N-CSR 1 fp0081490-2_ncsr.htm

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 811-07148  

 

Schwartz Investment Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Suite 244 Plymouth, Michigan 48170
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

George P. Schwartz

 

Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. 801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI 48170
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (734) 455-7777  

 

Date of fiscal year end: December 31  
     
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2022  

 

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 (17 CFR 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 any suggestions for reducing the burden to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 

 

Item 1.Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

Schwartz Value Focused Fund

 

Shareholder Services

c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(888) 726-0753

 

Investment Adviser

Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc.
801 W. Ann Arbor Trail

Suite 244

Plymouth, MI 48170

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

2022 was a good year for the Schwartz Value Focused Fund (“the Fund”) with a total return of 21.15%, compared to -17.77% for the benchmark S&P 1500 Index, and -14.02% for the Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend category average. For the year, the Fund ranked #1 out of 370 equity mutual funds in the Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend category. This performance has been recognized by the investment community, as the Fund was highlighted in The Wall Street Journal’s January 9, 2023 edition, in the article titled “The Best Stock-Fund Managers of 2022.” As stated in the article, the Fund’s 2022 performance ranked #3 out of 1,410 U.S. equity funds, as tracked by Morningstar, an independent rating service.

 

The Fund’s outperformance in 2022 was driven primarily by the Fund’s energy sector investments. In particular, the share prices of Chevron Corporation (oil & natural gas integrated), Devon Energy (oil & natural gas exploration and production), Pioneer Natural Resources Company (oil & natural gas exploration and production), Schlumberger Limited (oil & natural gas equipment and services), and Texas Pacific Land Corporation (real estate and royalties) all rose substantially in 2022. We believe the worldwide demand for energy, including oil and natural gas, will continue to grow for many years. With rising demand, coupled with constrained supply (due to a myriad of factors), we believe energy prices may escalate in 2023 and beyond. As such, we remain optimistic that the Fund’s energy sector companies will continue to grow revenues, earnings, cash flows, and dividends.

 

The Fund’s five best performing securities in 2022 were:

 

Company

Industry

2022 Return

Schlumberger Limited

Oil/Gas Equipment & Services

91.98%

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

Real Estate/Royalties

91.28%

Devon Energy Corporation

Oil/Gas Exploration & Production

67.21%

Chevron Corporation

Integrated Oil/Gas

56.94%

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

Oil/Gas Exploration & Production

44.11%

 

The Fund’s five worst performing securities in 2022 were:

 

Company

Industry

2022 Return

Purple Innovation, Inc.

Consumer Products

-44.22%

Garmin Ltd.

Technology Products

-30.38%

Moody’s Corporation

Debt Rating Services

-28.04%

Vontier Corporation

Technology Mobility

-27.49%

CME Group Inc.

Financial Exchanges

-20.48%

 

1

 

 

 

Due to its strong performance in 2021 and 2022, the Fund’s longer-term performance measures have markedly improved. For the 3-year and 5-year periods ending December 31, 2022, the Fund placed in the 1st percentile in Morningstar’s Mid-Cap Blend category. The Fund’s 1, 3, 5, and 10-year performance figures for periods ending December 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

 

Average Annual Total Return
For the Periods Ending 12/31/22

 

1 year

3 years

5 years

10 years

Schwartz Value Focused Fund

21.15%

21.04%

14.09%

10.06%

S&P 1500 Index

-17.77%

7.59%

9.15%

12.40%

 

Value-oriented investment managers were vindicated in 2022. It was a year in which many investors got sucked into the vortex of a speculative stock market mania driven by tech stocks that got ridiculously overpriced, even though many were unprofitable enterprises. These “story stocks” were hailed as industry disruptors, and no share price was too high. The carnage here was brutal.

 

Recent performance of 10 former high-flying technology stocks:

 

Company

Performance
Since 2021 Peak
through
2022 Year End

Carvana Co.

-99%

Peloton Interactive, Inc.

-95%

Coinbase Global, Inc.

-92%

Teladoc Health, Inc.

-92%

Leamonade, Inc.

-91%

Robinhood Markets, Inc.

-91%

Snap Inc.

-90%

Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

-88%

Docusign, Inc.

-83%

Spotify Technology S.A.

-80%

 

Individual and institutional investors alike in these issues probably learned again the truism that real investing is not a game, and success is not assured. One cannot ignore valuations and expect to achieve successful results. Fundamentals matter.

 

In managing the Schwartz Value Focused Fund, we will continue to pursue a risk-averse, value-focused investment approach that utilizes fundamental security analysis to identify securities available at a discount to intrinsic value. We believe this approach provides the best opportunities to achieve above-average investment results.

 

2

 

 

 

The year-end distribution of $0.394 per share consisted solely of investment income, as there were no realized short or long-term capital gains. The net asset value of the Fund ended the year at $45.06 per share.

 

Thank you for being a shareholder in the Schwartz Value Focused Fund.

 

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA

George P. Schwartz, CFA

Lead Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Rank in Category is the fund’s total return percentile rank relative to all funds that have the same Morningstar Category. The highest (or most favorable) percentile rank is 1 and the lowest (or least favorable) percentile rank is 100. The top-performing fund in a category will always receive a rank of 1.

 

3

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
PERFORMANCE
(Unaudited)

 

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment
in Schwartz Value Focused Fund and the S&P 1500 Index

 

 

(a)

The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Expense Ratio
information as of:

Year Ended 12-31-21
(as disclosed in May 1, 2022
prospectus)

Year Ended 12-31-22

Gross

1.32%*

1.28%

Net

1.26%*

1.25%

 

*

Includes Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and had been adjusted to reflect a reduction in the annual management fees of 0.20% effective May 1, 2022 (Note 2).

 

4

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
ANNUAL TOTAL RATES OF RETURN
COMPARISON WITH MAJOR INDICES (Unaudited)

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ
VALUE
FOCUSED
FUND(a)

S&P 1500
INDEX(b)

VALUE
LINE
COMPOSITE(c)

1984

11.1%

N/A

-8.4%

1985

21.7%

N/A

20.7%

1986

16.4%

N/A

5.0%

1987

-0.6%

N/A

-10.6%

1988

23.1%

N/A

15.4%

1989

8.3%

N/A

11.2%

1990

-5.3%

N/A

-24.3%

1991

32.0%

N/A

27.2%

1992

22.7%

N/A

7.0%

1993

20.5%

N/A

10.7%

1994

-6.8%

N/A

-6.0%

1995

16.9%

36.5%

19.3%

1996

18.3%

22.4%

13.4%

1997

28.0%

32.9%

21.1%

1998

-10.4%

26.4%

-3.8%

1999

-2.5%

20.3%

-1.4%

2000

9.3%

-7.0%

-8.7%

2001

28.1%

-10.6%

-6.1%

2002

-14.9%

-21.3%

-28.6%

2003

39.3%

29.6%

37.4%

2004

22.6%

11.8%

11.5%

2005

3.8%

5.7%

2.0%

2006

14.3%

15.3%

11.0%

2007

-11.1%

5.5%

-3.8%

2008

-35.9%

-36.7%

-48.7%

2009

34.8%

27.2%

36.8%

2010

12.0%

16.4%

20.5%

2011

5.6%

1.7%

-11.4%

2012

5.4%

16.2%

9.5%

2013

24.7%

32.8%

35.5%

2014

-4.7%

13.1%

2.7%

2015

-15.5%

1.0%

-11.2%

2016

18.1%

13.0%

13.5%

2017

13.7%

21.1%

11.1%

2018

-8.1%

-5.0%

-16.0%

2019

18.7%

30.9%

16.9%

2020

11.6%

17.9%

1.2%

2021

31.1%

28.5%

18.1%

2022

21.2%

-17.8%

-20.2%

 

 

(a)

Schwartz Value Focused Fund’s performance combines the performance of the Fund since its commencement of operations as a registered investment company on July 20, 1993, and the performance of RCM Partners Limited Partnership for periods prior thereto.

(b)

Inception date of the S&P 1500 Index is December 30, 1994.

(c)

Excluding dividends.

 

5

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ
VALUE
FOCUSED
FUND(a)

S&P 1500
INDEX(b)

VALUE
LINE
COMPOSITE(c)

3 Years

21.0%

7.6%

-1.0%

5 Years

14.1%

9.2%

-0.9%

10 Years

10.1%

12.4%

3.8%

20 Years

8.4%

9.9%

3.6%

39 Years

9.4%

N/A

2.6%

 

(a)

Schwartz Value Focused Fund’s performance combines the performance of the Fund since its commencement of operations as a registered investment company on July 20, 1993, and the performance of RCM Partners Limited Partnership for periods prior thereto.

(b)

Inception date of the S&P 1500 Index is December 30, 1994.

(c)

Excluding dividends.

 

 

6

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Security Description

 

Fair
Value

   

% of
Net Assets

 
    5,500    

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

  $ 12,893,265       24.9%  
    24,400    

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    2,503,196       4.8%  
    9,000    

RH

    2,404,710       4.7%  
    17,390    

Franco-Nevada Corporation

    2,373,387       4.6%  
    12,169    

Chevron Corporation

    2,184,214       4.2%  
    12,400    

CME Group, Inc.

    2,085,184       4.0%  
    47,600    

St. Joe Company (The)

    1,839,740       3.6%  
    84,900    

Vontier Corporation

    1,641,117       3.2%  
    29,800    

Schlumberger Ltd.

    1,593,108       3.1%  
    6,000    

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    1,370,340       2.6%  

 

ASSET ALLOCATION (Unaudited)

 

 

 

% of
Net Assets

COMMON STOCKS

 

Sector

 

Consumer Discretionary

14.2%

Energy

12.3%

Financials

11.9%

Health Care

0.1%

Industrials

5.4%

Materials

9.2%

Real Estate

28.5%

Technology

2.3%

Money Market Funds, Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

16.1%

 

100.0%

 

7

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 2022

COMMON STOCKS — 83.9%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 14.2%

               

Automotive — 1.5%

               

Gentex Corporation

    28,800     $ 785,376  
                 

Home & Office Products — 1.6%

               

Purple Innovation, Inc. *

    175,000       838,250  
                 

Home Construction — 2.5%

               

Masco Corporation

    27,900       1,302,093  
                 

Leisure Facilities & Services — 2.3%

               

Madison Square Garden Sports Corporation

    6,400       1,173,312  
                 

Leisure Products — 1.6%

               

YETI Holdings, Inc. *

    20,000       826,200  
                 

Retail - Discretionary — 4.7%

               

RH *

    9,000       2,404,710  
                 

Energy — 12.3%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 9.2%

               

Chevron Corporation

    12,169       2,184,214  

Devon Energy Corporation

    20,000       1,230,200  

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    6,000       1,370,340  
              4,784,754  

Oil & Gas Services & Equipment — 3.1%

               

Schlumberger Ltd.

    29,800       1,593,108  
                 

Financials — 11.9%

               

Institutional Financial Services — 8.8%

               

CME Group, Inc.

    12,400       2,085,184  

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    24,400       2,503,196  
              4,588,380  

Insurance — 3.1%

               

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class A *

    2       937,422  

Markel Corporation *

    500       658,745  
              1,596,167  

Health Care — 0.1%

               

Biotech & Pharma — 0.1%

               

Avid Bioservices, Inc. *

    5,000       68,850  

 

 

8

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 83.9% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Industrials — 5.4%

               

Electrical Equipment — 4.3%

               

A.O. Smith Corporation

    10,600     $ 606,744  

Vontier Corporation

    84,900       1,641,117  
              2,247,861  

Industrial Support Services — 1.1%

               

U-Haul Holding Company

    1,000       60,190  

U-Haul Holding Company - Series N

    9,000       494,820  
              555,010  

Materials — 9.2%

               

Chemicals — 1.6%

               

Valvoline, Inc.

    25,000       816,250  
                 

Containers & Packaging — 0.4%

               

Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.

    50,000       240,500  
                 

Metals & Mining — 7.2%

               

Barrick Gold Corporation

    35,300       606,454  

Franco-Nevada Corporation

    17,390       2,373,387  

Pan American Silver Corporation

    45,500       743,470  
              3,723,311  

Real Estate — 28.5%

               

Real Estate Owners & Developers — 28.5%

               

St. Joe Company (The)

    47,600       1,839,740  

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

    5,500       12,893,265  
              14,733,005  

Technology — 2.3%

               

Technology Hardware — 0.5%

               

Garmin Ltd.

    2,500       230,725  
                 

Technology Services — 1.8%

               

Mastercard, Inc. - Class A

    1,500       521,595  

Moody’s Corporation

    1,500       417,930  
              939,525  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $25,935,722)

          $ 43,447,387  

 

 

9

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 16.0%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Federated Hermes Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.97% (a)

    2,480,746     $ 2,480,746  

Federated Hermes Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 4.15% (a)

    2,480,746       2,480,746  

Federated Hermes U.S. Treasury Cash Reserves Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.85% (a)

    2,442,705       2,442,705  

Invesco Short-Term Investments Trust (The) - Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 4.19% (a)

    899,682       899,682  

Total Money Market Funds (Cost $8,303,879)

          $ 8,303,879  
                 

Total Investments at Fair Value — 99.9% (Cost $34,239,601)

          $ 51,751,266  
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.1%

            21,308  
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 51,772,574  

 

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of December 31, 2022.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

10

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2022

ASSETS

       

Investments, at fair value (cost of $34,239,601) (Note 1)

  $ 51,751,266  

Cash

    1,825  

Receivable for capital shares sold

    46,677  

Dividends receivable

    89,689  

Other assets

    14,317  

TOTAL ASSETS

    51,903,774  
         

LIABILITIES

       

Payable for capital shares redeemed

    10,672  

Payable to Adviser (Note 2)

    102,568  

Payable to administrator (Note 2)

    4,386  

Other accrued expenses

    13,574  

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    131,200  
         

NET ASSETS

  $ 51,772,574  
         

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

       

Paid-in capital

  $ 34,481,786  

Distributable earnings

    17,290,788  

NET ASSETS

  $ 51,772,574  
         

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

    1,149,070  
         

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)

  $ 45.06  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

11

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

INVESTMENT INCOME

       

Dividends

  $ 856,873  

Foreign withholding taxes on dividends

    (7,117 )

TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME

    849,756  
         

EXPENSES

       

Investment advisory fees (Note 2)

    256,610  

Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)

    38,565  

Legal fees

    29,174  

Registration and filing fees

    27,299  

Audit and tax services fees

    16,047  

Shareholder reporting expenses

    8,667  

Custodian and bank service fees

    7,760  

Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)

    5,134  

Postage and supplies

    3,909  

Insurance expense

    3,665  

Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)

    1,726  

Other expenses

    13,549  

TOTAL EXPENSES

    412,105  

Less fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 2)

    (36,210 )

Previous investment advisory fee reductions recouped by the Adviser (Note 2)

    25,276  

NET EXPENSES

    401,171  
         

NET INVESTMENT INCOME

    448,585  
         

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

       

Net realized losses from investment transactions

    (221,016 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    6,358,455  

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS ON INVESTMENTS

    6,137,439  
         

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ 6,586,024  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

12

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2021

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 448,585     $ 68,100  

Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions

    (221,016 )     1,420,261  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    6,358,455       3,917,570  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    6,586,024       5,405,931  
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (448,446 )     (1,488,406 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    26,360,198       6,691,800  

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    401,888       1,430,459  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (4,688,357 )     (6,575,752 )

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

    22,073,729       1,546,507  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

    28,211,307       5,464,032  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    23,561,267       18,097,235  

End of year

  $ 51,772,574     $ 23,561,267  
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    621,397       161,720  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    8,925       38,257  

Shares redeemed

    (109,141 )     (164,577 )

Net increase in shares outstanding

    521,181       35,400  

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    627,889       592,489  

Shares outstanding, end of year

    1,149,070       627,889  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

13

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
Dec. 31,
2018

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 37.52     $ 30.54     $ 28.03     $ 23.62     $ 26.44  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income (loss)

    0.39       0.12       0.15       (0.03 )     (0.08 )

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    7.54       9.39       3.11       4.44       (2.08 )

Total from investment operations

    7.93       9.51       3.26       4.41       (2.16 )
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.39 )     (0.12 )     (0.15 )            

Net realized gains on investments

          (2.41 )     (0.60 )           (0.66 )

Total distributions

    (0.39 )     (2.53 )     (0.75 )           (0.66 )
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 45.06     $ 37.52     $ 30.54     $ 28.03     $ 23.62  
                                         

Total return (a)

    21.15 %     31.14 %     11.62 %     18.67 %     (8.14 %)
                                         

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                       

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 51,773     $ 23,561     $ 18,097     $ 22,461     $ 19,428  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    1.28 %     1.51 %     1.71 %     1.61 %     1.67 %
                                         

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (b)

    1.25 %     1.25 %     1.25 %     1.25 %     1.25 %
                                         

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

    1.39 %     0.28 %     0.49 %     (0.13 %)     (0.31 %)
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    14 %     18 %     45 %     28 %     34 %

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(b)

Ratio was determined after advisory fee reductions and/or recoupments (Note 2).

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

14

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2022

 

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Schwartz Value Focused Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified series of Schwartz Investment Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company established as an Ohio business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated August 31, 1992. Other series of the Trust are not incorporated in this report. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. See the Prospectus for information regarding the principal investment strategies of the Fund.

 

Shares of the Fund are sold at net asset value (“NAV”). To calculate the NAV, the Fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The offering price and redemption price per share are equal to the NAV per share.

 

The Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of the Fund’s significant accounting policies used in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

(a) Valuation of investments — Securities which are traded on stock exchanges, other than NASDAQ, are valued at the closing sales price as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the day the securities are being valued, or, if not traded on a particular day, at the closing bid price. Securities which are quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price or, if an Official Closing Price is not available, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last reported sales price or, if there is no reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities which are traded both in the over-the-counter market and on a stock exchange are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Fixed income securities, if any, are generally valued using prices provided by an independent pricing service. The independent pricing service uses information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining these prices. Investments representing shares of other open-end investment companies are valued at their NAV as reported by such companies. When using quoted prices and when the market for the securities are considered active, the securities will be classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy (see below). Securities (and other assets) for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, and will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used. Fair value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) a portfolio security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that stock over an extended period of time; (ii) the exchange on which the portfolio security

 

15

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

is principally traded closes early; or (iii) trading of the portfolio security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation. A portfolio security’s “fair value” price may differ from the price next available for that portfolio security using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures.

 

GAAP establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

●    Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

●    Level 2 – other significant observable inputs

 

●    Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs

 

U.S. Government & Agencies securities held by the Fund, if any, are classified as Level 2 since the values for such securities are based on prices provided by an independent pricing service that utilizes various “other significant observable inputs” including bid and ask quotations, prices of similar securities and interest rates, among other factors.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The following is a summary of the Fund’s investments and the levels assigned to the investments, by security type, as of December 31, 2022:

 

 

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 43,447,387     $     $     $ 43,447,387  

Money Market Funds

    8,303,879                   8,303,879  

Total

  $ 51,751,266     $     $     $ 51,751,266  

 

Refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Investments for a listing of the securities by security type, sector and industry type. There were no Level 3 securities or derivative instruments held by or transferred in/out of the Fund as of or during the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

(b) Income taxes — The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Qualification generally will relieve the Fund of liability for federal income taxes to the extent 100% of its net investment income and net realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with the Code.

 

16

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also the Fund’s intention to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains plus undistributed amounts from prior years.

 

The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of December 31, 2022:

 

Federal income tax cost

  $ 34,239,601  

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 18,274,240  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (762,575 )

Net unrealized appreciation

    17,511,665  

Undistributed ordinary income

    139  

Accumulated capital and other losses

    (221,016 )

Distributable earnings

  $ 17,290,788  

 

As of December 31, 2022, the Fund had a short-term capital loss carryforward of $221,016 for federal income tax purposes, which may be carried forward indefinitely. This capital loss carryforward is available to offset net realized gains in future years, thereby reducing future taxable gain distributions.

 

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has reviewed the tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years (generally, three years) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements.

 

(c) Investment transactions and investment income — Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis. Realized capital gains and losses on investment transactions are determined on the identified cost basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been recorded in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s rules and tax rates.

 

(d) Dividends and distributions — Dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually in December. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-

 

17

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

dividend date. The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was as follows:

 

Year Ended

 

Ordinary Income

   

Long-Term
Capital Gains

   

Total
Distributions*

 

December 31, 2022

  $ 448,446     $     $ 448,446  

December 31, 2021

  $ 68,386     $ 1,419,975     $ 1,488,361  

 

 

*

Total Distributions may not tie to the amounts listed on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets due to reclassifications of the character of the distributions as a result of permanent differences between the financial statements and income tax reporting.

 

(e) Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of 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.

 

(f) Common expenses — Common expenses of the Trust are allocated among the Fund and the other series of the Trust based on relative net assets of each series or the nature of the services performed and the relative applicability to each series.

 

2. Investment Advisory Agreement and Transactions with Related Parties

 

The Chairman and President of the Trust is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (the “Adviser”). Certain other officers of the Trust are officers of the Adviser, or of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”), the administrative, accounting and transfer agent for the Fund, or of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), the Fund’s principal underwriter.

 

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser is responsible for the management of the Fund and provides investment advice along with the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operations of the Fund. Effective May 1, 2022, the Adviser receives from the Fund a quarterly fee at the annual rate of 0.75% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Prior to May 1, 2022, the Adviser received from the Fund a quarterly fee at the annual rate of 0.95% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses until at least May 1, 2023, so that the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed 1.25% per annum of average daily net assets. Accordingly, during the year ended December 31, 2022, the Adviser reduced its investment advisory fees by $36,210.

 

Any fee reductions or expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of three years after such fees and expenses were incurred, provided repayment to the Adviser does not cause the ordinary operating expenses of the Fund to exceed 1.25% per annum of average daily net assets. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund recouped $25,276 of prior years’ investment advisory fee

 

18

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

reductions. As of December 31, 2022, the Adviser may seek recoupment of investment advisory fee reductions totaling $180,194 no later than the dates stated below:

 

December 31, 2023

  $ 79,720  

December 31, 2024

    64,264  

December 31, 2025

    36,210  

Total

  $ 180,194  

 

The Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust (the “CCO”) is an employee of the Adviser. The Trust pays the Adviser a fee for providing CCO services, of which the Fund pays its proportionate share along with the other series of the Trust. In addition, the Trust reimburses the Adviser for out-of-pocket expenses incurred, if any, for providing these services.

 

Pursuant to a Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Trust and Ultimus, Ultimus supplies regulatory and compliance services, calculates the daily NAV per share, maintains the financial books and records of the Fund, maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, and processes purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares. For these services Ultimus receives fees computed as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee.

 

Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Trust and the Distributor, the Distributor serves as the Fund’s exclusive agent for the distribution of its shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of Ultimus.

 

Trustees and officers affiliated with the Adviser or Ultimus are not compensated by the Trust for their services. Each Trustee who is not an affiliated person of the Adviser or Ultimus (“Independent Trustee”) receives from the Trust an annual retainer of $63,000 (except that such fee is $76,500 for the Lead Independent Trustee/Chairman of the Governance Committee and $71,500 for the Chairman of the Audit Committee), payable quarterly; a fee of $6,000 for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Trustees; plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. Trustee Emeritus, if any, receives one-half of both the annual retainer and fee for attendance at each meeting; plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. The Fund paid its proportionate share of the Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses along with the other series of the Trust.

 

3. Investment Transactions

 

During the year ended December 31, 2022, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and U.S. government securities, amounted to $17,977,693 and $4,052,957, respectively.

 

4. Contingencies and Commitments

 

The Fund indemnifies the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum

 

19

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 

5. Sector Risk

 

If the Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers in industries within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss of an investment in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV per share. From time to time, circumstances may affect a particular sector and the companies within such sector. For instance, economic or market factors, regulation or deregulation, and technological or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector and therefore the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of December 31, 2022, the Fund had 28.5% of the value of its net assets invested in common stocks within the real estate sector. The Fund had 24.9% of the value of its net assets invested in Texas Pacific Land Corporation (“TPL”) within the real estate sector. The financial statements for TPL can be found at www.sec.gov.

 

6. Subsequent Events

 

The Fund is required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Fund is required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events.

 

20

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Schwartz Investment Trust:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of the Schwartz Value Focused Fund, one of the series constituting the Schwartz Investment Trust (the “Fund”), as of December 31, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed

 

21

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (Continued)

 

 

other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

 

Chicago, Illinois

 

February 22, 2023

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more Schwartz Investment Trust investment companies since 1993.

 

22

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(Unaudited)

 

 

Overall responsibility for management of the Trust rests with the Board of Trustees. The Trustees serve during the lifetime of the Trust and until its termination, or until death, resignation, retirement or removal. The Trustees, in turn, elect the officers of the Trust to actively supervise its day-to-day operations. The officers have been elected for an annual term. The following are the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust:

 

Trustee/Officer

Address

Year of
Birth

Position Held
with the Trust

Length of
Time Served

Interested Trustee:

*

George P. Schwartz, CFA

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Plymouth, MI

1944

Chairman of the Board/President/Trustee

Since 1992

Independent Trustees:

 

Donald J. Dawson, Jr.

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Plymouth, MI

1947

Trustee

Since 1993

 

John J. McHale, Jr.

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Plymouth, MI

1949

Trustee

Since 2014

 

Edward J. Miller

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Plymouth, MI

1946

Trustee

Since 2017

 

William A. Morrow

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Plymouth, MI

1947

Trustee

Since 2018

Executive Officers:

*

Robert C. Schwartz

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Plymouth, MI

1976

Vice President and Secretary

Since 2013

*

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA

5060 Annunciation Circle,
Ave Maria, FL

1971

Treasurer

Since 2000

*

Cathy M. Stoner, CPA, IACCP

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Plymouth, MI

1970

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2010

 

*

George P. Schwartz, Robert C. Schwartz, Timothy S. Schwartz and Cathy M. Stoner, as affiliated persons of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., the Funds’ investment adviser, are “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. George P. Schwartz is the father of Robert C. Schwartz and Timothy S. Schwartz.

 

 

23

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Each Trustee oversees seven series of the Trust: the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund, the Ave Maria Focused Fund, the Ave Maria Bond Fund and the Fund. The principal occupations of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust during the past five years and public directorships held by the Trustees are set forth below:

 

George P. Schwartz, CFA is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. and the co-portfolio manager of the Fund.

 

Donald J. Dawson, Jr. retired in March 2015. Prior to retirement, he was Chairman of Payroll 1, Inc. (a payroll processing company).

 

John J. McHale, Jr. is a consultant to the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. From 2015 until 2020, he was the Special Assistant to Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

 

Edward J. Miller retired in 2019. Prior to his retirement, he was Vice Chairman and Director of Detroit Investment Fund from 2001 until 2019 and Invest Detroit Foundation (financiers for redevelopment of Detroit, Michigan) from 2010 until 2019.

 

William A. Morrow retired in 2017. Prior to his retirement, he was Senior Executive Vice President of Crain Communications, Inc. (business media) from 1985 until 2017.

 

Robert C. Schwartz is Executive Vice President and Secretary of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc.

 

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA is President of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. and the lead portfolio manager of the Fund.

 

Cathy M. Stoner, CPA, IACCP is Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Treasurer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc.

 

Additional information regarding the Trustees and executive officers is available in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). To obtain a free copy of the SAI, please call (888) 726-0753.

 

24

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
(Unaudited)

 

 

We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of costs on your investment. As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

A mutual fund’s ongoing costs are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The ongoing costs reflected in the table below are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the most recent semi-annual period (July 1, 2022) and held until the end of the period (December 31, 2022).

 

The table below illustrates the Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:

 

Actual fund return – This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return, and the third column shows the dollar amount of operating expenses that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for the Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

Hypothetical 5% return – This section is intended to help you compare the Fund’s ongoing costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the Fund had an annual return of 5% before expenses during the period shown, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case, because the return used is not the Fund’s actual return, the result does not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess the Fund’s ongoing costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only. The Fund does not charge sales loads or redemption fees.

 

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

25

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
ABOUT YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

More information about the Fund’s expenses, including historical annual expense ratios, can be found in this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

 

Beginning
Account Value
July 1, 2022

Ending
Account Value
December 31, 2022

Expenses Paid
During Period*

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$1,207.60

$6.96

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,018.90

$6.36

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized net expense ratio of 1.25% for the period, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

26

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
OTHER INFORMATION
(Unaudited)

 

 

A description of the policies and procedures the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-0753, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-0753, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The Trust files a complete listing of portfolio holdings for the Fund with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit on Form N-PORT. The filings are available free of charge, upon request, by calling (888) 726-0753. Furthermore, you may obtain a copy of the filings on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)

 

 

Qualified Dividend Income – The Fund designates 100% of its ordinary income dividends, or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified dividend income eligible for the reduced tax rate of 15%.

 

Dividends Received Deduction – Corporate shareholders are generally entitled to take the dividends received deduction on the portion of the Fund’s dividend distributions that qualifies under tax law. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, 100% of ordinary income dividends qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.

 

27

 

 

 

SCHWARTZ VALUE FOCUSED FUND
LIQUIDITY RISK
(Unaudited)

 

 

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The program is reasonably designed to assess, manage, and periodically review the Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board of Trustees approved the appointment of a Liquidity Risk Management Program Administrator (the “Liquidity Administrator”), which includes representatives from Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser. The Liquidity Administrator is responsible for the administration of the program and its policies and procedures and for reporting to the Board on an annual basis regarding the program’s operation, adequacy and effectiveness, as well as any material changes to the program. The Liquidity Administrator assessed the Fund’s liquidity risk profile and the adequacy and effectiveness of the liquidity risk management program’s operations during the period from June 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 (the “Review Period”) in order to prepare a written report for the Board of Trustees (the “Report”) for consideration at its meeting held on August 5, 2022. During the Review Period, the Fund did not experience unusual stress or disruption to its operations from any purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the Review Period the Fund held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that (i) the Fund’s liquidity risk management program is reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Liquidity Rule and (ii) the Fund’s liquidity risk management program has been effectively implemented during the Review Period.

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholder Accounts

c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(888) 726-9331

Corporate Offices

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail

Suite 244

Plymouth, MI 48170

(734) 455-7777

Fax (734) 455-7720

 

 

To the owners of:

 

Ave Maria Value Fund (AVEMX)
Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX)
Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX)
Ave Maria World Equity Fund (AVEWX)
Ave Maria Focused Fund (AVEAX)
Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX)
Ave Maria Money Market Account

 

2022 was a year that scared many investors. It was the first year in several decades that both stocks and bonds declined as measured by popular indices. One anxiety producer among many was the fear of recession. The jury is still out as to whether the current economic slowdown will be officially called a recession or not. In this environment, retail and institutional investors alike seem paralyzed, holding on to their cash reserves “until things are clearer”. I wonder where they think stock prices will be when things are clearer.

 

Successful investors have learned not to try outguessing the market. They don’t overanalyze and burden themselves by fretting over the unknowable and instead stay long-term oriented. That’s the only thing that matters for serious investors. Indeed, long-term is the essence of investing – deferral of gratification or consumption now with the hope of gaining greater purchasing power later. Currently, it’s possible that the stock market is pricing in the widespread negative sentiments.

 

Also, it’s worth noting that there has been a significant shift in investor thinking to a healthy focus on fundamentals. This, as opposed to mania for meme stocks, overhyped information technology companies, and the infatuation with quarterly results. The crash of inflated stock prices has shocked the get-rich-quick artists, as well as investors with unrealistic expectations for infinite growth. Value is back after a long period of investor infatuation with hypergrowth stocks selling at unrealistic prices. It’s a new world. Actually, it’s a return to the old world of disciplined balance sheet and cash flow analysis used to calculate intrinsic value.

 

While short-term thinkers, traders, and speculators were weeping and gnashing their teeth in 2022, as the enclosed pages show, three of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds beat their benchmarks for performance, in one case quite handily.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

George P. Schwartz, CFA
Chairman & CEO

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

   

Ave Maria Value Fund

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

1

Performance

4

Annual Total Rates of Return Comparison with Major Indices

5

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

6

Asset Allocation

6

Schedule of Investments

7

Ave Maria Growth Fund

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

10

Performance

12

Annual Total Rates of Return Comparison with Major Indices

13

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

14

Asset Allocation

14

Schedule of Investments

15

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

18

Performance

19

Annual Total Rates of Return Comparison with Major Indices

20

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

21

Asset Allocation

21

Schedule of Investments

22

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

25

Performance

28

Annual Total Rates of Return Comparison with Major Indices

29

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

30

Asset Allocation

30

Schedule of Investments

31

Summary of Common Stocks by Country

35

Ave Maria Focused Fund

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

36

Performance

39

Annual Total Rates of Return Comparison with Major Indices

40

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

41

Asset Allocation

41

Schedule of Investments

42

Ave Maria Bond Fund

 

Portfolio Manager Commentary

44

Performance

45

Annual Total Rates of Return Comparison with Major Indices

46

Ten Largest Holdings

47

Asset Allocation

47

Schedule of Investments

48

 

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)

 

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

54

Statements of Operations

56

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

58

Ave Maria Growth Fund

59

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

60

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

61

Ave Maria Focused Fund

62

Ave Maria Bond Fund

63

Financial Highlights

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

64

Ave Maria Growth Fund

65

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

66

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

67

Ave Maria Focused Fund

68

Ave Maria Bond Fund

69

Notes to Financial Statements

70

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

82

Board of Trustees and Executive Officers

84

Catholic Advisory Board

86

About Your Funds’ Expenses

88

Federal Tax Information

90

Other Information

91

Liquidity Risk

92

 

This report is for the information of the shareholders of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. To obtain a copy of the prospectus, please visit our website at www.avemariafunds.com or call 1-888-726-9331 and a copy will be sent to you free of charge. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest. The Ave Maria Mutual Funds are distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC.

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

 

This page intentionally left blank.

 

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

Portfolio Manager Commentary

(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

2022 was a relatively good year for the Ave Maria Value Fund (the “Fund”) with a total return of 4.18%, compared to -13.06% for the benchmark S&P MidCap 400 Index, and -14.02% for the Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend category average. For the year, the Fund ranked in the 1st percentile out of 370 equity mutual funds in the Morningstar Mid-Cap Blend category. This performance has been recognized by the investment community, as the Fund was mentioned in The Wall Street Journal’s January 9, 2023 edition, in the article titled “The Best Stock-Fund Managers of 2022.” As stated in the article, the Fund’s 2022 performance ranked #11 out of 1,410 U.S. stocks funds, as tracked by Morningstar, an independent rating service. Likewise, in the same edition of The Wall Street Journal, in the “Category Kings in 9 realms” section, the Fund was ranked #1 out of 390 Midcap Growth equity mutual funds for 2022 performance, as tracked by Lipper, an independent rating service.

 

The Fund’s outperformance in 2022 was driven primarily by the Fund’s energy sector investments. In particular, the share prices of Chevron Corporation (oil & natural gas integrated), Pioneer Natural Resources Company (oil & natural gas exploration and production), Schlumberger Limited (oil & natural gas equipment and services), and Texas Pacific Land Corporation (real estate and royalties) all rose substantially in 2022. We believe the worldwide demand for energy, including oil and natural gas, will continue to grow for many years. With rising demand, coupled with constrained supply (due to a myriad of factors), we believe energy prices may escalate in 2023 and beyond. As such, we remain optimistic that the Fund’s energy sector companies will continue to grow revenues, earnings, cash flows, and dividends.

 

The Fund’s five best performing securities in 2022 were:

 

Company

Industry

2022 Return

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

Real Estate/Royalties

91.28%

Schlumberger Limited

Oil/Gas Equipment & Services

83.51%

Chevron Corporation

Integrated Oil/Gas

56.94%

Bowlero Corporation

Bowling Centers

53.97%

Haemonetics Corporation

Medical Instruments & Supplies

49.92%

 

1

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The Fund’s five worst performing securities in 2022 were:

 

Company

Industry

2022 Return

Purple Innovation, Inc.

Consumer Products

-41.43%

Vontier Corporation

Technology Mobility

-32.85%

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

Financial Exchanges

-32.25%

YETI Holdings, Inc.

Consumer Products

-32.15%

A.O. Smith Corporation

Specialty Machinery

-27.05%

 

Due to the recent, strong relative outperformance, the Fund’s longer-term performance measures have markedly improved. For the 3-year and 5-year periods ending December 31, 2022, the Fund placed in the top 3rd percentile and top 9th percentile, respectively, in Morningstar’s Mid-Cap Blend category. The Fund’s 1, 3, 5, and 10-year performance figures for periods ending December 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

 

Average Annual Total Return
For the Periods Ending 12/31/22

 

1 year

3 years

5 years

10 years

Ave Maria Value Fund

4.18%

11.44%

8.77%

8.35%

S&P MidCap 400 Index

-13.06%

7.23%

6.71%

10.78%

 

Value-oriented investment managers were vindicated in 2022. It was a year in which many investors got sucked into the vortex of a speculative stock market mania driven by tech stocks that got ridiculously overpriced, even though many were unprofitable enterprises. These “story stocks” were hailed as industry disruptors, and no share price was too high. The carnage here was brutal.

 

Recent performance of 10 former high-flying technology stocks:

 

Company

Performance Since 2021
Peak through 2022 Year End

Carvana Co.

-99%

Peloton Interactive, Inc.

-95%

Coinbase Global, Inc.

-92%

Teladoc Health, Inc.

-92%

Leamonade, Inc.

-91%

Robinhood Markets, Inc.

-91%

Snap Inc.

-90%

Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

-88%

Docusign, Inc.

-83%

Spotify Technology S.A.

-80%

 

2

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Individual and institutional investors alike in these issues probably learned again the truism that real investing is not a game, and success is not assured. One cannot ignore valuations and expect to achieve successful results. Fundamentals matter.

 

In managing the Ave Maria Value Fund, we will continue to pursue a risk-averse, value-focused investment approach that utilizes fundamental security analysis to identify securities available at a discount to intrinsic value. We believe this approach provides the best opportunities to achieve above-average investment results.

 

The year-end distribution of $0.2764 per share consisted solely of investment income, as there were no realized short or long-term capital gains. The net asset value of the Fund ended the year at $24.05 per share.

 

Thank you for being a shareholder in the Ave Maria Value Fund.

 

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA

Ryan M. Kuyawa, CFA

Lead Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Rank in Category is the fund’s total return percentile rank relative to all funds that have the same Morningstar Category. The highest (or most favorable) percentile rank is 1 and the lowest (or least favorable) percentile rank is 100. The top-performing fund in a category will always receive a rank of 1.

 

3

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND

Performance

(Unaudited)

 

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment
in the Ave Maria Value Fund and the S&P MidCap 400 Index

 

 

(a)

The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Expense ratio as of 12-31-21 (as disclosed in May 1, 2022 prospectus)

0.97%*

Expense ratio for the year ended 12-31-22

0.93%

 

*

Includes Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

4

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND

Annual Total Rates of Return
Comparison with Major Indices
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
VALUE FUND

S&P MidCap 400
INDEX

S&P 500
INDEX

2001(a)

5.3%

-0.5%

-8.5%

2002

-9.8%

-14.5%

-22.1%

2003

35.6%

35.6%

28.7%

2004

20.1%

16.5%

10.9%

2005

5.8%

12.6%

4.9%

2006

14.2%

10.3%

15.8%

2007

-4.0%

8.0%

5.5%

2008

-36.8%

-36.2%

-37.0%

2009

37.6%

37.4%

26.5%

2010

20.5%

26.7%

15.1%

2011

-1.3%

-1.7%

2.1%

2012

13.3%

17.9%

16.0%

2013

26.2%

33.5%

32.4%

2014

2.9%

9.8%

13.7%

2015

-17.7%

-2.2%

1.4%

2016

16.4%

20.7%

12.0%

2017

17.7%

16.2%

21.8%

2018

-8.8%

-11.1%

-4.4%

2019

20.5%

26.2%

31.5%

2020

6.2%

13.7%

18.4%

2021

25.2%

24.8%

28.7%

2022

4.2%

-13.1%

-18.1%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
VALUE FUND

S&P MidCap
400
INDEX

S&P 500
INDEX

3 Years

11.4%

7.2%

7.7%

5 Years

8.8%

6.7%

9.4%

10 Years

8.4%

10.8%

12.6%

20 Years

8.3%

10.7%

9.8%

Since Inception (b)

7.4%

9.0%

7.3%

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2001) through December 31, 2001.

(b)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2001) through December 31, 2022.

 

5

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Company

 

Fair Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
    25,500    

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

  $ 59,777,865       16.1 %
    90,000    

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    20,555,100       5.5 %
    100,180    

Chevron Corporation

    17,981,308       4.9 %
    323,900    

Schlumberger Ltd.

    17,315,694       4.7 %
    184,000    

Haemonetics Corporation

    14,471,600       3.9 %
    104,000    

Franco-Nevada Corporation

    14,193,920       3.8 %
    150,000    

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

    14,155,500       3.8 %
    330,000    

Valvoline, Inc.

    10,774,500       2.9 %
    100,000    

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    10,259,000       2.8 %
    506,402    

Vontier Corporation

    9,788,751       2.6 %

 

Asset Allocation (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

% of Net Assets

 

COMMON STOCKS

       

Sector

       

Communications

    1.3 %

Consumer Discretionary

    9.6 %

Consumer Staples

    0.8 %

Energy

    20.6 %

Financials

    10.6 %

Health Care

    10.9 %

Industrials

    10.2 %

Materials

    7.9 %

Real Estate

    17.2 %

Technology

    3.8 %
         

MONEY MARKET FUNDS, OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    7.1 %
      100.0 %

 

6

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2022

COMMON STOCKS — 92.9%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Communications — 1.3%

               

Publishing & Broadcasting — 1.3%

               

Liberty Media Corporation - Liberty Formula One - Series C *

    80,000     $ 4,782,400  
                 

Consumer Discretionary — 9.6%

               

Automotive — 1.3%

               

Gentex Corporation

    170,000       4,635,900  
                 

Home & Office Products — 1.8%

               

Purple Innovation, Inc. *

    1,409,490       6,751,457  
                 

Leisure Facilities & Services — 2.5%

               

Bowlero Corporation *

    489,574       6,599,457  

Madison Square Garden Sports Corporation

    15,000       2,749,950  
              9,349,407  

Leisure Products — 1.5%

               

YETI Holdings, Inc. *

    132,500       5,473,575  
                 

Retail - Discretionary — 2.5%

               

RH *

    14,000       3,740,660  

Winmark Corporation

    23,700       5,589,171  
              9,329,831  

Consumer Staples — 0.8%

               

Beverages — 0.8%

               

Remy Cointreau S.A. - ADR

    175,550       2,946,835  
                 

Energy — 20.6%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 14.2%

               

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

    150,000       14,155,500  

Chevron Corporation

    100,180       17,981,308  

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    90,000       20,555,100  
              52,691,908  

Oil & Gas Services & Equipment — 6.4%

               

Core Laboratories N.V.

    318,000       6,445,860  

Schlumberger Ltd.

    323,900       17,315,694  
              23,761,554  

Financials — 10.6%

               

Banking — 2.5%

               

Hingham Institution for Savings (The)

    34,000       9,382,640  
                 

Institutional Financial Services — 4.6%

               

CME Group, Inc.

    40,000       6,726,400  

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    100,000       10,259,000  
              16,985,400  

 

 

7

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 92.9% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Financials — 10.6% (Continued)

               

Insurance — 3.5%

               

Brown & Brown, Inc.

    117,450     $ 6,691,126  

Markel Corporation *

    4,850       6,389,827  
              13,080,953  

Health Care — 10.9%

               

Biotech & Pharma — 2.5%

               

Mirion Technologies, Inc. *

    1,390,000       9,187,900  
                 

Health Care Facilities & Services — 2.5%

               

Chemed Corporation

    18,300       9,340,869  
                 

Medical Equipment & Devices — 5.9%

               

Alcon, Inc.

    110,000       7,540,500  

Haemonetics Corporation *

    184,000       14,471,600  
              22,012,100  

Industrials — 10.2%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 1.3%

               

HEICO Corporation - Class A

    40,000       4,794,000  
                 

Electrical Equipment — 7.3%

               

A.O. Smith Corporation

    113,000       6,468,120  

Allegion plc

    37,500       3,947,250  

Otis Worldwide Corporation

    85,000       6,656,350  

Vontier Corporation

    506,402       9,788,751  
              26,860,471  

Industrial Support Services — 1.6%

               

U-Haul Holding Company

    10,800       650,052  

U-Haul Holding Company - Series N

    97,200       5,344,056  
              5,994,108  

Materials — 7.9%

               

Chemicals — 2.9%

               

Valvoline, Inc.

    330,000       10,774,500  
                 

Metals & Mining — 5.0%

               

Barrick Gold Corporation

    175,000       3,006,500  

Franco-Nevada Corporation

    104,000       14,193,920  

Newmont Corporation

    30,000       1,416,000  
              18,616,420  

Real Estate — 17.2%

               

Real Estate Owners & Developers — 17.2%

               

St. Joe Company (The)

    103,000       3,980,950  

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

    25,500       59,777,865  
              63,758,815  

 

 

8

 

 

 

AVE MARIA VALUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 92.9% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Technology — 3.8%

               

Technology Services — 3.8%

               

CDW Corporation

    37,350     $ 6,669,963  

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

    43,050       7,557,858  
              14,227,821  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $235,127,243)

          $ 344,738,864  

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 7.1%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Federated Hermes Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.97% (a)

    17,818,000     $ 17,818,000  

Federated Hermes Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Shares, 4.15% (a)

    8,429,255       8,429,255  

Total Money Market Funds (Cost $26,247,255)

          $ 26,247,255  
                 

Total Investments at Fair Value — 100.0% (Cost $261,374,498)

          $ 370,986,119  
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.0% (b)

            85,737  
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 371,071,856  

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of December 31, 2022.

(b)

Percentage rounds to less than 0.1%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

9

 

 

 

Ave Maria Growth Fund

Portfolio Manager Commentary

(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Ave Maria Growth Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of -21.23% compared with the benchmark S&P 500 Index total return of -18.11%. Long-term performance measures are summarized below.

 

 

For Period Ending December 31, 2022:

Fund or Index Name

Three-year
Annualized

Five-year
Annualized

Ten-year
Annualized

Ave Maria Growth Fund, net of fees

3.10%

8.09%

11.22%

S&P 500 Index

7.66%

9.42%

12.56%

Morningstar Large Growth Category Average

4.91%

8.38%

12.02%

 

In 2022, top contributors to return included O’Reilly Automotive, Texas Pacific Land Corp., Valvoline, Change Healthcare, and HEICO. Top detractors from return included Purple Innovation, Microsoft, Ardagh Metal Packaging, Adobe, and Brookfield Asset Management.

 

After less than five months in the Fund, our position in Avalara was converted to cash during the fourth quarter. Avalara was purchased by private equity for an attractive premium to the Fund’s average purchase price. No other positions in the Fund were completely liquidated during the fourth quarter, while SiTime Corporation was the only new addition to the Fund.

 

 

SiTime is a semiconductor company focused specifically on silicon-based devices for the electronic measurement of time. Timing devices are responsible for synchronizing circuits and are a ubiquitous component of modern electronic devices. The industry has been dominated by quartz-based products for the last 70 years, but SiTime now offers a disruptive silicon alternative that is capable of precision performance in some of the most demanding environments. We expect silicon-based timing devices to rapidly take market share from legacy quartz devices due to cost advantages, greater programmability, and higher reliability. SiTime is perfectly positioned to benefit from this new technology with approximately 90% market share of silicon-based timers.

 

Our goal remains to purchase shares of exceptional companies at attractive prices with the expectation of earning favorable returns over the long run.

 

10

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

We appreciate your investment in the Ave Maria Growth Fund.

 

With best regards,

 

Adam P. Gaglio, CFA

Chadd M. Garcia, CFA

Lead Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

11

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND

Performance

(Unaudited)

 

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment
in the Ave Maria Growth Fund and the S&P 500 Index

 

 

(a)

The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Expense ratio as of 12-31-21 (as disclosed in May 1, 2022 prospectus)

0.90%*

Expense ratio for the year ended 12-31-22

0.91%

 

*

Includes Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

12

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND

Annual Total Rates of Return
Comparison with Major Indices
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND

S&P 500 INDEX

2003 (a)

23.4%

22.8%

2004

21.5%

10.9%

2005

0.3%

4.9%

2006

15.8%

15.8%

2007

11.6%

5.5%

2008

-32.1%

-37.0%

2009

26.4%

26.5%

2010

26.5%

15.1%

2011

0.5%

2.1%

2012

14.7%

16.0%

2013

31.5%

32.4%

2014

7.5%

13.7%

2015

-2.7%

1.4%

2016

12.1%

12.0%

2017

27.4%

21.8%

2018

-1.8%

-4.4%

2019

37.1%

31.5%

2020

18.4%

18.4%

2021

17.6%

28.7%

2022

-21.2%

-18.1%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND

S&P 500 INDEX

3 Years

3.1%

7.7%

5 Years

8.1%

9.4%

10 Years

11.2%

12.6%

15 Years

9.0%

8.8%

Since Inception (b)

10.4%

9.7%

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2003) through December 31, 2003.

(b)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2003) through December 31, 2022.

 

13

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Company

 

Fair Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
    850,000    

Copart, Inc.

  $ 51,756,500       6.8 %
    142,000    

Mastercard, Inc. - Class A

    49,377,660       6.5 %
    275,000    

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    45,435,500       5.9 %
    180,000    

Microsoft Corporation

    43,167,600       5.6 %
    51,000    

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.

    43,045,530       5.6 %
    299,377    

HEICO Corporation - Class A

    35,880,333       4.7 %
    325,000    

AptarGroup, Inc.

    35,743,500       4.7 %
    1,795,000    

API Group Corporation

    33,763,950       4.4 %
    96,000    

S&P Global, Inc.

    32,154,240       4.2 %
    145,000    

IQVIA Holdings, Inc.

    29,709,050       3.9 %

 

Asset Allocation (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

% of Net Assets

 

COMMON STOCKS

       

Sector

       

Consumer Discretionary

    16.6 %

Energy

    2.7 %

Financials

    7.8 %

Health Care

    5.2 %

Industrials

    9.1 %

Materials

    10.1 %

Real Estate

    7.8 %

Technology

    36.7 %
         

MONEY MARKET FUNDS, LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

    4.0 %
      100.0 %

 

14

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2022

COMMON STOCKS — 96.0%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 16.6%

               

Retail - Discretionary — 9.8%

               

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    122,000     $ 24,307,280  

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. *

    51,000       43,045,530  

RH *

    30,000       8,015,700  
              75,368,510  

Wholesale - Discretionary — 6.8%

               

Copart, Inc. *

    850,000       51,756,500  
                 

Energy — 2.7%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 2.7%

               

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

    220,000       20,761,400  
                 

Financials — 7.8%

               

Asset Management — 3.6%

               

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. - Class A *

    179,353       5,142,050  

Brookfield Corporation

    712,500       22,415,250  

Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. *

    4,913       153,728  
              27,711,028  

Diversified Financial Services — 4.2%

               

S&P Global, Inc.

    96,000       32,154,240  
                 

Health Care — 5.2%

               

Health Care Facilities & Services — 5.2%

               

Chemed Corporation

    20,000       10,208,600  

IQVIA Holdings, Inc. *

    145,000       29,709,050  
              39,917,650  

Industrials — 9.1%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 4.7%

               

HEICO Corporation - Class A

    299,377       35,880,333  
                 

Electrical Equipment — 4.4%

               

API Group Corporation *

    1,795,000       33,763,950  
                 

Materials — 10.1%

               

Chemicals — 3.0%

               

Valvoline, Inc.

    700,000       22,855,000  
                 

Containers & Packaging — 7.1%

               

AptarGroup, Inc.

    325,000       35,743,500  

Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.

    3,772,376       18,145,129  
              53,888,629  

 

 

15

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 96.0% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Real Estate — 7.8%

               

Real Estate Owners & Developers — 1.5%

               

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

    5,000     $ 11,721,150  
                 

REITs — 6.3%

               

Equinix, Inc.

    40,500       26,528,715  

SBA Communications Corporation - Class A

    76,000       21,303,560  
              47,832,275  

Technology — 36.7%

               

Semiconductors — 12.0%

               

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. *

    340,000       22,021,800  

NVIDIA Corporation

    125,000       18,267,500  

SiTime Corporation *

    60,000       6,097,200  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    275,000       45,435,500  
              91,822,000  

Software — 12.5%

               

ANSYS, Inc. *

    54,000       13,045,860  

Microsoft Corporation

    180,000       43,167,600  

Roper Technologies, Inc.

    68,000       29,382,120  

Software AG - ADR

    1,638,504       10,044,030  
              95,639,610  

Technology Services — 12.2%

               

Accenture plc - Class A

    91,000       24,282,440  

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    72,000       9,657,360  

Mastercard, Inc. - Class A

    142,000       49,377,660  

Moody’s Corporation

    35,000       9,751,700  
              93,069,160  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $524,252,815)

          $ 734,141,435  

 

 

16

 

 

 

AVE MARIA GROWTH FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 4.2%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Federated Hermes Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.97% (a) (Cost $32,350,168)

    32,350,168     $ 32,350,168  
                 

Total Investments at Fair Value — 100.2% (Cost $556,602,983)

          $ 766,491,603  
                 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2%)

            (1,598,463 )
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 764,893,140  

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of December 31, 2022.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

17

 

 

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

Portfolio Manager Commentary

(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

The Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (the “Fund”) finished the year ended December 31, 2022with a return of -5.27%, compared to -5.22% for the benchmark, the S&P 500 Value Index.

 

For the year, the Fund’s strongest contributors were from the Energy, Consumer Staples, and Industrials sectors. Also, Texas Pacific Land Corporation (royalty income – oil and gas) was up over 91%, posting the strongest performance. Consumer Staples finished the year up 2.4%, driven by Coca-Cola Europacifc Partners plc (carbonated soft drinks). The Industrials sector was up 2.4%, with strong returns posted by Lockheed Martin Corporation (defense), up 65%, and newcomer to the portfolio, A.O. Smith Corporation (commercial & residential building equipment), up 16%.

 

The weakest performers were the Technology, Real Estate, and Health Care sectors. Technology was down nearly -22% collectively, with only one company, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (financial transaction processor), posting a positive total return for the year. Real Estate was -21%, due to weakness in our holding in Equinix, Inc. (data center REIT). Health Care posted a -11% return, with Medtronic, plc (medical devices), dragging down overall performance, due to its -23% total return.

 

In the fourth quarter, the Fund added three new positions, A.O. Smith Corporation (commercial & residential equipment), Fastenal Company (industrial equipment & supply wholesaler), and S&P Global, Inc. (credit agency). These companies all have strong balance sheets, operate with competitive advantages, and consistently produce above-average cash flow and dividend growth. We purchased shares of each of these companies when they were undervalued in our opinion.

 

We appreciate your investment in the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund.

 

Brandon S. Scheitler

George P. Schwartz, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

18

 

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND

Performance

(Unaudited)

 

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment
in the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund
and the S&P 500 Value Index

 

 

(a)

The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Expense ratio as of 12-31-21 (as disclosed in May 1, 2022 prospectus)

0.90%*

Expense ratio for the year ended 12-31-22

0.91%

 

*

Includes Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

19

 

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND

Annual Total Rates of Return
Comparison with Major Indices
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
RISING DIVIDEND FUND

S&P 500
VALUE INDEX

S&P 500 INDEX

2005 (a)

6.7%

11.3%

8.8%

2006

17.9%

20.8%

15.8%

2007

-0.6%

2.0%

5.5%

2008

-22.8%

-39.2%

-37.0%

2009

25.3%

21.2%

26.5%

2010

17.9%

15.1%

15.1%

2011

4.6%

-0.5%

2.1%

2012

13.9%

17.7%

16.0%

2013

33.9%

32.0%

32.4%

2014

9.3%

12.4%

13.7%

2015

-5.9%

-3.1%

1.4%

2016

15.3%

17.4%

12.0%

2017

16.8%

15.4%

21.8%

2018

-4.8%

-9.0%

-4.4%

2019

27.6%

31.9%

31.5%

2020

6.5%

1.4%

18.4%

2021

25.4%

24.9%

28.7%

2022

-5.3%

-5.2%

-18.1%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
RISING DIVIDEND FUND

S&P 500
VALUE INDEX

S&P 500 INDEX

3 Years

8.1%

6.3%

7.7%

5 Years

9.0%

7.6%

9.4%

10 Years

11.0%

10.9%

12.6%

15 Years

9.4%

7.1%

8.8%

Since Inception (b)

9.3%

7.9%

9.2%

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 2, 2005) through December 31, 2005.

(b)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 2, 2005) through December 31, 2022.

 

20

 

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Company

 

Fair Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
    24,000    

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

  $ 56,261,520       6.3 %
    190,000    

Chubb Ltd.

    41,914,000       4.7 %
    170,000    

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    38,826,300       4.4 %
    200,000    

Chevron Corporation

    35,898,000       4.0 %
    70,000    

Chemed Corporation

    35,730,100       4.0 %
    215,000    

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    35,522,300       4.0 %
    62,500    

Lockheed Martin Corporation

    30,405,625       3.4 %
    85,000    

Mastercard, Inc. - Class A

    29,557,050       3.3 %
    140,000    

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    27,893,600       3.1 %
    205,000    

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    27,496,650       3.1 %

 

Asset Allocation (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

% of Net Assets

 

COMMON STOCKS

       

Sector

       

Communications

    0.9 %

Consumer Discretionary

    16.3 %

Consumer Staples

    1.8 %

Energy

    8.4 %

Financials

    15.4 %

Health Care

    8.5 %

Industrials

    10.2 %

Real Estate

    9.1 %

Technology

    27.7 %
         

MONEY MARKET FUNDS, LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

    1.7 %
      100.0 %

 

 

21

 

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2022

COMMON STOCKS — 98.3%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Communications — 0.9%

               

Internet Media & Services — 0.9%

               

Booking Holdings, Inc. *

    4,000     $ 8,061,120  
                 

Consumer Discretionary — 16.3%

               

Leisure Products — 2.9%

               

Polaris, Inc.

    140,000       14,140,000  

Thor Industries, Inc.

    150,000       11,323,500  
              25,463,500  

Retail - Discretionary — 13.4%

               

Genuine Parts Company

    150,000       26,026,500  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    140,000       27,893,600  

RH *

    90,000       24,047,100  

TJX Companies, Inc. (The)

    300,000       23,880,000  

Tractor Supply Company

    79,500       17,885,115  
              119,732,315  

Consumer Staples — 1.8%

               

Beverages — 1.8%

               

Coca-Cola European Partners plc

    300,000       16,596,000  
                 

Energy — 8.4%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 8.4%

               

Chevron Corporation

    200,000       35,898,000  

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    170,000       38,826,300  
              74,724,300  

Financials — 15.4%

               

Asset Management — 1.7%

               

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. - Class A *

    100,000       2,867,000  

Brookfield Corporation

    400,000       12,584,000  
              15,451,000  

Banking — 3.5%

               

First Horizon Corporation

    250,000       6,125,000  

Truist Financial Corporation

    575,000       24,742,250  
              30,867,250  

Diversified Financial Services — 1.1%

               

S&P Global, Inc.

    29,000       9,713,260  
                 

Insurance — 6.3%

               

Brown & Brown, Inc.

    230,000       13,103,100  

Chubb Ltd.

    190,000       41,914,000  

F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. *

    45,560       911,656  
              55,928,756  

Specialty Finance — 2.8%

               

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

    670,000       25,205,400  

 

 

22

 

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 98.3% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Health Care — 8.5%

               

Health Care Facilities & Services — 5.6%

               

Chemed Corporation

    70,000     $ 35,730,100  

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

    95,000       14,861,800  
              50,591,900  

Medical Equipment & Devices — 2.9%

               

Medtronic plc

    330,000       25,647,600  
                 

Industrials — 10.2%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 5.3%

               

HEICO Corporation - Class A

    137,120       16,433,832  

Lockheed Martin Corporation

    62,500       30,405,625  
              46,839,457  

Commercial Support Services — 0.8%

               

Rentokil Initial plc

    1,185,500       7,282,944  
                 

Electrical Equipment — 1.2%

               

A.O. Smith Corporation

    180,000       10,303,200  
                 

Industrial Support Services — 1.0%

               

Fastenal Company

    195,000       9,227,400  
                 

Transportation & Logistics — 1.9%

               

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B

    100,000       17,384,000  
                 

Real Estate — 9.1%

               

Real Estate Owners & Developers — 6.3%

               

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

    24,000       56,261,520  
                 

REITs — 2.8%

               

Equinix, Inc.

    37,400       24,498,122  
                 

Technology — 27.7%

               

Semiconductors — 4.0%

               

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    215,000       35,522,300  
                 

Software — 9.2%

               

ANSYS, Inc. *

    56,000       13,529,040  

Microsoft Corporation

    110,000       26,380,200  

Roper Technologies, Inc.

    25,000       10,802,250  

SAP SE

    90,000       9,294,517  

SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.

    425,000       22,125,500  
              82,131,507  

 

 

23

 

 

 

AVE MARIA RISING DIVIDEND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 98.3% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Technology — 27.7% (Continued)

               

Technology Services — 14.5%

               

Accenture plc - Class A

    93,000     $ 24,816,120  

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    205,000       27,496,650  

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

    125,000       21,945,000  

Mastercard, Inc. - Class A

    85,000       29,557,050  

Moody’s Corporation

    90,000       25,075,800  
              128,890,620  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $645,733,563)

          $ 876,323,471  

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 1.7%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Federated Hermes Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.97% (a) (Cost $14,942,042)

    14,942,042     $ 14,942,042  
                 

Total Investments at Fair Value — 100.0% (Cost $660,675,605)

          $ 891,265,513  
                 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (0.0%) (b)

            (305,249 )
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 890,960,264  

 

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of December 31, 2022.

(b)

Percentage rounds to less than 0.1%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

24

 

 

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

Portfolio Manager Commentary

(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

The Ave Maria World Equity Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of -15.50% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the total return of -18.37% for the MSCI ACWI Index.

 

Large global markets performed poorly in 2022, which led to negative total returns in U.S. dollar terms across the board.

 

Europe (S&P Europe 350)

-14.06%

Japan (Topix 150)

-15.10%

United States (S&P 500)

-18.11%

Emerging Market (MSCI Emerging Market Index)

-19.94%

China (S&P China 500)

-24.41%

 

The Fund outperformed the MSCI ACWI Index in the fourth quarter and in calendar year 2022 by 2.73% and 2.87%, respectively

 

Top contributors to performance during the fourth quarter of 2022

 

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC

32.76%

AXA SA

27.96%

Chubb Limited

21.76%

 

Top contributors to performance during calendar year 2022

 

Chevron Corporation

58.48%

Pioneer Natural Resources

38.87%

First Horizon Corporation

33.09%

 

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC is the largest global Coca-Cola bottler by revenue. The management team has a track record of creating value for shareholders by consolidating and improving the operations of smaller bottlers. The company has been applying the same playbook to Coca-Cola Amatil, an Australian bottler with operations in six countries.

 

AXA SA is a global provider of insurance products and asset management services. The company has been reducing its exposure to volatile natural catastrophe reinsurance and low-margin traditional general account savings in favor of more predictable and profitable P&C, life, and health insurance products.

 

25

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Chubb Limited is the world’s largest publicly traded P&C insurance company and a leading commercial lines insurer in the U.S. with operations in 54 countries and territories. Chubb is regarded as one of the most skilled property and casualty underwriters globally with an average P&C combined ratio of 92.5% between 2017 and 2021.

 

Bottom contributors to performance during the fourth quarter of 2022

 

Mirion Technologies, Inc.

-11.51%

Nidec Corporation

-7.78%

Teleperformance SE

-5.77%

 

Bottom contributors to performance during calendar year 2022

 

eDreams ODIGEO S.A.

-61.81%

Nidec Corporation

-55.55%

Accenture plc

-34.75%

 

Mirion Technologies is the global leader in ionizing radiation measurement and detection technologies serving the nuclear, medical, and civil defense industries. The medical division benefits from an aging population that drives demand for radiation hardware, therapies, and materials; while the nuclear division may benefit from a renewed interest in nuclear power.

 

Nidec Corporation focuses on creating next-generation drive technologies for everything that spins and moves with a substantial portion of revenue derived from the sale of brushless DC motors. Brushless DC motors are used in many applications across the industrial, automotive, and electronic industries. The market has been transitioning to brushless DC motors because of their increased reliability, longer life, reduced noise, and energy savings, which we expect to continue. Recently, margins have come under pressure due to the ongoing challenges of acquiring semiconductors and other electronic components coupled with the soaring costs of raw materials.

 

Teleperformance is the worldwide leader in the outsourced customer experience market serving customers in 265 languages and dialects in over 170 markets. The company has a track record of solid organic revenue growth and in employing technologies to drive agent productivity.

 

26

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

During the fourth quarter, the Fund eliminated its positions in Adobe Inc. (Technology) and Medtronic plc (Health Care), while initiating new positions in Auto Partner SA (Consumer Discretionary), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (Energy), and F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. (Financials).

 

Thank you for being a shareholder in the Ave Maria World Equity Fund.

 

Anthony W. Gennaro Jr., CFA, CPA

Sean C. Gaffney, CFA

Lead Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

27

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND

Performance

(Unaudited)

 

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment
in the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the MSCI ACWI Index

 

 

(a)

The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Expense Ratio
information as of:

Year Ended 12-31-21
(as disclosed in May 1, 2022 prospectus)

Year Ended
12-31-22

Gross

0.99%*

1.12%

Net

1.02%*

1.18%

 

*

Includes Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and had been adjusted to reflect a reduction in the annual management fees of 0.20% effective May 1, 2022 (Note 2).

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

28

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND

Annual Total Rates of Return
Comparison with Major Indices
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
WORLD EQUITY
FUND

MSCI
ACWI
INDEX

2010 (a)

12.4%

9.1%

2011

-9.6%

-7.3%

2012

13.8%

16.1%

2013

23.5%

22.8%

2014

0.5%

4.2%

2015

-4.8%

-2.4%

2016

8.7%

7.9%

2017

17.9%

24.0%

2018

-8.9%

-9.4%

2019

27.7%

26.6%

2020

-0.2%

16.3%

2021

21.1%

18.5%

2022

-15.5%

-18.4%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
WORLD EQUITY
FUND

MSCI
ACWI
INDEX

3 Years

0.7%

4.0%

5 Years

3.5%

5.2%

10 Years

6.1%

8.0%

Since Inception (b)

6.0%

7.6%

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (April 30, 2010) through December 31, 2010.

(b)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (April 30, 2010) through December 31, 2022.

 

29

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Company

 

Fair Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
    16,400    

Microsoft Corporation

  $ 3,933,048       5.3 %
    10,000    

Mastercard, Inc. - Class A

    3,477,300       4.7 %
    14,610    

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    3,336,778       4.5 %
    59,000    

Coca-Cola European Partners plc

    3,263,880       4.4 %
    14,200    

Chubb Ltd.

    3,132,520       4.2 %
    10,500    

Accenture plc - Class A

    2,801,820       3.7 %
    25,000    

SAP SE

    2,581,810       3.4 %
    12,450    

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    2,480,538       3.4 %
    42,200    

Edenred

    2,297,457       3.1 %
    6,800    

S&P Global, Inc.

    2,277,592       3.0 %

 

Asset Allocation (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

% of Net Assets

 

COMMON STOCKS

       

Sector

       

Communications

    3.3 %

Consumer Discretionary

    4.8 %

Consumer Staples

    5.0 %

Energy

    9.1 %

Financials

    19.3 %

Health Care

    8.0 %

Industrials

    23.9 %

Real Estate

    2.2 %

Technology

    23.4 %
         

MONEY MARKET FUNDS, LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

    1.0 %
      100.0 %

 

30

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2022

COMMON STOCKS — 99.0%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Communications — 3.3%

               

Entertainment Content — 2.0%

               

Electronic Arts, Inc.

    12,000     $ 1,466,160  
                 

Internet Media & Services — 1.3%

               

eDreams ODIGEO S.A. *

    240,300       1,014,721  
                 

Consumer Discretionary — 4.8%

               

Leisure Products — 1.3%

               

MIPS AB

    24,200       1,000,451  
                 

Retail - Discretionary — 3.4%

               

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    12,450       2,480,538  
                 

Specialty Retail — 0.1%

               

Auto Partner S.A.

    22,009       67,466  
                 

Consumer Staples — 5.0%

               

Beverages — 4.4%

               

Coca-Cola European Partners plc

    59,000       3,263,880  
                 

Food — 0.6%

               

Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A

    6,600       439,890  
                 

Energy — 9.1%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 9.1%

               

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

    16,100       894,094  

Chevron Corporation

    10,350       1,857,722  

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    14,610       3,336,778  

Rubis SCA

    27,750       730,941  
              6,819,535  

Financials — 19.3%

               

Asset Management — 1.5%

               

Partners Group Holding AG

    1,270       1,124,637  
                 

Banking — 4.1%

               

HDFC Bank Ltd. - ADR

    29,250       2,000,993  

Truist Financial Corporation

    24,500       1,054,235  
              3,055,228  

Diversified Financial Services — 3.0%

               

S&P Global, Inc.

    6,800       2,277,592  

 

 

31

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 99.0% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Financials — 19.3% (Continued)

               

Insurance — 7.2%

               

AXA S.A. - ADR

    58,600     $ 1,633,182  

Chubb Ltd.

    14,200       3,132,520  

F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. *

    32,484       650,005  
              5,415,707  

Specialty Finance — 3.5%

               

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

    22,950       863,379  

International Money Express, Inc. *

    71,500       1,742,455  
              2,605,834  

Health Care — 8.0%

               

Biotech & Pharma — 0.9%

               

Mirion Technologies, Inc. *

    100,000       661,000  
                 

Health Care Facilities & Services — 2.1%

               

IQVIA Holdings, Inc. *

    7,615       1,560,237  
                 

Medical Equipment & Devices — 5.0%

               

Alcon, Inc.

    25,500       1,748,025  

Stevanato Group S.p.A.

    112,481       2,021,284  
              3,769,309  

Industrials — 23.9%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 2.4%

               

Lockheed Martin Corporation

    3,750       1,824,337  
                 

Commercial Services — 3.2%

               

Karooooo Ltd.

    36,808       873,454  

Teleperformance S.A. - ADR

    12,911       1,538,475  
              2,411,929  

Commercial Support Services — 5.2%

               

Edenred

    42,200       2,297,457  

GFL Environmental, Inc.

    53,000       1,549,190  
              3,846,647  

Diversified Industrials — 2.9%

               

Eaton Corporation plc

    14,000       2,197,300  
                 

Electrical Equipment — 3.6%

               

Otis Worldwide Corporation

    12,000       939,720  

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    15,350       1,762,180  
              2,701,900  

Machinery — 2.9%

               

ITOCHU Corporation

    28,000       878,297  

Nidec Corporation

    25,285       1,300,936  
              2,179,233  

 

 

32

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 99.0% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Industrials — 23.9% (Continued)

               

Transportation & Logistics — 3.7%

               

Canadian National Railway Company

    10,000     $ 1,188,800  

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico S.A.B. de C.V. - Series B

    109,400       1,568,503  
              2,757,303  

Real Estate — 2.2%

               

Real Estate Services — 1.2%

               

FirstService Corporation

    7,500       919,125  
                 

REITs — 1.0%

               

Equinix, Inc.

    1,075       704,157  
                 

Technology — 23.4%

               

IT Services — 0.9%

               

StoneCo Ltd. - Class A *

    74,600       704,224  
                 

Semiconductors — 4.0%

               

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. - ADR

    21,000       1,564,290  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    8,500       1,404,370  
              2,968,660  

Software — 9.3%

               

Microsoft Corporation

    16,400       3,933,048  

SAP SE

    25,000       2,581,810  

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

    25,652       474,049  
              6,988,907  

Technology Hardware — 0.8%

               

Murata Manufacturing Company Ltd.

    11,640       573,937  
                 

Technology Services — 8.4%

               

Accenture plc - Class A

    10,500       2,801,820  

Mastercard, Inc. - Class A

    10,000       3,477,300  
              6,279,120  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $59,398,929)

          $ 74,078,964  

 

 

33

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 1.2%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Federated Hermes Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.97% (a) (Cost $936,026)

    936,026     $ 936,026  
                 

Total Investments at Fair Value — 100.2% (Cost $60,334,955)

          $ 75,014,990  
                 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.2%)

            (160,383 )
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 74,854,607  

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of December 31, 2022.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

34

 

 

 

AVE MARIA WORLD EQUITY FUND

Summary of Common Stocks by Country

December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

Country

 

Fair Value

   

% of Net Assets

 

United States **

  $ 37,434,223       50.0 %

France

    6,200,055       8.3 %

Switzerland

    6,005,182       8.0 %

Canada

    4,551,209       6.1 %

United Kingdom

    3,263,880       4.4 %

Japan

    2,753,170       3.7 %

Germany

    2,581,810       3.5 %

Italy

    2,021,284       2.7 %

India

    2,000,993       2.7 %

Mexico

    1,568,503       2.1 %

Taiwan

    1,564,290       2.1 %

Spain

    1,014,721       1.3 %

Sweden

    1,000,451       1.3 %

Singapore

    873,454       1.2 %

Brazil

    704,224       0.9 %

Israel

    474,049       0.6 %

Poland

    67,466       0.1 %

Total

  $ 74,078,964       99.0 %

 

**

Includes any company deemed to be a “non-U.S. company” as defined in the Fund’s Prospectus. According to the Fund’s Prospectus, a “non-U.S. company” is one that is headquartered outside the United States or has at least 50% of its revenues or operations outside of the United States during its most recent fiscal year, at the time of purchase.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

35

 

 

 

Ave Maria Focused Fund

Portfolio Manager Commentary

(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Ave Maria Focused Fund (the “Fund”) had a total return of -34.98% compared with the benchmark S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index of -18.96% and the S&P 500 Index of -18.11%.

 

 

2022 Investment Performance

 

Q4 22

1 Year

Since
Inception

Ave Maria Focused Fund

12.39%

-34.98%

1.39%

S&P 500 Index

7.56%

-18.11%

13.90%

S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index

8.74%

-18.96%

14.10%

 

This was the Fund’s first negative calendar year return since inception in May 2020. When the Fund was launched, these guiding principles were disclosed: Our goal is to compound shareholder capital at a rate in excess of the Fund’s benchmarks. To do so, we invest in companies with 1) durable, forecastable, and growing earnings, 2) a strong competitive advantage resulting in an economic moat, 3) high incremental returns on invested capital, and 4) ethical management teams skilled in both operations and capital allocation. After suffering a down year, we continue to adhere to these guiding principles and believe that, over time, this strategy will serve shareholders well.

 

The chart below provides the revenue growth rates for each of the top ten holdings of the Fund at year-end. Collectively, the top ten holdings made up 76% of the Fund. Fundamentally, the companies have performed well. Our conclusion is that the weakness in the stock prices during 2022 was driven

 

36

 

 

 

AVE MARIA FOCUSED FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

by multiple contractions, and rising interest rates, as opposed to weakness in their business fundamentals. Assuming the companies continue to perform well operationally, we believe investors will take notice, and sentiment will change.

 

Company

Percent of Fund

2022 Revenue
Growth

GFL Environmental

11.9%

33.6%

eDreams ODIGEO

11.5%

69.3%

APi Group

11.3%

71.7%

DigitalBridge

10.0%

50.7%

Brookfield Corporation (1)

8.3%

NA

Permian Basin Royalty Trust

4.8%

364.1%

Green Plains

4.8%

35.8%

Orion Engineered Carbons

4.7%

35.9%

Valvoline (2)

4.6%

19.2%

Radius Global Infrastructure

4.6%

32.0%

 

(1)

Brookfield Corporation includes both Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. but excludes Brookfield Asset Management, which was spun out of both Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Reinsurance in December.

(2)

Includes only the continued operations of Valvoline, the instant oil change business, and excludes the global lubricants business, which is in the process of being sold to Aramco.

 

Potential catalysts could also help change investor sentiments.

 

GFL Environmental: GFL is in the process of selling some non-core assets which will allow the company to reduce debt. Also, the company’s renewable natural gas (“RNG”) business could start to generate free cash flow in the second half of 2023.

 

eDreams: eDreams has materially grown its Prime subscription business. As new Prime members pass their first anniversaries, cash flow should increase materially as the company’s earnings and margins are likely to accelerate as well.

 

DigitalBridge: DigitalBridge is transforming its business from a REIT that invests from its own balance sheet into a manager of alternative asset funds. Most of the heavy lifting with the transformation is complete. However, due to its on-balance sheet investments, DigitalBridge’s GAAP financials do not look like the financials of its asset manager peer group. Over the next couple of quarters, as DigitalBridge continues to sell its balance sheet investments, the GAAP financials will be simplified.

 

37

 

 

 

AVE MARIA FOCUSED FUND
PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMMENTARY
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Valvoline: Valvoline is expected to complete its sale of its lubricants business to Aramco in the first half of 2023, with proceeds used to repurchase shares.

 

Portfolio Changes:

 

We added 3 new companies to the portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2022.

 

 

1)

Orion Engineered Carbons is a specialty chemical business exposed to secularly growing end markets. It is at the tail end of a massive capital expenditure cycle. The company has ample cash to repurchase shares.

 

 

2)

Permian Basin Royalty Trust is a trust that receives royalty payments for mineral rights that it owns in Texas. The most important of its assets are in the Permian Basin. We view the company as a mini-Texas Pacific Land Corporation, another portfolio holding.

 

 

3)

Rice Acquisition Corp. II (“RONI”) is a special-purpose acquisition vehicle, with a lot of upside potential because of the Rice family involvement.

 

Saint Josemaria Escriva said, “Let your perseverance not be a blind consequence of the first impulse, the work of inertia; let it be a reflective perseverance”. We wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment. We continue to look for strong operating performance from the holdings of the Fund and remain confident that the market will recognize those developments.

 

Thank you for investing in the Ave Maria Focused Fund.

 

With best regards,

 

Chadd M. Garcia, CFA

Adam P. Gaglio, CFA

Lead Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

38

 

 

 

AVE MARIA FOCUSED FUND

Performance

(Unaudited)

 

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment
in the Ave Maria Focused Fund and the S&P MidCap 400 Growth Index

 

 

(a)

The return shown does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(b)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2020) through December 31, 2022.

 

Expense ratio as of 12-31-21 (as disclosed in May 1, 2022 prospectus)

1.12%*

Expense ratio for the year ended 12-31-22

1.14%

 

*

Includes Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and had been adjusted to reflect a reduction in the annual management fees of 0.10% effective May 1, 2022 (Note 2).

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

39

 

 

 

AVE MARIA FOCUSED FUND

Annual Total Rates of Return
Comparison with Major Indices
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
FOCUSED FUND

S&P MIDCAP 400
GROWTH INDEX

2020 (a)

24.7%

47.6%

2021

28.0%

18.9%

2022

-35.0%

-19.0%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA
FOCUSED FUND

S&P MIDCAP 400
GROWTH INDEX

Since Inception (b)

1.4%

14.1%

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2020) through December 31, 2020.

(b)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2020) through December 31, 2022.

 

40

 

 

 

AVE MARIA FOCUSED FUND

Ten Largest Equity Holdings

December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Company

 

Fair Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
    205,295    

Brookfield Asset Management*

  $ 6,233,867       12.9 %
    196,896    

GFL Environmental, Inc.

    5,755,270       11.9 %
    1,313,620    

eDreams ODIEGO S.A.

    5,547,059       11.5 %
    288,209    

API Group Corporation

    5,421,211       11.3 %
    441,341    

DigitalBridge Group, Inc.

    4,828,270       10.0 %
    91,893    

Permian Basin Royalty Trust

    2,315,704       4.8 %
    74,896    

Green Plains, Inc.

    2,284,328       4.8 %
    126,157    

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.

    2,246,856       4.7 %
    68,397    

Valvoline, Inc.

    2,233,162       4.6 %
    187,926    

Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. - Class A

    2,221,286       4.6 %

 

*

Combination of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. - Class A, Brookfield Corporation & Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.

 

Asset Allocation (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

% of Net Assets

 

COMMON STOCKS

       

Sector

       

Communications

    21.5 %

Energy

    9.6 %

Financials

    16.0 %

Health Care

    4.1 %

Industrials

    25.0 %

Materials

    9.3 %

Real Estate

    5.6 %

Technology

    7.5 %
         

MONEY MARKET FUNDS, OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    1.4 %
      100.0 %

 

41

 

 

 

AVE MARIA FOCUSED FUND

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2022

COMMON STOCKS — 98.6%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Communications — 21.5%

               

Internet Media & Services — 11.5%

               

eDreams ODIGEO S.A. *

    1,313,620     $ 5,547,059  
                 

Telecommunications — 10.0%

               

DigitalBridge Group, Inc.

    441,341       4,828,270  
                 

Energy — 9.6%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 4.8%

               

Permian Basin Royalty Trust

    91,893       2,315,704  
                 

Renewable Energy — 4.8%

               

Green Plains, Inc. *

    74,896       2,284,328  
                 

Financials — 16.0%

               

Asset Management — 16.0%

               

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. - Class A *

    76,471       2,192,424  

Brookfield Corporation

    61,999       1,950,489  

Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. *

    66,825       2,090,954  

Rice Acquisition Corp. II - Class A *

    145,596       1,480,711  
              7,714,578  

Health Care — 4.1%

               

Health Care Facilities & Services — 4.1%

               

Chemed Corporation

    3,846       1,963,114  
                 

Industrials — 25.0%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 1.8%

               

AMMO, Inc. *

    503,000       870,190  
                 

Commercial Support Services — 11.9%

               

GFL Environmental, Inc.

    196,896       5,755,270  
                 

Electrical Equipment — 11.3%

               

API Group Corporation *

    288,209       5,421,211  
                 

Materials — 9.3%

               

Chemicals — 9.3%

               

Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.

    126,157       2,246,856  

Valvoline, Inc.

    68,397       2,233,162  
              4,480,018  

Real Estate — 5.6%

               

Real Estate Owners & Developers — 5.6%

               

Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. - Class A *

    187,926       2,221,286  

 

 

42

 

 

 

AVE MARIA FOCUSED FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 98.6% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Real Estate — 5.6% (Continued)

               

Real Estate Owners & Developers — 5.6% (Continued)

               

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

    210     $ 492,288  
              2,713,574  

Technology — 7.5%

               

Software — 6.5%

               

Microsoft Corporation

    7,196       1,725,745  

Tyler Technologies, Inc. *

    4,377       1,411,188  
              3,136,933  

Technology Hardware — 1.0%

               

NextDC Ltd. *

    76,723       473,380  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $55,746,194)

          $ 47,503,629  

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 0.9%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Federated Hermes Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.97% (a) (Cost $412,069)

    412,069     $ 412,069  
                 

Total Investments at Fair Value — 99.5% (Cost $56,158,263)

          $ 47,915,698  
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.5%

            256,362  
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 48,172,060  

 

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of December 31, 2022.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

43

 

 

 

Ave Maria Bond Fund

Portfolio Manager Commentary

(Unaudited)

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Ave Maria Bond Fund (the “Fund”) returned -2.9% compared to -8.2% for the benchmark, the Bloomberg Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Index. The Fund’s shorter duration profile, along with the positive performance from the dividend-paying common stocks in the portfolio, accounted for the favorable relative outperformance compared to the benchmark.

 

Interest rates across the yield curve quickly increased as the Federal Reserve (the Fed) was forced into action due to high inflation. Short-term interest rates were increased from near zero to 4.5% by year-end, and Quantitative Tightening (Q.T.) was implemented to further restrict economic activity. Further interest rate increases are forecasted and will likely continue until inflation subsides.

 

Top contributors to the Fund’s performance were the common stocks of Texas Pacific Land Corporation (royalty income – oil and gas), Chevron Corporation (integrated oils), and Lockheed Martin Corporation (defense). The Fund’s weakest performing assets were the common stocks of VF Corporation (apparel), Medtronic plc (medical devices), and Truist Financial Corporation (bank).

 

Interest rates and corporate credit spreads increased substantially over the past year. Therefore, the Fund has been modestly increasing duration and credit risk to capitalize on this opportunity. Even with the adjustment, the Fund remains conservatively positioned. Dividend-paying common stocks continue to offer an attractive combination of income and price appreciation potential.

 

We appreciate your investment in the Ave Maria Bond Fund.

 

Brandon S. Scheitler

George P. Schwartz, CFA

Lead Portfolio Manager

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

44

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND

Performance

(Unaudited)

 

 

Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment
in the Ave Maria Bond Fund and the Bloomberg
U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Index

 

 

(a)

The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Expense ratio as of 12-31-21 (as disclosed in May 1, 2022 prospectus)

0.44%*

Expense ratio for the year ended 12-31-22

0.41%

 

*

Includes Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

 

Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. Performance data, current to the most recent month end, is available at the Ave Maria Mutual Funds website at www.avemariafunds.com or by calling 1-888-726-9331.

 

45

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND

Annual Total Rates of Return
Comparison with Major Indices
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND

BLOOMBERG
U.S. INTERMEDIATE
GOVERNMENT/
CREDIT INDEX

2003 (a)

2.4%

1.9%

2004

5.1%

3.0%

2005

1.4%

1.6%

2006

6.0%

4.1%

2007

4.8%

7.4%

2008

0.3%

5.1%

2009

10.2%

5.2%

2010

6.7%

5.9%

2011

3.3%

5.8%

2012

4.6%

3.9%

2013

6.1%

-0.9%

2014

2.2%

3.1%

2015

0.7%

1.1%

2016

4.5%

2.1%

2017

4.2%

2.1%

2018

0.4%

0.9%

2019

8.3%

6.8%

2020

5.6%

6.4%

2021

4.4%

-1.4%

2022

-2.9%

-8.2%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
As of December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND

BLOOMBERG
U.S. INTERMEDIATE
GOVERNMENT/
CREDIT INDEX

3 Years

2.3%

-1.3%

5 Years

3.1%

0.7%

10 Years

3.3%

1.1%

15 Years

3.9%

2.5%

Since Inception (b)

3.9%

2.8%

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2003) through December 31, 2003.

(b)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2003) through December 31, 2022.

 

46

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND

Ten Largest Holdings*

December 31, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Par Value/
Shares

 

 

Holding

 

Fair Value

   

% of Net Assets

 
    25,000    

Lockheed Martin Corporation

  $ 12,162,250       2.4 %
  $ 11,814,600    

U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Notes, 0.500%, due 04/15/24

    11,494,083       2.2 %
    100,000    

Exxon Mobil Corporation

    11,030,000       2.2 %
  $ 10,000,000    

U.S. Treasury Notes, 4.500%, due 11/15/25

    10,068,750       2.0 %
  $ 10,601,000    

Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 2.650%, due 11/15/26

    9,858,339       1.9 %
  $ 10,000,000    

U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.875%, due 11/30/23

    9,836,719       1.9 %
  $ 10,000,000    

U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.875%, due 06/15/25

    9,672,656       1.9 %
    4,100    

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

    9,611,343       1.9 %
  $ 10,000,000    

U.S. Treasury Notes, 3.250%, due 06/30/29

    9,591,406       1.9 %
  $ 10,000,000    

U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.125%, due 11/30/24

    9,577,734       1.9 %

 

*

Excludes cash equivalents.

 

Asset Allocation (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

% of Net Assets

 

U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCIES

    24.5 %
         

CORPORATE BONDS

       

Sector

       

Communications

    1.1 %

Consumer Discretionary

    6.7 %

Consumer Staples

    10.4 %

Energy

    4.1 %

Financials

    3.1 %

Health Care

    1.8 %

Industrials

    6.1 %

Materials

    2.3 %

Technology

    15.8 %
         

COMMON STOCKS

       

Sector

       

Consumer Discretionary

    1.3 %

Consumer Staples

    1.6 %

Energy

    3.9 %

Financials

    3.2 %

Health Care

    1.0 %

Industrials

    5.4 %

Real Estate

    1.9 %

Technology

    1.2 %
         

MONEY MARKET FUNDS, OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    4.6 %
      100.0 %

 

47

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2022

U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCIES — 24.5%

 

Par Value

   

Fair Value

 

U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Notes — 11.5% (a)

               

0.625%, due 04/15/23

  $ 6,477,894     $ 6,411,723  

0.500%, due 04/15/24

    11,814,600       11,494,083  

2.375%, due 01/15/25

    4,742,370       4,749,224  

0.625%, due 01/15/26

    6,270,200       6,023,801  

2.000%, due 01/15/26

    4,503,900       4,502,009  

0.125%, due 04/15/26

    5,681,100       5,345,708  

0.375%, due 01/15/27

    4,810,806       4,541,013  

0.375%, due 07/15/27

    7,917,715       7,469,792  

0.500%, due 01/15/28

    6,040,000       5,685,858  

0.750%, due 07/15/28

    2,967,675       2,830,014  
              59,053,225  

U.S. Treasury Notes — 13.0%

               

2.875%, due 11/30/23

    10,000,000       9,836,719  

2.125%, due 11/30/24

    10,000,000       9,577,734  

1.375%, due 01/31/25

    10,000,000       9,403,516  

2.875%, due 06/15/25

    10,000,000       9,672,656  

4.500%, due 11/15/25

    10,000,000       10,068,750  

3.250%, due 06/30/29

    10,000,000       9,591,406  

1.500%, due 02/15/30

    10,000,000       8,544,531  
              66,695,312  

Total U.S. Government & Agencies (Cost $133,000,091)

          $ 125,748,537  

 

CORPORATE BONDS — 51.4%

 

Par Value

   

Fair Value

 

Communications — 1.1%

               

Electronic Arts, Inc., 4.800%, due 03/01/26

  $ 5,500,000     $ 5,487,634  
                 

Consumer Discretionary — 6.7%

               

Genuine Parts Company, 1.875%, due 11/01/30

    775,000       598,615  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc., 3.125%, due 09/15/24

    800,000       774,464  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc., 3.375%, due 09/15/25

    1,500,000       1,442,029  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc., 2.500%, due 04/15/26

    3,000,000       2,799,361  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc., 3.100%, due 05/03/27

    9,050,000       8,440,793  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc., 1.300%, due 04/15/28

    400,000       332,948  

Lowe’s Companies, Inc., 1.700%, due 10/15/30

    925,000       725,544  

Ross Stores, Inc., 3.375%, due 09/15/24

    3,000,000       2,912,054  

Ross Stores, Inc., 0.875%, due 04/15/26

    5,255,000       4,617,412  

Ross Stores, Inc., 4.700%, due 04/15/27

    1,300,000       1,280,781  

TJX Companies, Inc. (The), 2.500%, due 05/15/23

    2,000,000       1,982,144  

TJX Companies, Inc. (The), 2.250%, due 09/15/26

    4,226,000       3,870,230  

TJX Companies, Inc. (The), 1.150%, due 05/15/28

    2,000,000       1,672,398  

TJX Companies, Inc. (The), 3.875%, due 04/15/30

    1,312,000       1,224,705  

 

 

48

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

CORPORATE BONDS — 51.4% (Continued)

 

Par Value

   

Fair Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 6.7% (Continued)

               

VF Corporation, 2.400%, due 04/23/25

  $ 650,000     $ 609,928  

VF Corporation, 2.800%, due 04/23/27

    1,200,000       1,088,957  
              34,372,363  

Consumer Staples — 10.4%

               

Coca-Cola Company (The), 1.450%, due 06/01/27

    7,952,000       7,031,762  

Coca-Cola Company (The), 1.000%, due 03/15/28

    1,000,000       837,366  

Coca-Cola Company (The), 2.125%, due 09/06/29

    1,550,000       1,328,972  

Colgate-Palmolive Company, 1.950%, due 02/01/23

    2,663,000       2,657,501  

Colgate-Palmolive Company, 3.250%, due 03/15/24

    795,000       781,988  

Colgate-Palmolive Company, 3.100%, due 08/15/27

    5,000,000       4,739,257  

Hershey Company (The), 2.625%, due 05/01/23

    4,536,000       4,500,082  

Hershey Company (The), 3.375%, due 05/15/23

    500,000       497,439  

Hershey Company (The), 2.050%, due 11/15/24

    3,200,000       3,043,831  

Hershey Company (The), 0.900%, due 06/01/25

    7,450,000       6,804,826  

Hershey Company (The), 3.200%, due 08/21/25

    645,000       621,743  

Hershey Company (The), 2.300%, due 08/15/26

    2,000,000       1,840,131  

Hormel Foods Corporation, 1.700%, due 06/03/28

    895,000       774,137  

Hormel Foods Corporation, 1.800%, due 06/11/30

    5,863,000       4,778,815  

JM Smucker Company (The), 3.375%, due 12/15/27

    3,750,000       3,474,222  

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 2.400%, due 06/01/23

    440,000       435,576  

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 2.650%, due 03/01/25

    1,115,000       1,065,583  

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 2.750%, due 02/15/26

    1,343,000       1,266,801  

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 1.050%, due 09/15/27

    5,047,000       4,310,287  

McCormick & Company, Inc., 3.500%, due 09/01/23

    2,500,000       2,473,385  
              53,263,704  

Energy — 4.1%

               

Chevron Corporation, 2.895%, due 03/03/24

    1,824,000       1,783,337  

Chevron Corporation, 3.900%, due 11/15/24

    550,000       540,890  

Chevron Corporation, 2.954%, due 05/16/26

    1,450,000       1,377,455  

Chevron Corporation, 8.000%, due 04/01/27

    2,600,000       2,931,733  

Chevron Corporation, 1.995%, due 05/11/27

    5,840,000       5,252,870  

Chevron Corporation, 1.018%, due 08/12/27

    1,150,000       988,110  

Exxon Mobil Corporation, 3.176%, due 03/15/24

    1,634,000       1,602,055  

Exxon Mobil Corporation, 2.019%, due 08/16/24

    2,650,000       2,535,824  

Exxon Mobil Corporation, 2.709%, due 03/06/25

    998,000       954,938  

Pioneer Natural Resources, 1.125%, due 01/15/26

    2,578,000       2,300,282  

Pioneer Natural Resources, 1.900%, due 08/15/30

    1,330,000       1,044,944  
              21,312,438  

Financials — 3.1%

               

Chubb INA Holdings, Inc., 3.150%, due 03/15/25

    4,309,000       4,163,764  

Chubb INA Holdings, Inc., 3.350%, due 05/03/26

    500,000       478,797  

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), 3.250%, due 06/01/25

    1,528,000       1,475,175  

 

 

49

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

CORPORATE BONDS — 51.4% (Continued)

 

Par Value

   

Fair Value

 

Financials — 3.1% (Continued)

               

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), 3.150%, due 05/19/27

  $ 400,000     $ 374,142  

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), 3.250%, due 01/22/28

    4,380,000       4,091,857  

S&P Global, Inc., 2.950%, due 01/22/27

    3,675,000       3,442,718  

Truist Financial Corporation, 2.250%, due 03/11/30

    900,000       729,734  

U.S. Bancorp, 3.375%, due 02/05/24

    1,000,000       982,425  
              15,738,612  

Health Care — 1.8%

               

Stryker Corporation, 3.375%, due 05/15/24

    5,500,000       5,372,962  

Stryker Corporation, 3.375%, due 11/01/25

    1,026,000       990,462  

Stryker Corporation, 3.500%, due 03/15/26

    2,904,000       2,790,363  
              9,153,787  

Industrials — 6.1%

               

3M Company, 2.250%, due 03/15/23

    3,000,000       2,983,374  

Hubbell, Inc., 3.150%, due 08/15/27

    4,180,000       3,805,721  

Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 3.500%, due 03/01/24

    2,450,000       2,412,505  

Illinois Tool Works, Inc., 2.650%, due 11/15/26

    10,601,000       9,858,339  

Lockheed Martin Corporation, 3.550%, due 01/15/26

    3,848,000       3,741,624  

PACCAR Financial Corporation, 1.800%, due 02/06/25

    350,000       329,559  

PACCAR Financial Corporation, 1.100%, due 05/11/26

    835,000       744,912  

PACCAR Financial Corporation, 2.000%, due 02/04/27

    500,000       451,895  

United Parcel Service, Inc., 2.200%, due 09/01/24

    3,410,000       3,265,531  

United Parcel Service, Inc., 2.800%, due 11/15/24

    1,000,000       964,175  

United Parcel Service, Inc., 2.400%, due 11/15/26

    2,869,000       2,665,420  
              31,223,055  

Materials — 2.3%

               

Ecolab, Inc., 2.700%, due 11/01/26

    6,438,000       5,983,034  

Ecolab, Inc., 3.250%, due 12/01/27

    3,676,000       3,426,263  

Ecolab, Inc., 1.300%, due 01/30/31

    1,450,000       1,107,306  

RPM International, Inc., 3.750%, due 03/15/27

    1,250,000       1,165,356  
              11,681,959  

Technology — 15.8%

               

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., 3.400%, due 06/27/26

    500,000       468,991  

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., 2.900%, due 12/01/29

    6,500,000       5,519,943  

Cisco Systems, Inc., 2.600%, due 02/28/23

    2,475,000       2,467,197  

Cisco Systems, Inc., 3.625%, due 03/04/24

    3,500,000       3,444,292  

Cisco Systems, Inc., 3.500%, due 06/15/25

    5,000,000       4,862,746  

Cisco Systems, Inc., 2.950%, due 02/28/26

    1,000,000       954,532  

Cisco Systems, Inc., 2.500%, due 09/20/26

    3,080,000       2,871,361  

Mastercard, Inc., 3.375%, due 04/01/24

    3,855,000       3,785,470  

 

 

50

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

CORPORATE BONDS — 51.4% (Continued)

 

Par Value

   

Fair Value

 

Technology — 15.8% (Continued)

               

Mastercard, Inc., 2.000%, due 03/03/25

  $ 5,625,000     $ 5,316,837  

Mastercard, Inc., 2.950%, due 11/21/26

    2,000,000       1,887,778  

Mastercard, Inc., 3.300%, due 03/26/27

    5,199,000       4,959,858  

Mastercard, Inc., 3.500%, due 02/26/28

    450,000       427,932  

Microsoft Corporation, 2.400%, due 08/08/26

    5,750,000       5,364,153  

Microsoft Corporation, 3.300%, due 02/06/27

    5,320,000       5,132,410  

Moody’s Corporation, 4.875%, due 02/15/24

    1,500,000       1,495,619  

Moody’s Corporation, 3.250%, due 01/15/28

    5,550,000       5,133,263  

Moody’s Corporation, 4.250%, due 02/01/29

    5,000,000       4,794,258  

Texas Instruments, Inc., 2.250%, due 05/01/23

    2,500,000       2,480,594  

Texas Instruments, Inc., 1.375%, due 03/12/25

    1,160,000       1,083,862  

Texas Instruments, Inc., 2.900%, due 11/03/27

    740,000       689,783  

Texas Instruments, Inc., 2.250%, due 09/04/29

    1,112,000       963,885  

Texas Instruments, Inc., 1.750%, due 05/04/30

    4,880,000       4,026,546  

Visa, Inc., 3.150%, due 12/14/25

    3,905,000       3,765,158  

Visa, Inc., 1.900%, due 04/15/27

    3,854,000       3,476,517  

Visa, Inc., 2.750%, due 09/15/27

    6,051,000       5,605,706  
              80,978,691  
                 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $284,010,706)

          $ 263,212,243  

 

COMMON STOCKS — 19.5%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Consumer Discretionary — 1.3%

               

Retail — Discretionary — 1.3%

               

Genuine Parts Company

    40,000     $ 6,940,400  
                 

Consumer Staples — 1.6%

               

Beverages — 1.6%

               

Coca-Cola European Partners plc

    150,000       8,298,000  
                 

Energy — 3.9%

               

Oil & Gas Producers — 3.9%

               

Chevron Corporation

    50,000       8,974,500  

Exxon Mobil Corporation

    100,000       11,030,000  
              20,004,500  

Financials — 3.2%

               

Banking — 1.8%

               

First Horizon Corporation

    85,500       2,094,750  

Truist Financial Corporation

    169,000       7,272,070  
              9,366,820  

 

 

51

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

COMMON STOCKS — 19.5% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Financials — 3.2% (Continued)

               

Insurance — 0.1%

               

F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. *

    12,240     $ 244,922  
                 

Specialty Finance — 1.3%

               

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

    180,000       6,771,600  
                 

Health Care — 1.0%

               

Medical Equipment & Devices — 1.0%

               

Medtronic plc

    64,000       4,974,080  
                 

Industrials — 5.4%

               

Aerospace & Defense — 2.4%

               

Lockheed Martin Corporation

    25,000       12,162,250  
                 

Industrial Support Services — 2.1%

               

Fastenal Company

    106,000       5,015,920  

Watsco, Inc.

    24,000       5,985,600  
              11,001,520  

Transportation & Logistics — 0.9%

               

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B

    25,000       4,346,000  
                 

Real Estate — 1.9%

               

Real Estate Owners & Developers — 1.9%

               

Texas Pacific Land Corporation

    4,100       9,611,343  
                 

Technology — 1.2%

               

Semiconductors — 1.2%

               

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    37,000       6,113,140  
                 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $68,997,590)

          $ 99,834,575  

 

 

52

 

 

 

AVE MARIA BOND FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
(Continued)

MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 4.1%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Federated Hermes Government Obligations Tax-Managed Fund - Institutional Shares, 3.97% (b) (Cost $21,098,416)

    21,098,416     $ 21,098,416  
                 

Total Investments at Fair Value — 99.5% (Cost $507,106,803)

          $ 509,893,771  
                 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.5%

            2,691,475  
                 

Net Assets — 100.0%

          $ 512,585,246  

 

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

Interest rate for this investment is the stated rate. Interest payments are determined based on the inflation adjusted principal.

(b)

The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of December 31, 2022.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

53

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2022

 

 

Ave Maria
Value Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund

 

ASSETS

                       

Investment securities:

                       

At cost

  $ 261,374,498     $ 556,602,983     $ 660,675,605  

At fair value (Note 1)

  $ 370,986,119     $ 766,491,603     $ 891,265,513  

Cash

    15,375       85,475       47,600  

Receivable for capital shares sold

    466,762       338,790       772,123  

Dividends receivable

    371,914       147,177       843,924  

Other assets

    22,567       37,572       41,622  

TOTAL ASSETS

    371,862,737       767,100,617       892,970,782  
                         

LIABILITIES

                       

Payable for capital shares redeemed

    68,002       669,289       199,981  

Payable to Adviser (Note 2)

    668,653       1,437,404       1,691,184  

Payable to administrator (Note 2)

    31,817       67,401       78,427  

Other accrued expenses

    22,409       33,383       40,926  

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    790,881       2,207,477       2,010,518  
                         

NET ASSETS

  $ 371,071,856     $ 764,893,140     $ 890,960,264  
                         

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

                       

Paid-in capital

  $ 262,756,275     $ 556,668,396     $ 660,370,356  

Distributable earnings

    108,315,581       208,224,744       230,589,908  

NET ASSETS

  $ 371,071,856     $ 764,893,140     $ 890,960,264  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

    15,426,565       21,730,311       46,336,242  

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)

  $ 24.05     $ 35.20     $ 19.23  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

54

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2022 (Continued)

 

 

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Focused Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

ASSETS

                       

Investment securities:

                       

At cost

  $ 60,334,955     $ 56,158,263     $ 507,106,803  

At fair value (Note 1)

  $ 75,014,990     $ 47,915,698     $ 509,893,771  

Cash

    9,150       14,278       162,500  

Receivable for capital shares sold

    5,481       9,371       681,242  

Receivable for investment securities sold

          319,873        

Dividends and interest receivable

    33,728       13,735       2,509,598  

Tax reclaims receivable

    1,585              

Other assets

    9,890       7,072       29,613  

TOTAL ASSETS

    75,074,824       48,280,027       513,276,724  
                         

LIABILITIES

                       

Payable for capital shares redeemed

    58,241       315       300,443  

Payable to Adviser (Note 2)

    139,604       89,238       321,721  

Payable to administrator (Note 2)

    6,477       4,178       38,851  

Other accrued expenses

    15,895       14,236       30,463  

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    220,217       107,967       691,478  
                         

NET ASSETS

  $ 74,854,607     $ 48,172,060     $ 512,585,246  
                         

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

                       

Paid-in capital

  $ 60,928,669     $ 56,768,269     $ 509,798,278  

Distributable earnings ( accumulated deficit)

    13,925,938       (8,596,209 )     2,786,968  

NET ASSETS

  $ 74,854,607     $ 48,172,060     $ 512,585,246  

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)

    4,674,592       4,873,088       44,695,324  

Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share (Note 1)

  $ 16.01     $ 9.89     $ 11.47  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

55

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Statements of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

 

 

Ave Maria
Value Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

                       

Dividends

  $ 7,393,799     $ 10,391,860     $ 21,637,842  

Foreign withholding taxes on dividends

    (71,323 )     (487,336 )     (163,948 )

TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME

    7,322,476       9,904,524       21,473,894  
                         

EXPENSES

                       

Investment advisory fees (Note 2)

    2,493,108       6,270,163       6,769,713  

Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)

    332,640       836,157       903,219  

Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)

    51,144       135,742       140,690  

Registration and filing fees

    38,426       48,339       48,455  

Postage and supplies

    39,680       81,491       71,290  

Audit and tax services fees

    29,356       48,891       53,368  

Custodian and bank service fees

    21,430       48,301       60,776  

Legal fees

    29,174       29,174       29,174  

Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)

    14,035       31,349       35,777  

Advisory board fees and expenses (Note 2)

    9,513       26,142       26,619  

Insurance expense

    13,174       16,867       20,647  

Shareholder reporting expenses

    12,257       21,054       18,871  

Other expenses

    24,739       49,375       48,868  

TOTAL EXPENSES

    3,108,676       7,643,045       8,227,467  
                         

NET INVESTMENT INCOME

    4,213,800       2,261,479       13,246,427  
                         

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES

                       

Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions

    (1,296,040 )     (1,505,002 )     53,527,576  

Net realized losses from foreign currency transactions (Note 1)

                (18,274 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    10,890,764       (225,784,063 )     (118,444,746 )

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES

    9,594,724       (227,289,065 )     (64,935,444 )
                         

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ 13,808,524     $ (225,027,586 )   $ (51,689,017 )

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

56

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 (Continued)

 

 

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Focused Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

                       

Dividends

  $ 1,956,390     $ 205,741     $ 3,618,984  

Foreign withholding taxes on dividends

    (126,845 )     (6,674 )      

Interest

                9,582,642  

TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME

    1,829,545       199,067       13,201,626  
                         

EXPENSES

                       

Investment advisory fees (Note 2)

    656,864       402,732       1,257,489  

Administration, accounting and transfer agent fees (Note 2)

    79,856       51,270       452,313  

Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 2)

    13,494       8,995       79,698  

Registration and filing fees

    33,982       31,001       54,316  

Postage and supplies

    12,640       6,612       33,036  

Audit and tax services fees

    17,553       16,334       37,544  

Custodian and bank service fees

    17,124       14,506       30,242  

Legal fees

    29,174       29,174       29,174  

Compliance service fees and expenses (Note 2)

    3,009       1,955       19,900  

Advisory board fees and expenses (Note 2)

    2,419       1,574       14,948  

Insurance expense

    5,950       2,848       14,526  

Shareholder reporting expenses

    5,568       3,890       10,068  

Other expenses

    19,871       14,937       47,478  

TOTAL EXPENSES

    897,504       585,828       2,080,732  

Previous investment advisory fee reductions recouped by the Adviser (Note 2)

    40,177              

NET EXPENSES

    937,681       585,828       2,080,732  
                         

NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)

    891,864       (386,761 )     11,120,894  
                         

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES

                       

Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions

    423,180       (344,538 )     6,717,570  

Net realized losses from foreign currency transactions (Note 1)

    (12,377 )     (4,515 )      

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (16,116,660 )     (22,847,047 )     (33,106,182 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translation

    155              

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES

    (15,705,702 )     (23,196,100 )     (26,388,612 )
                         

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

    $(14,813,838 )     $(23,582,861 )     $(15,267,718 )

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

57

 

 

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 4,213,800     $ 806,006  

Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions

    (1,296,040 )     23,775,668  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    10,890,764       38,344,817  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    13,808,524       62,926,491  
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (4,214,033 )     (24,583,788 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    73,112,565       54,244,398  

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    3,981,832       23,535,894  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (43,470,023 )     (39,517,457 )

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

    33,624,374       38,262,835  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

    43,218,865       76,605,538  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    327,852,991       251,247,453  

End of year

  $ 371,071,856     $ 327,852,991  
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    3,143,320       2,253,604  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    165,565       1,012,296  

Shares redeemed

    (1,923,440 )     (1,679,840 )

Net increase in shares outstanding

    1,385,445       1,586,060  

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    14,041,120       12,455,060  

Shares outstanding, end of year

    15,426,565       14,041,120  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

58

 

 

 

Ave Maria Growth Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income (loss)

  $ 2,261,479     $ (1,291,040 )

Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions

    (1,505,002 )     116,613,780  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (225,784,063 )     44,578,192  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (225,027,586 )     159,900,932  
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (2,263,570 )     (115,484,450 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    103,810,510       171,537,812  

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    2,125,194       109,358,524  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (180,067,270 )     (207,744,366 )

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

    (74,131,566 )     73,151,970  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

    (301,422,722 )     117,568,452  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    1,066,315,862       948,747,410  

End of year

  $ 764,893,140     $ 1,066,315,862  
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    2,765,803       3,631,484  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    60,064       2,438,861  

Shares redeemed

    (4,888,374 )     (4,488,041 )

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

    (2,062,507 )     1,582,304  

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    23,792,818       22,210,514  

Shares outstanding, end of year

    21,730,311       23,792,818  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

59

 

 

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 13,246,427     $ 8,372,463  

Net realized gains from investment transactions

    53,527,576       85,250,805  

Net realized gains (losses) from foreign currency transactions (Note 1)

    (18,274 )     14,111  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (118,444,746 )     112,600,350  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (51,689,017 )     206,237,729  
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (66,771,369 )     (93,627,002 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    139,063,164       136,128,629  

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    59,788,156       84,010,186  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (153,572,866 )     (226,134,530 )

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

    45,278,454       (5,995,715 )
                 

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

    (73,181,932 )     106,615,012  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    964,142,196       857,527,184  

End of year

  $ 890,960,264     $ 964,142,196  
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    6,798,986       6,197,924  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    3,095,035       3,834,822  

Shares redeemed

    (7,542,251 )     (10,391,053 )

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

    2,351,770       (358,307 )

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    43,984,472       44,342,779  

Shares outstanding, end of year

    46,336,242       43,984,472  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

60

 

 

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 891,864     $ 319,816  

Net realized gains from investment transactions

    423,180       2,211,616  

Net realized losses from foreign currency transactions (Note 1)

    (12,377 )     (1,869 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (16,116,660 )     12,433,990  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translation

    155       (23 )

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (14,813,838 )     14,963,530  
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (880,100 )     (318,409 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    11,028,683       21,926,581  

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    822,387       294,907  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (14,210,321 )     (13,189,467 )

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

    (2,359,251 )     9,032,021  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

    (18,053,189 )     23,677,142  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    92,907,796       69,230,654  

End of year

  $ 74,854,607     $ 92,907,796  
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    645,881       1,229,440  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    51,080       15,400  

Shares redeemed

    (869,293 )     (754,670 )

Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding

    (172,332 )     490,170  

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    4,846,924       4,356,754  

Shares outstanding, end of year

    4,674,592       4,846,924  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

61

 

 

 

Ave Maria Focused Fund

StatementS of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment loss

  $ (386,761 )   $ (400,468 )

Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions

    (344,538 )     3,218,225  

Net realized losses from foreign currency transactions (Note 1)

    (4,515 )     (24,235 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (22,847,047 )     9,158,451  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (23,582,861 )     11,951,973  
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

          (2,771,641 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    14,714,046       22,081,280  

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

          2,717,423  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (6,435,125 )     (4,819,301 )

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

    8,278,921       19,979,402  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

    (15,303,940 )     29,159,734  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    63,476,000       34,316,266  

End of year

  $ 48,172,060     $ 63,476,000  
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    1,277,757       1,585,440  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

          179,131  

Shares redeemed

    (576,620 )     (353,210 )

Net increase in shares outstanding

    701,137       1,411,361  

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    4,171,951       2,760,590  

Shares outstanding, end of year

    4,873,088       4,171,951  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

62

 

 

 

Ave Maria Bond Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

 

FROM OPERATIONS

               

Net investment income

  $ 11,120,894     $ 7,625,144  

Net realized gains from investment transactions

    6,717,570       3,569,186  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (33,106,182 )     7,105,083  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (15,267,718 )     18,299,413  
                 

FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 1)

    (17,840,405 )     (10,958,224 )
                 

FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

               

Proceeds from shares sold

    148,825,719       165,249,090  

Reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    16,108,784       9,927,737  

Payments for shares redeemed

    (122,008,893 )     (100,626,525 )

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

    42,925,610       74,550,302  
                 

TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

    9,817,487       81,891,491  
                 

NET ASSETS

               

Beginning of year

    502,767,759       420,876,268  

End of year

  $ 512,585,246     $ 502,767,759  
                 

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY

               

Shares sold

    12,666,959       13,393,881  

Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders

    1,386,991       807,671  

Shares redeemed

    (10,457,452 )     (8,192,081 )

Net increase in shares outstanding

    3,596,498       6,009,471  

Shares outstanding, beginning of year

    41,098,826       35,089,355  

Shares outstanding, end of year

    44,695,324       41,098,826  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

63

 

 

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2018

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 23.35     $ 20.17     $ 19.68     $ 17.19     $ 20.88  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income (loss)

    0.28       0.06       0.09       0.01       (0.03 )

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.70       5.00       1.12       3.52       (1.81 )

Total from investment operations

    0.98       5.06       1.21       3.53       (1.84 )
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.28 )     (0.06 )     (0.09 )     (0.01 )      

Net realized gains on investments

          (1.82 )     (0.63 )     (1.03 )     (1.85 )

Total distributions

    (0.28 )     (1.88 )     (0.72 )     (1.04 )     (1.85 )
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 24.05     $ 23.35     $ 20.17     $ 19.68     $ 17.19  
                                         

Total return (a)

    4.18 %     25.15 %     6.16 %     20.52 %     (8.75 %)
                                         

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                       

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 371,072     $ 327,853     $ 251,247     $ 247,743     $ 211,481  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    0.93 %     0.96 %     1.05 %     1.11 %     1.18 %
                                         

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

    1.27 %     0.27 %     0.52 %     0.04 %     (0.13 %)
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    33 %     20 %     68 %     40 %     43 %

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

64

 

 

 

Ave Maria Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2018

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 44.82     $ 42.72     $ 38.00     $ 28.19     $ 30.80  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income (loss)

    0.10       (0.05 )     (0.06 )     0.00 (a)      0.06  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (9.62 )     7.55       7.03       10.45       (0.63 )

Total from investment operations

    (9.52 )     7.50       6.97       10.45       (0.57 )
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.10 )                 (0.00 )(a)     (0.06 )

Net realized gains on investments

          (5.40 )     (2.25 )     (0.64 )     (1.98 )

Total distributions

    (0.10 )     (5.40 )     (2.25 )     (0.64 )     (2.04 )
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 35.20     $ 44.82     $ 42.72     $ 38.00     $ 28.19  
                                         

Total return (b)

    (21.23 %)     17.55 %     18.37 %     37.09 %     (1.80 %)
                                         

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                       

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 764,893     $ 1,066,316     $ 948,747     $ 854,764     $ 577,806  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    0.91 %     0.90 %     0.91 %     0.94 %     0.95 %
                                         

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

    0.27 %     (0.13 %)     (0.16 %)     0.00 %(c)     0.19 %
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    25 %     25 %     26 %     15 %     33 %

 

(a)

Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

(b)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(c)

Percentage rounds to less than 0.01%.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

65

 

 

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

Financial Highlights

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2018

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 21.92     $ 19.34     $ 18.68     $ 15.83     $ 18.44  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income

    0.30       0.20       0.21       0.23       0.24  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and foreign currencies

    (1.46 )     4.69       0.95       4.12       (1.13 )

Total from investment operations

    (1.16 )     4.89       1.16       4.35       (0.89 )
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.30 )     (0.20 )     (0.21 )     (0.23 )     (0.25 )

Net realized gains on investments

    (1.23 )     (2.11 )     (0.29 )     (1.27 )     (1.47 )

Total distributions

    (1.53 )     (2.31 )     (0.50 )     (1.50 )     (1.72 )
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 19.23     $ 21.92     $ 19.34     $ 18.68     $ 15.83  
                                         

Total return (a)

    (5.27 %)     25.35 %     6.45 %     27.58 %     (4.80 %)
                                         

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                       

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 890,960     $ 964,142     $ 857,527     $ 953,085     $ 780,811  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    0.91 %     0.90 %     0.92 %     0.93 %     0.93 %
                                         

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

    1.47 %     0.90 %     1.21 %     1.23 %     1.25 %
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    15 %     21 %     38 %     30 %     31 %

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

66

 

 

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

Financial Highlights

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2018

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 19.17     $ 15.89     $ 15.99     $ 13.10     $ 15.08  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income

    0.19       0.07       0.08       0.11       0.15  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and foreign currencies

    (3.16 )     3.28       (0.10 )     3.51       (1.49 )

Total from investment operations

    (2.97 )     3.35       (0.02 )     3.62       (1.34 )
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.19 )     (0.07 )     (0.08 )     (0.11 )     (0.15 )

Net realized gains on investments

                      (0.62 )     (0.49 )

Total distributions

    (0.19 )     (0.07 )     (0.08 )     (0.73 )     (0.64 )
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 16.01     $ 19.17     $ 15.89     $ 15.99     $ 13.10  
                                         

Total return (a)

    (15.50 %)     21.06 %     (0.15 %)     27.66 %     (8.87 %)
                                         

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                       

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 74,855     $ 92,908     $ 69,231     $ 73,902     $ 57,044  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    1.12 %     1.22 %     1.26 %     1.29 %     1.34 %
                                         

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (b)

    1.18 %     1.25 %     1.25 %     1.25 %     1.25 %
                                         

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

    1.12 %     0.40 %     0.51 %     0.77 %     0.98 %
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    23 %     16 %     43 %     37 %     33 %

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(b)

Ratio was determined after advisory fee reductions and/or recoupments (Note 2).

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

67

 

 

 

Ave Maria Focused Fund

Financial Highlights

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year Ended
December 31,
2021

   

Period Ended
December 31,
2020
(a)

 

Net asset value at beginning of period

  $ 15.21     $ 12.43     $ 10.00  
                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                       

Net investment loss

    (0.08 )     (0.10 )     (0.03 )

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and foreign currencies

    (5.24 )     3.57       2.50  

Total from investment operations

    (5.32 )     3.47       2.47  
                         

Less distributions from:

                       

Net realized gains on investments

          (0.69 )     (0.04 )
                         

Net asset value at end of period

  $ 9.89     $ 15.21     $ 12.43  
                         

Total return (b)

    (34.98 %)     27.96 %     24.71 %(c)
                         

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                       

Net assets at end of period (000’s)

  $ 48,172     $ 63,476     $ 34,316  
                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    1.14 %     1.21 %     1.29 %(d)
                         

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

    1.14 %     1.23 %(e)     1.25 %(d)(e)
                         

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

    (0.76 %)     (0.82 %)(e)     (0.54 %)(d)(e)
                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    69 %     27 %     16 %(c)

 

(a)

Represents the period from the commencement of operations (May 1, 2020) through December 31, 2020.

(b)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(c)

Not annualized.

(d)

Annualized.

(e)

Ratio was determined after advisory fee reductions and/or recoupments (Note 2).

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

68

 

 

 

Ave Maria Bond Fund

Financial Highlights

Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

Year
Ended
December 31,
2022

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2021

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2020

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2019

   

Year
Ended
December 31,
2018

 

Net asset value at beginning of year

  $ 12.23     $ 11.99     $ 11.64     $ 11.11     $ 11.42  
                                         

Income (loss) from investment operations:

                                       

Net investment income

    0.26       0.20       0.22       0.22       0.19  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.61 )     0.33       0.42       0.70       (0.14 )

Total from investment operations

    (0.35 )     0.53       0.64       0.92       0.05  
                                         

Less distributions from:

                                       

Net investment income

    (0.26 )     (0.20 )     (0.22 )     (0.22 )     (0.19 )

Net realized gains on investments

    (0.15 )     (0.09 )     (0.07 )     (0.17 )     (0.17 )

Total distributions

    (0.41 )     (0.29 )     (0.29 )     (0.39 )     (0.36 )
                                         

Net asset value at end of year

  $ 11.47     $ 12.23     $ 11.99     $ 11.64     $ 11.11  
                                         

Total return (a)

    (2.85 %)     4.38 %     5.60 %     8.30 %     0.41 %
                                         

Ratios/Supplementary Data:

                                       

Net assets at end of year (000’s)

  $ 512,585     $ 502,768     $ 420,876     $ 394,850     $ 323,716  
                                         

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

    0.41 %     0.43 %     0.47 %     0.49 %     0.50 %
                                         

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

    2.21 %     1.66 %     1.87 %     1.91 %     1.68 %
                                         

Portfolio turnover rate

    21 %     25 %     47 %     31 %     26 %

 

(a)

Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

69

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2022

 

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund, the Ave Maria Focused Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund (individually, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) are each a diversified series, except for the Ave Maria Focused Fund, which is a non-diversified series, of the Schwartz Investment Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and established as an Ohio business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated August 31, 1992.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria Value Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation from equity investments in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria Growth Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation, using the growth style, from equity investments in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund is to provide increasing dividend income over time, long-term growth of capital, and a reasonable level of current income from investments in dividend-paying common stocks of companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria World Equity Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation from equity investments in U.S. and non-U.S. companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria Focused Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation from equity investments in companies that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

The investment objective of the Ave Maria Bond Fund is to seek preservation of principal with a reasonable level of current income in corporate debt and equity securities that do not violate core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

See the Funds’ Prospectus for information regarding the principal investment strategies of each Fund.

 

Shares of each Fund are sold at net asset value (“NAV”). To calculate the NAV, a Fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The offering price and redemption price per share are equal to the NAV per share for each Fund.

 

70

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

The Funds follow accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

(a) Valuation of investments – Securities which are traded on stock exchanges are valued at the closing sales price as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the day the securities are being valued, or, if not traded on a particular day, at the closing bid price. Securities which are quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price or, if an Official Closing Price is not available, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last reported sales price or, if there is no reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recently quoted bid price. Securities which are traded both in the over-the-counter market and on a stock exchange are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Securities traded on foreign exchanges are typically fair valued by an independent pricing service and translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates supplied by an independent pricing service. Fixed income securities are generally valued using prices provided by an independent pricing service. The independent pricing service uses information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining these prices. Investments in shares of other open-end investment companies are valued at their NAV as reported by such companies. When using quoted prices and when the market for the securities are considered active, the securities will be classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy (see below). Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, and will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used. Fair value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) a security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that stock over an extended period of time; (ii) the exchange on which the security is principally traded closes early; or (iii) trading of the security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to a Fund’s NAV calculation. A security’s “fair value” price may differ from the price next available for that security using the Funds’ normal pricing procedures.

 

GAAP establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

71

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs

 

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs

 

The Funds’ foreign equity securities actively traded in foreign markets may be classified as Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices because such securities are typically fair valued by an independent pricing service. The Board of Trustees has authorized the Funds to retain an independent pricing service to determine the fair value of its foreign securities because the value of such securities may be materially affected by events occurring before the Funds’ pricing time but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which such foreign securities are traded. These intervening events might be country-specific (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political developments, interest rate change); issuer specific (e.g., earnings report or merger announcement); or U.S. market-specific (such as a significant movement in the U.S. market that is deemed to affect the value of foreign securities). The pricing service uses an automated system that incorporates a model based on multiple parameters, including a security’s local closing price, relevant general and sector indices, currency fluctuations, trading in depositary receipts and futures, if applicable, and/or research valuations by its staff, in determining what it believes is the fair value of the securities.

 

U.S. Government & Agencies and Corporate Bonds held by the Funds, if any, are classified as Level 2 since the values for such securities are based on prices provided by an independent pricing service that utilizes various “other significant observable inputs” including bid and ask quotations, prices of similar securities and interest rates, among other factors.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

72

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

The following is a summary of the Funds’ investments and the levels assigned to the investments, by security type, as of December 31, 2022:

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 344,738,864     $     $     $ 344,738,864  

Money Market Funds

    26,247,255                   26,247,255  

Total

  $ 370,986,119     $     $     $ 370,986,119  
 

 

Ave Maria Growth Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 734,141,435     $     $     $ 734,141,435  

Money Market Funds

    32,350,168                   32,350,168  

Total

  $ 766,491,603     $     $     $ 766,491,603  
 

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 859,746,010     $ 16,577,461     $     $ 876,323,471  

Money Market Funds

    14,942,042                   14,942,042  

Total

  $ 874,688,052     $ 16,577,461     $     $ 891,265,513  
 

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 62,575,777     $ 11,503,187     $     $ 74,078,964  

Money Market Funds

    936,026                   936,026  

Total

  $ 63,511,803     $ 11,503,187     $     $ 75,014,990  
 

 

Ave Maria Focused Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Common Stocks

  $ 41,483,190     $ 6,020,439     $     $ 47,503,629  

Money Market Funds

    412,069                   412,069  

Total

  $ 41,895,259     $ 6,020,439     $     $ 47,915,698  
 

 

Ave Maria Bond Fund

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

U.S. Government & Agencies

  $     $ 125,748,537     $     $ 125,748,537  

Corporate Bonds

          263,212,243             263,212,243  

Common Stocks

    99,834,575                   99,834,575  

Money Market Funds

    21,098,416                   21,098,416  

Total

  $ 120,932,991     $ 388,960,780     $     $ 509,893,771  
 

 

73

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

Refer to each Fund’s Schedule of Investments for a listing of the securities by security type and sector or industry type. There were no Level 3 securities or derivative instruments held by or transferred in/out of the Funds as of or during the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

(b) Income taxes – Each Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Qualification generally will relieve each Fund of liability for federal income taxes to the extent 100% of its net investment income and net realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with the Code.

 

In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also each Fund’s intention to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains plus undistributed amounts from prior years.

 

The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of December 31, 2022:

 

 

 

Ave Maria
Value Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend
Fund

 

Federal income tax cost

  $ 261,374,498     $ 558,046,576     $ 660,675,605  

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 120,220,389     $ 258,843,662     $ 260,437,471  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (10,608,768 )     (50,398,635 )     (29,847,563 )

Net unrealized appreciation

    109,611,621       208,445,027       230,589,908  

Accumulated capital and other losses

    (1,296,040 )     (220,283 )      

Distributable earnings

  $ 108,315,581     $ 208,224,744     $ 230,589,908  
 

 

 

 

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Focused
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond
Fund

 

Federal income tax cost

  $ 60,334,955     $ 56,364,162     $ 507,106,803  

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 19,723,390     $ 2,520,302     $ 34,246,640  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (5,043,355 )     (10,968,766 )     (31,459,672 )

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    14,680,035       (8,448,464 )     2,786,968  

Net unrealized appreciation on foreign currency translation

    132              

Accumulated capital and other losses

    (754,229 )     (147,745 )      

Distributable earnings (accumulated deficit)

  $ 13,925,938     $ (8,596,209 )   $ 2,786,968  
 

 

74

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

The difference between the federal income tax cost of investments and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments for the Ave Maria Growth Fund and the Ave Maria Focused Fund is due to certain timing differences in the recognition of capital gains and losses under income tax regulations and GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are temporary in nature and are due to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales. There is no difference between the federal income tax cost and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments for the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund as of December 31, 2022.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund utilized $423,180 of short-term capital loss carryforwards (“CLCFs”) against current year gains.

 

As of December 31, 2022, the following CLCFs are available for federal income tax purposes, which may be carried forward indefinitely. These CLCFs are available to offset net realized gains in future years, thereby reducing future taxable gains distributions.

 

 

 

Ave Maria
Value Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend
Fund

 

No expiration - short-term

  $ 1,296,040     $ 220,283     $  

No expiration - long-term

                 
    $ 1,296,040     $ 220,283     $  
 

 

 

 

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Focused
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond
Fund

 

No expiration - short-term

  $ 754,229     $ 147,745     $  

No expiration - long-term

                 
    $ 754,229     $ 147,745     $  
 

 

75

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the following reclassifications were made as a result of permanent differences between the financial statements and income tax reporting requirements:

 

 

 

Increase
Distributable
Earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)

   

Decrease
Paid-in
Capital

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

  $ 233     $ (233 )

Ave Maria Growth Fund

    2,091       (2,091 )

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

    5,263       (5,263 )

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

    613       (613 )

Ave Maria Focused Fund

    391,276       (391,276 )

Ave Maria Bond Fund

    1,941       (1,941 )

 

The Funds recognize the tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has reviewed the tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years (generally, three years) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements.

 

(c) Investment transactions and investment income – Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis and includes amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using the effective yield method. Cost of investments includes amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are determined on a specific identification basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been recorded in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s rules and tax rates.

 

(d) Dividends and distributions – Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually in December for the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Focused Fund. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly for the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and are declared and paid monthly for the Ave Maria Bond Fund. Each Fund expects to distribute any net realized capital gains

 

76

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was as follows:

 

Year Ended

 

Ordinary
Income

   

Long-Term
Capital Gains

   

Total
Distributions*

 

Ave Maria Value Fund:

                       

December 31, 2022

  $ 4,214,033     $     $ 4,214,033  

December 31, 2021

  $ 2,384,142     $ 22,197,532     $ 24,581,674  

Ave Maria Growth Fund:

                       

December 31, 2022

  $ 2,263,570     $     $ 2,263,570  

December 31, 2021

  $ 10,716,636     $ 104,764,978     $ 115,481,614  

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund:

                       

December 31, 2022

  $ 13,240,593     $ 53,530,776     $ 66,771,369  

December 31, 2021

  $ 17,038,866     $ 76,588,136     $ 93,627,002  

Ave Maria World Equity Fund:

                       

December 31, 2022

  $ 880,100     $     $ 880,100  

December 31, 2021

  $ 317,947     $     $ 317,947  

Ave Maria Focused Fund:

                       

December 31, 2022

  $     $     $  

December 31, 2021

  $ 266,572     $ 2,502,952     $ 2,769,524  

Ave Maria Bond Fund:

                       

December 31, 2022

  $ 11,120,999     $ 6,719,406     $ 17,840,405  

December 31, 2021

  $ 9,543,572     $ 1,414,652     $ 10,958,224  

 

*

Total Distributions may not tie to the amounts listed on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets due to reclassifications of the character of the distributions as a result of permanent differences between the financial statements and income tax reporting.

 

(e) Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of 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.

 

(f) Common expenses – Common expenses of the Trust are allocated among the series of the Trust based on relative net assets of each series or the nature of the services performed and the relative applicability to each series.

 

77

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

(g) Foreign currency translation – Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in or expected to settle in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on exchange rates on the following basis:

 

 

(i)

The fair values of investment securities and other assets and liabilities are translated as of the close of the NYSE each day.

 

 

(ii)

Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expenses are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the respective date of such transactions.

 

 

(iii)

The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations caused by changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from those caused by changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments.

 

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from 1) purchase and sales of foreign currencies, 2) currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and 3) the difference between the amounts of dividends and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds’ books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Reported net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities that result from changes in exchange rates.

 

The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes related to foreign income received, capital gains on the sale of securities and certain foreign currency transactions (a portion of which may be reclaimable). All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which the Funds invest.

 

2. Investment Advisory Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties

 

The Chairman and President of the Trust is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. (the “Adviser”). Certain other officers of the Trust are officers of the Adviser, or of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”), the administrative, accounting and transfer agent for the Funds, or of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), the Funds’ principal underwriter.

 

Pursuant to Investment Advisory Agreements between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser is responsible for the management of each Fund and provides investment advice along with the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services

 

78

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

necessary to the operations of the Funds. The Adviser receives fees based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund, which are accrued daily and paid quarterly, at the annual rates as stated below:

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

    0.75 %

Ave Maria Growth Fund

    0.75 %

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

    0.75 %

Ave Maria World Equity Fund *

    0.75 %

Ave Maria Focused Fund *

    0.75 %

Ave Maria Bond Fund

    0.25 %

 

*

Effective May 1, 2022, the Adviser reduced its fees from 0.95% to 0.75% for the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and from 0.85% to 0.75% for the Ave Maria Focused Fund.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse a portion of operating expenses until at least May 1, 2023 so that the ordinary operating expenses of each of the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund and the Ave Maria Focused Fund do not exceed 1.25% per annum of average daily net assets; and so that the ordinary operating expenses of the Ave Maria Bond Fund do not exceed 0.60% per annum of average daily net assets. The Adviser did not reduce its investment advisory fees for any of the Funds during the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

Any investment advisory fee reductions or expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Funds for a period of three years after such fees and expenses were incurred, provided the Funds are able to effect such repayment and remain in compliance with any undertaking by the Adviser to limit expenses of the Funds. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund recouped $40,177 of prior years’ investment advisory fee reductions. As of December 31, 2022, no additional advisory fee reductions are available for recoupment.

 

The Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust (the “CCO”) is an employee of the Adviser. The Trust pays the Adviser a fee for providing CCO services, of which each Fund pays its proportionate share along with the other series of the Trust. In addition, the Trust reimburses the Adviser for out-of-pocket expenses incurred, if any, for providing these services.

 

Pursuant to a Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Trust and Ultimus, Ultimus supplies regulatory and compliance services, calculates the daily NAV per share of each Fund, maintains the financial books and records of the Funds, maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, and processes purchases and redemptions of each Fund’s shares. For the performance of these services, Ultimus receives fees from each Fund computed as a percentage of such Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to a minimum monthly fee.

 

79

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Trust and the Distributor, the Distributor serves as each Fund’s exclusive agent for the distribution of its shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of Ultimus.

 

Trustees and officers affiliated with the Adviser or Ultimus are not compensated by the Trust for their services. Each Trustee who is not an affiliated person of the Adviser or Ultimus (“Independent Trustee”) receives from the Trust an annual retainer of $63,000 (except that such fee was $76,500 for the Lead Independent Trustee/Chairman of the Governance Committee and $71,500 for the Chairman of the Audit Committee), payable quarterly; a fee of $6,000 for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Trustees; plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. Trustee Emeritus, if any, receives one-half of both the annual retainer and fee for attendance at each meeting; plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. Each Fund pays its proportionate share of the Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses along with the other series of the Trust.

 

Each member of the Catholic Advisory Board (“CAB”), including Emeritus members, receives an annual retainer of $4,000 (except that such fee is $14,000 for the CAB chairman), payable quarterly; a fee of $3,000 for attendance at each meeting of the CAB; plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. Each Fund pays its proportionate share of CAB members’ fees and expenses.

 

3. Investment Transactions

 

During the year ended December 31, 2022, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, excluding short-term investments and U.S. government securities, were as follows:

 

 

 

Ave Maria
Value Fund

   

Ave Maria
Growth Fund

   

Ave Maria
Rising
Dividend
Fund

 

Purchases of investment securities

  $ 122,091,966     $ 207,777,745     $ 134,204,734  

Proceeds from sales of investment securities

  $ 102,908,627     $ 300,673,376     $ 157,048,443  
 

 

 

 

Ave Maria
World
Equity Fund

   

Ave Maria
Focused
Fund

   

Ave Maria
Bond Fund

 

Purchases of investment securities

  $ 18,287,593     $ 42,965,864     $ 103,158,626  

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities

  $ 20,222,355     $ 35,599,351     $ 65,445,244  
 

 

80

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2022, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of long-term U.S. government securities for the Ave Maria Bond Fund were $52,044,218 and $35,064,170, respectively.

 

4. Contingencies and Commitments

 

The Funds indemnify the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements 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.

 

5. Sector Risk

 

If a Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers in industries within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss of an investment in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV per share. From time to time, circumstances may affect a particular sector and the companies within such sector. For instance, economic or market factors, regulation or deregulation, and technological or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector and therefore the value of a Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of December 31, 2022, the Ave Maria Growth Fund and the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund had 36.7% and 27.7%, respectively, of the value of their net assets invested in stocks within the technology sector and the Ave Maria Focused Fund had 25.0% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the industrials sector.

 

6. Subsequent Events

 

The Funds are required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Funds are required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events.

 

81

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Schwartz Investment Trust:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Schwartz Investment Trust (the “Funds”) comprising the Ave Maria Value Fund, Ave Maria Growth Fund, Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, Ave Maria World Equity Fund, Ave Maria Focused Fund, and Ave Maria Bond Fund, including the schedules of investments, as of December 31, 2022, the related statements of operations, the statements of changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for each of the periods listed in the table below, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the series constituting the Schwartz Investment Trust as of December 31, 2022, and the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets, and the financial highlights for each of the periods listed in the table below, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Individual Series Comprising the
Schwartz Investment Trust

Statement of
Operations

Statements of
Changes in
Net Assets

Financial
Highlights

Ave Maria Value Fund

Ave Maria Growth Fund

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund Ave Maria World Equity Fund Ave Maria Bond Fund

For the year ended December 31, 2022

For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

For the years ended December 31, 2022,

December 31, 2021,

December 31, 2020,

December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018

Ave Maria Focused Fund

For the year ended December 31, 2022

For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

For the years ended December 31, 2022,

December 31, 2021 and For the period from May 1, 2020

(commencement of

operations) through December 31, 2020

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)

 

82

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (Continued)

 

 

(PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

 

Chicago, Illinois

 

February 22, 2023

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more Schwartz Investment Trust investment companies since 1993.

 

83

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Board of Trustees and Executive Officers

(Unaudited)

 

 

Overall responsibility for management of the Trust rests with the Board of Trustees. The Trustees serve during the lifetime of the Trust and until its termination, or until death, resignation, retirement or removal. The Trustees, in turn, elect the officers of the Trust to actively supervise its day-to-day operations. The officers have been elected for an annual term. The following are the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust:

 

Trustee/Officer

Address

Year of
Birth

Position Held
with the Trust

Length of
Time Served

Interested Trustee:

       

*

George P. Schwartz, CFA

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1944

Chairman of the Board/President/Trustee

Since 1992

Independent Trustees:

       
 

Donald J. Dawson, Jr.

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1947

Trustee

Since 1993

 

John J. McHale, Jr.

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1949

Trustee

Since 2014

 

Edward J. Miller

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1946

Trustee

Since 2017

 

William A. Morrow

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail Plymouth, MI

1947

Trustee

Since 2018

Executive Officers:

       

*

Robert C. Schwartz

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1976

Vice President and Secretary

Since 2013

*

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA

5060 Annunciation Circle, Ave Maria, FL

1971

Treasurer

Since 2000

*

Cathy M. Stoner, CPA, IACCP

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1970

Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2010

 

*

George P. Schwartz, Robert C. Schwartz, Timothy S. Schwartz and Cathy M. Stoner, as affiliated persons of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., the Funds’ investment adviser, are “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. George P. Schwartz is the father of Robert C. Schwartz and Timothy S. Schwartz.

 

Each Trustee oversees seven series of the Trust: the Ave Maria Value Fund, the Ave Maria Growth Fund, the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, the Ave Maria World Equity Fund, the Ave Maria Focused Fund, the Ave Maria Bond Fund and the Schwartz Value

 

84

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Focused Fund. The principal occupations of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust during the past five years and public directorships held by the Trustees are set forth below:

 

George P. Schwartz, CFA is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. and the co-portfolio manager of the Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund and the Ave Maria Bond Fund.

 

Donald J. Dawson, Jr. retired in March 2015. Prior to retirement, he was Chairman of Payroll 1, Inc. (a payroll processing company).

 

John J. McHale, Jr. is a consultant to the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. From 2015 until 2020, he was the Special Assistant to Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

 

Edward J. Miller retired in 2019. Prior to his retirement, he was Vice Chairman and Director of Detroit Investment Fund from 2001 until 2019 and Invest Detroit Foundation (financiers for redevelopment of Detroit, Michigan) from 2010 until 2019.

 

William A. Morrow retired in 2017. Prior to his retirement, he was Senior Executive Vice President of Crain Communications, Inc. (business media) from 1985 until 2017.

 

Robert C. Schwartz is Executive Vice President and Secretary of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc.

 

Timothy S. Schwartz, CFA is President of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. and the lead portfolio manager of the Ave Maria Value Fund.

 

Cathy M. Stoner, CPA, IACCP is Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Treasurer of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc.

 

Additional information regarding the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust may be found in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information and is available without charge upon request by calling (888) 726-9931.

 

85

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Catholic Advisory Board

(Unaudited)

 

 

The Catholic Advisory Board reviews the companies selected by the Adviser to ensure that the companies operate in a way that is consistent with teachings and core values of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Advisory Board evaluates companies using publicly available information, information from the Adviser, and information from shareholders and other sources in making its recommendations. The following are the members of the Catholic Advisory Board:

 

Member

Address

Year of
Birth

Length of
Time Served

Raymond Arroyo

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1970

Since 2022

Dr. Scott Hahn, PhD

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1957

Since 2018

Lou Holtz, Emeritus

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1937

Since 2007

Lawrence Kudlow

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1947

Since 2005

Thomas S. Monaghan

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1937

Since 2001

Melissa Moschella, PhD

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1979

Since 2017

Fr. John Riccardo, STL, Emeritus

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1965

Since 2011

Paul R. Roney

801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI

1957

Since 2001

 

Raymond Arroyo is an award-winning journalist, producer and bestselling author. He is a Fox News Contributor and Editorial Adviser to “The Ingraham Angle” and a co-host of Fox Nation’s “Laura and Raymond” with Laura Ingraham. He is the founding News Director, Managing Editor and Lead Anchor of the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) news and host of “EWTN News” and “The World Over Live.”

 

Dr. Scott Hahn, PhD is a bestselling author and theology professor at Franciscan University since 1990 and holds the Fr. Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization. He is Founder and President of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and Editor-in-Chief of Emmaus Road Publishing.

 

Lou Holtz is the former football coach at University of Notre Dame among others, ESPN college football analyst, author and motivational speaker.

 

Lawrence Kudlow is Host of “Kudlow” on Fox Business Network and a Fox news contributor. He was the Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council for the Trump Administration from April 2018 until January 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Kudlow was CNBC’s Senior Contributor and host of CNBC’s primetime “The Kudlow Report” and a syndicated radio show host. During President Reagan’s first term, Mr. Kudlow was the associate director for economics and planning, Office of Management and Budget. He is the CEO/founder of Kudlow & Co., LLC, an economic research and consulting firm.

 

86

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
CATHOLIC ADVISORY BOARD
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Thomas S. Monaghan is Chairman of the Ave Maria Foundation (a non-profit foundation supporting Roman Catholic organizations) and Chancellor of Ave Maria University. Prior to December 1998, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

 

Melissa Moschella, PhD is an Associate Professor, School of Philosophy, The Catholic University of America since August 2020. From July 2017 until July 2020, she was an -Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics at Columbia University and from August 2013 until June 2017, she was Assistant Professor of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America. She has published articles about moral and political philosophy and ethics in a number of academic publications. She is also a lecturer and recipient of a number of academic honors and fellowships.

 

Fr. John Riccardo, STL is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Executive Director of ACTS XXIX, an organization committed to helping parishes create a road map for evangelization and discipleship.

 

Paul R. Roney is Executive Director of the Ave Maria Foundation and President of Domino’s Farms Corporation. Prior to December 1998, he was Treasurer of Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

 

Additional information regarding the Funds’ Catholic Advisory Board members may be found in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information and is available without charge upon request by calling (888) 726-9331.

 

87

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

About Your Funds’ Expenses

(Unaudited)

 

 

We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of costs on your investment. As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

A mutual fund’s ongoing costs are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The ongoing costs reflected in the table below is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the most recent semi-annual period (July 1, 2022) and held until the end of the period (December 31, 2022).

 

The table that follows illustrates each Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:

 

Actual fund return – This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from each Fund’s actual return, and the fourth column shows the dollar amount of operating expenses that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Funds. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

 

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for the Funds under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”

 

Hypothetical 5% return – This section is intended to help you compare each Fund’s ongoing costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that each Fund had an annual return of 5% before expenses during the period shown, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case, because the return used is not the Funds’ actual returns, the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess each Fund’s ongoing costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only. The Funds do not charge sales loads or redemption fees.

 

The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

 

88

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS
ABOUT YOUR FUNDS’ EXPENSES
(Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

More information about the Funds’ expenses, including historical annual expense ratios, can be found in this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the Funds’ Prospectus.

 

 

Beginning
Account Value
July 1, 2022

Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2022

Net
Expense
Ratio
(a)

Expenses
Paid During
Period
(b)

Ave Maria Value Fund

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$ 1,152.40

0.93%

$5.05

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,020.52

0.93%

$4.74

         

Ave Maria Growth Fund

       

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$ 1,044.80

0.91%

$4.69

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,020.62

0.91%

$4.63

         

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

     

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$ 1,085.20

0.91%

$4.78

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,020.62

0.91%

$4.63

         

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

     

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$ 1,050.50

1.09%

$5.63

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,019.71

1.09%

$5.55

         

Ave Maria Focused Fund

       

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$ 976.30

1.09%

$5.43

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,019.71

1.09%

$5.55

         

Ave Maria Bond Fund

       

Based on Actual Fund Return

$1,000.00

$ 1,020.70

0.41%

$2.09

Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses)

$1,000.00

$ 1,023.14

0.41%

$2.09

 

(a)

Annualized, based on each Fund’s most recent one-half year expenses.

(b)

Expenses are equal to each Fund’s annualized net expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period) for Actual Fund Return and Hypothetical 5% Return information, respectively.

 

89

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Federal Tax Information

(Unaudited)

 

 

Capital Gain Distribution – For the year ended December 31, 2022, the following Funds designated long-term capital gain distributions:

 

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

  $ 53,527,576  

Ave Maria Bond Fund

    6,717,570  

 

Qualified Dividend IncomeThe Funds have designated the following of their ordinary income dividends, or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified dividend income eligible for the reduced tax rate:

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

    100.00 %

Ave Maria Growth Fund

    100.00 %

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

    100.00 %

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

    100.00 %

Ave Maria Bond Fund

    26.71 %

 

Dividends Received Deduction – For corporate shareholders, the following percentages of ordinary dividends paid during the year ended December 31, 2022 qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction:

 

Ave Maria Value Fund

    100.00 %

Ave Maria Growth Fund

    100.00 %

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund

    99.99 %

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

    100.00 %

Ave Maria Bond Fund

    22.43 %

 

Foreign Source Income and Expense – The following Funds intend to elect to pass through to shareholders the income tax credit for taxes paid to foreign countries. The pass-through of the foreign tax credit will only affect those persons who are shareholders on the dividend record date. These shareholders will receive more detailed information with their 2022 Form 1099-DIV. The per share amounts designated were:

 

 

 

Foreign Source
Income

   

Foreign Tax
Expense

 

Ave Maria World Equity Fund

  $ 0.2100     $ 0.0157  

 

90

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Other Information

(Unaudited)

 

 

A description of the policies and procedures the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-9331, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge upon request by calling toll-free (888) 726-9331, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The Trust files a complete listing of portfolio holdings for each of the Funds with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit on Form N-PORT. The filings are available free of charge, upon request, by calling (888) 726-9331. Furthermore, you may obtain a copy of the filings on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

91

 

 

 

AVE MARIA MUTUAL FUNDS

Liquidity Risk

(Unaudited)

 

 

The Funds have adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The program is reasonably designed to assess, manage, and periodically review each Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, each Fund’s investment strategies and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board of Trustees approved the appointment of a Liquidity Risk Management Program Administrator (the “Liquidity Administrator”), which includes representatives from Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., the Funds’ investment adviser. The Liquidity Administrator is responsible for the administration of the program and its policies and procedures and for reporting to the Board on an annual basis regarding the program’s operation, adequacy and effectiveness, as well as any material changes to the program. The Liquidity Administrator assessed each Fund’s liquidity risk profile and the adequacy and effectiveness of the liquidity risk management program’s operations during the period from June 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 (the “Review Period”) in order to prepare a written report for the Board of Trustees (the “Report”) for consideration at its meeting held on August 5, 2022. During the Review Period, none of the Funds experienced unusual stress or disruption to its operations from any purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the Review Period the Funds held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that (i) the Funds’ liquidity risk management program is reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Liquidity Rule and (ii) the Funds’ liquidity risk management program has been effectively implemented during the Review Period.

 

92

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)Not applicable

 

Item 2.Code of Ethics.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. Pursuant to Item 13(a)(1), a copy of registrant’s code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. During the period covered by this report, the code of ethics has not been amended, and the registrant has not granted any waivers, including implicit waivers, from the provisions of the code of ethics.

 

Item 3.Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The registrant’s board of trustees has determined that the registrant has an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The name of the audit committee financial expert is William A. Morrow. Mr. Morrow is “independent” for purposes of this Item.

 

Item 4.Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $186,000 and $174,000 with respect to the registrant’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

(b)Audit-Related Fees. No fees were billed in either of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item.

 

(c)Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $24,500 and $22,600 with respect to the registrant’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The services comprising these fees are tax consulting and the preparation of the registrant’s federal income and excise tax returns.

 

(d)All Other Fees. No fees were billed in either of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item.

 

(e)(1)The audit committee has not adopted pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(e)(2)None of the services described in paragraph (b) through (d) of this Item were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f)Less than 50% of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.

 

 

 

(g)During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, aggregate non-audit fees of $24,500 and $22,600, respectively, were billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, $16,050 and $15,000, respectively, were billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant.

 

(h)The registrant’s audit committee determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant, that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

 

(i)Not applicable

 

(j)Not applicable

 

Item 5.Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 6.Schedule of Investments.

 

(a)Not applicable [schedule filed with Item 1]

 

(b)Not applicable

 

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.

 

The registrant’s Nominating and Governance Committee shall review shareholder recommendations to fill vacancies on the registrant’s board of trustees if such recommendations are submitted in writing, addressed to the Committee at the registrant’s offices and meet any minimum qualifications adopted by the Committee. The Committee may adopt, by resolution, a policy regarding its procedures for considering candidates for the board of trustees, including any recommended by shareholders.

 

 

 

Item 11.Controls and Procedures.

 

(a) Based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and are operating effectively to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared, and that the information required in filings on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.

 

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

 

Item 12.Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 13.Exhibits.

 

File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.

 

(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Attached hereto

 

(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)): Attached hereto

 

(1) Not applicable

 

(2) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountants: Not applicable

 

(b) Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)): Attached hereto

 

Exhibit 99.CODE ETHCode of Ethics

 

Exhibit 99.CERTCertifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act

 

Exhibit 99.906CERTCertifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act

 

 

 

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.

 

(Registrant) Schwartz Investment Trust    
       
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ George P. Schwartz  
    George P. Schwartz, President and Principal Executive Officer  
       
Date March 1, 2023    
       
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
       
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ George P. Schwartz  
    George P. Schwartz, President and Principal Executive Officer  
       
Date March 1, 2023    
       
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Timothy S. Schwartz  
    Timothy S. Schwartz, Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer  
       
Date March 1, 2023    

 

*Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.