N-CSRS 1 dncsrs.htm VALUE LINE STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND Value Line Strategic Asset Management Fund

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file Number 811-5276

 

Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

220 East 42nd Street, New York, N.Y.   10017
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-907-1500

 

Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2006

 

Date of reporting period: June 30, 2006


Item I. Reports to Stockholders.

A copy of the Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders for the period ended 6/30/06 is included with this Form.


n    Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (The “Trust”) (Unaudited)

 

Semiannual Report
To Contractowners


 

LOGO

Stephen E. Grant, Portfolio Manager (right),

Jeffrey D. Geffen, Director of Bond Management (left)

 

Objective:

High total investment return consistent with reasonable risk

 

Inception Date:

October 1, 1987

 

Net Assets at June 30, 2006:

$666,413,755

 

Portfolio composition  at June 30, 2006:

(Percentage of Total Net Assets)

 

LOGO

 


 

Top Ten Common Stock Holdings  (As of 6/30/2006)

 

      Company      Percentage of
Total Net Assets

ITT Industries, Inc.

     1.04%

Golden West Financial Corp.

     1.00%

Johnson Controls, Inc.

     0.90%

Coach, Inc.

     0.87%

Praxair, Inc.

     0.78%

Berkley (W.R.) Corp.

     0.73%

Wells Fargo & Co.

     0.73%

Fisher Scientific International, Inc.

     0.72%

XTO Energy, Inc.

     0.72%

WellPoint, Inc.

     0.67%

 

Sector Weightings vs. Index  (As of 6/30/2006)

 

LOGO

 

Average Annual Total Returns  (For periods ended 6/30/2006)

 

    Year
to Date
  1
Yr
  5
Yrs
  10
Yrs
  Since
Inception
10/1/1987

Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

  2.34%   8.56%   3.56%   8.10%   10.85%

60%/40% S&P 500 Index: Lehman Brothers
Gov’t/Credit Bond Index

  1.17%   4.58%   3.55%   7.49%   9.93%

 


About information in this report:

  All performance data quoted is historical and the results represent past performance and neither guarantee nor predict future investment results. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month (availability within 7 business days of the most recent month end), please call us at (800) 221-3253 or visit our website at www.guardianinvestor.com. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted here. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost.
  It is important to consider the Trust’s investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses before investing. All funds involve some risk, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.
  The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 primarily large cap U.S. stocks that is generally considered to be representative of U.S. stock market activity. The Lehman Brothers Government/Credit Bond Index is an unmanaged index that is generally considered to be representative of U.S. government and corporate bond market activity. Index returns are provided for comparative purposes. Please note that the indices are not available for direct investment and their returns do not reflect the fees and expenses that have been deducted from the Trust.
  Total return figures are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and distributions and the deduction of all Trust expenses. The actual total returns for owners of variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies that provide for investment in the Trust will be lower to reflect separate account and contract/policy charges. The return figures shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a contractowner may pay on distributions or redemption of units.

 

1

VALUE LINE STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT TRUST


n    Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (The “Trust”) (Unaudited)

 

Semiannual Report
To Contractowners


 

Trust Expenses

 

By investing in the Trust, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including, as applicable, sales charges on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including, as applicable, management fees; distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees; and other Trust expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Trust and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other underlying funds.

 

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on January 1, 2006 and held for six months ended June 30, 2006.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information on this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Trust’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Trust’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Trust and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
Account Value
January 1, 2006
   Ending
Account Value
June 30, 2006
   Expenses Paid
During Period*
   Annualized
Expense Ratio

Actual

   $ 1,000    $ 1,023.40    $ 4.82    0.96%

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000    $ 1,020.04    $ 4.81    0.96%

 

*   Expenses are equal to the Trust’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the Trust’s most recent fiscal half-year).

 


 

2

VALUE LINE STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT TRUST


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Schedule of Investments

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

Common Stocks — 76.1%         
Shares         Value  
               
Advertising — 0.7%         
47,000   

aQuantive, Inc.*

   $ 1,190,510  
30,000   

Monster Worldwide, Inc.*

     1,279,800  
40,000   

R.H. Donnelley Corp.*

     2,162,800  
         


            4,633,110  


Aerospace/Defense — 2.2%         
24,800   

Armor Holdings, Inc.*

     1,359,784  
16,000   

Aviall, Inc.*

     760,320  
5,000   

BE Aerospace, Inc.*

     114,300  
18,000   

Boeing Co. (The)

     1,474,380  
32,730   

DRS Technologies, Inc.

     1,595,587  
22,000   

General Dynamics Corp.

     1,440,120  
21,000   

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

     1,583,820  
48,000   

Precision Castparts Corp.

     2,868,480  
66,000   

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

     3,687,420  
         


            14,884,211  


Air Transport — 0.5%         
27,000   

FedEx Corp.

     3,155,220  


Apparel — 0.5%         
22,000   

Guess?, Inc.*

     918,500  
9,000   

Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.

     343,440  
40,000   

Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. Class A

     2,196,000  
         


            3,457,940  


Auto & Truck — 0.2%         
35,000   

Oshkosh Truck Corp.

     1,663,200  


Auto Parts — 1.1%         
22,000   

BorgWarner, Inc.

     1,432,200  
73,000   

Johnson Controls, Inc.

     6,002,060  
         


            7,434,260  


Bank — 2.6%         
70,000   

Bank of Hawaii Corp.

     3,472,000  
23,000   

City National Corp.

     1,497,070  
13,000   

Colonial BancGroup, Inc. (The)

     333,840  
43,000   

Compass Bancshares, Inc.

     2,390,800  
22,000   

M&T Bank Corp.

     2,594,240  
23,520   

TD Banknorth, Inc.

     692,664  
22,000   

UnionBanCal Corp.

     1,420,980  
72,000   

Wells Fargo & Co.

     4,829,760  
         


            17,231,354  


Bank–Canadian — 0.3%         
36,800   

Royal Bank of Canada

     1,497,760  
11,284   

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)

     572,889  
         


            2,070,649  


Bank–Midwest — 0.6%         
61,000   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

     1,438,380  
22,000   

Marshall & Isley Corp.

     1,006,280  
25,000   

Northern Trust Corp.

     1,382,500  
         


            3,827,160  


Beverage–Alcoholic — 0.3%         
24,000   

Brown-Forman Corp. Class B

     1,714,800  


Biotechnology — 0.3%         
34,000   

United Therapeutics Corp.*

     1,964,180  


Building Materials — 0.6%         
15,000   

Fluor Corp.

     1,393,950  
29,000   

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.*

     2,309,560  
         


            3,703,510  


Shares         Value  
               
Canadian Energy — 0.5%         
17,000   

Suncor Energy, Inc.

   $ 1,377,170  
99,000   

Talisman Energy, Inc.

     1,730,520  
         


            3,107,690  


Cement & Aggregates — 1.0%         
33,600   

Eagle Materials, Inc.

     1,596,000  
47,400   

Florida Rock Industries, Inc.

     2,354,358  
15,000   

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

     1,367,250  
15,000   

Vulcan Materials Co.

     1,170,000  
         


            6,487,608  


Chemical–Diversified — 0.6%         
22,000   

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

     1,406,240  
5,000   

Brady Corp. Class A

     184,200  
14,000   

Hexcel Corp.*

     219,940  
28,000   

Monsanto Co.

     2,357,320  
         


            4,167,700  


Chemical–Specialty — 2.0%         
39,000   

Airgas, Inc.

     1,452,750  
13,400   

Ceradyne, Inc.*

     663,166  
108,000   

Ecolab, Inc.

     4,382,640  
96,000   

Praxair, Inc.

     5,184,000  
24,200   

Sigma-Aldrich Corp.

     1,757,888  
         


            13,440,444  


Coal — 0.5%         
18,000   

Joy Global, Inc.

     937,620  
40,000   

Peabody Energy Corp.

     2,230,000  
         


            3,167,620  


Computer & Peripherals — 0.2%         
50,000   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

     1,584,000  


Computer Software & Services — 1.2%         
18,000   

Autodesk, Inc.*

     620,280  
56,000   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A*

     3,772,720  
23,000   

DST Systems, Inc.*

     1,368,500  
23,000   

Infosys Technologies Ltd. (ADR)

     1,757,430  
23,000   

SRA International, Inc. Class A*

     612,490  
         


            8,131,420  


Diversified Companies — 3.4%         
9,000   

Acuity Brands, Inc.

     350,190  
49,000   

AMETEK, Inc.

     2,321,620  
12,000   

Brink’s Co. (The)

     676,920  
63,600   

Danaher Corp.

     4,090,752  
26,000   

Fortune Brands, Inc.

     1,846,260  
140,000   

ITT Industries, Inc.

     6,930,000  
42,000   

McDermott International, Inc.*

     1,909,740  
24,000   

Textron, Inc.

     2,212,320  
36,000   

United Technologies Corp.

     2,283,120  
         


            22,620,922  


Drug — 2.4%         
29,000   

Alkermes, Inc.*

     548,680  
13,700   

Allergan, Inc.

     1,469,462  
30,000   

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     1,481,100  
21,000   

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     1,001,490  
76,000   

Celgene Corp.*

     3,604,680  
38,000   

Covance, Inc.*

     2,326,360  
20,000   

Genzyme Corp.*

     1,221,000  
39,000   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.*

     2,307,240  
52,000   

Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc.

     1,826,240  
14,000   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)

     442,260  
         


            16,228,512  


 


See notes to financial statements.

 

     3


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

Shares         Value  
               
E-Commerce — 0.1%         
18,000   

Akamai Technologies, Inc.*

   $ 651,420  


Educational Services — 0.2%         
20,000   

ITT Educational Services, Inc.*

     1,316,200  


Electrical Equipment — 3.0%         
16,200   

Cooper Industries Ltd. Shs A

     1,505,304  
105,000   

Corning, Inc.*

     2,539,950  
17,000   

Emerson Electric Co.

     1,424,770  
23,000   

FLIR Systems, Inc.*

     507,380  
15,000   

Garmin Ltd.

     1,581,600  
43,000   

Harman International Industries, Inc.

     3,670,910  
22,000   

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     1,584,220  
34,000   

Thomas & Betts Corp.*

     1,744,200  
47,000   

Trimble Navigation Ltd.*

     2,098,080  
46,000   

WESCO International, Inc.*

     3,174,000  
         


            19,830,414  


Electrical Utility–Central — 0.3%         
30,000   

Entergy Corp.

     2,122,500  


Electrical Utility–East — 0.6%         
37,000   

Exelon Corp.

     2,102,710  
52,000   

Southern Co. (The)

     1,666,600  
         


            3,769,310  


Electrical Utility — West — 0.3%         
41,000   

Sempra Energy

     1,864,680  


Electronics — 0.8%         
34,000   

Amphenol Corp. Class A

     1,902,640  
41,000   

Harris Corp.

     1,701,910  
47,000   

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.*

     1,762,500  
         


            5,367,050  


Environmental — 0.7%         
53,000   

Republic Services, Inc.

     2,138,020  
21,000   

Stericycle, Inc.*

     1,367,100  
38,000   

Waste Connections, Inc.*

     1,383,200  
         


            4,888,320  


Financial Services–Diversified — 2.6%         
14,000   

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.*

     1,216,460  
19,500   

BlackRock, Inc. Class A

     2,713,815  
52,000   

Brown & Brown, Inc.

     1,519,440  
35,000   

CIT Group, Inc.

     1,830,150  
14,000   

Eaton Vance Corp.

     349,440  
15,000   

Franklin Resources, Inc.

     1,302,150  
52,600   

Global Payments, Inc.

     2,553,730  
56,000   

Leucadia National Corp.

     1,634,640  
33,000   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

     1,836,450  
23,000   

Radian Group, Inc.

     1,420,940  
26,000   

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     983,060  
         


            17,360,275  


Food Processing — 0.3%         
57,000   

Dean Foods Co.*

     2,119,830  


Home Appliances — 0.8%         
23,000   

Black & Decker Corp. (The)

     1,942,580  
73,000   

Toro Co. (The)

     3,409,100  
         


            5,351,680  


Hotel/Gaming — 1.8%         
42,000   

Boyd Gaming Corp.

     1,695,120  
58,000   

Choice Hotels International, Inc.

     3,514,800  
27,000   

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

     1,921,860  
8,570   

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

     187,426  
Shares         Value  
               
39,000   

International Game Technology

   $ 1,479,660  
10,000   

MGM MIRAGE *

     408,000  
14,000   

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

     844,760  
30,000   

Station Casinos, Inc.

     2,042,400  
         


            12,094,026  


Household Products — 0.4%         
7,000   

Energizer Holdings, Inc.*

     409,990  
52,000   

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), Class A

     2,200,640  
         


            2,610,630  


Human Resources — 0.1%         
25,000   

Administaff, Inc.

     895,250  


Industrial Services — 1.8%         
82,000   

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

     4,370,600  
26,000   

Corrections Corp. of America *

     1,376,440  
27,400   

EMCOR Group, Inc.*

     1,333,558  
28,000   

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

     1,568,280  
20,000   

Iron Mountain, Inc.*

     747,600  
32,300   

URS Corp.*

     1,356,600  
31,000   

World Fuel Services Corp.

     1,416,390  
         


            12,169,468  


Information Services — 1.2%         
27,000   

Alliance Data Systems Corp.*

     1,588,140  
23,000   

Corporate Executive Board Co. (The)

     2,304,600  
36,000   

Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The)*

     2,508,480  
28,000   

Moody’s Corp.

     1,524,880  
         


            7,926,100  


Insurance–Life — 1.4%         
37,000   

AFLAC, Inc.

     1,714,950  
66,000   

Manulife Financial Corp.

     2,096,820  
35,000   

MetLife, Inc.

     1,792,350  
25,000   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

     1,942,500  
34,800   

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc.

     1,771,668  
         


            9,318,288  


Insurance–Property & Casualty — 1.5%         
28,000   

Assurant, Inc.

     1,355,200  
141,750   

Berkley (W.R.) Corp.

     4,837,927  
28,000   

Chubb Corp. (The)

     1,397,200  
44,000   

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.

     1,295,360  
32,000   

Sun Life Financial, Inc.

     1,277,760  
         


            10,163,447  


Internet — 0.4%         
19,000   

CheckFree Corp.*

     941,640  
68,000   

E*Trade Financial Corp.*

     1,551,760  
4,000   

F5 Networks, Inc.*

     213,920  
         


            2,707,320  


Machinery — 2.8%         
35,000   

Actuant Corp. Class A

     1,748,250  
30,000   

Foster Wheeler Ltd.*

     1,296,000  
49,600   

Gardner Denver, Inc.*

     1,909,600  
52,000   

Graco, Inc.

     2,390,960  
28,000   

IDEX Corp.

     1,321,600  
58,000   

JLG Industries, Inc.

     1,305,000  
48,000   

Lennox International, Inc.

     1,271,040  
38,600   

Manitowoc Company, Inc. (The)

     1,717,700  
30,000   

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. Class A

     1,427,100  
42,000   

Roper Industries, Inc.

     1,963,500  
24,000   

Terex Corp.*

     2,368,800  
         


            18,719,550  


 


See notes to financial statements.

 

4    


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

Shares         Value  
               
Manufactured Housing/Recreational Vehicle — 0.1%         
20,000   

Thor Industries, Inc.

   $ 969,000  


Medical Services — 3.8%         
41,250   

Coventry Health Care, Inc.*

     2,266,275  
54,256   

DaVita, Inc.*

     2,696,523  
42,000   

Healthways, Inc.*

     2,210,880  
40,000   

Humana, Inc.*

     2,148,000  
13,000   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings*

     808,990  
30,000   

Manor Care, Inc.

     1,407,600  
30,000   

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

     1,797,600  
82,000   

Sierra Health Services, Inc.*

     3,692,460  
13,000   

Sunrise Senior Living, Inc.*

     359,450  
70,580   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     3,160,573  
61,573   

WellPoint, Inc.*

     4,480,667  
         


            25,029,018  


Medical Supplies — 5.5%         
16,000   

Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.*

     811,200  
21,000   

ArthroCare Corp.*

     882,210  
43,000   

Bard (C.R.), Inc.

     3,150,180  
23,000   

Becton Dickinson & Co.

     1,405,990  
25,000   

DENTSPLY International, Inc.

     1,515,000  
7,000   

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*

     318,010  
66,000   

Fisher Scientific International, Inc.*

     4,821,300  
35,000   

Haemonetics Corp.*

     1,627,850  
70,000   

Henry Schein, Inc.*

     3,271,100  
26,000   

Hologic, Inc.*

     1,283,360  
31,000   

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*

     2,329,030  
19,000   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*

     2,241,430  
35,000   

Kyphon, Inc. *

     1,342,600  
20,000   

LCA-Vision, Inc.

     1,058,200  
26,000   

McKesson Corp.

     1,229,280  
46,000   

ResMed, Inc.*

     2,159,700  
101,000   

St Jude Medical, Inc.*

     3,274,420  
86,000   

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.*

     4,072,100  
         


            36,792,960  


Metals & Mining Diversified — 0.3%         
26,000   

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

     1,800,240  


Metals Fabricating — 0.3%         
26,000   

Harsco Corp.

     2,026,960  


Natural Gas–Distribution — 0.2%         
40,950   

Southern Union Co.

     1,108,107  


Natural Gas–Diversified — 1.4%         
48,000   

Energen Corp.

     1,843,680  
70,000   

Equitable Resources, Inc.

     2,345,000  
108,888   

XTO Energy, Inc.

     4,820,472  
         


            9,009,152  


Office Equipment & Supplies — 0.8%         
35,000   

Office Depot, Inc.*

     1,330,000  
165,000   

Staples, Inc.

     4,012,800  
         


            5,342,800  


Oilfield Services/Equipment — 0.9%         
49,000   

FMC Technologies, Inc.*

     3,305,540  
18,000   

Halliburton Co.

     1,335,780  
28,000   

Weatherford International Ltd.*

     1,389,360  
         


            6,030,680  


Packaging & Container — 0.4%         
21,000   

Ball Corp.

     777,840  
67,000   

Jarden Corp.*

     2,040,150  
         


            2,817,990  


Shares         Value  
               
Petroleum–Integrated — 1.0%         
56,000   

Denbury Resources, Inc.*

   $ 1,773,520  
29,000   

Sunoco, Inc.

     2,009,410  
42,186   

Valero Energy Corp.

     2,806,213  
         


            6,589,143  


Petroleum–Producing — 1.4%         
43,000   

Apache Corp.

     2,934,750  
107,700   

Range Resources Corp.

     2,928,363  
70,000   

Tenaris S.A. (ADR)

     2,834,300  
13,000   

Ultra Petroleum Corp.*

     770,510  
         


            9,467,923  


Pharmacy Services — 1.4%         
80,700   

Caremark Rx, Inc.

     4,024,509  
50,000   

CVS Corp.

     1,535,000  
32,000   

Express Scripts, Inc.*

     2,295,680  
26,000   

Omnicare, Inc.

     1,232,920  
         


            9,088,109  


Precision Instrument — 0.2%         
21,000   

Mettler Toledo International, Inc.*

     1,271,970  


Publishing — 0.3%         
32,000   

McGraw-Hill Cos, Inc. (The)

     1,607,360  
2,000   

Meredith Corp.

     99,080  
         


            1,706,440  


R.E.I.T. — 1.2%         
48,000   

Brookfield Properties Co.

     1,544,160  
11,000   

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

     428,230  
20,000   

General Growth Properties, Inc.

     901,200  
30,000   

Macerich Co. (The)

     2,106,000  
54,000   

ProLogis

     2,814,480  
         


            7,794,070  


Railroad — 1.5%         
34,000   

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.

     2,694,500  
32,000   

Canadian National Railway Co.

     1,400,000  
34,800   

CP Holders, Inc.

     3,928,920  
22,000   

Kansas City Southern*

     609,400  
29,000   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

     1,543,380  
         


            10,176,200  


Recreation — 0.4%         
76,500   

Shuffle Master, Inc.*

     2,507,670  


Restaurant — 1.2%         
6,000   

Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)*

     161,700  
25,000   

CKE Restaurants, Inc.

     415,250  
50,000   

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

     1,970,000  
29,000   

Panera Bread Co. Class A*

     1,949,960  
84,750   

Sonic Corp.*

     1,761,952  
42,000   

Starbucks Corp.*

     1,585,920  
         


            7,844,782  


Retail–Automotive — 0.3%         
68,000   

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.*

     2,120,920  


Retail–Special Lines — 2.1%         
18,000   

Barnes & Noble, Inc.

     657,000  
41,000   

Claire’s Stores, Inc.

     1,045,910  
194,000   

Coach, Inc.*

     5,800,600  
42,000   

Coldwater Creek, Inc.*

     1,123,920  
59,000   

Dress Barn, Inc. (The)*

     1,495,650  
54,000   

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The)

     1,636,200  
44,000   

Michaels Stores, Inc.

     1,814,560  
40,000   

Urban Outfitters, Inc.*

     699,600  
         


            14,273,440  


 


See notes to financial statements.

 

     5


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

Shares         Value  
               
Retail Building Supply — 1.3%         
102,000   

Fastenal Co.

   $ 4,109,580  
31,000   

Lowe’s Cos, Inc.

     1,880,770  
33,000   

Tractor Supply Co.*

     1,823,910  
17,000   

Watsco, Inc.

     1,016,940  
         


            8,831,200  


Retail Store — 0.9%         
26,500   

J.C. Penney Company, Inc.

     1,789,015  
60,000   

Nordstrom, Inc.

     2,190,000  
12,400   

Sears Holdings Corp.*

     1,920,016  
         


            5,899,031  


Securities Brokerage — 1.7%         
20,000   

Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. (The)

     2,801,600  
8,800   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

     1,323,784  
30,000   

Investment Technology Group, Inc.*

     1,525,800  
54,000   

Jefferies Group, Inc.

     1,600,020  
22,000   

Legg Mason, Inc.

     2,189,440  
18,000   

Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc.

     1,252,080  
28,500   

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

     862,695  
         


            11,555,419  


Semiconductor — 0.2%         
37,000   

FormFactor, Inc.*

     1,651,310  


Shoe — 0.1%         
20,000   

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

     466,600  


Steel - General — 0.9%         
16,000   

Carpenter Technology Corp.

     1,848,000  
10,000   

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

     792,900  
17,000   

IPSCO, Inc.

     1,626,730  
32,000   

Nucor Corp.

     1,736,000  
         


            6,003,630  


Telecommunication Services — 1.2%         
66,000   

American Tower Corp. Class A*

     2,053,920  
62,000   

Crown Castle International Corp.*

     2,141,480  
72,000   

NII Holdings, Inc. Class B*

     4,059,360  
         


            8,254,760  


Telecommunications Equipment — 0.7%         
30,000   

Anixter International, Inc.

     1,423,800  
30,000   

Broadcom Corp. Class A*

     901,500  
51,000   

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.*

     2,260,830  
         


            4,586,130  


Thrift — 1.0%         
90,200   

Golden West Financial Corp.

     6,692,840  


Tire & Rubber — 0.2%         
18,300   

Carlisle Companies, Inc.

     1,451,190  


Trucking/Transportation Leasing — 0.2%         
50,000   

Hunt (J.B.) Transport Services, Inc.

     1,245,500  


Water Utility — 0.2%         
44,000   

Aqua America, Inc.

     1,002,760  


    

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $347,768,401)

   $ 507,329,212  


  U.S. Treasury Obligations — 2.1%         
Principal
Amount
        Value  
                 
$ 2,000,000   

U.S. Treasury Notes,
3.50%, 11/15/06

   $ 1,987,266  
  3,000,000   

U.S. Treasury Notes,
4.00%, 11/15/12

     2,819,766  
  8,000,000   

U.S. Treasury Notes,
6.13%, 11/15/27

     8,839,376  



      

Total U.S. Treasury Obligations
(Cost $13,398,601)

   $ 13,646,408  



                 
  U.S. Government Agency Obligations — 11.7%  
$ 6,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Bank,
3.50%, 8/15/06

   $ 5,986,068  
  4,000,000   

Federal National Mortgage Association, 3.31%, 1/26/07

     3,950,392  
  7,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Bank,
3.38%, 2/23/07

     6,904,884  
  6,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 4.88%, 3/15/07

     5,971,872  
  8,000,000   

Federal National Mortgage Association, 5.25%, 4/15/07

     7,981,144  
  4,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 3.25%, 11/2/07

     3,885,360  
  6,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Bank,
4.00%, 11/9/07

     5,883,450  
  4,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Bank,
3.30%, 12/28/07

     3,875,884  
  5,000,000   

Federal National Mortgage Association, 3.25%, 1/15/08

     4,837,545  
  10,000,000   

Federal National Mortgage Association, 6.45%, 4/1/08

     9,971,880  
  2,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Bank,
4.10%, 6/13/08

     1,949,950  
  4,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Bank,
4.25%, 9/12/08

     3,901,196  
  1,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 4.25%, 7/15/09

     967,319  
  2,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 5.88%, 3/21/11

     2,015,966  
  4,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 5.25%, 11/5/12

     3,878,124  
  2,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 4.50%, 1/15/13

     1,890,284  
  2,598,110   

Federal National Mortgage Association, 5.00%, 11/1/34

     2,436,395  
  1,997,399   

Government National Mortgage Association,
5.50%, 1/15/36

     1,936,380  



      

Total U.S. Government Agency Obligations
(Cost $79,487,491)

   $ 78,224,093  



                 
  Corporate Bonds & Notes — 0.8%         
  Financial Services–Diversified — 0.8%         
$ 6,000,000   

SLM Corp., 4.98%, 4/1/14 (a)

   $ 5,570,400  



      

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $5,963,808)

   $ 5,570,400  



 
 
Total Investment Securities — 90.7%
(Cost $446,618,301)
   $ 604,770,113  



 


See notes to financial statements.

 

6    


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

  Short-Term Investments — 8.3%         
Principal
Amount
        Value  
                 
  Corporate Bonds — 0.8%         
$ 5,000,000   

NebHelp, Inc., Series A-2,
5.31%, 12/1/17(b)

   $ 5,000,000  



  Repurchase Agreements — 6.3%         
$     21,000,000   

With Morgan Stanley & Co.,
4.43%, dated 6/30/06, due 7/3/06, delivery value $21,007,753 (collateralized by $21,695,000 U.S. Treasury Notes 4.50%, due 2/28/11, with a value of $21,476,281)

     21,000,000  
  21,100,000   

With UBS Securities, LLC,
4.30%, dated 6/30/06, due 7/3/06, delivery value $21,107,560 (collateralized by $21,415,000 U.S. Treasury Notes 5.25%, due 2/15/29, with a value of $21,713,819)

     21,100,000  
           


              42,100,000  



  U.S. Government Agency Obligations — 1.2%         
  8,000,000   

Federal Home Loan Banks,
4.30%, 7/13/06

     8,000,000  



      

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $55,100,000)

   $ 55,100,000  



 
 
Cash And Other Assets In Excess of
Liabilities — (1.0%)
     6,543,642  



  Net Assets — 100.0%    $ 666,413,755  



 
 
Net Asset Value Per Outstanding Share
($666,413,755 ÷ 29,308,589 shares outstanding)
   $ 22.74  



 

*   Non-income producing.
(a)   Rate at June 30, 2006. Floating rate changes monthly.
(b)   Rate at June 30, 2006. Floating rate changes weekly.

 

(ADR) — American Depositary Receipt

 


See notes to financial statements.

 

     7


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)


 

ASSETS:

      

Investment securities, at value (Cost—$446,618,301)

   $ 604,770,113

Short-term Investments (Cost—$55,100,000)

     55,100,000

Cash

     53,819

Receivable for securities sold

     6,307,341

Interest and dividends receivable

     1,424,607

Other assets

     50,725

Receivable for trust shares sold

     11,303
    

Total Assets

     667,717,908
    

LIABILITIES:

      

Payable for trust shares repurchased

     874,419

Accrued expenses:

      

Advisory fee

     270,145

Service and distribution plan fees

     135,090

Other

     24,499
    

Total Liabilities

     1,304,153
    

Net Assets

   $ 666,413,755
    

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

      

Shares of beneficial interest, at $0.01 par value (authorized unlimited, outstanding 29,308,589 shares)

   $ 293,086

Additional paid-in capital

     441,337,414

Undistributed net investment income

     9,023,709

Accumulated net realized gain on investments

     57,607,761

Net unrealized appreciation of investments and foreign exchange translations

     158,151,785
    

Net Assets

   $ 666,413,755
    

Net Asset Value Per Outstanding Share
($666,413,755 ÷ 29,308,589 shares outstanding)

     $22.74
    

 

Statement of Operations

 

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)


 

INVESTMENT INCOME:

        

Interest

   $ 3,863,394  

Dividends

     2,224,627  
    


Total Income

     6,088,021  
    


Expenses:

        

Advisory fee

     1,747,436  

Service and distribution plan fees

     1,397,949  

Auditing and legal fees

     80,200  

Custodian fees

     52,095  

Insurance

     43,909  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     15,586  

Printing

     2,243  

Other

     7,706  
    


Total Expenses Before Custody Credits and Waivers

     3,347,124  

Less: Service and Distribution Plan Fees Waived

     (105,962 )

Less: Custody Credits

     (3,083 )
    


Net Expenses

     3,238,079  
    


Net Investment Income

     2,849,942  
    


NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)
ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS:

        

Net Realized Gain

     48,323,272  

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

     (34,190,648 )
    


Net Realized Gain and Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments and Foreign Exchange Transactions

     14,132,624  
    


NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $ 16,982,566  
    


 


See notes to financial statements.

 

8    


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

       Six Months Ended
June 30, 2006
(Unaudited)


       Year Ended
December 31, 2005


 

Operations:

                     

Net investment income

     $ 2,849,942        $ 6,159,833  

Net realized gain on investments

       48,323,272          49,199,312  

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

       (34,190,648 )        7,511,680  
      


    


Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

       16,982,566          62,870,825  
      


    


Distributions to Shareholders:

                     

Net investment income

                (3,279,526 )
      


    


Trust Share Transactions:

                     

Proceeds from sale of shares

       5,099,703          15,977,730  

Proceeds from reinvestment of dividends and distributions to shareholders

                3,279,526  

Cost of shares repurchased

       (66,680,563 )        (141,377,193 )
      


    


Net decrease from trust share transactions

       (61,580,860 )        (122,119,937 )
      


    


Total Decrease in Net Assets

       (44,598,294 )        (62,528,638 )

NET ASSETS:

                     

Beginning of period

       711,012,049          773,540,687  
      


    


End of period

     $ 666,413,755        $ 711,012,049  
      


    


Undistributed net investment income, at end of period

     $ 9,023,709        $ 6,173,767  
      


    


 


See notes to financial statements.

 

     9


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:

 

    Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2006
(Unaudited)


    Years Ended December 31,

 
      2005     2004     2003     2002     2001  

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $22.22     $20.46     $18.30     $15.82     $18.36     $23.62  


Income from investment operations:

                                   

Net investment income

  .11     .20     .09     .07     .13     .24  

Net gain (loss) on securities (both realized and unrealized)

  .41     1.65     2.13     2.53     (2.45 )   (3.25 )


Total from investment operations

  .52     1.85     2.22     2.60     (2.32 )   (3.01 )


Less distribution:

                                   

Dividends from net investment income

      (0.09 )   (.06 )   (.12 )   (.22 )   (.69 )

Distributions from net realized gains

                      (1.56 )


Total Distributions

      (.09 )   (.06 )   (.12 )   (.22 )   (2.25 )


Net asset value, end of period (in thousands)

  $22.74     $22.22     $20.46     $18.30     $15.82     $18.36  


Total Return*

  2.34 %(b)   9.08 %   12.19 %   16.53 %   (12.53 )%   (12.92 )%


Ratios/supplemental data:

                                   

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $666,414     $711,012     $773,541     $788,773     $788,102     $1,113,568  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets(a)

  0.96 %(c)(d)   0.95 %   0.94 %   0.96 %   0.73  %   0.56  %

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

  0.82 %(c)   0.85 %   0.42 %   0.35 %   0.59  %   0.96  %

Portfolio turnover rate

  17 %(b)   33 %   41 %   30 %   35  %   69  %


 

*   Total returns do not reflect the effects of charges deducted under the terms of GIAC’s variable contracts. Including such charges would reduce the total returns for all periods shown.
(a)   Ratio reflects expenses grossed up for custody credit arrangement. The ratio of expenses to average net assets net of custody credits would not have changed.
(b)   Not annualized
(c)   Annualized
(d)   Ratio reflects expenses grossed up for the voluntary waiver of a portion of the service and distribution fee by the Distributor. The ratio of expenses to average net assets net of the voluntary fee waiver, but exclusive of the custody credit arrangement, would have been 0.93% for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

 


See notes to financial statements.

 

10    


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

1.    Significant Accounting Policies

 

Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (the “Trust”) is an open-end diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which seeks to achieve a high total investment return consistent with reasonable risk by investing primarily in a broad range of common stocks, bonds and money market instruments. The Trust will attempt to achieve its objective by following an asset allocation strategy based on data derived from computer models for the stock and bond markets that shifts the assets of the Trust among equity, debt and money market securities as the models indicate and its investment adviser, Value Line, Inc. (the “Adviser”), deems appropriate.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements.

 

(A)  Security Valuation

 

Securities listed on a securities exchange are valued at the closing sales prices on the date as of which the net asset value is being determined. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Stock market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. In the absence of closing sales prices for such securities and for securities traded in the over-the-counter market, the security is valued at the midpoint between the latest available and representative asked and bid prices.

 

The Board of Trustees has determined that the value of bonds and other fixed-income securities be calculated on the valuation date by reference to valuations obtained from an independent pricing service which determines valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of debt securities, without exclusive reliance upon quoted prices. This service takes into account appropriate factors such as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data in determining valuations.

 

Short-term instruments with maturities of 60 days or less at the date of purchase are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. Short-term instruments with maturities greater than 60 days at the date of purchase are valued at the midpoint between the latest available and representative asked and bid prices, and commencing 60 days prior to maturity such securities are valued at amortized cost.

 

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available or that are not readily marketable and all other assets of the Fund are valued at fair value as the Board of Trustees may determine in good faith. In addition, the Trust may use the fair value of a security when the closing market price on the primary exchange where the security is traded no longer accurately reflects the value of a security due to factors affecting one or more relevant securities markets or the specific issuer.

 

(B)  Repurchase Agreements

 

In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, the Trust’s custodian takes possession of the underlying collateral securities, the value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, it is the Trust’s policy to mark-to-market the collateral on a daily basis to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. In the event of default of the obligation to repurchase, the Trust has the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the obligation. Under certain circumstances, in the event of default or bankruptcy by the other party to the agreement, realization and/or retention of the collateral or proceeds may be subject to legal proceedings.

 

(C)  Federal Income Taxes

 

It is the Trust’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no provision for federal income tax is required.

 

(D)  Dividends and Distributions

 

It is the Trust’s policy to distribute to its shareholders, as dividends and as capital gains distributions, all the net investment income for the year and all the net capital gains realized by the Trust, if any. Such distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. All dividends or distributions will be payable in shares of the

 


 

     11


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

Trust at the net asset value on the ex-dividend date. This policy is, however, subject to change at any time by the Board of Trustees.

 

(E)  Securities Transactions and Income

 

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income on investments, adjusted for amortization of discount and premium, is earned from settlement date and recognized on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends received in excess of income are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or realized gain on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

 

(F)  Foreign Currency Translation

 

Assets and liabilities which are denominated in foreign currencies are translated to U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange on the valuation date. The Trust does not isolate changes in the value of investments caused by foreign exchange rate differences from the changes due to other circumstances.

 

Income and expenses are translated to U.S. dollars based upon the rates of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions.

 

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from currency fluctuations realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the differences between the U.S. dollar amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Trust, and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments, at the end of the fiscal period, resulting from changes in the exchange rates. The effect of the change in foreign exchange rates on the value of investments are included in realized gain (loss) on investments and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments.

 

(G)  Representations and Indemnifications

 

In the normal course of business the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Trust expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 

2.    Trust Share Transactions, Dividends and Distributions

 

Shares of the Trust are available to the public only through the purchase of certain contracts issued by The Guardian Insurance and Annuity Company, Inc. (GIAC). Transactions in shares of beneficial interest in the Trust were as follows:

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2006


    Year Ended
December 31,
2005


 

Shares sold

   222,157     763,446  

Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions

       152,607  
    

 

     222,157     916,053  
    

 

Shares repurchased

   (2,907,246 )   (6,722,786 )
    

 

Net decrease

   (2,685,089 )   (5,806,733 )
    

 

 

3.    Purchases and Sales of Securities

 

Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

 

     Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2006


PURCHASES:

      

U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency Obligations

   $ 2,937,827

Other Investment Securities

     108,079,852
    

     $ 111,017,679
    

SALES:

      

U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency Obligations

   $ 7,000,000

Other Investment Securities

     150,048,151
    

     $ 157,048,151
    

 

4.    Income Taxes

 

At June 30, 2006, information on the tax components of capital is as follows:

 

Cost of investments for tax purposes

   $ 501,718,301  
    


Gross tax unrealized appreciation

   $ 166,791,225  

Gross tax unrealized depreciation

     (8,639,413 )
    


Net tax unrealized appreciation on Investments

   $ 158,151,812  
    


 


 

12    


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

June 30, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

5.    Investment Advisory Fee, Service and Distribution Fees and Transactions with Affiliates

 

An advisory fee of $1,747,436 was paid or payable to Value Line, Inc. (the “Adviser”), the Trust’s investment adviser, for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This was computed at the rate of 1/2 of 1% of the average daily net assets of the Trust during the period and paid monthly. The Adviser provides research, investment programs, supervision of the investment portfolio and pays costs of administrative services, office space, equipment and compensation of administrative, bookkeeping, and clerical personnel necessary for managing the affairs of the Trust. The Adviser also provides persons, satisfactory to the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to act as officers and employees of the Trust and pays their salaries and wages. The Trust bears all other costs and expenses.

 

The Trust has a Service and Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, for the payment of certain expenses incurred by Value Line Securities, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, in advertising marketing and distributing the Trust’s shares and for servicing the Trust’s shareholders at an annual rate of 0.40% of the Trust’s average daily net assets. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, fees amounting to $1,397,949 before fee waivers were paid or payable to the Distributor under this plan. Effective May 23, 2006, the Distributor voluntarily waived 0.15% of the fee. The fees waived amounted to $105,962. The Distributor has no right to recoup previously waived amounts.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Trust’s expenses were reduced by $3,083 under a custody credit arrangement with the Custodian.

 

Certain officers and trustees of the Adviser and Distributor are also officers and Trustees of the Trust.

 


 

     13


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Factors Considered by the Independent Trustees in Approving the Investment Advisory Agreement for Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (Unaudited)

 

The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that the Fund’s investment advisory agreement (the “Agreement”) be approved annually by both the Board of Trustees (collectively, “the Trustees”) and a majority of the Trustees who are not affiliated with Value Line, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser (“Value Line”) (the “Independent Trustees”), voting separately. The Trustees have determined that the terms of the Fund’s Agreement are fair and reasonable and that renewal of the contract is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. In making such determinations, the Independent Trustees relied upon the assistance of counsel to the Independent Trustees. Throughout the year, including the meeting specifically focused upon the review of the Agreement, the Independent Trustees met in executive sessions separately from the Interested Trustees of the Fund and any officers of Value Line.

 

Both in meetings which specifically addressed the approval of the Agreement and at other meetings during the course of the year, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, received materials relating to Value Line’s investment and management services under the Agreement. These materials included information on: (i) the investment performance of the Fund compared to a peer group of funds (“Performance Universe”) and its benchmark index, each as classified by Lipper, Inc., an independent evaluation service (“Lipper”); (ii) sales and redemption data with respect to the Fund; (iii) the general investment outlook in the markets in which the Fund invests; (iv) arrangements with respect to the distribution of the Fund’s shares; (v) the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage; and (vi) the overall quality and scope of services provided by Value Line.

 

As part of the review of the Agreement, the Independent Trustees requested, and Value Line provided, additional information in order to evaluate the quality of Value Line’s services and the reasonableness of its fees under the Agreement. In a separate executive session, the Independent Trustees engaged in an extensive review of the following information, which included data comparing: (i) the Fund’s average management fees, transfer agent/custodian fees, service fees (including 12b-1 fees), and other non-management fees, to those incurred by a peer group of funds consisting of the Fund and 10 other flexible portfolio funds underlying variable insurance products (“VIPs”), as classified by Lipper (“Expense Group”) and a peer group of funds consisting of the Fund, the Expense Group and all other flexible portfolio funds underlying VIPs, excluding outliers (“Expense Universe”); (ii) the Fund’s average expense ratio to those of its Expense Group and Expense Universe; (iii) the Fund’s investment performance to the average performance of the Performance Universe as well as the Lipper Index; (iv) Value Line’s financial results and conditions, including Value Line’s and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from the services that have been performed for the Fund as well as the Value Line family of funds; (v) the Fund’s current investment management staffing; and (vi) the Fund’s potential for achieving economies of scale.

 

The following summarizes matters considered by the Trustees in connection with their renewal of the Agreement. However, the Trustees did not identify any single factor as all-important or controlling, and the summary does not detail all the matters that were considered.

 

Investment Performance. The Trustees reviewed the Fund’s overall investment performance and compared it to its Performance Universe and the Lipper Index. The Trustees noted that, although the Fund underperformed the Performance Universe average for the five-year period ended December 31, 2005, the Fund outperformed the Lipper Index for that period. The Trustees also noted that the Fund outperformed both the Performance Universe average and the Lipper Index for the one-year, three-year and 10-year periods ended December 31, 2005.

 

Value Line’s Personnel and Methods. The Trustees reviewed the background of members of the team responsible for the daily management of the Fund, achieving the Fund’s investment objective and adhering to the Fund’s investment strategy. The Independent Trustees also engaged in discussions with Value Line’s senior management who are responsible for the overall functioning of the Fund’s investment operations. Based on this review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s management team and Value Line’s overall resources were well developed and that Value Line had investment management capabilities and personnel essential to performing its duties under the Agreement.

 

Management Fee and Expenses. The Trustees considered Value Line’s fee under the Agreement relative to the management fees charged by its Expense Group and Expense Universe averages. The Trustees noted that the Fund’s management fees for the most recent fiscal year were lower than those of both the Expense Group and Expense Universe averages. The Trustees also noted that, although the Fund’s total expense ratio for the most recent fiscal year was slightly higher than the Expense Universe average, the Fund’s total expense ratio remained lower than the Expense Group average. Based on this information, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio were reasonable.

 


 

14    


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Factors Considered by the Independent Trustees in Approving the Investment Advisory Agreement for Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Nature and Quality of Other Services. The Trustees considered the nature, quality, cost and extent of other services provided by Value Line and its affiliates under various other contracts, and their overall supervision of third party service providers. Based on this review, the Trustees concluded that the nature, quality, cost and extent of such other services provided by Value Line and its affiliates were satisfactory, reliable and beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders.

 

Profitability. The Trustees considered the level of Value Line’s profits with respect to the management of the Fund, including the impact of certain actions taken during 2004 and 2005. This consideration included a review of Value Line’s methodology in allocating certain of its costs to the management of each Fund, Value Line’s voluntary reduction of management and/or Rule 12b-1 fees for certain Funds, Value Line’s termination of the use of soft dollar research, and the cessation of trading through its affiliate, Value Line Securities, Inc. The Trustees concluded that Value Line’s profits from management of the Funds, including the financial results derived from the Fund, bear a reasonable relationship to the services rendered and are fair for the management of the Fund in light of the business risks involved.

 

Economies of Scale. The Trustees noted that, given the current and anticipated size of the Fund, any perceived and potential economies of scale were not yet a relevant consideration for the Fund and the addition of break points was determined not to be necessary at this time.

 

Conclusion. The Trustees, in light of Value Line’s overall performance, considered it appropriate to continue to retain Value Line as the Fund’s investment adviser. Based on their evaluation of all material factors deemed relevant, and with the advice of independent counsel, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s Agreement is fair and reasonable and voted to approve the continuation of the Agreement for another year.

 


 

     15


n   Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

 

Form N-Q

 

The Trust files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Trust’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and coped at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Proxy Voting

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, and information regarding how the Trust voted these proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available through the Trust’s website at http://www.vlfunds.com and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The description of the policies and procedures is also available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-243-2729.

 


 

16


Item 2. Code of Ethics

N/A

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

N/A

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

N/A

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-2(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(c) ) based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, are appropriately designed to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to such officers and are operating effectively.

 

  (b) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have determined that there have been no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

  (a) (1) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

 

  (2) Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906.CERT.


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.

 

By  

/s/ Jean B. Buttner

 

  Jean B. Buttner, President
Date:  

9/7/06

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:  

/s/ Jean B. Buttner

 

  Jean B. Buttner, President, Principal Executive Officer
By:  

/s/ Stephen R. Anastasio

 

  Stephen R. Anastasio, Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer
Date:  

9/7/06