LOGO

  SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

 

 

  

2021 Semi-Annual Report

(Unaudited)

 

iShares Trust

·  iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | PFF | NASDAQ


 

The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The 12-month reporting period as of September 30, 2021 was a remarkable period of adaptation and recovery, as the global economy dealt with the implications of the coronavirus (or “COVID-19”) pandemic. The United States began the reporting period as the initial reopening-led economic rebound was beginning to slow. Nonetheless, the economy continued to grow at a brisk pace for the reporting period, eventually regaining the output lost from the pandemic.

Equity prices rose with the broader economy, as strong fiscal and monetary support, as well as the development of vaccines, made investors increasingly optimistic about the economic outlook. The implementation of mass vaccination campaigns and passage of two additional fiscal stimulus packages further boosted stocks, and many equity indices neared or surpassed all-time highs late in the reporting period. In the United States, returns of small-capitalization stocks, which benefited the most from the resumption of in-person activities, outpaced large-capitalization stocks. International equities also gained, as both developed and emerging markets continued to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) had fallen sharply prior to the beginning of the reporting period, which meant bonds were priced for extreme risk avoidance and economic disruption. Despite expectations of doom and gloom, the economy expanded rapidly, stoking inflation concerns in early 2021, which led to higher yields and a negative overall return for most U.S. Treasuries. In the corporate bond market, support from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) assuaged credit concerns and led to solid returns for high-yield corporate bonds, although investment-grade corporates declined slightly.

The Fed remained committed to accommodative monetary policy by maintaining near-zero interest rates and by reiterating that inflation could exceed its 2% target for a sustained period without triggering a rate increase. In response to rising inflation late in the period, the Fed changed its market guidance, raising the possibility of higher rates in 2022 and reducing bond purchasing beginning in late 2021.

Looking ahead, we believe that the global expansion will continue to broaden as Europe and other developed market economies gain momentum, although the delta variant of the coronavirus remains a threat, particularly in emerging markets. While we expect inflation to remain elevated in the medium-term as the expansion continues, we believe the recent uptick owes more to temporary supply disruptions than a lasting change in fundamentals. The change in Fed policy also means that moderate inflation is less likely to be followed by interest rate hikes that could threaten the economic expansion.

Overall, we favor a moderately positive stance toward risk, with an overweight in equities. Sectors that are better poised to manage the transition to a lower-carbon world, such as technology and health care, are particularly attractive in the long-term. U.S. small-capitalization stocks and European equities are likely to benefit from the continuing vaccine-led restart, while Chinese equities stand to gain from a more accommodative monetary and fiscal environment as the Chinese economy slows. We are underweight long-term credit, but inflation-protected U.S. Treasuries, Asian fixed income, and emerging market local-currency bonds offer potential opportunities. We believe that international diversification and a focus on sustainability can help provide portfolio resilience, and the disruption created by the coronavirus appears to be accelerating the shift toward sustainable investments.

In this environment, our view is that investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

Sincerely,

Trust

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

 

Total Returns as of September 30, 2021
     
     6-Month    
  12-Month    
   

U.S. large cap equities  

(S&P 500® Index)

  9.18%   30.00%
   

U.S. small cap equities
(Russell 2000® Index)

  (0.25)      47.68   
   

International equities
(MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Index)

  4.70     25.73   
   

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

  (3.45)      18.20   
   

3-month Treasury bills
(ICE BofA 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index)

  0.01     0.07   
   

U.S. Treasury securities
(ICE BofA 10-Year U.S. Treasury Index)

  2.92     (6.22)  
   

U.S. investment grade bonds
(Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)

  1.88     (0.90)  
   

Tax-exempt municipal bonds
(S&P Municipal Bond Index)

  1.24     2.71   
   

U.S. high yield bonds
(Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index)

  3.65     11.27   
Past performance is not an indication of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

2  

H I S   A G E   I S   N O T    A R T   O F   O U R   U N D   E P O R  T


Table of Contents

 

 

     Page  

 

 

The Markets in Review

     2  

Fund Summary

     4  

About Fund Performance

     5  

Shareholder Expenses

     5  

Schedule of Investments

     6  

Financial Statements

  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     14  

Statement of Operations

     15  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     16  

Financial Highlights

     17  

Notes to Financial Statements

     18  

Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

     24  

Supplemental Information

     26  

General Information

     27  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     28  


 

Fund Summary as of September 30, 2021    iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated preferred and hybrid securities, as represented by the ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index (the “Index”). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index.

Performance

 

               Average Annual Total Returns               Cumulative Total Returns  
     6 Months      1 Year      5 Years     10 Years              1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Fund NAV

    4.00      12.20      5.25     6.79       12.20      29.18      92.83

Fund Market

    3.48        11.44        5.18       6.80         11.44        28.74        93.15  

Index

    4.20        12.76        6.00       7.48               12.76        33.81        105.73  

Index performance through January 31, 2019 reflects the performance of the S&P U.S. Preferred Stock IndexTM. Index performance beginning on February 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019 reflects the performance of the ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Transition Index, which terminated on October 31, 2019. Index performance beginning on November 1, 2019 reflects the performance of the ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Performance results do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. See “About Fund Performance” on page 5 for more information.

Expense Example

 

    Actual            Hypothetical 5% Return           
 

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

   


Beginning

Account Value
(04/01/21)



 

      

Ending

Account Value

(09/30/21)

 

 

 

      


Expenses

Paid During
the Period

 


 (a) 

       

Beginning

Account Value

(04/01/21)

 

 

 

      

Ending

Account Value

(09/30/21)

 

 

 

      

Expenses

Paid During

the Period

 

 

 (a) 

      

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

 

 

 

      $       1,000.00          $        1,040.00          $       2.30             $      1,000.00          $      1,022.80          $      2.28            0.45

 

  (a)

Expenses are calculated using the Fund’s annualized expense ratio (as disclosed in the table), multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by the number of days in the period (183 days) and divided by the number of days in the year (365 days). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See “Shareholder Expenses” on page 5 for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

ALLOCATION BY SECTOR
   
Sector  

Percent of   

Total Investments(a)

Financials

  54.3%

Utilities

  14.5   

Real Estate

  7.6   

Health Care

  5.2   

Communication Services

  4.6   

Information Technology

  3.4   

Consumer Discretionary

  3.0   

Industrials

  2.9   

Energy

  2.0   

Materials

  1.3   

Consumer Staples

  1.2   

 

  (a)

Excludes money market funds.

 
TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS
   
Security   Percent of   
Total Investments(a)

Broadcom Inc., Series A, 8.00%

  2.6%

Wells Fargo & Co., Series L, 7.50

  1.9   

Bank of America Corp., Series L, 7.25

  1.5   

Danaher Corp., Series A, 4.75

  1.4   

ArcelorMittal SA, 5.50

  1.2   

Danaher Corp., Series B, 5.00

  1.2   

Avantor Inc., Series A, 6.25

  1.1   

NextEra Energy Inc., 5.28

  1.1   

Citigroup Capital XIII, 6.50

  1.0   

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Series EE, 6.00

  0.9   

 

 

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About Fund Performance

 

Past performance is not an indication of future results. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. As a result, current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at iShares.com. Performance results assume reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or on the redemption or sale of fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Performance for certain funds may reflect a waiver of a portion of investment advisory fees. Without such a waiver, performance would have been lower.

Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV, respectively.

An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike a fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred by a fund. These expenses negatively impact fund performance. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower.

Shareholder Expenses

As a shareholder of your Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense example, which is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period (or from the commencement of operations if less than 6 months) and held through the end of the period, is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars and cents) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.

Actual Expenses – The table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. To estimate the expenses that you paid on your account over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period.”

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes – The table also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on your Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in your Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

 

B O U T   U N D   E R F O R  M A N C E / S H A R E H O L D E R   X P E N S E S

  5


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

September 30, 2021

  

iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Preferred Stocks            

Auto Components — 0.8%

   

Aptiv PLC, Series A, 5.50%(a)

    959,845     $ 161,733,883  
   

 

 

 
Automobiles — 0.7%            

Ford Motor Co.

   

6.00%

        2,670,895       70,992,389  

6.20%

    2,503,934       66,754,881  
   

 

 

 
          137,747,270  
Banks — 25.1%            

Associated Banc-Corp.

   

Series E, 5.88%

    337,290       9,201,271  

Series F, 5.63%

    339,854       9,029,921  

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp., Series A, 6.88%

    579,497       16,191,146  

BancorpSouth Bank, Series A, 5.50%

    554,831       14,497,734  

Bank of America Corp.

   

Series 02, 3.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.650%)(b)(c)

    780,553       18,686,439  

Series 4, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.750%)(c)

    550,403       14,205,901  

Series 5, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.500%)(c)

    1,109,603       28,172,820  

Series E, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.350%)(c)

    852,735       21,625,360  

Series GG, 6.00%

    3,628,414       97,894,610  

Series HH, 5.88%

    2,299,069       62,074,863  

Series K, 6.45% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.327%)(c)

    2,811,059       74,605,506  

Series KK, 5.38%

    3,756,015       101,149,484  

Series L, 7.25%

    205,413       296,291,819  

Series LL, 5.00%

    3,521,046       94,187,980  

Series NN, 4.38%

    2,959,350       77,978,872  

Series PP, 4.13%

    2,443,939       62,833,672  

Bank of Hawaii Corp., Series A, 4.38%

    603,010       15,394,845  

CIT Group Inc., Series B, 5.63%

    671,825       17,635,406  

Citigroup Inc.

   

Series J, 7.13% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.040%)(c)

    3,154,732       88,111,665  

Series K, 6.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.130%)(c)

    4,991,359       139,758,052  

Citizens Financial Group Inc.

   

Series D, 6.35% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.642%)(c)

    996,235       27,565,822  

Series E, 5.00%

    1,494,313       39,494,693  

Connectone Bancorp Inc., Preference Shares

    384,302       10,126,358  

Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., Series B, 4.45%(b)

    519,215       13,873,425  

Dime Community Bancshares Inc., 5.50%

    445,012       11,436,808  

Fifth Third Bancorp.

   

Series A, 6.00%

    671,825       17,984,755  

Series I, 6.63% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.710%)(c)

    1,494,314       42,289,086  

Series K, 4.95%

    839,727       21,942,066  

First Citizens BancShares Inc./NC, Series A, 5.38%

    1,158,492       31,603,662  

First Horizon Corp.

   

6.50%

    506,640       13,876,870  

Series D, 6.10% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.859%)(c)

    337,290       9,025,880  

Series F, 4.70%

    503,602       13,149,048  

First Midwest Bancorp. Inc./IL

   

Series A, 7.00%

    349,232       9,645,788  

Series C, 7.00%

    385,966       10,637,223  

First Republic Bank/CA

   

Series H, 5.13%

    668,340       17,403,574  

Series I, 5.50%

    1,007,550       26,518,716  

Series J, 4.70%

    1,311,693       35,087,788  

Series K, 4.13%

    1,660,339       41,491,872  

Series L, 4.25%

    2,482,251       62,304,500  

Series M, 4.00%(b)

    2,490,548       60,570,127  

FNB Corp./PA, 7.25% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.600%)(c)

    376,306       10,649,460  

Fulton Financial Corp., Series A, 5.13%

    671,825       17,964,600  
Security   Shares     Value  
Banks (continued)            

GMAC Capital Trust I, Series 2, 5.91%
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.785%)(c)

    782,516     $ 19,750,704  

Hancock Whitney Corp., 6.25%

    576,111       16,528,625  

Heartland Financial USA Inc., Series E, 7.00% (5 year CMT + 6.675%)(c)

    388,145       11,120,354  

Huntington Bancshares Inc./OH

   

Series C, 5.70%(b)

    582,818       15,444,677  

Series C, 5.88%

    338,895       8,540,154  

Series H, 4.50%

    1,660,339       42,421,661  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   

Series DD, 5.75%

    5,663,546           154,671,441  

Series EE, 6.00%

    6,176,606       171,215,518  

Series GG, 4.75%

    2,988,706       78,094,888  

Series JJ, 4.55%

    5,008,347       130,717,857  

Series LL, 4.63%

    6,176,886       163,069,790  

Series MM, 4.20%(b)

    6,677,409       168,604,577  

KeyCorp

   

Series E, 6.13% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.892%)(c)

    1,660,340       50,474,336  

Series F, 5.65%

    1,411,301       37,399,476  

Series G, 5.63%

    1,494,314       40,361,421  

People’s United Financial Inc., Series A, 5.63% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.020%)(c)

    839,727       23,848,247  

Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc., Series B, 6.75%

    755,776       21,267,537  

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (The), Series P, 6.13% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.067%)(c)

    5,008,120       130,110,958  

Popular Capital Trust I, 6.70%

    604,716       15,329,551  

Popular Capital Trust II, 6.13%

    420,641       11,466,674  

Regions Financial Corp.

   

Series B, 6.38% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.536%)(c)

    1,660,339       47,253,248  

Series C, 5.70% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.148%)(c)

    1,660,339       47,186,834  

Series E, 4.45%

    1,328,287       34,548,745  

Signature Bank/New York NY, Series A, 5.00%

    2,424,111       63,269,297  

Silvergate Capital Corp., Series A, 5.38%

    664,183       16,465,097  

Sterling Bancorp./DE, Series A, 6.50%

    455,935       11,840,632  

SVB Financial Group, Series A, 5.25%

    1,175,452       31,925,276  

Synovus Financial Corp.

   

Series D, 6.30% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.352%)(c)

    671,825       17,836,954  

Series E, 5.88% (5 year CMT + 4.127%)(c)

    1,175,452       32,054,576  

Texas Capital Bancshares Inc., Series B, 5.75%

    1,007,550       26,569,093  

Truist Financial Corp.

   

Series I, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.530%)(c)

    582,495       14,964,297  

Series O, 5.25%(b)

    1,909,458       53,388,446  

Series R, 4.75%

        3,071,719       81,554,139  

U.S. Bancorp.

   

Series A, 3.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.020%)(c)

    47,774       45,982,475  

Series B, 3.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.600%)(c)

    3,320,660       81,821,062  

Series F, 6.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.468%)(c)

    3,672,242       93,385,114  

Series K, 5.50%

    1,909,458       51,383,515  

Series L, 3.75%

    1,660,339       40,860,943  

Series M, 4.00%

    2,490,548       62,711,999  

United Community Banks Inc./GA, Series I, 6.88%

    298,643       8,275,398  

Valley National Bancorp

   

Series A, 6.25% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.850%)(c)

    390,715       11,537,814  

Series B, 5.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.578%)(c)

    337,290       8,607,641  

Webster Financial Corp., Series F, 5.25%

    506,639       13,030,755  

Wells Fargo & Co.

   

Series AA, 4.70%

    2,952,675       77,596,299  

Series CC, 4.38%

    2,649,842       67,570,971  

Series DD, 4.25%

    3,154,557       78,990,107  

Series L, 7.50%

    250,338       371,000,916  

 

 

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Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

September 30, 2021

  

iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Banks (continued)            

Series Q, 5.85% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.090%)(c)

    4,353,274     $ 119,062,044  

Series R, 6.63% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.690%)(c)

    2,119,900       60,077,966  

Series Y, 5.63%

    1,741,344       45,692,867  

Series Z, 4.75%

        5,078,864       133,015,448  

WesBanco Inc., Series A, 6.75% (5 year CMT + 6.557%)(c)

    506,640       14,560,834  

Western Alliance Bancorp

   

6.25%

    584,396       15,042,353  

Series A, 4.25% (5 year CMT + 3.452%)(c)

    1,002,470       26,034,146  

Wintrust Financial Corp.

   

Series D, 6.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.060%)(c)

    424,252       11,692,385  

Series E, 6.88% (5 year CMT + 6.507%)(c)

    965,653       27,636,989  

Zions Bancorp N.A., Series G, 6.30% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.24%)(c)

    467,348       13,595,153  
   

 

 

 
          5,072,629,761  
Capital Markets — 9.0%            

Affiliated Managers Group Inc.

   

4.20%

    689,451       16,960,495  

4.75%

    947,984       24,619,145  

5.88%

    1,001,753       26,867,016  

Apollo Global Management Inc.

   

Series A, 6.38%

    923,677       23,701,552  

Series B, 6.38%

    1,007,550       27,304,605  

B Riley Financial Inc.

   

5.25%

    1,056,153       26,615,056  

5.50%

    503,602       12,942,571  

6.00%

    772,336       19,980,332  

B. Riley Financial Inc.

   

6.38%

    442,377       11,501,802  

6.50%

    454,850       11,971,652  

6.75%

    373,087       9,685,339  

6.88%

    377,734       9,741,760  

Brightsphere Investment Group Inc., 5.13%

    417,471       10,737,354  

Brookfield Finance I UK PLC, 4.50%

    792,882       20,091,630  

Brookfield Finance Inc., Series 50, 4.63%

    1,335,403       34,279,795  

Carlyle Finance LLC, 4.63%

    1,669,316       42,767,876  

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

   

Series D, 5.95%

    2,490,549       63,284,850  

Series J, 4.45%

    1,992,471       52,202,740  

Cowen Inc., 7.75%

    333,931       9,784,178  

Gladstone Investment Corp.

   

4.88%

    411,823       11,024,502  

5.00%

    429,539       11,172,309  

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (The)

   

Series A, 3.75% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.750%)(c)

    2,490,549       62,263,725  

Series C, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.750%)(c)

    671,824       16,990,429  

Series D, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.670%)(c)

    4,507,154       114,030,996  

Series J, 5.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.640%)(c)

    3,338,749       90,546,873  

Series K, 6.38% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.550%)(c)

    2,324,523       65,319,096  

KKR & Co. Inc., Series C, 6.00%(a)

    1,919,772       151,681,186  

KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC, 4.63%

    1,669,323       43,636,103  

Logan Ridge Finance Corp., 5.75%(a)

    154,861       4,038,775  

Morgan Stanley

   

Series A, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.700%)(c)

    3,672,591       92,108,582  

Series E, 7.13% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.320%)(c)

    2,875,036       81,967,276  

Series F, 6.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.940%)(c)

    2,822,680       79,091,494  

Series I, 6.38% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.708%)(c)

    3,338,749       95,321,284  

Series K, 5.85% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.491%)(c)

    3,338,749       98,927,133  

Series L, 4.88%

    1,660,339       44,829,153  

Newtek Business Services Corp., 5.50%

    337,290       8,718,947  
Security   Shares     Value  
Capital Markets (continued)            

Northern Trust Corp., Series E, 4.70%

    1,343,354     $ 36,875,067  

Oaktree Capital Group LLC

   

Series A, 6.63%

    604,434       16,162,565  

Series B, 6.55%

    789,271       21,191,926  

Prospect Capital Corp., Series A, 5.35%

    498,078       11,630,121  

State Street Corp.

   

Series D, 5.90% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.108%)(c)

        2,490,549       70,407,820  

Series G, 5.35% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.709%)(c)

    1,660,340       48,531,738  

Stifel Financial Corp.

   

5.20%

    751,366       20,437,155  

Series B, 6.25%

    528,901       14,401,974  

Series C, 6.13%

    739,760       20,861,232  

Series D, 4.50%

    996,235       25,214,708  
   

 

 

 
          1,812,421,917  
Chemicals — 0.1%            

EI du Pont de Nemours & Co., Series B, 4.50%

    141,397       16,400,638  
   

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies — 0.7%  

Charah Solutions Inc., 8.50%

    448,314       11,131,637  

GFL Environmental Inc., 6.00%(a)

    1,203,979       102,386,374  

Pitney Bowes Inc., 6.70%

    831,137       20,844,916  
   

 

 

 
      134,362,927  
Consumer Finance — 2.7%            

Capital One Financial Corp.

   

Series G, 5.20%

    1,992,471       50,250,119  

Series H, 6.00%

    1,660,340       41,989,998  

Series I, 5.00%

    5,008,120       132,564,936  

Series J, 4.80%

    4,173,394       109,468,125  

Series K, 4.63%

    422,241       10,898,040  

Series L, 4.38%

    2,241,509       57,718,857  

Series N, 4.25%

    1,411,300       35,183,709  

Navient Corp., 6.00%

    1,034,101       26,049,004  

SLM Corp., Series B, 1.82% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.700%)(c)

    335,725       20,707,518  

Synchrony Financial, Series A, 5.63%

    2,490,548       66,398,010  
   

 

 

 
      551,228,316  
Diversified Financial Services — 1.8%            

Citigroup Capital XIII, 6.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.370%)(c)

    7,498,485       208,082,959  

Compass Diversified Holdings

   

Series A, 7.25%

    337,290       8,718,947  

Series B, 7.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.985%)(c)

    337,290       9,258,610  

Series C, 7.88%

    391,263       10,485,848  

Equitable Holdings Inc.

   

Series A, 5.25%

    2,656,574       71,807,195  

Series C, 4.30%

    996,235       24,905,875  

Voya Financial Inc., Series B, 5.35% (5 year CMT + 3.210%)(c)

    1,007,550       29,783,178  
   

 

 

 
      363,042,612  
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 3.0%  

AT&T Inc.

   

5.35%

    4,415,276       115,724,384  

5.63%

    2,754,326       74,311,716  

Series A, 5.00%

    4,006,433       107,692,919  

Series C, 4.75%

    5,842,765       154,073,713  

Qwest Corp.

   

6.50%

    3,264,288       83,728,987  

6.75%

    2,204,045       58,385,152  

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   N V E S T M  E N T S

  7


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

September 30, 2021

  

iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Diversified Telecommunication Services (continued)  

Telephone & Data Systems Inc., 5.88%

    651,202     $ 16,436,338  
   

 

 

 
      610,353,209  
Electric Utilities — 11.2%            

Alabama Power Co., Series A, 5.00%

    839,727       21,925,272  

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

   

6.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.677%)(c)

    959,978       26,428,194  

7.75%(a)

    1,919,709       92,952,310  

Series 19-A, 6.20% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.010%)(c)

    1,168,531       32,344,938  

American Electric Power Co. Inc.

   

6.13%(a)

    1,343,778       64,057,897  

6.13%(a)

    1,418,924       70,548,901  

Brookfield BRP Holdings, 4.63%

    1,168,815       30,132,051  

Brookfield Infrastructure Finance ULC, 5.00%

    834,600       21,716,292  

CMS Energy Corp.

   

5.63%

    689,454       18,429,105  

5.88%

    2,103,322       56,810,727  

5.88%

    934,740       25,069,727  

DTE Energy Co.

   

Series E, 5.25%

    1,335,403       34,493,459  

Series F, 6.00%

    965,294       24,692,221  

Series G, 4.38%

    792,882       20,218,491  

Duke Energy Corp.

   

5.13%

    1,669,316       42,200,308  

5.63%

    1,669,316       44,704,282  

Series A, 5.75%

    3,320,660       91,982,282  

Entergy Arkansas LLC, 4.88%

    1,368,797       34,425,245  

Entergy Louisiana LLC, 4.88%

    930,851       23,503,988  

Entergy Mississippi LLC, 4.90%

    896,310       22,757,311  

Georgia Power Co., Series 2017, 5.00%

    930,851       24,090,424  

Interstate Power & Light Co., Series D, 5.10%

    671,825       17,339,803  

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., Series US, 5.50%

    861,867       23,623,774  

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc.

   

Series K, 5.25%

    1,902,976       48,050,144  

Series N, 5.65%

    2,295,302       64,084,832  

NextEra Energy Inc.

   

4.87%(a)

    2,503,934       146,755,572  

5.28%(a)

    4,173,250       212,668,820  

6.22%(a)

    3,338,633       170,637,533  

Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Series A, 6.00%

    356,621       10,199,361  

PG&E Corp., 5.50%(a)

    1,335,403       127,664,527  

SCE Trust II, 5.10%

    758,439       19,036,819  

SCE Trust III, Series H, 5.75%
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 2.990%)(c)

    947,984       24,420,068  

SCE Trust IV, Series J, 5.38%
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.132%)(c)

    1,085,190       26,912,712  

SCE Trust V, Series K, 5.45%
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.790%)(c)

    1,034,101       26,162,755  

SCE Trust VI, 5.00%

    1,585,876       39,060,126  

Sempra Energy, 5.75%

    2,528,961       69,546,428  

Southern Co. (The)

   

5.25%

        2,670,895       66,799,084  

5.25%

    1,502,364       39,361,937  

Series 2019, 6.75%(a)

    2,879,527       146,884,672  

Series 2020, 4.95%

    3,338,633       88,306,843  

Series C, 4.20%

    2,503,934       64,100,710  
   

 

 

 
          2,255,099,945  
Electrical Equipment — 0.1%            

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc., Series A, 7.75%

    620,836       15,645,067  
   

 

 

 
Security   Shares     Value  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.2%  

II-VI Inc., Series A, 6.00%(a)

    195,316     $ 49,231,351  
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.1%

   

Hoegh LNG Partners LP, Series A, 8.75%

    595,069       12,954,652  
   

 

 

 

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 7.6%

 

Agree Realty Corp., Series A, 4.25%

    584,747       14,700,540  

American Finance Trust Inc., Series A, 7.50%

    666,107       17,751,751  

American Homes 4 Rent

   

Series F, 5.88%

    523,248       13,337,591  

Series G, 5.88%

    390,710       10,131,110  

Series H, 6.25%

    390,710       10,506,192  

Arbor Realty Trust Inc., Series D, 6.38%(b)

    779,925       19,888,087  

Armada Hoffler Properties Inc., Series A, 6.75%

    505,026       13,600,350  

Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc., Series B, 5.50%

    259,826       5,830,495  

Brookfield DTLA Fund Office Trust Investor Inc., Series A, 7.62%(b)

    821,411       11,672,250  

Cedar Realty Trust Inc., Series C, 6.50%

    424,868       10,987,086  

Chatham Lodging Trust, Series A, 6.63%

    404,361       10,295,031  

City Office REIT Inc., Series A, 6.63%

    377,973       9,592,955  

CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust Inc., Series A, 7.37%

    423,171       10,278,824  

DiamondRock Hospitality Co., 8.25%

    365,302       9,892,378  

Digital Realty Trust Inc.

   

Series J, 5.25%

    671,825       17,386,831  

Series K, 5.85%

    697,353       19,177,207  

Series L, 5.20%

    1,145,588       31,159,994  

DigitalBridge Group Inc.

   

Series H, 7.13%

    954,689       24,373,210  

Series I, 7.15%

    1,145,588       29,510,347  

Series J, 7.12%

    1,046,082           27,365,505  

Diversified Healthcare Trust

   

5.63%

    1,168,726       28,177,984  

6.25%

    861,867       21,572,531  

EPR Properties

   

Series C, 5.75%

    457,977       11,948,620  

Series E, 9.00%(b)

    291,015       10,744,274  

Series G, 5.75%

    506,640       13,132,109  

Equity Commonwealth, Series D, 6.50%(b)

    414,938       12,900,422  

Farmland Partners Inc., Series B, 6.00%(d)

    492,112       12,425,828  

Federal Realty Investment Trust, Series C, 5.00%(b)

    506,640       12,904,121  

Gladstone Commercial Corp., Series G, 6.00%

    336,803       9,123,993  

Gladstone Land Corp., Series B, 6.00%

    502,594       12,966,925  

Global Net Lease Inc.

   

Series A, 7.25%

    573,875       15,494,625  

Series B, 6.87%

    373,917       10,432,284  

Hersha Hospitality Trust

   

Series D, 6.50%

    646,567       15,776,235  

Series E, 6.50%

    338,322       8,370,086  

iStar Inc.

   

Series D, 8.00%

    329,090       8,615,576  

Series I, 7.50%

    411,449       10,516,636  

Kimco Realty Corp.

   

Series L, 5.13%

    755,776       19,703,080  

Series M, 5.25%

    887,965       23,273,563  

Lexington Realty Trust, Series C, 6.50%(b)

    164,412       10,668,695  

Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp., Series C, 6.13%

    1,825,251       46,032,830  

National Retail Properties Inc., Series F, 5.20%

        1,145,588       28,708,435  

National Storage Affiliates Trust, Series A, 6.00%

    733,732       19,231,116  

Office Properties Income Trust, 6.37%

    558,527       15,560,562  

 

 

8  

2 0 2 1   H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A L   E P O R T   T O   H  A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

September 30, 2021

  

iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (continued)  

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

   

Series E, 6.37%(b)

    365,301     $ 8,990,058  

Series F, 6.30%

    498,078       12,362,296  

Series G, 6.37%

    763,692       19,512,331  

Series H, 5.70%

    830,209       20,755,225  

Pennsylvania REIT

   

Series C, 7.20%(b)

    582,495       7,974,356  

Series D, 6.87%

    422,241       5,362,461  

PS Business Parks Inc.

   

Series W, 5.20%

    637,148       16,068,873  

Series X, 5.25%

    763,692       20,207,290  

Series Y, 5.20%

    664,183       17,448,087  

Series Z, 4.88%

        1,079,248       29,787,245  

Public Storage

   

Series E, 4.90%

    1,162,261       29,161,128  

Series F, 5.15%

    929,718       23,847,267  

Series G, 5.05%

    996,235       25,463,767  

Series H, 5.60%

    946,392       26,413,801  

Series I, 4.88%

    1,050,138       28,794,784  

Series J, 4.70%

    859,240       23,302,589  

Series K, 4.75%

    763,692       20,902,250  

Series L, 4.63%

    1,886,378       51,460,392  

Series M, 4.13%

    772,336       20,157,970  

Series N, 3.88%(b)

    938,095       24,071,518  

Series O, 3.90%(b)

    572,008       14,883,648  

Series P, 4.00%

    2,015,726       51,481,642  

Series Q, 3.95%

    415,065       10,534,350  

Ready Capital Corp.

   

5.75%(b)

    677,248       17,283,369  

6.20%

    345,984       8,960,986  

7.00%(a)

    384,068       10,350,633  

RLJ Lodging Trust, Series A, 1.95%

    1,069,200       31,113,720  

Saul Centers Inc., Series E, 6.00%

    371,537       9,834,584  

SITE Centers Corp., Series A, 6.37%

    586,303       15,185,248  

SL Green Realty Corp., Series I, 6.50%

    772,336       20,042,119  

Spirit Realty Capital Inc., Series A, 6.00%

    582,495       15,162,345  

Summit Hotel Properties Inc.

   

Series E, 6.25%

    540,257       14,062,890  

Series F, 5.88%(b)

    332,052       8,677,050  

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.

   

Series H, 6.13%

    386,056       9,983,408  

Series I, 5.70%

    336,803       8,527,852  

UMH Properties Inc.

   

Series C, 6.75%

    829,917       21,561,244  

Series D, 6.37%

    646,229       17,047,521  

Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.

   

Series H, 6.25%

    335,703       8,768,562  

Series K, 5.88%

    321,632       8,442,840  

Vornado Realty Trust

   

Series K, 5.70%

    996,235       24,925,800  

Series L, 5.40%

    996,235       25,663,014  

Series M, 5.25%

    1,060,983       27,670,437  

Series N, 5.25%

    996,235       26,798,721  
   

 

 

 
          1,534,723,935  

Food Products — 1.1%

   

CHS Inc.

   

8.00%

    1,030,376       31,838,618  

Series 1, 7.88%

    1,781,457       50,896,226  

Series 2, 7.10% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.298%)(c)

    1,410,666       39,597,395  

Series 3, 6.75% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.155%)(b)(c)

    1,635,448       45,988,798  
Security   Shares     Value  
Food Products (continued)  

Series 4, 7.50%

    1,718,461     $ 50,196,246  
   

 

 

 
      218,517,283  

Gas Utilities — 0.8%

   

Entergy New Orleans LLC, 5.50%

    398,317       10,176,999  

NiSource Inc., 7.75%(a)

    719,898       74,473,448  

South Jersey Industries Inc.

   

5.63%

    667,935       17,793,789  

8.75%(a)

    559,342       27,088,933  

Spire Inc., Series A, 5.90%

    839,727       22,907,753  

UGI Corp., 7.25%(a)

    183,676       18,459,438  
   

 

 

 
      170,900,360  
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 3.7%  

Becton Dickinson and Co.,
Series B, 6.00%(a)(b)

        2,504,015       135,166,730  

Boston Scientific Corp., Series A, 5.50%(a)

    839,930       97,767,852  

Danaher Corp.

   

Series A, 4.75%(a)

    137,714       279,285,369  

Series B, 5.00%(a)

    143,560       232,907,437  
   

 

 

 
          745,127,388  
Health Care Technology — 0.2%            

CareCloud Inc., Series A, 11.00%

    461,965       13,489,378  

Change Healthcare Inc., 6.00%(a)

    338,467       23,550,534  
   

 

 

 
      37,039,912  
Household Products — 0.1%            

Energizer Holdings Inc., Series A, 7.50%(a)

    180,840       15,304,489  
   

 

 

 
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 0.5%  

AES Corp. (The), 6.88%(a)

    908,972       87,624,901  

Brookfield Renewable Partners LP,
Series 17, 5.25%

    671,831       17,736,338  
   

 

 

 
      105,361,239  
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.1%            

Steel Partners Holdings LP, Series A, 6.00%

    537,782       12,621,744  
   

 

 

 

Insurance — 9.9%

   

AEGON Funding Co. LLC, 5.10%

    3,088,240       81,714,830  

Allstate Corp. (The)

   

5.10% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.165%)(c)

    1,669,316       44,353,726  

Series G, 5.63%

    1,909,458       51,097,096  

Series H, 5.10%

    3,839,553       105,126,961  

Series I, 4.75%

    1,000,677       27,488,597  

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.

   

Series A, 5.95% (5 year CMT + 4.322%)(c)

    1,315,078       35,954,233  

Series B, 6.63% (5 year CMT + 6.297%)(c)

    986,236       28,344,423  

American Financial Group Inc./OH

   

4.50%

    689,454       18,815,200  

5.13%

    689,454       18,642,836  

5.63%

    517,132       14,603,808  

5.88%

    430,844       12,106,716  

American International Group Inc., Series A, 5.85%

    1,660,340       45,128,041  

Arch Capital Group Ltd.

   

Series F, 5.45%

    1,095,824       28,217,468  

Series G, 4.55%

    1,660,339       43,500,882  

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd., 7.00% (5 year CMT + 6.712%)(c)

    506,640       13,902,202  

Argo Group U.S. Inc., 6.50%

    480,049       12,529,279  

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd.

   

5.63%

    838,083       22,913,189  

5.63%

    822,022       21,586,298  

5.95% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.060%)(c)

    913,222       24,730,052  

Assurant Inc., 5.25%

    861,867       23,287,646  

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   N V E S T M  E N T S

  9


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

September 30, 2021

  

iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Insurance (continued)  

Athene Holding Ltd.

   

Series A, 6.35% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.253%)(c)

    2,864,147     $ 84,950,600  

Series B, 5.63%

    1,145,588       31,045,435  

Series C, 6.38% (5 year CMT +
5.970%)(c)

    1,992,471       56,526,402  

Series D, 4.88%

    1,909,458       49,894,138  

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd., Series E, 5.50%

    1,826,445       46,409,967  

Brighthouse Financial Inc.

   

6.25%

    1,251,971       33,427,626  

Series A, 6.60%

    1,411,300       38,161,552  

Series B, 6.75%

    1,336,584       38,052,546  

Series C, 5.38%

    1,909,458       50,753,394  

CNO Financial Group Inc., 5.13%

    517,140       13,781,781  

Enstar Group Ltd.

   

Series D, 7.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.015%)(c)

    1,328,287       38,905,526  

Series E, 7.00%

    373,197       10,098,711  

Global Indemnity Group LLC, 7.88%

    440,389       11,533,788  

Globe Life Inc., 4.25%

    1,085,190       27,639,789  

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (The)

   

7.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.596%)(c)

    2,003,149       51,981,717  

Series G, 6.00%

    1,145,588       31,492,214  

Maiden Holdings Ltd.

   

6.63%

    339,227       7,530,839  

Series A, 8.25%

    508,544       5,827,914  

Series C, 7.13%

    559,816       6,801,764  

Series D, 6.70%

    506,640       6,231,672  

Maiden Holdings North America Ltd., 7.75%

    509,305       12,462,693  

MetLife Inc.

   

Series A, 4.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.000%)(c)

    1,992,471       50,588,839  

Series E, 5.63%

    2,673,150       72,763,143  

Series F, 4.75%

    3,320,660       88,894,068  

PartnerRe Ltd., Series J, 4.88%

    673,205       18,035,162  

Prudential Financial Inc.

   

4.13%

    1,669,316       43,168,512  

5.63%

    1,886,324       50,836,432  

Prudential PLC

   

6.50%(b)

    1,034,102       27,341,657  

6.75%(b)

    861,867       22,606,771  

Reinsurance Group of America Inc.

   

5.75% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.040%)(c)

    1,335,403       37,805,259  

6.20% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.370%)(c)

    1,335,403       35,054,329  

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

   

Series F, 5.75%

    835,287       22,619,572  

Series G, 4.20%

    1,660,340       41,342,466  

Selective Insurance Group Inc., Series B, 4.60%

    671,825       17,487,605  

SiriusPoint Ltd., Series B, 8.00%

   

(5 year CMT + 7.298%)(c)

    664,193       18,843,155  

Unum Group, 6.25%

    1,033,210       27,937,998  

W R Berkley Corp.

   

4.13%

    1,001,745       26,646,417  

4.25%(b)

    861,867       23,373,833  

WR Berkley Corp.

   

5.10%

    1,001,745       26,616,365  

5.70%

    637,700       17,001,082  
   

 

 

 
          1,996,516,216  
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 0.9%  

Qurate Retail Inc., 8.00%

    1,037,702       112,227,471  
Security   Shares     Value  
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (continued)  

QVC Inc.

   

6.25%

    1,670,130     $ 42,888,938  

6.38%

    775,670       20,283,771  
   

 

 

 
      175,400,180  
IT Services — 0.2%            

Sabre Corp., 6.50%(a)

    280,396       42,808,057  
   

 

 

 
Leisure Products — 0.3%            

Brunswick Corp./DE

   

6.38%

    792,882       21,986,618  

6.50%

    637,700       18,174,450  

6.63%

    430,844       12,020,548  
   

 

 

 
      52,181,616  
Life Sciences Tools & Services — 1.1%  

Avantor Inc., Series A, 6.25%(a)

    1,727,792       217,546,291  
   

 

 

 

Machinery — 0.5%

   

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc., 8.13%

    538,549       14,088,442  

Colfax Corp., 5.75%(a)

    133,188       24,847,553  

Stanley Black & Decker Inc.,
Series I, 5.25%(a)

    625,986       65,878,767  
   

 

 

 
      104,814,762  

Marine — 0.2%

   

Atlas Corp.

   

Series D, 7.95%

    433,135       11,174,883  

Series H, 7.88%

    757,809       19,392,333  

Series I, 8.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.008%)(c)

    507,207       14,069,922  
   

 

 

 
      44,637,138  
Media — 0.3%            

Liberty Broadband Corp., Series A, 7.00%

    603,887       16,818,253  

ViacomCBS Inc., Series A, 5.75%(a)(b)

    830,209       54,237,554  
   

 

 

 
      71,055,807  
Metals & Mining — 1.2%            

ArcelorMittal SA, 5.50%(a)

    3,338,750           239,855,800  
   

 

 

 

Mortgage Real Estate Investment — 4.1%

 

ACRES Commercial Realty Corp.

   

8.62% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.927%)(b)(c)

    403,115       10,255,246  

Series D, 7.87%

    387,389       9,928,780  

AG Mortgage Investment Trust Inc., Series B, 8.00%

    351,568       8,771,622  

AGNC Investment Corp.

   

Series C, 7.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.111%)(c)

    1,079,248       28,287,090  

Series D, 6.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.332%)(c)

    789,271       20,347,406  

Series E, 6.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.993%)(c)

    1,336,584       34,283,379  

Series F, 6.13% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.697%)(c)

    1,909,458       48,194,720  

Annaly Capital Management Inc.

   

Series F, 6.95% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.993%)(c)

        2,390,941       61,781,915  

Series G, 6.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.172%)(c)

    1,411,300       36,129,280  

Series I, 6.75% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.989%)(c)

    1,469,342       39,143,271  

Arbor Realty Trust Inc., 6.25%

    415,065       10,584,157  

ARMOUR Residential REIT Inc., Series C, 7.00%

    577,707       14,922,172  

Capstead Mortgage Corp., Series E, 7.50%

    858,672       21,509,734  

Chimera Investment Corp.

   

Series A, 8.00%

    489,553       12,326,944  

Series B, 8.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.791%)(c)

    1,079,248       27,639,541  

Series C, 7.75% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.743%)(c)

    873,222       22,476,734  

Series D, 8.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.379%)(c)

    671,825       17,138,256  

Dynex Capital Inc., Series C, 6.90%
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.461%)(c)

    376,422       9,730,509  

Ellington Financial Inc., 6.75%
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.196%)(c)

    378,881       9,816,807  

 

 

10  

2 0 2 1   H A R E S    E M I - A N N U A L   E P O R T   T O   H  A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

September 30, 2021

  

iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Mortgage Real Estate Investment (continued)  

Great Ajax Corp., 7.25%(a)

    386,914     $ 10,164,231  

Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc.

 

Series B, 7.75% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.180%)(c)

    522,998       13,336,449  

Series C, 7.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.289%)(c)

    965,653       24,575,869  

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc., Series A, 6.50%

    578,947       15,075,780  

MFA Financial Inc.

 

Series B, 7.50%

    671,825       16,970,299  

Series C, 6.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.345%)(c)

    923,677       22,703,981  

New Residential Investment Corp.

 

Series A, 7.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.802%)(c)

    524,015       13,388,583  

Series B, 7.13% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.640%)(c)

    948,693       23,897,577  

Series C, 6.38% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.969%)(c)

    1,336,584       31,262,700  

Series D, 7.00% (5 year CMT + 6.223%)(c)

    1,420,193       35,689,450  

New York Mortgage Trust Inc.

 

Series D, 8.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.695%)(c)

    509,574       12,943,180  

Series E, 7.87% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.429%)(c)

    616,623       15,631,393  

Series F, 6.88% (SOFR + 6.130%)(c)

    421,332       10,449,034  

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust

 

Series A, 8.12% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.831%)(c)

    370,492       9,810,628  

Series B, 8.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.990%)(c)

    654,839       17,588,975  

Series C, 6.75%

    835,364       21,184,831  

Ready Capital Corp., 6.50%

    385,256       9,708,451  

TPG RE Finance Trust Inc., Series C, 6.25%

    668,243       16,171,481  

Two Harbors Investment Corp.

 

Series A, 8.12% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.660%)(c)

    487,031       13,120,615  

Series B, 7.63% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.352%)(c)

    954,689       24,735,992  

Series C, 7.25% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.011%)(c)

    990,590       25,131,268  
   

 

 

 
    826,808,330  
Multiline Retail — 0.1%  

Dillard’s Capital Trust I, 7.50%

    660,267       18,507,284  

Franchise Group Inc., Series A, 7.50%

    383,414       10,333,007  
   

 

 

 
    28,840,291  
Multi-Utilities — 1.7%  

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP

 

Series 13, 5.13%

    671,825       17,165,129  

Series 14, 5.00%

    671,825       17,077,791  

CMS Energy Corp., Series C, 4.20%

    775,187       19,348,668  

Dominion Energy Inc., Series A, 7.25%(a)

    1,343,778       130,521,157  

DTE Energy Co., 6.25%(a)

    2,170,101       109,069,276  

NiSource Inc., Series B, 6.50% (5 year CMT + 3.632%)(c)

    1,660,339       45,559,702  
   

 

 

 
        338,741,723  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 1.9%  

Altera Infrastructure LP

 

Series A, 7.25%

    506,640       3,207,031  

Series B, 8.50%

    419,651       2,689,963  

Series E, 8.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.407%)(c)

    407,334       2,582,498  

DCP Midstream LP

 

Series B, 7.88% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.919%)(c)

    544,290       13,525,607  

Series C, 7.95% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.882%)(c)

    373,735       9,306,002  

El Paso Energy Capital Trust I, 4.75%

    368,916       18,279,788  

Enbridge Inc., Series B, 6.38% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.593%)(c)

    2,003,149       53,123,511  

Energy Transfer LP

   

Series C, 7.38% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.530%)(c)

    1,494,319       37,492,464  

Series D, 7.63% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.738%)(c)

    1,477,719       37,016,861  

Series E, 7.60% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.161%)(c)

    2,670,976       67,735,951  

NGL Energy Partners LP, Series B, 9.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 7.213%)(c)

    1,062,342       14,809,047  
Security   Shares     Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)  

NuStar Energy LP

 

Series A, 8.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.766%)(c)

    760,650     $ 18,430,549  

Series B, 7.63% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 5.643%)(c)

    1,292,898       27,499,940  

Series C, 9.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US +
6.88%)(c)

    582,495       14,486,651  

NuStar Logistics LP, 6.86% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.734%)(c)

    1,343,778       33,460,072  

Teekay LNG Partners LP
9.00%

    422,793       10,700,891  

Series B, 8.50% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.241%)(c)

    573,950       15,686,054  
   

 

 

 
    380,032,880  
Pharmaceuticals — 0.2%  

Elanco Animal Health Inc., 5.00%(a)

    918,139       45,787,592  
   

 

 

 

Professional Services — 0.5%

 

Clarivate PLC, Series A, 5.25%(a)

    1,199,847       104,014,737  
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development — 0.6%

 

Brookfield Property Partners LP
6.25%

    2,228,498       54,509,061  

Series A, 5.75%

    954,689       22,406,551  

Series A-1, 6.50%

    610,991       15,427,523  

Series A2, 6.38%

    830,209       20,954,475  
   

 

 

 
    113,297,610  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.5%  

Broadcom Inc., Series A, 8.00%(a)

    333,842       511,449,282  
   

 

 

 

Software — 0.3%

 

Synchronoss Technologies Inc., 8.38%

    419,160       10,399,360  

Tennessee Valley Authority

 

Series A, 2.22% (30 Year CMT +
0.840%)(c)

    774,768       20,910,988  

Series D, 2.13% (30 Year CMT +
0.940%)(c)

    915,030       25,382,932  
   

 

 

 
    56,693,280  
Specialty Retail — 0.1%  

TravelCenters of America Inc.

 

8.00%

    400,729       10,887,807  

8.00%

    337,290       8,843,744  

8.25%

    372,369       10,109,818  
   

 

 

 
    29,841,369  
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.7%  

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp.

 

Series D, 5.70%

    338,900       9,075,742  

Series F, 5.25%

    405,227       10,649,366  

Series G, 4.88%

    418,676       10,881,389  

Merchants Bancorp./IN

 

Series B, 6.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 4.569%)(c)

    422,241       10,931,820  

Series C, 6.00%

    658,722       17,489,069  

New York Community Bancorp Inc., Series A, 6.38% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.821%)(c)

    1,710,182       48,979,612  

New York Community Capital Trust V,
6.00%(a)

    242,098       12,903,823  

Washington Federal Inc., Series A, 4.88%

    1,007,550       26,377,659  
   

 

 

 
        147,288,480  
Trading Companies & Distributors — 0.9%  

Air Lease Corp., Series A, 6.15% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 3.65%)(c)

    839,727       22,739,807  

Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC

   

Series A, 8.25% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.886%)(c)

    351,096       9,426,928  

Series B, 8.00% (3 mo. LIBOR US + 6.447%)(c)

    414,752       10,990,928  

Series C, 8.25% (5 year CMT + 7.378%)(c)

    352,660       9,550,033  

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   N V E S T M  E N T S

  11


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

September 30, 2021

  

iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  
Trading Companies & Distributors (continued)  

Textainer Group Holdings Ltd.

 

6.25%

    501,064     $ 12,772,121  

7.00% (5 year CMT + 6.134%)(c)

    503,602       13,451,209  

Triton International Ltd.

 

6.88%

    501,235       13,217,567  

7.38%

    581,170       15,447,499  

8.00%

    485,520       13,478,035  

Series E, 5.75%

    581,170       15,104,608  

WESCO International Inc., Series A, 10.63% (5 year CMT + 10.325%)(c)

    1,805,389       56,653,107  
   

 

 

 
    192,831,842  
Water Utilities — 0.2%  

Essential Utilities Inc., 6.00%(a)

    634,443       36,410,684  
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 1.1%

 

Telephone & Data Systems Inc.

 

Series UU, 6.63%

    1,410,666       37,509,609  

Series VV, 6.00%

    2,291,255       57,854,189  

United States Cellular Corp.

 

5.50%

    1,669,730       44,147,661  

5.50%

    1,669,730       44,498,304  

6.25%

    1,669,730       45,249,683  
   

 

 

 
    229,259,446  
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks — 99.1%
(Cost: $19,014,700,168)

 

      20,018,561,311  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Investments

 

Money Market Funds — 2.5%

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
SL Agency Shares, 0.05%(e)(f)(g)

    95,443,156       95,490,878  
Security   Shares     Value  
Money Market Funds (continued)  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 0.00%(e)(f)

    403,730,000     $ 403,730,000  
   

 

 

 
    499,220,878  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments — 2.5%
(Cost: $499,204,051)

 

    499,220,878  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities — 101.6%
(Cost: $19,513,904,219)

 

    20,517,782,189  

Other Assets, Less Liabilities — (1.6)%

 

    (315,284,186
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

  $   20,202,498,003  
   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Convertible security.

(b)

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(c)

Variable rate security. Interest rate resets periodically. The rate shown is the effective interest rate as of period end. Security description also includes the reference rate and spread if published and available.

(d)

Step coupon security. Coupon rate will either increase (step-up bond) or decrease (step-down bond) at regular intervals until maturity. Interest rate shown reflects the rate currently in effect.

(e)

Affiliate of the Fund.

(f)

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(g)

All or a portion of this security was purchased with the cash collateral from loaned securities.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six months ended September 30, 2021 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

  

 

   
        Affiliated Issuer    Value at
03/31/21
    

Purchases

at Cost

   

Proceeds

from Sales

   

Net Realized

Gain (Loss)

    

Change in

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

     Value at
09/30/21
    

Shares

Held at

09/30/21

     Income    

Capital

Gain

Distributions

from

Underlying

Funds

   

    

 
  

 

   
  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares

   $ 19,893,290      $ 75,600,402 (a)    $     $ (1,617    $ (1,197    $ 95,490,878        95,443,156      $ 2,772,053 (b)    $    
  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

     407,290,000              (3,560,000 )(a)                    403,730,000        403,730,000        8,196          
            

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   
             $ (1,617    $ (1,197    $ 499,220,878         $ 2,780,249     $    
            

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

  (a)

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 
  (b)

All or a portion represents securities lending income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral from loaned securities, net of fees and collateral investment expenses, and other payments to and from borrowers of securities.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End

Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For a description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

12  

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Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

September 30, 2021

   iShares® Preferred and Income Securities ETF

 

Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End (continued)

The following table summarizes the Fund’s financial instruments categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s financial instruments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.

 

                                                                                                           

 

 
     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

 

 

Investments

                 

Assets

                 

Preferred Stocks

   $ 20,005,660,889        $ 12,900,422        $        $ 20,018,561,311  

Money Market Funds

     499,220,878                            499,220,878  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 20,504,881,767        $ 12,900,422        $        $ 20,517,782,189  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

C H E D U L E   O F   N V E S T M  E N T S

  13


 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

September 30, 2021

 

   

iShares

Preferred and

Income Securities

ETF

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

Investments in securities, at value (including securities on loan)(a):

 

Unaffiliated(b)

  $ 20,018,561,311  

Affiliated(c)

    499,220,878  

Cash

    36,950,580  

Receivables:

 

Investments sold

    140,502,525  

Securities lending income — Affiliated

    520,492  

Capital shares sold

    692,336  

Dividends

    51,055,217  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    20,747,503,339  
 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Collateral on securities loaned, at value

    95,412,879  

Payables:

 

Investments purchased

    441,122,943  

Capital shares redeemed

    917,340  

Investment advisory fees

    7,552,174  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    545,005,336  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 20,202,498,003  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 20,955,120,778  

Accumulated loss

    (752,622,775
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 20,202,498,003  
 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

    519,700,000  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 38.87  
 

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited  
 

 

 

 

Par value

    None  
 

 

 

 

(a)   Securities loaned, at value

  $ 92,249,387  

(b)   Investments, at cost — Unaffiliated

  $ 19,014,700,168  

(c)   Investments, at cost — Affiliated

  $ 499,204,051  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Statement of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended September 30, 2021

 

   

iShares

Preferred

and Income

Securities

ETF

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

 

Dividends — Unaffiliated

  $ 514,099,087  

Dividends — Affiliated

    8,196  

Securities lending income — Affiliated — net

    2,772,053  

Foreign taxes withheld

    (345,473
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    516,533,863  
 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

Investment advisory fees

    44,117,150  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    44,117,150  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    472,416,713  
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

 

Net realized gain (loss) from:

 

Investments — Unaffiliated

    (90,944,480

Investments — Affiliated

    (1,617

In-kind redemptions — Unaffiliated

    67,219,224  
 

 

 

 

Net realized loss

    (23,726,873
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments — Unaffiliated

    285,247,359  

Investments — Affiliated

    (1,197
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    285,246,162  
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

    261,519,289  
 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ 733,936,002  
 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  15


 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

iShares

Preferred and Income Securities ETF

 
 

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended

09/30/21

(unaudited)

    

Year Ended

03/31/21

 

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

    

OPERATIONS

    

Net investment income

  $ 472,416,713      $ 845,600,544  

Net realized loss

    (23,726,873      (67,757,721

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    285,246,162        3,092,236,957  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    733,936,002        3,870,079,780  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

    

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (457,635,962      (841,924,673
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

    

Net increase in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    1,561,857,691        1,519,553,910  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    

Total increase in net assets

    1,838,157,731        4,547,709,017  

Beginning of period

    18,364,340,272        13,816,631,255  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 20,202,498,003      $ 18,364,340,272  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

16  

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Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF  
 

 

 

 
    Six Months Ended
09/30/21
(unaudited)
   

Year Ended

03/31/21

   

Year Ended

03/31/20

   

Year Ended

03/31/19

   

Year Ended

03/31/18

   

Year Ended

03/31/17

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

             $ 38.27     $ 31.50     $ 36.47     $ 37.54     $ 38.73     $ 38.93  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

      0.94       1.81       1.93       2.10       2.14       2.17  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

      0.58       6.78       (4.93     (1.02     (1.22     (0.18
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

      1.52       8.59       (3.00     1.08       0.92       1.99  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

             

From net investment income

      (0.92     (1.82     (1.97     (2.15     (2.11     (2.19
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.92     (1.82     (1.97     (2.15     (2.11     (2.19
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 38.87     $ 38.27     $ 31.50     $ 36.47     $ 37.54     $ 38.73  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

             

Based on net asset value

      4.00 %(e)       27.88     (8.90 )%      3.01     2.41     5.26
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets

             

Total expenses

      0.45 %(f)       0.46     0.46 %(g)       0.46 %(g)       0.47 %(g)       0.47
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

      4.82 %(f)       4.97     5.25     5.73     5.55     5.59
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

             

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 20,202,498     $ 18,364,340     $ 13,816,631     $ 14,370,721     $ 16,622,879     $ 17,272,398  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(h)

      15 %(e)       28     46     28     22     23
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b)

The amounts reported for a share outstanding may not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities for the fiscal period due to the timing of capital share transactions in relation to the fluctuating market values of the Fund’s underlying securities.

(c)

Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations.

(d)

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e)

Not annualized.

(f)

Annualized.

(g)

The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the underlying fund in which the Fund is invested (“acquired fund fees and expenses”). This ratio does not include these acquired fund fees and expenses.

(h)

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

F I N A N C I A L   H I G H L I G H T S

  17


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

iShares Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios.

These financial statements relate only to the following fund (the “Fund”):

 

   
iShares ETF   Diversification    
Classification    

Preferred and Income Securities

  Diversified    

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are subsequently recorded when the Fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax at various rates may be imposed on capital gains, dividends and interest. Upon notification from issuers or as estimated by management, a portion of the dividend income received from a real estate investment trust may be redesignated as a reduction of cost of the related investment and/or realized gain.

Foreign Taxes: The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes (a portion of which may be reclaimable) on income, stock dividends, capital gains on investments, or certain foreign currency transactions. All foreign taxes are recorded in accordance with the applicable foreign tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign jurisdictions in which the Fund invests. These foreign taxes, if any, are paid by the Fund and are reflected in its Statement of Operations as follows: foreign taxes withheld at source are presented as a reduction of income, foreign taxes on securities lending income are presented as a reduction of securities lending income, foreign taxes on stock dividends are presented as “Other foreign taxes”, and foreign taxes on capital gains from sales of investments and foreign taxes on foreign currency transactions are included in their respective net realized gain (loss) categories. Foreign taxes payable or deferred as of September 30, 2021, if any, are disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The Fund files withholding tax reclaims in certain jurisdictions to recover a portion of amounts previously withheld. The Fund may record a reclaim receivable based on collectability, which includes factors such as the jurisdiction’s applicable laws, payment history and market convention. The Statement of Operations includes tax reclaims recorded as well as professional and other fees, if any, associated with recovery of foreign withholding taxes.

In-kind Redemptions: For financial reporting purposes, in-kind redemptions are treated as sales of securities resulting in realized capital gains or losses to the Fund. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Fund and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Fund’s tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Fund, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Fund’s investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund’s listing exchange is open and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”). If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.

Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of the Fund’s assets and liabilities:

   

Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day are valued at the last traded price.

 

 

18  

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

   

Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that day’s published NAV.

Generally, trading in foreign instruments is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Each business day, the Fund uses current market factors supplied by independent pricing services to value certain foreign instruments (“Systematic Fair Value Price”). The Systematic Fair Value Price is designed to value such foreign securities at fair value as of the close of trading on the NYSE, which follows the close of the local markets.

If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.

Fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a fund’s NAV and the prices used by the fund’s underlying index, which in turn could result in a difference between the fund’s performance and the performance of the fund’s underlying index.

Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:

   

Level 1 – Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access;

   

Level 2 – Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs); and

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, (including the Global Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments).

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.

 

4.

SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Securities Lending: The Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by the Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, the Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.

As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), the Fund’s investment adviser, or its affiliates is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. Any non-cash collateral received cannot be sold, re-invested or pledged by the Fund, except in the event of borrower default. The securities on loan, if any, are also disclosed in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The market value of any securities on loan and the value of any related cash collateral are disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Fund under Master Securities Lending Agreements (each, an “MSLA”) which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate a net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. In the event that a borrower defaults, the Fund, as lender, would offset the market value of the collateral received against the market value of the securities loaned. When the value of the collateral is greater than that of the market value of the securities loaned, the lender is left with a net amount payable to the defaulting party. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of an MSLA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Under the MSLA, absent an event of default, the borrower can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities, and the Fund can reinvest cash collateral received in connection with loaned securities. Upon an event of default, the parties’ obligations to return the securities or collateral to the other party are extinguished, and the parties can resell or re-pledge the loaned securities or the collateral received in connection with the loaned securities in order to satisfy the defaulting party’s net payment obligation for all transactions under the MSLA. The defaulting party remains liable for any deficiency.

 

 

N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  19


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

As of period end, the following table is a summary of the securities on loan by counterparty which are subject to offset under an MSLA:

 

 

 
iShares ETF and Counterparty    
Market Value of
Securities on Loan
 
 
    
Cash Collateral
Received
 
(a)  
   
Non-Cash Collateral
Received
 
 
     Net Amount  

 

 

Preferred and Income Securities

         

Barclays Bank PLC

  $ 1,888,037      $ 1,888,037     $      $  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    12,160        12,160               

BNP Paribas SA

    13,902,352        13,902,352               

BofA Securities, Inc.

    9,720,695        9,720,695               

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

    2,519,097        2,519,097               

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

    1,461,874        1,461,874               

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

    25,566,421        25,566,421               

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    27,669,400        27,669,400               

Morgan Stanley

    2,444,396        2,444,396               

National Financial Services LLC

    18,984        18,984               

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

    153,216        153,216               

Pershing LLC

    5,311,720        5,311,720               

UBS Securities LLC

    10,200        10,200               

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

    1,484,700        1,484,700               

Wells Fargo Securities LLC

    86,135        86,135               
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $ 92,249,387      $ 92,249,387     $      $  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by the Fund is disclosed in the Fund’s statement of assets and liabilities.

 

The risks of securities lending include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not return the securities when due. To mitigate these risks, the Fund benefits from a borrower default indemnity provided by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). BlackRock’s indemnity allows for full replacement of the securities loaned to the extent the collateral received does not cover the value of the securities loaned in the event of borrower default. The Fund could incur a loss if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the market value of the loaned securities or if the value of an investment purchased with cash collateral falls below the value of the original cash collateral received. Such losses are borne entirely by the Fund.

 

5.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Investment Advisory Fees: Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, BFA manages the investment of the Fund’s assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Fund, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).

For its investment advisory services to the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the Fund’s allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:

 

   
Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets   Investment Advisory Fee  

First $46 billion

    0.4800

Over $46 billion, up to and including $81 billion

    0.4560  

Over $81 billion, up to and including $111 billion

    0.4332  

Over $111 billion, up to and including $141 billion

    0.4116  

Over $141 billion, up to and including $171 billion

    0.3910  

Over $171 billion

    0.3714  

Prior to July 14, 2021, for its investment advisory services to the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF, BFA was entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the Fund’s allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:

 

   
Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets   Investment Advisory Fee  

First $46 billion

    0.4800

Over $46 billion, up to and including $81 billion

    0.4560  

Over $81 billion, up to and including $111 billion

    0.4332  

Over $111 billion, up to and including $141 billion

    0.4116  

Over $141 billion

    0.3910  

Distributor: BlackRock Investments, LLC, an affiliate of BFA, is the distributor for the Fund. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, BFA is responsible for any fees or expenses for distribution services provided to the Fund.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Securities Lending: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has issued an exemptive order which permits BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”), an affiliate of BFA, to serve as securities lending agent for the Fund, subject to applicable conditions. As securities lending agent, BTC bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending. The Fund is responsible for fees in connection with the investment of cash collateral received for securities on loan (the “collateral investment fees”). The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund, BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional or BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, managed by BFA, or its affiliates. However, BTC has agreed to reduce the amount of securities lending income it receives in order to effectively limit the collateral investment fees the Fund bears to an annual rate of 0.04%. The SL Agency Shares of such money market fund will not be subject to a sales load, distribution fee or service fee. The money market fund in which the cash collateral has been invested may, under certain circumstances, impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% of the value redeemed or temporarily restrict redemptions for up to 10 business days during a 90 day period, in the event that the money market fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds.

Securities lending income is equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral, net of fees and other payments to and from borrowers of securities, and less the collateral investment fees. The Fund retains a portion of securities lending income and remits the remaining portion to BTC as compensation for its services as securities lending agent.

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, the Fund retains 77% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees generated across all 1940 Act iShares exchange-traded funds (the “iShares ETF Complex”) in that calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, the Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

The share of securities lending income earned by the Fund is shown as securities lending income – affiliated – net in its Statement of Operations. For the six months ended September 30, 2021, the Fund paid BTC $844,074 for securities lending agent services.

Officers and Trustees: Certain officers and/or trustees of the Trust are officers and/or trustees of BlackRock or its affiliates.

The Fund may invest its positive cash balances in certain money market funds managed by BFA or an affiliate. The income earned on these temporary cash investments is shown as dividends – affiliated in the Statement of Operations.

A fund, in order to improve its portfolio liquidity and its ability to track its underlying index, may invest in shares of other iShares funds that invest in securities in the fund’s underlying index.

 

6.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended September 30, 2021, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

 

     
iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales   

Preferred and Income Securities

  $ 2,940,878,174      $ 2,875,713,398   

For the six months ended September 30, 2021, in-kind transactions were as follows:

 

     
iShares ETF  

In-kind

Purchases

    

In-kind  

Sales  

 

Preferred and Income Securities

  $ 2,201,575,279      $ 693,666,303   

 

7.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

The Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trust’s other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Fund as of September 30, 2021, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Fund’s financial statements.

As of March 31, 2021, the Fund had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains of $1,737,916,306.

 

 

N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  21


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

As of September 30, 2021, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

         
iShares ETF   Tax Cost     

Gross Unrealized

Appreciation

    

Gross Unrealized

Depreciation

   

Net Unrealized    

Appreciation    

(Depreciation)    

 

Preferred and Income Securities

  $ 19,512,259,323      $ 1,210,580,624      $ (205,057,758   $ 1,005,522,866      

 

8.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, the Fund invests in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject the Fund to various risks, including, among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate or price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. The Fund’s prospectus provides details of the risks to which the Fund is subject.

BFA uses a “passive” or index approach to try to achieve the Fund’s investment objective following the securities included in its underlying index during upturns as well as downturns. BFA does not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. Divergence from the underlying index and the composition of the portfolio is monitored by BFA.

The Fund may be exposed to additional risks when reinvesting cash collateral in money market funds that do not seek to maintain a stable NAV per share of $1.00, which may be subject to redemption gates or liquidity fees under certain circumstances.

Market Risk: An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a fund’s investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.

Valuation Risk: The market values of equities, such as common stocks and preferred securities or equity related investments, such as futures and options, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries. A fund may invest in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. A fund may experience difficulty in selling illiquid investments in a timely manner at the price that it believes the investments are worth. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. This volatility may cause a fund’s NAV to experience significant increases or decreases over short periods of time. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, the NAV of a fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which a fund invests.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Fund may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Fund manages counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Fund to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Fund’s exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Fund.

Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within the Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

The Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the fund’s portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedule of Investments.

LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Although many LIBOR rates will be phased out by the end of 2021, a selection of widely used USD LIBOR rates will continue to be published through June 2023 in order to assist with the transition. The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Fund is uncertain.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

9.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Capital shares are issued and redeemed by the Fund only in aggregations of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”) at NAV. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the Fund are not redeemable.

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended

09/30/21

   

Year Ended

03/31/21

 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 
iShares ETF   Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

 

 

Preferred and Income Securities

       

Shares sold

    58,350,000     $ 2,277,733,130       111,400,000     $ 4,090,195,407  

Shares redeemed

    (18,450,000     (715,875,439     (70,200,000     (2,570,641,497
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

    39,900,000     $ 1,561,857,691       41,200,000     $ 1,519,553,910  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The consideration for the purchase of Creation Units of a fund in the Trust generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities and a specified amount of cash. Certain funds in the Trust may be offered in Creation Units solely or partially for cash in U.S. dollars. Investors purchasing and redeeming Creation Units may pay a purchase transaction fee and a redemption transaction fee directly to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s administrator, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.

From time to time, settlement of securities related to in-kind contributions or in-kind redemptions may be delayed. In such cases, securities related to in-kind transactions are reflected as a receivable or a payable in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

10.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were available to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or additional disclosure in the financial statements.

 

 

N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  23


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

 

iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (the “Fund”)

Under Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of Board Members who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Board Members), is required annually to consider and approve the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Agreement”) whereby the Board and its committees (composed solely of Independent Board Members) assess BlackRock’s services to the Fund, including investment management; fund accounting; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of the Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; legal and compliance services; and ability to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the Advisory Agreement. At meetings on May 7, 2021 and May 14, 2021, a committee composed of all of the Independent Board Members (the “15(c) Committee”), with independent counsel, met with management and reviewed and discussed information provided in response to initial requests of the 15(c) Committee and/or its independent counsel, and requested certain additional information, which management agreed to provide. At a meeting held on June 15-16, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the additional information provided by management in response to these requests.

After extensive discussions and deliberations, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, approved the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA and their cumulative experience as Board Members. The Board noted its satisfaction with the extent and quality of information provided and its frequent interactions with management, as well as the detailed responses and other information provided by BFA. The Independent Board Members were advised by their independent counsel throughout the process, including about the legal standards applicable to their review. In approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses and performance of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services provided to the Fund and profits realized by BFA and its affiliates; (iv) potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits; (v) the fees and services provided for other comparable funds/accounts managed by BFA and its affiliates; and (vi) other benefits to BFA and/or its affiliates. The material factors, none of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below.

Expenses and Performance of the Fund: The Board reviewed statistical information prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data, regarding the expense ratio components, including gross and net total expenses, fees and expenses of another fund in which the Fund invests (if applicable), and waivers/reimbursements (if applicable) of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs (including, where applicable, funds sponsored by an “at cost” service provider), objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Fund’s applicable peer group pursuant to Broadridge’s proprietary ETF methodology (the “Peer Group”). The Board was provided with a detailed description of the proprietary ETF methodology used by Broadridge to determine the Fund’s Peer Group. The Board noted that, due to the limitations in providing comparable funds in the Peer Group, the statistical information provided in Broadridge’s report may or may not provide meaningful direct comparisons to the Fund in all instances. The Board also noted that overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements ) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.

In addition, to the extent that any of the comparison funds included in the Peer Group, excluding iShares funds, track the same index as the Fund, Broadridge also provided, and the Board reviewed, a comparison of the Fund’s performance for the one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since inception periods, as applicable, and for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, to that of relevant comparison fund(s) for the same periods. The Board noted that the Fund seeks to track its specified underlying index and that, during the year, the Board received periodic reports on the Fund’s short- and longer-term performance in comparison with its underlying index. Such periodic comparative performance information, including additional detailed information as requested by the Board, was also considered. The Board noted that the Fund generally performed in line with its underlying index over the relevant periods.

Based on this review, the other factors considered at the meeting, and their general knowledge of ETF pricing, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fee rate and expense level and the historical performance of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on management’s representations, including information about recent and proposed enhancements to the iShares business, including with respect to capital markets support and analysis, technology, portfolio management, product design and quality, compliance and risk management, global public policy and other services, the Board expected that there would be no diminution in the scope of services required of or provided by BFA under the Advisory Agreement for the coming year as compared with the scope of services provided by BFA during prior years. In reviewing the scope of these services, the Board considered BFA’s investment philosophy and experience, noting that BFA and its affiliates have committed significant resources over time, including during the past year, to support the iShares funds and their shareholders and have made significant investments into the iShares business. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to the Fund. In that regard, the Board noted that BFA reports to the Board about portfolio management and compliance matters on a periodic basis in connection with regularly scheduled meetings of the Board, and on other occasions as necessary and appropriate, and has provided information and made relevant officers and other employees of BFA (and its affiliates) available as needed to provide further assistance with these matters. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the persons responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources available to them in managing the Fund. In addition to the above considerations, the Board reviewed and considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided at the May 7, 2021 meeting and throughout the year.

Based on review of this information, and the performance information discussed above, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Costs of Services Provided to the Fund and Profits Realized by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board reviewed information about the estimated profitability to BlackRock in managing the Fund, based on the fees payable to BFA and its affiliates (including fees under the Advisory Agreement), and other sources of revenue and expense to BFA and its affiliates from the Fund’s operations for the last calendar year. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s methodology for calculating estimated profitability of the iShares funds, noting that the 15(c) Committee and the Board had focused on the methodology and profitability presentation. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract (continued)

 

by numerous factors, including, among other things, fee waivers by BFA, the types of funds managed, expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at individual fund levels is challenging. The Board discussed with management the sources of direct and ancillary revenue, including the revenues to BTC, a BlackRock affiliate, from securities lending by the Fund. The Board also discussed BFA’s estimated profit margin as reflected in the Fund’s profitability analysis and reviewed information regarding potential economies of scale (as discussed below).

Based on this review, the Board concluded that the profits realized by BFA and its affiliates under the Advisory Agreement and from other relationships between the Fund and BFA and/or its affiliates, if any, were within a reasonable range in light of the factors and other information considered.

Economies of Scale: The Board reviewed information and considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of the Fund increase, noting that the issue of potential economies of scale had been focused on by the 15(c) Committee and the Board during their meetings and addressed by management. The 15(c) Committee and the Board received information regarding BlackRock’s historical estimated profitability, including BFA’s and its affiliates’ estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers, or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund already provided for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate, and the Board and BFA agreed during the June 15-16, 2021 meeting to revise the Advisory Agreement for the Fund to provide for one or more additional breakpoints, as the assets of the Fund, on an aggregated basis with the assets of certain other iShares funds, increase. The Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding new or revised breakpoints in the future.

The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Fees and Services Provided for Other Comparable Funds/Accounts Managed by BFA and its Affiliates: The Board considered information regarding the investment advisory/management fee rates for other funds/accounts in the U.S. for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory/management services, including open-end funds registered under the 1940 Act (including sub-advised funds), collective trust funds, and institutional separate accounts (collectively, the “Other Accounts”). The Board acknowledged BFA’s representation that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts.

The Board received detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts generally differ from the Fund, including in terms of the types of services and generally more extensive services provided to the Fund, as well as other significant differences. In that regard, the Board considered that the pricing of services to institutional clients is typically based on a number of factors beyond the nature and extent of the specific services to be provided and often depends on the overall relationship between the client and its affiliates and the adviser and its affiliates. In addition, the Board considered the relative complexity and inherent risks and challenges of managing and providing other services to the Fund, as a publicly traded investment vehicle, as compared to the Other Accounts, particularly those that are institutional clients, in light of differing regulatory requirements and client-imposed mandates. The Board noted that BFA and its affiliates do not manage Other Accounts with substantially the same investment objective and strategy as the Fund and that track the same index as the Fund. The Board also acknowledged management’s assertion that, for certain iShares funds, and for client segmentation purposes, BlackRock has launched an iShares fund that may provide a similar investment exposure at a lower investment advisory fee rate.

The Board also considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement. The Board noted that the investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was generally higher than the investment advisory/management fee rates for certain of the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) and concluded that the differences appeared to be consistent with the factors discussed.

Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: The Board reviewed other benefits or ancillary revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services provided to the Fund by BFA, both direct and indirect, including, but not limited to, payment of revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, for loaning portfolio securities (which was included in the profit margins reviewed by the Board pursuant to BFA’s estimated profitability methodology), payment of advisory fees or other fees to BFA (or its affiliates) in connection with any investments by the Fund in other funds for which BFA (or its affiliates) provides investment advisory services or other services, and BlackRock’s profile in the investment community. The Board also noted the revenue received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to (i) an agreement that permits a service provider to use certain portions of BlackRock’s technology platform to service accounts managed by BFA and/or its affiliates, including the iShares funds and (ii) other technology-related initiatives aimed to better support the iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA generally does not use soft dollars or consider the value of research or other services that may be provided to BFA (including its affiliates) in selecting brokers for portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Board concluded that any such ancillary benefits would not be disadvantageous to the Fund and thus would not alter the Board’s conclusion with respect to the appropriateness of approving the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

Conclusion: Based on a review of the factors described above, as well as such other factors as deemed appropriate by the Board, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Agreement does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the coming year.

 

 

B O A R D   R E V I E W   A N D   A P P R O V A L   O F   I N V E S T M E N T   A D V I S O R Y   C O N T R A C T

  25


Supplemental Information (unaudited)

 

Section 19(a) Notices

The amounts and sources of distributions reported are estimates and are being provided pursuant to regulatory requirements and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV each calendar year that will inform them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

September 30, 2021

 

       
   

Total Cumulative Distributions

for the Fiscal Year-to-Date

          

% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative

Distributions for the Fiscal Year-to-Date

 
 

 

 

        

 

 

 
iShares ETF  

Net

Investment

Income

    

Net Realized

Capital Gains

    

Return of

Capital

    

Total Per

Share

   

    

    

Net

Investment

Income

    

Net Realized

Capital Gains

    

Return of

Capital

    

Total Per

Share

 

Preferred and Income Securities(a)

  $ 0.677730      $      $ 0.242934      $ 0.920664              74           26      100

 

  (a)

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholder’s investment in the Fund is returned to the shareholder. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income”. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will incrementally reduce the Fund’s net asset value per share.

 

 

 

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General Information

 

Electronic Delivery

Shareholders can sign up for email notifications announcing that the shareholder report or prospectus has been posted on the iShares website at iShares.com. Once you have enrolled, you will no longer receive prospectuses and shareholder reports in the mail.

To enroll in electronic delivery:

 

   

Go to icsdelivery.com.

 

   

If your brokerage firm is not listed, electronic delivery may not be available. Please contact your broker-dealer or financial advisor.

Householding

Householding is an option available to certain fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents and Rule 30e-3 notices can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.

Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Additionally, the Fund makes its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year available at iShares.com/fundreports.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

A description of the policies and procedures that the iShares Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information about how the iShares Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ending June 30 is available without charge, upon request (1) by calling toll-free 1-800-474-2737; (2) on the iShares website at iShares.com; and (3) on the SEC website at sec.gov.

A description of the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund Prospectus. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings daily and provides information regarding its top holdings in Fund fact sheets at iShares.com.

 

 

G E N E R A L   I N F O R M A T I O N

  27


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

 

Portfolio Abbreviations - Fixed Income
CMT   Constant Maturity Treasury
LIBOR   London Interbank Offered Rate
REIT   Real Estate Investment Trust
SOFR   Secured Overnight Financing Rate

    

 

 

28  

2 0 2 1   I S H A R E S   S E M I - A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


 

Want to know more?

iShares.com    |     1-800-474-2737

This report is intended for the Fund’s shareholders. It may not be distributed to prospective investors unless it is preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).

The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by ICE Data Indices, LLC, nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the company listed above.

©2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

iS-SAR-309-0921

 

 

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