Sterling Capital Focus Equity ETF

PORTFOLIO REVIEW (Unaudited)

November 30, 2021

The Fund’s performance figures* for the periods ended November 30, 2021, compared to its benchmark:

Performance figures include the change in value of the stocks in the index and the reinvestment of dividends. The index returns do not reflect expenses, which have been deducted from the Fund’s return. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Since November 2, 2020, market price returns are calculated using the closing price and account for distributions from the Fund. Prior to November 2, 2020, market price returns were calculated using the midpoint price and accounted for distributions from the Fund. The midpoint is the average of the bid-ask prices at 4:00 PM ET (when NAV is normally determined for most funds). The total operating expense ratio, as stated in the fee table in the Fund’s Prospectus dated September 28, 2021, is 0.59%. For performance information current to the most recent month-end table, please call 1-888-637-7798. THE FUND’S RETURNS REPRESENT PAST PERFORMANCE AND ARE NOT PREDICTIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

Please refer to the Schedule of Investments in this semi-annual report for a detailed listing of the Fund’s holdings.

STERLING CAPITAL FOCUS EQUITY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)

November 30, 2021

See accompanying notes to financial statements. 

STERLING CAPITAL FOCUS EQUITY ETF

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)

November 30, 2021

See accompanying notes to financial statements. 

Sterling Capital Focus Equity ETF

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)

November 30, 2021

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

Sterling Capital Focus Equity ETF

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

Sterling Capital Focus Equity ETF

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data and Ratios for a Share of Beneficial Interest Outstanding Throughout Each Period Presented

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Sterling Capital Focus Equity ETF (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (the “Trust”), a trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on June 2, 2015, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation. The Fund commenced operations on August 26, 2020.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses for the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund follows the specialized accounting and reporting requirements under GAAP that are applicable to investment companies. The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies” including Accounting Standards Update 2013-08.

Security Valuation – Securities listed on an exchange are valued at the last reported sale price at the close of the regular trading session of the exchange on the business day the value is being determined, or in the case of securities listed on NASDAQ at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. In the absence of a sale, such securities shall be valued at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the day of valuation. Short-term debt obligations having 60 days or less remaining until maturity, at time of purchase, may be valued at amortized cost which approximates fair value. Debt securities (other than short-term obligations) are valued each day by an independent pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) based on methods which include consideration of: yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, indications as to values from dealers, and general market conditions or market quotations from a major market maker in the securities. Securities traded on a foreign exchange which has not closed by the valuation time or for which the official closing prices are not available at the time the net asset value per share (“NAV”) is determined may use alternative market prices provided by a pricing service.

The Fund may invest in portfolios of open-end or closed -end investment companies (the “Underlying Funds”). Mutual funds are valued at their respective NAV as reported by such investment companies. Exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price. Mutual funds value securities in their portfolios for which market quotations are readily available at their market values (generally the last reported sale price) and all other securities and assets at their fair value to the methods established by the board of directors of the open-end funds. The shares of many closed-end investment companies and ETFs, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is different than the NAV. The difference represents a market premium or market discount of such shares. There can be no assurances that the market discount or market premium on shares of any closed-end investment company or ETF purchased by the Fund will not change.

The Fund may hold securities, such as private investments, interests in commodity pools, other non-traded securities or temporarily illiquid securities, for which market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable. These securities will be valued using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value committee composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser. The committee may also enlist third party consultants such as a valuation specialist from a public accounting firm, valuation consultant, or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value.

Fair Valuation Process. As noted above, the fair value committee is composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser. The applicable investments are valued collectively via inputs from each of these groups. For example, fair value determinations are required for the following securities: (i) securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available on a particular business day (including securities for which there is a short and temporary lapse in the provision of a price by the regular pricing source); (ii) securities for which, in the judgment of the adviser, the prices or values available do not represent the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the adviser to make such a judgment include, but are not limited to, the following: only a bid price or an ask price is available; the spread between bid and ask prices is substantial; the frequency of sales; the thinness of the market; the size of reported trades; and actions of the securities markets, such as the suspension or limitation of trading; (iii) securities determined to be illiquid; (iv) securities with respect to which an event that will affect the value thereof has occurred (a “significant event”) since the closing prices were established on the principal exchange on which they are traded, but prior to the Fund’s calculation of its net asset value. Restricted or illiquid securities, such as private investments or non-traded securities are valued via inputs from the adviser based upon the current bid for the security from two or more independent dealers or other parties reasonably familiar with the facts and circumstances of the security (who should take into consideration all relevant factors as may be appropriate under the circumstances). If the adviser is unable to obtain a current bid from such independent dealers or other independent parties, the fair value committee shall determine the fair value of such security using the following factors: (i) the type of security; (ii) the cost at date of purchase; (iii) the size and nature of the Fund’s holdings; (iv) the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase and subsequent thereto; (v) information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; (vi) the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the security and the existence of any registration rights; (vii) how the yield of the security compares to similar securities of companies of similar or equal creditworthiness; (viii) the level of recent trades of similar or comparable securities; (ix) the liquidity characteristics of the security; (x) current market conditions; and (xi) the market value of any securities into which the security is convertible or exchangeable.

The Fund utilizes various methods to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods. The three levels of input are:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument in an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. 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 level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with

investing in those securities. The following tables summarize the inputs used as of November 30, 2021 for the Fund’s investments measured at fair value:

The Fund did not hold any Level 2 or 3 securities during the period.

Security Transactions and Related Income – Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized on securities purchased over the lives of the respective securities using effective yield method. Dividend income and expense are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Realized gains or losses from sales of securities are determined by comparing the identified cost of the security lot sold with the net sales proceeds. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and foreign capital gain taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders – Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually. Distributable net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and distributed annually. Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP and are recorded on the ex-dividend date. These “book/tax” differences are considered either temporary (e.g., deferred losses, capital loss carryforwards, etc.) or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the composition of net assets based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations, or net asset value per share of the Fund.

Federal Income Tax – The Fund complies with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and intends to distribute all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no provision for federal income tax is required.

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax position and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to the uncertain tax positions expected to be taken on the Fund’s May 31, 2021 year-end tax return. The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdictions as U.S. federal, Ohio and foreign jurisdictions where the Fund makes significant investments. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expenses in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended November 30, 2021, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties. The Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next twelve months.

Expenses – Expenses of the Trust that are directly identifiable to a specific fund are charged to that fund. Expenses, which are not readily identifiable to a specific fund, are allocated in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration the nature and type of expense and the relative sizes of the funds in the Trust.

Indemnification – The Trust indemnifies its officers and trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities appears to be remote.

For the period ended November 30, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, other than in-kind transactions, short-term investments and U.S. government securities, amounted to $2,211,411 and $2,158,674, respectively. For the period ended November 30, 2021, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities for in-kind transactions, amounted to $37,942,348 and $734,931, respectively.

Sterling Capital Management LLC, (the “Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser, under the oversight of the Board, oversees the daily operations of the Fund, manages the Fund’s portfolio and supervises the performance of administrative and professional services provided by others. As compensation for its services and the related expenses borne by the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser a management fee, computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.59% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the period ended November 30, 2021, the Fund incurred $86,265 in advisory fees.

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Fund. The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has adopted the Trust’s ETF Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act (the “Plan”), which allows the Fund to pay the Funds Distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. As of May 31, 2021, the Plan has not been activated. For the period ended November 30, 2021, the Fund did not incur any distribution fees.

The Adviser’s unitary management fee is designed to pay the Fund’s expenses and to compensate the Adviser for providing services for the Fund. Out of the unitary management fee, the Adviser pays substantially all expenses of the Fund, including the costs of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services and Independent Trustees’ fees, but not payments under the Fund’s 12b-1 plan, brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short and interest), fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, and extraordinary or non-recurring expenses (including litigation to which the Trust or the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Trustees and officers with respect thereto). The Adviser, and not the Fund’s shareholders, would benefit from any reduction in fees paid for third-party services, including reductions based on increases in net assets.

Ultimus Fund Services, LLC (“UFS”) – UFS, an affiliate of the Distributor, provides administration and fund accounting services to the Trust. Pursuant to separate servicing agreements with UFS, the Adviser pays UFS customary fees for providing administration and fund accounting services to the Fund. Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of UFS, and are not paid any fees directly by the Fund for serving in such capacities.

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”) – NLCS, an affiliate of UFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust, as well as related compliance services, pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust. Under the terms of such agreement, NLCS receives customary fees from the Adviser.

Blu Giant, LLC (“Blu Giant”) – Blu Giant, an affiliate of UFS and the Distributor, provides EDGAR conversion and filing services as well as print management services for the Fund on an ad-hoc basis. For the provision of these services, Blu Giant receives customary fees from the Adviser.

Each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an adviser receives quarterly fees. For the period ended November 30, 2021, the Trustees received fees in the amount of $4,686, with respect to the Fund, paid by the Adviser.

Shares are not individually redeemable and may be redeemed by the Fund at NAV only in large blocks known as “Creation Units.” Shares are created and redeemed by the Fund only in Creation Unit size aggregations of 25,000 shares. Only Authorized Participants or transactions done through an Authorized Participant are permitted to purchase or redeem Creation Units from the Fund. An Authorized Participant is either (i) a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation or (ii) a DTC participant and, in each case, must have executed a Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Such transactions are generally permitted on an in-kind basis, with a balancing cash component to equate the transaction to the NAV per share of the Fund on the transaction date. Cash may be substituted equivalent to the value of certain securities generally when they are not available in sufficient quantity for delivery, not eligible for trading by the Authorized Participant or as a result of other market circumstances. In addition, the Fund generally imposes transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Fund shares to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by the Fund in effecting trades, which is payable to the custodian (“Fixed Fee”). Purchases and redemptions of Creation Units for cash or involving cash-in-lieu are required to pay an additional variable charge to compensate the Fund and its ongoing shareholders for brokerage and market impact expenses relating to Creation Unit transactions (“Variable Charge,” and together with the Fixed Fee, the “Transaction Fees”). Transactions in capital shares for the Fund are disclosed in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.

The Transaction Fees for the Fund are listed in the table below:

At November 30, 2021, the aggregate cost for federal tax purposes, which differs from fair value by net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of securities, are as follows:

As of May 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings/ (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

Late year losses incurred after December 31 within the fiscal year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the following fiscal year for tax purposes. The Fund incurred and elected to defer such late year losses of $22,310.

Capital losses incurred after October 31 within the fiscal year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the following fiscal year for tax purposes. The Fund incurred and elected to defer such capital losses of $62,308.

Permanent book and tax differences, primarily attributable to the book/tax basis treatment of net operating losses and tax adjustments for transfers in kind, resulted in reclassifications for the Fund for the fiscal period ended May 31, 2021 as follows:

Subsequent events after the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued. Management has determined that no events or transactions occurred requiring adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the 1940 Act. The program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources.

During the six months ended November 30, 2021 the Trust’s Liquidity Risk Management Program Committee (the “Committee”) reviewed the Fund’s investments and determined that the Fund held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. Accordingly, the Committee concluded that (i) the Fund’s liquidity risk management program is reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Liquidity Rule and (ii) the Fund’s liquidity risk management program has been effectively implemented.

As a shareholder of the Fund you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service (12b- 1) fees and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from June 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021 (the “period”).

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The “Hypothetical” line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balances or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

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

For more information about current performance, holdings, or historical premiums/discounts, please visit the Fund’s website at https://sterlingcapital.com/etf/.

PRIVACY NOTICE

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

Rev. August 2015

PRIVACY NOTICE

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

PROXY VOTING POLICY

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the twelve month period ended June 30 as well as a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-844- 663-7871 or by referring to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT, within sixty days after the end of the period. Form N- PORT reports are available at the SEC’s website at www.sec .gov.