LOGO

  OCTOBER 31, 2022

 

  

2022 Semi-Annual Report

(Unaudited)

 

iShares Trust

 

·  

iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | USRT | NYSE Arca


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

Significant economic headwinds emerged during the 12-month reporting period ended October 31, 2022, disrupting the economic recovery and strong financial markets of 2021. The U.S. economy shrank in the first half of 2022 before returning to moderate growth in the third quarter, marking a shift to a more challenging post-reopening economic environment. 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 as inflation decreased the value of future cash flows and investors shifted focus to balance sheet resilience. Both large- and small-capitalization U.S. stocks fell, although declines for small-capitalization U.S. stocks were slightly steeper. Emerging market stocks and international equities from developed markets also declined significantly, pressured by rising interest rates and a strengthening U.S. dollar.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose notably during the reporting period, driving its price down, 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 has been more persistent than expected, raised interest rates five times while indicating that additional rate hikes were likely. Furthermore, the Fed wound down its bond-buying programs and is accelerating the reduction of 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 pandemic’s restructuring of the economy brought an ongoing mismatch between supply and demand, contributing to the current inflationary regime. While growth has slowed in 2022, we believe that taming inflation requires a more dramatic economic decline to bring demand back to a lower level that is more in line with the economy’s capacity. The Fed has been raising interest rates at the fastest pace in decades, and seems set to overtighten in its effort to get inflation back to target. With this in mind, we believe the possibility of a U.S. recession in the near-term is high, and the outlook for Europe and the U.K. is also troubling. Investors should expect a period of higher volatility as markets adjust to the new economic reality and policymakers attempt to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

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. Rising input costs 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. However, we see better opportunities in credit, where higher spreads provide income opportunities and partially compensate for inflation risk. We believe that investment-grade corporates, 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, position themselves to be prepared for a decarbonizing economy, and be nimble as market conditions change. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit iShares.com for further insight about investing in today’s markets.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

 

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

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

    (5.50 )%          (14.61 )% 
   

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

    (0.20         (18.54
   

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

    (12.70         (23.00
   

Emerging market equities (MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

    (19.66         (13.03
   

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

    0.72           0.79  
   

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

    (8.24         (17.68
   

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

    (6.86         (15.68
   

Tax-exempt municipal bonds (Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

    (4.43         (11.98
   

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

    (4.71         (11.76

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

     5  

Disclosure of Expenses

     5  

Schedule of Investments

     6  

Financial Statements:

  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     10  

Statement of Operations

     11  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     12  

Financial Highlights

     13  

Notes to Financial Statements

     14  

Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

     20  

Supplemental Information

     22  

General Information

     23  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     24  

 

 

  3


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2022    iShares® Core U.S. REIT ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. real estate equities, as represented by the FTSE Nareit Equity REITs 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-Month Total
Returns
    1 Year     5 Years     10 Years             1 Year     5 Years     10 Years  

Fund NAV

    (17.99 )%      (18.56 )%      4.08     6.17        (18.56 )%      21.14     81.99

Fund Market

    (18.07     (18.58     4.06       6.16          (18.58     22.04       81.87  

Index

    (17.99     (18.51     4.12       6.38                (18.51     22.36       85.56  

Index performance through November 2, 2016 reflects the performance of the FTSE NAREIT Real Estate 50 Index. Index performance beginning on November 3, 2016 reflects the performance of the FTSE Nareit Equity REITS Index.

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

(05/01/22)

 

 

 

      

Ending

Account Value

(10/31/22)

 

 

 

      

Expenses

Paid During

the Period

 

 

(a) 

           

Beginning

Account Value

(05/01/22)

 

 

 

      

Ending

Account Value

(10/31/22)

 

 

 

      

Expenses

Paid During

the Period

 

 

(a) 

          

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

 

 

 

$ 1,000.00        $ 820.10        $ 0.37             $ 1,000.00        $ 1,024.80        $ 0.41              0.08

 

  (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

 

INDUSTRY ALLOCATION

 

 
Industry    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Specialized REITs

    25.7

Residential REITs

    18.4  

Retail REITs

    16.2  

Industrial REITs

    14.9  

Health Care REITs

    9.6  

Office REITs

    7.4  

Hotel & Resort REITs

    4.0  

Diversified REITs

    3.8  

 

  (a)

Excludes money market funds.

 

TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

 

 
Security    
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Prologis, Inc.

    10.5

Equinix, Inc.

    5.3  

Public Storage

    5.0  

Realty Income Corp.

    4.0  

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    3.7  

VICI Properties, Inc.

    3.2  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    2.9  

Welltower, Inc.

    2.9  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    2.5  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    2.4  

 

 

4  

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


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 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. 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 the 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 example shown (which is based on a hypothetical investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the end of the period) is intended to assist shareholders both in calculating expenses based on an investment in the Fund and in comparing these expenses with similar costs of investing in other funds.

The expense example provides 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 example also provides 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 Fund and other funds, compare the 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

The expenses shown in the expense example 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 example is 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.

 

 

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

  5


Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

October 31, 2022

  

iShares® Core U.S. REIT ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares     Value  

Common Stocks

 

Diversified REITs — 3.7%        

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

    140,580     $ 2,738,498  

Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc.

    22,179       409,203  

American Assets Trust, Inc.

    95,861       2,634,260  

Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc.

    129,292       1,511,423  

Broadstone Net Lease, Inc.

    323,683       5,547,927  

CTO Realty Growth, Inc.

    34,390       691,239  

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., Class A(a)

    262,492       1,934,566  

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc.

    273,295       5,881,308  

Gladstone Commercial Corp.

    76,624       1,347,816  

Global Net Lease, Inc.

    202,384       2,479,204  

iStar, Inc.

    133,545       1,399,552  

One Liberty Properties, Inc.

    31,818       717,178  

STORE Capital Corp.

    496,235       15,780,273  

WP Carey, Inc.

    373,507       28,498,584  
   

 

 

 
        71,571,031  
Health Care REITs — 9.6%            

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

    188,095       3,513,615  

Community Healthcare Trust, Inc.

    45,896       1,588,002  

Diversified Healthcare Trust

    469,099       637,975  

Global Medical REIT, Inc.

    118,397       1,082,149  

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.

    740,569       15,055,768  

Healthpeak Properties, Inc.

    1,053,384       24,996,802  

LTC Properties, Inc.

    77,959       3,014,674  

Medical Properties Trust, Inc.

    1,160,020       13,282,229  

National Health Investors, Inc.

    83,480       4,733,316  

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    459,022       14,587,719  

Physicians Realty Trust

    437,188       6,584,051  

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

    448,914       6,132,165  

Universal Health Realty Income Trust

    24,884       1,211,104  

Ventas, Inc.

    779,959       30,519,796  

Welltower, Inc.

    906,484       55,331,783  
   

 

 

 
      182,271,148  
Hotel & Resort REITs — 4.0%            

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc.

    418,060       7,157,187  

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.(a)(b)

    67,749       550,122  

Braemar Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    135,149       666,285  

Chatham Lodging Trust(b)

    93,999       1,219,167  

DiamondRock Hospitality Co.

    408,565       3,815,997  

Hersha Hospitality Trust, Class A

    62,054       567,794  

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    1,382,827       26,107,774  

Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    435,340       5,694,247  

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust(a)

    252,654       4,052,570  

RLJ Lodging Trust

    312,311       3,800,825  

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.(a)

    104,585       9,299,698  

Service Properties Trust(a)

    319,593       2,591,899  

Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.

    204,347       1,765,558  

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.(a)

    412,319       4,597,357  

Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    222,778       3,805,049  
   

 

 

 
      75,691,529  
Industrial REITs — 14.9%            

Americold Realty Trust, Inc.

    524,993       12,731,080  

EastGroup Properties, Inc.

    80,343       12,588,945  

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

    257,303       12,255,342  

Indus Realty Trust, Inc.(a)

    10,589       548,404  

Industrial Logistics Properties Trust

    128,854       603,037  

LXP Industrial Trust

    536,169       5,190,116  

Plymouth Industrial REIT, Inc.

    73,283       1,351,339  

Prologis, Inc.

    1,800,106       199,361,739  

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

    334,450       18,488,396  
Security   Shares      Value  
Industrial REITs (continued)             

STAG Industrial, Inc.

    350,421      $ 11,069,799  

Terreno Realty Corp.

    144,536        8,258,787  
    

 

 

 
       282,446,984  
Office REITs — 7.4%             

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    316,489        45,985,852  

Boston Properties, Inc.(a)

    306,138        22,256,233  

Brandywine Realty Trust

    326,992        2,145,068  

City Office REIT, Inc.

    79,500        844,290  

Corporate Office Properties Trust

    218,591        5,825,450  

Cousins Properties, Inc.

    295,024        7,009,770  

Creative Media & Community Trust Corp.

    26,469        179,195  

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    330,683        5,816,714  

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

    176,847        3,075,369  

Franklin Street Properties Corp.(a)

    194,821        561,084  

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    203,351        5,740,599  

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

    268,324        2,962,297  

JBG SMITH Properties

    208,670        4,106,626  

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    227,142        9,708,049  

Office Properties Income Trust

    93,694        1,433,518  

Orion Office REIT, Inc.

    112,133        1,050,686  

Paramount Group, Inc.

    372,825        2,412,178  

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc., Class A

    238,611        2,493,485  

Postal Realty Trust, Inc., Class A

    35,038        549,396  

SL Green Realty Corp.

    124,967        4,958,691  

Veris Residential, Inc.(b)

    167,516        2,651,778  

Vornado Realty Trust

    345,172        8,142,607  
    

 

 

 
         139,908,935  
Residential REITs — 18.3%             

American Homes 4 Rent, Class A(a)

    592,442        18,922,598  

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

    300,783        11,559,091  

Apartment Investment and Management Co., Class A

    290,970        2,310,302  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    273,010        47,809,511  

Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc.(b)

    6,948        175,784  

BRT Apartments Corp.(a)

    23,886        529,314  

Camden Property Trust

    202,500        23,398,875  

Centerspace

    29,846        2,068,328  

Elme Communities

    170,478        3,254,425  

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.(a)

    346,913        22,188,556  

Equity Residential

    723,502        45,595,096  

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

    126,961        28,215,813  

Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

    430,374        7,213,068  

Invitation Homes, Inc.

    1,192,199        37,780,786  

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

    224,285        35,313,673  

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc

    44,032        2,007,859  

Sun Communities, Inc.

    237,658        32,048,181  

UDR, Inc.

    632,457        25,146,490  

UMH Properties, Inc.

    96,493        1,692,487  
    

 

 

 
       347,230,237  
Retail REITs — 16.2%             

Acadia Realty Trust

    172,387        2,408,246  

Agree Realty Corp.

    153,186        10,523,878  

Alexander’s, Inc.

    4,173        980,196  

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    582,738        12,418,147  

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

    51,665        1,484,335  

Federal Realty Investment Trust

    156,775        15,517,589  

Getty Realty Corp.

    78,064        2,458,235  

InvenTrust Properties Corp.

    132,133        3,329,752  

Kimco Realty Corp.

    1,179,818        25,224,509  

Kite Realty Group Trust

    423,780        8,323,039  

Macerich Co.

    417,320        4,644,772  

 

 

6  

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


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2022

  

iShares® Core U.S. REIT ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Shares      Value  
Retail REITs (continued)             

National Retail Properties, Inc.

    342,674      $ 14,402,588  

Necessity Retail REIT, Inc.

    260,478        1,781,670  

NETSTREIT Corp.

    118,402        2,228,326  

Phillips Edison & Co., Inc.

    227,567        6,858,869  

Realty Income Corp.

    1,207,517        75,192,084  

Regency Centers Corp.

    334,717        20,253,726  

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

    234,909        3,401,482  

RPT Realty

    162,544        1,511,659  

Saul Centers, Inc.

    22,982        941,113  

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    637,356        69,459,057  

SITE Centers Corp.(a)

    378,483        4,685,620  

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

    265,468        10,308,122  

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

    197,663        3,559,911  

Urban Edge Properties

    223,090        3,150,031  

Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc., Class A(a)

    58,409        1,094,585  

Whitestone REIT

    90,642        852,941  
    

 

 

 
           306,994,482  
Specialized REITs — 25.6%             

CubeSmart

    436,602        18,280,526  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    554,975        55,636,244  

EPR Properties

    144,935        5,594,491  

Equinix, Inc.

    177,618        100,609,940  

Extra Space Storage, Inc.

    258,855        45,931,231  

Farmland Partners, Inc.(a)

    94,704        1,326,803  

Four Corners Property Trust, Inc.(a)

    157,990        4,047,704  

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

    476,922        23,903,330  

Gladstone Land Corp.(a)

    62,960        1,281,236  

Iron Mountain, Inc.

    563,886        28,233,772  

Lamar Advertising Co., Class A

    168,887        15,576,448  

Life Storage, Inc.

    164,315        18,174,882  
Security   Shares      Value  
Specialized REITs (continued)             

National Storage Affiliates Trust

    165,850      $ 7,075,161  

Outfront Media, Inc.

    270,978        4,891,153  

Public Storage

    305,513        94,632,652  

Safehold, Inc.

    42,545        1,244,441  

VICI Properties, Inc.

    1,879,257        60,173,809  
    

 

 

 
       486,613,823  
    

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 99.7%
(Cost: $2,154,351,999)

 

         1,892,728,169  
    

 

 

 
Short-Term Securities             
Money Market Funds — 0.8%             

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares, 3.29%(c)(d)(e)

    8,542,242        8,540,534  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 2.97%(c)(d)

    6,500,445        6,500,445  
    

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 0.8%
(Cost: $15,042,331)

 

     15,040,979  
    

 

 

 

Total Investments — 100.5%
(Cost: $2,169,394,330)

 

     1,907,769,148  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.5)%

 

     (10,110,581
    

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

 

   $ 1,897,658,567  
    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(b) 

Non-income producing security.

(c) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(d) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(e) 

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 October 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
04/30/22
    Purchases
at Cost
    Proceeds
from Sale
   

Net
Realized

Gain (Loss)

    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Value at
10/31/22
    Shares
Held at
10/31/22
    Income    

Capital

Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
Funds

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional,
SL Agency Shares

  $  3,621,730     $  4,918,545 (a)    $     $ 1,727     $ (1,468   $ 8,540,534       8,542,242     $   21,979 (b)    $  

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury,
SL Agency Shares

    7,350,000             (849,555 )(a)                  6,500,445       6,500,445       45,517        
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        $ 1,727     $ (1,468   $  15,040,979       $ 67,496     $  
       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (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.

 

 

 

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

  7


Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2022

  

iShares® Core U.S. REIT ETF

 

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                             

Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index

     147          12/16/22        $ 4,801   $ 168,711  
              

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statement 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)

   $      $      $  168,711    $      $        —    $      $   168,711  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Net cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, if any, are reported in the Schedule of Investments. In the Statement 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 October 31, 2022, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statement 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

   $      $      $  (2,059,728)    $      $         —    $      $   (2,059,728
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on

                    

Futures contracts

   $      $      $       205,608    $      $         —    $      $ 205,608  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Futures contracts:        

Average notional value of contracts — long

   $ 6,787,170  

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

 

 

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Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2022

  

iShares® Core U.S. REIT ETF

 

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  

Assets

                 

Investments

                 

Long-Term Investments

                 

Common Stocks

   $   1,892,728,169        $        $        $   1,892,728,169  

Short-Term Securities

                 

Money Market Funds

     15,040,979                            15,040,979  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 1,907,769,148        $        $        $ 1,907,769,148  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments(a)

                 

Assets

                 

Equity Contracts

   $ 168,711        $        $        $ 168,711  
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

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

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  9


Statement of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)

October 31, 2022

 

   

iShares

Core U.S. REIT ETF

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

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

  $ 1,892,728,169  

Investments, at value — affiliated(c)

    15,040,979  

Cash

    1,619  

Cash pledged for futures contracts

    360,000  

Receivables:

 

Investments sold

    2,978,439  

Securities lending income — affiliated

    2,934  

Dividends — unaffiliated

    1,290,411  

Dividends — affiliated

    26,775  
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,912,429,326  
 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Collateral on securities loaned

    8,542,801  

Payables:

 

Investments purchased

    3,599,872  

Capital shares redeemed

    2,497,759  

Investment advisory fees

    121,773  

Variation margin on futures contracts

    8,554  
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    14,770,759  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 1,897,658,567  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

 

Paid-in capital

  $     2,171,595,832  

Accumulated loss

    (273,937,265
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 1,897,658,567  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 

Shares outstanding

  $ 38,100,000  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 49.81  
 

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited  
 

 

 

 

Par value

    None  
 

 

 

 

(a) Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 2,154,351,999  

(b) Securities loaned, at value

  $ 8,296,829  

(c)  Investments, at cost — affiliated

  $ 15,042,331  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Statement of Operations (unaudited)

Six Months Ended October 31, 2022

 

   

iShares

Core U.S. REIT ETF

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

 

Dividends — unaffiliated

  $ 28,751,585  

Dividends — affiliated

    45,517  

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

    21,979  
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    28,819,081  
 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

Investment advisory

    812,139  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    812,139  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    28,006,942  
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

 

Net realized gain (loss) from:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    (38,754,450

Investments — affiliated

    1,727  

Futures contracts

    (2,059,728

In-kind redemptions — unaffiliated(a)

    59,289,875  
 

 

 

 
    18,477,424  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments — unaffiliated

    (454,237,788

Investments — affiliated

    (1,468

Futures contracts

    205,608  
 

 

 

 
    (454,033,648
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

    (435,556,224
 

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $     (407,549,282
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L    T A T E M E N T  S

  11


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF  
 

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended
10/31/22

(unaudited)

   

Year Ended

04/30/22

 
   

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

   

OPERATIONS

   

Net investment income

  $ 28,006,942     $ 47,545,870  

Net realized gain

    18,477,424       188,023,089  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (454,033,648     15,691,617  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (407,549,282     251,260,576  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(a)

   

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (33,192,125     (57,050,953
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

   

Net increase in net assets derived from capital share transactions

    19,849,813       137,648,377  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (420,891,594     331,858,000  

Beginning of period

    2,318,550,161       1,986,692,161  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $     1,897,658,567     $     2,318,550,161  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF  
 

 

 

 
    Six Months Ended
10/31/22
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
04/30/22
     Year Ended
04/30/21
     Year Ended
04/30/20
     Year Ended
04/30/19
     Year Ended
04/30/18
 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 61.83     $ 56.60      $ 42.45      $ 51.60      $ 45.73      $ 48.93  
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    0.75       1.24        1.17        1.62        1.79        1.70  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

    (11.87     5.45        14.39        (8.95      6.59        (3.20
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    (11.12     6.69        15.56        (7.33      8.38        (1.50
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions(c)

               

From net investment income

    (0.90     (1.43      (1.41      (1.80      (2.44      (1.70

From net realized gain

          (0.03             (0.02      (0.07       

Total distributions

    (0.90     (1.46      (1.41      (1.82      (2.51      (1.70
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 49.81     $ 61.83      $ 56.60      $ 42.45      $ 51.60      $ 45.73  
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

               

Based on net asset value

    (17.99 )%(e)      11.82      37.43      (14.60 )%       18.82      (3.18 )% 
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(f)

               

Total expenses

    0.08 %(g)       0.08      0.08      0.08      0.08      0.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income

    2.76 %(g)       2.00      2.48      3.12      3.64      3.60
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

               

Net assets, end of period (000)

  $ 1,897,659     $ 2,318,550      $ 1,986,692      $ 1,339,443      $ 1,290,051      $ 514,475  
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(h)

    4     9      5      8      11      8
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(b) 

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

(c) 

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

(d) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(e) 

Not annualized.

(f) 

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

(g) 

Annualized.

(h) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  13


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

1.

ORGANIZATION

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

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

 

iShares ETF   Diversification
Classification
 

Core U.S. REIT

    Diversified  

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. 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.

Collateralization: If required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Fund 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 and losses to the Fund. Because such gains or losses are not taxable to the Fund and are not distributed to existing Fund shareholders, the gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated net realized gain (loss) to paid-in capital at the end of the Fund’s tax year. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

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

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

 

3.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Investment Valuation Policies: The Fund’s investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund’s listing exchange is open and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) of the Fund has approved the designation of BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), the Fund’s investment adviser, as the valuation designee for the Fund. The 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 the Fund’s assets and liabilities:

   

Equity investments traded on a recognized securities exchange are valued at that day’s official closing price, as applicable, on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded. Equity investments traded on a recognized exchange for which there were no sales on that day may be valued at the last available bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price.

 

   

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

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

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 the Fund has the ability to access;

 

   

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

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the 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

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

As of period end, any securities on loan were collateralized by cash and/or U.S. Government obligations. Cash collateral invested in money market funds managed by 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 the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The market value of any securities on loan and the value of any related cash collateral are disclosed in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

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

 

 

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  15


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

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

 

 

 
Counterparty    
Securities
Loaned at Value
 
 
    

Cash

Collateral Received

 

(a) 

    

Non-Cash
Collateral Received,

at Fair Value

 
 

(a)  

    
Net
Amount
 
 

 

 

Barclays Bank PLC

  $ 105,864      $ (105,864    $      $  

Barclays Capital, Inc.

    68,015        (68,015              

BNP Paribas SA

    1,380,302        (1,380,302              

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

    2,410,764        (2,410,764              

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    17,784        (17,784              

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

    1,543,123        (1,543,123              

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    123,875        (123,875              

Jefferies LLC

    955,573        (955,573              

Morgan Stanley

    197,541        (197,541              

National Financial Services LLC

    288,034        (288,034              

Scotia Capital (USA), Inc.

    256,200        (256,200              

UBS Securities LLC

    89,544        (89,544              

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

    860,210        (860,210              
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  $ 8,296,829      $ (8,296,829    $      $  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Collateral received, if any, in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The total cash collateral received by the Fund is disclosed in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

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

 

5.

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 Fund 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 Fund is 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 Statement 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 Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees 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 Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded in the Statement 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 the Fund’s assets. BFA is a California corporation indirectly owned by BlackRock. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, BFA is responsible for substantially all expenses of the Fund, except (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions; (iii) distribution fees; (iv) the advisory fee payable to BFA; and (v) litigation expenses and any extraordinary expenses (in each case as determined by a majority of the independent trustees).

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

 

   
iShares ETF   Investment Advisory Fees  

Core U.S. REIT

    0.08

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

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

ETF Servicing Fees: The Fund has entered into an ETF Services Agreement with BRIL to perform certain order processing, Authorized Participant communications, and related services in connection with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units (“ETF Services”). BRIL is entitled to a transaction fee from Authorized Participants on each creation or redemption order for the ETF Services provided. The Fund does not pay BRIL for ETF Services.

Prior to April 25, 2022, ETF Services were performed by State Street Bank and Trust Company.

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

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

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, the Fund retains 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

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 fund (the “iShares ETF Complex”) in a given calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, the Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 81% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

The share of securities lending income earned by the Fund is shown as securities lending income - affiliated - net in its Statement of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2022, the Fund paid BTC $8,900 for securities lending agent services.

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

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 October 31, 2022, transactions executed by the Fund pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act were as follows:

 

       
iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales      Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
 

Core U.S. REIT

  $  5,021,117      $  21,618,078      $ (7,073,756

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

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

 

7.

PURCHASES AND SALES

For the six months ended October 31, 2022, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

 

     
iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales  

Core U.S. REIT

  $  107,604,225      $  72,333,106  

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

 

     
iShares ETF   In-kind
Purchases
    

In-kind

Sales

 

Core U.S. REIT

  $  239,231,763      $  243,338,513  

 

 

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  17


Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

8.

INCOME TAX INFORMATION

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

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Fund as of October 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 Fund’s financial statements.

As of October 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)
 

 

 

Core U.S. REIT

  $  2,195,204,262      $ 101,880,672      $ (389,147,075    $  (287,266,403

 

 

 

9.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Fund 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, the 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 and centrally cleared swaps 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

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

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 Fund.

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

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

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 Fund may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Fund is uncertain.

 

10.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

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

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

 

 
   

Six Months Ended

10/31/22

           

Year Ended

04/30/22

 
 

 

 

       

 

 

 
Share Class   Shares     Amount              Shares     Amount  

Shares sold

    4,700,000     $ 239,039,844           11,850,000     $ 729,451,592  

Shares redeemed

    (4,100,000         (219,190,031)           (9,450,000         (591,803,215
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 
    600,000     $ 19,849,813           2,400,000     $ 137,648,377  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

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 BRIL, to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units, including Creation Units for cash. Investors transacting in Creation Units for cash may also pay an additional variable charge to compensate the relevant fund for certain transaction costs (i.e., stamp taxes, taxes on currency or other financial transactions, and brokerage costs) and market impact expenses relating to investing in portfolio securities. Such variable charges, if any, are included in shares sold in the table above.

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

 

11.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

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

 

 

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

  19


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

 

iShares Core U.S. REIT 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 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

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract   (continued)

 

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.

 

 

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

  21


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.

October 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
 

Core U.S. REIT

  $   0.896607      $             —      $         —      $   0.896607                 100             100

 

 

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

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

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

A description of the 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.

 

 

G E N E R A L   I N F O R M A T I O N

  23


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Portfolio Abbreviation
REIT   Real Estate Investment Trust

 

 

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Want to know more?

iShares.com  |   1-800-474-2737

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

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

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

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

©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-412-1022

 

 

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