,043     $ 111,009,043  
                 
Total Investments (99.94%)   $ 3,531,125,967       8,273,215,013  
                   

Cash and Other Assets Less
Liabilities (0.06%)

            5,215,649  
                   
Net Assets           $ 8,278,430,662  
                   

Retail Shares (Equivalent to $75.65 per share
based on 55,771,481 shares outstanding)

          $ 4,219,164,112  
                   

Institutional Shares (Equivalent to $76.72 per share
based on 52,909,504 shares outstanding)

          $ 4,059,266,550  
                   

   
%   Represents percentage of net assets.
1   Non-income producing securities.
2   Foreign corporation.
3  
At March 31, 2015, the market value of restricted and fair valued securities amounted to $2,131,657 or 0.03% of net assets. None of these securities are deemed liquid. See Note 6 regarding Restricted Securities.
4   See Note 10 regarding “Affiliated” companies.
5  
The Adviser has reclassified/classified certain securities in or out of this sub-industry. Such reclassifications/classifications are not supported by S&P or MSCI.
6   Level 2 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
7   Level 3 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
     
    All securities are Level 1, unless otherwise noted.

 
18   See Notes to Financial Statements.


March 31, 2015 Baron Small Cap Fund

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (98.80%)
 
Consumer Discretionary (16.18%)
    Advertising (0.14%)                
500,000   National CineMedia, Inc.   $ 4,676,259     $ 7,550,000  
                     
    Apparel, Accessories &                
   

Luxury Goods (2.66%)

               
425,000   Fossil Group, Inc.1     8,545,247       35,041,250  
2,000,000   Iconix Brand Group, Inc.1     29,279,689       67,340,000  
1,800,000   Tumi Holdings, Inc.1     35,164,871       44,028,000  
                 
          72,989,807       146,409,250  
    Automotive Retail (0.53%)                
450,000   Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.     23,776,386       29,272,500  
                     
    Broadcasting (1.12%)                
400,000   Liberty Media Corp., Cl A1     1,166,055       15,420,000  
1,200,000   Liberty Media Corp., Cl C1     3,543,461       45,840,000  
                 
          4,709,516       61,260,000  
    Cable & Satellite (0.46%)                
150,000   Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl A1     621,054       8,472,000  
300,000   Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl C1     1,184,602       16,980,000  
                 
          1,805,656       25,452,000  
    Casinos & Gaming (0.86%)                
3,000,000   Penn National Gaming, Inc.1     17,926,778       46,980,000  
                     
    Education Services (3.28%)                
2,347,847   Bright Horizons Family                
   

Solutions, Inc.1

    80,059,684       120,374,116  
2,625,300   Nord Anglia Education, Inc.1,2     45,918,256       59,646,816  
                 
          125,977,940       180,020,932  
    Home Improvement                
   

Retail (0.22%)

               
400,000   Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.1     7,633,393       12,312,000  
                     
    Homefurnishing Retail (1.77%)                
1,400,000   Mattress Firm Holding Corp.1     35,360,733       97,496,000  
                     
    Movies & Entertainment (1.82%)                
1,000,000   The Madison Square                
   

Garden Company, Cl A1

    25,000,417       84,650,000  
3,750,000   SFX Entertainment, Inc.1     26,066,093       15,337,500  
                 
          51,066,510       99,987,500  
    Restaurants (2.69%)                
950,000   BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.1     34,185,457       47,927,500  
1,100,000   The Cheesecake Factory, Inc.     22,660,571       54,263,000  
2,250,000   Del Frisco’s Restaurant                
   

Group, Inc.1,4

    46,652,836       45,337,500  
                 
          103,498,864       147,528,000  
    Specialty Stores (0.63%)                
1,826,978   The Container Store Group, Inc.1     56,982,232       34,803,931  
                 
Total Consumer Discretionary     506,404,074       889,072,113  
                 
                     
                     
Consumer Staples (3.58%)                
    Drug Retail (0.54%)                
850,000   Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.1     25,099,444       29,393,000  
                     
    Food Distributors (2.89%)                
2,093,960   The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.1,4     33,488,530       46,967,523  
1,450,000   United Natural Foods, Inc.1     62,683,145       111,708,000  
                 
          96,171,675       158,675,523  
    Food Retail (0.15%)                
1,250,000   Fairway Group Holdings Corp.1     16,404,046       8,462,500  
                 
Total Consumer Staples     137,675,165       196,531,023  
                 
Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)
 
Energy (6.27%)
    Oil & Gas Equipment &                
   

Services (0.76%)

               
250,000   Core Laboratories N.V.2   $ 9,239,508     $ 26,122,500  
800,000   Forum Energy                
   

Technologies, Inc.1

    15,934,618       15,680,000  
                 
          25,174,126       41,802,500  
    Oil & Gas Exploration &                
   

Production (0.25%)

               
550,000   Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.1     17,592,985       13,563,000  
                     
    Oil & Gas Storage &                
   

Transportation (5.26%)

               
600,000   Columbia Pipeline Partners LP1     14,299,024       16,614,000  
500,000   Dominion Midstream Partners, L.P.     10,628,771       20,755,000  
800,000   PBF Logistics LP     20,465,744       18,208,000  
700,000   Phillips 66 Partners LP     19,469,513       49,469,000  
5,000,000   Scorpio Tankers Inc.2     42,287,906       47,100,000  
750,000   Targa Resources Corp.     17,965,719       71,842,500  
900,000   Valero Energy Partners LP     28,748,548       43,560,000  
750,000   Western Refining Logistics, LP     17,041,593       21,772,500  
                 
          170,906,818       289,321,000  
                 
Total Energy     213,673,929       344,686,500  
                 
                     
                     
Financials (8.44%)                
    Asset Management &                
   

Custody Banks (2.26%)

               
750,000   Artisan Partners Asset                
   

Management, Inc., Cl A

    28,955,338       34,095,000  
2,150,000   Financial Engines, Inc.     48,440,910       89,934,500  
                 
          77,396,248       124,029,500  
    Hotel & Resort REITs (1.65%)                
1,250,000   Chesapeake Lodging Trust     21,068,223       42,287,500  
1,250,000   LaSalle Hotel Properties     28,316,573       48,575,000  
                 
          49,384,796       90,862,500  
    Investment Banking &                
   

Brokerage (0.69%)

               
1,250,000   Moelis & Co., Cl A     35,022,101       37,650,000  
                     
    Office REITs (0.58%)                
250,000   SL Green Realty Corp.     5,347,806       32,095,000  
                     
    Real Estate Services (0.77%)                
1,100,000   CBRE Group, Inc., Cl A1     5,154,322       42,581,000  
                     
    Specialized REITs (1.85%)                
2,750,000   Gaming and Leisure                
   

Properties, Inc.

    54,474,530       101,392,500  
                     
    Thrifts & Mortgage                
   

Finance (0.64%)

               
1,480,950   Essent Group, Ltd.1,2     30,375,123       35,409,514  
                 
Total Financials     257,154,926       464,020,014  
                 
                     
                     
Health Care (14.16%)                
    Biotechnology (1.23%)                
250,000   Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     16,694,355       25,067,500  
750,000   Cepheid1     24,504,440       42,675,000  
                 
          41,198,795       67,742,500  
    Health Care Equipment (3.91%)                
700,000   Cantel Medical Corp.     29,626,774       33,250,000  
1,250,000   DexCom, Inc.1     17,100,776       77,925,000  
670,922   IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.1     21,699,129       103,644,031  
                 
          68,426,679       214,819,031  


See Notes to Financial Statements.   19



Baron Small Cap Fund March 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)
 
Health Care (continued)
    Health Care Facilities (2.40%)                
3,497,500   Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.1   $ 65,756,572     $ 132,065,600  
                     
    Health Care Services (0.46%)                
600,000   ExamWorks Group, Inc.1     22,136,386       24,972,000  
                     
    Health Care Supplies (0.38%)                
600,000   The Spectranetics Corporation1     20,955,560       20,856,000  
                     
    Life Sciences Tools &                
   

Services (4.14%)

               
1,350,000   ICON plc1,2     43,388,030       95,215,500  
675,372   INC Research Holdings, Inc., Cl A1     12,681,467       22,104,925  
250,000   Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.1     14,245,818       82,162,500  
965,200   PRA Health Sciences, Inc.1     17,856,523       27,836,368  
                 
          88,171,838       227,319,293  
    Managed Health Care (0.59%)                
1,304,271   HealthEquity, Inc.1     22,938,140       32,593,732  
                     
    Pharmaceuticals (1.05%)                
1,850,000   Catalent, Inc.1     45,616,818       57,627,500  
                 
Total Health Care     375,200,788       777,995,656  
                 
                     
                     
Industrials (17.54%)                
    Aerospace & Defense (5.25%)                
2,400,000   DigitalGlobe, Inc.1     70,905,306       81,768,000  
1,881,863   The KEYW Holding Corporation1,4     19,864,378       15,487,732  
875,000   TransDigm Group, Inc.1     0       191,380,000  
                 
          90,769,684       288,635,732  
    Diversified Support                
   

Services (0.41%)

               
700,000   Healthcare Services Group, Inc.     21,356,511       22,491,000  
                     
    Electrical Components &                
   

Equipment (2.77%)

               
825,000   Acuity Brands, Inc.     44,094,137       138,732,000  
350,000   Franklin Electric Co., Inc.     13,080,427       13,349,000  
                 
          57,174,564       152,081,000  
    Environmental & Facilities                
   

Services (3.28%)

               
1,050,000   Clean Harbors, Inc.1     26,906,827       59,619,000  
2,500,000   Waste Connections, Inc.     44,418,371       120,350,000  
                 
          71,325,198       179,969,000  
    Human Resource &                
   

Employment Services (1.40%)

               
2,000,000   On Assignment, Inc.1     50,117,846       76,740,000  
                     
    Industrial Machinery (2.65%)                
350,000   Graco, Inc.     7,828,497       25,256,000  
684,082   Nordson Corp.     20,666,134       53,590,984  
350,000   RBC Bearings, Inc.1     22,431,698       26,789,000  
1,500,000   Rexnord Corp.1     26,737,428       40,035,000  
                 
          77,663,757       145,670,984  
    Office Services &                
   

Supplies (0.38%)

               
1,000,000   Interface, Inc.     13,433,618       20,780,000  
                     
    Railroads (1.40%)                
800,000   Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., Cl A1     21,723,581       77,152,000  
                 
Total Industrials     403,564,759       963,519,716  
                 
Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)
 
Information Technology (20.57%)
    Application Software (6.59%)                
3,500,000   ACI Worldwide, Inc.1   $ 42,795,006     $ 75,810,000  
2,000,000   Advent Software, Inc.     28,707,573       88,220,000  
1,500,000   Guidewire Software, Inc.1     40,880,643       78,915,000  
700,000   The Ultimate Software                
   

Group, Inc.1

    17,611,027       118,968,500  
                 
          129,994,249       361,913,500  
    Data Processing & Outsourced                
   

Services (3.43%)

               
750,000   FleetCor Technologies, Inc.1     18,319,250       113,190,000  
700,000   WEX Inc.1     35,700,494       75,152,000  
                 
          54,019,744       188,342,000  
    Electronic Components (0.44%)                
1,250,000   Knowles Corp.1     34,587,744       24,087,500  
                     
    Electronic Equipment &                
   

Instruments (2.44%)

               
1,400,000   Cognex Corp.1     22,631,628       69,426,000  
850,000   FEI Company     33,259,652       64,889,000  
                 
          55,891,280       134,315,000  
    Internet Software &                
   

Services (1.67%)

               
500,000   comScore, Inc.1     16,111,094       25,600,000  
300,000   GrubHub, Inc.1     7,800,000       13,617,000  
1,750,000   HomeAway, Inc.1     41,500,997       52,797,500  
                 
          65,412,091       92,014,500  
    IT Consulting & Other                
   

Services (4.96%)

               
1,250,000   Acxiom Corp.1     28,143,704       23,112,500  
350,000   Equinix, Inc.5     20,292,435       81,497,500  
2,000,000   Gartner, Inc.1     36,351,618       167,700,000  
                 
          84,787,757       272,310,000  
    Systems Software (0.66%)                
2,300,000   Rally Software                
   

Development Corp.1,4

    51,687,216       36,087,000  
                     
    Technology Hardware, Storage                
   

& Peripherals (0.38%)

               
500,000   Electronics For Imaging, Inc.1     20,075,413       20,875,000  
                 
Total Information Technology     496,455,494       1,129,944,500  
                 
                     
Materials (7.04%)                
    Commodity Chemicals (0.37%)                
750,000   Westlake Chemical Partners LP     20,498,030       20,115,000  
                     
    Construction Materials (0.50%)                
1,250,000   Summit Materials, Inc., Cl A1     23,129,740       27,687,500  
                     
    Diversified Metals &                
   

Mining (1.55%)

               
4,500,000   Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.4     54,964,615       85,140,000  
                     
    Metal & Glass Containers (2.96%)                
4,500,000   Berry Plastics Group, Inc.1     75,853,854       162,855,000  
                     
    Specialty Chemicals (1.54%)                
2,250,000   Flotek Industries, Inc.1     43,328,996       33,165,000  
2,000,000   Platform Specialty Products Corp.1     32,710,834       51,320,000  
                 
          76,039,830       84,485,000  
    Steel (0.12%)                
300,000   SunCoke Energy Partners LP     6,563,612       6,387,000  
                 
Total Materials     257,049,681       386,669,500  
                 


20   See Notes to Financial Statements.



March 31, 2015 Baron Small Cap Fund

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)
 
Telecommunication Services (4.35%)
    Wireless Telecommunication                
   

Services (4.35%)

               
148,323,290   Sarana Menara Nusantara                
   

Tbk PT (Indonesia)1,2

  $ 30,976,387   $   45,603,031  
1,650,000   SBA Communications Corp., Cl A1     7,557,006       193,215,000  
                 
Total Telecommunication Services     38,533,393       238,818,031  
                 
                     
Utilities (0.67%)                
    Electric Utilities (0.46%)                
675,000   ITC Holdings Corp.     9,427,959       25,265,250  
                     
    Renewable Electricity (0.21%)                
350,000   Abengoa Yield plc2     10,150,000       11,823,000  
                 
Total Utilities     19,577,959       37,088,250  
                 
Total Common Stocks     2,705,290,168       5,428,345,303  
                 
                     
 
Warrants (0.00%)                
 
Information Technology (0.00%)                
    Internet Software &                
   

Services (0.00%)

               
6,818   Viggle, Inc. Warrants,                
   

Non-Callable

               
   

Exp 4/27/20151,3,6

    0       0  
                 
Principal                    
Amount         Cost       Value  
 
Short Term Investments (1.37%)
 
$75,316,477   Repurchase Agreement with                
   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.,

               
   

dated 3/31/2015, 0.00%

               
   

due 4/1/2015; Proceeds at

               
   

maturity - $75,316,477; (Fully

               
   

collateralized by $76,730,000

               
   

U.S. Treasury Note, 1.75%

               
   

due 3/31/2022; Market

               
   

value - $76,825,913)6

  $ 75,316,477     $ 75,316,477  
                 
Total Investments (100.17%)   $ 2,780,606,645       5,503,661,780  
                   
Liabilities Less Cash and                

Other Assets (-0.17%)

            (9,571,677 )
                   
Net Assets           $ 5,494,090,103  
                   
Retail Shares (Equivalent to $35.19 per share                

based on 92,425,497 shares outstanding)

          $ 3,252,356,054  
                   
Institutional Shares (Equivalent to $35.77 per share                

based on 62,662,313 shares outstanding)

          $ 2,241,734,049  
                   
_________________________________________________
%   Represents percentage of net assets.
1   Non-income producing securities.
2   Foreign corporation.
3  
At March 31, 2015, the market value of restricted and fair valued securities amounted to $0 or 0.00% of net assets. This security is not deemed liquid. See Note 6 regarding Restricted Securities.
4   See Note 10 regarding “Affiliated” companies.
5  
The Adviser has reclassified/classified certain securities in or out of this sub-industry. Such reclassifications/classifications are not supported by S&P or MSCI.
6   Level 2 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
     
    All securities are Level 1, unless otherwise noted.


See Notes to Financial Statements.   21



Baron Opportunity Fund March 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (99.70%)
 
Consumer Discretionary (17.86%)
    Apparel, Accessories &                
   

Luxury Goods (1.04%)

               
50,000   Under Armour, Inc., Cl A1   $ 1,253,818     $ 4,037,500  
                     
    Automobile Manufacturers (2.27%)                
46,500   Tesla Motors, Inc.1     9,832,821       8,777,805  
                     
    Automotive Retail (2.82%)                
157,870   CarMax, Inc.1     4,128,942       10,894,609  
                     
    Homefurnishing Retail (1.45%)                
56,500   Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc.1     3,345,648       5,604,235  
                     
    Internet Retail (8.16%)                
17,900   Amazon.com, Inc.1     5,744,617       6,660,590  
1,433,560   AO World plc (United Kingdom)1,2     6,653,971       3,895,827  
184,000   Liberty TripAdvisor                
   

Holdings, Inc., Cl A1

    5,635,805       5,849,360  
20,500   Netflix, Inc.1     5,810,107       8,542,145  
5,676   The Priceline Group, Inc.1     908,996       6,607,715  
                 
          24,753,496       31,555,637  
    Movies & Entertainment (2.12%)                
513,740   Manchester United plc, Cl A1,2     8,574,757       8,173,603  
                 
Total Consumer Discretionary     51,889,482       69,043,389  
                 
                     
                     
Energy (3.70%)                
    Oil & Gas Exploration &                
   

Production (2.68%)

               
89,250   Concho Resources, Inc.1     8,869,279       10,345,860  
                     
    Oil & Gas Storage &                
   

Transportation (1.02%)

               
118,700   Golar LNG Ltd.2     3,885,338       3,950,336  
                 
Total Energy     12,754,617       14,296,196  
                 
                     
                     
Financials (0.89%)                
    Investment Banking &                
   

Brokerage (0.89%)

               
112,500   The Charles Schwab Corp.     3,373,445       3,424,500  
                 
                     
                     
Health Care (13.81%)                
    Biotechnology (2.58%)                
16,000   Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     2,994,372       2,772,800  
91,900   Cepheid1     3,053,257       5,229,110  
41,000   Foundation Medicine, Inc.1     1,941,132       1,972,510  
                 
          7,988,761       9,974,420  
    Health Care Supplies (1.71%)                
138,000   The Spectranetics Corporation1     3,957,532       4,796,880  
450,000   Unilife Corp.1     1,715,674       1,804,500  
                 
          5,673,206       6,601,380  
    Health Care Technology (3.33%)                
44,500   athenahealth, Inc.1     6,074,243       5,312,855  
62,000   Inovalon Holdings, Inc., CI A1     1,716,596       1,873,020  
116,500   Medidata Solutions, Inc.1     5,750,177       5,713,160  
                 
          13,541,016       12,899,035  
    Life Sciences Tools &                
   

Services (3.00%)

               
62,415   Illumina, Inc.1     2,610,825       11,586,721  
Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)
 
Health Care (continued)
    Managed Health Care (1.02%)                
157,454   HealthEquity, Inc.1   $ 2,901,574     $ 3,934,775  
                     
    Pharmaceuticals (2.17%)                
111,000   Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     3,396,401       3,478,740  
55,150   Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     3,795,220       4,900,078  
                 
          7,191,621       8,378,818  
                 
Total Health Care     39,907,003       53,375,149  
                 
                     
                     
Industrials (7.60%)                
    Aerospace & Defense (1.94%)                
220,046   DigitalGlobe, Inc.1     6,254,678       7,496,967  
                     
    Building Products (1.37%)                
87,069   CaesarStone Sdot-Yam Ltd.1,2     2,013,981       5,285,959  
                     
    Industrial Machinery (1.30%)                
49,200   The Middleby Corp.1     2,386,656       5,050,380  
                     
    Research & Consulting                
   

Services (2.99%)

               
161,800   Verisk Analytics, Inc., Cl A1     7,642,449       11,552,520  
                 
Total Industrials     18,297,764       29,385,826  
                 
                     
                     
Information Technology (51.04%)                
    Application Software (11.70%)                
120,750   ANSYS, Inc.1     3,705,083       10,648,943  
366,000   Guidewire Software, Inc.1     11,033,689       19,255,260  
84,000   Mobileye N.V.1,2     3,593,317       3,530,520  
97,000   salesforce.com, Inc.1     5,921,361       6,480,570  
63,000   Workday, Inc., Cl A1     5,080,472       5,317,830  
                 
          29,333,922       45,233,123  
    Data Processing & Outsourced                
   

Services (2.13%)

               
48,000   MasterCard, Inc., Cl A     3,954,156       4,146,720  
38,000   WEX, Inc.1     3,830,681       4,079,680  
                 
          7,784,837       8,226,400  
    Internet Software &                
   

Services (20.97%)

               
83,956   Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., ADR1,2     7,034,916       6,988,497  
302,214   Benefitfocus, Inc.1     13,755,816       11,118,453  
68,000   CoStar Group, Inc.1     4,087,879       13,452,440  
119,500   Facebook, Inc., Cl A1     8,126,822       9,824,692  
186,722   HomeAway, Inc.1     4,819,149       5,633,403  
908,000   JUST EAT plc (United Kingdom)1,2     3,888,165       5,872,603  
22,200   LinkedIn Corp., Cl A1     3,957,496       5,546,892  
164,492   Shutterstock, Inc.1     7,315,368       11,295,666  
113,900   Twitter, Inc.1     4,448,809       5,704,112  
56,000   Zillow Group, Inc., Cl A                
   

(formerly, Zillow, Inc., Cl A)1

    4,642,221       5,616,800  
                 
          62,076,641       81,053,558  
                     
    IT Consulting & Other                
   

Services (8.56%)

               
351,000   Acxiom Corp.1     5,576,885       6,489,990  
47,534   Equinix, Inc.4     1,337,269       11,068,292  
185,144   Gartner, Inc.1     2,841,915       15,524,324  
                 
          9,756,069       33,082,606  
    Semiconductor Equipment (1.99%)                
321,000   SunEdison, Inc.1     6,243,317       7,704,000  


22   See Notes to Financial Statements.



March 31, 2015 Baron Opportunity Fund

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)
 
Information Technology (continued)
    Semiconductors (1.44%)                
122,200   Mellanox Technologies Ltd.1,2   $ 5,010,112     $ 5,540,548  
                     
    Systems Software (4.25%)                
128,500   FireEye, Inc.1     4,688,963       5,043,625  
150,400   Red Hat, Inc.1     7,366,587       11,392,800  
                 
          12,055,550       16,436,425  
                 
Total Information Technology     132,260,448       197,276,660  
                 
                     
                     
Materials (0.99%)                
    Specialty Chemicals (0.99%)                
259,500   Flotek Industries, Inc.1     6,917,811       3,825,030  
                 
                     
                     
Telecommunication Services (2.52%)                
    Wireless Telecommunication                
   

Services (2.52%)

               
83,300   SBA Communications Corp., Cl A1     555,914       9,754,430  
                 
                     
                     
Utilities (1.29%)                
    Renewable Electricity (1.29%)                
37,000   TerraForm Power, Inc., Cl A     1,160,706       1,350,870  
99,833   TerraForm Power, Inc., Cl A3,5     2,994,990       3,629,928  
                 
Total Utilities     4,155,696       4,980,798  
                 
Total Common Stocks     270,112,180       385,361,978  
                 
Principal                    
Amount         Cost       Value  
 
Short Term Investments (0.25%)
 
$981,506   Repurchase Agreement with                
   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.,

               
   

dated 3/31/2015, 0.00%

               
   

due 4/1/2015; Proceeds at

               
   

maturity - $981,506; (Fully

               
   

collateralized by $1,000,000

               
   

U.S. Treasury Note, 1.75%

               
   

due 3/31/2022; Market

               
   

value - $1,001,250)5

    981,506       981,506  
                 
Total Investments (99.95%)   $ 271,093,686       386,343,484  
                   
Cash and Other Assets                

Less Liabilities (0.05%)

            198,438  
                   
Net Assets           $ 386,541,922  
                   
Retail Shares (Equivalent to $18.96 per share                
based on 14,806,077 shares outstanding)
          $ 280,701,726  
                   

Institutional Shares (Equivalent to $19.29 per share

               
based on 5,486,283 shares outstanding)
          $ 105,840,196  
                   
_________________________
%   Represents percentage of net assets.
1   Non-income producing securities.
2   Foreign corporation.
3  
At March 31, 2015, the market value of restricted and fair valued securities amounted to $3,629,928 or 0.94% of net assets. This security is deemed liquid. See Note 6 regarding Restricted Securities.
4  
The Adviser has reclassified/classified certain securities in or out of this sub-industry. Such reclassifications/classifications are not supported by S&P or MSCI.
5   Level 2 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
ADR   American Depositary Receipt.
     
    All securities are Level 1, unless otherwise noted.


See Notes to Financial Statements.   23



Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund   March 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (94.95%)              
 
Consumer Discretionary (22.63%)              
    Broadcasting (0.86%)              
30,882   Liberty Media Corp., Cl C1   $ 418,090   $ 1,179,692  
                   
    Cable & Satellite (0.48%)              
3,860   Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl A1     73,264     218,013  
7,720   Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl C1     139,744     436,952  
               
          213,008     654,965  
    Casinos & Gaming (3.34%)              
30,677   Las Vegas Sands Corp.     1,573,315     1,688,462  
23,175   Wynn Resorts Ltd.     2,745,411     2,917,269  
               
          4,318,726     4,605,731  
    Internet Retail (12.65%)              
29,201   Amazon.com, Inc.1     7,658,239     10,865,692  
25,618   Ctrip.com International Ltd., ADR1,2     1,230,150     1,501,727  
4,337   The Priceline Group, Inc.1     2,941,040     5,048,919  
               
          11,829,429     17,416,338  
    Restaurants (5.30%)              
51,782   Starbucks Corp.     3,152,385     4,903,755  
30,502   YUM! Brands, Inc.     1,761,594     2,401,118  
               
          4,913,979     7,304,873  
               
Total Consumer Discretionary     21,693,232     31,161,599  
               
                   
Consumer Staples (1.28%)              
   

Hypermarkets & Super
Centers (1.28%)

             
11,648   Costco Wholesale Corp.     835,362     1,764,614  
               
                   
Energy (2.93%)              
   

Oil & Gas Exploration &
Production (1.75%)

             
20,799   Concho Resources, Inc.1     2,328,143     2,411,020  
                   
   

Oil & Gas Storage &
Transportation (1.18%)

             
41,776   Shell Midstream Partners, L.P.     960,848     1,629,264  
               
Total Energy     3,288,991     4,040,284  
               
                   
Financials (4.99%)              
   

Diversified Real Estate
Activities (2.98%)

             
76,625   Brookfield Asset              
   

Management, Inc., Cl A2

    2,641,495     4,107,866  
                   
    Specialized Finance (2.01%)              
29,240   CME Group, Inc.     1,498,740     2,769,321  
               
Total Financials     4,140,235     6,877,187  
               
                   
                   
Health Care (11.88%)              
    Biotechnology (6.12%)              
17,020   Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     2,740,373     2,949,566  
6,985   Biogen, Inc. (formerly,              
   

Biogen Idec, Inc.)1

    2,103,571     2,949,346  
5,616   Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     1,686,704     2,535,512  
               
          6,530,648     8,434,424  
   

Life Sciences Tools &
Services (5.76%)

             
42,692   Illumina, Inc.1     1,663,348     7,925,343  
               
Total Health Care     8,193,996     16,359,767  
               
Shares         Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)              
 
Industrials (3.24%)              
   

Research & Consulting
Services (1.74%)

             
33,526   Verisk Analytics, Inc., Cl A1   $ 1,392,841   $ 2,393,756  
                   
   

Trading Companies &
Distributors (1.50%)

             
50,068   Fastenal Co.     1,630,676     2,074,568  
               
Total Industrials     3,023,517     4,468,324  
               
                   
                   
Information Technology (44.38%)              
    Application Software (0.99%)              
32,569   Mobileye N.V.1,2     1,088,173     1,368,875  
                   
   

Data Processing &
Outsourced Services (7.55%)

             
65,205   MasterCard, Inc., Cl A     3,418,562     5,633,060  
72,920   Visa, Inc., Cl A     1,816,915     4,769,697  
               
          5,235,477     10,402,757  
   

Internet Software &
Services (19.14%)

             
58,625   Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., ADR1,2     5,117,019     4,879,945  
91,363   Facebook, Inc., Cl A1     2,333,912     7,511,409  
5,019   Google, Inc., Cl A1     1,256,798     2,784,039  
7,331   Google, Inc., Cl C1     2,508,471     4,017,388  
6,866   LinkedIn Corp., Cl A1     693,965     1,715,539  
108,783   Twitter, Inc.1     3,872,406     5,447,853  
               
          15,782,571     26,356,173  
   

IT Consulting & Other
Services (2.43%)

             
14,351   Equinix, Inc.3     1,696,794     3,341,630  
                   
   

Semiconductor
Equipment (2.14%)

             
29,187   ASML Holding N.V.2     1,960,743     2,948,763  
                   
    Systems Software (7.11%)              
112,110   FireEye, Inc.1     3,733,353     4,400,318  
42,692   Red Hat, Inc.1     2,166,568     3,233,919  
26,229   VMware, Inc., Cl A1     2,459,713     2,151,040  
               
          8,359,634     9,785,277  
   

Technology Hardware, Storage
& Peripherals (5.02%)

             
55,573   Apple, Inc.     2,186,665     6,914,948  
               
Total Information Technology     36,310,057     61,118,423  
               
                   
Materials (2.01%)              
   

Fertilizers & Agricultural
Chemicals (2.01%)

             
24,552   Monsanto Co.     1,879,080     2,763,082  
               
                   
Telecommunication Services (1.61%)              
   

Wireless Telecommunication
Services (1.61%)

             
38,000   SoftBank Corp. (Japan)2     2,955,677     2,211,531  
               
Total Common Stocks     82,320,147     130,764,811  
               
24   See Notes to Financial Statements.



March 31, 2015   Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 
Principal                    
Amount         Cost       Value  
 
Short Term Investments (5.41%)                
 
$ 7,454,601  

Repurchase Agreement with
Fixed Income Clearing Corp.,
dated 3/31/2015, 0.00%
due 4/1/2015; Proceeds at
maturity - $7,454,601;
(Fully collateralized by
$7,595,000 U.S. Treasury
Note, 1.75% due 3/31/2022;
Market value - $7,604,494)4

  $ 7,454,601     $ 7,454,601  
                 
Total Investments (100.36%)   $ 89,774,748       138,219,412  
                   

Liabilities Less Cash and
Other Assets (-0.36%)

            (500,023 )
                   
Net Assets           $ 137,719,389  
                   

Retail Shares (Equivalent to $18.25 per share
based on 3,856,212 shares outstanding)

          $ 70,370,178  
                   

Institutional Shares (Equivalent to $18.43 per share
based on 3,654,112 shares outstanding)

          $ 67,349,211  
                   

   
%   Represents percentage of net assets.
1   Non-income producing securities.
2   Foreign corporation.
3   The Adviser has reclassified/classified certain securities in or out of this sub-industry. Such reclassifications/classifications are not supported by S&P or MSCI.
4   Level 2 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
ADR   American Depositary Receipt.
     
    All securities are Level 1, unless otherwise noted.

See Notes to Financial Statements.   25


Baron Discovery Fund   March 31, 2015

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost       Value  
 
Common Stocks (93.46%)                
 
Consumer Discretionary (14.36%)                
    Apparel Retail (1.53%)                
60,000   Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.1   $ 1,083,124     $ 1,435,200  
                     
   

Apparel, Accessories &
Luxury Goods (0.52%)

               
20,000   Tumi Holdings, Inc.1     413,266       489,200  
                     
    Casinos & Gaming (2.03%)                
53,000   Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.1     1,164,999       1,912,770  
                     
    Homefurnishing Retail (1.70%)                
23,000   Mattress Firm Holding Corp.1     1,401,053       1,601,720  
                     
    Leisure Facilities (1.19%)                
58,000   ClubCorp Holdings, Inc.     1,054,741       1,122,880  
                     
    Restaurants (5.61%)                
85,000   Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.1     1,821,452       1,915,050  
23,000  

Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc.1

    455,699       463,450  
35,000   Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.1     1,574,514       2,135,000  
23,000   Zoe’s Kitchen, Inc.1     552,003       765,670  
                 
          4,403,668       5,279,170  
    Specialty Stores (0.51%)                
25,000   The Container Store Group, Inc.1     544,153       476,250  
                     
    Textiles (1.27%)                
33,000   Unifi, Inc.1     1,113,020       1,190,970  
                 
Total Consumer Discretionary     11,178,024       13,508,160  
                 
                     
Consumer Staples (1.37%)                
    Packaged Foods & Meats (1.37%)              
600,000   Barfresh Food Group, Inc.1,3,4     300,000       336,000  
85,000   Inventure Foods, Inc.1     1,071,158       951,150  
                 
    Total Consumer Staples     1,371,158       1,287,150  
                 
                     
Energy (1.66%)                
   

Oil & Gas Exploration &
Production (0.48%)

               
75,000   Atlas Energy Group LLC1     682,756       450,750  
                     
   

Oil & Gas Storage &
Transportation (1.18%)

               
23,000   Valero Energy Partners LP     1,171,705       1,113,200  
                 
Total Energy     1,854,461       1,563,950  
                 
                     
Financials (8.50%)                
    Diversified REITs (0.83%)                
18,000   American Assets Trust, Inc.     609,617       779,040  
                     
    Hotel & Resort REITs (2.90%)                
220,000   Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc.1     2,539,008       2,734,600  
                     
    Industrial REITs (2.52%)                
150,000   Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.     2,376,373       2,371,500  
                     
    Multi-Sector Holdings (2.25%)                
150,000   Fidelity National                
   

Financial, Inc.1

    2,228,350       2,115,000  
                 
Total Financials     7,753,348       8,000,140  
                 
Shares         Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)          
 
Health Care (34.17%)          
    Biotechnology (6.56%)              
24,500   Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.1   $ 464,977   $ 2,268,700  
81,100   Foundation Medicine, Inc.1     1,840,447     3,901,721  
               
          2,305,424     6,170,421  
    Health Care Equipment (3.22%)              
65,600   Inogen, Inc.1     1,246,158     2,098,544  
57,600   Novadaq Technologies, Inc.1,2     751,430     935,424  
               
          1,997,588     3,033,968  
    Health Care Facilities (1.14%)              
35,000   AAC Holdings, Inc.1     525,000     1,070,300  
                   
    Health Care Services (4.67%)              
372,500   BioScrip, Inc.1     2,694,676     1,650,175  
66,000   ExamWorks Group, Inc.1     2,285,792     2,746,920  
               
          4,980,468     4,397,095  
    Health Care Supplies (6.87%)              
133,400   Cerus Corp.1     746,330     556,278  
80,500   Sientra, Inc.1     1,243,823     1,544,795  
97,500   The Spectranetics Corporation1     2,507,708     3,389,100  
243,414   Unilife Corp.1     844,698     976,090  
               
          5,342,559     6,466,263  
    Life Sciences Tools &              
   

Services (2.41%)

             
12,500   Genfit (France)1,2     594,847     462,022  
55,028   INC Research Holdings, Inc., Cl A1   1,067,259     1,801,066  
               
          1,662,106     2,263,088  
    Managed Health Care (1.79%)              
67,500   HealthEquity, Inc.1     1,270,234     1,686,825  
                   
    Pharmaceuticals (7.51%)              
44,800   Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     1,009,757     1,404,032  
88,536   Intersect ENT, Inc.1     1,219,390     2,286,885  
15,060   Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1     1,144,701     1,338,081  
30,000   Revance Therapeutics, Inc.1     650,509     621,900  
234,500   TherapeuticsMD, Inc.1     1,222,414     1,418,725  
               
          5,246,771     7,069,623  
               
Total Health Care     23,330,150     32,157,583  
               
                   
                   
Industrials (8.92%)              
    Aerospace & Defense (4.47%)              
86,000   DigitalGlobe, Inc.1     2,399,264     2,930,020  
155,319   The KEYW Holding Corporation1     1,688,348     1,278,275  
               
          4,087,612     4,208,295  
    Building Products (3.08%)              
40,000   CaesarStone Sdot-Yam Ltd.1,2     2,204,573     2,428,400  
8,500   Trex Company, Inc.1     452,773     463,505  
               
          2,657,346     2,891,905  
    Industrial Machinery (1.37%)              
51,500   NN, Inc.     1,279,981     1,291,620  
               
Total Industrials     8,024,939     8,391,820  
               


26   See Notes to Financial Statements.



March 31, 2015   Baron Discovery Fund

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

Shares         Cost     Value  
 
Common Stocks (continued)              
 
Information Technology (20.55%)              
    Electronic Equipment &              
   

Instruments (1.56%)

             
22,660   Coherent, Inc.1   $ 1,400,255   $ 1,471,994  
                   
    Electronic Manufacturing              
   

Services (1.45%)

             
88,000   Mercury Systems, Inc.1     1,486,080     1,368,400  
                   
    Internet Software &              
   

Services (10.14%)

             
304,300   Amber Road, Inc.1     3,171,872     2,814,775  
35,500   Benefitfocus, Inc.1     1,098,113     1,306,045  
70,000   Coupons.com Incorporated1     1,003,227     821,800  
33,000   Envestnet, Inc.1     1,465,000     1,850,640  
425,000   JUST EAT plc (United Kingdom)1,2     2,003,559     2,748,740  
               
          8,741,771     9,542,000  
    Semiconductors (1.29%)              
32,500   M/A-COM Technology Solutions              
   

Holdings, Inc.1

    1,106,051     1,210,950  
                   
    Systems Software (6.11%)              
52,100   Barracuda Networks, Inc.1     1,372,006     2,004,287  
40,400   Qualys, Inc.1     953,913     1,877,792  
72,700   Varonis Systems, Inc.1     1,643,264     1,865,482  
               
          3,969,183     5,747,561  
               
Total Information Technology 16,703,340     19,340,905  
               
                   
Materials (3.93%)            
    Commodity Chemicals (2.36%)              
83,000   Westlake Chemical Partners LP     2,313,255     2,226,060  
                   
    Specialty Chemicals (1.57%)              
100,000   Flotek Industries, Inc.1     1,892,606     1,474,000  
               
Total Materials   4,205,861     3,700,060  
               
Total Common Stocks   74,421,281     87,949,768  
               
                   
 
Warrants (0.07%)
 
Consumer Staples (0.07%)
    Packaged Foods & Meats (0.07%)        
300,000   Barfresh Food Group, Inc.              
   

Warrants Exp 2/23/20203,4

    0     66,000  
               
Principal                  
Amount         Cost     Value  
 
Short Term Investments (7.17%)              
 
$   6,742,659  Repurchase Agreement with              
    Fixed Income Clearing Corp.,              
    dated 3/31/2015, 0.00%              
    due 4/1/2015; Proceeds              
    at maturity - $6,742,659;              
    (Fully collateralized by              
    $6,870,000 U.S. Treasury              
    Note, 1.75% due 3/31/2022;              
    Market value - $6,878,588)4   $ 6,742,659   $ 6,742,659  
               
Total Investments (100.70%)   $ 81,163,940     94,758,427  
                 
Liabilities Less Cash and              

Other Assets (-0.70%)

          (655,079 )
               
Net Assets         $ 94,103,348  
               
Retail Shares (Equivalent to $14.13 per share              

based on 1,672,781 shares outstanding)

        $ 23,630,837  
               

Institutional Shares (Equivalent to $14.18 per share
based on 4,971,072 shares outstanding)

        $ 70,472,511  
               

   
%   Represents percentage of net assets.
1   Non-income producing securities.
2   Foreign corporation.
3  
At March 31, 2015, the market value of restricted and fair valued securities amounted to $402,000 or 0.43% of net assets. These securities are not deemed liquid. See Note 6 regarding Restricted Securities.
4   Level 2 security. See Note 7 regarding Fair Value Measurements.
     
    All securities are Level 1, unless otherwise noted.


See Notes to Financial Statements.   27



Baron Funds   March 31, 2015

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)
 
 
   MARCH 31, 2015
 

    Baron Asset
Fund
  Baron Growth
Fund
  Baron Small
Cap Fund
  Baron
Opportunity
Fund
  Baron Fifth
Avenue Growth
Fund
  Baron
Discovery
Fund
                                                 
Assets:                                                            

Investments in securities, at value*

                                                           

Unaffiliated investments

    $ 2,858,433,377       $ 7,372,953,027       $ 5,274,642,025       $ 386,343,484       $ 138,219,412       $ 94,758,427  

“Affiliated” investments

              900,261,986         229,019,755                          
                                                 

Total investments, at value

      2,858,433,377         8,273,215,013         5,503,661,780         386,343,484         138,219,412         94,758,427  

Foreign currency, at value

              27                 25                  

Cash

                                      9,907          

Receivable for securities sold

      13,388,281                 2,032,005         1,106,893         138,016         57,347  

Dividends and interest receivable

      1,066,250         4,401,704         1,206,750                 18,352         24,550  

Receivable for shares sold

      580,127         13,219,551         12,058,009         171,332         266,551         67,243  

Prepaid expenses

      31,200         91,295         59,387         4,288         1,447         892  
                                                 
        2,873,499,235         8,290,927,590         5,519,017,931         387,626,022         138,653,685         94,908,459  
                                                 
Liabilities:                                                            

Payable for securities purchased

      3,810,496         4,377,598         9,351,915         454,156         892,893         760,732  

Payable for shares redeemed

      1,128,290         7,644,261         15,195,277         563,467         6,691         6,141  

Trustee fees payable

      19,691         56,738         37,169         3,182         850         498  

Investment advisory fees payable (Note 4)

      755         869         201         128         923         187  

Distribution fees payable (Note 4)

      698         941         281         928         154         384  

Due to custodian bank

                                              80  

Accrued expenses and other payables

      169,232         416,521         342,985         62,239         32,785         37,089  
                                                 
        5,129,162         12,496,928         24,927,828         1,084,100         934,296         805,111  
                                                 
Net Assets     $ 2,868,370,073       $ 8,278,430,662       $ 5,494,090,103       $ 386,541,922       $ 137,719,389       $ 94,103,348  
                                                 
Net Assets consist of:                                                            

Paid-in capital

    $ 1,081,989,076       $ 3,336,449,967       $ 2,491,252,861       $ 229,290,626       $ 90,353,480       $ 81,205,603  

Undistributed (accumulated) net investment

                                                           

income (loss)

      (19,185,298 )       8,323,307         19,454         (2,049,418 )       (290,218 )       (459,413 )

Undistributed (accumulated) net realized gain (loss)

                                                         

on investments and foreign currency transactions

      122,748,338         191,568,646         279,762,653         44,050,453         (788,416 )       (237,328 )

Net unrealized appreciation on investments and

                                                           

foreign currency translations

      1,682,817,957         4,742,088,742         2,723,055,135         115,250,261         48,444,543         13,594,486  
                                                 
Net Assets     $ 2,868,370,073       $ 8,278,430,662       $ 5,494,090,103       $ 386,541,922       $ 137,719,389       $ 94,103,348  
                                                 
Retail Shares:                                                            

Net Assets

    $ 2,094,000,274       $ 4,219,164,112       $ 3,252,356,054       $ 280,701,726       $ 70,370,178       $ 23,630,837  

Shares Outstanding ($0.01 par value; indefinite

                                                           

shares authorized)

      31,753,258         55,771,481         92,425,497         14,806,077         3,856,212         1,672,781  
                                                 

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

    $ 65.95       $ 75.65       $ 35.19       $ 18.96       $ 18.25       $ 14.13  
                                                 
Institutional Shares:                                                            

Net Assets

    $ 774,369,799       $ 4,059,266,550       $ 2,241,734,049       $ 105,840,196       $ 67,349,211       $ 70,472,511  

Shares Outstanding ($0.01 par value; indefinite

                                                           

shares authorized)

      11,510,989         52,909,504         62,662,313         5,486,283         3,654,112         4,971,072  
                                                 

Net Asset Value and Offering Price Per Share

    $ 67.27       $ 76.72       $ 35.77       $ 19.29       $ 18.43       $ 14.18  
                                                 

*Investments in securities, at cost:

                                                           

Unaffiliated investments

    $ 1,175,615,420       $ 2,992,362,750       $ 2,573,949,070       $ 271,093,686       $ 89,774,748       $ 81,163,940  

“Affiliated” investments

              538,763,217         206,657,575                          
                                                 

Total investments, at cost

    $ 1,175,615,420       $ 3,531,125,967       $ 2,780,606,645       $ 271,093,686       $ 89,774,748       $ 81,163,940  
                                                 
                                                           

Foreign currency, at cost:

    $       $ 25       $       $ 30       $       $  
                                                 

28 See Notes to Financial Statements.



March 31, 2015   Baron Funds

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
 
 
  FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
 

    Baron Asset
Fund
  Baron Growth
Fund
  Baron Small
Cap Fund
  Baron
Opportunity
Fund
  Baron Fifth
Avenue Growth
Fund
  Baron
Discovery
Fund
                                                 
Investment income:                                                            

Income:

                                                           

Dividends — unaffiliated investments

    $ 11,282,747       $ 39,958,691       $ 22,391,715       $ 791,946       $ 669,755       $ 171,784  

Dividends — “Affiliated” investments

              6,121,727         1,124,000                          

Securities lending income, net

      837,574                         68,777         42,169          

Foreign taxes withheld on dividends

      (127,035 )       (371,630 )       (63,000 )       (11,727 )       (4,031 )       (1,891 )
                                                 

Total income

      11,993,286         45,708,788         23,452,715         848,996         707,893         169,893  
                                                 

Expenses:

                                                           

Investment advisory fees (Note 4)

      13,861,477         40,096,438         26,506,755         2,024,075         558,215         393,465  

Distribution fees - Retail Shares (Note 4)

      2,552,017         5,157,821         3,998,144         371,367         78,837         24,460  

Shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses —

                                                           

Retail Shares

      256,390         240,590         201,220         61,530         18,341         10,086  

Shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses —

                                                           

Institutional Shares

      23,110         140,200         60,980         9,311         6,628         6,014  

Reports to shareholders

      247,900         728,200         622,100         61,305         6,635         5,154  

Registration and filing fees

      62,140         119,045         98,999         36,245         31,260         39,331  

Custodian and fund accounting fees

      55,196         250,940         139,340         27,852         14,522         17,051  

Trustee fees and expenses

      44,510         128,010         84,940         7,039         2,045         1,340  

Professional fees

      30,434         76,945         49,835         18,665         18,559         26,528  

Insurance expense

      19,179         57,465         39,533         3,247         711         196  

Administration fees

      13,229         13,236         13,261         13,229         13,264         13,233  

Line of credit fees

      8,986         25,702         16,484         1,261         411         311  

Miscellaneous expenses

      1,325         1,397         1,325         1,325         1,325         1,416  
                                                 

Total operating expenses

      17,175,893         47,035,989         31,832,916         2,636,451         750,753         538,585  
                                                 

Interest expense on borrowings

                              3,485                  
                                                 

Total expenses

      17,175,893         47,035,989         31,832,916         2,639,936         750,753         538,585  

Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser —

                                                           

Retail Shares (Note 4)

                                      (16,293 )       (26,339 )

Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser —

                                                           

Institutional Shares (Note 4)

                                      (4,372 )       (54,884 )
                                                 

Net expenses

      17,175,893         47,035,989         31,832,916         2,639,936         730,088         457,362  
                                                 

Net investment loss

      (5,182,607 )       (1,327,201 )       (8,380,201 )       (1,790,940 )       (22,195 )       (287,469 )
                                                 
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments:                                                      

Net realized gain on investments sold —

                                                           

unaffiliated investments

      128,410,990         230,892,451         286,039,205         45,967,129         444,650         791,027  

Net realized loss on investments sold —

                                                           

“Affiliated” investments

              (14,653,531 )       (109,475 )                        

Net realized gain (loss) on foreign

                                                       

currency transactions

      (1,659 )       (143,318 )               (7,391 )       (429 )       791  

Net change in unrealized appreciation

                                                           

(depreciation) of:

                                                           

Investments — unaffiliated investments

      149,945,300         587,485,607         260,311,345         (15,050,563 )       9,429,187         14,624,423  

Investments — “Affiliated” investments

              129,248,297         20,407,396                          

Foreign currency translations

      3,934         139                 509         (78 )       (1 )
                                                 
Net gain on investments       278,358,565         932,829,645         566,648,471         30,909,684         9,873,330         15,416,240  
                                                 
Net increase in net assets resulting                                                            

from operations

    $ 273,175,958       $ 931,502,444       $ 558,268,270       $ 29,118,744       $ 9,851,135       $ 15,128,771  
                                                 

See Notes to Financial Statements.   29



Baron Funds   March 31, 2015

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Unaudited)
 
 
 
 

    Baron Asset Fund   Baron Growth Fund   Baron Small Cap Fund
     
    For the Six   For the   For the Six   For the   For the Six   For the
    Months Ended   Year Ended   Months Ended   Year Ended   Months Ended   Year Ended
    March 31,   September 30,   March 31,   September 30,   March 31,   September 30,
    2015   2014   2015   2014   2015   2014
                                                 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:                                                            
Operations:                                                        

Net investment income (loss)

    $ (5,182,607 )     $ (17,332,452 )     $ (1,327,201 )     $ 13,492,185       $ (8,380,201 )     $ 1,919,227  

Net realized gain

      128,409,331         177,663,524         216,095,602         336,818,298         285,929,730         311,689,054  

Net change in unrealized appreciation

      149,949,234         181,632,245         716,734,043         49,007,519         280,718,741         48,840,291  
                                                 

Increase in net assets resulting from operations

  273,175,958         341,963,317         931,502,444         399,318,002         558,268,270         362,448,572  
                                                 
Distributions to shareholders from:                                                            

Net realized gain on investments — Retail Shares

  (128,715,478 )       (183,214,276 )       (181,241,449 )       (115,588,985 )       (188,750,105 )       (138,997,972 )

Net realized gain on investments — Institutional Shares

  (43,991,472 )       (46,121,408 )       (166,769,276 )       (76,667,813 )       (120,185,266 )       (69,574,277 )
                                                 

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

      (172,706,950 )       (229,335,684 )       (348,010,725 )       (192,256,798 )       (308,935,371 )       (208,572,249 )
                                                 
Capital share transactions:                                                            

Proceeds from the sale of shares — Retail Shares

      50,184,354         134,877,634         161,711,249         564,936,613         245,255,912         466,982,041  

Proceeds from the sale of shares — Institutional Shares

  72,925,327         232,326,449         396,756,983         1,383,261,836         221,187,204         612,992,165  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of

                                                           

distributions — Retail Shares

      126,050,435         179,798,184         173,865,929         111,771,521         185,786,199         136,928,058  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of

                                                           

distributions — Institutional Shares

      42,720,232         44,171,266         157,232,945         71,443,752         111,027,005         63,830,849  

Cost of shares redeemed — Retail Shares

      (154,275,839 )       (424,191,305 )       (489,312,369 )       (1,373,978,953 )       (517,355,051 )       (1,142,246,527 )

Cost of shares redeemed — Institutional Shares

      (59,997,813 )       (119,611,299 )       (475,952,431 )       (814,745,770 )       (251,364,434 )       (443,968,703 )
                                                 

Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital

                                                           

share transactions

      77,606,696         47,370,929         (75,697,694 )       (57,311,001 )       (5,463,165 )       (305,482,117 )
                                                 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

      178,075,704         159,998,562         507,794,025         149,750,203         243,869,734         (151,605,794 )
                                                 
Net Assets:                                                            

Beginning of period

      2,690,294,369         2,530,295,807         7,770,636,637         7,620,886,434         5,250,220,369         5,401,826,163  
                                                 

End of period

    $ 2,868,370,073       $ 2,690,294,369       $ 8,278,430,662       $ 7,770,636,637       $ 5,494,090,103       $ 5,250,220,369  
                                                 
Undistributed (accumulated) net investment                                                            

income (loss) at end of period

    $ (19,185,298 )     $ (14,002,691 )     $ 8,323,307       $ 9,650,508       $ 19,454       $ 8,399,655  
                                                 
Capital share transactions - Retail Shares                                                            

Shares sold

      781,413         2,155,570         2,228,578         7,942,734         7,303,606         13,680,269  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      2,001,436         3,002,140         2,451,919         1,583,839         5,669,399         4,088,625  

Shares redeemed

      (2,411,342 )       (6,761,301 )       (6,756,685 )       (19,314,699 )       (15,356,791 )       (33,420,807 )
                                                 
Net increase (decrease)       371,507         (1,603,591 )       (2,076,188 )       (9,788,126 )       (2,383,786 )       (15,651,913 )
                                                 
Capital share transactions - Institutional Shares                                                            

Shares sold

      1,121,773         3,646,344         5,395,623         19,222,974         6,461,909         17,707,594  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      665,528         726,382         2,188,350         1,002,298         3,335,146         1,882,916  

Shares redeemed

      (910,705 )       (1,874,586 )       (6,470,273 )       (11,373,462 )       (7,359,423 )       (12,850,030 )
                                                 
Net increase       876,596         2,498,140         1,113,700         8,851,810         2,437,632         6,740,480  
                                                 

30   See Notes to Financial Statements.


March 31, 2015   Baron Funds

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 
 
 
 

    Baron Opportunity Fund   Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund   Baron Discovery Fund
                         
        For the Six         For the         For the Six         For the         For the Six         For the  
        Months Ended         Year Ended         Months Ended         Year Ended         Months Ended         Year Ended  
        March 31,         September 30,         March 31,         September 30,         March 31,         September 30,  
        2015         2014         2015         2014         2015         2014  
                                                 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:                                                            
Operations:                                                            

Net investment loss

    $ (1,790,940 )     $ (5,675,727 )     $ (22,195 )     $ (192,793 )     $ (287,469 )     $ (192,253 )

Net realized gain (loss)

      45,959,738         30,291,894         444,221         1,049,118         791,818         (1,011,942 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

      (15,050,054 )       (12,775,589 )       9,429,109         12,852,276         14,624,422         (1,029,936 )

Voluntary payment from Adviser

              140,762                                  
                                                 

Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      29,118,744         11,981,340         9,851,135         13,708,601         15,128,771         (2,234,131 )
                                                 
Distributions to shareholders from:                                                            

Net investment income — Institutional Shares

                      (79,146 )                        

Net realized gain on investments — Retail Shares

      (17,591,512 )       (22,565,145 )                                

Net realized gain on investments — Institutional Shares

      (5,979,441 )       (6,207,861 )                                
                                                 

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

      (23,570,953 )       (28,773,006 )       (79,146 )                        
                                                 
Capital share transactions:                                                            

Proceeds from the sale of shares — Retail Shares

      13,489,491         72,205,415         16,235,236         12,422,621         8,048,996         27,253,657  

Proceeds from the sale of shares — Institutional Shares

      7,711,118         37,338,359         9,536,114         18,375,636         16,223,017         51,316,916  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of

                                                           

distributions — Retail Shares

      17,114,214         22,168,599                                  

Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of

                                                           

distributions — Institutional Shares

      5,342,650         5,394,387         76,309                          

Cost of shares redeemed — Retail Shares

      (84,555,835 )       (109,857,469 )       (3,975,271 )       (14,496,745 )       (4,781,226 )       (10,674,047 )

Cost of shares redeemed — Institutional Shares

      (18,663,012 )       (31,147,829 )       (3,148,886 )       (2,360,527 )       (5,846,823 )       (331,782 )
                                                 

Increase (decrease) in net assets derived from capital

                                                           

share transactions

      (59,561,374 )       (3,898,538 )       18,723,502         13,940,985         13,643,964         67,564,744  
                                                 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

      (54,013,583 )       (20,690,204 )       28,495,491         27,649,586         28,772,735         65,330,613  
                                                 
Net Assets:                                                            

Beginning of period

      440,555,505         461,245,709         109,223,898         81,574,312         65,330,613          
                                                 

End of period

    $ 386,541,922       $ 440,555,505       $ 137,719,389       $ 109,223,898       $ 94,103,348       $ 65,330,613  
                                                 
Accumulated net investment loss                                                            

at end of period

    $ (2,049,418 )     $ (258,478 )     $ (290,218 )     $ (188,877 )     $ (459,413 )     $ (171,944 )
                                                 
Capital share transactions — Retail Shares                                                            

Shares sold

      734,823         3,740,884         924,127         764,838         619,888         2,287,767  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      958,779         1,191,220                                  

Shares redeemed

      (4,689,367 )       (5,817,406 )       (229,871 )       (914,422 )       (369,687 )       (865,187 )
                                                 
Net increase (decrease)       (2,995,765 )       (885,302 )       694,256         (149,584 )       250,201         1,422,580  
                                                 
Capital share transactions — Institutional Shares                                                            

Shares sold

      416,987         1,919,468         537,188         1,110,731         1,250,637         4,187,992  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      294,523         286,174         4,309                          

Shares redeemed

      (1,013,109 )       (1,618,130 )       (181,185 )       (145,591 )       (440,404 )       (27,153 )
                                                 
Net increase (decrease)       (301,599 )       587,512         360,312         965,140         810,233         4,160,839  
                                                 

See Notes to Financial Statements.   31



Baron Funds   March 31, 2015

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
 

1. ORGANIZATION

Baron Investment Funds Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company established as a Massachusetts business trust on February 19, 1987, and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies. The Trust currently offers six series (individually, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”): Baron Asset Fund, Baron Growth Fund, Baron Small Cap Fund, Baron Opportunity Fund, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund and Baron Discovery Fund.

Each Fund offers two classes of shares, Retail Shares and Institutional Shares, which differ only in their ongoing fees, expenses and eligibility requirements. Retail Shares are offered to all investors. Institutional Shares are for investments in the amount of $1 million or more per Fund. Institutional Shares are intended for certain financial intermediaries that offer shares of Baron Funds through fee-based platforms, retirement platforms or other platforms. Each class of shares has equal rights to earnings and assets, except that each class bears different expenses for distribution and shareholder servicing. Each Fund’s investment income, realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments and foreign currency, and expenses other than those attributable to a specific class are allocated to each class based on its relative net assets. Each class of shares has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters that affect just that class.

The investment goals of the Funds are as follows:

Baron Asset Fund seeks capital appreciation through long-term investments primarily in securities of medium-sized companies with undervalued assets or favorable growth prospects.

Baron Growth Fund seeks capital appreciation through long-term investments primarily in securities of small-sized growth companies.

Baron Small Cap Fund seeks capital appreciation through investments primarily in securities of small-sized growth companies.

Baron Opportunity Fund seeks capital appreciation through investments primarily in growth companies that benefit from technology advances.

Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund seeks capital appreciation through investments primarily in securities of large-sized growth companies.

Baron Discovery Fund seeks capital appreciation through investments primarily in securities of small-sized growth companies.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the amounts of income and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Events occurring subsequent to the date of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and through the date of issuance of the financial statements have been evaluated for adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements.

a) Security Valuation. The Funds’ share prices or net asset values are calculated as of the close of the regular trading session (usually 4 p.m. E.T.) on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on any day the NYSE is open. Portfolio securities traded on any national stock exchange are valued based on the last sale price on the exchange where such shares are principally traded. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the Funds use the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If there are no sales on a given day, the value of the security may be the average of the most recent bid and asked quotations on such exchange or the last sale price from a prior day. Where market quotations are not readily available, or, if in BAMCO, Inc.’s (the “Adviser”) judgment, they do not accurately reflect the fair value of a security, or an event occurs after the market close but before the Funds are priced that materially affects the value of a security, the security will be valued by the Adviser using policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Adviser has a Fair Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) comprised of senior executives, and the Committee reports to the Board every quarter. Factors the Committee may consider when valuing a security include whether a current price is stale, there is recent news, the security is thinly traded, transactions are infrequent or quotations are genuine. There can be no guarantee, however, that a fair valuation used by the Funds on any given day will more accurately reflect the market value of an investment than the closing price of such investment in its market. Debt instruments having a remaining maturity greater than 60 days will be valued on the basis of prices obtained from a pricing service approved by the Board or at the mean of the bid and ask prices from the dealer maintaining an active market in that security. The value of the Fund’s investments in convertible bonds is determined by the Adviser primarily by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on readily available bid quotations or, if quotations are not available, by methods which include various considerations such as yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions. Other inputs used by an independent pricing service to value convertible bonds generally include underlying stock data, dealer quotes, conversion premiums, listed bond and preferred stock prices and other market information which may include benchmark curves, trade execution data, and sensitivity analysis, when available. Money market instruments held by the Funds with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Open end investment companies, including securities lending collateral invested in registered investment company money market funds, are valued at their net asset value each day.

Non-U.S. equity securities are valued on the basis of their most recent closing market prices and translated into U.S. dollars at 4 p.m. E.T., except under the circumstances described below. Most foreign markets close before 4 p.m. E.T. For securities primarily traded in the Far East, for example, the most recent closing prices may be as much as fifteen hours old at 4 p.m. E.T. If the Adviser determines that developments between the close of the foreign markets and 4 p.m. E.T. will, in its judgment, materially affect the value of some or all of the Funds’ non-U.S. securities, the Adviser will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of 4 p.m. E.T. In deciding whether to make these adjustments, the Adviser may review a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent non-U.S. securities and baskets of non-U.S. securities. The Adviser may also fair value securities in other situations, for example, when a particular foreign market is closed but the Funds are open. The Adviser uses an outside pricing service that utilizes a systematic methodology to provide the Adviser with closing market prices and information used for adjusting those prices. The Adviser cannot predict how often it will use closing prices or how often it will adjust those prices. As a means of evaluating its fair value process, the Adviser routinely compares closing market prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and the adjusted prices. Other mutual funds may adjust the prices of their securities by different amounts.

b) Securities Transactions, Investment Income and Expense Allocation. Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gain and loss from securities transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis for financial reporting and federal income tax purposes. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recognized on an accrual basis, which includes the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums. Certain dividends from foreign securities will be recorded as soon as the Funds are informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date. Distributions received from certain investments held by the Funds may be comprised of dividends, realized gains and returns of capital. The Funds originally estimate the expected classification of such payments. The amounts may


32


March 31, 2015   Baron Funds

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

subsequently be reclassified upon receipt of information from the issuer. The Funds are charged for those expenses of the Trust that are directly attributable to each Fund, such as advisory and custodian fees. Expenses that are not directly attributable to a Fund are typically allocated among the Funds in proportion to their respective net assets.

c) Foreign Currency Translations. Values of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using the price of such currencies at the time the net asset value is determined. Purchases and sales of investments and dividend income are converted at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions includes gain (loss) arising from the fluctuation in the exchange rates between trade and settlement dates on security transactions and currency gain (loss) between the accrual and payment dates on dividends and foreign withholding taxes. The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments and foreign currency transactions. The Funds may invest in foreign securities and foreign currency transactions that may involve risks not associated with domestic investments as a result of the level of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability, among others.

Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions and the foreign currency portion of gains and losses realized on sales and maturities of foreign denominated debt securities are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

d) Securities Lending. The Funds may lend securities to certain brokers under the terms of a master netting agreement. Upon such loans, the Funds receive collateral which is maintained by the custodian. The Funds may pay fees to the custodian for administering the securities lending program. The Funds earn interest on such collateral and earn income in the form of negotiated lenders’ fees, both of which are included in securities lending income in the Statements of Operations. Securities loaned are required to be secured at all times by collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the securities loaned. Risks may arise upon entering into securities lending to the extent that the value of the collateral is less than the value of the securities loaned due to the changes in the value of collateral or the loaned securities. The Funds may receive collateral in the form of cash or other eligible securities, such as a letter of credit issued by a U.S. bank or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. Securities purchased with cash collateral are subject to the risks inherent in investing in these securities. At March 31, 2015, the Funds did not have any securities on loan.

e) Repurchase Agreements. The Funds may invest in repurchase agreements, which are short-term investments whereby the Funds acquire ownership of a debt security and the seller agrees to repurchase the security at a future date at a specified price. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Funds’ policy that their custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the market value of which, at all times, equals at least 102% of the principal amount of the repurchase transaction. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the seller defaults and the market value of the collateral declines or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Funds may be delayed or limited.

f) Federal and Foreign Income Taxes. The Trust treats each Fund as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund intends to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment income and any net realized capital gains at least annually. None of the Funds will be subject to federal or state income taxes to the extent that they qualify as regulated investment companies and substantially all of their income is distributed.

The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes on income and gains on investments that are accrued based upon the Funds’ understanding of the tax rules and regulations that exist in the countries in which the Funds invest. Foreign governments may also impose taxes or other payments on investments with respect to foreign securities. Such taxes are accrued as applicable.

g) Restricted Securities. The Funds may invest in securities that are restricted as to public sale in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933. Such assets are valued by the Adviser pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board.

h) Distributions to Shareholders. Income and capital gain distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for net investment loss, foreign currency gains and losses, reclassification of distributions, partnership basis adjustments, income from passive foreign investment corporations and wash sale losses deferred.

i) Commitments and Contingencies. In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties, which provide general indemnification. The maximum exposure to the Funds under these agreements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.

j) Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Funds consider all short term liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

Purchases and sales of securities, other than short term securities, for the six months ended March 31, 2015 were as follows:

Fund   Purchases   Sales
Baron Asset Fund   $185,892,604   $273,868,551
Baron Growth Fund   252,340,688   659,518,526
Baron Small Cap Fund   394,186,355   712,381,623
Baron Opportunity Fund   79,115,640   169,963,971
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund   20,331,685   5,610,526
Baron Discovery Fund   53,605,249   42,397,911

4. INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

a) Investment Advisory Fees. The Adviser, a wholly owned subsidiary of Baron Capital Group, Inc. (“BCG”), serves as investment adviser to the Funds. As compensation for services rendered, the Adviser receives a fee payable monthly from Baron Asset Fund, Baron Growth Fund, Baron Small Cap Fund, Baron Opportunity Fund and Baron Discovery Fund equal to 1% per annum of the average daily net assets of the respective Funds. The Adviser receives a fee payable monthly from Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund equal to 0.90% per annum for daily net assets under $1 billion, 0.85% per annum for daily net assets greater than $1 billion but less than $2 billion and 0.80% per annum for daily net assets greater than $2 billion. For Baron Opportunity Fund, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund and Baron Discovery Fund, the Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fee, to


33


Baron Funds   March 31, 2015

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 

4. INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (Continued)

the extent required to limit the net annual operating expense ratio (excluding portfolio transaction costs, interest, dividend and extraordinary expenses) to 1.50%, 1.30% and 1.35% of average daily net assets of the Retail Shares, and 1.25%, 1.05% and 1.10% of average daily net assets of the Institutional Shares, respectively.

b) Distribution Fees. Baron Capital, Inc. (“BCI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of BCG, is a registered limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of the Fund’s Shares. The Funds are authorized to pay BCI a distribution fee payable monthly pursuant to a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act equal to 0.25% per annum of the Retail Shares’ average daily net assets of the respective Funds.

c) Trustee Fees. Certain Trustees of the Trust may be deemed to be affiliated with, or interested persons (as defined by the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s Adviser or of BCI. None of the Trustees so affiliated received compensation for his or her services as a Trustee of the Trust. None of the Fund’s officers received compensation from the Funds for their services as an officer.

d) Fund Accounting and Administration Fees. The Funds have entered into an agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) to perform accounting and certain administrative services. State Street is compensated for fund accounting services based on a percentage of the Funds’ net assets, subject to certain minimums plus fixed annual fees for the administrative services.

5. LINE OF CREDIT

The Funds, together with other funds in Baron Select Funds Trust (except Baron Partners Fund), participate in a committed line of credit agreement with State Street to be used for temporary purposes, primarily for financing redemptions. Each Fund may borrow up to the lesser of $100 million or the maximum amount each Fund may borrow under the 1940 Act, the limitations included in each Fund’s prospectus, or any limit or restriction under any law or regulation to which each Fund is subject or any agreement to which each Fund is a party; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all loans to any of the Funds may not exceed $100 million. Interest is charged to each Fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate per annum equal to the higher of the Overnight Federal Funds Rate or the Overnight LIBOR Rate plus a margin of 1.00%. A commitment fee of 0.12% per annum is incurred on the unused portion of the line of credit and is allocated to the participating Funds.

During the six months ended March 31, 2015, Baron Opportunity Fund had borrowings under the line of credit and incurred interest expense of $3,485. For the period in which there were borrowings from December 12, 2014 to January 25, 2015, the Fund had an average daily balance on the line of credit of $4.1 million at a weighted average interest rate of 1.14%. At March 31, 2015, there were no loans outstanding under the line of credit.

6. RESTRICTED SECURITIES

At March 31, 2015, investments in securities included securities that are restricted and/or illiquid. Restricted securities are often purchased in private placement transactions, are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, may have contractual restrictions on resale and are valued pursuant to the policies and procedures for fair value pricing approved by the Board. A security may be considered illiquid if it lacks a readily available market or if its valuation has not changed for a certain period of time. The Funds may receive more or less than this valuation in an actual sale and that difference could be material. At March 31, 2015, the Funds held investments in restricted and/or illiquid securities that were valued pursuant to policies and procedures for fair value pricing as follows:

    Baron Asset Fund
     
    Acquisition      
Name of Issuer   Date(s)     Value
Common Stocks          

TerraForm Power, Inc., Cl A

  11/21/2014   $ 12,120,024
           
Private Equity Investments          

Windy City Investments Holdings, L.L.C.

  11/13/2007-1/27/2011     6,209,476
         
           
Total Restricted Securities:          

(Cost $10,000,020) (0.64% of Net Assets)

      $ 18,329,500
         
           
    Baron Growth Fund
     
    Acquisition      
Name of Issuer   Date(s)     Value
Private Equity Investments          

Windy City Investments Holdings, L.L.C.

  11/13/2007-1/27/2011   $ 2,090,153
           
Rights          

Agrinos AS Exp 7/15/2015 (Mexico)

  12/23/2013     41,504
         
Total Restricted Securities:          

(Cost $0) (0.03% of Net Assets)

      $ 2,131,657
         
           
    Baron Small Cap Fund
     
    Acquisition      
Name of Issuer   Date(s)     Value
Warrants          

Viggle, Inc. Warrants, Non-Callable, Exp 4/27/2015

         

(Cost $0) (0.00% of Net Assets)

  4/27/2012   $ 0
         

           
See Statements of Net Assets for cost of individual securities.

34


March 31, 2015   Baron Funds

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 

6. RESTRICTED SECURITIES (Continued)

    Baron Opportunity Fund
     
    Acquisition      
Name of Issuer   Date(s)     Value
Common Stocks          

TerraForm Power, Inc., Cl A

         

(Cost $2,994,990) (0.94% of Net Assets)

  11/21/2014   $ 3,629,928
         
           
    Baron Discovery Fund
     
    Acquisition      
Name of Issuer   Date(s)     Value
Common Stocks          

Barfresh Food Group, Inc.

  2/23/2015   $ 336,000
           
Warrants          

Barfresh Food Group, Inc., Warrants, Exp 2/23/2020

  2/23/2015     66,000
         
Total Restricted Securities:          

(Cost $300,000) (0.43% of Net Assets)

      $ 402,000
         

 
See Statements of Net Assets for cost of individual securities.

7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined by GAAP as the price that the Funds would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. GAAP provides a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Funds’ own assumptions based on the best information available in the circumstances. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below.

     
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
         
     
Level 2 – prices determined using other inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data (which could include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, interest rates, credit risk, etc.);
         
     
Level 3 – prices determined using unobservable inputs when quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable, such as when there is little or no market activity for an asset or liability (unobservable inputs reflect each Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of assets or liabilities and would be based on the best information available).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, non-U.S. securities, with markets that close hours before the Funds value their holdings, may require revised valuations due to significant movement in the U.S. markets. Since these values are not obtained from quoted prices in an active market, such securities are reflected as Level 2.

The Funds have procedures to determine the fair value of securities and other financial instruments for which market prices are not readily available or which may not be reliably priced. Under these procedures, the Funds primarily employ a market-based approach that may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, and other relevant information for the investment to determine its fair value. The Funds may also use an income-based valuation approach in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of March 31, 2015 in valuing the Funds’ investments carried at fair value:

    Baron Asset Fund
     
      Quoted Prices in                  
      Active Markets     Other            
      for Identical     Observable     Unobservable      
      Assets     Inputs     Inputs      
Description     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)     Total
Common Stocks   $ 2,817,118,982   $ 12,120,024   $   $ 2,829,239,006
Private Equity Investments             6,209,476     6,209,476
Short Term Investments         22,984,895         22,984,895
                 
Total Investments   $ 2,817,118,982   $ 35,104,919   $ 6,209,476   $ 2,858,433,377
                 

Transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3, if any, are recognized at ending value on March 31, 2015. There have been no transfers in and out of Level 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements for the Fund for the six months ended March 31, 2015.

 
See Statements of Net Assets for additional detailed categorizations.

35


 Baron Funds    March 31, 2015 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 

7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

    Baron Growth Fund  
    Quoted Prices in                    
    Active Markets   Other            
    for Identical   Observable   Unobservable        
    Assets   Inputs   Inputs        
Description   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Total  
Common Stocks   $ 8,145,470,452     $     $     $ 8,145,470,452  
Preferred Stocks           14,603,861             14,603,861  
Private Equity Investments                 2,090,153       2,090,153  
Rights           41,504             41,504  
Short Term Investments           111,009,043             111,009,043  
                         
Total Investments   $ 8,145,470,452     $ 125,654,408     $ 2,090,153     $ 8,273,215,013  
                         

Transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3, if any, are recognized at ending value on March 31, 2015. There have been no transfers in and out of Level 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements for the Fund for the six months ended March 31, 2015.

    Baron Small Cap Fund  
    Quoted Prices in                    
    Active Markets   Other            
    for Identical   Observable   Unobservable        
    Assets   Inputs   Inputs        
Description   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Total  
Common Stocks   $ 5,428,345,303     $     $     $ 5,428,345,303  
Warrants           0             0  
Short Term Investments           75,316,477             75,316,477  
                         
Total Investments   $ 5,428,345,303     $ 75,316,477     $     $ 5,503,661,780  
       

Transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3, if any, are recognized at ending value on March 31, 2015. There have been no transfers in and out of Level 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements for the Fund for the six months ended March 31, 2015.

    Baron Opportunity Fund  
    Quoted Prices in                    
    Active Markets   Other            
    for Identical   Observable   Unobservable        
    Assets   Inputs   Inputs        
Description   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Total  
Common Stocks   $ 381,732,050     $ 3,629,928     $     $ 385,361,978  
Short Term Investments           981,506             981,506  
                         
Total Investments   $ 381,732,050     $ 4,611,434     $     $ 386,343,484  
                         

Transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3, if any, are recognized at ending value on March 31, 2015. There have been no transfers in and out of Level 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements for the Fund for the six months ended March 31, 2015.

    Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund  
    Quoted Prices in                    
    Active Markets   Other            
    for Identical   Observable   Unobservable        
    Assets   Inputs   Inputs        
Description   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Total  
Common Stocks   $ 130,764,811     $     $     $ 130,764,811  
Short Term Investments           7,454,601             7,454,601  
       
Total Investments   $ 130,764,811     $ 7,454,601     $     $ 138,219,412  
       

Transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3, if any, are recognized at ending value on March 31, 2015. There have been no transfers in and out of Level 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements for the Fund for the six months ended March 31, 2015.

   
See Statements of Net Assets for additional detailed categorizations.

36



 March 31, 2015     Baron Funds

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 

7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

    Baron Discovery Fund  
    Quoted Prices in                    
    Active Markets   Other            
    for Identical   Observable   Unobservable        
    Assets   Inputs   Inputs        
Description   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Total  
Common Stocks   $ 87,613,768     $ 336,000     $     $ 87,949,768  
Warrants           66,000             66,000  
Short Term Investments           6,742,659             6,742,659  
       
Total Investments   $ 87,613,768     $ 7,144,659     $     $ 94,758,427  
       

Transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3, if any, are recognized at ending value on March 31, 2015. There have been no transfers in and out of Level 1, 2 or 3 fair value measurements for the Fund for the six months ended March 31, 2015.

   
See Statements of Net Assets for additional detailed categorizations.

The following is a reconciliation of investments in which unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

      Baron Asset Fund  
                                                                            Change in Net  
                                                                            Unrealized  
                                                                            Appreciation  
                                                                            (Depreciation)  
                      Net     Net Change in                                           from Investments  
      Balance as of     Accrued     Realized     Unrealized                     Transfers     Transfers     Balance as of   still held at  
Investments in   September 30,     Premiums/     Gain     Appreciation             Sales/     Into     Out of     March 31,   March 31,  
Securities     2014     Discounts     (Loss)     (Depreciation)     Purchases     Distributions     Level 3     Level 3     2015   2015  
Private Equity Investments  
Financials     $ 42,901,834     $     $ 2,008,495     $ (2,110,454 )   $     $ (36,590,399 )   $     $     $ 6,209,476     $ (2,110,454 )  
                   
Total     $ 42,901,834     $     $ 2,008,495     $ (2,110,454 )   $     $ (36,590,399 )   $     $     $ 6,209,476     $ (2,110,454 )  
                   

      Baron Growth Fund  
                                                                            Change in Net  
                                                                            Unrealized  
                                                                            Appreciation  
                                                                            (Depreciation)  
                      Net     Net Change in                                           from Investments  
      Balance as of     Accrued     Realized     Unrealized                     Transfers     Transfers     Balance as of   still held at  
Investments in     September 30,     Premiums/     Gain     Appreciation             Sales/     Into     Out of     March 31,   March 31,  
Securities     2014     Discounts     (Loss)     (Depreciation)     Purchases     Distributions     Level 3     Level 3     2015   2015  
Private Equity Investments  
Financials     $ 14,441,055     $     $ 3,685,584     $ (3,719,904 )   $     $ (12,316,582 )   $     $     $ 2,090,153     $ (3,719,904 )  
                   
Total     $ 14,441,055     $     $ 3,685,584     $ (3,719,904 )   $     $ (12,316,582 )   $     $     $ 2,090,153     $ (3,719,904 )  
                   

37



 Baron Funds     March 31, 2015

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 

8. INCOME TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

Federal income tax regulations differ from GAAP. Therefore, distributions determined in accordance with tax regulations may differ in amount or character from net investment income and net realized gain for financial reporting purposes. Net investment income (loss) and net realized and unrealized gain (loss) differ for financial statement and tax purposes due to differing treatments of net investment loss, foreign currency gains and losses, reclassification of distributions, partnership basis adjustments, income from passive foreign investment corporations and wash sale losses deferred. Financial reporting records are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences to reflect tax character. Financial records are not adjusted for temporary differences.

As of March 31, 2015, the components of net assets on a tax basis were as follows:

              Baron   Baron   Baron Fifth   Baron    
  Baron Asset   Baron Growth   Small Cap   Opportunity   Avenue Growth   Discovery    
  Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund    
Cost of investments $ 1,175,615,420   $ 3,531,125,967   $ 2,780,606,645   $ 271,093,686   $ 89,774,748   $ 81,163,940    
                           
Gross tax unrealized appreciation   1,688,349,707     4,806,292,467     2,818,092,768     126,323,448     49,734,556     17,159,196    
Gross tax unrealized depreciation   (5,531,750 )   (64,203,421 )   (95,037,633 )   (11,073,650 )   (1,289,892 )   (3,564,709 )  
                           
Net tax unrealized appreciation   1,682,817,957     4,742,089,046     2,723,055,135     115,249,798     48,444,664     13,594,487    

Net tax unrealized currency appreciation (depreciation)

      (304 )       463     (121 )   (1 )  

Undistributed (accumulated) net investment income (loss)

  (19,185,298 )   8,323,307     19,454     (2,049,418 )   (290,218 )   (459,413 )  

Undistributed (accumulated) net realized gain (loss)

  122,748,338     191,568,646     279,762,653     44,050,453     (788,416 )   (237,328 )  
Paid-in capital   1,081,989,076     3,336,449,967     2,491,252,861     229,290,626     90,353,480     81,205,603    
                           
Net Assets $ 2,868,370,073   $ 8,278,430,662   $ 5,494,090,103   $ 386,541,922   $ 137,719,389   $ 94,103,348    
                           
 
As of September 30, 2014, the Funds had capital loss carryforwards expiring as follows:
 
              Baron   Baron   Baron Fifth   Baron    
  Baron Asset   Baron Growth   Small Cap   Opportunity   Avenue Growth   Discovery    
  Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund    
September 30, 2018 $   $   $   $   $ 1,202,245   $    
                           
                                       
  $   $   $   $   $ 1,202,245   $    
                           

The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended March 31, 2015 and the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 was as follows:

    Six Months Ended Year Ended
    March 31, 2015 September 30, 2014
   
            Long Term           Long Term  
Fund   Ordinary1     Capital Gain     Ordinary1     Capital Gain  
Baron Asset Fund   $   $ 172,706,950   $   $ 229,335,684  
Baron Growth Fund         348,010,725     14,691,238     177,565,560  
Baron Small Cap Fund         308,935,371         208,572,249  
Baron Opportunity Fund         23,570,953     14,059,154     14,713,852  
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund     79,146              
Baron Discovery Fund                  

   
1 For tax purposes, short-term capital gains are considered ordinary income distributions.

The Funds follow the provisions of FASB Codification Section 740 (“ASC Section 740”) “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. ASC Section 740 sets forth a threshold for financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. The Funds are required to recognize the tax effects of certain tax positions under a “more likely than not” standard, that based on their technical merits, have more than 50 percent likelihood of being sustained upon examination. Management has analyzed the tax positions taken on the Funds’ federal income tax returns for all open years (current and prior three years), and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements. At March 31, 2015, the Funds did not have any uncertain tax benefits that require recognition, de-recognition or disclosure. The Funds’ federal, state and local income and federal excise tax returns for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired (current and prior three years) are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

9. OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION

As of March 31, 2015, the officers, trustees, and portfolio managers owned, directly or indirectly, 17.05% of Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund. As a result of their ownership, these investors may be able to materially affect the outcome of matters presented to Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund shareholders.

38



 March 31, 2015   Baron Funds 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
 

10. TRANSACTIONS IN “AFFILIATED” COMPANIES1

BARON GROWTH FUND

                    Net Change in                          
    Value at             Unrealized               Shares Held at   Value at
    September 30,   Purchase   Sales   Appreciation   Realized   Dividend   March 31,   March 31,
Name of Issuer   2014   Cost   Proceeds   (Depreciation)   Gains/(Losses)   Income   2015   2015
“Affiliated” Company as of March 31, 2015:

AO World plc

  $ 47,011,734   $ 62,414,488   $ 1,159,756   $ (13,668,130 )   $ (1,385,039 ) $     34,300,000     $ 93,213,297  
Benefitfocus, Inc.     33,970,397     28,905,312         22,080,605               2,309,223       84,956,314  
Choice Hotels International, Inc.     156,390,000             36,300,525           1,729,312     3,007,500       192,690,525  
Iridium Communications, Inc.     66,316,917             6,444,356               7,493,437       72,761,273  
Iridium Communications,

Inc., Series B, 6.75%

    13,989,394             614,467           346,562     41,074       14,603,861  
Primerica, Inc.     130,194,000             7,236,000           756,000     2,700,000       137,430,000  
Trex Company, Inc.     57,731,900             33,333,200               1,670,000       91,065,100  

Vail Resorts, Inc.

    179,142,048             34,399,568           2,999,122     2,064,800       213,541,616  
                                         
    $ 684,746,390   $ 91,319,800   $ 1,159,756   $ 126,740,591     $ (1,385,039 ) $ 5,830,996           $ 900,261,986  
                                         
                                                       
No Longer an “Affiliated” Company as of March 31, 2015:
Badger Daylighting Ltd.   $ 52,975,579   $ 9,946,996   $ 12,665,520   $ 2,507,706     $ (13,268,492 ) $ 290,731     1,850,000     $ 39,496,269  
                                         
    $ 52,975,579   $ 9,946,996   $ 12,665,520   $ 2,507,706     $ (13,268,492 ) $ 290,731           $ 39,496,269  
                                         

BARON SMALL CAP FUND

                    Net Change in                          
    Value at             Unrealized               Shares Held at   Value at
    September 30,   Purchase   Sales   Appreciation   Realized   Dividend   March 31,   March 31,
Name of Issuer   2014   Cost   Proceeds   (Depreciation)   Gains/(Losses)   Income   2015   2015
“Affiliated” Company as of March 31, 2015:

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.

  $ 32,520,000   $ 1,476,738   $   $ 12,970,785     $   $     2,093,960     $ 46,967,523  
Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc.     42,108,000     949,689         2,279,811               2,250,000       45,337,500  
Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.     72,760,000     8,356,549         4,023,451           620,000     4,500,000       85,140,000  
The KEYW Holding Corporation     21,586,500         706,642     (5,282,651 )     (109,475 )       1,881,863       15,487,732  
Rally Software Development Corp.     27,623,000             8,464,000               2,300,000       36,087,000  
                                         
    $ 196,597,500   $ 10,782,976   $ 706,642   $ 22,455,396     $ (109,475 ) $ 620,000           $ 229,019,755  
                                         
                                                       
No Longer an “Affiliated” Company as of March 31, 2015:
PBF Logistics LP   $ 20,256,000   $   $   $ (2,048,000 )   $   $ 504,000     800,000     $ 18,208,000  
                                         
    $ 20,256,000   $   $   $ (2,048,000 )   $   $ 504,000           $ 18,208,000  
                                         

1
An “Affiliated” Company, as defined in the 1940 Act, is a company in which a Fund held 5% or more of the company’s outstanding voting securities at any time during the six months ended March 31, 2015.

11. DISCLOSURES REGARDING OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

In December 2011, FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) related to disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities in financial statements. This ASU requires an entity to disclose both gross and net information for derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset in the statement of assets and liabilities or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. In January 2013, the FASB issued an ASU to clarify the scope of disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The information required to be disclosed by the ASU for the Funds’ investments in repurchase agreements at March 31, 2015, including the fair value of the repurchase agreement and the amount of collateral, can be found in each respective Fund’s Statement of Net Assets. The Funds did not hold derivatives or participate in borrowing or securities lending activities at March 31, 2015.

12. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

In June 2014, FASB issued “ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures” to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Adviser is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Funds’ financial statement disclosures.

39



     
   Baron Funds   March 31, 2015     

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
 

BARON ASSET FUND
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:
RETAIL SHARES   Six Months                                                                        
    Ended March 31,   Year Ended September 30,
             
    2015   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 63.75     $ 61.37     $ 52.03     $ 49.00     $ 49.27     $ 43.62     $ 52.12     $ 66.57     $ 60.08     $ 56.52  
                                                             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                                                
Net investment loss     (0.14 )1     (0.44 )1     (0.34 )1     (0.14 )1     (0.23 )1     (0.28 )1     (0.20 )1     (0.29 )1     (0.10 )1     (0.27 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    6.51       8.42       13.44       10.94       0.73       5.93       (5.68 )     (12.08 )     11.27       6.64  
                                                             

Total from investment operations

    6.37       7.98       13.10       10.80       0.50       5.65       (5.88 )     (12.37 )     11.17       6.37  
                                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                                                
Net investment income     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
Net realized gain on investments     (4.17 )     (5.60 )     (3.76 )     (7.77 )     (0.77 )     0.00       (2.62 )     (2.08 )     (4.68 )     (2.81 )
                                                             

Total distributions

    (4.17 )     (5.60 )     (3.76 )     (7.77 )     (0.77 )     0.00       (2.62 )     (2.08 )     (4.68 )     (2.81 )
                                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 65.95     $ 63.75     $ 61.37     $ 52.03     $ 49.00     $ 49.27     $ 43.62     $ 52.12     $ 66.57     $ 60.08  
                                                             
Total return     10.29 %4     13.59 %     27.17 %     24.65 %     0.85 %     12.95 %     (9.88 )%     (19.14 )%     19.56 %     11.54 %
                                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                                                
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 2,094.0     $ 2,000.5     $ 2,024.2     $ 1,845.6     $ 1,924.9     $ 2,424.2     $ 2,652.6     $ 3,311.8     $ 4,468.0     $ 3,365.6  
                                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.31 %5     1.31 %     1.32 %     1.33 %     1.33 %     1.32 %     1.36 %2     1.33 %2     1.34 %2     1.33 %
                                                             

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

    (0.44 )%5     (0.70 )%     (0.62 )%     (0.28 )%     (0.41 )%     (0.61 )%     (0.54 )%     (0.49 )%     (0.17 )%     (0.49 )%
                                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     6.72 %4     11.26 %     12.04 %     13.11 %     23.89 %     13.04 %     14.67 %     16.02 %     13.39 %     21.87 %
                                                             
                                              
 
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES   Six Months
Ended March 31,
2015
  Year Ended September 30,  
       
        2014       2013       2012       2011       2010       20093    
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 64.87     $ 62.20     $ 52.55     $ 49.30     $ 49.43     $ 43.65     $ 37.38    
               
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                          
Net investment income (loss)     (0.06 )1     (0.28 )1     (0.21 )1     0.01 1     (0.10 )1     (0.15 )1     (0.05 )1  
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments     6.63       8.55       13.62       11.01       0.74       5.93       6.32    
               

Total from investment operations

    6.57       8.27       13.41       11.02       0.64       5.78       6.27    
               
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                          
Net investment income     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00    
Net realized gain on investments     (4.17 )     (5.60 )     (3.76 )     (7.77 )     (0.77 )     0.00       0.00    
               

Total distributions

    (4.17 )     (5.60 )     (3.76 )     (7.77 )     (0.77 )     0.00       0.00    
               
Net asset value, end of period   $ 67.27     $ 64.87     $ 62.20     $ 52.55     $ 49.30     $ 49.43     $ 43.65    
               
Total return     10.45 %4     13.90 %     27.51 %     24.99 %     1.14 %     13.24 %     16.77 %4  
               
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                          
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 774.4     $ 689.8     $ 506.1     $ 386.7     $ 288.9     $ 242.8     $ 82.3    
               

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.04 %5     1.04 %     1.05 %     1.06 %     1.06 %     1.06 %     1.16 %5  
               

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

    (0.18 )%5     (0.43 )%     (0.38 )%     0.02 %     (0.18 )%     (0.33 )%     (0.39 )%5  
               
Portfolio turnover rate     6.72 %4     11.26 %     12.04 %     13.11 %     23.89 %     13.04 %     14.67 %  
                                             

 
1   Based on average shares outstanding.
2   Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
3   For the period May 29, 2009 (initial offering of Institutional Shares) to September 30, 2009.
4   Not Annualized.
5   Annualized.


40   See Notes to Financial Statements.

     
March 31, 2015   Baron Funds     

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
 

BARON GROWTH FUND
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

RETAIL SHARES   Six Months                                                                        
    Ended March 31,   Year Ended September 30,
             
    2015   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 70.46     $ 68.67     $ 58.19     $ 46.18     $ 44.37     $ 39.00     $ 41.69     $ 54.55     $ 47.23     $ 45.96  
                                                             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                                                

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.06 )1     0.06 1     (0.12 )1     0.20 1     (0.29 )1     (0.34 )1     (0.18 )1     (0.28 )1     (0.25 )1     (0.29 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    8.47       3.45       16.37       12.64       2.10       5.71       (2.47 )     (10.07 )     10.11       3.61  
                                                             

Total from investment operations

    8.41       3.51       16.25       12.84       1.81       5.37       (2.65 )     (10.35 )     9.86       3.32  
                                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                                                
Net investment income     0.00       (0.03 )     (0.18 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
Net realized gain on investments     (3.22 )     (1.69 )     (5.59 )     (0.83 )     0.00       0.00       (0.04 )     (2.51 )     (2.54 )     (2.05 )
                                                             

Total distributions

    (3.22 )     (1.72 )     (5.77 )     (0.83 )     0.00       0.00       (0.04 )     (2.51 )     (2.54 )     (2.05 )
                                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 75.65     $ 70.46     $ 68.67     $ 58.19     $ 46.18     $ 44.37     $ 39.00     $ 41.69     $ 54.55     $ 47.23  
                                                             
Total return     12.25 %5     5.11 %     30.76 %     28.12 %     4.08 %     13.77 %     (6.34 )%     (19.78 )%     21.41 %     7.36 %
                                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                                                
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 4,219.1     $ 4,076.1     $ 4,644.2     $ 4,073.5     $ 4,110.8     $ 4,842.8     $ 5,034.5     $ 5,615.0     $ 7,075.9     $ 5,315.8  
                                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.30 %6     1.29 %4     1.30 %     1.32 %     1.32 %     1.32 %     1.35 %2     1.32 %2     1.31 %2     1.31 %
                                                             

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

    (0.16 )%6     0.08 %     (0.20 )%     0.38 %     (0.56 )%     (0.80 )%     (0.56 )%     (0.59 )%     (0.49 )%     (0.61 )%
                                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     3.18 %5     13.15 %     9.63 %     13.70 %     13.51 %     16.12 %     26.65 %     25.97 %     21.37 %     21.27 %
                                                             
 
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES   Six Months
Ended March 31,
2015
                                                 
      Year Ended September 30,  
         
      2014     2013     2012     2011     2010     20093    
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 71.33     $ 69.32     $ 58.70     $ 46.46     $ 44.52     $ 39.03     $ 33.71    
                                             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                          
Net investment income (loss)     0.04 1     0.20 1     0.02 1     0.45 1     (0.17 )1     (0.22 )1     (0.04 )1  
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments     8.57       3.53       16.52       12.62       2.11       5.71       5.36    
                                             

Total from investment operations

    8.61       3.73       16.54       13.07       1.94       5.49       5.32    
                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                          
Net investment income     0.00       (0.03 )     (0.33 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00    
Net realized gain on investments     (3.22 )     (1.69 )     (5.59 )     (0.83 )     0.00       0.00       0.00    
                                             

Total distributions

    (3.22 )     (1.72 )     (5.92 )     (0.83 )     0.00       0.00       0.00    
                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 76.72     $ 71.33     $ 69.32     $ 58.70     $ 46.46     $ 44.52     $ 39.03    
                                             
Total return     12.38 %5     5.39 %     31.10 %     28.45 %     4.36 %     14.07 %     15.78 %5  
                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                          
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 4,059.3     $ 3,694.5     $ 2,976.7     $ 1,747.3     $ 1,261.8     $ 728.9     $ 238.7    
                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.04 %6     1.04 %4     1.05 %     1.06 %     1.06 %     1.06 %     1.13 %6  
                                             

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

    0.10 %6     0.28 %     0.04 %     0.83 %     (0.33 )%     (0.53 )%     (0.29 )%6  
                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     3.18 %5     13.15 %     9.63 %     13.70 %     13.51 %     16.12 %     26.65 %  
                                             
                                                           
 
1   Based on average shares outstanding.
2   Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
3   For the period May 29, 2009 (initial offering of Institutional Shares) to September 30, 2009.
4   Interest expense rounds to less than 0.01%.
5   Not Annualized.
6   Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements.   41


     
Baron Funds   March 31, 2015     

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
 

BARON SMALL CAP FUND
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

RETAIL SHARES   Six Months                                                                        
    Ended March 31,   Year Ended September 30,
               
    2015   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 33.68     $ 32.83     $ 26.14     $ 20.84     $ 20.90     $ 17.96     $ 18.70     $ 25.47     $ 23.59     $ 23.08  
                                                             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                                                
Net investment loss     (0.07 )1     (0.01 )1     (0.12 )1     (0.19 )1     (0.15 )1     (0.06 )1     (0.13 )1     (0.09 )1     (0.02 )1     (0.18 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    3.61       2.14       7.61       5.96       0.09 2     3.00       (0.61 )     (5.01 )     4.96       1.43  
                                                             

Total from investment operations

    3.54       2.13       7.49       5.77       (0.06 )     2.94       (0.74 )     (5.10 )     4.94       1.25  
                                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                                                
Net investment income     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
Net realized gain on investments     (2.03 )     (1.28 )     (0.80 )     (0.47 )     0.00       0.00       (0.00 )3     (1.67 )     (3.06 )     (0.74 )
                                                             

Total distributions

    (2.03 )     (1.28 )     (0.80 )     (0.47 )     0.00       0.00       (0.00 )     (1.67 )     (3.06 )     (0.74 )
                                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 35.19     $ 33.68     $ 32.83     $ 26.14     $ 20.84     $ 20.90     $ 17.96     $ 18.70     $ 25.47     $ 23.59  
                                                             
Total return     10.97 %6     6.52 %     29.51 %     28.09 %     (0.29 )%     16.37 %     (3.95 )%     (21.44 )%     22.54 %     5.52 %
                                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                                                
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 3,252.4     $ 3,192.8     $ 3,626.1     $ 3,081.8     $ 2,842.0     $ 3,032.0     $ 2,719.4     $ 2,871.6     $ 3,522.4     $ 2,921.7  
                                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.30 %7     1.30 %     1.31 %     1.31 %     1.31 %     1.31 %     1.34 %4     1.32 %4     1.31 %4     1.33 %
                                                             

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

    (0.42 )%7     (0.04 )%     (0.42 )%     (0.76 )%     (0.63 )%     (0.30 )%     (0.86 )%     (0.42 )%     (0.09 )%     (0.73 )%
                                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     7.44 %6     16.41 %     20.35 %     28.02 %     32.81 %     27.22 %     35.83 %     41.52 %     36.51 %     39.99 %
                                                             
 
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES   Six Months
Ended March 31,
2015
                                                   
      Year Ended September 30,    
           
      2014     2013     2012     2011       2010     20095    
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 34.16     $ 33.20     $ 26.36     $ 20.96     $ 20.97     $ 17.97     $ 15.52      
                                             

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                                           
Net investment income (loss)     (0.03 )1     0.06 1     (0.05 )1     (0.13 )1     (0.10 )1     (0.03 )1     (0.04 )1    

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

    3.67       2.18       7.69       6.00       0.09 2     3.03       2.49      
                                             

Total from investment operations

    3.64       2.24       7.64       5.87       (0.01 )     3.00       2.45      
                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                            
Net investment income     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00      

Net realized gain on investments

    (2.03 )     (1.28 )     (0.80 )     (0.47 )     0.00       0.00       0.00      
                                             

Total distributions

    (2.03 )     (1.28 )     (0.80 )     (0.47 )     0.00       0.00       0.00      
                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 35.77     $ 34.16     $ 33.20     $ 26.36     $ 20.96     $ 20.97     $ 17.97      
                                             
Total return     11.11 %6     6.79 %     29.85 %     28.41 %     (0.05 )%     16.69 %     15.79 %6    
                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                            
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 2,241.7     $ 2,057.4     $ 1,775.7     $ 1,111.0     $ 518.6     $ 261.1     $ 89.4      
                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.05 %7     1.04 %     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.06 %     1.06 %     1.16 %7    
                                             

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

    (0.16 )%7     0.18 %     (0.16 )%     (0.53 )%     (0.42 )%     (0.15 )%     (0.75 )%7    
                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     7.44 %6     16.41 %     20.35 %     28.02 %     32.81 %     27.22 %     35.83 %    
                                             

 
1   Based on average shares outstanding.
2   The amount shown for a share outstanding does not correspond with the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments for the period due to the timing of sales and redemptions of fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values of investments of the Fund.
3   Less than $0.01 per share.
4   Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
5   For the period May 29, 2009 (initial offering of Institutional Shares) to September 30, 2009.
6   Not Annualized.
7   Annualized.

42   See Notes to Financial Statements.


     
March 31, 2015   Baron Funds     

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
 

BARON OPPORTUNITY FUND
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

RETAIL SHARES   Six Months                                                                        
    Ended March 31,   Year Ended September 30,
               
    2015   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 18.61     $ 19.26     $ 15.61     $ 12.83     $ 12.76     $ 10.61     $ 9.90     $ 13.01     $ 10.05     $ 9.16  
                                                             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                                                
Net investment loss     (0.09 )1     (0.24 )1     (0.17 )1     (0.17 )1     (0.16 )1     (0.13 )1     (0.08 )1     (0.09 )1     (0.07 )1     (0.03 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    1.47       0.79       4.06       2.95       0.23       2.28       0.79       (3.02 )     3.03       0.92  
                                                             

Total from investment operations

    1.38       0.55       3.89       2.78       0.07       2.15       0.71       (3.11 )     2.96       0.89  
                                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                                                
Net investment income     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
Net realized gain on investments     (1.03 )     (1.20 )     (0.24 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
                                                             

Total distributions

    (1.03 )     (1.20 )     (0.24 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
                                                             
Redemption fees added to paid-in capital     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00 2     0.00 2     0.00 2     0.00 2     0.00 2
                                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 18.96     $ 18.61     $ 19.26     $ 15.61     $ 12.83     $ 12.76     $ 10.61     $ 9.90     $ 13.01     $ 10.05  
                                                             
Total return     7.76 %8     2.87 %5     25.39 %     21.67 %     0.55 %     20.26 %     7.17 %     (23.90 )%     29.45 %3     9.72 %
                                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                                                
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 280.7     $ 331.2     $ 359.9     $ 332.4     $ 240.4     $ 214.4     $ 142.7     $ 154.4     $ 198.0     $ 145.4  
                                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.38 %7,9     1.35 %     1.37 %     1.39 %     1.41 %     1.44 %     1.50 %     1.42 %     1.43 %     1.45 %

Less: Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser and/or offsets

    0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %4     0.00 %4     (0.01 )%     0.00 %
                                                             

Ratio of net operating expenses to average net assets

    1.38 %9     1.35 %     1.37 %     1.39 %     1.41 %     1.44 %     1.50 %     1.42 %     1.42 %     1.45 %
                                                             

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

    (0.95 )%9     (1.24 )%     (1.02 )%     (1.16 )%     (1.11 )%     (1.08 )%     (1.00 )%     (0.79 )%     (0.61 )%     (0.26 )%
                                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     19.27 %8     63.40 %     70.44 %     88.56 %     65.43 %     76.44 %     68.09 %     61.44 %     46.20 %     67.25 %
                                                             
 
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES   Six Months
Ended March 31,
2015
                                                 
      Year Ended September 30,  
           
      2014     2013     2012     2011     2010     20096    
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 18.89     $ 19.49     $ 15.75     $ 12.91     $ 12.80     $ 10.62     $ 8.88    
                                             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                          
Net investment loss     (0.06 )1     (0.19 )1     (0.13 )1     (0.13 )1     (0.12 )1     (0.10 )1     (0.02 )1  

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

    1.49       0.79       4.11       2.97       0.23       2.28       1.76    
                                             

Total from investment operations

    1.43       0.60       3.98       2.84       0.11       2.18       1.74    
                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                          
Net investment income     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00    
Net realized gain on investments     (1.03 )     (1.20 )     (0.24 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00    
                                             

Total distributions

    (1.03 )     (1.20 )     (0.24 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00    
                                             
Redemption fees added to paid-in capital     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00 2     0.00    
                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 19.29     $ 18.89     $ 19.49     $ 15.75     $ 12.91     $ 12.80     $ 10.62    
                                             
Total return     7.92 %8     3.10 %5     25.74 %     22.00 %     0.86 %     20.53 %     19.59 %3,8  
                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                          
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 105.8     $ 109.4     $ 101.3     $ 62.5     $ 35.5     $ 25.5     $ 10.9    
                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.10 %7,9     1.08 %     1.11 %     1.13 %     1.14 %     1.18 %     1.37 %9  
Less: Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser and/or offsets     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     (0.12 )%9  
                                             

Ratio of net operating expenses to average net assets

    1.10 %9     1.08 %     1.11 %     1.13 %     1.14 %     1.18 %     1.25 %9  
                                             
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets     (0.70 )%9     (0.97 )%     (0.79 )%     (0.90 )%     (0.84 )%     (0.83 )%     (0.74 )%9  
                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     19.27 %8     63.40 %     70.44 %     88.56 %     65.43 %     76.44 %     68.09 %  
                                             

 
1   Based on average shares outstanding.
2   Less than $0.01 per share.
3   The total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the period shown.
4   Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
5   The Adviser made a voluntary payment to the Fund in the amount of $140,762 to compensate the Fund for a loss incurred due to a trade processing error. The impact of this payment increased the Fund’s total return 9 Annualized. by 0.03%.
6   For the period May 29, 2009 (initial offering of Institutional Shares) to September 30, 2009.
7   Interest expense rounds to less than 0.01%.
8   Not Annualized.
9   Annualized.
     

See Notes to Financial Statements. 43


     
Baron Funds   March 31, 2015     

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
 

BARON FIFTH AVENUE GROWTH FUND
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

RETAIL SHARES   Six Months                                                                      
    Ended March 31,   Year Ended September 30,
               
    2015   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 16.83     $ 14.42     $ 11.83     $ 8.98     $ 9.21     $ 8.60     $ 10.38     $ 14.12     $ 12.22   $ 11.56  
                                                           
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                                              
Net investment income (loss)     (0.01 )1     (0.05 )1     0.02 1     (0.03 )1     (0.06 )1     (0.03 )1     0.03 1     0.00 1,2     (0.01 )1   (0.02 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    1.43       2.46       2.57       2.88       (0.17 )     0.66       (1.03 )     (2.62 )     1.91     0.68  
                                                           

Total from investment operations

    1.42       2.41       2.59       2.85       (0.23 )     0.63       (1.00 )     (2.62 )     1.90     0.66  
                                                           
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                                              
Net investment income     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.02 )     (0.01 )     0.00       0.00     0.00  
Net realized gain on investments     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.77 )     (1.12 )     0.00     0.00  
                                                           

Total distributions

    0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.02 )     (0.78 )     (1.12 )     0.00     0.00  
                                                           
Net asset value, end of period   $ 18.25     $ 16.83     $ 14.42     $ 11.83     $ 8.98     $ 9.21     $ 8.60     $ 10.38     $ 14.12   $ 12.22  
                                                           
Total return     8.44 %3,6     16.71 %3     21.89 %3     31.74 %3     (2.50 )%3     7.38 %3     (7.75 )%3     (19.96 )%3     15.55 %   5.71 %
                                                           
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                                              
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 70.4     $ 53.2     $ 47.8     $ 34.8     $ 23.4     $ 29.0     $ 32.8     $ 58.2     $ 110.2   $ 123.3  
                                                           

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.35 %7     1.37 %     1.47 %     1.55 %     1.59 %     1.62 %     1.69 %     1.47 %     1.36 %   1.39 %

Less: Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser and/or offsets

    (0.05 )%7     (0.07 )%     (0.17 )%     (0.25 )%     (0.29 )%     (0.25 )%     (0.29 )%     (0.07 )%     0.00 %4   0.00 %
                                                           

Ratio of net operating expenses to average net assets

    1.30 %7     1.30 %     1.30 %     1.30 %     1.30 %     1.37 %     1.40 %     1.40 %     1.36 %   1.39 %
                                                           

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

    (0.17 )%7     (0.29 )%     0.14 %     (0.30 )%     (0.55 )%     (0.32 )%     0.40 %     (0.01 )%     (0.08 )%   (0.16 )%
                                                           
Portfolio turnover rate     4.67 %6     16.84 %     22.91 %     79.07 %     75.36 %     57.67 %     39.61 %     39.59 %     28.75 %   105.77 %
                                                           
 
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES   Six Months
Ended March 31,
2015
                                                 
      Year Ended September 30,  
         
      2014     2013     2012     2011     2010     20095    

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 17.00     $ 14.53     $ 11.89     $ 9.00     $ 9.21     $ 8.61     $ 7.54    
                                             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                                                          
Net investment income (loss)     0.01 1     (0.01 )1     0.05 1     (0.01 )1     (0.03 )1     (0.01 )1     0.02 1  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    1.44       2.48       2.59       2.90       (0.18 )     0.66       1.05    
                                             

Total from investment operations

    1.45       2.47       2.64       2.89       (0.21 )     0.65       1.07    
                                             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                                                          
Net investment income     (0.02 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.05 )     0.00    
Net realized gain on investments     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00    
                                             

Total distributions

    (0.02 )     0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.05 )     0.00    
                                             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 18.43     $ 17.00     $ 14.53     $ 11.89     $ 9.00     $ 9.21     $ 8.61    
                                             
Total return     8.55 %3,6     17.00 %3     22.20 %3     32.11 %3     (2.28 )%3     7.59 %3     14.19 %3,6  
                                             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                                                          
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 67.3     $ 56.0     $ 33.8     $ 18.9     $ 10.2     $ 10.4     $ 9.5    
                                             

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets

    1.06 %7     1.08 %     1.18 %     1.26 %     1.31 %     1.35 %     1.61 %7  

Less: Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser and/or offsets

    (0.01 )%7     (0.03 )%     (0.13 )%     (0.21 )%     (0.26 )%     (0.24 )%     (0.46 )%7  
                                             

Ratio of net operating expenses to average net assets

    1.05 %7     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.05 %     1.11 %     1.15 %7  
                                             
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets     0.10 %7     (0.08 )%     0.36 %     (0.05 )%     (0.30 )%     (0.07 )%     0.58 %7  
                                             
Portfolio turnover rate     4.67 %6     16.84 %     22.91 %     79.07 %     75.36 %     57.67 %     39.61 %  
                                             

 
1   Based on average shares outstanding.
2   Less than $0.01 per share.
3   The total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the period shown.
4   Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
5   For the period May 29, 2009 (initial offering of Institutional Shares) to September 30, 2009.
6   Not Annualized.
7   Annualized.
     
44   See Notes to Financial Statements.


March 31, 2015 Baron Funds 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 

BARON DISCOVERY FUND
Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:
RETAIL SHARES Six Months   Year Ended
  Ended March 31,   September 30,
  2015   2014
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 11.68     $ 10.00  
             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                
Net investment loss     (0.06 )1     (0.10 )1
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments     2.51       1.78 2
             

Total from investment operations

    2.45       1.68  
             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                
Net investment income     0.00       0.00  
Net realized gain on investments     0.00       0.00  
             

Total distributions

    0.00       0.00  
             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 14.13     $ 11.68  
             
Total return     20.98 %3,4     16.80 %3
             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                
Net assets (in millions), end of period     $23.6       $16.6  
             
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets     1.62 %5     2.16 %
Less: Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser and/or offsets     (0.27 )%5     (0.81 )%
             
Ratio of net operating expenses to average net assets     1.35 %5     1.35 %
             
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets     (0.92 )%5     (0.85 )%
             
Portfolio turnover rate     57.02 %4     109.40 %
             
 
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES Six Months   Year Ended
  Ended March 31,   September 30,
  2015   2014
Net asset value, beginning of period   $ 11.71     $ 10.00  
             
Income (loss) from investment operations:                
Net investment loss     (0.04 )1     (0.08 )1
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments     2.51       1.79 2
             

Total from investment operations

    2.47       1.71  
             
Less distributions to shareholders from:                
Net investment income     0.00       0.00  
Net realized gain on investments     0.00       0.00  
             

Total distributions

    0.00       0.00  
             
Net asset value, end of period   $ 14.18     $ 11.71  
             
Total return     21.09 %3,4     17.10 %3
             
Ratios/Supplemental data:                
Net assets (in millions), end of period   $ 70.5     $ 48.7  
             
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets     1.29 %5     1.91 %
Less: Reimbursement of expenses by Adviser and/or offsets     (0.19 )%5     (0.81 )%
             
Ratio of net operating expenses to average net assets     1.10 %5     1.10 %
             
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets     (0.67 )%5     (0.64 )%
             
Portfolio turnover rate     57.02 %4     109.40 %
             

 
1   Based on average shares outstanding.
2  
The amount shown for a share outstanding does not correspond with the aggregate realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments for the period due to the timing of sales and redemptions of fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values of investments of the Fund.
3   The total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the period shown.
4   Not Annualized.
5   Annualized.

See Notes to Financial Statements.   45


Baron Funds   March 31, 2015

FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)
 

As a shareholder of the Funds, you may incur two types of costs: ongoing expenses and transaction costs. Ongoing expenses include advisory fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses. Due to the payment of Rule 12b-1 fees, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more than the maximum permitted front-end sales charge. The information on this page is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The information in the following table is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on October 1, 2014 and held for the six months ended March 31, 2015.

ACTUAL EXPENSES

The table below titled “Based on Actual Total Return” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information provided in this table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. To estimate the expenses you paid on your account, divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 ending account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading titled “Expenses Paid During the Period”.

BASED ON ACTUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 20151
    Actual
Total
Return
  Beginning
Account Value
October 1, 2014
  Ending
Account Value
March 31, 2015
  Annualized
Expense
Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During
the Period2
                                         
Baron Asset Fund- Retail Shares     10.29 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,102.90       1.31 %   $ 6.87  
Baron Asset Fund- Institutional Shares     10.45 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,104.50       1.04 %   $ 5.46  
Baron Growth Fund- Retail Shares     12.25 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,122.50       1.30 %   $ 6.88  
Baron Growth Fund- Institutional Shares     12.38 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,123.80       1.04 %   $ 5.51  
Baron Small Cap Fund- Retail Shares     10.97 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,109.70       1.30 %   $ 6.84  
Baron Small Cap Fund- Institutional Shares     11.11 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,111.10       1.05 %   $ 5.53  
Baron Opportunity Fund- Retail Shares     7.76 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,077.60       1.38 %   $ 7.15  
Baron Opportunity Fund- Institutional Shares     7.92 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,079.20       1.10 %   $ 5.70  
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund- Retail Shares     8.44 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,084.40 3     1.30 %4   $ 6.76  
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund- Institutional Shares     8.55 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,085.50 3     1.05 %4   $ 5.46  
Baron Discovery Fund- Retail Shares     20.98 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,209.80 3     1.35 %4   $ 7.44  
Baron Discovery Fund- Institutional Shares     21.09 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,210.90 3     1.10 %4   $ 6.06  
                                         
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES
                                         
The table below titled “Based on Hypothetical Total Return” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account values and expenses you paid for the period. You may use the information provided in this table to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and other funds. To do so, compare the 5% hypothetical example relating to the Funds with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

Please note that expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees, if any. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine your relative total costs of owning different mutual funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
                                         
BASED ON HYPOTHETICAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
    Hypothetical
Annualized
Total Return
  Beginning
Account Value
October 1, 2014
  Ending
Account Value
March 31, 2015
  Annualized
Expense
Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During
the Period2
                                         
Baron Asset Fund- Retail Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.40       1.31 %   $ 6.59  
Baron Asset Fund- Institutional Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.75       1.04 %   $ 5.24  
Baron Growth Fund- Retail Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.45       1.30 %   $ 6.54  
Baron Growth Fund- Institutional Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.75       1.04 %   $ 5.24  
Baron Small Cap Fund- Retail Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.45       1.30 %   $ 6.54  
Baron Small Cap Fund- Institutional Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.70       1.05 %   $ 5.29  
Baron Opportunity Fund- Retail Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.05       1.38 %   $ 6.94  
Baron Opportunity Fund- Institutional Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.45       1.10 %   $ 5.54  
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund- Retail Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.45 3     1.30 %4   $ 6.54  
Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund- Institutional Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.70 3     1.05 %4   $ 5.29  
Baron Discovery Fund- Retail Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.20 3     1.35 %4   $ 6.79  
Baron Discovery Fund- Institutional Shares     5.00 %   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.45 3     1.10 %4   $ 5.54  

1   Assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions, if any.
2  
Expenses are equal to each Share Class’ respective annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year, then divided by 365.
3   Ending account value assumes the return earned after waiver and would have been lower if a portion of the expenses had not been waived.
4   Annualized expense ratios are adjusted to reflect fee waiver.

46    


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MAR 15

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

Included herein under Item 1.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Not applicable.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a) The Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)) are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the Registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

(a)(1) Not applicable.

(a)(2) Certification of each of the principal executive officers and principal financial officers of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2 under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2) is attached hereto as a part of EX-99.CERT.

(b) Certification of each of the principal executive officers and principal financial officers of the Registrant as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is attached hereto as a part of EX-99.906CERT.


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.

  BARON INVESTMENT FUNDS TRUST
     
  By:  
     
    Ronald Baron
    Chief Executive Officer
     
  Date: May 29, 2015

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:  
     
    Ronald Baron
    Chief Executive Officer
     
  Date: May 29, 2015
     
  By:  
     
    Peggy Wong
    Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
     
  Date: May 29, 2015