LOGO

  AUGUST 31, 2022

 

 

   

 

2022 Semi-Annual Report

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

iShares Trust

·  iShares High Yield Bond Factor ETF | HYDB | Cboe BZX

·  iShares Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF | IGEB | Cboe BZX

·  iShares USD Bond Factor ETF | USBF | NASDAQ


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The 12-month reporting period as of August 31, 2022 saw the emergence of significant challenges that disrupted the economic recovery and strong financial markets of 2021. The U.S. economy shrank in the first half of 2022, ending the run of robust growth that followed the reopening of global economies and the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Changes in consumer spending patterns and a tight labor market led to elevated inflation, which reached a 40-year high. Moreover, while the foremost effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a severe humanitarian crisis, the ongoing war continued to present challenges for both investors and policymakers.

Equity prices fell as interest rates rose, particularly weighing on relatively high-valuation growth stocks and economically sensitive small-capitalization stocks. While both large- and small-capitalization U.S. stocks fell, declines for small-capitalization U.S. stocks were steeper. Both emerging market stocks and international equities from developed markets fell significantly, pressured by rising interest rates and a strengthening U.S. dollar.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (which is inversely related to bond prices) rose notably during the reporting period as investors reacted to higher inflation and attempted to anticipate its impact on future interest rate changes. The corporate bond market also faced inflationary headwinds, and increasing uncertainty led to higher corporate bond spreads (the difference in yield between U.S. Treasuries and similarly-dated corporate bonds).

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), acknowledging that inflation is growing faster than expected, raised interest rates four times while indicating that additional rate hikes were likely. Furthermore, the Fed wound down its bond-buying programs and began to reduce its balance sheet. As investors attempted to assess the Fed’s future trajectory, the Fed’s statements late in the reporting period led markets to believe that additional tightening is likely in the near term.

The horrific war in Ukraine has significantly clouded the outlook for the global economy, leading to major volatility in energy and metals markets. Sanctions on Russia, Europe’s top energy supplier, and general wartime disruption have magnified supply problems for key commodities. We believe elevated energy prices will continue to exacerbate inflationary pressure while also constraining economic growth. Combating inflation without stifling a recovery, while buffering against ongoing supply and price shocks, will be an especially challenging environment for setting effective monetary policy. Despite the likelihood of more rate increases on the horizon, we believe the Fed will ultimately err on the side of protecting employment, even at the expense of higher inflation. In the meantime, however, we are likely to see a period of slowing growth paired with relatively high inflation.

In this environment, while we favor an overweight to equities in the long-term, the market’s concerns over excessive rate hikes from central banks moderate our outlook. Furthermore, the energy shock and a deteriorating economic backdrop in China and Europe are likely to challenge corporate earnings, so we are underweight equities overall in the near term. We take the opposite view on credit, where higher spreads provide near-term opportunities, while the likelihood of higher inflation leads us to take an underweight stance on credit in the long term. We believe that investment-grade corporates, U.K. gilts, local-currency emerging market debt, and inflation-protected bonds (particularly in Europe) offer strong opportunities for a six- to twelve-month horizon.

Overall, 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.

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

 

Total Returns as of August 31, 2022  
 
       6-Month       12-Month  
 

U.S. large cap equities
(S&P 500® Index)

    (8.84)%       (11.23)%  
 

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

    (9.31)          (17.88)     
 

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

    (13.97)          (19.80)     
 

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

    (13.30)          (21.80)     
 

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

    0.36           0.39      
 

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

    (9.71)          (13.27)     
 

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

    (7.76)          (11.52)     
 

Tax-exempt municipal bonds
(Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

    (5.72)          (8.63)     
 

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

    (7.78)          (10.61)     
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  

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


Table of Contents

 

    Page  

 

 

The Markets in Review

    2  

Semi-Annual Report:

 

Fund Summary

    4  

About Fund Performance

    7  

Disclosure of Expenses

    7  

Schedules of Investments

    8  

Financial Statements

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

    30  

Statements of Operations

    31  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

    32  

Financial Highlights

    34  

Notes to Financial Statements

    37  

Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

    45  

Supplemental Information

    51  

General Information

    52  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

    53  

 

 

 


Fund Summary as of August 31, 2022    iShares® High Yield Bond Factor ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares High Yield Bond Factor ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, high yield corporate bonds, as represented by the BlackRock High Yield Defensive Bond 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    

Since

Inception

         1 Year      5 Years     

Since

Inception

 

Fund NAV

    (6.61 )%        (9.06 )%       3.16 %        3.47       (9.06 )%       16.85      19.17

Fund Market

    (7.38      (9.76      2.90       3.36         (9.76      15.34        18.55  

Index

    (6.16      (8.64      3.51       3.77         (8.64      18.82        20.94  

Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Index

    (7.78      (10.60      2.58       2.76           (10.60      13.60        15.00  

The inception date of the Fund was July 11, 2017. The first day of secondary market trading was July 13, 2017.

The Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Index is an unmanaged index that measures the USD-denominated, high yield, fixed-rate corporate bond market.

Past performance is not an indication 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” for more information.

Expense Example

 

    Actual         Hypothetical 5% Return           
 

 

 

     

 

 

      
   

Beginning

Account Value

      

Ending

Account Value

      

Expenses

Paid During

       

Beginning

Account Value

      

Ending

Account Value

      

Expenses

Paid During

      

Annualized

Expense

 
      (03/01/22        (08/31/22        the Period (a)          (03/01/22        (08/31/22        the Period (a)         Ratio  
      $      1,000.00          $         933.90          $          1.71           $      1,000.00          $      1,023.40          $          1.79          0.35

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). 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 “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION

 

 
   
    Percent of  
Moody’s Credit Rating*     Total Investments (a) 

Baa

    2.7

Ba

    41.0  

B

    45.1  

Caa

    5.8  

Not Rated

    5.4  

MATURITY ALLOCATION

 

 
   
    Percent of  
Maturity     Total Investments (a) 

1-5 Years

    55.1

5-10 Years

    39.0  

10-15 Years

    3.4  

15-20 Years

    0.3  

More than 20 Years

    2.2  
  *

Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Moody’s credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of Ba or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

 
  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

4  

2 0 2 2   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


Fund Summary as of August 31, 2022    iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar denominated investment-grade corporate bonds, as represented by the BlackRock Investment Grade Enhanced Bond 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    

Since

Inception

            1 Year      5 Years     

Since

Inception

 

Fund NAV

    (9.13 )%        (14.70 )%       1.45 %        1.78        (14.70 )%       7.45 %         9.47

Fund Market

    (9.50      (14.89      1.34       1.73          (14.89      6.86        9.24  

Index

    (9.02      (14.51      1.60       1.92          (14.51      8.26        10.28  

Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Index

    (9.41      (14.91      1.02       1.32                (14.91      5.22        6.95  

The inception date of the Fund was July 11, 2017. The first day of secondary market trading was July 13, 2017.

The Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Index is an unmanaged index that measures the USD-denominated, investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market.

Past performance is not an indication 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” for more information.

Expense Example

 

    Actual         Hypothetical 5% Return           
 

 

 

     

 

 

      
   

Beginning

Account Value

      

Ending

Account Value

      

Expenses

Paid During

       

Beginning

Account Value

      

Ending

Account Value

      

Expenses

Paid During

       Annualized
Expense
 
      (03/01/22        (08/31/22        the Period (a)          (03/01/22        (08/31/22        the Period (a)         Ratio  
      $      1,000.00          $        908.70          $        0.87           $      1,000.00          $      1,024.30          $          0.92          0.18

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). 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 “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION

 

 
   
Moody’s Credit Rating*   Percent of  
    Total Investments (a) 

Aaa

    0.7

Aa

    3.6  

A

    15.6  

Baa

    77.0  

Ba

    3.1  

MATURITY ALLOCATION

 

 
   
Maturity   Percent of  
    Total Investments (a) 

1-5 Years

    30.3

5-10 Years

    37.9  

10-15 Years

    4.8  

15-20 Years

    9.1  

More than 20 Years

    17.9  
  *

Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Moody’s credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of Ba or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

 
  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

F U N D   S U M M A R Y

  5


Fund Summary as of August 31, 2022    iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares USD Bond Factor ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds that are rated either investment grade or high-yield, as represented by the BlackRock USD Bond Factor 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

 

              Cumulative Total Returns  
     6 Months    

Since

Inception

 

Fund NAV

    (8.70 )%      (11.84 )% 

Fund Market

    (8.76     (11.81

Index

    (8.58     (11.74

The inception date of the Fund was October 12, 2021. The first day of secondary market trading was October 14, 2021.

Past performance is not an indication 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” for more information.

Expense Example

 

    Actual         Hypothetical 5% Return           
 

 

 

     

 

 

      
   

Beginning

Account Value

      

Ending

Account Value

      

Expenses

Paid During

       

Beginning

Account Value

      

Ending

Account Value

      

Expenses

Paid During

      

Annualized

Expense

 
      (03/01/22)          (08/31/22)          the Period (a)          (03/01/22)          (08/31/22)          the Period (a)         Ratio  
      $      1,000.00          $      913.00          $          0.77           $      1,000.00          $      1,024.40          $          0.82          0.16

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). 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 “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

Portfolio Information

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION

 

 
   
Moody’s Credit Rating*   Percent of  
    Total Investments (a) 

Aaa

    28.4

Aa

    18.7  

A

    11.4  

Baa

    35.0  

Ba

    2.3  

B

    1.2  

Caa

    0.1  

Not Rated

    2.9  

MATURITY ALLOCATION

 

 
   
Maturity   Percent of  
    Total Investments (a) 

1-5 Years

    23.7

5-10 Years

    35.4  

10-15 Years

    1.2  

15-20 Years

    7.5  

More than 20 Years

    32.2  

 

  *

Credit quality ratings shown reflect the ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), a widely used independent, nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Moody’s credit ratings are opinions of the credit quality of individual obligations or of an issuer’s general creditworthiness. Investment grade ratings are credit ratings of Baa or higher. Below investment grade ratings are credit ratings of Ba or lower. Unrated investments do not necessarily indicate low credit quality. Credit quality ratings are subject to change.

 
  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

6  

2 0 2 2   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


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 each 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 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. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of the fund, the NAV of the fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. 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.

Disclosure of Expenses

Shareholders of each Fund may incur the following charges: (1) transactional expenses, including brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fund shares and (2) ongoing expenses, including management fees and other fund expenses. The expense examples shown (which are based on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the end of the period) are intended to assist shareholders both in calculating expenses based on an investment in each Fund and in comparing these expenses with similar costs of investing in other funds.

The expense examples provide information about actual account values and actual expenses. Annualized expense ratios reflect contractual and voluntary fee waivers, if any. In order to estimate the expenses a shareholder paid during the period covered by this report, shareholders can divide their account value by $1,000 and then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period.”

The expense examples also provide information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on a fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. In order to assist shareholders in comparing the ongoing expenses of investing in the Funds and other funds, compare the 5% hypothetical examples with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

The expenses shown in the expense examples are intended to highlight shareholders’ ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional expenses, such as brokerage commissions and other fees paid on purchases and sales of fund shares. Therefore, the hypothetical examples are useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help shareholders determine the relative total expenses of owning different funds. If these transactional expenses were included, shareholder expenses would have been higher.

 

 

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

  7


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® High Yield Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

 

Advertising — 0.6%  

Advantage Sales & Marketing Inc., 6.50%, 11/15/28 (Call 11/15/23)(a)(b)

  $ 790     $ 679,400  
   

 

 

 
Aerospace & Defense — 3.3%  

Bombardier Inc., 7.88%, 04/15/27
(Call 10/03/22)(a)

    715       684,648  

Rolls-Royce PLC, 5.75%, 10/15/27
(Call 07/15/27)(a)

    940       849,610  

Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

   

5.50%, 01/15/25 (Call 10/15/22)(a)

    235       230,093  

7.50%, 04/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    895       875,230  

TransDigm Inc.

   

6.25%, 03/15/26 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    920       903,900  

8.00%, 12/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    235       240,687  

TransDigm UK Holdings PLC, 6.88%, 05/15/26 (Call 10/03/22)(b)

    125       120,697  
   

 

 

 
      3,904,865  
Agriculture — 0.9%  

Vector Group Ltd.

   

5.75%, 02/01/29 (Call 02/01/24)(a)

    885       767,118  

10.50%, 11/01/26 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    264       255,503  
   

 

 

 
      1,022,621  
Airlines — 2.5%  

Air Canada, 3.88%, 08/15/26 (Call 02/15/26)(a)

    985       878,940  

American Airlines Group Inc., 3.75%, 03/01/25(a)(b)

    410       344,810  

American Airlines Inc., 11.75%, 07/15/25(a)

    730       806,654  

Delta Air Lines Inc.

   

4.38%, 04/19/28 (Call 01/19/28)(b)

    375       329,743  

7.38%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)(b)

    655       668,100  
   

 

 

 
          3,028,247  
Auto Manufacturers — 1.7%  

Allison Transmission Inc., 5.88%, 06/01/29 (Call 06/01/24)(a)(b)

    250       235,020  

Ford Motor Co.

   

5.29%, 12/08/46 (Call 06/08/46)

    530       425,325  

9.00%, 04/22/25 (Call 09/01/22)(b)

    100       111,872  

9.63%, 04/22/30 (Call 01/22/30)

    235       274,838  

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC

   

4.50%, 10/01/27 (Call 07/01/27)(a)(b)

    565       417,286  

5.50%, 07/15/29 (Call 07/15/24)(a)

    575       403,328  

5.88%, 01/15/28 (Call 01/15/24)(a)

    135       102,681  
   

 

 

 
      1,970,350  
Auto Parts & Equipment — 0.1%  

Tenneco Inc., 7.88%, 01/15/29 (Call 01/15/24)(a)

    175       173,951  
   

 

 

 
Banks — 1.1%  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA

   

4.95%, 06/01/42 (Call 06/01/41)(a)(c)

    460       300,112  

5.02%, 06/26/24(a)

    400       382,924  

5.71%, 01/15/26(a)(b)

    625       586,251  
   

 

 

 
      1,269,287  
Biotechnology — 0.3%  

Emergent BioSolutions Inc., 3.88%, 08/15/28 (Call 08/15/23)(a)

    545       381,500  
   

 

 

 
Chemicals — 2.5%            

Avient Corp., 5.75%, 05/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    485       478,317  

EverArc Escrow Sarl, 5.00%, 10/30/29 (Call 10/30/24)(a)

        710       608,207  

Methanex Corp., 5.25%, 12/15/29 (Call 09/15/29)

    170       142,814  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Chemicals (continued)  

Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., 7.25%, 04/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

  $ 515     $ 481,589  

Sasol Financing USA LLC

   

5.50%, 03/18/31 (Call 03/18/30)

    200       168,000  

5.88%, 03/27/24 (Call 02/27/24)

    930       933,720  

Valvoline Inc., 4.25%, 02/15/30 (Call 02/15/25)(a)

    125       121,863  
   

 

 

 
          2,934,510  
Coal — 0.5%  

SunCoke Energy Inc., 4.88%, 06/30/29 (Call 06/30/24)(a)

    530       439,821  

Warrior Met Coal Inc., 7.88%, 12/01/28 (Call 12/01/24)(a)

    220       216,000  
   

 

 

 
      655,821  
Commercial Services — 6.2%  

ADT Security Corp. (The)

   

4.13%, 08/01/29 (Call 08/01/28)(a)

    505       433,659  

4.88%, 07/15/32(a)(b)

    775       648,324  

Adtalem Global Education Inc., 5.50%, 03/01/28 (Call 03/01/24)(a)

    273       259,350  

Deluxe Corp., 8.00%, 06/01/29 (Call 06/01/24)(a)(b)

    520       462,706  

Graham Holdings Co., 5.75%, 06/01/26 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    129       126,931  

Korn Ferry, 4.63%, 12/15/27 (Call 12/15/22)(a)

    225       208,397  

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, 5.75%, 11/01/28 (Call 11/01/23)(a)

    0        

NESCO Holdings II Inc., 5.50%, 04/15/29 (Call 04/15/24)(a)

    925       814,000  

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co.

   

4.75%, 07/15/31 (Call 07/15/26)(a)

    665       660,810  

5.88%, 10/01/30 (Call 10/01/25)(a)

    605       605,458  

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance Inc.

   

5.75%, 04/15/26(a)

    723       695,649  

6.25%, 01/15/28 (Call 01/15/23)(a)(b)

    615       541,466  

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc., 5.38%, 01/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    485       480,756  

Sabre GLBL Inc.

   

7.38%, 09/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    675       639,495  

9.25%, 04/15/25 (Call 03/16/25)(a)

    340       334,999  

United Rentals North America Inc., 4.88%, 01/15/28 (Call 01/15/23)(b)

    395       369,171  

ZipRecruiter Inc., 5.00%, 01/15/30 (Call 01/15/25)(a)

    101       83,830  
   

 

 

 
      7,365,001  
Computers — 0.7%  

Conduent Business Services LLC/Conduent State & Local Solutions Inc., 6.00%, 11/01/29 (Call 11/01/24)(a)

    515       443,508  

Unisys Corp., 6.88%, 11/01/27 (Call 11/01/23)(a)(b)

    450       375,435  
   

 

 

 
      818,943  
Cosmetics & Personal Care — 0.7%  

Coty Inc., 5.00%, 04/15/26 (Call 04/15/23)(a)

    470       445,325  

Coty Inc./HFC Prestige Products Inc./HFC Prestige International U.S. LLC, 4.75%, 01/15/29 (Call 01/15/25)(a)

    500       442,420  
   

 

 

 
      887,745  
Diversified Financial Services — 4.5%  

Burford Capital Global Finance LLC

   

6.25%, 04/15/28 (Call 04/15/24)(a)(b)

    250       221,527  

6.88%, 04/15/30 (Call 04/15/25)(a)

    375       331,119  

Credit Acceptance Corp., 6.63%, 03/15/26 (Call 09/12/22)

    220       215,600  

Enact Holdings Inc., 6.50%, 08/15/25
(Call 02/15/25)(a)

    685       654,175  

goeasy Ltd., 5.38%, 12/01/24 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

        510       482,409  

Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc.

   

5.13%, 12/15/30 (Call 12/15/25)(a)

    620       488,221  

5.75%, 11/15/31 (Call 11/15/26)(a)(b)

    650       515,440  

 

 

8  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® High Yield Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Diversified Financial Services (continued)  

OneMain Finance Corp.

   

6.63%, 01/15/28 (Call 07/15/27)

  $ 70     $ 63,999  

6.88%, 03/15/25(b)

    610       592,935  

7.13%, 03/15/26

    920       856,971  

PRA Group Inc., 5.00%, 10/01/29
(Call 10/01/24)(a)

    230       198,172  

Radian Group Inc., 4.88%, 03/15/27 (Call 09/15/26)

    0        

Rocket Mortgage LLC/Rocket Mortgage Co-Issuer Inc., 4.00%, 10/15/33 (Call 10/15/27)(a)

    310       230,983  

SLM Corp., 3.13%, 11/02/26 (Call 10/02/26)(b)

    530       441,466  
   

 

 

 
      5,293,017  
Electric — 3.1%  

Drax Finco PLC, 6.63%, 11/01/25
(Call 09/12/22)(a)

    471       458,047  

FirstEnergy Corp.

   

Series C, 3.40%, 03/01/50 (Call 09/01/49)

    655       469,380  

Series C, 5.35%, 07/15/47 (Call 01/15/47)

    309       284,280  

Mercury Chile Holdco LLC, 6.50%, 01/24/27 (Call 01/24/24)(a)

    225       200,250  

NRG Energy Inc., 5.75%, 01/15/28 (Call 01/15/23)(b)

    425       400,609  

PG&E Corp.

 

5.00%, 07/01/28 (Call 07/01/23)

    1,010       896,845  

5.25%, 07/01/30 (Call 07/01/25)(b)

    185       159,933  

Vistra Operations Co. LLC

   

5.50%, 09/01/26 (Call 09/12/22)(a)(b)

    520       502,086  

5.63%, 02/15/27 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    335       322,437  
   

 

 

 
          3,693,867  
Electrical Components & Equipment — 0.9%  

Energizer Holdings Inc.

   

4.38%, 03/31/29 (Call 09/30/23)(a)(b)

    600       488,052  

4.75%, 06/15/28 (Call 06/15/23)(a)(b)

    655       544,921  
   

 

 

 
      1,032,973  
Electronics — 0.3%  

Sensata Technologies BV, 4.88%, 10/15/23(a)(b)

    320       322,862  
   

 

 

 
Energy - Alternate Sources — 0.5%            

Enviva Partners LP/Enviva Partners Finance Corp., 6.50%, 01/15/26 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    650       631,377  
   

 

 

 
Engineering & Construction — 1.6%  

AECOM, 5.13%, 03/15/27 (Call 12/15/26)

    800       776,000  

Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping Holdings Inc., 6.00%, 02/01/26 (Call 02/01/23)(a)

    225       203,758  

IHS Netherlands Holdco BV, 8.00%, 09/18/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

        1,050       960,876  
   

 

 

 
      1,940,634  
Entertainment — 4.7%  

AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., 7.50%, 02/15/29 (Call 02/15/25)(a)

    910       782,600  

Caesars Entertainment Inc., 6.25%, 07/01/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    905       883,651  

Cedar Fair LP/Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp./Millennium Op, 5.50%, 05/01/25
(Call 10/03/22)(a)

    915       897,528  

Live Nation Entertainment Inc.

   

4.88%, 11/01/24 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    250       241,875  

6.50%, 05/15/27 (Call 05/15/23)(a)

    770       768,749  

Resorts World Las Vegas LLC/RWLV Capital Inc., 4.63%, 04/16/29 (Call 01/16/29)(a)

    1,025       838,697  

Universal Entertainment Corp., 8.50%, 12/11/24 (Call 12/11/23)(a)

    605       578,279  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Entertainment (continued)  

Wynn Resorts Finance LLC/Wynn Resorts Capital Corp., 7.75%, 04/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

  $ 540     $ 538,199  
   

 

 

 
      5,529,578  
Environmental Control — 1.3%  

GFL Environmental Inc.

   

3.50%, 09/01/28 (Call 03/01/28)(a)

    743       645,385  

5.13%, 12/15/26 (Call 12/15/22)(a)

    325       314,085  

Stericycle Inc., 5.38%, 07/15/24
(Call 09/16/22)(a)(b)

    566       553,862  
   

 

 

 
      1,513,332  
Food — 0.8%  

B&G Foods Inc.

   

5.25%, 04/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(b)

    870       774,201  

5.25%, 09/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)

    250       208,336  
   

 

 

 
      982,537  
Gas — 0.8%  

AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp.

   

5.63%, 05/20/24 (Call 03/20/24)(b)

    480       474,067  

5.75%, 05/20/27 (Call 02/20/27)

    421       396,788  

5.88%, 08/20/26 (Call 05/20/26)

    90       85,666  
   

 

 

 
      956,521  
Health Care - Products — 0.0%            

Garden Spinco Corp., 8.63%, 07/20/30 (Call 07/20/27)(a)

    2       2,130  
   

 

 

 
Health Care - Services — 1.8%            

DaVita Inc.

   

3.75%, 02/15/31 (Call 02/15/26)(a)

    390       286,952  

4.63%, 06/01/30 (Call 06/01/25)(a)

        1,115       897,620  

Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.25%, 02/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    930       896,794  
   

 

 

 
      2,081,366  
Holding Companies - Diversified — 1.3%  

Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, 5.25%, 04/15/29 (Call 04/15/24)(a)

    250       212,813  

Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp.

   

5.25%, 05/15/27 (Call 11/15/26)

    505       459,424  

6.25%, 05/15/26 (Call 10/03/22)(b)

    710       680,631  

6.38%, 12/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(b)

    165       161,014  
   

 

 

 
          1,513,882  
Home Builders — 1.6%  

Brookfield Residential Properties Inc./Brookfield Residential U.S. LLC

   

4.88%, 02/15/30 (Call 02/15/25)(a)

    550       423,437  

6.25%, 09/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    595       528,744  

Picasso Finance Sub Inc., 6.13%, 06/15/25 (Call 09/16/22)(a)

    559       560,126  

TRI Pointe Group Inc./TRI Pointe Homes Inc., 5.88%, 06/15/24(b)

    361       356,329  
   

 

 

 
      1,868,636  
Housewares — 0.4%  

Newell Brands Inc., 5.75%, 04/01/46 (Call 10/01/45)

    650       533,000  
   

 

 

 
Insurance — 0.2%  

NMI Holdings Inc., 7.38%, 06/01/25
(Call 03/30/25)(a)

    211       213,161  
   

 

 

 
Internet — 2.7%  

GrubHub Holdings Inc., 5.50%, 07/01/27 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    675       526,500  

NortonLifeLock Inc., 5.00%, 04/15/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    940       927,780  

TripAdvisor Inc., 7.00%, 07/15/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    460       451,762  

 

 

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

  9


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® High Yield Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Internet (continued)  

Uber Technologies Inc.

 

7.50%, 05/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

  $ 350     $ 352,264  

7.50%, 09/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    935       936,192  
   

 

 

 
      3,194,498  
Iron & Steel — 1.8%  

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., 5.88%, 06/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(b)

    470       450,025  

Mineral Resources Ltd.

   

8.13%, 05/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    618       619,310  

8.50%, 05/01/30 (Call 05/01/25)(a)(b)

    455       458,330  

U.S. Steel Corp., 6.88%, 03/01/29 (Call 03/01/24)(b)

    675       659,813  
   

 

 

 
      2,187,478  
Leisure Time — 3.5%  

Carnival Corp.

   

7.63%, 03/01/26 (Call 03/01/24)(a)

    800       681,080  

9.88%, 08/01/27 (Call 02/01/24)(a)

    355       356,332  

10.50%, 02/01/26 (Call 08/01/23)(a)(b)

    655       674,647  

10.50%, 06/01/30 (Call 06/01/25)(a)

    125       114,375  

NCL Corp. Ltd., 5.88%, 02/15/27
(Call 02/15/24)(a)

    960       870,072  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

   

4.25%, 07/01/26 (Call 01/01/26)(a)

    525       403,514  

5.50%, 08/31/26 (Call 02/28/26)(a)

    1,140       911,248  

11.50%, 06/01/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)(b)

    85       90,211  

11.63%, 08/15/27

    18       17,643  
   

 

 

 
      4,119,122  
Lodging — 1.6%  

Las Vegas Sands Corp., 3.20%, 08/08/24 (Call 07/08/24)

    200       189,285  

Travel + Leisure Co.

   

4.50%, 12/01/29 (Call 09/01/29)(a)

    595       483,722  

6.63%, 07/31/26 (Call 04/30/26)(a)

    600       581,442  

Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp.

   

5.25%, 05/15/27 (Call 02/15/27)(a)

    105       94,702  

5.50%, 03/01/25 (Call 12/01/24)(a)

    585       560,202  
   

 

 

 
      1,909,353  
Machinery — 1.0%  

GrafTech Finance Inc., 4.63%, 12/15/28 (Call 12/15/23)(a)(b)

    520       443,676  

Vertiv Group Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/28 (Call 11/15/24)(a)(b)

    880       761,200  
   

 

 

 
      1,204,876  
Manufacturing — 0.4%  

LSB Industries Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/28 (Call 10/15/24)(a)

    545       504,425  
   

 

 

 
Media — 2.9%  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.

   

4.25%, 01/15/34 (Call 01/15/28)(a)

    1,079       821,508  

4.50%, 06/01/33 (Call 06/01/27)(a)

    950       745,750  

Directv Financing LLC/Directv Financing Co-Obligor Inc., 5.88%, 08/15/27 (Call 08/15/23)(a)

    945       864,675  

UPC Broadband Finco BV, 4.88%, 07/15/31 (Call 07/15/26)(a)

        1,030       890,919  

UPC Holding BV, 5.50%, 01/15/28 (Call 10/15/22)(a)

    200       171,275  
   

 

 

 
          3,494,127  
Mining — 4.5%  

Arconic Corp.

   

6.00%, 05/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    200       196,250  

6.13%, 02/15/28 (Call 02/15/23)(a)

    855       802,570  

Eldorado Gold Corp., 6.25%, 09/01/29 (Call 09/01/24)(a)

    575       472,136  

Endeavour Mining PLC, 5.00%, 10/14/26 (Call 10/14/23)(a)(b)

    565       492,284  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

   

6.88%, 03/01/26 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    530       508,633  

7.50%, 04/01/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    905       890,747  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Mining (continued)  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty Ltd., 5.13%, 05/15/24 (Call 02/15/24)(a)(b)

  $ 600     $ 593,712  

Hecla Mining Co., 7.25%, 02/15/28 (Call 02/15/23)(b)

    410       389,930  

Stillwater Mining Co.

   

4.00%, 11/16/26 (Call 11/16/23)(a)

    625       551,250  

4.50%, 11/16/29 (Call 11/16/25)(a)

    575       472,363  
   

 

 

 
          5,369,875  
Oil & Gas — 8.9%  

Antero Resources Corp., 7.63%, 02/01/29 (Call 02/01/24)(a)

    351       357,032  

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP/Calumet Finance Corp., 11.00%, 04/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    0        

Civitas Resources Inc., 5.00%, 10/15/26 (Call 10/15/23)(a)

    271       252,311  

CNX Resources Corp., 7.25%, 03/14/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    635       630,396  

Earthstone Energy Holdings LLC, 8.00%, 04/15/27 (Call 04/15/24)(a)(b)

    410       399,496  

Energean PLC, 6.50%, 04/30/27 (Call 10/30/23)(a)(b)

    450       406,490  

Gulfport Energy Corp., 8.00%, 05/17/26 (Call 05/17/24)

    250       251,665  

Harbour Energy PLC, 5.50%, 10/15/26 (Call 10/15/23)(a)

    480       443,842  

Ithaca Energy North Sea PLC, 9.00%, 07/15/26 (Call 07/15/23)(a)

    525       513,188  

Kosmos Energy Ltd.

   

7.13%, 04/04/26 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    625       549,945  

7.50%, 03/01/28 (Call 03/01/24)(a)

    450       387,450  

Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating LLC/Magnolia Oil & Gas Finance Corp., 6.00%, 08/01/26 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    140       135,129  

Matador Resources Co., 5.88%, 09/15/26 (Call 09/16/22)(b)

    923       903,479  

Oasis Petroleum Inc., 6.38%, 06/01/26 (Call 06/01/23)(a)

    250       242,500  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

   

7.88%, 09/15/31

    330       380,342  

8.50%, 07/15/27 (Call 01/15/27)

    271       303,507  

Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., 3.95%, 02/01/28 (Call 11/01/27)

    335       283,399  

PBF Holding Co. LLC/PBF Finance Corp.

   

6.00%, 02/15/28 (Call 02/15/23)(b)

    450       404,174  

7.25%, 06/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(b)

    640       621,632  

PDC Energy Inc., 5.75%, 05/15/26 (Call 10/03/22)

    375       359,096  

Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 6.00%, 04/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)(b)

    545       527,086  

Talos Production Inc., 12.00%, 01/15/26 (Call 01/15/23)

    580       614,469  

Tullow Oil PLC

   

7.00%, 03/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    200       158,500  

10.25%, 05/15/26 (Call 05/15/23)(a)

    975       906,360  

W&T Offshore Inc., 9.75%, 11/01/23
(Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    500       490,002  
   

 

 

 
      10,521,490  
Oil & Gas Services — 1.8%  

Archrock Partners LP/Archrock Partners Finance Corp.

   

6.25%, 04/01/28 (Call 04/01/23)(a)

    195       177,450  

6.88%, 04/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    445       417,187  

Bristow Group Inc., 6.88%, 03/01/28
(Call 03/01/24)(a)(b)

    240       222,600  

CGG SA, 8.75%, 04/01/27 (Call 04/01/24)(a)(b)

        425       376,216  

USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression

   

Finance Corp.

   

6.88%, 04/01/26 (Call 10/03/22)

    660       618,981  

6.88%, 09/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)

    375       346,665  
   

 

 

 
          2,159,099  
Packaging & Containers — 1.2%  

Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC/Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance PLC, 3.25%, 09/01/28
(Call 05/15/24)(a)

    625       539,062  

Berry Global Inc., 5.63%, 07/15/27
(Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    485       473,602  

 

 

10  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® High Yield Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

    

Par
(000)

    Value  
Packaging & Containers (continued)  

Graham Packaging Co. Inc., 7.13%, 08/15/28 (Call 08/15/23)(a)

  $ 550     $ 472,291  
   

 

 

 
          1,484,955  
Pharmaceuticals — 0.5%            

HLF Financing Sarl LLC/Herbalife International Inc., 4.88%, 06/01/29 (Call 06/01/24)(a)

    740       583,980  
   

 

 

 
Pipelines — 3.6%  

Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream

   

Finance Corp.

   

5.75%, 03/01/27 (Call 09/16/22)(a)

    495       469,012  

7.88%, 05/15/26 (Call 05/15/23)(a)

    520       529,100  

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP/Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 8.00%, 04/01/29
(Call 04/01/24)(a)

    330       327,174  

Delek Logistics Partners LP/Delek Logistics Finance Corp., 7.13%, 06/01/28
(Call 06/01/24)(a)

    245       228,903  

EnLink Midstream Partners LP

   

4.15%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    430       419,057  

5.45%, 06/01/47 (Call 12/01/46)

    210       160,388  

EQM Midstream Partners LP, 6.50%, 07/15/48 (Call 01/15/48)

    225       190,906  

Holly Energy Partners LP/Holly Energy Finance Corp., 5.00%, 02/01/28 (Call 02/01/23)(a)(b)

    475       442,306  

New Fortress Energy Inc.

   

6.50%, 09/30/26 (Call 03/31/23)(a)

    955       904,719  

6.75%, 09/15/25 (Call 09/21/22)(a)(b)

    245       237,001  

Western Midstream Operating LP, 6.50%, 02/01/50 (Call 08/01/49)

    365       315,907  
   

 

 

 
      4,224,473  
Real Estate — 1.3%  

Cushman & Wakefield US Borrower LLC, 6.75%, 05/15/28 (Call 05/15/23)(a)

    595       589,794  

WeWork Companies Inc., 7.88%, 05/01/25(a)(b)

    765       570,728  

WeWork Companies LLC/WW Co-Obligor Inc., 5.00%, 07/10/25 (Call 04/10/25)(a)

    550       356,845  
   

 

 

 
          1,517,367  
Real Estate Investment Trusts — 5.1%  

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc., 4.63%, 06/15/29 (Call 06/15/24)(a)

    520       421,200  

Brookfield Property REIT Inc./BPR Cumulus LLC/BPR Nimbus LLC/GGSI Sellco LL

   

4.50%, 04/01/27 (Call 10/01/23)(a)(b)

    105       89,958  

5.75%, 05/15/26 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    990       923,170  

Iron Mountain Inc.

   

4.50%, 02/15/31 (Call 02/15/26)(a)

    170       141,222  

5.25%, 03/15/28 (Call 12/27/22)(a)(b)

    75       68,812  

5.63%, 07/15/32 (Call 07/15/26)(a)

    200       175,795  

Park Intermediate Holdings LLC/PK Domestic

   

Property LLC/PK Finance Co-Issuer

   

4.88%, 05/15/29 (Call 05/15/24)(a)(b)

    90       79,156  

5.88%, 10/01/28 (Call 10/01/23)(a)

    640       587,904  

7.50%, 06/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    305       307,714  

RLJ Lodging Trust LP, 4.00%, 09/15/29 (Call 09/15/24)(a)

    490       413,703  

Service Properties Trust

   

4.35%, 10/01/24 (Call 09/01/24)

    865       773,778  

4.75%, 10/01/26 (Call 08/01/26)

    475       386,198  

Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 7.88%, 02/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

        385       380,340  
Security  

Par/

Shares

(000)

    Value  
Real Estate Investment Trusts (continued)  

Uniti Group LP/Uniti Group Finance Inc./CSL Capital LLC

   

4.75%, 04/15/28 (Call 04/15/24)(a)

  $ 400     $ 334,234  

6.50%, 02/15/29 (Call 02/15/24)(a)

    670       510,460  

XHR LP, 6.38%, 08/15/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    462       448,397  
   

 

 

 
          6,042,041  
Retail — 3.6%            

Bath & Body Works Inc.

   

6.75%, 07/01/36(b)

    565       487,558  

6.88%, 11/01/35(b)

    920       803,119  

Carvana Co., 5.50%, 04/15/27
(Call 04/15/24)(a)(b)

    780       505,557  

Dave & Buster’s Inc., 7.63%, 11/01/25 (Call 11/01/22)(a)

    261       262,620  

FirstCash Inc.

   

4.63%, 09/01/28 (Call 09/01/23)(a)(b)

    495       428,602  

5.63%, 01/01/30 (Call 01/01/25)(a)

    545       487,775  

Gap Inc. (The), 3.88%, 10/01/31
(Call 10/01/26)(a)(b)

    155       107,495  

Macy’s Retail Holdings LLC, 6.13%, 03/15/32 (Call 03/15/27)(a)(b)

    260       215,906  

Nordstrom Inc., 5.00%, 01/15/44 (Call 07/15/43)(b)

    290       195,547  

QVC Inc.

   

4.38%, 09/01/28 (Call 06/01/28)

    330       250,442  

4.75%, 02/15/27 (Call 11/15/26)(b)

    585       483,169  
   

 

 

 
      4,227,790  
Software — 0.4%  

MicroStrategy Inc., 6.13%, 06/15/28 (Call 06/15/24)(a)(b)

    525       438,101  
   

 

 

 
Telecommunications — 7.7%  

CommScope Inc., 8.25%, 03/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    870       745,603  

Consolidated Communications Inc., 6.50%, 10/01/28 (Call 10/01/23)(a)

    800       643,760  

Embarq Corp., 8.00%, 06/01/36

    1,105       859,160  

Frontier Communications Holdings LLC

   

5.00%, 05/01/28 (Call 05/01/24)(a)

    546       478,547  

6.00%, 01/15/30 (Call 10/15/24)(a)

    734       604,831  

6.75%, 05/01/29 (Call 05/01/24)(a)(b)

    200       172,498  

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp.

   

5.25%, 08/01/26(b)

    465       442,912  

6.63%, 08/01/26

    474       448,522  

Level 3 Financing Inc.

   

3.63%, 01/15/29 (Call 01/15/24)(a)

    910       730,375  

4.25%, 07/01/28 (Call 07/01/23)(a)(b)

    670       556,937  

Lumen Technologies Inc.

   

4.50%, 01/15/29 (Call 01/15/24)(a)

    25       18,650  

5.38%, 06/15/29 (Call 06/15/24)(a)

    910       710,601  

Sprint Capital Corp., 8.75%, 03/15/32

    340       410,455  

Sprint Corp.

   

7.13%, 06/15/24

    415       428,471  

7.63%, 02/15/25 (Call 11/15/24)

    735       768,994  

ViaSat Inc.

   

5.63%, 09/15/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    580       509,389  

5.63%, 04/15/27 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    590       542,800  
   

 

 

 
      9,072,505  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 97.4%
(Cost: $126,169,388)

 

    115,456,669  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

   
Money Market Funds — 22.3%  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 2.42%(d)(e)(f)

    24,175               24,182,077  

 

 

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

  11


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® High Yield Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Shares

(000)

     Value  

 

 
Money Market Funds (continued)             

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 2.07%(d)(e)

    2,190      $ 2,190,000  
    

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 22.3%
(Cost: $26,360,569)

       26,372,077  
    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities — 119.7%
(Cost: $152,529,957)

           141,828,746  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (19.7)%

 

     (23,330,498
    

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

     $ 118,498,248  
    

 

 

 

    

 

(a) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(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) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(e) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(f) 

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 August 31, 2022 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

 

 
Affiliated Issuer  

Value at

02/28/22

   

Purchases

at Cost

   

Proceeds

from Sale

   

Net Realized

Gain (Loss)

   

Change in

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

   

Value at

08/31/22

   

Shares

Held at

08/31/22

(000)

    Income    

Capital Gain

Distributions from

Underlying Funds

 

 

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares

  $ 16,908,997     $ 7,270,208 (a)    $     $ (8,472   $ 11,344     $ 24,182,077       24,175     $ 64,268 (b)    $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

    4,590,000             (2,400,000 )(a)                  2,190,000       2,190       8,744        
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $ (8,472   $ 11,344     $ 26,372,077       $ 73,012     $  
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (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.

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

                 

Corporate Bonds & Notes

   $        $ 115,456,669        $        $ 115,456,669  

Money Market Funds

     26,372,077                            26,372,077  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 26,372,077        $ 115,456,669        $        $ 141,828,746  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

12  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

   
Advertising — 0.1%            

Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (The), 3.38%, 03/01/41 (Call 09/01/40)

  $ 230     $ 165,868  
   

 

 

 
Aerospace & Defense — 1.9%            

Boeing Co. (The)

   

3.95%, 08/01/59 (Call 02/01/59)

    470       326,512  

5.71%, 05/01/40 (Call 11/01/39)

    110       104,918  

5.93%, 05/01/60 (Call 11/01/59)

    840       802,183  

L3Harris Technologies Inc., 4.40%, 06/15/28 (Call 03/15/28)

    985       968,235  

Northrop Grumman Corp., 4.75%, 06/01/43

    215       206,820  

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

   

4.50%, 06/01/42

    620       587,276  

4.88%, 10/15/40

    175       168,885  
   

 

 

 
      3,164,829  
Agriculture — 2.0%            

Altria Group Inc.

   

4.80%, 02/14/29 (Call 11/14/28)

    26       25,177  

5.38%, 01/31/44

    668       589,731  

5.80%, 02/14/39 (Call 08/14/38)

    693       640,938  

BAT Capital Corp.

   

3.56%, 08/15/27 (Call 05/15/27)

    591       542,924  

4.91%, 04/02/30 (Call 01/02/30)

    39       36,728  

BAT International Finance PLC, 4.45%, 03/16/28 (Call 02/16/28)

    90       85,256  

Philip Morris International Inc., 6.38%, 05/16/38

    675       698,357  

Reynolds American Inc.

   

5.70%, 08/15/35 (Call 02/15/35)

    271       249,875  

5.85%, 08/15/45 (Call 02/15/45)

    618       522,153  
   

 

 

 
          3,391,139  
Banks — 14.4%            

Bank of America Corp.

   

1.84%, 02/04/25 (Call 02/04/24), (SOFR + 0.670%)(a)

    900       865,063  

3.09%, 10/01/25 (Call 10/01/24), (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.090%)(a)

    370       358,275  

3.37%, 01/23/26 (Call 01/23/25), (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.810%)(a)

    1,300       1,256,953  

4.30%, (Call 01/28/25)(a)(b)(c)

    950       796,219  

4.45%, 03/03/26

    240       239,024  

5.13%, (Call 06/20/24)(a)(b)

    860       823,352  

6.50%, (Call 10/23/24)(a)(b)

    470       472,937  

Series FF, 5.88%, (Call 03/15/28)(a)(b)

    850       770,312  

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

   

3.43%, 06/13/25 (Call 06/13/24)(a)

    260       256,853  

Series F, 4.63%, (Call 09/20/26)(a)(b)

    890       818,747  

Citigroup Inc.

   

0.78%, 10/30/24 (Call 10/30/23), (SOFR + 0.686%)(a)

    1,000       959,018  

3.35%, 04/24/25 (Call 04/24/24), (3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.897%)(a)

    200       196,009  

4.60%, 03/09/26

    289       288,317  

8.13%, 07/15/39

    584       762,558  

Fifth Third Bancorp., 3.65%, 01/25/24 (Call 12/25/23)

    840       834,614  

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (The)

   

0.66%, 09/10/24 (Call 09/10/23), (SOFR + 0.505%)(a)

    810       776,818  

0.93%, 10/21/24 (Call 10/21/23), (SOFR + 0.486%)(a)

    490       468,991  

HSBC Holdings PLC

   

3.80%, 03/11/25 (Call 03/11/24), (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.211%)(a)

    760       745,468  

3.90%, 05/25/26

    860       836,927  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Banks (continued)            

4.25%, 08/18/25

  $ 240     $ 236,360  

4.30%, 03/08/26(c)

    770       760,916  

4.95%, 03/31/30

    260       252,249  

Huntington Bancshares Inc., 2.49%, 08/15/36 (Call 08/15/31)(a)

    310       234,206  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   

4.02%, 12/05/24 (Call 12/05/23),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.000%)(a)

    820       816,281  

5.00%, (Call 08/01/24)(a)(b)

    920       851,000  

6.10%, (Call 10/01/24)(a)(b)

    830       817,093  

6.75%, (Call 02/01/24)(a)(b)(c)

    240       241,458  

Series HH, 4.60%, (Call 02/01/25)(a)(b)(c)

    941       827,139  

Morgan Stanley

   

0.79%, 01/22/25 (Call 01/22/24), (SOFR + 0.509%)(a)

    855       810,953  

2.72%, 07/22/25 (Call 07/22/24), (SOFR + 1.152%)(a)

    890       859,795  

Natwest Group PLC, 3.03%, 11/28/35 (Call 08/28/30)(a)

    910       713,606  

State Street Corp., 2.35%, 11/01/25 (Call 11/01/24), (SOFR + 0.940%)(a)

    850       820,949  

SVB Financial Group, 3.13%, 06/05/30 (Call 03/05/30)

    225       192,712  

Truist Financial Corp., Series N, 4.80%, (Call 09/01/24)(a)(b)

    905       840,698  

U.S. Bancorp, 5.30%, (Call 04/15/27)(a)(b)

    910       809,900  

Wells Fargo & Co.

   

2.41%, 10/30/25 (Call 10/30/24), (SOFR + 1.087%)(a)

    110       105,107  

3.00%, 02/19/25

    240       233,169  

5.90%, (Call 06/15/24)(a)(b)(c)

    890       837,269  
   

 

 

 
          23,787,315  
Beverages — 1.2%            

Anheuser-Busch Companies LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., 4.70%, 02/01/36 (Call 08/01/35)

    665       643,379  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc.

   

4.60%, 06/01/60 (Call 12/01/59)

    190       168,542  

5.45%, 01/23/39 (Call 07/23/38)

    90       92,775  

8.20%, 01/15/39

    322       418,448  

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.

   

4.42%, 05/25/25 (Call 03/25/25)

    104       104,714  

4.60%, 05/25/28 (Call 02/25/28)

    420       421,331  

PepsiCo Inc., 2.63%, 10/21/41 (Call 04/21/41)

    205       160,833  
   

 

 

 
      2,010,022  
Biotechnology — 3.0%            

Amgen Inc., 4.40%, 05/01/45 (Call 11/01/44)

    354       318,478  

Baxalta Inc., 4.00%, 06/23/25 (Call 03/23/25)

    450       447,303  

Biogen Inc., 2.25%, 05/01/30 (Call 02/01/30)

    1,030       841,386  

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., 3.70%, 03/15/32 (Call 12/15/31)

    385       344,173  

Gilead Sciences Inc.

   

4.80%, 04/01/44 (Call 10/01/43)

    735       705,258  

5.65%, 12/01/41 (Call 06/01/41)

    340       358,900  

Illumina Inc., 2.55%, 03/23/31 (Call 12/23/30)

    235       192,833  

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., 1.75%, 09/15/30 (Call 06/15/30)

    1,025       810,570  

Royalty Pharma PLC

   

1.20%, 09/02/25 (Call 08/02/25)

    640       581,794  

2.15%, 09/02/31 (Call 06/02/31)

    30       23,665  

3.35%, 09/02/51 (Call 03/02/51)

    255       170,425  

3.55%, 09/02/50 (Call 03/02/50)

    160       110,352  
   

 

 

 
      4,905,137  
Building Materials — 0.5%            

Eagle Materials Inc., 2.50%, 07/01/31 (Call 04/01/31)

    700       547,678  

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc., 3.25%, 09/15/29 (Call 06/15/29)

    305       267,242  

 

 

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

  13


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Building Materials (continued)            

Martin Marietta Materials Inc., 4.25%, 12/15/47 (Call 06/15/47)

  $     35     $ 29,328  
   

 

 

 
      844,248  
Chemicals — 1.2%            

Dow Chemical Co. (The), 5.55%, 11/30/48 (Call 05/30/48)

    375       378,249  

DuPont de Nemours Inc., 5.32%, 11/15/38 (Call 05/15/38)

    325       324,041  

Huntsman International LLC, 4.50%, 05/01/29 (Call 02/01/29)

    645       594,126  

LYB International Finance BV, 4.88%, 03/15/44 (Call 09/15/43)

    340       308,703  

LyondellBasell Industries NV, 4.63%, 02/26/55 (Call 08/26/54)

    515       432,031  
   

 

 

 
      2,037,150  
Commercial Services — 1.8%            

Equifax Inc., 2.35%, 09/15/31 (Call 06/15/31)

    660       531,945  

Global Payments Inc.

   

2.65%, 02/15/25 (Call 01/15/25)

    195       185,656  

2.90%, 05/15/30 (Call 02/15/30)

    215       180,928  

3.20%, 08/15/29 (Call 05/15/29)

    254       221,823  

4.15%, 08/15/49 (Call 02/15/49)(c)

    73       55,589  

4.80%, 04/01/26 (Call 01/01/26)

    395       391,839  

Quanta Services Inc.

   

2.35%, 01/15/32 (Call 10/15/31)

    90       71,111  

2.90%, 10/01/30 (Call 07/01/30)

    930       794,341  

Verisk Analytics Inc., 4.00%, 06/15/25 (Call 03/15/25)

    485       479,481  
   

 

 

 
      2,912,713  
Computers — 1.3%            

Apple Inc., 3.00%, 02/09/24 (Call 12/09/23)

    295       292,530  

HP Inc.

   

3.40%, 06/17/30 (Call 03/17/30)(c)

    675       586,463  

4.20%, 04/15/32 (Call 01/15/32)

    100       88,324  

6.00%, 09/15/41(c)

    387       374,477  

Leidos Inc.

   

2.30%, 02/15/31 (Call 11/15/30)

    120       94,191  

4.38%, 05/15/30 (Call 02/15/30)

    610       563,142  

Teledyne FLIR LLC, 2.50%, 08/01/30 (Call 05/01/30)

    230       189,148  
   

 

 

 
      2,188,275  
Cosmetics & Personal Care — 0.3%            

Procter & Gamble Co. (The), 0.55%, 10/29/25

    480       435,861  
   

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services — 1.6%            

American Express Co., 3.55%, (Call 09/15/26)(a)(b)

    960       824,400  

Capital One Financial Corp.

   

3.20%, 02/05/25 (Call 01/05/25)

    605       589,415  

3.75%, 03/09/27 (Call 02/09/27)

    795       764,090  

Raymond James Financial Inc.

   

3.75%, 04/01/51 (Call 10/01/50)

    115       93,755  

4.95%, 07/15/46

    405       394,946  
   

 

 

 
          2,666,606  
Electric — 11.0%            

Ameren Illinois Co., 3.70%, 12/01/47 (Call 06/01/47)

    110       93,414  

Avangrid Inc.

   

3.20%, 04/15/25 (Call 03/15/25)

    355       343,888  

3.80%, 06/01/29 (Call 03/01/29)

    585       546,606  

Commonwealth Edison Co.

   

3.00%, 03/01/50 (Call 09/01/49)

    175       131,870  

4.00%, 03/01/48 (Call 09/01/47)

    75       67,173  

Connecticut Light & Power Co. (The), 4.00%, 04/01/48 (Call 10/01/47)

    615       556,688  

Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc.

   

3.60%, 06/15/61 (Call 12/15/60)

    650       510,373  

Series C, 3.00%, 12/01/60 (Call 06/01/60)

    320       216,979  

Consumers Energy Co., 3.10%, 08/15/50 (Call 02/15/50)

    135       104,368  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Electric (continued)            

Dominion Energy Inc., Series B, 4.65%,
(Call 12/15/24)(a)(b)

  $     720     $ 662,400  

DTE Electric Co.

   

2.95%, 03/01/50 (Call 09/01/49)

    50       38,012  

Series A, 3.00%, 03/01/32 (Call 12/01/31)

    210       189,619  

Duke Energy Carolinas LLC

   

3.20%, 08/15/49 (Call 02/15/49)

    655           510,414  

3.95%, 03/15/48 (Call 09/15/47)

    30       26,221  

Duke Energy Corp.

   

3.75%, 04/15/24 (Call 01/15/24)

    340       338,381  

3.75%, 09/01/46 (Call 03/01/46)

    30       23,451  

Duke Energy Florida LLC, 2.40%, 12/15/31 (Call 09/15/31)

    110       93,659  

Duke Energy Indiana LLC

   

2.75%, 04/01/50 (Call 10/01/49)

    250       174,453  

Series YYY, 3.25%, 10/01/49 (Call 04/01/49)

    180       138,108  

Duke Energy Progress LLC

   

2.00%, 08/15/31 (Call 05/15/31)

    260       215,495  

3.40%, 04/01/32 (Call 01/01/32)

    530       491,439  

3.45%, 03/15/29 (Call 12/15/28)

    230       219,296  

3.60%, 09/15/47 (Call 03/15/47)

    55       45,567  

Edison International, 5.75%, 06/15/27 (Call 04/15/27)

    90       91,191  

Emera U.S. Finance LP

   

3.55%, 06/15/26 (Call 03/15/26)

    104       99,628  

4.75%, 06/15/46 (Call 12/15/45)

    820       713,995  

Entergy Louisiana LLC

   

2.35%, 06/15/32 (Call 03/15/32)

    210       173,689  

4.00%, 03/15/33 (Call 12/15/32)

    610       578,661  

4.20%, 09/01/48 (Call 03/01/48)

    205       183,729  

Evergy Inc.

   

2.45%, 09/15/24 (Call 08/15/24)

    335       322,915  

2.90%, 09/15/29 (Call 06/15/29)

    650       570,305  

Evergy Kansas Central Inc., 3.45%, 04/15/50 (Call 10/15/49)

    195       155,376  

Exelon Corp.

   

3.95%, 06/15/25 (Call 03/15/25)

    550       544,694  

4.05%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    855       822,260  

Florida Power & Light Co.

   

2.45%, 02/03/32 (Call 11/03/31)

    870       755,223  

3.15%, 10/01/49 (Call 04/01/49)

    115       91,805  

3.70%, 12/01/47 (Call 06/01/47)

    163       142,405  

3.95%, 03/01/48 (Call 09/01/47)

    560       509,332  

Fortis Inc./Canada, 3.06%, 10/04/26 (Call 07/04/26)

    800       748,641  

Georgia Power Co., 4.30%, 03/15/42

    70       62,211  

Kentucky Utilities Co., 3.30%, 06/01/50 (Call 12/01/49)

    258       201,231  

Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC, 3.10%, 09/15/49 (Call 03/15/49)

    280       216,538  

Public Service Co. of Colorado, 1.88%, 06/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)

    445       370,447  

Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 3.10%, 03/15/32 (Call 12/15/31)(c)

    215       196,770  

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.

   

0.84%, 11/08/23 (Call 10/03/22)

    310       297,488  

2.88%, 06/15/24 (Call 05/15/24)

    660       643,726  

San Diego Gas & Electric Co.

   

Series WWW, 2.95%, 08/15/51 (Call 02/15/51)

    530       391,868  

Series XXX, 3.00%, 03/15/32 (Call 12/15/31)

    40       35,540  

Sempra Energy

   

3.25%, 06/15/27 (Call 03/15/27)

    145       137,200  

3.40%, 02/01/28 (Call 11/01/27)

    715       675,367  

4.00%, 02/01/48 (Call 08/01/47)

    105       87,919  

Southern California Edison Co.

   

4.00%, 04/01/47 (Call 10/01/46)

    870       704,463  

 

 

14  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Electric (continued)            

Series A, 4.20%, 03/01/29 (Call 12/01/28)

  $     151     $ 145,943  

Series B, 4.88%, 03/01/49 (Call 09/01/48)

    208       190,883  

Series C, 4.13%, 03/01/48 (Call 09/01/47)

    150       124,729  

Southern Co. (The)

   

3.25%, 07/01/26 (Call 04/01/26)

    456       435,571  

4.40%, 07/01/46 (Call 01/01/46)

    740       652,281  

Union Electric Co.

   

2.15%, 03/15/32 (Call 12/15/31)

    260       213,502  

2.63%, 03/15/51 (Call 09/15/50)

    280       193,628  
   

 

 

 
          18,219,028  
Electronics — 0.5%            

TD SYNNEX Corp.

   

1.25%, 08/09/24 (Call 09/12/22)

    160       148,613  

1.75%, 08/09/26 (Call 07/09/26)

    300       262,683  

2.38%, 08/09/28 (Call 06/09/28)

    270       226,767  

Trimble Inc., 4.90%, 06/15/28 (Call 03/15/28)

    120       119,192  
   

 

 

 
      757,255  
Environmental Control — 0.1%            

Republic Services Inc., 3.95%, 05/15/28 (Call 02/15/28)

    225       219,962  
   

 

 

 
Food — 2.3%            

Campbell Soup Co.

   

3.95%, 03/15/25 (Call 01/15/25)

    185       183,342  

4.15%, 03/15/28 (Call 12/15/27)

    785       770,838  

Conagra Brands Inc.

   

4.85%, 11/01/28 (Call 08/01/28)

    165       163,269  

5.30%, 11/01/38 (Call 05/01/38)

    690       655,804  

Kellogg Co., 3.25%, 04/01/26

    315       305,651  

Sysco Corp.

   

5.95%, 04/01/30 (Call 01/01/30)

    550       591,591  

6.60%, 04/01/50 (Call 10/01/49)

    412       477,626  

Tyson Foods Inc., 3.95%, 08/15/24 (Call 05/15/24)

    705       702,728  
   

 

 

 
      3,850,849  
Gas — 0.9%            

National Fuel Gas Co.

   

2.95%, 03/01/31 (Call 12/01/30)(c)

    245       200,214  

5.50%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    245       247,489  

NiSource Inc.

   

3.60%, 05/01/30 (Call 02/01/30)

    390       358,173  

4.38%, 05/15/47 (Call 11/15/46)

    749       659,617  
   

 

 

 
      1,465,493  
Health Care - Products — 2.1%            

Boston Scientific Corp., 3.45%, 03/01/24 (Call 02/01/24)

    104       103,206  

DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc., 3.25%, 06/01/30 (Call 03/01/30)

    190       156,458  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp., 4.30%, 06/15/28 (Call 03/15/28)

    118       117,515  

PerkinElmer Inc.

   

2.25%, 09/15/31 (Call 06/15/31)

    230       182,858  

3.30%, 09/15/29 (Call 06/15/29)(c)

    718       638,904  

Smith & Nephew PLC, 2.03%, 10/14/30 (Call 07/14/30)

    1,005       795,690  

STERIS Irish FinCo UnLtd Co.

   

2.70%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)

    215       179,901  

3.75%, 03/15/51 (Call 09/15/50)

    355       273,763  

Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc.

   

2.60%, 11/24/31 (Call 08/24/31)

    510       425,613  

3.55%, 04/01/25 (Call 01/01/25)

    545       532,913  
   

 

 

 
      3,406,821  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Health Care - Services — 1.1%            

Elevance Health Inc.

   

4.10%, 03/01/28 (Call 12/01/27)

  $     91     $ 89,169  

4.65%, 01/15/43

    225       213,009  

Humana Inc.

   

3.13%, 08/15/29 (Call 05/15/29)

    120       109,401  

4.95%, 10/01/44 (Call 04/01/44)

    366       351,153  

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings

   

3.60%, 02/01/25 (Call 11/01/24)

    805       793,646  

4.70%, 02/01/45 (Call 08/01/44)

    123       111,560  

Quest Diagnostics Inc., 4.20%, 06/30/29 (Call 03/30/29)

    100       95,823  
   

 

 

 
          1,763,761  
Holding Companies - Diversified — 2.7%            

Ares Capital Corp.

   

3.20%, 11/15/31 (Call 08/15/31)

    265       206,696  

3.88%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    843       792,812  

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund

   

2.85%, 09/30/28 (Call 07/30/28)

    320       254,636  

3.63%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    665       623,768  

FS KKR Capital Corp.

   

3.13%, 10/12/28 (Call 08/12/28)

    135       109,909  

3.40%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    905       823,658  

Goldman Sachs BDC Inc., 2.88%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    235       217,936  

Golub Capital BDC Inc., 2.50%, 08/24/26 (Call 07/24/26)

    295       256,366  

Main Street Capital Corp., 3.00%, 07/14/26 (Call 06/14/26)

    210       183,306  

Owl Rock Capital Corp.

   

3.40%, 07/15/26 (Call 06/15/26)

    585       523,219  

3.75%, 07/22/25 (Call 06/22/25)

    205       193,008  

4.25%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    220       207,677  
   

 

 

 
      4,392,991  
Home Builders — 0.4%            

NVR Inc., 3.00%, 05/15/30 (Call 11/15/29)

    835       718,799  
   

 

 

 
Household Products & Wares — 0.1%            

Avery Dennison Corp., 4.88%, 12/06/28 (Call 09/06/28)(c)

    105       105,994  
   

 

 

 
Insurance — 2.8%            

American International Group Inc., 3.90%, 04/01/26 (Call 01/01/26)

    774       761,282  

Brown & Brown Inc.

   

2.38%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)(c)

    305       241,551  

4.20%, 03/17/32 (Call 12/17/31)

    245       223,081  

CNA Financial Corp., 3.90%, 05/01/29 (Call 02/01/29)

    115       107,675  

Corebridge Financial Inc.

   

3.85%, 04/05/29 (Call 02/05/29)(d)

    855       786,943  

3.90%, 04/05/32 (Call 01/05/32)(d)

    220       197,622  

Everest Reinsurance Holdings Inc., 3.50%, 10/15/50 (Call 04/15/50)

    610       460,022  

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., 3.38%, 03/03/31 (Call 12/03/30)

    250       213,627  

Fidelity National Financial Inc.

   

2.45%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)(c)

    260       205,830  

3.40%, 06/15/30 (Call 03/15/30)

    285       246,682  

First American Financial Corp., 2.40%, 08/15/31 (Call 05/15/31)

    330       253,781  

Globe Life Inc., 4.55%, 09/15/28 (Call 06/15/28)(c)

    125       123,069  

Markel Corp.

   

3.45%, 05/07/52 (Call 11/07/51)

    270       199,583  

5.00%, 05/20/49 (Call 11/20/48)

    125       117,851  

Old Republic International Corp., 3.85%, 06/11/51 (Call 12/11/50)

    295       225,001  

 

 

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

  15


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Insurance (continued)            

Travelers Companies Inc. (The), 4.05%, 03/07/48 (Call 09/07/47)

  $ 120     $ 107,056  

Willis North America Inc., 4.50%, 09/15/28 (Call 06/15/28)

    133       129,447  
   

 

 

 
      4,600,103  
Internet — 0.6%            

Alphabet Inc.

   

2.05%, 08/15/50 (Call 02/15/50)

    1,075       708,420  

2.25%, 08/15/60 (Call 02/15/60)

    440       280,485  

Booking Holdings Inc., 4.63%, 04/13/30 (Call 01/13/30)

    50       50,292  
   

 

 

 
          1,039,197  
Lodging — 0.6%            

Marriott International Inc./MD

   

Series EE, 5.75%, 05/01/25 (Call 04/01/25)

    250       257,074  

Series FF, 4.63%, 06/15/30 (Call 03/15/30)

    815       778,383  
   

 

 

 
      1,035,457  
Machinery — 0.5%            

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.

   

4.40%, 03/15/24 (Call 02/15/24)

    135       134,541  

4.95%, 09/15/28 (Call 06/15/28)

    790       765,984  
   

 

 

 
      900,525  
Manufacturing — 0.7%            

General Electric Co.

   

5.88%, 01/14/38(c)

    205       215,612  

6.75%, 03/15/32

    672       760,631  

Textron Inc., 3.00%, 06/01/30 (Call 03/01/30)

    290       251,181  
   

 

 

 
      1,227,424  
Media — 1.1%            

Comcast Corp., 2.99%, 11/01/63 (Call 05/01/63)

    575       384,473  

Fox Corp.

   

4.71%, 01/25/29 (Call 10/25/28)

    60       59,379  

5.48%, 01/25/39 (Call 07/25/38)

    785       771,684  

5.58%, 01/25/49 (Call 07/25/48)(c)

    185       178,867  

Time Warner Cable LLC, 6.75%, 06/15/39

    239       232,377  

Walt Disney Co. (The), 6.65%, 11/15/37

    130       154,225  
   

 

 

 
      1,781,005  
Mining — 0.9%            

Newmont Corp., 4.88%, 03/15/42 (Call 09/15/41)

    543       511,161  

Southern Copper Corp.

   

5.25%, 11/08/42

    35       33,731  

5.88%, 04/23/45

    473       493,173  

6.75%, 04/16/40

    350       395,500  
   

 

 

 
      1,433,565  
Office & Business Equipment — 0.6%            

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.

   

3.28%, 12/01/28 (Call 10/01/28)

    235       206,939  

3.57%, 12/01/31 (Call 09/01/31)

    860       722,346  
   

 

 

 
      929,285  
Oil & Gas — 2.8%            

BP Capital Markets PLC, 4.38%,
(Call 06/22/25)(a)(b)

    855       818,449  

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., 3.85%, 06/01/27 (Call 03/01/27)(c)

    835       797,082  

Cenovus Energy Inc., 4.40%, 04/15/29 (Call 01/15/29)

    645       626,613  

Coterra Energy Inc.

   

3.90%, 05/15/27 (Call 02/15/27)(d)

    290       276,750  

4.38%, 06/01/24 (Call 03/01/24)(d)

    395       392,573  

Marathon Petroleum Corp., 4.70%, 05/01/25 (Call 04/01/25)

    585       588,747  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co., 2.15%, 01/15/31 (Call 10/15/30)

    385       316,852  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Oil & Gas (continued)            

Shell International Finance BV, 3.50%, 11/13/23 (Call 10/13/23)

  $ 20     $ 19,960  

Valero Energy Corp., 6.63%, 06/15/37

    735       797,490  
   

 

 

 
      4,634,516  
Packaging & Containers — 0.5%            

Amcor Finance USA Inc., 3.63%, 04/28/26 (Call 01/28/26)

    244       232,347  

Amcor Flexibles North America Inc., 2.69%, 05/25/31 (Call 02/25/31)

    723       593,136  
   

 

 

 
      825,483  
Pharmaceuticals — 5.7%            

AbbVie Inc.

   

3.60%, 05/14/25 (Call 02/14/25)

    545       535,008  

4.25%, 11/14/28 (Call 08/14/28)

    410       402,725  

4.50%, 05/14/35 (Call 11/14/34)

    392       372,829  

4.70%, 05/14/45 (Call 11/14/44)

    315       293,378  

4.85%, 06/15/44 (Call 12/15/43)

    75       71,191  

AmerisourceBergen Corp., 2.70%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)

    925       787,459  

AstraZeneca PLC, 6.45%, 09/15/37

    610       717,378  

Becton Dickinson and Co.

   

3.70%, 06/06/27 (Call 03/06/27)

    531       515,715  

3.73%, 12/15/24 (Call 09/15/24)

    559       554,010  

Cigna Corp.

   

3.40%, 03/01/27 (Call 12/01/26)

    95       90,564  

4.38%, 10/15/28 (Call 07/15/28)

    745       733,664  

4.80%, 08/15/38 (Call 02/15/38)

    55       53,013  

4.80%, 07/15/46 (Call 01/16/46)

    750       700,813  

4.90%, 12/15/48 (Call 06/15/48)

    40       37,974  

CVS Health Corp.

   

3.25%, 08/15/29 (Call 05/15/29)

    355       324,405  

4.30%, 03/25/28 (Call 12/25/27)

    795       785,922  

4.78%, 03/25/38 (Call 09/25/37)

    814       773,753  

5.13%, 07/20/45 (Call 01/20/45)

    52       49,874  

Johnson & Johnson

   

1.30%, 09/01/30 (Call 06/01/30)

    20       16,759  

2.25%, 09/01/50 (Call 03/01/50)

    1,155       797,665  

Shire Acquisitions Investments Ireland DAC, 3.20%, 09/23/26 (Call 06/23/26)

    520       497,038  

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 4.40%, 11/26/23 (Call 10/26/23)

    200       200,318  

Zoetis Inc., 4.70%, 02/01/43 (Call 08/01/42)

    130       124,398  
   

 

 

 
          9,435,853  
Pipelines — 6.2%            

Boardwalk Pipelines LP

   

3.40%, 02/15/31 (Call 11/15/30)

    240       203,304  

3.60%, 09/01/32 (Call 06/01/32)

    225       189,621  

Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC, 5.88%, 03/31/25 (Call 10/02/24)

    840       857,083  

Columbia Pipeline Group Inc., 4.50%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    585       582,623  

Enbridge Inc.

   

2.50%, 01/15/25 (Call 12/15/24)

    157       150,438  

5.50%, 12/01/46 (Call 06/01/46)

    190       194,647  

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

   

4.85%, 03/15/44 (Call 09/15/43)

    380       350,795  

5.10%, 02/15/45 (Call 08/15/44)

    400       381,612  

Kinder Morgan Inc.

   

4.30%, 03/01/28 (Call 12/01/27)

    775       757,061  

5.30%, 12/01/34 (Call 06/01/34)

    381       372,883  

5.55%, 06/01/45 (Call 12/01/44)

    441       428,946  

 

 

16  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Pipelines (continued)            

Magellan Midstream Partners LP, 3.95%, 03/01/50 (Call 09/01/49)

  $     370     $ 290,716  

MPLX LP

   

2.65%, 08/15/30 (Call 05/15/30)

    95       79,192  

4.50%, 04/15/38 (Call 10/15/37)

    850       751,349  

5.20%, 03/01/47 (Call 09/01/46)

    45       40,998  

ONEOK Inc.

   

3.10%, 03/15/30 (Call 12/15/29)

    40       34,484  

3.40%, 09/01/29 (Call 06/01/29)

    565       500,550  

4.55%, 07/15/28 (Call 04/15/28)

    470       455,490  

Spectra Energy Partners LP, 4.75%, 03/15/24 (Call 12/15/23)

    899       903,660  

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.

   

4.10%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    150       142,571  

4.63%, 03/01/34 (Call 12/01/33)(c)

    100       95,325  

4.88%, 01/15/26 (Call 10/15/25)

    610       615,221  

7.63%, 01/15/39

    413       504,011  

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 7.85%, 02/01/26 (Call 11/01/25)

    195       213,003  

Williams Companies Inc. (The)

   

4.00%, 09/15/25 (Call 06/15/25)

    555       548,902  

6.30%, 04/15/40

    597       636,392  
   

 

 

 
          10,280,877  
Real Estate Investment Trusts — 6.0%            

American Homes 4 Rent LP, 4.25%, 02/15/28 (Call 11/15/27)

    120       114,648  

American Tower Corp.

   

3.38%, 10/15/26 (Call 07/15/26)

    77       72,628  

3.80%, 08/15/29 (Call 05/15/29)

    203       187,927  

4.00%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    335       329,116  

5.00%, 02/15/24(c)

    635       641,213  

Crown Castle Inc.

   

3.30%, 07/01/30 (Call 04/01/30)

    50       44,322  

3.65%, 09/01/27 (Call 06/01/27)

    15       14,274  

3.70%, 06/15/26 (Call 03/15/26)

    50       48,438  

3.80%, 02/15/28 (Call 11/15/27)

    150       141,428  

4.45%, 02/15/26 (Call 11/15/25)

    380       378,092  

Digital Realty Trust LP

   

3.60%, 07/01/29 (Call 04/01/29)

    70       64,463  

3.70%, 08/15/27 (Call 05/15/27)

    630       601,379  

4.45%, 07/15/28 (Call 04/15/28)

    231       225,033  

Equinix Inc.

   

2.15%, 07/15/30 (Call 04/15/30)

    680       555,308  

3.20%, 11/18/29 (Call 08/18/29)

    311       278,512  

3.40%, 02/15/52 (Call 08/15/51)

    50       36,525  

GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II Inc.

   

3.25%, 01/15/32 (Call 10/15/31)

    30       24,287  

5.25%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    385       380,284  

5.30%, 01/15/29 (Call 10/15/28)

    600       579,247  

Healthcare Realty Holdings LP, 2.00%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)

    630       490,073  

Healthcare Trust of America Holdings LP, 3.10%, 02/15/30 (Call 11/15/29)

    270       232,661  

Healthpeak Properties Inc.

   

3.25%, 07/15/26 (Call 05/15/26)

    195       187,321  

3.50%, 07/15/29 (Call 04/15/29)

    110       101,185  

Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP

   

2.00%, 08/15/31 (Call 05/15/31)

    340       258,208  

2.30%, 11/15/28 (Call 09/15/28)

    275       229,500  

Physicians Realty LP, 2.63%, 11/01/31 (Call 08/01/31)

    255       204,352  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Real Estate Investment Trusts (continued)            

Sun Communities Operating LP

   

2.70%, 07/15/31 (Call 04/15/31)

  $ 705     $ 567,543  

4.20%, 04/15/32 (Call 01/15/32)

    240       214,952  

Ventas Realty LP

   

2.50%, 09/01/31 (Call 06/01/31)

    250       203,992  

4.40%, 01/15/29 (Call 10/15/28)(c)

    620       596,425  

VICI Properties LP, 5.63%, 05/15/52 (Call 11/15/51)

    160       147,943  

Welltower Inc.

   

2.80%, 06/01/31 (Call 03/01/31)

    120       101,144  

4.00%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    660       651,643  

4.25%, 04/15/28 (Call 01/15/28)

    346       336,817  

Weyerhaeuser Co., 4.00%, 11/15/29 (Call 08/15/29)

    460       434,386  

WP Carey Inc., 2.40%, 02/01/31 (Call 11/01/30)(c)

    220       178,831  
   

 

 

 
          9,854,100  
Retail — 2.2%            

Best Buy Co. Inc., 4.45%, 10/01/28 (Call 07/01/28)

    90       88,263  

Dollar Tree Inc.

   

4.00%, 05/15/25 (Call 03/15/25)

    165       163,424  

4.20%, 05/15/28 (Call 02/15/28)

    760       740,381  

McDonald’s Corp.

   

4.70%, 12/09/35 (Call 06/09/35)

    180       178,630  

4.88%, 12/09/45 (Call 06/09/45)

    140       137,085  

O’Reilly Automotive Inc.

   

3.90%, 06/01/29 (Call 03/01/29)

    125       118,325  

4.35%, 06/01/28 (Call 03/01/28)

    105       103,974  

Ross Stores Inc., 4.60%, 04/15/25 (Call 03/15/25)

    275       277,305  

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.

   

3.45%, 06/01/26 (Call 03/01/26)

    653       633,194  

3.80%, 11/18/24 (Call 08/18/24)

    30       29,821  

4.80%, 11/18/44 (Call 05/18/44)

    345       302,031  

Walmart Inc., 2.50%, 09/22/41 (Call 03/22/41)

    1,070       826,755  
   

 

 

 
      3,599,188  
Semiconductors — 3.9%            

Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., 3.88%, 01/15/27 (Call 10/15/26)

    686       659,393  

Broadcom Inc.

   

4.15%, 11/15/30 (Call 08/15/30)

    645       588,306  

4.75%, 04/15/29 (Call 01/15/29)

    434       426,407  

5.00%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    247       240,586  

KLA Corp., 4.65%, 11/01/24 (Call 08/01/24)

    406       412,512  

Marvell Technology Inc.

   

1.65%, 04/15/26 (Call 03/15/26)

    30       26,986  

2.45%, 04/15/28 (Call 02/15/28)

    385       334,426  

2.95%, 04/15/31 (Call 01/15/31)

    605       496,018  

Microchip Technology Inc.

   

0.97%, 02/15/24

    220       209,437  

4.25%, 09/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)

    825       816,213  

Micron Technology Inc.

   

4.66%, 02/15/30 (Call 11/15/29)

    675       632,193  

4.98%, 02/06/26 (Call 12/06/25)

    103       103,353  

5.33%, 02/06/29 (Call 11/06/28)

    170       167,581  

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC, 5.55%, 12/01/28 (Call 09/01/28)

    115       116,981  

Qorvo Inc.

   

1.75%, 12/15/24 (Call 12/15/22)(d)

    205       191,361  

4.38%, 10/15/29 (Call 10/15/24)

    755       666,288  

Skyworks Solutions Inc.

   

1.80%, 06/01/26 (Call 05/01/26)

    237       210,899  

3.00%, 06/01/31 (Call 03/01/31)

    210       170,257  
   

 

 

 
      6,469,197  

 

 

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

  17


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

 

 
Shipbuilding — 0.5%            

Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc.

   

2.04%, 08/16/28 (Call 06/16/28)

  $     305     $ 258,409  

3.48%, 12/01/27 (Call 09/01/27)

    124       115,246  

3.84%, 05/01/25 (Call 04/01/25)

    206       201,568  

4.20%, 05/01/30 (Call 02/01/30)

    200       186,148  
   

 

 

 
      761,371  
Software — 3.8%            

Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., 2.60%, 05/01/31 (Call 02/01/31)

    335       280,258  

Citrix Systems Inc., 4.50%, 12/01/27 (Call 09/01/27)

    650       645,735  

Fiserv Inc.

   

3.85%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    470       462,274  

4.20%, 10/01/28 (Call 07/01/28)

    770       746,602  

Oracle Corp.

   

2.95%, 04/01/30 (Call 01/01/30)

    525       448,072  

3.40%, 07/08/24 (Call 04/08/24)(c)

    470       463,164  

3.90%, 05/15/35 (Call 11/15/34)

    150       122,676  

4.30%, 07/08/34 (Call 01/08/34)

    860       749,309  

5.38%, 07/15/40

    735       661,417  

Roper Technologies Inc., 4.20%, 09/15/28 (Call 06/15/28)

    605       589,896  

VMware Inc.

   

3.90%, 08/21/27 (Call 05/21/27)

    841       802,189  

4.50%, 05/15/25 (Call 04/15/25)

    285       284,720  
   

 

 

 
          6,256,312  
Telecommunications — 6.1%            

AT&T Inc.

   

4.25%, 03/01/27 (Call 12/01/26)

    745       737,909  

4.35%, 03/01/29 (Call 12/01/28)

    240       234,136  

4.85%, 03/01/39 (Call 09/01/38)

    715       668,734  

5.15%, 02/15/50 (Call 08/14/49)(c)

    280       270,102  

5.25%, 03/01/37 (Call 09/01/36)

    505       505,021  

5.65%, 02/15/47 (Call 08/15/46)

    360       376,531  

British Telecommunications PLC, 9.63%, 12/15/30

    670       825,703  

Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV, 8.75%, 06/15/30

    665       816,556  

Juniper Networks Inc., 3.75%, 08/15/29 (Call 05/15/29)(c)

    110       99,271  

Motorola Solutions Inc.

   

2.30%, 11/15/30 (Call 08/15/30)

    220       174,539  

4.60%, 02/23/28 (Call 11/23/27)

    190       187,001  

4.60%, 05/23/29 (Call 02/23/29)(c)

    595       572,946  

Orange SA, 9.00%, 03/01/31

    378       481,690  

Telefonica Emisiones SA, 7.05%, 06/20/36

    120       131,178  

T-Mobile USA Inc.

   

2.55%, 02/15/31 (Call 11/15/30)

    110       91,552  

3.60%, 11/15/60 (Call 05/15/60)

    120       86,366  

3.75%, 04/15/27 (Call 02/15/27)

    385       369,177  

3.88%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    912       842,895  

4.38%, 04/15/40 (Call 10/15/39)

    210       185,232  

4.50%, 04/15/50 (Call 10/15/49)

    60       52,357  

Verizon Communications Inc.

   

4.27%, 01/15/36

    250       230,443  

4.40%, 11/01/34 (Call 05/01/34)

    248       234,576  

4.50%, 08/10/33

    72       69,339  
Security  

Par/

Shares

(000)

    Value  

 

 
Telecommunications (continued)            

5.25%, 03/16/37

  $ 680     $ 691,244  

Vodafone Group PLC

   

5.00%, 05/30/38

    535       507,270  

6.15%, 02/27/37

    625       655,011  
   

 

 

 
      10,096,779  
Toys, Games & Hobbies — 0.6%            

Hasbro Inc.

   

3.55%, 11/19/26 (Call 09/19/26)

    310       295,356  

3.90%, 11/19/29 (Call 08/19/29)

    690       631,976  
   

 

 

 
      927,332  
Transportation — 1.5%            

CH Robinson Worldwide Inc., 4.20%, 04/15/28 (Call 01/15/28)

    125       120,716  

FedEx Corp.

   

4.40%, 01/15/47 (Call 07/15/46)

    420       371,382  

4.55%, 04/01/46 (Call 10/01/45)

    515       461,380  

4.75%, 11/15/45 (Call 05/15/45)

    135       124,840  

5.25%, 05/15/50 (Call 11/15/49)(c)

    55       54,409  

Union Pacific Corp., 3.75%, 02/05/70 (Call 08/05/69)

    660       527,539  

United Parcel Service Inc.

   

3.05%, 11/15/27 (Call 08/15/27)

    140       136,237  

6.20%, 01/15/38

    525       617,192  
   

 

 

 
      2,413,695  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 98.1%
(Cost: $178,568,769)

        161,911,380  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

   
Money Market Funds — 3.9%            

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 2.42%(e)(f)(g)

    4,810       4,811,238  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 2.07%(e)(f)

    1,533       1,533,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 3.9%
(Cost: $6,340,982)

      6,344,238  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities — 102.0%
(Cost: $184,909,751)

      168,255,618  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (2.0)%

      (3,241,082
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $ 165,014,536  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

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.

(b) 

Perpetual security with no stated maturity date.

(c) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(d) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(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.

 

 

18  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six months ended August 31, 2022 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

 

 

   
    Affiliated Issuer   

Value at

02/28/22

     Purchases
at Cost
    

Proceeds

from Sale

    

Net Realized

Gain (Loss)

    

Change in

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

    

Value at

08/31/22

    

Shares

Held at

08/31/22

(000)

     Income     

Capital Gain

Distributions from
Underlying Funds

   

    

 
 

 

   

    

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares

   $ 3,424,264      $ 1,385,061 (a)     $      $ 38      $ 1,875      $ 4,811,238        4,810      $ 6,779 (b)     $    
 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

     2,373,000               (840,000 )(a)                     1,533,000        1,533        7,548           
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

   
              $ 38      $ 1,875      $ 6,344,238         $ 14,327      $    
             

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

(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.

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

           

Corporate Bonds & Notes

   $      $ 161,911,380      $             —      $ 161,911,380  

Money Market Funds

     6,344,238                      6,344,238  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $   6,344,238      $ 161,911,380      $      $ 168,255,618  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  19



Schedule of Investments (unaudited) 

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Collaterized Mortgage Obligations

   
Mortgage-Backed Securities — 1.3%            

Bank, Series 2017, Class A5, 3.44%, 09/15/60 (Call 09/15/27)

  $ 40     $ 38,185  

COMM Mortgage Trust, 2.87%, 08/15/57 (Call 11/15/29)

    50       46,706  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K123, Class A2, 1.62%, 12/25/30 (Call 01/25/31)

    47       39,491  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust, 2.91%, 02/13/53 (Call 01/13/30)

    75       67,363  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2015-C23, Class A4, 3.72%, 07/15/50 (Call 06/15/25)

    25       24,442  

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, 3.79%, 12/15/49 (Call 12/15/26)

    10       9,705  
   

 

 

 
      225,892  
   

 

 

 

Total Collaterized Mortgage Obligations — 1.3%
(Cost: $259,710)

      225,892  
   

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds & Notes

   
Advertising — 0.0%            

Advantage Sales & Marketing Inc., 6.50%, 11/15/28 (Call 11/15/23)(a)(b)

    3       2,580  
   

 

 

 
Aerospace & Defense — 1.3%            

Boeing Co. (The)

   

4.88%, 05/01/25 (Call 04/01/25)

    10       10,028  

5.04%, 05/01/27 (Call 03/01/27)

    70       69,789  

5.71%, 05/01/40 (Call 11/01/39)

    10       9,538  

Bombardier Inc., 7.88%, 04/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    5       4,788  

L3Harris Technologies Inc. 4.40%, 06/15/28 (Call 03/15/28)

    50       49,149  

Northrop Grumman Corp., 3.25%, 01/15/28 (Call 10/15/27)

    35       33,212  

Raytheon Technologies Corp., 4.13%, 11/16/28 (Call 08/16/28)

    35       34,274  

Spirit AeroSystems Inc., 7.50%, 04/15/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    5       4,890  

Teledyne Technologies Inc., 2.25%, 04/01/28 (Call 02/01/28)

    15       13,005  

TransDigm Inc., 6.25%, 03/15/26 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    5       4,912  
   

 

 

 
          233,585  
Agriculture — 1.0%            

Altria Group Inc.

   

3.40%, 05/06/30 (Call 02/06/30)

    25       21,677  

4.80%, 02/14/29 (Call 11/14/28)(b)

    30       29,050  

BAT Capital Corp.

   

3.22%, 08/15/24 (Call 06/15/24)

    20       19,536  

4.91%, 04/02/30 (Call 01/02/30)

    50       47,088  

Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp., 2.75%, 05/14/31 (Call 02/14/31)

    20       16,786  

Philip Morris International Inc., 3.38%, 08/15/29 (Call 05/15/29)(b)

    30       26,972  

Vector Group Ltd.

   

5.75%, 02/01/29 (Call 02/01/24)(a)

    2       1,733  

10.50%, 11/01/26 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    2       1,936  
   

 

 

 
      164,778  
Airlines — 0.1%            

Air Canada, 3.88%, 08/15/26 (Call 02/15/26)(a)

    5       4,462  

American Airlines Group Inc., 3.75%, 03/01/25(a)(b)

    3       2,523  

American Airlines Inc., 11.75%, 07/15/25(a)

    3       3,315  

Delta Air Lines Inc., 7.38%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)(b)

    5       5,100  
   

 

 

 
      15,400  
Auto Manufacturers — 0.4%            

Allison Transmission Inc., 5.88%, 06/01/29 (Call 06/01/24)(a)(b)

    2       1,880  

Ford Motor Co., 5.29%, 12/08/46 (Call 06/08/46)

    2       1,605  

General Motors Financial Co. Inc., 2.90%, 02/26/25 (Call 01/26/25)

    20       19,088  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Auto Manufacturers (continued)            

Honda Motor Co. Ltd., 2.27%, 03/10/25 (Call 02/10/25)

  $ 30     $ 28,851  

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC, 4.50%, 10/01/27 (Call 07/01/27)(a)(b)

    10       7,386  

Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 1.45%, 01/13/25

    20       18,910  
   

 

 

 
      77,720  
Banks — 10.2%            

Bank of America Corp.

   

3.37%, 01/23/26 (Call 01/23/25),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.810%)(c)

    80       77,351  

3.82%, 01/20/28 (Call 01/20/27),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.575%)(c)

    70       67,006  

3.97%, 03/05/29 (Call 03/05/28),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.070%)(c)

    70       66,257  

5.13%, (Call 06/20/24)(c)

    10       9,574  

Series L, 3.95%, 04/21/25

    90       89,101  

Bank of Montreal, 1.50%, 01/10/25

    15       14,115  

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The), 3.35%, 04/25/25 (Call 03/25/25)

    20       19,723  

Bank of Nova Scotia (The), 0.65%, 07/31/24

    20       18,731  

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

   

1.00%, 10/18/24

    10       9,352  

1.25%, 06/22/26

    10       8,935  

3.45%, 04/07/27

    35       33,551  

Citigroup Inc.

   

3.89%, 01/10/28 (Call 01/10/27),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.563%)(c)

    30       28,723  

4.14%, 05/24/25 (Call 05/24/24), (SOFR + 1.372%)(c)

    5       4,966  

4.40%, 06/10/25

    80       79,651  

Citizens Financial Group Inc., 3.25%, 04/30/30 (Call 01/30/30)

    45       39,689  

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (The)

   

1.76%, 01/24/25 (Call 01/24/24), (SOFR + 0.730%)(c)

    100       96,096  

3.27%, 09/29/25 (Call 09/29/24), (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.201%)(c)

    35       34,089  

HSBC Holdings PLC, 4.29%, 09/12/26 (Call 09/12/25), (3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.348%)(c)

    200           194,279  

Huntington Bancshares Inc., 2.49%, 08/15/36 (Call 08/15/31)(c)

    10       7,555  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 5.71%, 01/15/26(a)

    10       9,380  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   

3.51%, 01/23/29 (Call 01/23/28),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 0.945%)(c)

    35       32,386  

3.78%, 02/01/28 (Call 02/01/27),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.337%)(c)

    75       71,907  

3.85%, 06/14/25 (Call 06/14/24)(c)

    50       49,469  

4.20%, 07/23/29 (Call 07/23/28),
(3 mo. LIBOR US + 1.260%)(c)

    60       57,524  

6.75%, (Call 02/01/24)(c)

    80       80,486  

KeyCorp, 4.10%, 04/30/28

    30       29,103  

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., 3.41%, 03/07/24

    20       19,787  

Morgan Stanley

   

2.70%, 01/22/31 (Call 01/22/30), (SOFR + 1.143%)(c)

    75       64,891  

3.13%, 07/27/26

    15       14,291  

3.63%, 01/20/27

    55       53,436  

4.00%, 07/23/25

    35       34,784  

4.68%, 07/17/26(c)

           

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (The), 2.20%, 11/01/24 (Call 10/02/24)

    10       9,669  

Regions Financial Corp., 1.80%, 08/12/28 (Call 06/12/28)

    10       8,607  

Royal Bank of Canada, 2.25%, 11/01/24

    20       19,226  

SVB Financial Group, 2.10%, 05/15/28 (Call 03/15/28)

    10       8,468  

 

 

20  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Banks (continued)            

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)

   

0.70%, 09/10/24

  $ 20     $ 18,702  

3.77%, 06/06/25

    5       4,943  

Truist Financial Corp., 4.00%, 05/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    50       49,863  

U.S. Bancorp, 5.30%, (Call 04/15/27)(c)

    10       8,900  

Wells Fargo & Co.

   

2.41%, 10/30/25 (Call 10/30/24),
(SOFR + 1.087%)(c)

    100       95,552  

3.00%, 10/23/26

    45       42,517  

4.15%, 01/24/29 (Call 10/24/28)

    35       33,933  

5.90%, (Call 06/15/24)(c)

    30       28,223  

Western Alliance Bancorp., 3.00%, 06/15/31 (Call 06/15/26), (SOFR + 2.250%)(c)

    10       8,865  

Westpac Banking Corp., 1.02%, 11/18/24

    10       9,444  
   

 

 

 
          1,763,100  
Beverages — 0.8%            

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc.

   

4.00%, 04/13/28 (Call 01/13/28)

    30       29,651  

4.75%, 01/23/29 (Call 10/23/28)

    30       30,615  

Constellation Brands Inc., 3.15%, 08/01/29 (Call 05/01/29)

    25       22,476  

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.

   

3.95%, 04/15/29 (Call 02/15/29)

    10       9,517  

4.42%, 05/25/25 (Call 03/25/25)

    6       6,041  

4.60%, 05/25/28 (Call 02/25/28)

    30       30,095  

Molson Coors Beverage Co., 3.00%, 07/15/26 (Call 04/15/26)

    10       9,368  
   

 

 

 
      137,763  
Biotechnology — 0.5%            

Biogen Inc., 2.25%, 05/01/30 (Call 02/01/30)

    45       36,759  

Emergent BioSolutions Inc., 3.88%, 08/15/28 (Call 08/15/23)(a)

    2       1,400  

Royalty Pharma PLC

   

1.20%, 09/02/25 (Call 08/02/25)

    15       13,636  

1.75%, 09/02/27 (Call 07/02/27)

    30       26,067  
   

 

 

 
      77,862  
Building Materials — 0.7%            

Carrier Global Corp.

   

2.24%, 02/15/25 (Call 01/15/25)

    7       6,653  

2.49%, 02/15/27 (Call 12/15/26)

    26       23,923  

2.72%, 02/15/30 (Call 11/15/29)

    25       21,595  

Eagle Materials Inc., 2.50%, 07/01/31 (Call 04/01/31)

    30       23,472  

Masco Corp., 1.50%, 02/15/28 (Call 12/15/27)

    15       12,629  

Vulcan Materials Co., 3.50%, 06/01/30 (Call 03/01/30)

    30       27,017  
   

 

 

 
      115,289  
Chemicals — 0.6%            

Albemarle Corp., 4.65%, 06/01/27 (Call 05/01/27)

    10       9,927  

Celanese U.S. Holdings LLC, 5.90%, 07/05/24

    10       10,076  

DuPont de Nemours Inc., 4.73%, 11/15/28 (Call 08/15/28)

    15       15,122  

EverArc Escrow Sarl, 5.00%, 10/30/29 (Call 10/30/24)(a)

    3       2,570  

Huntsman International LLC, 4.50%, 05/01/29 (Call 02/01/29)

    30       27,634  

Nutrien Ltd., 4.20%, 04/01/29 (Call 01/01/29)

    30       29,078  

Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., 7.25%, 04/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    3       2,805  
   

 

 

 
      97,212  
Commercial Services — 0.7%            

ADT Security Corp. (The)

   

4.13%, 08/01/29 (Call 08/01/28)(a)

    5       4,295  

4.88%, 07/15/32(a)(b)

    2       1,673  

Adtalem Global Education Inc., 5.50%, 03/01/28 (Call 03/01/24)(a)

    2       1,900  

Deluxe Corp., 8.00%, 06/01/29 (Call 06/01/24)(a)(b)

    3       2,670  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Commercial Services (continued)            

Global Payments Inc.

   

1.20%, 03/01/26 (Call 02/01/26)

  $ 30     $ 26,473  

3.20%, 08/15/29 (Call 05/15/29)

    25       21,833  

NESCO Holdings II Inc., 5.50%, 04/15/29
(Call 04/15/24)(a)

    3       2,640  

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co.

   

4.75%, 07/15/31 (Call 07/15/26)(a)

    2       1,987  

5.88%, 10/01/30 (Call 10/01/25)(a)

    3       3,002  

Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance Inc., 5.75%, 04/15/26(a)

    5       4,811  

Quanta Services Inc., 2.90%, 10/01/30 (Call 07/01/30)

    20       17,083  

RELX Capital Inc., 4.00%, 03/18/29 (Call 12/18/28)

    30       28,982  

Sabre GLBL Inc., 7.38%, 09/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    5       4,737  

United Rentals North America Inc., 4.88%, 01/15/28 (Call 01/15/23)

    2       1,869  
   

 

 

 
          123,955  
Computers — 1.3%            

Apple Inc., 2.75%, 01/13/25 (Call 11/13/24)

    40       39,236  

CGI Inc., 1.45%, 09/14/26 (Call 08/14/26)

    10       8,844  

Conduent Business Services LLC/Conduent State & Local Solutions Inc., 6.00%, 11/01/29 (Call 11/01/24)(a)

    3       2,584  

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., 4.45%, 10/02/23 (Call 09/02/23)

    10       10,036  

HP Inc., 3.40%, 06/17/30 (Call 03/17/30)

    45       39,097  

International Business Machines Corp., 3.00%, 05/15/24

    100       98,768  

Leidos Inc.

   

3.63%, 05/15/25 (Call 04/15/25)

    10       9,770  

4.38%, 05/15/30 (Call 02/15/30)

    25       23,080  

Unisys Corp., 6.88%, 11/01/27 (Call 11/01/23)(a)(b)

    3       2,503  
   

 

 

 
      233,918  
Cosmetics & Personal Care — 0.0%            

Coty Inc., 5.00%, 04/15/26 (Call 04/15/23)(a)

    2       1,895  
   

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services — 1.1%            

Air Lease Corp., 3.38%, 07/01/25 (Call 06/01/25)

    10       9,496  

Ally Financial Inc., 3.88%, 05/21/24 (Call 04/21/24)

    10       9,915  

American Express Co., 3.38%, 05/03/24

    30       29,658  

Capital One Financial Corp.

   

3.75%, 03/09/27 (Call 02/09/27)

    30       28,834  

3.80%, 01/31/28 (Call 12/31/27)

    30       28,347  

4.25%, 04/30/25 (Call 03/31/25)

    50       49,884  

goeasy Ltd., 5.38%, 12/01/24 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    2       1,892  

Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc.

   

5.13%, 12/15/30 (Call 12/15/25)(a)

    3       2,362  

5.75%, 11/15/31 (Call 11/15/26)(a)

    2       1,586  

OneMain Finance Corp., 7.13%, 03/15/26

    6       5,589  

Synchrony Financial, 4.25%, 08/15/24 (Call 05/15/24)

    10       9,886  

Western Union Co. (The), 1.35%, 03/15/26 (Call 02/15/26)

    10       8,851  
   

 

 

 
      186,300  
Electric — 3.6%            

Ameren Corp., 3.50%, 01/15/31 (Call 10/15/30)

    25       22,851  

Avangrid Inc., 3.80%, 06/01/29 (Call 03/01/29)

    20       18,687  

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co., 4.05%, 04/15/25 (Call 03/15/25)

    10       10,013  

CenterPoint Energy Inc., 1.45%, 06/01/26 (Call 05/01/26)

    10       9,019  

Dominion Energy Inc., Series C, 3.38%, 04/01/30 (Call 01/01/30)

    40       36,375  

DTE Electric Co., Series A, 1.90%, 04/01/28 (Call 02/01/28)

    10       8,866  

DTE Energy Co., 4.22%, 11/01/24

    30       29,853  

 

 

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

  21


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Electric (continued)            

Duke Energy Corp.

   

3.15%, 08/15/27 (Call 05/15/27)

  $ 55     $ 51,834  

3.75%, 09/01/46 (Call 03/01/46)

    20       15,634  

Emera U.S. Finance LP, 3.55%, 06/15/26 (Call 03/15/26)

    30       28,739  

Entergy Corp.

   

0.90%, 09/15/25 (Call 08/15/25)

    35       31,423  

1.90%, 06/15/28 (Call 04/15/28)

    30       25,888  

Evergy Inc., 2.90%, 09/15/29 (Call 06/15/29)

    30       26,322  

Exelon Corp., 4.05%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    40       38,468  

FirstEnergy Corp., Series C, 3.40%, 03/01/50 (Call 09/01/49)

    3       2,150  

Fortis Inc./Canada, 3.06%, 10/04/26 (Call 07/04/26)

    35       32,753  

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings Inc., 3.55%, 05/01/27 (Call 02/01/27)

    40       38,485  

NRG Energy Inc., 5.75%, 01/15/28 (Call 01/15/23)(b)

    3       2,828  

Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 4.95%, 06/08/25

    10       9,948  

PG&E Corp., 5.00%, 07/01/28 (Call 07/01/23)

    5       4,440  

San Diego Gas & Electric Co., Series VVV, 1.70%, 10/01/30 (Call 07/01/30)

    20       16,428  

Sempra Energy

   

3.25%, 06/15/27 (Call 03/15/27)

    30       28,386  

3.40%, 02/01/28 (Call 11/01/27)

    15       14,169  

Southern California Edison Co.

   

2.75%, 02/01/32 (Call 11/01/31)

    10       8,466  

Series D, 4.70%, 06/01/27 (Call 05/01/27)

    10       10,026  

Series E, 3.70%, 08/01/25 (Call 06/01/25)

    35       34,463  

Southern Co. (The)

   

3.25%, 07/01/26 (Call 04/01/26)

    30       28,656  

Series A, 3.70%, 04/30/30 (Call 01/30/30)

    30       28,063  

Southwestern Electric Power Co., Series N, 1.65%, 03/15/26 (Call 02/15/26)

    15       13,599  

Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 5.63%, 02/15/27 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    2       1,925  
   

 

 

 
          628,757  
Electrical Components & Equipment — 0.0%            

Energizer Holdings Inc., 4.38%, 03/31/29 (Call 09/30/23)(a)

    5       4,067  
   

 

 

 
Electronics — 0.2%            

Allegion U.S. Holding Co. Inc., 5.41%, 07/01/32 (Call 04/01/32)

    10       9,872  

TD SYNNEX Corp.

   

1.75%, 08/09/26 (Call 07/09/26)

    15       13,134  

2.38%, 08/09/28 (Call 06/09/28)

    15       12,598  
   

 

 

 
      35,604  
Energy - Alternate Sources — 0.0%            

Enviva Partners LP/Enviva Partners Finance Corp., 6.50%, 01/15/26 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    5       4,857  
   

 

 

 
Engineering & Construction — 0.0%            

AECOM, 5.13%, 03/15/27 (Call 12/15/26)

    5       4,850  
   

 

 

 
Entertainment — 0.1%            

AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., 7.50%, 02/15/29 (Call 02/15/25)(a)

    4       3,440  

Caesars Entertainment Inc., 6.25%, 07/01/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    6       5,858  

Cedar Fair LP/Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp./Millennium Op, 5.50%, 05/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    5       4,905  

Live Nation Entertainment Inc., 6.50%, 05/15/27 (Call 05/15/23)(a)

    5       4,992  
   

 

 

 
      19,195  
Environmental Control — 0.2%            

GFL Environmental Inc., 3.50%, 09/01/28 (Call 03/01/28)(a)

    5       4,343  

Republic Services Inc., 3.95%, 05/15/28 (Call 02/15/28)

    30       29,328  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Environmental Control (continued)            

Stericycle Inc., 5.38%, 07/15/24 (Call 09/16/22)(a)

  $ 3     $ 2,936  
   

 

 

 
      36,607  
Food — 1.5%            

B&G Foods Inc., 5.25%, 09/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)

    4       3,333  

Campbell Soup Co., 4.15%, 03/15/28 (Call 12/15/27)

    35       34,369  

Conagra Brands Inc.

   

4.60%, 11/01/25 (Call 09/01/25)

    20       19,979  

4.85%, 11/01/28 (Call 08/01/28)

    25       24,738  

General Mills Inc., 4.20%, 04/17/28 (Call 01/17/28)

    30       29,836  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co.

   

3.00%, 06/01/26 (Call 03/01/26)

    15       14,200  

3.88%, 05/15/27 (Call 02/15/27)(b)

    35       33,824  

McCormick & Co. Inc./MD, 0.90%, 02/15/26 (Call 01/15/26)

    10       8,914  

Sysco Corp., 5.95%, 04/01/30 (Call 01/01/30)

    40       43,025  

Tyson Foods Inc.

   

3.95%, 08/15/24 (Call 05/15/24)

    5       4,984  

4.00%, 03/01/26 (Call 01/01/26)

    25       24,716  

4.35%, 03/01/29 (Call 12/01/28)

    15       14,800  
   

 

 

 
          256,718  
Gas — 0.3%            

AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp., 5.75%, 05/20/27 (Call 02/20/27)

    5       4,712  

National Fuel Gas Co., 2.95%, 03/01/31 (Call 12/01/30)

    10       8,172  

NiSource Inc.

   

2.95%, 09/01/29 (Call 06/01/29)

    30       26,696  

4.38%, 05/15/47 (Call 11/15/46)

    10       8,807  
   

 

 

 
      48,387  
Health Care - Products — 0.8%            

Abbott Laboratories, 2.95%, 03/15/25 (Call 12/15/24)

    5       4,917  

Baxter International Inc., 1.32%, 11/29/24

    10       9,435  

DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc., 3.25%, 06/01/30 (Call 03/01/30)

    30       24,704  

Edwards Lifesciences Corp., 4.30%, 06/15/28 (Call 03/15/28)

    10       9,959  

PerkinElmer Inc.

   

1.90%, 09/15/28 (Call 07/15/28)

    10       8,437  

3.30%, 09/15/29 (Call 06/15/29)

    35       31,144  

Smith & Nephew PLC, 2.03%, 10/14/30 (Call 07/14/30)

    45       35,628  

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., 1.22%, 10/18/24 (Call 10/18/22)

    10       9,460  
   

 

 

 
      133,684  
Health Care - Services — 1.1%            

DaVita Inc., 4.63%, 06/01/30 (Call 06/01/25)(a)

    4       3,220  

Elevance Health Inc.

   

2.38%, 01/15/25 (Call 12/15/24)

    5       4,796  

3.65%, 12/01/27 (Call 09/01/27)

    25       24,218  

4.10%, 03/01/28 (Call 12/01/27)

    40       39,195  

HCA Inc.

   

5.38%, 02/01/25

    5       5,048  

5.88%, 02/15/26 (Call 08/15/25)

    30       30,633  

5.88%, 02/01/29 (Call 08/01/28)

    20       20,386  

Humana Inc.

   

1.35%, 02/03/27 (Call 01/03/27)

    30       26,213  

3.70%, 03/23/29 (Call 02/23/29)

    20       18,885  

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings

   

1.55%, 06/01/26 (Call 05/01/26)

    10       9,017  

3.60%, 02/01/25 (Call 11/01/24)

    5       4,930  

Tenet Healthcare Corp., 6.25%, 02/01/27
(Call 10/03/22)(a)

    5       4,821  
   

 

 

 
      191,362  

 

 

22  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Holding Companies - Diversified — 1.2%            

Ares Capital Corp.

   

2.15%, 07/15/26 (Call 06/15/26)

  $ 10     $ 8,685  

3.88%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    45       42,321  

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund

   

2.85%, 09/30/28 (Call 07/30/28)

    10       7,957  

3.63%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    30       28,140  

FS KKR Capital Corp.

   

3.13%, 10/12/28 (Call 08/12/28)

    10       8,141  

3.40%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    35       31,854  

Goldman Sachs BDC Inc., 2.88%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    10       9,274  

Golub Capital BDC Inc., 2.50%, 08/24/26 (Call 07/24/26)

    15       13,036  

Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 5.25%, 05/15/27 (Call 11/15/26)

    5       4,549  

Main Street Capital Corp., 3.00%, 07/14/26 (Call 06/14/26)

    10       8,729  

Owl Rock Capital Corp.

   

2.63%, 01/15/27 (Call 12/15/26)

    10       8,435  

2.88%, 06/11/28 (Call 04/11/28)

    5       4,047  

3.40%, 07/15/26 (Call 06/15/26)

    40       35,776  
   

 

 

 
          210,944  
Home Builders — 0.3%            

Brookfield Residential Properties Inc./Brookfield Residential U.S. LLC

   

4.88%, 02/15/30 (Call 02/15/25)(a)

    2       1,540  

6.25%, 09/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    2       1,777  

DR Horton Inc., 1.40%, 10/15/27 (Call 08/15/27)

    10       8,376  

Lennar Corp., 4.75%, 05/30/25 (Call 02/28/25)

    5       5,036  

NVR Inc., 3.00%, 05/15/30 (Call 11/15/29)

    35       30,129  

Picasso Finance Sub Inc., 6.13%, 06/15/25 (Call 09/16/22)(a)

    3       3,006  
   

 

 

 
      49,864  
Housewares — 0.0%            

Newell Brands Inc., 5.75%, 04/01/46 (Call 10/01/45)

    2       1,640  
   

 

 

 
Insurance — 1.4%            

American International Group Inc., 2.50%, 06/30/25 (Call 05/30/25)

    20       19,066  

Aon Corp., 3.75%, 05/02/29 (Call 02/02/29)

    25       23,682  

Assured Guaranty U.S. Holdings Inc., 3.15%, 06/15/31 (Call 03/15/31)

    10       8,620  

Brown & Brown Inc., 4.20%, 03/17/32 (Call 12/17/31)

    10       9,105  

Corebridge Financial Inc.

   

3.65%, 04/05/27 (Call 03/05/27)(a)

    20       18,804  

3.85%, 04/05/29 (Call 02/05/29)(a)

    35       32,214  

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., 3.38%, 03/03/31 (Call 12/03/30)

    10       8,545  

Fidelity National Financial Inc., 2.45%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)

    10       7,917  

First American Financial Corp., 2.40%, 08/15/31 (Call 05/15/31)

    15       11,536  

Jackson Financial Inc., 1.13%, 11/22/23(a)

    10       9,615  

Manulife Financial Corp., 4.15%, 03/04/26

    35       34,664  

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., 4.38%, 03/15/29 (Call 12/15/28)

    30       29,817  

Willis North America Inc., 4.65%, 06/15/27 (Call 05/15/27)

    30       29,430  
   

 

 

 
      243,015  
Internet — 0.3%            

Amazon.com Inc., 0.45%, 05/12/24

    10       9,484  

Booking Holdings Inc., 4.63%, 04/13/30 (Call 01/13/30)

    35       35,204  

GrubHub Holdings Inc., 5.50%, 07/01/27 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    2       1,560  

TripAdvisor Inc., 7.00%, 07/15/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    2       1,964  

Uber Technologies Inc., 7.50%, 09/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)(b)

    5       5,006  
   

 

 

 
      53,218  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Iron & Steel — 0.2%            

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., 5.88%, 06/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)

  $ 5     $ 4,787  

Mineral Resources Ltd.

   

8.13%, 05/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    3       3,006  

8.50%, 05/01/30 (Call 05/01/25)(a)

    5       5,037  

Nucor Corp., 3.95%, 05/23/25

    10       9,928  

U.S. Steel Corp., 6.88%, 03/01/29 (Call 03/01/24)

    3       2,933  
   

 

 

 
          25,691  
Leisure Time — 0.1%            

Carnival Corp.

   

7.63%, 03/01/26 (Call 03/01/24)(a)

    3       2,554  

10.50%, 02/01/26 (Call 08/01/23)(a)

    4       4,120  

NCL Corp. Ltd., 5.88%, 02/15/27 (Call 02/15/24)(a)

    4       3,625  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., 5.50%, 08/31/26 (Call 02/28/26)(a)

    6       4,796  
   

 

 

 
      15,095  
Lodging — 0.3%            

Marriott International Inc./MD

   

Series FF, 4.63%, 06/15/30 (Call 03/15/30)

    20       19,101  

Series HH, 2.85%, 04/15/31 (Call 01/15/31)

    30       24,977  

Travel + Leisure Co.

   

4.50%, 12/01/29 (Call 09/01/29)(a)

    2       1,626  

6.63%, 07/31/26 (Call 04/30/26)(a)

    3       2,907  

Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., 5.50%, 03/01/25 (Call 12/01/24)(a)

    4       3,831  
   

 

 

 
      52,442  
Machinery — 0.5%            

Caterpillar Financial Services Corp., 0.60%, 09/13/24

    20       18,788  

GrafTech Finance Inc., 4.63%, 12/15/28 (Call 12/15/23)(a)

    3       2,560  

John Deere Capital Corp., 1.25%, 01/10/25(b)

    20       18,891  

Vertiv Group Corp., 4.13%, 11/15/28 (Call 11/15/24)(a)

    4       3,460  

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.

   

3.45%, 11/15/26 (Call 08/15/26)

    15       13,955  

4.95%, 09/15/28 (Call 06/15/28)

    30       29,088  
   

 

 

 
      86,742  
Manufacturing — 0.8%            

Carlisle Companies Inc., 2.75%, 03/01/30 (Call 12/01/29)

    30       25,731  

General Electric Co., 6.75%, 03/15/32

    30       33,957  

LSB Industries Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/28 (Call 10/15/24)(a)

    2       1,851  

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

   

3.25%, 06/14/29 (Call 03/14/29)

    30       27,433  

3.65%, 06/15/24

    20       19,819  

Trane Technologies Luxembourg Finance SA, 3.80%, 03/21/29 (Call 12/21/28)

    30       28,267  
   

 

 

 
      137,058  
Media — 0.7%            

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.

   

4.25%, 01/15/34 (Call 01/15/28)(a)

    6       4,568  

4.50%, 06/01/33 (Call 06/01/27)(a)

    2       1,570  

Comcast Corp.

   

3.38%, 02/15/25 (Call 11/15/24)

    10       9,868  

4.25%, 10/15/30 (Call 07/15/30)

    30       29,497  

Directv Financing LLC/Directv Financing Co-Obligor Inc., 5.88%, 08/15/27 (Call 08/15/23)(a)

    4       3,660  

Fox Corp.

   

4.03%, 01/25/24 (Call 12/25/23)

    10       9,974  

4.71%, 01/25/29 (Call 10/25/28)

    45       44,534  

Walt Disney Co. (The), 3.35%, 03/24/25

    10       9,855  
   

 

 

 
      113,526  

 

 

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

  23


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Mining — 0.2%            

Arconic Corp., 6.13%, 02/15/28 (Call 02/15/23)(a)

  $ 5     $ 4,693  

Eldorado Gold Corp., 6.25%, 09/01/29 (Call 09/01/24)(a)

    5       4,106  

FMG Resources August 2006 Pty Ltd., 5.13%, 05/15/24 (Call 02/15/24)(a)

    3       2,969  

Hecla Mining Co., 7.25%, 02/15/28 (Call 02/15/23)

    3       2,853  

Southern Copper Corp., 3.88%, 04/23/25

    15       14,700  
   

 

 

 
          29,321  
Office & Business Equipment — 0.3%            

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.

   

2.67%, 12/01/26 (Call 11/01/26)

    40       35,995  

3.28%, 12/01/28 (Call 10/01/28)

    10       8,806  
   

 

 

 
      44,801  
Oil & Gas — 1.5%            

Antero Resources Corp., 7.63%, 02/01/29 (Call 02/01/24)(a)

    4       4,069  

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., 3.85%, 06/01/27 (Call 03/01/27)

    35       33,411  

Cenovus Energy Inc.

   

4.25%, 04/15/27 (Call 01/15/27)

    10       9,850  

4.40%, 04/15/29 (Call 01/15/29)

    25       24,287  

Chevron Corp., 1.55%, 05/11/25 (Call 04/11/25)

    5       4,718  

Civitas Resources Inc., 5.00%, 10/15/26
(Call 10/15/23)(a)

    2       1,862  

CNX Resources Corp., 7.25%, 03/14/27
(Call 10/03/22)(a)

    3       2,978  

ConocoPhillips Co., 6.95%, 04/15/29

    20       22,813  

Continental Resources Inc./OK, 4.38%, 01/15/28 (Call 10/15/27)

    35       32,966  

Coterra Energy Inc., 3.90%, 05/15/27 (Call 02/15/27)(a)

    10       9,543  

Devon Energy Corp., 4.50%, 01/15/30 (Call 01/15/25)

    10       9,482  

Earthstone Energy Holdings LLC, 8.00%, 04/15/27 (Call 04/15/24)(a)

    2       1,949  

EQT Corp., 6.13%, 02/01/25 (Call 01/01/25)

    3       3,083  

Gulfport Energy Operating Corp., 8.00%, 05/17/26 (Call 05/17/24)(a)

    1       1,007  

Hess Corp., 4.30%, 04/01/27 (Call 01/01/27)

    30       29,290  

Marathon Petroleum Corp., 4.70%, 05/01/25 (Call 04/01/25)

    5       5,032  

Matador Resources Co., 5.88%, 09/15/26 (Call 09/16/22)

    5       4,894  

Occidental Petroleum Corp., 7.88%, 09/15/31

    3       3,458  

PBF Holding Co. LLC/PBF Finance Corp., 6.00%, 02/15/28 (Call 02/15/23)

    4       3,593  

Pioneer Natural Resources Co., 1.13%, 01/15/26 (Call 12/15/25)

    30       26,802  

Shell International Finance BV

   

2.00%, 11/07/24 (Call 10/07/24)

    5       4,834  

3.25%, 05/11/25

    5       4,917  

Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp., 6.00%, 04/15/27 (Call 10/03/22)

    3       2,901  

Talos Production Inc., 12.00%, 01/15/26 (Call 01/15/23)

    3       3,178  

TotalEnergies Capital International SA, 3.75%, 04/10/24

    5       5,005  

Valero Energy Corp., 4.35%, 06/01/28 (Call 03/01/28)

    5       4,903  
   

 

 

 
      260,825  
Oil & Gas Services — 0.1%            

Archrock Partners LP/Archrock Partners Finance Corp., 6.88%, 04/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    3       2,813  

Schlumberger Investment SA, 3.65%, 12/01/23 (Call 09/01/23)

    5       4,996  

USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression Finance Corp.

   

6.88%, 04/01/26 (Call 10/03/22)

    5       4,689  

6.88%, 09/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)

    3       2,773  
   

 

 

 
      15,271  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Packaging & Containers — 0.0%            

Graham Packaging Co. Inc., 7.13%, 08/15/28 (Call 08/15/23)(a)

  $ 2     $ 1,717  
   

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals — 2.2%            

AbbVie Inc.

   

2.60%, 11/21/24 (Call 10/21/24)

    10       9,664  

3.60%, 05/14/25 (Call 02/14/25)

    10       9,817  

3.75%, 11/14/23 (Call 10/14/23)

    5       4,988  

4.25%, 11/14/28 (Call 08/14/28)

    30       29,468  

4.50%, 05/14/35 (Call 11/14/34)

    10       9,511  

AmerisourceBergen Corp.

   

2.70%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)

    15       12,770  

3.45%, 12/15/27 (Call 09/15/27)

    25       23,843  

Becton Dickinson and Co., 3.70%, 06/06/27 (Call 03/06/27)

    40       38,849  

Cigna Corp.

   

4.38%, 10/15/28 (Call 07/15/28)

    35       34,467  

4.50%, 02/25/26 (Call 11/27/25)

    65       65,136  

CVS Health Corp.

   

3.75%, 04/01/30 (Call 01/01/30)

    20       18,783  

3.88%, 07/20/25 (Call 04/20/25)

    5       4,965  

4.30%, 03/25/28 (Call 12/25/27)

    35       34,600  

HLF Financing Sarl LLC/Herbalife International Inc., 4.88%, 06/01/29 (Call 06/01/24)(a)

    3       2,367  

Johnson & Johnson, 2.25%, 09/01/50 (Call 03/01/50)

    10       6,906  

McKesson Corp., 1.30%, 08/15/26 (Call 07/15/26)

    10       8,913  

Merck & Co. Inc., 2.75%, 02/10/25 (Call 11/10/24)

    10       9,776  

Shire Acquisitions Investments Ireland DAC, 3.20%, 09/23/26 (Call 06/23/26)

    65       62,130  
   

 

 

 
          386,953  
Pipelines — 2.6%            

Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp., 5.75%, 03/01/27 (Call 09/16/22)(a)

    3       2,842  

Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC

   

3.70%, 11/15/29 (Call 05/18/29)

    10       9,190  

5.13%, 06/30/27 (Call 01/01/27)

    30       29,941  

5.88%, 03/31/25 (Call 10/02/24)

    15       15,305  

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP/Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 8.00%, 04/01/29 (Call 04/01/24)(a)

    2       1,983  

Enbridge Inc.

   

1.60%, 10/04/26 (Call 09/04/26)

    10       8,891  

3.13%, 11/15/29 (Call 08/15/29)

    30       27,113  

4.25%, 12/01/26 (Call 09/01/26)

    15       14,765  

Energy Transfer LP, 4.25%, 04/01/24 (Call 01/01/24)

    20       19,959  

EnLink Midstream Partners LP, 4.15%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    5       4,873  

Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 4.15%, 10/16/28 (Call 07/16/28)

    40       39,207  

Holly Energy Partners LP/Holly Energy Finance Corp., 5.00%, 02/01/28 (Call 02/01/23)(a)(b)

    2       1,862  

Kinder Morgan Inc.

   

4.30%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    5       4,982  

4.30%, 03/01/28 (Call 12/01/27)

    30       29,306  

MPLX LP

   

2.65%, 08/15/30 (Call 05/15/30)

    20       16,672  

4.00%, 03/15/28 (Call 12/15/27)

    30       28,699  

4.13%, 03/01/27 (Call 12/01/26)

    20       19,389  

New Fortress Energy Inc., 6.50%, 09/30/26 (Call 03/31/23)(a)

    4       3,789  

ONEOK Inc.

   

3.10%, 03/15/30 (Call 12/15/29)(b)

    15       12,932  

3.40%, 09/01/29 (Call 06/01/29)

    15       13,289  

4.55%, 07/15/28 (Call 04/15/28)

    20       19,383  

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, 5.63%, 03/01/25 (Call 12/01/24)

    10       10,186  

 

 

24  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Pipelines (continued)            

Spectra Energy Partners LP, 4.75%, 03/15/24 (Call 12/15/23)

  $ 5     $ 5,026  

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.

   

4.10%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    15       14,257  

4.25%, 05/15/28 (Call 02/15/28)

    35       34,135  

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, 7.85%, 02/01/26 (Call 11/01/25)

    30       32,770  

Western Midstream Operating LP, 6.50%, 02/01/50 (Call 08/01/49)

    3       2,596  

Williams Companies Inc. (The)

   

3.75%, 06/15/27 (Call 03/15/27)

    25       24,122  

4.55%, 06/24/24 (Call 03/24/24)

    5       5,011  
   

 

 

 
          452,475  
Real Estate — 0.0%            

Cushman & Wakefield US Borrower LLC, 6.75%, 05/15/28 (Call 05/15/23)(a)(b)

    3       2,974  

WeWork Companies Inc., 7.88%, 05/01/25(a)

    3       2,238  

WeWork Companies LLC/WW Co-Obligor Inc., 5.00%, 07/10/25 (Call 04/10/25)(a)

    2       1,298  
   

 

 

 
      6,510  
Real Estate Investment Trusts — 3.2%            

American Tower Corp.

   

1.50%, 01/31/28 (Call 11/30/27)

    5       4,205  

2.75%, 01/15/27 (Call 11/15/26)

    35       32,045  

3.38%, 10/15/26 (Call 07/15/26)

    15       14,148  

3.55%, 07/15/27 (Call 04/15/27)

    20       18,874  

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc., 4.63%, 06/15/29 (Call 06/15/24)(a)

    2       1,620  

Brookfield Property REIT Inc./BPR Cumulus LLC/BPR Nimbus LLC/GGSI Sellco LL, 5.75%, 05/15/26 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    5       4,662  

Crown Castle Inc.

   

3.65%, 09/01/27 (Call 06/01/27)

    15       14,274  

3.80%, 02/15/28 (Call 11/15/27)

    45       42,428  

CubeSmart LP, 2.25%, 12/15/28 (Call 10/15/28)

    10       8,451  

Digital Realty Trust LP

   

3.60%, 07/01/29 (Call 04/01/29)(b)

    30       27,627  

3.70%, 08/15/27 (Call 05/15/27)

    25       23,864  

Equinix Inc.

   

1.45%, 05/15/26 (Call 04/15/26)

    15       13,417  

2.15%, 07/15/30 (Call 04/15/30)

    15       12,249  

3.20%, 11/18/29 (Call 08/18/29)(b)

    35       31,344  

GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II Inc.

   

3.25%, 01/15/32 (Call 10/15/31)

    35       28,335  

5.30%, 01/15/29 (Call 10/15/28)

    20       19,308  

Healthcare Realty Holdings LP, 2.00%, 03/15/31 (Call 12/15/30)

    35       27,226  

Invitation Homes Operating Partnership LP, 2.30%, 11/15/28 (Call 09/15/28)

    10       8,345  

Park Intermediate Holdings LLC/PK Domestic Property LLC/PK Finance Co-Issuer, 5.88%, 10/01/28 (Call 10/01/23)(a)

    5       4,593  

Realty Income Corp., 4.88%, 06/01/26 (Call 03/01/26)

    20       20,368  

RLJ Lodging Trust LP, 4.00%, 09/15/29
(Call 09/15/24)(a)

    2       1,689  

Service Properties Trust, 4.35%, 10/01/24 (Call 09/01/24)

    5       4,473  

Simon Property Group LP

   

3.38%, 06/15/27 (Call 03/15/27)

    10       9,584  

3.38%, 12/01/27 (Call 09/01/27)

    25       23,601  

Sun Communities Operating LP, 2.70%, 07/15/31 (Call 04/15/31)

    25       20,126  

Uniti Group LP/Uniti Group Finance Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.50%, 02/15/29 (Call 02/15/24)(a)

    3       2,286  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Real Estate Investment Trusts (continued)            

Ventas Realty LP, 4.40%, 01/15/29 (Call 10/15/28)

  $ 30     $ 28,859  

VICI Properties LP, 4.75%, 02/15/28 (Call 01/15/28)

    40       38,384  

Welltower Inc.

   

4.00%, 06/01/25 (Call 03/01/25)

    5       4,937  

4.25%, 04/15/28 (Call 01/15/28)

    20       19,469  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

   

4.00%, 11/15/29 (Call 08/15/29)

    30       28,330  

4.00%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    20       18,829  

XHR LP, 6.38%, 08/15/25 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    2       1,941  
   

 

 

 
          559,891  
Retail — 1.2%            

AutoZone Inc., 4.00%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    30       28,477  

Bath & Body Works Inc., 6.88%, 11/01/35(b)

    5       4,365  

Carvana Co., 5.50%, 04/15/27 (Call 04/15/24)(a)

    3       1,944  

Dave & Buster’s Inc., 7.63%, 11/01/25 (Call 11/01/22)(a)

    2       2,012  

Dollar General Corp., 3.50%, 04/03/30 (Call 01/03/30)

    40       36,903  

Dollar Tree Inc., 4.20%, 05/15/28 (Call 02/15/28)

    30       29,226  

FirstCash Inc., 4.63%, 09/01/28 (Call 09/01/23)(a)

    4       3,463  

Lowe’s Companies Inc., 4.50%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    30       29,563  

McDonald’s Corp., 3.30%, 07/01/25 (Call 06/01/25)

    20       19,660  

Nordstrom Inc., 5.00%, 01/15/44 (Call 07/15/43)

    2       1,349  

O’Reilly Automotive Inc., 3.60%, 09/01/27 (Call 06/01/27)

    5       4,820  

QVC Inc., 4.75%, 02/15/27 (Call 11/15/26)

    3       2,478  

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., 3.45%, 06/01/26 (Call 03/01/26)

    40       38,787  

Walmart Inc., 3.55%, 06/26/25 (Call 04/26/25)(b)

    10       10,008  
   

 

 

 
      213,055  
Semiconductors — 1.7%            

Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., 3.88%, 01/15/27 (Call 10/15/26)

    60       57,673  

Broadcom Inc., 4.75%, 04/15/29 (Call 01/15/29)

    25       24,563  

Marvell Technology Inc.

   

1.65%, 04/15/26 (Call 03/15/26)

    10       8,995  

2.45%, 04/15/28 (Call 02/15/28)

    15       13,030  

Microchip Technology Inc.

   

0.97%, 02/15/24

    10       9,520  

4.25%, 09/01/25 (Call 10/03/22)

    35       34,627  

Micron Technology Inc.

   

4.19%, 02/15/27 (Call 12/15/26)

    35       34,066  

4.66%, 02/15/30 (Call 11/15/29)

    15       14,049  

NVIDIA Corp., 0.58%, 06/14/24 (Call 06/14/23)

    10       9,480  

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC, 5.55%, 12/01/28 (Call 09/01/28)

    10       10,172  

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA Inc., 3.40%, 05/01/30 (Call 02/01/30)

    35       30,986  

Qorvo Inc., 4.38%, 10/15/29 (Call 10/15/24)

    40       35,300  

Skyworks Solutions Inc.

   

1.80%, 06/01/26 (Call 05/01/26)

    10       8,899  

3.00%, 06/01/31 (Call 03/01/31)

    10       8,107  
   

 

 

 
      299,467  
Shipbuilding — 0.1%            

Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc.

   

2.04%, 08/16/28 (Call 06/16/28)

    15       12,709  

4.20%, 05/01/30 (Call 02/01/30)

    10       9,307  
   

 

 

 
      22,016  
Software — 1.4%            

Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., 2.90%, 12/01/29 (Call 09/01/29)

    20       17,584  

Citrix Systems Inc., 4.50%, 12/01/27 (Call 09/01/27)(b)

    30       29,803  

Fiserv Inc.

   

2.75%, 07/01/24 (Call 06/01/24)

    5       4,877  

 

 

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

  25


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  
Software (continued)  

3.20%, 07/01/26 (Call 05/01/26)

  $ 10     $ 9,515  

3.50%, 07/01/29 (Call 04/01/29)

    35       32,049  

4.20%, 10/01/28 (Call 07/01/28)

    15       14,544  

Oracle Corp.

   

2.80%, 04/01/27 (Call 02/01/27)

    50       45,771  

2.95%, 04/01/30 (Call 01/01/30)

    10       8,535  

3.25%, 11/15/27 (Call 08/15/27)

    40       36,922  

Roper Technologies Inc., 4.20%, 09/15/28 (Call 06/15/28)

    30       29,251  

VMware Inc., 4.70%, 05/15/30 (Call 02/15/30)

    20       18,950  
   

 

 

 
      247,801  
Telecommunications — 3.0%  

AT&T Inc.

   

4.10%, 02/15/28 (Call 11/15/27)

    25       24,398  

4.30%, 02/15/30 (Call 11/15/29)

    30       28,776  

4.35%, 03/01/29 (Call 12/01/28)

    35       34,145  

4.85%, 03/01/39 (Call 09/01/38)

    10       9,353  

British Telecommunications PLC, 9.63%, 12/15/30

    30       36,972  

CommScope Inc., 8.25%, 03/01/27 (Call 10/03/22)(a)

    3       2,571  

Consolidated Communications Inc., 6.50%, 10/01/28 (Call 10/01/23)(a)

    3       2,414  

Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV, 8.75%, 06/15/30

    25       30,698  

Embarq Corp., 8.00%, 06/01/36

    4       3,110  

Frontier Communications Holdings LLC

   

5.00%, 05/01/28 (Call 05/01/24)(a)

    5       4,382  

6.00%, 01/15/30 (Call 10/15/24)(a)

    2       1,648  

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp., 6.63%, 08/01/26

    5       4,731  

Level 3 Financing Inc.

   

3.63%, 01/15/29 (Call 01/15/24)(a)

    5       4,013  

4.25%, 07/01/28 (Call 07/01/23)(a)(b)

    2       1,663  

Lumen Technologies Inc., 5.38%, 06/15/29 (Call 06/15/24)(a)

    3       2,343  

Motorola Solutions Inc.

   

2.30%, 11/15/30 (Call 08/15/30)

        20       15,867  

4.60%, 05/23/29 (Call 02/23/29)

    30       28,888  

Orange SA, 9.00%, 03/01/31

    30       38,229  

Rogers Communications Inc., 4.10%, 10/01/23 (Call 07/01/23)

    20       20,000  

Sprint Capital Corp., 8.75%, 03/15/32

    2       2,414  

Sprint Corp., 7.63%, 02/15/25 (Call 11/15/24)

    3       3,139  

T-Mobile USA Inc.

   

2.55%, 02/15/31 (Call 11/15/30)

    30       24,969  

3.50%, 04/15/25 (Call 03/15/25)

    6       5,859  

3.75%, 04/15/27 (Call 02/15/27)

    25       23,973  

3.88%, 04/15/30 (Call 01/15/30)

    45       41,590  

Verizon Communications Inc.

   

4.02%, 12/03/29 (Call 09/03/29)

    30       28,783  

4.13%, 03/16/27

    30       29,800  

4.33%, 09/21/28

    30       29,606  

ViaSat Inc., 5.63%, 04/15/27 (Call 09/12/22)(a)

    5       4,600  

Vodafone Group PLC, 4.38%, 05/30/28

    35       34,592  
   

 

 

 
      523,526  
Toys, Games & Hobbies — 0.3%            

Hasbro Inc., 3.90%, 11/19/29 (Call 08/19/29)

    55       50,375  
   

 

 

 
Transportation — 0.3%            

CSX Corp., 4.25%, 03/15/29 (Call 12/15/28)

    20       19,776  

FedEx Corp., 4.25%, 05/15/30 (Call 02/15/30)

    30       29,293  

United Parcel Service Inc., 6.20%, 01/15/38

    5       5,878  
   

 

 

 
      54,947  
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes — 50.4%
(Cost: $9,139,507)

          8,753,631  
   

 

 

 
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

U.S. Government & Agency Obligations

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities — 27.0%            

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.

   

1.50%, 09/15/37

  $ 42     $ 38,076  

2.00%, 10/01/50

    27       23,295  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates

   

Series K043, Class A2, 3.06%, 12/25/24 (Call 01/25/25)

    50       49,127  

Series K081, Class A2, 3.90%, 08/25/28 (Call 12/25/28)(c)

    30       30,169  

Series K108, Class A2, 1.52%, 03/25/30 (Call 03/25/30)

    16       13,698  

Government National Mortgage Association

   

2.00%, 09/21/52(d)

    250       220,757  

2.50%, 09/21/52(d)

    250       227,783  

3.00%, 08/20/51

    51       48,078  

3.00%, 02/20/52

    77       71,888  

3.00%, 09/21/52(d)

    171       160,493  

3.50%, 09/21/52(d)

    125       120,522  

4.00%, 09/21/52(d)

    25       24,635  

4.50%, 09/21/52(d)

    75       75,012  

5.00%, 09/21/52(d)

    25       25,330  

Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities

   

1.50%, 03/01/36

    3       2,887  

1.50%, 02/01/37

    68       60,836  

1.50%, 03/01/37

    52       45,839  

1.50%, 07/01/51

    21       17,258  

1.50%, 11/01/51

    25       20,534  

1.50%, 09/15/52(d)

    100       81,752  

2.00%, 11/01/35

    75       69,445  

2.00%, 09/19/37(d)

    208       191,404  

2.00%, 08/01/50

        316       273,174  

2.00%, 12/01/51

    25       21,470  

2.00%, 02/01/52

    27       23,499  

2.00%, 03/01/52

    489       421,348  

2.00%, 09/14/52(d)

    196       168,602  

2.50%, 09/19/37(d)

    150       141,891  

2.50%, 09/01/51

    182       162,774  

2.50%, 11/01/51

    46       41,666  

2.50%, 01/01/52

    190       169,949  

2.50%, 09/14/52(d)

    400       357,125  

3.00%, 09/19/37(d)

    125       121,069  

3.00%, 09/14/52(d)

    400       370,219  

3.50%, 09/15/52(d)

    350       333,457  

4.00%, 09/14/52(d)

    300       292,805  

4.50%, 09/14/52(d)

    100       99,391  

5.00%, 09/15/52(d)

    50       50,457  

5.50%, 09/15/52(d)

    25       25,563  
   

 

 

 
          4,693,277  
U.S. Government Obligations — 20.2%            

U.S. Treasury Note/Bond

   

0.63%, 05/15/30

    260       214,317  

1.13%, 08/15/40

    310       209,080  

1.25%, 08/15/31

    300       255,340  

1.25%, 05/15/50

    190       117,481  

1.38%, 11/15/31

    300       256,981  

1.38%, 11/15/40

    325       228,643  

1.38%, 08/15/50

    300       191,836  

1.63%, 08/15/29

    300       269,930  

1.63%, 11/15/50

    330       225,779  

1.75%, 08/15/41

    160       118,875  

1.88%, 02/15/32

    350       312,922  

1.88%, 02/15/41

    235       180,041  

 

 

26  

2 0 2 2   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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

  

iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

    (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par/
Shares
(000)
    Value  

 

 
U.S. Government Obligations (continued)            

1.88%, 02/15/51

  $ 200     $ 145,930  

1.88%, 11/15/51

    150       109,230  

2.25%, 05/15/41

    50       40,773  

2.25%, 08/15/46

    100       78,281  

2.50%, 02/15/45

    270       223,193  

2.50%, 02/15/46

    100       82,434  

2.50%, 05/15/46

    100       82,402  

2.88%, 05/15/43

    60       53,475  

2.88%, 08/15/45

    50       44,209  

3.00%, 11/15/44

    70       63,301  
   

 

 

 
      3,504,453  
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Government & Agency Obligations — 47.2%
(Cost: $9,108,354)

 

    8,197,730  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 98.9%
(Cost: $18,507,571)

 

    17,177,253  
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Securities

   
Money Market Funds — 21.6%            

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 2.42%(e)(f)

    3,367       3,368,242  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 2.07%(e)(f)(g)

    375       375,151  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 21.6%
(Cost: $3,742,641)

      3,743,393  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments Before TBA Sales Commitments — 120.5%
(Cost: $22,250,212)

          20,920,646  
   

 

 

 
Security  

    

Par
(000)

    Value  

 

 

TBA Sales Commitments(d)

   
Mortgage-Backed Securities — (0.4)%            

Government National Mortgage Association, 3.00%, 09/21/52

  $ (51   $ (47,866

Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 2.00%, 09/14/52

  $ (27     (23,226
   

 

 

 

Total TBA Sales Commitments — (0.4)%
(Proceeds: $(73,317))

      (71,092
   

 

 

 

Total Investments, Net of TBA Sales
Commitments — 120.1%
(Cost: $22,176,895)

 

      20,849,554  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (20.1)%

      (3,486,508
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $ 17,363,046  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

(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) 

Represents or includes a TBA transaction.

(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 August 31, 2022 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

 

 
Affiliated Issuer    Value at
02/28/22
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sale
     Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
08/31/22
     Shares
Held at
08/31/22
(000)
     Income      Capital Gain
Distributions from
Underlying Funds
 

 

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares

   $ 4,283,613      $      $ (915,367 )(a)     $ (1,256    $ 1,252      $ 3,368,242        3,367      $ 19,268      $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

     119,800        255,351 (a)                            375,151        375        517 (b)        
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 
            $ (1,256    $ 1,252      $ 3,743,393         $ 19,785      $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (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.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End

Futures Contracts

 

 

 
Description    Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Date
   

Notional

Amount

(000)

   

Value/

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

 

 

Long Contracts

        

U.S. 2 Year Treasury Note

     1       12/30/22     $ 208     $ (611
        

 

 

 

 

 

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

  27


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

   iShares® USD Bond Factor ETF

 

Futures Contracts (continued)

 

 

 
Description   

Number of

Contracts

   

Expiration

Date

   

Notional

Amount

(000)

   

Value/

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

 

 

Short Contracts

        

10-Year U.S. Treasury Note

     (2     12/20/22     $ (233   $ 1,810  
        

 

 

 
         $ 1,199  
        

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:

 

 

 
    

Commodity

Contracts

    

Credit

Contracts

    

Equity

Contracts

    

Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Contracts

    

Interest

Rate

Contracts

    

Other

Contracts

     Total  

 

 

Assets — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 1,810      $      $ 1,810  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities — Derivative Financial Instruments

                    

Futures contracts

                    

Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)

   $      $      $      $      $ 611      $      $ 611  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, only current day’s variation margin is reported in receivables or payables and the net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in accumulated earnings (loss).

 

For the period ended August 31, 2022, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows:

 

 

 
     Commodity
Contracts
     Credit
Contracts
     Equity
Contracts
     Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
     Interest
Rate
Contracts
     Other
Contracts
     Total  

 

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss) from

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $      $      $ 3,858      $      $ 3,858  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $ (1,666    $      $ 1,199      $      $ (467
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

 

 

Futures contracts

  

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ 340,273        

Average notional value of contracts — short

   $ (330,047)      

 

 

For more information about the Fund’s investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

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.

 

 

28  

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Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

August 31, 2022

   iShares® USD Bond Factor 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

        

Collaterized Mortgage Obligations

   $     $ 225,892     $     $ 225,892  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

           8,753,631             8,753,631  

U.S. Government & Agency Obligations

           8,197,730                8,197,730  

Money Market Funds

     3,743,393                   3,743,393  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     3,743,393       17,177,253             20,920,646  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

TBA Sales Commitments

           (71,092 )              (71,092
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $   3,743,393     $ 17,106,161     $     $ 20,849,554  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments(a)

        

Assets

        

Futures Contracts

   $ 1,810     $     $     $ 1,810  

Liabilities

        

Futures Contracts

     (611 )                    (611
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,199     $     $             —     $ 1,199  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  29


Statements of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

August 31, 2022

 

   

iShares

High Yield

Bond Factor
ETF

   

iShares

Investment
Grade Bond

Factor ETF

   

iShares

USD Bond

Factor ETF

 

 

 

ASSETS

     

Investments, at value — unaffiliated(a)(b)

  $ 115,456,669     $ 161,911,380     $ 17,177,253  

Investments, at value — affiliated(c)

    26,372,077       6,344,238       3,743,393  

Cash

    75,956       217        

Cash pledged for futures contracts

                5,000  

Receivables:

     

Investments sold

    2,216,115       10,467,830       955,445  

Securities lending income — affiliated

    14,920       1,660       23  

Variation margin on futures contracts

                889  

TBA sales commitments

                73,317  

Dividends — unaffiliated

                6,652  

Dividends — affiliated

    4,505       2,437       172  

Interest — unaffiliated

    2,149,906       1,956,503       116,301  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

    146,290,148       180,684,265       22,078,445  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

     

Collateral on securities loaned, at value

    24,185,553       4,810,216       275,151  

TBA sales commitments, at value(d)

                71,092  

Payables:

     

Investments purchased

    3,571,290       10,833,813       4,366,711  

Investment advisory fees

    35,057       25,700       2,445  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    27,791,900       15,669,729       4,715,399  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 118,498,248     $ 165,014,536     $ 17,363,046  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

     

Paid-in capital

  $ 139,259,399     $ 187,798,763     $ 20,012,366  

Accumulated loss

    (20,761,151     (22,784,227     (2,649,320
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 118,498,248     $ 165,014,536     $ 17,363,046  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

     

Shares outstanding

    2,650,000       3,700,000       200,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 44.72     $ 44.60     $ 86.82  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited       Unlimited       Unlimited  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Par value

    None       None       None  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 126,169,388     $ 178,568,769     $ 18,507,571  

(b) Securities loaned, at value

  $ 22,912,179     $ 4,261,367     $ 264,826  

(c)  Investments, at cost — affiliated

  $ 26,360,569     $ 6,340,982     $ 3,742,641  

(d) Proceeds from TBA sales commitments

  $     $     $ 73,317  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

30  

2 0 2 2   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


Statements of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended August 31, 2022

 

   

iShares

High Yield

Bond Factor

ETF

   

iShares

Investment

Grade Bond

Factor ETF

   

iShares

USD Bond

Factor ETF

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

     

Dividends — affiliated

  $ 8,744     $ 7,548     $ 19,630  

Interest — unaffiliated

    3,663,873       2,673,928       213,462  

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

    64,268       6,779       155  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

    3,736,885       2,688,255       233,247  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES

     

Investment advisory fees

    236,989       142,843       16,225  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    236,989       142,843       16,225  

Less:

     

Investment advisory fees waived

                (1,587
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived

    236,989       142,843       14,638  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    3,499,896       2,545,412       218,609  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

     

Net realized gain (loss) from:

     

Investments — unaffiliated

    (5,539,435 )          (6,552,467 )          (1,156,546

Investments — affiliated

    (8,472     38       (1,256

In-kind redemptions — unaffiliated(a)

    (2,007,463            

Futures contracts

                3,858  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (7,555,370     (6,552,429     (1,153,944
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

     

Investments — unaffiliated

    (5,915,130     (11,254,448     (732,603

Investments — affiliated

    11,344       1,875       1,252  

Futures contracts

                (467
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (5,903,786     (11,252,573     (731,818
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

    (13,459,156     (17,805,002     (1,885,762
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ (9,959,260   $ (15,259,590   $ (1,667,153
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  31


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

iShares

High Yield Bond Factor ETF

    

iShares

Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

 
 

 

 

    

 

 

 
   

Six Months

Ended

08/31/22

(unaudited)

      

Year Ended

02/28/22

    

Six Months

Ended

08/31/22

(unaudited)

      

Year Ended

02/28/22

 

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

              

OPERATIONS

              

Net investment income

  $ 3,499,896        $ 6,440,998      $ 2,545,412        $ 4,164,030  

Net realized gain (loss)

    (7,555,370        175,032        (6,552,429        3,262,702  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (5,903,786        (7,647,697      (11,252,573        (13,764,688
 

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    (9,959,260        (1,031,667      (15,259,590        (6,337,956
 

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

              

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (3,922,768        (6,648,731      (2,449,277        (6,167,210
 

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

              

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

    (42,532,468        103,052,577        20,713,996          16,135,433  
 

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

              

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (56,414,496        95,372,179        3,005,129          3,630,267  

Beginning of period

    174,912,744          79,540,565        162,009,407          158,379,140  
 

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 118,498,248        $ 174,912,744      $ 165,014,536        $ 162,009,407  
 

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) 

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

32  

2 0 2 2   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


Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)

 

   

iShares

USD Bond Factor ETF

 
 

 

 

 
   

Six Months

Ended

    Period From  
    08/31/22       10/12/21 (a) 
    (unaudited)     to 02/28/22  

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

   

OPERATIONS

   

Net investment income

  $ 218,609     $ 107,373  

Net realized loss

    (1,153,944     (210,370

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (731,818 )        (594,324
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    (1,667,153     (697,321
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(b)

   

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (197,763     (87,083
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

   

Net increase in net assets derived from capital share transactions

          20,012,366  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (1,864,916     19,227,962  

Beginning of period

    19,227,962        
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 17,363,046     $ 19,227,962  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  33


Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

   

iShares High Yield Bond Factor ETF

 
 

 

 

 
    Six Months Ended                             Period From  
    08/31/22     Year Ended

 

  Year Ended

 

    Year Ended       Year Ended          07/11/17 (a) 
    (unaudited)     02/28/22     02/28/21     02/29/20     02/28/19     to 02/28/18  

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $ 49.27        $ 51.32        $ 49.43        $ 49.03        $ 49.99        $ 49.90  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

       1.21          2.23          2.90          2.88          2.92          1.78  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

                    (4.43        (1.90        1.97          0.39          (0.98        (0.11
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

       (3.22        0.33          4.87          3.27          1.94          1.67  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(d)

       (1.33        (2.38        (2.98        (2.87        (2.90        (1.58
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

     $ 44.72        $ 49.27        $ 51.32        $ 49.43        $ 49.03        $ 49.99  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

                             

Based on net asset value

       (6.61 )%(f)         0.63        10.38        6.78        4.08        3.35 %(f) 
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(g)

                             

Total expenses

       0.35 %(h)         0.35             0.35                 0.35                 0.35                 0.35 %(h) 
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income

       5.17 %(h)         4.37        5.97        5.77        5.99        5.55 %(h) 
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

                             

Net assets, end of period (000)

     $ 118,498        $ 174,913        $ 79,541        $ 39,545        $ 17,162        $ 12,497  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(i)

       33 %(f)         67        67        46        59        36 %(f) 
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

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.

 
(d) 

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

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Annualized.

(i) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

34  

2 0 2 2   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


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

   

iShares Investment Grade Bond Factor ETF

 
 

 

 

 
    Six Months Ended                             Period From  
    08/31/22       Year Ended       Year Ended       Year Ended       Year Ended         07/11/17 (a) 
    (unaudited)     02/28/22     02/28/21     02/29/20     02/28/19     to 02/28/18  

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 49.85       $ 53.69                $ 53.44                $ 48.32                $ 48.85                $ 49.90  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

      0.74         1.36         1.56         1.88         1.88         1.05  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(c)

      (5.27       (3.19       0.76         6.14         (0.69       (1.16
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

                   (4.53       (1.83       2.32         8.02         1.19         (0.11
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions(d)

                       

From net investment income

      (0.72       (1.39       (1.59       (1.85       (1.72       (0.94

From net realized gain

              (0.62       (0.48       (1.05                
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total distributions

      (0.72       (2.01       (2.07       (2.90       (1.72       (0.94
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 44.60       $ 49.85       $ 53.69       $ 53.44       $ 48.32       $ 48.85  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

                       

Based on net asset value

      (9.13 )%(f)        (3.57 )%        4.41       16.96       2.54       (0.23 )%(f) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(g)

                       

Total expenses

      0.18 %(h)        0.18       0.18       0.18       0.18       0.18 %(h) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment income

      3.21 %(h)        2.57       2.90       3.67       3.95       3.29 %(h) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

                       

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 165,015       $ 162,009       $ 158,379       $ 93,520       $ 96,648       $ 9,771  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(i)

      47 %(f)        59       46       75       63       36 %(f) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

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.

 
(d) 

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

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Annualized.

(i) 

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

  35


Financial Highlights (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    iShares USD Bond Factor ETF  
 

 

 

 
    Six Months Ended     Period From  
    08/31/22         10/12/21 (a) 
    (unaudited)     to 02/28/22

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

                   $ 96.14       $ 100.00  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

      1.09         0.54  

Net realized and unrealized loss(c)

      (9.42          (3.96
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net decrease from investment operations

      (8.33       (3.42
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(d)

      (0.99       (0.44
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 86.82       $ 96.14  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

       

Based on net asset value

      (8.70 )%(f)        (3.43 )%(f) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(g)

       

Total expenses

      0.18 %(h)        0.18 %(h) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived

      0.16 %(h)        0.16 %(h) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment income

      2.43 %(h)        1.43 %(h) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

       

Net assets, end of period (000)

    $ 17,363       $ 19,228  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(i)(j)

      274 %(f)        243 %(f) 
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

The amount 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.

 
(d) 

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

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

Excludes fees and expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds.

(h) 

Annualized.

(i) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

(j) 

Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions (“MDRs”).

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

36  

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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 funds (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

 

   
iShares ETF  

    Diversification

    Classification

 

High Yield Bond Factor

    Diversified  

Investment Grade Bond Factor

    Diversified  

USD Bond Factor

    Non-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. Each 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. 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. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis.

Collateralization: If required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments.

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 Funds. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Funds 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 Funds’ tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each 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 Funds. 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, each Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against the Funds, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: Each 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 Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) of each Fund has approved the designation of BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), the Funds’ investment adviser, as the valuation designee for each Fund. Each Fund determines the fair values of its financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under BFA’s policies. 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 BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value. BFA has formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments, with assistance from other BlackRock pricing committees.

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

 

   

Fixed-income investments for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued using the last available bid price or current market quotations provided by independent dealers or third-party pricing services. Pricing services generally value fixed income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but a fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. The pricing services may use matrix pricing or valuation models that utilize certain inputs and assumptions to derive values, including transaction data (e.g., recent representative bids and offers), market data, credit quality information, perceived market movements, news, and other relevant information. Certain fixed-income securities, including asset-backed and mortgage related securities may be valued based on valuation models that consider the estimated cash flows

 

 

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

  37


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

  of each tranche of the entity, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche. The amortized cost method of valuation may be used with respect to debt obligations with sixty days or less remaining to maturity unless BFA determines such method does not represent fair value.

 

   

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

 

   

Futures contracts are valued based on that day’s last reported settlement or trade price on the exchange where the contract is traded.

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 Valuation Committee, in accordance with BFA’s policies and procedures as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the 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 Valuation Committee seeks to determine the price that each 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 Valuation Committee deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement.

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 each 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 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 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

Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities: Asset-backed securities are generally issued as pass-through certificates or as debt instruments. Asset-backed securities issued as pass-through certificates represent undivided fractional ownership interests in an underlying pool of assets. Asset-backed securities issued as debt instruments, which are also known as collateralized obligations, are typically issued as the debt of a special purpose entity organized solely for the purpose of owning such assets and issuing such debt. Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. The yield characteristics of certain asset-backed securities may differ from traditional debt securities. One such major difference is that all or a principal part of the obligations may be prepaid at any time because the underlying assets (i.e., loans) may be prepaid at any time. As a result, a decrease in interest rates in the market may result in increases in the level of prepayments as borrowers, particularly mortgagors, refinance and repay their loans. An increased prepayment rate with respect to an asset-backed security will have the effect of shortening the maturity of the security. In addition, a fund may subsequently have to reinvest the proceeds at lower interest rates. If a fund has purchased such an asset-backed security at a premium, a faster than anticipated prepayment rate could result in a loss of principal to the extent of the premium paid.

For mortgage pass-through securities (the “Mortgage Assets”) there are a number of important differences among the agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government that issue mortgage-related securities and among the securities that they issue. For example, mortgage-related securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae are guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by Ginnie Mae and such guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. However, mortgage-related securities issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, including Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates, which are solely the obligations of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are not backed by or entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States, but are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury.

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities are securities issued by non-governmental issuers and have no direct or indirect government guarantees of payment and are subject to various risks. Non-agency mortgage loans are obligations of the borrowers thereunder only and are not typically insured or guaranteed by any other person or entity. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan is dependent upon the income or assets of the borrower. A number of factors, including a general economic downturn, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances, may impair a borrower’s ability to repay its loans.

 

 

38  

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

TBA Commitments: TBA commitments are forward agreements for the purchase or sale of securities, including mortgage-backed securities for a fixed price, with payment and delivery on an agreed upon future settlement date. The specific securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date. However, delivered securities must meet specified terms, including issuer, rate and mortgage terms. When entering into TBA commitments, a fund may take possession of or deliver the underlying mortgage-backed securities but can extend the settlement or roll the transaction. TBA commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases, respectively, prior to settlement date, if there are expenses or delays in connection with the TBA transactions, or if the counterparty fails to complete the transaction.

To mitigate counterparty risk, a fund enters into a two-way collateral agreement for TBA transactions with certain counterparties. Under such agreement, the “in-the-money” party of a TBA transaction may at any time require the other party to pledge collateral assets (in the form of cash or securities) to offset any loss the in-the-money party would incur upon cancellation of the TBA transaction. A party is in-the-money if they are the buyer and the market value of the TBA transaction increases or if they are the seller and the market value of the TBA transaction decreases. Cash collateral received from the counterparty may be reinvested in money market funds, including those managed by the Funds’ investment adviser, or its affiliates. Such collateral, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments and the obligation to return the collateral is presented as a liability in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral by a fund, if any, are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions: Certain Funds may sell TBA mortgage-backed securities and simultaneously contract to repurchase substantially similar (i.e., same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specific future date at an agreed upon price. During the period between the sale and repurchase, a fund is not entitled to receive interest and principal payments on the securities sold. Mortgage dollar roll transactions are treated as purchases and sales and a fund realizes gains and losses on these transactions. Mortgage dollar rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities that a fund is required to purchase may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities.

Securities Lending: Each 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 each 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, each 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 BFA, 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 each 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 Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Funds 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 Funds, 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 Funds 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.

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

   
Securities Loaned
at Value
 
 
   
Cash Collateral
Received
 
(a) 
   
Non-Cash Collateral
Received, at Fair Value
 
(a) 
    Net Amount  

 

 

High Yield Bond Factor

       

Barclays Bank PLC

  $ 272,271     $ (272,271   $     $  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    1,264,172       (1,264,172            

Citadel Clearing LLC

    468,866       (468,866            

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

    1,925,076       (1,925,076            

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    261,732       (261,732            

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

    7,104,071       (7,104,071            

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    8,662,175       (8,662,175            

Jefferies LLC

    1,498,800         (1,498,800 )               

Morgan Stanley

    877,712       (877,712            

Scotia Capital (USA), Inc.

    146,186       (146,186            

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

    431,118       (431,118            
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 22,912,179     $ (22,912,179   $     $  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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

  39


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

iShares ETF and Counterparty

   

Securities Loaned

at Value

 

 

   

Cash Collateral

Received

 

(a) 

   
Non-Cash Collateral
Received, at Fair Value
 
(a) 
    Net Amount  

 

 

Investment Grade Bond Factor

       

Barclays Bank PLC

  $ 385,050     $ (385,050   $     $  

BofA Securities, Inc.

    624,842       (624,842            

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

    426,913       (426,913            

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    1,070,583       (1,070,583            

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    347,317       (347,317            

Morgan Stanley

    1,122,818       (1,122,818            

Scotia Capital (USA), Inc.

    219,455        (219,455 )              

Wells Fargo Securities LLC

    64,389       (64,389            
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 4,261,367     $ (4,261,367   $     $  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

USD Bond Factor

       

Barclays Capital, Inc.

  $ 9,810     $ (9,810   $     $  

BNP Paribas SA

    65,190       (65,190            

BofA Securities, Inc.

    45,573       (45,573            

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

    118,046       (118,046            

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    13,405       (13,405            

RBC Capital Markets LLC

    12,802       (12,802            
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 264,826     $ (264,826   $     $  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (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 each 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, each 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. Each 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 each Fund.

 

5.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Futures Contracts: Futures contracts are purchased or sold to gain exposure to, or manage exposure to, changes in interest rates (interest rate risk) and changes in the value of equity securities (equity risk) or foreign currencies (foreign currency exchange rate risk).

Futures contracts are exchange-traded agreements between the Funds and a counterparty to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified price and on a specified date. Depending on the terms of a contract, it is settled either through physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash amount on the settlement date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on a contract’s size and risk profile. The initial margin deposit must then be maintained at an established level over the life of the contract. Amounts pledged, which are considered restricted, are included in cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities deposited as initial margin are designated in the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited, if any, are shown as cash pledged for futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Funds agree to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in market value of the contract (“variation margin”). Variation margin is recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and, if any, shown as variation margin receivable (or payable) on futures contracts in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of Operations equal to the difference between the notional amount of the contract at the time it was opened and the notional amount at the time it was closed. The use of futures contracts involves the risk of an imperfect correlation in the movements in the price of futures contracts and interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or underlying assets.

 

6.

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 each 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 Funds, 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).

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

For its investment advisory services to each of the following Funds, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds, based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:

 

   
iShares ETF   Investment Advisory Fees  

High Yield Bond Factor

    0.35

Investment Grade Bond Factor

    0.18  

USD Bond Factor

    0.18  

Expense Waivers: A fund may incur its pro rata share of fees and expenses attributable to its investments in other investment companies (“acquired fund fees and expenses”). The total of the investment advisory fee and acquired fund fees and expenses, if any, is a fund’s total annual operating expenses. Total expenses as shown in the Statement of Operations does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

For the iShares USD Bond Factor ETF, BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through June 30, 2026 in an amount equal to the acquired fund fees and expenses, if any, attributable to investments by the Fund in other registered investment companies advised by BFA or its affiliates.

This amount is included in investment advisory fees waived in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended August 31, 2022, the amounts waived in investment advisory fees pursuant to this arrangement were as follows:

 

   
iShares ETF   Amounts Waived      

USD Bond Factor

  $ 1,587      

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

Index Provider: BlackRock Index Services, LLC, an affiliate of BFA, creates, sponsors and publishes the underlying index for each Fund. Each Fund uses its underlying index at no charge pursuant to a license agreement between BlackRock Index Services, LLC (or one or more of its affiliates) and the Trust, on behalf of the Funds.

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 Funds, subject to applicable conditions. As securities lending agent, BTC bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending, including any custodial costs. Each 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 each 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. Each 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, each Fund retains 82% 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, each Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 85% 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 each Fund is shown as securities lending income – affiliated – net in its Statements of Operations. For the six months ended August 31, 2022, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:

 

   
iShares ETF  

Fees Paid    

to BTC    

 

High Yield Bond Factor

  $ 18,434      

Investment Grade Bond Factor

    2,493      

USD Bond Factor

    60      

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

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Other Transactions: Cross trading is the buying or selling of portfolio securities between funds to which BFA (or an affiliate) serves as investment adviser. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board reviews such transactions as of the most recent calendar quarter for compliance with the requirements and restrictions set forth by Rule 17a-7.

For the six months ended August 31, 2022, transactions executed by the Funds pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:

 

       
iShares ETF   Purchases        Sales        Net Realized    
Gain (Loss)    
 

High Yield Bond Factor

  $ 363,020        $ 2,973,596        $ (250,092)      

Each 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 Statements 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.

 

7.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended August 31, 2022, purchases and sales of investments, including mortgage dollar rolls and excluding short-term securities and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

 

     
    U.S. Government Securities     

           Other  Securities           

 
iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales      Purchases      Sales      

High Yield Bond Factor

  $      $      $   44,942,159      $   43,127,082      

Investment Grade Bond Factor

                  77,045,057        74,129,525      

USD Bond Factor

      33,837,892          33,624,029        14,726,171        14,789,184      

For the six months ended August 31, 2022, in-kind transactions were as follows:

 

     
iShares ETF  

In-kind

Purchases

    

In-kind    

Sales    

 

High Yield Bond Factor

  $ 6,502,843      $   47,668,501      

Investment Grade Bond Factor

     20,439,284        —      

 

8.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

Each Fund is treated as an entity separate from the Trust’s other funds for federal income tax purposes. It is each 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 Funds as of August 31, 2022, 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 Funds’ financial statements.

As of February 28, 2022, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains as follows:

 

   
iShares ETF   Non-Expiring      

High Yield Bond Factor

  $ 2,281,744      

USD Bond Factor

    200,842      

As of August 31, 2022, 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)  

 

High Yield Bond Factor

  $   153,033,265      $ 915,410      $ (12,119,929   $ (11,204,519)    

Investment Grade Bond Factor

    185,015,024        121,809        (16,881,215     (16,759,406)    

USD Bond Factor

    22,270,186        7,556        (1,353,671     (1,346,115)    

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

9.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

In the normal course of business, each 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 Funds and their investments. Each 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 each 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 Funds 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: Each Fund may be exposed to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled during periods of declining interest rates, which would force each Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. Each Fund may also be exposed to reinvestment risk, which is the risk that income from each Fund’s portfolio will decline if each Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called fixed-income securities at market interest rates that are below each Fund portfolio’s current earnings rate.

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. Although vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds 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 Funds manage 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 Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds’ exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.

A derivative contract may suffer a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. Losses can also occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

With exchange-traded futures, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, a fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency). Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Funds.

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 each Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in high yield securities. High yield securities that are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) or are unrated may be deemed speculative, involve greater levels of risk than higher-rated securities of similar maturity and are more likely to default. High yield securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers, and issuers of high yield securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations. High yield securities are subject to extreme price fluctuations, may be less liquid than higher rated fixed-income securities, even under normal economic conditions, and frequently have redemption features.

The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in fixed-income securities and/or use derivatives tied to the fixed-income markets. Changes in market interest rates or economic conditions may affect the value and/or liquidity of such investments. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will decrease as interest rates rise and increase as interest rates fall. The Funds may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the recent period of historically low interest rates. The Federal Reserve has recently begun to raise the federal funds rate as part of its efforts to address inflation. There is a risk that interest rates will continue to rise, which will likely drive down the prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities, and could negatively impact the Funds’ performance.

The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities backed by commercial or residential mortgage loans or in issuers that hold mortgage and other asset-backed securities. When a fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes a greater risk of prepayment or payment extension by securities issuers.

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

Changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults on assets underlying these securities, can affect the value, income and/or liquidity of such positions. Investment percentages in these securities are presented in the Schedule of Investments.

Significant Shareholder Redemption Risk: Certain shareholders may own or manage a substantial amount of fund shares and/or hold their fund investments for a limited period of time. Large redemptions of fund shares by these shareholders may force a fund to sell portfolio securities, which may negatively impact the fund’s NAV, increase the fund’s brokerage costs, and/or accelerate the realization of taxable income/gains and cause the fund to make additional taxable distributions to shareholders.

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 ceased to be published or no longer are representative of the underlying market they seek to measure after December 31, 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 Funds 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 Funds is uncertain.

 

10.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

Capital shares are issued and redeemed by each 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 each Fund are not redeemable.

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended

08/31/22

          

Year Ended

02/28/22

 
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
iShares ETF   Shares      Amount            Shares      Amount  

 

 

High Yield Bond Factor

            

Shares sold

    150,000      $ 6,749,962          2,100,000      $ 108,042,192  

Shares redeemed

    (1,050,000      (49,282,430        (100,000      (4,989,615
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 
    (900,000    $ (42,532,468        2,000,000      $   103,052,577  
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investment Grade Bond Factor

            

Shares sold

    450,000      $ 20,713,996          800,000      $ 42,704,808  

Shares redeemed

                    (500,000      (26,569,375
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 
    450,000      $    20,713,996          300,000      $ 16,135,433  
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

USD Bond Factor

            

Shares sold

         $          200,000      $ 20,012,366  
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

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 Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

11.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds 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.

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

 

iShares High Yield Bond Factor 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”) on behalf of the Fund. The Board’s consideration entails a year-long process 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 3, 2022 and May 18, 2022, 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 13-15, 2022, 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, objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Fund’s applicable expense 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 the investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall 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 such 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 enhancements and initiatives with respect 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, provided at the May 3, 2022 meeting and throughout the year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance program.

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

 

 

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

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract   (continued)

 

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 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 information considered with respect to 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, 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.

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 did not provide for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding 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 received and 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 considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement and 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 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. The Board 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.

iShares Investment Grade Bond Factor 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

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract   (continued)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund. The Board’s consideration entails a year-long process 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 3, 2022 and May 18, 2022, 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 13-15, 2022, 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, objectively selected by Broadridge as comprising the Fund’s applicable expense 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 the investment advisory fee rate and overall expenses (net of waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were within range of the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall 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 such 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 enhancements and initiatives with respect 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, provided at the May 3, 2022 meeting and throughout the year, and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance program.

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 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,

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract   (continued)

 

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 information considered with respect to 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, 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.

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 did not provide for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding 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 received and 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 considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement and 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 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. The Board 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.

iShares USD Bond Factor 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 Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Board Members”), is required to consider and approve the proposed Investment Advisory Contract between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Contract”) on behalf of the Fund. The Independent Trustees requested, and BFA provided, such information as the Independent Board Members, with advice from independent counsel, deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the proposed Advisory Contract. At a meeting held on September 29 – October 1, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, approved the selection of BFA as investment adviser and approved the proposed Advisory Contract for the Fund, based on a review of qualitative and quantitative information provided by BFA. The Board also considered

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract   (continued)

 

information previously provided by BFA, BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”), and BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), as applicable, at prior Board meetings. 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 Advisory Contract for the Fund, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered various factors, including: (i) the expenses of the Fund; (ii) the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by BFA; (iii) the costs of services to be provided to the Fund and the availability of information related to profits to be 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, no one of which was controlling, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board, including the Independent Board Members, to approve the Advisory Contract are discussed below.

Expenses 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 of the Fund in comparison with the same information for other ETFs, 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 further 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 the overall fund expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were lower than the median of the overall fund expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds.

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 of the Fund supported the Board’s approval of the Advisory Contract.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services: The Board reviewed the scope of services to be provided by BFA under the Advisory Contract. 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 and have made significant investments into the iShares business to support the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board considered representations by BFA, BTC, and BlackRock that the scope and quality of services to be provided to the Fund would be similar to the scope and quality of services provided to other iShares funds. The Board also considered BFA’s compliance program and its compliance record with respect to other iShares funds. 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 relevant, and has provided information and made appropriate 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 who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as the resources that will be available to them in managing the Fund. The Board also considered detailed presentations regarding BFA’s investment performance, investment and risk management processes and strategies, which were provided throughout the year with respect to other iShares funds.

Based on review of this information, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Fund under the Advisory Contract supported the Board’s approval of the Advisory Contract.

Costs of Services to be Provided to the Fund and Profits to be Realized by BFA and Affiliates: The Board did not consider the profitability of the Fund to BFA based on the fees payable under the Advisory Contract or revenue to be received by BFA or its affiliates in connection with services to be provided to the Fund since the proposed relationship had not yet commenced. The Board noted that it expects to receive profitability information from BFA periodically following the Fund’s launch and will thus be in a position to evaluate whether any new or additional breakpoints or other adjustments in Fund fees would be appropriate.

Economies of Scale: The Board considered information that it had previously received regarding economies of scale, efficiencies and scale benefits shared with the iShares funds through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints and 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 Contract for the Fund did not provide for any breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund increase. However, the Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding breakpoints in the future.

This consideration 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 Advisory Contract.

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”), and acknowledged BFA’s assertion that the iShares funds are fundamentally different investment vehicles from the Other Accounts. 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 further noted that BFA previously provided the Board with detailed information regarding how the Other Accounts (particularly institutional clients) generally differ from the iShares funds, including in terms of the different and generally more extensive services provided to the iShares funds, 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 considered the “all-inclusive” nature of the Fund’s advisory fee structure, and the Fund’s expenses borne by BFA under this arrangement.

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract   (continued)

 

Other Benefits to BFA and/or its Affiliates: Except as noted below, the Board did not consider the “fallout” benefits or ancillary revenue to be received by BFA and/or its affiliates in connection with the services to be provided to the Fund by BFA since the proposed relationship had not yet commenced. However, the Board 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 considered the potential payment of advisory fees and/or administration 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 and/or administration services. The Board also noted the potential revenue to be received by BFA and/or its affiliates pursuant to an agreement that would permit 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. The Board also considered the potential for revenue to BTC, the Fund’s securities lending agent, and its affiliates in the event of any loaning of portfolio securities of the Fund. The Board further noted that any portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund placed through a BFA affiliate or purchased from an underwriting syndicate in which a BFA affiliate participates (including associated commissions), will be reported to the Board pursuant to Rule 17e-1 or Rule 10f-3, as applicable, under the 1940 Act. 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 Advisory Contract.

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 investment advisory fee rate under the Advisory Contract does not constitute a fee that is so disproportionately large as to bear no reasonable relationship to the services to be rendered and that could not have been the product of arm’s-length bargaining, and concluded to approve the Advisory Contract.

 

 

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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 each 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.

August 31, 2022

 

     
   

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

 

USD Bond Factor(a)

  $ 0.986745      $      $ 0.002069      $ 0.988814        100         0 %(b)      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.

 
  (b) 

Rounds to less than 1%.

 

 

 

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  51


General Information

 

Electronic Delivery

Shareholders can sign up for e-mail 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 Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Additionally, each 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 Trust’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.

 

 

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Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Portfolio Abbreviations - Fixed Income
LIBOR    London Interbank Offered Rate
REIT    Real Estate Investment Trust
SOFR    Secured Overnight Financing Rate
TBA    To-Be-Announced

 

 

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Want to know more?

iShares.com    |    1-800-474-2737

This report is intended for the Funds’ 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 BlackRock Index Services LLC, nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds. BlackRock is affiliated with the company listed above.

©2022 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-208-0822

 

 

 

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