LOGO

  OCTOBER 31, 2023

 

   2023 Annual Report

 

iShares Trust

 

·  

iShares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF | BEMB | Cboe BZX

 

·  

iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF | EMB | NASDAQ


The Markets in Review

Dear Shareholder,

The combination of continued economic growth and cooling inflation provided a supportive backdrop for investors during the 12-month reporting period ended October 31, 2023. Significantly tighter monetary policy helped to rein in inflation, as the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index declined to its long-term average of approximately 3% in October 2023. Meanwhile, real economic growth proved more resilient than many investors anticipated. A moderating labor market also helped ease inflationary pressure, although wages continued to grow and unemployment rates touched the lowest levels in decades before rising slightly. This robust labor market powered further growth in consumer spending, backstopping the economy. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a horrific attack on Israel. The ensuing war will have a significant humanitarian impact and could lead to heightened economic and market volatility. We see geopolitics as a structural market risk going forward. See our geopolitical risk dashboard at blackrock.com for more details.

Equity returns were solid during the period, as the durability of consumer spending mitigated investors’ concerns about the economy’s trajectory. The U.S. economy continued to show strength, and growth further accelerated in the third quarter of 2023. However, equity returns were uneven, as the performance of a few notable technology companies supported gains among large-capitalization U.S. stocks, while small-capitalization U.S. stocks declined overall. Meanwhile, international developed market equities advanced, and emerging market equities posted solid gains.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose during the reporting period, driving its price down, as investors reacted to elevated inflation and attempted to anticipate future interest rate changes. The corporate bond market benefited from improving economic sentiment, although high-yield corporate bond prices fared significantly better than investment-grade bonds as demand from yield-seeking investors remained strong.

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), attempting to manage persistent inflation, raised interest rates six times during the 12-month period, but slowed and then paused its tightening later in the period. The Fed also wound down its bond-buying programs and incrementally reduced its balance sheet by not replacing securities that reach maturity.

Supply constraints appear to have become an embedded feature of the new macroeconomic environment, making it difficult for developed economies to increase production without sparking higher inflation. Geopolitical fragmentation and an aging population risk further exacerbating these constraints, keeping the labor market tight and wage growth high. Although the Fed has decelerated the pace of interest rate hikes and recently opted for several pauses, we believe that the new economic regime means that the Fed will need to maintain high rates for an extended period to keep inflation under control. Furthermore, ongoing structural changes may mean that the Fed will be hesitant to cut interest rates in the event of faltering economic activity lest inflation accelerate again.

While we favor an overweight position in developed market equities in the long term, we prefer an underweight stance in the near term. Expectations for corporate earnings remain elevated, which seems inconsistent with macroeconomic constraints. Nevertheless, we are overweight on Japanese stocks in the near term as shareholder-friendly policies generate increased investor interest. We also believe that stocks with an AI tilt should benefit from an investment cycle that is set to support revenues and margins. In credit, there are selective opportunities in the near term despite tightening credit and financial conditions. For fixed income investing with a six- to twelve-month horizon, we see the most attractive investments in short-term U.S. Treasuries, U.S. inflation-linked bonds, euro area government bonds and gilts, U.S. mortgage-backed securities, and hard-currency emerging market bonds.

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.

 

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

LOGO

Rob Kapito

President, BlackRock, Inc.

 

Total Returns as of October 31, 2023

 

 
    

 

6-Month

 

   

 

12-Month

 

 

 

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

 

    1.39%       10.14%  

 

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

 

    (5.29)         (8.56)    

 

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

 

    (7.88)         14.40     

 

Emerging market equities
(MSCI Emerging Markets Index)

 

    (4.78)         10.80     

 

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

 

    2.63          4.77     

 

U.S. Treasury securities

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

 

    (9.70)         (3.25)    

 

U.S. investment grade bonds

(Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index)

 

    (6.13)         0.36     

 

Tax-exempt municipal bonds

(Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index)

 

    (4.65)         2.64     

 

U.S. high yield bonds

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

 

    0.02          6.23     

 

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

 

 

 

 

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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  

Annual Report:

  

Market Overview

     4  

Fund Summary

     5  

About Fund Performance

     9  

Disclosure of Expenses

     9  

Schedules of Investments

     10  

Financial Statements

  

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     25  

Statements of Operations

     26  

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     27  

Financial Highlights

     28  

Notes to Financial Statements

     30  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     37  

Important Tax Information

     38  

Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

     39  

Supplemental Information

     42  

Trustee and Officer Information

     44  

General Information

     47  

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     48  


Market Overview

 

iShares Trust

Global Bond Market Overview

Global investment-grade bonds posted positive returns in the 12 months ended October 31, 2023 (the “reporting period”). The Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index, a broad measure of world bond market performance, returned 1.72% in U.S. Dollar terms for the reporting period. Income made a strong contribution to performance following an extended period of rising yields, outweighing the impact of falling prices. Lower-rated, higher-yielding market segments generally outperformed, and short-term debt outpaced longer-term issues. On the other hand, interest-rate sensitive investments—particularly developed-market government bonds—typically experienced weak relative performance.

The falling prices for government bonds reflected the global interest-rate backdrop. Persistent inflation compelled developed-market central banks to continue raising rates. While the pace of rate hikes slowed, investors began to anticipate that rates were likely to remain “higher for longer.” This trend was particularly evident in the United States, where stronger-than-expected growth prompted the markets to push out expectations for the central bank’s first rate cut. At the beginning of the period, the futures markets were indicating that the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) initial rate reduction would occur in the second half of 2023. In contrast, the expected timing had shifted to late 2024 by the end of October. Japan was a notable outlier compared to its developed-market peers, as the combination of lower relative inflation and tepid economic growth prompted the nation’s central bank to maintain a highly accommodative interest rate policy.

Credit-oriented market segments delivered generally positive performance and outpaced government debt. Investors appeared to be encouraged that the slowdown in global growth was less severe than expected. In addition, corporate earnings—while slowing—exceeded the depressed expectations that were in place in late 2022. These developments fueled a healthy appetite for risk among investors, leading to outperformance for lower-rated investment-grade corporates and high yield bonds.

Emerging markets debt also held up well versus developed market government issues. The category was helped by a robust contribution from income, as well as its lower interest-rate sensitivity in relation to higher-rated, developed market bonds. Additionally, emerging market central banks were seen as being closer to the point at which they could begin cutting rates than their larger peers. The asset class further benefited from the generally positive, “risk-on” tone that was in place for much of the period.

Currency movements had a meaningful impact on returns for bonds denominated in foreign currencies. The U.S. Dollar fell sharply in the first two months of the period due to the growing view that the Fed was set to move to a neutral policy, boosting returns for non-U.S. bonds. On the other hand, the Dollar’s rally from mid-July onward reversed all of its previous gains, weighing on returns for the international markets.

 

 

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Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023    iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by emerging market sovereign, quasi-sovereign, and corporate entities, as represented by the J.P. Morgan EM Sovereign and Corporate Credit Core 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 that Index.

Performance

 

    Cumulative Total Returns  
    

Since

Inception

 

Fund NAV

    (0.48 )% 

Fund Market

    0.06  

Index

    (0.48

 

 

LOGO

The inception date of the Fund was February 22, 2023. The first day of secondary market trading was February 24, 2023.

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

(05/01/23)

 

 

 

      

Ending

Account Value

(10/31/23)

 

 

 

      

Expenses

Paid During

the Period

 

 

(a) 

           

Beginning

Account Value

(05/01/23)

 

 

 

      

Ending

Account Value

(10/31/23)

 

 

 

      

Expenses

Paid During

the Period

 

 

(a) 

      

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

 

 

 

$ 1,000.00        $ 973.60        $ 0.90             $ 1,000.00        $ 1,024.30        $ 0.92          0.18

 

  (a) 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period shown). Other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, may be paid which are not reflected in the tables and examples above. See “Disclosure of Expenses” for more information.

 

 

 

U N D   S U M M A R Y

  5


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023  (continued)    iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

 

Portfolio Management Commentary

Emerging market bonds posted negative returns in the time from the Fund’s inception on February 22, 2023, through the end of the reporting period on October 31, 2023.

Despite the negative return, the investment backdrop was in fact quite favorable from the beginning of the period through the end of July. During this time, investors appeared to be encouraged by the combination of positive global growth and expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve and other developed market central banks would soon pause their long series of interest rate increases. The market environment grew less supportive in August, however, as a spike in oil prices raised fears that a reacceleration of inflation would compel central banks to keep rates “higher for longer.” This development, together with rising concerns about the United States’ growing government debt, caused U.S. Treasury yields to spike and pressured returns across the world bond markets. Investor sentiment further deteriorated after the outbreak of violence in the Middle East raised fears about the possibility of a broader regional conflict. While these factors caused prices to fall in September and October, the Index posted only a modest loss for the full period due to the combination of income and its earlier gains.

At the regional level, Europe registered a gain behind strong returns for Turkey and several other smaller countries in the region. Africa was also a source of positive performance, with Nigeria and Ghana leading the way higher. Asia finished in line with the Index, with gains for South Korea and India offsetting weaker showings for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Middle East and Latin America regions both lagged the Index.

Despite the “risk-off” environment late in the period, lower-quality bonds generally outperformed the broader market due to their lower degree of interest rate sensitivity. Similarly, shorter-term issues held up well relative to more rate-sensitive, longer-dated securities.

Portfolio Information

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION

 

Moody’s Credit Rating*

   
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Aa

    7.9

A

    16.1  

Baa

    32.3  

Ba

    14.7  

B

    12.0  

Caa

    3.1  

Ca

    1.1  

Not Rated

    12.8  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region

   

Percent of

Total Investments

 

(a) 

China

    6.5

Mexico

    4.5  

Saudi Arabia

    4.2  

United Arab Emirates

    4.2  

Turkey

    4.1  

Brazil

    3.9  

Indonesia

    3.7  

India

    3.3  

Qatar

    3.3  

Philippines

    3.1  
  *

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

 

 

  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

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Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023     iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

 

Investment Objective

The iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (the Fund”) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, emerging market bonds, as represented by the J.P. Morgan EMBI® Global Core 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  
     1 Year      5 Years      10 Years            1 Year      5 Years      10 Years  

Fund NAV

    7.46      (0.46 )%       1.49       7.46      (2.30 )%       15.94

Fund Market

    8.12        (0.44      1.46         8.12        (2.18      15.63  

Index

    7.65        (0.29      1.88               7.65        (1.44      20.46  

 

 

LOGO

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

(05/01/23)

 

 

 

      

Ending

Account Value

(10/31/23)

 

 

 

      

Expenses

Paid During

the Period

 

 

(a) 

           

Beginning

Account Value

(05/01/23)

 

 

 

      

Ending

Account Value

(10/31/23)

 

 

 

      

Expenses

Paid During

the Period

 

 

(a) 

      

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

 

 

 

$ 1,000.00        $ 971.80        $ 1.94             $ 1,000.00        $ 1,023.20        $ 1.99          0.39

 

  (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.

 

 

 

U N D   S U M M A R Y

  7


Fund Summary as of October 31, 2023  (continued)    iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

 

Portfolio Management Commentary

Emerging market sovereign bonds posted positive returns and strongly outperformed developed-market government debt in the 12-month reporting period.

Whereas many segments of the world bond market were hurt by continued interest rate increases by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) and other major central banks, emerging market bonds were relatively insulated due to their lower interest rate sensitivity. The category also benefited from its higher yields, which contributed meaningfully to its total return. Emerging market debt was further helped by better-than-expected global growth and the concurrent improvement in investors’ appetite for risk. In addition, emerging market central banks were generally expected to pursue less restrictive monetary policies than their developed market peers. Together, these factors helped the asset class finish as one of the top performing categories in the global fixed-income market.

With a small number of exceptions, the majority of the countries represented in the Index delivered positive total returns. Africa was the strongest performer at the regional level, but the effect on the Index return was limited due to the region’s relatively small weighting. Europe also outperformed, as the concerns about the economic impact of the war in Ukraine gradually dissipated. Latin America underperformed slightly, with the two largest markets in the region—Brazil and Mexico—finishing behind the Index. Asia also lagged, largely as a result of depressed investor sentiment caused by China’s weaker-than-expected reopening following its COVID-19 lockdowns. The Middle East region, while producing a positive return, was the weakest performer due in part to the fact that it had already registered a robust gain in the eight-month span prior to the beginning of the reporting period.

Bonds with maturities of less than three years outperformed, but returns were fairly consistent across the remainder of the maturity spectrum. Mirroring a trend that was visible throughout the global fixed-income markets, lower-rated securities outpaced higher-rated issues.

Portfolio Information

 

CREDIT QUALITY ALLOCATION

 

Moody’s Credit Rating*

   
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Aa

    6.3

A

    14.2  

Baa

    31.3  

Ba

    16.7  

B

    12.8  

Caa

    5.5  

Ca

    2.1  

Not Rated

    11.1  

GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION

 

Country/Geographic Region

   
Percent of
Total Investments
 
(a) 

Mexico

    5.8

Saudi Arabia

    5.8  

Indonesia

    5.2  

Turkey

    5.2  

United Arab Emirates

    4.6  

Qatar

    4.1  

Brazil

    3.8  

Oman

    3.6  

Philippines

    3.6  

China

    3.6  
  *

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

 

 

  (a) 

Excludes money market funds.

 

 

 

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About Fund Performance

 

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

Net asset value or “NAV” is the value of one share of a fund as calculated in accordance with the standard formula for valuing mutual fund shares. Beginning August 10, 2020, the price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is the closing price. Prior to August 10, 2020, Market Price was determined using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest ask on the primary stock exchange on which shares of a fund are listed for trading, as of the time that such fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of a fund may not trade in the secondary market until after the fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of the fund, the NAV of the fund is used as a proxy for the Market Price to calculate market returns. Market and NAV returns assume that dividends and capital gain distributions have been reinvested at Market Price and NAV, respectively.

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

Disclosure of Expenses

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

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

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

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

 

 

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   E X P E N S E S

  9


Schedule of Investments  

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

 

Argentina — 0.3%

   

YPF SA, 9.00%, 06/30/29(a)

  $         150     $ 130,875  
   

 

 

 

Azerbaijan — 0.5%

   

Southern Gas Corridor CJSC, 6.88%, 03/24/26(a)

    200       196,822  
   

 

 

 

Brazil — 2.7%

   

Banco do Brasil SA, 6.25%, 04/18/30(a)

    200       191,275  

Braskem Netherlands Finance BV, 4.50%, 01/10/28 (Call 10/10/27)(a)

    200       168,940  

Itau Unibanco Holding SA/Cayman Island, 7.86%, (Call 03/19/24), (5-year CMT + 3.863%)(a)(b)(c)

    200       193,500  

Petrobras Global Finance BV
5.09%, 01/15/30

    100       91,751  

6.90%, 03/19/49

    100       89,993  

Suzano Austria GmbH, 5.00%, 01/15/30
(Call 10/15/29)

    200       179,950  

Vale Overseas Ltd., 8.25%, 01/17/34

    100       108,953  
   

 

 

 
          1,024,362  
Chile — 1.4%            

Colbun SA, 3.15%, 03/06/30 (Call 12/06/29)(a)

    200       162,910  

Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile, 4.50%, 08/01/47 (Call 02/01/47)(a)

    200       137,400  

Enel Chile SA, 4.88%, 06/12/28 (Call 03/12/28)

    100       92,927  

Latam Airlines Group SA, 13.38%, 10/15/29 (Call 10/15/25)(a)(d)

    50       53,694  

Telefonica Moviles Chile SA, 3.54%, 11/18/31 (Call 08/18/31)(a)

    150       103,905  
   

 

 

 
      550,836  
China — 6.0%            

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., 4.50%, 11/28/34 (Call 05/28/34)

    200       168,272  

Amipeace Ltd., 2.25%, 10/22/30(a)

    200       158,580  

BOC Aviation Ltd., 3.50%, 09/18/27
(Call 06/18/27)(a)

    200       182,860  

China Cinda 2020 I Management Ltd., 3.13%, 03/18/30 (Call 12/18/29)(a)

    200       160,404  

China Construction Bank Corp., 2.45%, 06/24/30 (Call 06/24/25), (5-year CMT + 2.150%)(a)(c)

    200       188,724  

CNAC HK Finbridge Co. Ltd., 4.13%, 07/19/27(a)

    200       185,710  

CNOOC Finance 2013 Ltd., 3.30%, 09/30/49 (Call 03/30/49)

    200       122,010  

Huarong Finance II Co. Ltd., 4.88%, 11/22/26(a)

    200       176,652  

ICBCIL Finance Co. Ltd., 2.13%, 01/27/25(a)

    200       190,500  

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd./Singapore, 1.20%, 09/09/25(a)

    200       184,240  

Prosus NV, 4.19%, 01/19/32 (Call 10/19/31)(a)

    300       230,775  

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2018 Ltd., 2.70%, 05/13/30 (Call 02/13/30)(a)

    200       168,900  

Tencent Holdings Ltd., 2.88%, 04/22/31
(Call 01/22/31)(a)

    200       158,752  
   

 

 

 
      2,276,379  
Colombia — 0.9%            

Avianca Midco 2 Ltd., 9.00%, 12/01/28 (Call 12/01/24)(a)

    100       82,875  

Ecopetrol SA
4.63%, 11/02/31 (Call 08/02/31)

    100       74,650  

6.88%, 04/29/30 (Call 01/29/30)

    100       89,645  

8.88%, 01/13/33 (Call 10/13/32)

    100       95,600  
   

 

 

 
      342,770  
Ghana — 0.4%            

Tullow Oil PLC, 10.25%, 05/15/26
(Call 11/10/23)(a)

    200       171,375  
   

 

 

 
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Guatemala — 0.8%

   

CT Trust, 5.13%, 02/03/32 (Call 02/03/27)(a)

  $ 200     $ 153,000  

Millicom International Cellular SA, 4.50%, 04/27/31 (Call 04/27/26)(a)

    200       149,060  
   

 

 

 
      302,060  
Hong Kong — 1.8%            

AIA Group Ltd., 3.20%, 09/16/40
(Call 03/16/40)(a)

    200       128,272  

Melco Resorts Finance Ltd., 5.25%, 04/26/26 (Call 11/30/23)(a)

    200       182,834  

NWD MTN Ltd., 4.13%, 07/18/29(a)

    200       129,986  

Prudential Funding Asia PLC, 3.13%, 04/14/30

    50       41,712  

Seaspan Corp., 5.50%, 08/01/29
(Call 08/01/24)(a)

    50       38,340  

Wheelock MTN BVI Ltd., 2.38%, 01/25/26(a)

    200       184,396  
   

 

 

 
      705,540  
India — 2.8%            

Delhi International Airport Ltd., 6.45%, 06/04/29(a)

    200       181,192  

Greenko Dutch BV, 3.85%, 03/29/26 (Call 11/30/23)(a)

    185       164,534  

JSW Steel Ltd., 3.95%, 04/05/27 (Call 10/05/26)(a)

    200       171,250  

Network i2i Ltd., 5.65%, (Call 01/15/25), (5-year CMT + 4.274%)(a)(b)(c)

            200       193,632  

Power Finance Corp. Ltd., 3.95%, 04/23/30(a)

    200       170,868  

Reliance Industries Ltd., 2.88%, 01/12/32(a)

    250       194,608  
   

 

 

 
          1,076,084  
Indonesia — 1.4%            

Freeport Indonesia PT, 5.32%, 04/14/32 (Call 01/01/32)(a)

    200       177,652  

Minejesa Capital BV, 4.63%, 08/10/30(a)

    200       178,028  

Pertamina Persero PT, 5.63%, 05/20/43(a)

    200       168,646  
   

 

 

 
      524,326  
Israel — 2.1%            

Energian Israel Finance Ltd.
4.88%, 03/30/26 (Call 12/30/25)(e)

    50       43,845  

5.88%, 03/30/31 (Call 09/30/30)(e)

    50       39,688  

Israel Electric Corp. Ltd., 4.25%, 08/14/28(e)

    200       174,875  

Leviathan Bond Ltd., 6.50%, 06/30/27
(Call 12/30/26)(e)

    100       87,250  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV
3.15%, 10/01/26

    250       218,272  

4.10%, 10/01/46

    100       59,162  

5.13%, 05/09/29 (Call 02/09/29)

    200       172,750  
   

 

 

 
      795,842  
Kazakhstan — 0.4%            

KazMunayGas National Co. JSC, 3.50%, 04/14/33
(Call 10/14/32)(a)

    200       145,500  
   

 

 

 

Kuwait — 0.9%

   

Equate Petrochemical BV, 2.63%, 04/28/28 (Call 01/28/28)(a)

    200       170,554  

NBK Tier 1 Financing 2 Ltd., 4.50%,
(Call 08/27/25)(a)(b)(c)

    200       183,000  
   

 

 

 
      353,554  
Luxembourg — 0.4%            

Altice Financing SA, 5.00%, 01/15/28 (Call 11/30/23)(a)

    200       162,360  
   

 

 

 

Macau — 1.6%

   

MGM China Holdings Ltd., 5.88%, 05/15/26 (Call 11/10/23)(a)

    200       186,144  

Sands China Ltd., 3.10%, 03/08/29
(Call 01/08/29)

    300       240,621  

Wynn Macau Ltd., 5.63%, 08/26/28
(Call 11/10/23)(a)

    200       166,600  
   

 

 

 
      593,365  
Malaysia — 1.7%            

Axiata SPV2 Bhd, 2.16%, 08/19/30 (Call 05/19/30)(a)

    200       157,306  

Gohl Capital Ltd., 4.25%, 01/24/27(a)

    200       182,810  

 

 

10  

2 0 2 3   H A R E S   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Malaysia (continued)

   

Petronas Capital Ltd.
2.48%, 01/28/32 (Call 10/28/31)(a)

  $         200     $ 155,242  

4.55%, 04/21/50 (Call 10/21/49)(a)

    200       153,412  
   

 

 

 
      648,770  
Mexico — 3.0%            

America Movil SAB de CV, 4.70%, 07/21/32 (Call 04/21/32)

    200       178,968  

BBVA Bancomer SA/Texas, 5.13%, 01/18/33 (Call 01/17/28), (5-year CMT + 2.650%)(a)(c)

    200       168,640  

Cemex SAB de CV, 3.88%, 07/11/31 (Call 07/11/26)(a)

    200       162,300  

Coca-Cola Femsa SAB de CV, 1.85%, 09/01/32 (Call 06/01/32)

    150       107,899  

Grupo Televisa SAB, 6.63%, 01/15/40

    50       47,000  

Petroleos Mexicanos
6.63%, 06/15/35

    30       19,725  

6.70%, 02/16/32 (Call 11/16/31)

    100       73,000  

6.75%, 09/21/47

    200       113,200  

6.88%, 08/04/26

    100       91,825  

7.69%, 01/23/50 (Call 07/23/49)

    100       61,750  

8.75%, 06/02/29 (Call 04/02/29)

    100       87,890  

Southern Copper Corp., 6.75%, 04/16/40

    50       49,480  
   

 

 

 
          1,161,677  
Morocco — 0.4%            

OCP SA, 6.88%, 04/25/44(a)

    200       163,500  
   

 

 

 

Panama — 0.4%

   

C&W Senior Financing DAC, 6.88%, 09/15/27
(Call 11/10/23)(a)

    200       170,960  
   

 

 

 

Paraguay — 0.5%

   

Telefonica Celular del Paraguay SA, 5.88%, 04/15/27 (Call 11/10/23)(a)

    200       180,300  
   

 

 

 

Peru — 1.0%

   

Banco de Credito del Peru SA, 3.13%, 07/01/30 (Call 07/01/25), (5-year CMT + 3.000%)(a)(c)

    100       91,375  

Consorcio Transmantaro SA, 4.70%, 04/16/34(a)

    200       172,944  

Petroleos del Peru SA, 4.75%, 06/19/32(a)

    200       132,998  
   

 

 

 
      397,317  
Philippines — 0.4%            

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., 7.00%, (Call 10/21/25), (5-year CMT + 9.199%)(a)(b)(c)

    200       158,300  
   

 

 

 

Qatar — 0.8%

   

Qatar Petroleum, 3.13%, 07/12/41 (Call 01/12/41)(a)

    200       131,250  

QNB Finance Ltd., 1.38%, 01/26/26(a)

    200       179,180  
   

 

 

 
      310,430  
Saudi Arabia — 1.4%            

Gaci First Investment Co., 5.25%, 10/13/32 (Call 07/13/32)(a)

    200       189,750  

Riyad Sukuk Ltd., 3.17%, 02/25/30 (Call 02/25/25), (5-year CMT + 1.791%)(a)(c)

    200       190,064  

Saudi Arabian Oil Co., 4.38%, 04/16/49(a)

    200       146,250  
   

 

 

 
      526,064  
Singapore — 1.9%            

DBS Group Holdings Ltd., 1.82%, 03/10/31 (Call 03/10/26), (5-year CMT + 1.100%)(a)(c)

    200       181,120  

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd., 1.83%, 09/10/30 (Call 09/10/25), (5-year CMT + 1.580%)(a)(c)

    200       184,232  

SingTel Group Treasury Pte Ltd., 2.38%, 08/28/29 (Call 05/28/29)(a)

    200       168,102  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Singapore (continued)

   

United Overseas Bank Ltd., 2.00%, 10/14/31 (Call 10/14/26), (5-year CMT + 1.230%)(a)(c)

  $         200     $ 176,910  
   

 

 

 
      710,364  
South Africa — 0.9%            

Anglo American Capital PLC, 2.88%, 03/17/31 (Call 12/17/30)(a)

    200       155,210  

Sasol Financing USA LLC, 6.50%, 09/27/28 (Call 06/27/28)

    200       175,700  
   

 

 

 
      330,910  
South Korea — 2.0%            

POSCO, 5.75%, 01/17/28(a)

    200       196,768  

Shinhan Bank Co. Ltd., 1.38%, 10/21/26(a)

    200       175,944  

SK Hynix Inc., 6.38%, 01/17/28(a)

    200       197,740  

Woori Bank, 4.25%, (Call 10/04/24), (5-year CMT + 2.664%)(a)(b)(c)

    200       192,375  
   

 

 

 
      762,827  
Taiwan — 1.5%            

TSMC Arizona Corp.
3.13%, 10/25/41 (Call 04/25/41)

    200       137,530  

3.88%, 04/22/27 (Call 03/22/27)

    300       283,623  

TSMC Global Ltd., 2.25%, 04/23/31
(Call 01/23/31)(a)

    200       157,292  
   

 

 

 
           578,445  

Thailand — 1.2%

   

Bangkok Bank PCL/Hong Kong, 3.73%, 09/25/34 (Call 09/25/29), (5-year CMT + 1.900%)(a)(c)

    200       162,190  

Kasikornbank PCL/Hong Kong, 3.34%, 10/02/31 (Call 10/02/26), (5-year CMT + 1.700%)(a)(c)

    200       176,362  

Thaioil Treasury Center Co. Ltd., 3.50%, 10/17/49(a)

    200       109,162  
   

 

 

 
      447,714  
Turkey — 0.5%            

Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi TAO, 5.25%, 02/05/25(a)

    200       193,000  
   

 

 

 

United Arab Emirates — 2.4%

   

Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. PJSC, 6.50%, 10/27/36(a)

    100       105,326  

DIB Sukuk Ltd., 4.80%, 08/16/28(a)

    200       193,052  

DP World Ltd./United Arab Emirates, 6.85%, 07/02/37(a)

    100       98,500  

First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, 4.50%, (Call 04/05/26), (5-year CMT + 4.138%)(a)(b)(c)

    200       187,250  

Galaxy Pipeline Assets Bidco Ltd., 2.16%, 03/31/34(a)

    170       136,972  

MDGH GMTN RSC Ltd., 5.50%, 04/28/33
(Call 01/28/33)(a)

    200       193,500  
   

 

 

 
      914,600  
United Kingdom — 2.2%            

CK Hutchison International 19 II Ltd., 2.75%, 09/06/29 (Call 06/06/29)(a)

    300       253,944  

Standard Chartered PLC

   

4.64%, 04/01/31 (Call 04/01/30),
(1-year CMT + 3.850%)(a)(c)

    200       175,855  

6.17%, 01/09/27 (Call 01/09/26),
(1-year CMT + 2.050%)(a)(c)

    200       198,223  

6.30%, 01/09/29 (Call 01/09/28),
(1-year CMT + 2.450%)(a)(c)

    200       195,334  
   

 

 

 
      823,356  
United States — 0.9%            

Flex Ltd., 4.88%, 06/15/29 (Call 03/15/29)

    200       182,912  

 

 

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

  11


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

United States (continued)

   

JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food Co./JBS USA Finance Inc.

   

3.00%, 05/15/32 (Call 02/15/32)

  $         100     $ 72,276  

5.75%, 04/01/33 (Call 01/01/33)

    100       87,984  
   

 

 

 
      343,172  
Zambia — 0.5%            

First Quantum Minerals Ltd., 6.88%, 03/01/26 (Call 11/10/23)(a)

    200       175,450  
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes — 48.0%
(Cost: $19,270,375)

          18,349,206  
   

 

 

 

Foreign Government Obligations(f)

 

Angola — 0.6%

   

Angolan Government International Bond, 8.75%, 04/14/32(a)

    300       234,750  
   

 

 

 

Argentina — 0.9%

   

Argentine Republic Government International Bond
0.75%, 07/09/30 (Call 12/01/23)(g)

    330       91,740  

1.00%, 07/09/29 (Call 12/01/23)

    50       13,375  

3.50%, 07/09/41 (Call 12/01/23)(g)

    220       57,269  

3.63%, 07/09/35 (Call 12/01/23)(g)

    420       103,320  

3.63%, 07/09/46 (Call 12/01/23)(d)(g)

    50       12,400  

5.00%, 01/09/38 (Call 12/01/23)(g)

    225       67,725  
   

 

 

 
      345,829  
Bahrain — 1.9%            

Bahrain Government International Bond
5.63%, 09/30/31(a)

    200       173,750  

5.63%, 05/18/34(a)

    200       163,750  

7.38%, 05/14/30(a)

    200       197,250  

CBB International Sukuk Co. 7 SPC, 6.88%, 10/05/25(a)

    200       199,000  
   

 

 

 
      733,750  
Brazil — 1.2%            

Brazilian Government International Bond
2.88%, 06/06/25

    200       189,932  

5.63%, 02/21/47

    200       153,300  

8.25%, 01/20/34

    100       106,950  
   

 

 

 
      450,182  
Chile — 1.2%            

Chile Government International Bond
2.45%, 01/31/31 (Call 10/31/30)

    200       160,600  

4.00%, 01/31/52 (Call 07/31/51)(d)

    200       137,500  

4.34%, 03/07/42 (Call 09/07/41)

    200       154,500  
   

 

 

 
      452,600  
China — 0.4%            

China Government International Bond, 1.75%, 10/26/31

    200       158,868  
   

 

 

 

Colombia — 1.5%

   

Colombia Government International Bond
4.13%, 02/22/42 (Call 08/22/41)

    200       118,500  

4.13%, 05/15/51 (Call 11/15/50)

    200       110,000  

6.13%, 01/18/41

    200       152,000  

8.00%, 04/20/33 (Call 01/20/33)

    200       194,700  
   

 

 

 
      575,200  
Costa Rica — 0.5%            

Costa Rica Government International Bond, 6.13%, 02/19/31(a)

    200       190,000  
   

 

 

 
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Dominican Republic — 2.2%

   

Dominican Republic International Bond
4.88%, 09/23/32(a)

  $         150     $ 121,275  

5.30%, 01/21/41(a)

    150       108,900  

5.50%, 02/22/29 (Call 12/22/28)(a)

    200       181,900  

6.40%, 06/05/49(a)

    150       117,300  

6.85%, 01/27/45(a)

    100       83,250  

6.88%, 01/29/26(a)

    150       149,173  

7.45%, 04/30/44(a)

    100       89,900  
   

 

 

 
              851,698  
Ecuador — 0.6%            

Ecuador Government International Bond
0.00%, 07/31/30(a)(h)

    25       7,413  

2.50%, 07/31/40(a)(g)

    120       40,140  

6.00%, 07/31/30(a)(g)

    155       78,507  

6.90%, 07/31/35(a)(g)

    300       113,700  
   

 

 

 
      239,760  
Egypt — 1.7%            

Egypt Government International Bond
6.59%, 02/21/28(a)

    200       127,000  

7.60%, 03/01/29(a)

    200       124,000  

7.63%, 05/29/32(a)

    200       114,000  

8.88%, 05/29/50(a)

    200       105,500  

Egyptian Financial Co. for Sovereign Taskeek (The), 10.88%, 02/28/26(a)

    200       184,750  
   

 

 

 
      655,250  
El Salvador — 0.2%            

El Salvador Government International Bond, 7.12%, 01/20/50(Call 07/20/49)(a)

    150       93,300  
   

 

 

 

Ghana — 0.3%

   

Ghana Government International Bond, 8.13%, 03/26/32(a)(i)(j)

    300       126,750  
   

 

 

 

Hungary — 1.3%

   

Hungary Government International Bond
5.25%, 06/16/29(a)

    300       282,513  

6.75%, 09/25/52(a)

    200       185,000  

7.63%, 03/29/41

    40       40,988  
   

 

 

 
      508,501  
India — 0.4%            

Export-Import Bank of India, 3.25%, 01/15/30(a)

    200       168,382  
   

 

 

 

Indonesia — 2.3%

   

Indonesia Government International Bond
3.70%, 10/30/49

    200       135,180  

3.85%, 10/15/30

    200       177,668  

4.55%, 01/11/28 (Call 12/11/27)

    200       192,126  

4.85%, 01/11/33 (Call 10/11/32)

    200       186,460  

Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN Indonesia III, 1.50%, 06/09/26(a)

    200       179,820  
   

 

 

 
      871,254  
Jamaica — 0.6%            

Jamaica Government International Bond, 8.00%, 03/15/39

    200       221,300  
   

 

 

 

Jordan — 0.4%

   

Jordan Government International Bond, 5.85%, 07/07/30(a)

    200       168,750  
   

 

 

 

Kazakhstan — 0.5%

   

Kazakhstan Government International Bond, 6.50%, 07/21/45(a)

    200       196,000  
   

 

 

 

 

 

12  

2 0 2 3   H A R E S   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Kenya — 0.4%

   

Republic of Kenya Government International Bond, 8.00%, 05/22/32(a)

  $         200     $       156,750  
   

 

 

 

Kuwait — 0.5%

   

Kuwait International Government Bond, 3.50%, 03/20/27(a)

    200       189,317  
   

 

 

 

Lebanon — 0.1%

   

Lebanon Government International Bond
0.00%, 11/27/26(a)(h)(i)(j)

    200       11,738  

6.65%, 02/26/30(a)(i)(j)

    150       9,206  
   

 

 

 
      20,944  
Mexico — 1.4%            

Mexico Government International Bond
4.28%, 08/14/41 (Call 02/14/41)

    200       142,100  

5.00%, 04/27/51 (Call 10/27/50)

    200       146,804  

5.55%, 01/21/45(d)

    50       41,375  

6.35%, 02/09/35 (Call 11/09/34)

    200       190,600  
   

 

 

 
      520,879  
Morocco — 0.4%            

Morocco Government International Bond, 3.00%, 12/15/32(a)

    200       149,250  
   

 

 

 

Nigeria — 1.3%

   

Nigeria Government International Bond
7.70%, 02/23/38(a)

    200       142,000  

8.38%, 03/24/29(a)

    200       174,750  

8.75%, 01/21/31(a)

    200       171,250  
   

 

 

 
      488,000  
Oman — 2.3%            

Oman Government International Bond
5.63%, 01/17/28(a)

    300       289,128  

6.00%, 08/01/29(a)

    200       194,000  

6.75%, 10/28/27(a)

    200       201,687  

6.75%, 01/17/48(a)

    200       178,250  
   

 

 

 
      863,065  
Pakistan — 0.3%            

Pakistan Global Sukuk Programme Co. Ltd. (The), 7.95%, 01/31/29(a)

    200       118,856  
   

 

 

 

Panama — 1.9%

   

Panama Government International Bond
2.25%, 09/29/32 (Call 06/29/32)

    300       202,800  

3.16%, 01/23/30 (Call 10/23/29)

    200       160,400  

3.87%, 07/23/60 (Call 01/23/60)

    200       104,400  

4.50%, 05/15/47 (Call 11/15/46)

    200       128,500  

4.50%, 04/16/50 (Call 10/16/49)

    200       124,300  
   

 

 

 
      720,400  
Peru — 1.4%            

Peruvian Government International Bond
2.78%, 01/23/31 (Call 10/23/30)

    200       160,200  

3.00%, 01/15/34 (Call 10/15/33)

    100       75,450  

3.30%, 03/11/41 (Call 09/11/40)

    50       33,025  

3.55%, 03/10/51 (Call 09/10/50)

    50       31,275  

3.60%, 01/15/72 (Call 07/15/71)

    100       56,400  

5.63%, 11/18/50

    200       176,200  
   

 

 

 
      532,550  
Philippines — 2.6%            

Philippine Government International Bond
1.65%, 06/10/31

    200       149,536  

3.00%, 02/01/28

    200       180,230  
Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Philippines (continued)

   

3.20%, 07/06/46

  $ 200     $ 125,386  

3.75%, 01/14/29

    200       183,564  

3.95%, 01/20/40

    200       152,766  

6.38%, 10/23/34

    100       102,646  

10.63%, 03/16/25

    100       106,573  
   

 

 

 
      1,000,701  
Poland — 1.1%            

Republic of Poland Government International Bond
3.25%, 04/06/26

    60       56,818  

4.88%, 10/04/33 (Call 07/04/33)

    100       92,487  

5.50%, 11/16/27 (Call 08/16/27)

    70       70,285  

5.50%, 04/04/53 (Call 10/04/52)

    130       114,201  

5.75%, 11/16/32 (Call 08/16/32)

    70       69,274  
   

 

 

 
      403,065  
Qatar — 2.4%            

Qatar Government International Bond
3.40%, 04/16/25(a)

    300       289,950  

3.75%, 04/16/30(a)

    200       182,500  

4.40%, 04/16/50(a)

    200       154,125  

5.10%, 04/23/48(a)

    200       170,812  

9.75%, 06/15/30(a)

    100       123,214  
   

 

 

 
      920,601  
Romania — 1.3%            

Romanian Government International Bond
3.00%, 02/14/31(a)

    100       79,000  

3.63%, 03/27/32(a)

    100       78,952  

5.25%, 11/25/27(a)

    150       144,897  

6.13%, 01/22/44(a)

    100       86,030  

7.63%, 01/17/53(a)

    100       97,601  
   

 

 

 
      486,480  
Saudi Arabia — 2.8%            

Saudi Government International Bond
3.25%, 10/26/26(a)

    200       187,000  

3.63%, 03/04/28(a)

    200       184,750  

4.38%, 04/16/29(a)

    200       187,500  

4.50%, 10/26/46(a)

    200       149,750  

5.00%, 04/17/49(a)

    200       158,750  

5.50%, 10/25/32(a)

    200       195,750  
   

 

 

 
          1,063,500  
Senegal — 0.4%            

Senegal Government International Bond, 6.25%, 05/23/33(a)

            200       158,250  
   

 

 

 

South Africa — 1.2%

   

Republic of South Africa Government International Bond
4.85%, 09/27/27

    200       184,250  

5.00%, 10/12/46

    200       121,000  

5.88%, 04/20/32

    200       168,750  
   

 

 

 
      474,000  
South Korea — 1.0%            

Korea Electric Power Corp., 5.38%, 04/06/26(a)

    200       198,658  

Korea Gas Corp., 3.88%, 07/13/27(a)

    200       188,056  
   

 

 

 
      386,714  
Sri Lanka — 0.5%            

Sri Lanka Government International Bond, 6.20%, 05/11/27(a)(i)(j)

    400       198,036  
   

 

 

 

Supranational — 0.8%

   

Africa Finance Corp., 3.75%, 10/30/29(a)

    200       161,368  

 

 

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

  13


 

 

Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security   Par
(000)
    Value  

Supranational (continued)

   

African Export-Import Bank (The), 3.99%, 09/21/29 (Call 06/23/29)(a)

  $         200     $ 161,618  
   

 

 

 
      322,986  
Turkey — 3.5%            

Hazine Mustesarligi Varlik Kiralama AS, 9.76%, 11/13/25(a)

    200       206,500  

Turkey Government International Bond
4.75%, 01/26/26

    200       187,500  

5.25%, 03/13/30

    200       165,000  

5.75%, 05/11/47

    200       130,250  

6.00%, 03/25/27

    200       187,750  

8.00%, 02/14/34

    50       46,687  

9.38%, 01/19/33

    200       199,750  

9.88%, 01/15/28

    200       209,250  
   

 

 

 
          1,332,687  
Ukraine — 0.5%            

Ukraine Government International Bond
7.25%, 03/15/35(a)(i)(j)

    200       50,300  

7.75%, 09/01/24(a)(i)(j)

    150       42,729  

7.75%, 09/01/26(a)(i)(j)

    100       28,000  

9.75%, 11/01/30(a)(i)(j)

    200       58,000  
   

 

 

 
      179,029  
United Arab Emirates — 1.8%            

Abu Dhabi Government International Bond
1.88%, 09/15/31(a)

    200       155,746  

3.13%, 10/11/27(a)

    200       184,184  

4.13%, 10/11/47(a)

    200       148,938  

UAE International Government Bond, 4.05%, 07/07/32(a)

    200       182,062  
   

 

 

 
      670,930  
Uruguay — 1.2%            

Uruguay Government International Bond
4.38%, 10/27/27

    110       108,644  

4.38%, 01/23/31 (Call 10/23/30)

    100       94,312  

4.98%, 04/20/55

    110       91,630  

5.10%, 06/18/50

    200       172,400  
   

 

 

 
      466,986  

Total Foreign Government Obligations — 49.8%
(Cost: $20,067,154)

 

    19,066,100  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 97.8%
(Cost: $39,337,529)

      37,415,306  
   

 

 

 
Security       
Shares
    Value  

Short-Term Securities

 

Money Market Funds — 1.5%

   

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 5.33%(k)(l)(m)

    590,000     $ 590,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 1.5%
(Cost: $590,000)

      590,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 99.3%
(Cost: $39,927,529)

      38,005,306  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 0.7%

      260,636  
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $   38,265,942  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

This security may be resold to qualified foreign investors and foreign institutional buyers under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933.

(b) 

Perpetual security with no stated maturity date.

(c) 

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

(d) 

All or a portion of this security is on loan.

(e) 

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

(f) 

U.S. dollar denominated security issued by foreign domiciled entity.

(g) 

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

(h) 

Zero-coupon bond.

(i) 

Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default.

(j) 

Non-income producing security.

(k) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(l) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

(m) 

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 period ended October 31, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer     
Value at
02/22/23
 
(a) 
    
Purchases
at Cost
 
 
    
Proceeds
from Sale
 
 
    
Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
 
 
    


Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
 
 
 
    
Value at
10/31/23
 
 
    

Shares
Held at
10/31/23
 
 
 
     Income       





Capital

Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds

 


 
 
 
 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

   $      $ 590,000 (b)     $      $      $      $ 590,000        590,000      $ 16,932 (c)     $  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Commencement of operations.

  (b) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

  (c) 

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.

 

 

14  

2 0 2 3   H A R E S   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond 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

                   

Corporate Bonds & Notes

     $        $ 18,349,206        $        $ 18,349,206  

Foreign Government Obligations

                19,066,100                   19,066,100  

Short-Term Securities

                   

Money Market Funds

            590,000                                 —          590,000  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $     590,000        $ 37,415,306        $             —        $ 38,005,306  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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

  15


Schedule of Investments

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

   
Azerbaijan — 0.4%            

Southern Gas Corridor CJSC, 6.88%, 03/24/26(a)

  $       43,957     $ 43,258,523  
   

 

 

 
Bahrain — 0.2%            

Oil and Gas Holding Co. BSCC (The), 7.50%, 10/25/27(a)

    22,421       22,505,079  
   

 

 

 
British Virgin Islands — 0.2%            

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2015 Ltd., 3.25%, 04/28/25(a)

    19,674       18,964,752  
   

 

 

 
Chile — 0.9%            

Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile

   

3.00%, 09/30/29 (Call 06/30/29)(a)

    15,354       12,720,175  

3.15%, 01/14/30 (Call 10/14/29)(a)

    13,900       11,460,550  

3.63%, 08/01/27 (Call 05/01/27)(a)

    17,704       16,128,344  

3.70%, 01/30/50 (Call 07/30/49)(a)

    37,833       22,207,971  

4.38%, 02/05/49 (Call 08/05/48)(a)

    18,138       12,261,288  

4.50%, 08/01/47 (Call 02/01/47)(a)

    17,304       11,887,848  

5.95%, 01/08/34 (Call 10/08/33)(b)

    17,550       16,303,950  

5.95%, 01/08/34 (Call 10/08/33)(a)

    800       743,200  

Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro SA, 4.70%, 05/07/50 (Call 11/07/49)(a)

    14,112       10,124,654  
   

 

 

 
      113,837,980  
China — 1.9%            

CNAC HK Finbridge Co. Ltd.

   

3.00%, 09/22/30(a)

    14,243       11,445,675  

4.13%, 07/19/27(a)

    13,851       12,861,346  

5.13%, 03/14/28(a)

    24,445       23,315,641  

Minmetals Bounteous Finance BVI Ltd., 3.38%, (Call 09/03/24), (5-year CMT + 5.209%)(a)(c)(d)

    13,674       13,339,944  

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2012 Ltd., 4.88%, 05/17/42(a)

    14,213       12,151,404  

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2017 Ltd., 3.63%, 04/12/27(a)

    14,522       13,636,013  

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2018 Ltd.

   

1.45%, 01/08/26(a)

    15,895       14,573,649  

2.15%, 05/13/25 (Call 04/13/25)(a)

    12,376       11,699,528  

2.30%, 01/08/31 (Call 10/08/30)(a)

    16,786       13,577,524  

2.70%, 05/13/30 (Call 02/13/30)(a)

    20,928       17,673,696  

2.95%, 11/12/29 (Call 08/12/29)(a)

    14,203       12,342,691  

SPIC MTN Co. Ltd., 1.63%, 07/27/25(a)

    13,642       12,693,744  

State Grid Overseas Investment 2016 Ltd., 3.50%, 05/04/27(a)

    33,469       31,318,617  

State Grid Overseas Investment BVI Ltd., 1.63%, 08/05/30 (Call 05/05/30)(a)

    16,456       12,800,958  

Three Gorges Finance I Cayman Islands Ltd., 3.15%, 06/02/26(a)

    13,656       12,873,375  
   

 

 

 
          226,303,805  
Hong Kong — 0.2%            

China Life Insurance Overseas Co. Ltd., 5.35%, 08/15/33,
(5-year CMT + 1.232%)(a)(d)

    27,800       26,993,800  
   

 

 

 
Indonesia — 1.0%            

Indonesia Asahan Aluminium Persero PT

   

4.75%, 05/15/25 (Call 04/15/25)(a)

    9,059       8,846,114  

5.45%, 05/15/30 (Call 02/15/30)(a)

    9,482       8,763,359  

Pelabuhan Indonesia Persero PT, 4.25%, 05/05/25(a)

    9,080       8,783,901  

Pertamina Persero PT 1.40%, 02/09/26 (Call 01/09/26)(a)

    8,874       7,992,279  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  
Indonesia (continued)            

4.18%, 01/21/50 (Call 07/21/49)(a)

  $ 9,163     $ 6,095,594  

5.63%, 05/20/43(a)

          13,635       11,497,441  

6.00%, 05/03/42(a)

    11,615       10,233,163  

6.45%, 05/30/44(a)

    13,741       12,667,278  

Perusahaan Listrik Negara PT, 4.13%, 05/15/27(a)

    13,683       12,820,629  

Perusahaan Perseroan Persero PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara

   

4.00%, 06/30/50 (Call 12/30/49)(a)

    9,661       5,876,690  

5.25%, 10/24/42(a)

    9,475       7,399,312  

5.45%, 05/21/28(a)

    9,106       8,823,168  

6.15%, 05/21/48(a)

    9,242       7,832,595  
   

 

 

 
          117,631,523  
Malaysia — 1.7%            

Petronas Capital Ltd. 2.48%, 01/28/32 (Call 10/28/31)(a)

    27,499       21,344,999  

3.40%, 04/28/61 (Call 10/28/60)(a)

    37,737       21,827,458  

3.50%, 03/18/25(a)

    32,123       31,115,944  

3.50%, 04/21/30 (Call 01/21/30)(a)

    48,856       42,464,169  

4.50%, 03/18/45(a)

    32,586       25,477,690  

4.55%, 04/21/50 (Call 10/21/49)(a)

    59,411       45,571,802  

4.80%, 04/21/60 (Call 10/21/59)(a)

    21,239       16,493,995  
   

 

 

 
      204,296,057  
Mexico — 2.5%            

Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior SNC/Cayman Islands, 4.38%, 10/14/25(a)

    6,983       6,732,101  

Comision Federal de Electricidad, 4.69%, 05/15/29 (Call 03/15/29)(a)

    8,818       7,803,930  

Mexico City Airport Trust, 5.50%, 07/31/47 (Call 01/31/47)(a)

    15,482       11,015,598  

Petroleos Mexicanos

   

4.50%, 01/23/26

    8,135       7,278,059  

5.35%, 02/12/28

    14,383       11,554,583  

5.95%, 01/28/31 (Call 10/28/30)

    27,725       19,629,300  

6.35%, 02/12/48

    11,619       6,346,879  

6.38%, 01/23/45

    8,814       4,935,840  

6.49%, 01/23/27 (Call 11/23/26)

    11,274       9,956,520  

6.50%, 03/13/27

    28,832       25,323,578  

6.50%, 01/23/29

    8,621       6,959,302  

6.50%, 06/02/41

    11,479       6,719,233  

6.63%, 06/15/35

    20,185       13,271,638  

6.70%, 02/16/32 (Call 11/16/31)

    50,167       36,621,910  

6.75%, 09/21/47

    41,026       23,220,716  

6.84%, 01/23/30 (Call 10/23/29)

    17,377       13,493,241  

6.88%, 08/04/26

    18,412       16,906,819  

6.95%, 01/28/60 (Call 07/28/59)

    27,973       15,839,711  

7.69%, 01/23/50 (Call 07/23/49)

    59,599       36,802,382  

8.75%, 06/02/29 (Call 04/02/29)

    14,077       12,372,444  

10.00%, 02/07/33

    14,920       13,301,180  
   

 

 

 
      306,084,964  
Netherlands — 0.1%            

MDGH GMTN RSC Ltd., 3.70%, 11/07/49 (Call 05/07/49)(a)

    14,479       9,610,436  
   

 

 

 
Oman — 0.2%            

EDO Sukuk Ltd.

   

5.88%, 09/21/33(b)

    20,650       19,808,512  

5.88%, 09/21/33(a)

    250       239,813  
   

 

 

 
      20,048,325  

 

 

16  

2 0 2 3   H A R E S   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Panama — 0.2%

   

Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen SA, 5.13%, 08/11/61 (Call 08/11/60)(a)

  $         22,433     $         14,980,309  

Banco Nacional de Panama, 2.50%, 08/11/30 (Call 05/11/30)(a)

    16,550       12,207,776  
   

 

 

 
      27,188,085  
Peru — 0.3%            

Petroleos del Peru SA 4.75%, 06/19/32(a)

    20,313       13,507,942  

5.63%, 06/19/47(a)

    40,826       22,268,134  
   

 

 

 
      35,776,076  
Philippines — 0.1%            

Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corp., 7.39%, 12/02/24(a)

    16,417       16,595,945  
   

 

 

 

Qatar — 0.8%

   

Qatar Energy
1.38%, 09/12/26 (Call 08/12/26)(a)

    17,118       15,113,140  

2.25%, 07/12/31 (Call 04/12/31)(a)

    40,407       31,542,714  

Qatar Petroleum
3.13%, 07/12/41 (Call 01/12/41)(a)

    40,331       26,467,219  

3.30%, 07/12/51 (Call 01/12/51)(a)

    46,117       28,088,135  
   

 

 

 
      101,211,208  
Saudi Arabia — 0.5%            

Gaci First Investment Co.
4.75%, 02/14/30 (Call 01/14/30)(a)

    13,959       13,104,011  

4.88%, 02/14/35 (Call 11/14/34)(a)

    16,205       14,321,169  

5.00%, 10/13/27 (Call 09/13/27)(a)

    10,004       9,700,754  

5.13%, 02/14/53 (Call 08/14/52)(a)

    13,812       10,652,505  

5.25%, 10/13/32 (Call 07/13/32)(a)

    9,987       9,475,166  

Suci Second Investment Co.
6.00%, 10/25/28(a)

    5,000       5,026,751  

6.25%, 10/25/33(a)

    5,000       5,106,936  
   

 

 

 
      67,387,292  
South Africa — 0.5%            

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
6.35%, 08/10/28(a)

    20,328       18,396,840  

7.13%, 02/11/25(a)

    25,381       24,873,380  

Transnet SOC Ltd., 8.25%, 02/06/28(a)

    20,350       19,230,750  
   

 

 

 
      62,500,970  
United Arab Emirates — 1.2%            

Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline LLC, 4.60%, 11/02/47(a)

    21,353       17,269,239  

DP World Crescent Ltd.
3.88%, 07/18/29(a)

    9,308       8,249,215  

4.85%, 09/26/28(a)

    9,608       9,085,565  

5.50%, 09/13/33(a)

    9,200       8,661,800  

DP World Ltd./United Arab Emirates
5.63%, 09/25/48(a)

    12,551       10,294,330  

6.85%, 07/02/37(a)

    17,000       16,745,000  

DP World Salaam, 6.00%, (Call 10/01/25), (5-year CMT + 5.750%)(a)(c)(d)

    14,273       13,934,159  

MDGH GMTN RSC Ltd.
2.50%, 05/21/26 (Call 04/21/26)(a)

    9,769       9,011,902  

2.88%, 11/07/29 (Call 08/07/29)(a)

    9,140       7,823,269  

2.88%, 05/21/30 (Call 02/21/30)(a)

    9,197       7,781,950  

3.38%, 03/28/32 (Call 12/28/31)(a)

    9,110       7,669,481  

3.40%, 06/07/51 (Call 12/07/50)(a)

    9,009       5,585,580  

3.95%, 05/21/50 (Call 11/21/49)(a)

    18,472       12,814,950  

4.38%, 11/22/33 (Call 08/22/33)(a)

    9,134       8,083,590  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

United Arab Emirates (continued)

   

5.50%, 04/28/33 (Call 01/28/33)(a)

  $         9,084     $ 8,788,770  
   

 

 

 
              151,798,800  
Venezuela — 0.2%            

Petroleos de Venezuela SA
0.00%, 02/17/22(a)(e)(f)

    14,002       2,135,351  

0.00%, 05/16/24(a)(e)(f)

    32,388       4,113,199  

0.00%, 04/12/37(a)(e)(f)

    22,444       3,154,532  

5.38%, 04/12/27(a)(e)(f)

    24,185       3,216,605  

6.00%, 11/15/26(a)(e)(f)

    30,450       3,851,971  

9.00%, 11/17/21(a)(e)(f)

    28,268       3,604,176  

9.75%, 05/17/35(a)(e)(f)

    31,912       4,467,592  
   

 

 

 
      24,543,426  
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes — 13.1%
(Cost: $2,097,501,652)

      1,596,537,046  
   

 

 

 

Foreign Government Obligations(g)

 

Angola — 1.1%

   

Angolan Government International Bond
8.00%, 11/26/29(a)

    37,411       29,928,800  

8.25%, 05/09/28(a)

    37,834       32,111,607  

8.75%, 04/14/32(a)

    37,724       29,519,030  

9.13%, 11/26/49(a)

    26,601       18,687,203  

9.38%, 05/08/48(a)

    37,950       27,039,375  
   

 

 

 
      137,286,015  
Argentina — 1.4%            

Argentine Republic Government International Bond
0.75%, 07/09/30 (Call 12/01/23)(h)

    161,676       44,945,909  

1.00%, 07/09/29 (Call 12/01/23)

    26,531       7,097,104  

3.50%, 07/09/41 (Call 12/01/23)(h)

    105,150       27,371,931  

3.63%, 07/09/35 (Call 12/01/23)(h)

    209,072       51,431,584  

3.63%, 07/09/46 (Call 12/01/23)(h)

    21,518       5,336,390  

5.00%, 01/09/38 (Call 12/01/23)(h)

    115,979       34,909,698  
   

 

 

 
      171,092,616  
Azerbaijan — 0.2%            

Republic of Azerbaijan International Bond, 3.50%, 09/01/32(a)

    23,884       18,665,346  
   

 

 

 

Bahrain — 2.7%

   

Bahrain Government International Bond
5.25%, 01/25/33(a)

    21,809       17,747,074  

5.45%, 09/16/32(a)

    21,992       18,500,770  

5.63%, 09/30/31(a)

    21,563       18,732,856  

5.63%, 05/18/34(a)

    21,445       17,558,094  

6.00%, 09/19/44(a)

    26,898       19,400,182  

6.75%, 09/20/29(a)

    27,818       26,809,597  

7.00%, 01/26/26(a)

    25,062       24,936,690  

7.00%, 10/12/28(a)

    35,085       34,865,719  

7.38%, 05/14/30(a)

    21,963       21,661,009  

7.75%, 04/18/35(a)

    21,877       21,001,920  

CBB International Sukuk Co. 7 SPC, 6.88%, 10/05/25(a)

    22,293       22,181,535  

CBB International Sukuk Programme Co.
3.88%, 05/18/29(a)

    22,198       18,896,048  

3.95%, 09/16/27(a)

    21,996       19,851,390  

4.50%, 03/30/27(a)

    21,821       20,211,701  

CBB International Sukuk Programme Co. WLL, 6.25%, 10/18/30(a)

    21,845       20,834,669  
   

 

 

 
      323,189,254  

 

 

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

  17


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Bolivia — 0.1%

   

Bolivian Government International Bond, 4.50%, 03/20/28(a)

  $ 22,048     $ 11,024,000  
   

 

 

 

Brazil — 3.7%

   

Brazilian Government International Bond
2.88%, 06/06/25

    24,577       23,339,794  

3.75%, 09/12/31

    21,412       17,739,842  

3.88%, 06/12/30

    51,343       44,063,076  

4.25%, 01/07/25

    61,843       60,394,637  

4.50%, 05/30/29 (Call 02/28/29)

    28,820       26,530,827  

4.63%, 01/13/28 (Call 10/13/27)

    43,376       41,346,003  

4.75%, 01/14/50 (Call 07/14/49)

    57,661       38,488,717  

5.00%, 01/27/45

    48,335       34,583,693  

5.63%, 01/07/41

    32,030       26,024,375  

5.63%, 02/21/47

    39,792       30,500,568  

6.00%, 04/07/26

    31,289       31,563,717  

6.00%, 10/20/33

    32,484       30,047,700  

7.13%, 01/20/37

    23,515       23,103,488  

8.25%, 01/20/34

            19,823       21,200,699  
   

 

 

 
              448,927,136  
Chile — 2.3%            

Chile Government International Bond
2.45%, 01/31/31 (Call 10/31/30)

    19,859       15,946,777  

2.55%, 01/27/32 (Call 10/27/31)

    20,612       16,190,726  

2.55%, 07/27/33 (Call 04/27/33)

    31,522       23,562,695  

2.75%, 01/31/27 (Call 12/31/26)

    20,322       18,544,231  

3.10%, 05/07/41 (Call 11/07/40)

    37,965       24,677,250  

3.10%, 01/22/61 (Call 07/22/60)

    28,408       15,184,076  

3.24%, 02/06/28 (Call 11/06/27)

    24,846       22,609,860  

3.25%, 09/21/71 (Call 03/21/71)

    13,948       7,392,440  

3.50%, 01/31/34 (Call 10/31/33)

    21,228       17,003,628  

3.50%, 01/25/50 (Call 07/25/49)

    32,573       20,537,277  

3.50%, 04/15/53 (Call 10/15/52)

    20,602       12,814,444  

3.86%, 06/21/47

    15,179       10,541,816  

4.00%, 01/31/52 (Call 07/31/51)

    14,238       9,788,625  

4.34%, 03/07/42 (Call 09/07/41)

    27,920       21,568,200  

4.95%, 01/05/36 (Call 10/05/35)

    23,655       20,993,640  

5.33%, 01/05/54 (Call 07/05/53)

    21,070       17,804,142  
   

 

 

 
      275,159,827  
China — 1.6%            

China Development Bank, 1.00%, 10/27/25(a)

    13,635       12,469,344  

China Government International Bond
0.55%, 10/21/25(a)

    31,650       28,860,685  

1.20%, 10/21/30(a)

    28,126       22,011,689  

1.25%, 10/26/26(a)

    20,339       18,198,320  

1.75%, 10/26/31(a)

    14,378       11,421,021  

1.95%, 12/03/24(a)

    26,669       25,676,913  

2.13%, 12/03/29(a)

    27,558       23,618,308  

2.63%, 11/02/27(a)

    13,258       12,145,521  

3.50%, 10/19/28(a)

    13,550       12,683,613  

Export-Import Bank of China (The)
2.88%, 04/26/26(a)

    13,658       12,897,113  

3.88%, 05/16/26(a)

    20,786       20,159,926  
   

 

 

 
      200,142,453  
Colombia — 3.1%            

Colombia Government International Bond
3.00%, 01/30/30 (Call 10/30/29)

    22,688       17,424,384  

3.13%, 04/15/31 (Call 01/15/31)

    38,416       28,293,384  

3.25%, 04/22/32 (Call 01/22/32)

    30,636       21,843,468  

3.88%, 04/25/27 (Call 01/25/27)

    28,991       26,352,819  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Colombia (continued)

   

3.88%, 02/15/61 (Call 08/15/60)

  $ 20,016     $ 10,228,176  

4.13%, 02/22/42 (Call 08/22/41)

    13,976       8,280,780  

4.13%, 05/15/51 (Call 11/15/50)

    23,074       12,690,700  

4.50%, 01/28/26 (Call 10/28/25)

    22,808       21,845,502  

4.50%, 03/15/29 (Call 12/15/28)

    30,752       26,661,984  

5.00%, 06/15/45 (Call 12/15/44)

    68,545       43,526,075  

5.20%, 05/15/49 (Call 11/15/48)

    43,028       27,387,322  

5.63%, 02/26/44 (Call 08/26/43)

    38,208       26,535,456  

6.13%, 01/18/41

    38,420       29,199,200  

7.38%, 09/18/37

    28,209       25,317,578  

7.50%, 02/02/34 (Call 11/02/33)

    33,533       31,269,522  

8.00%, 04/20/33 (Call 01/20/33)

            24,652       23,998,722  
   

 

 

 
              380,855,072  
Costa Rica — 0.8%            

Costa Rica Government International Bond
6.13%, 02/19/31(a)

    26,230       24,918,500  

7.00%, 04/04/44(a)

    21,992       20,133,676  

7.16%, 03/12/45(a)

    28,538       26,568,878  

Costa Rica Government International Bonds, 6.55%, 04/03/34
(Call 01/03/34)(a)

    32,967       31,335,134  
   

 

 

 
      102,956,188  
Dominican Republic — 3.3%            

Dominican Republic International Bond
4.50%, 01/30/30(a)

    37,890       32,035,995  

4.88%, 09/23/32(a)

    57,682       46,635,897  

5.30%, 01/21/41(a)

    27,921       20,270,646  

5.50%, 01/27/25(a)

    23,478       23,034,735  

5.50%, 02/22/29 (Call 12/22/28)(a)

    33,100       30,104,450  

5.88%, 01/30/60(a)

    59,878       42,453,502  

5.95%, 01/25/27(a)

    31,469       30,238,877  

6.00%, 07/19/28(a)

    24,146       22,817,970  

6.00%, 02/22/33 (Call 11/22/32)(a)

    32,838       28,881,021  

6.40%, 06/05/49(a)

    28,467       22,261,194  

6.50%, 02/15/48(a)

    18,883       14,993,102  

6.85%, 01/27/45(a)

    37,498       31,217,085  

6.88%, 01/29/26(a)

    29,813       29,648,731  

7.45%, 04/30/44(a)

    28,215       25,365,285  
   

 

 

 
      399,958,490  
Ecuador — 1.1%            

Ecuador Government International Bond
0.00%, 07/31/30(a)(i)

    21,710       6,437,050  

2.50%, 07/31/40(a)(h)

    65,878       22,036,048  

6.00%, 07/31/30(a)(h)

    75,610       38,296,247  

6.90%, 07/31/35(a)(h)

    162,714       61,668,710  
   

 

 

 
      128,438,055  
Egypt — 2.3%            

Egypt Government International Bond
5.80%, 09/30/27(a)

    22,282       14,204,775  

5.88%, 06/11/25(a)

    29,814       24,011,897  

5.88%, 02/16/31(a)

    29,733       16,241,651  

6.59%, 02/21/28(a)

    24,569       15,601,315  

7.05%, 01/15/32(a)

    19,716       11,139,540  

7.30%, 09/30/33(a)

    22,888       12,588,400  

7.50%, 01/31/27(a)

    38,810       26,778,900  

7.50%, 02/16/61(a)

    29,709       14,631,683  

7.60%, 03/01/29(a)

    34,802       21,577,240  

7.63%, 05/29/32(a)

    35,061       19,984,770  

7.90%, 02/21/48(a)

    29,816       15,094,350  

8.50%, 01/31/47(a)

    50,002       25,928,537  

8.70%, 03/01/49(a)

    29,652       15,530,235  

 

 

18  

2 0 2 3   H A R E S   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Egypt (continued)

   

8.88%, 05/29/50(a)

  $         39,642     $ 20,911,155  

Egyptian Financial Co. for Sovereign Taskeek (The), 10.88%, 02/28/26(a)

    29,858       27,581,328  
   

 

 

 
              281,805,776  
El Salvador — 0.4%            

El Salvador Government International Bond
7.12%, 01/20/50 (Call 07/20/49)(a)

    24,633       15,321,726  

7.65%, 06/15/35(a)

    21,490       14,903,315  

9.50%, 07/15/52 (Call 01/15/52)(a)

    21,885       16,063,590  
   

 

 

 
      46,288,631  
Ethiopia — 0.1%            

Ethiopia International Bond, 6.63%, 12/11/24(a)

    20,972       13,205,859  
   

 

 

 

Ghana — 0.8%

   

Ghana Government International Bond
6.38%, 02/11/27(a)(e)(f)

    27,475       11,951,625  

7.63%, 05/16/29(a)(e)(f)

    21,970       9,447,100  

7.75%, 04/07/29(a)(e)(f)

    21,969       9,474,131  

7.88%, 02/11/35(a)(e)(f)

    22,123       9,595,851  

8.13%, 01/18/26(a)(e)(f)

    21,823       9,574,657  

8.13%, 03/26/32(a)(e)(f)

    27,605       11,663,113  

8.63%, 04/07/34(a)(e)(f)

    22,024       9,497,850  

8.63%, 06/16/49(a)(e)(f)

    22,097       9,225,498  

8.95%, 03/26/51(a)(e)(f)

    21,795       9,153,900  

10.75%, 10/14/30(a)(e)(f)

    21,881       13,620,922  
   

 

 

 
      103,204,647  
Guatemala — 0.4%            

Guatemala Government Bond
6.13%, 06/01/50 (Call 12/01/49)(a)

    31,078       24,707,010  

6.60%, 06/13/36 (Call 03/13/36)(a)

    21,989       20,317,836  
   

 

 

 
      45,024,846  
Hungary — 2.5%            

Hungary Government International Bond
2.13%, 09/22/31(a)

    48,614       34,972,829  

3.13%, 09/21/51(a)

    43,379       22,906,715  

5.25%, 06/16/29(a)

    37,728       35,528,835  

5.50%, 06/16/34(a)

    27,021       24,045,899  

6.13%, 05/22/28(a)

    35,911       35,626,226  

6.25%, 09/22/32(a)

    39,083       37,543,520  

6.75%, 09/25/52(a)

    26,981       24,957,425  

7.63%, 03/29/41

    35,764       36,646,924  

Magyar Export-Import Bank Zrt, 6.13%, 12/04/27(Call 11/04/27)(a)

    26,898       26,290,105  

MFB Magyar Fejlesztesi Bank Zrt, 6.50%, 06/29/28(a)

    24,759       24,291,550  
   

 

 

 
      302,810,028  
India — 0.8%            

Export-Import Bank of India
2.25%, 01/13/31(a)

    21,902       16,728,529  

3.25%, 01/15/30(a)

    21,902       18,439,513  

3.38%, 08/05/26(a)

    22,186       20,830,879  

3.88%, 02/01/28(a)

    22,068       20,251,141  

5.50%, 01/18/33(a)

    21,985       20,595,988  
   

 

 

 
      96,846,050  
Indonesia — 4.1%            

Indonesia Government International Bond
1.85%, 03/12/31

    11,802       9,007,876  

2.15%, 07/28/31 (Call 04/28/31)

    11,085       8,552,521  

2.85%, 02/14/30

    11,504       9,723,641  

3.05%, 03/12/51

    19,005       11,599,322  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Indonesia (continued)

   

3.50%, 01/11/28

  $ 11,855     $ 10,895,693  

3.55%, 03/31/32 (Call 12/31/31)

    9,506       8,044,548  

3.70%, 10/30/49

    8,987       6,074,313  

3.85%, 07/18/27(a)

    9,475       8,883,950  

3.85%, 10/15/30

    15,310       13,600,485  

4.10%, 04/24/28

    9,475       8,881,960  

4.13%, 01/15/25(a)

    18,340       18,038,674  

4.20%, 10/15/50

    15,721       11,511,702  

4.35%, 01/08/27(a)

    11,495       11,034,855  

4.35%, 01/11/48

    16,484       12,541,192  

4.45%, 04/15/70

    9,528       6,945,721  

4.55%, 01/11/28 (Call 12/11/27)

    9,088       8,730,205  

4.63%, 04/15/43(a)

    13,083       10,843,583  

4.65%, 09/20/32 (Call 06/20/32)

    12,870       11,764,081  

4.75%, 01/08/26(a)

    19,220       18,897,681  

4.75%, 02/11/29

    11,488       10,982,873  

4.75%, 07/18/47(a)

    9,530       7,774,955  

4.85%, 01/11/33 (Call 10/11/32)

    11,827       11,026,312  

5.13%, 01/15/45(a)

    18,795       16,338,493  

5.25%, 01/17/42(a)

    21,540       19,343,997  

5.25%, 01/08/47(a)

    14,264       12,487,419  

5.35%, 02/11/49

    9,093       8,012,388  

5.95%, 01/08/46(a)

    11,898       11,345,219  

6.63%, 02/17/37(a)

    13,003       13,511,157  

6.75%, 01/15/44(a)

    18,539       19,339,514  

7.75%, 01/17/38(a)

    18,167       20,724,369  

8.50%, 10/12/35(a)

    14,635       17,459,555  

Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN Indonesia III
1.50%, 06/09/26(a)

    11,505       10,344,145  

2.55%, 06/09/31(a)

    8,998       7,196,960  

2.80%, 06/23/30(a)

    9,479       7,915,629  

4.15%, 03/29/27(a)

    18,342       17,442,141  

4.33%, 05/28/25(a)

    17,615       17,268,205  

4.40%, 06/06/27(a)

    15,842       15,150,180  

4.40%, 03/01/28(a)

    16,243       15,473,732  

4.45%, 02/20/29(a)

    11,554       10,929,622  

4.55%, 03/29/26(a)

    16,491       16,063,883  

4.70%, 06/06/32(a)

            13,283       12,332,203  
   

 

 

 
              504,034,954  
Iraq — 0.2%            

Iraq International Bond, 5.80%, 01/15/28 (Call 12/17/23)(a)

    33,598       29,835,307  
   

 

 

 

Ivory Coast — 0.2%

   

Ivory Coast Government International Bond, 6.13%, 06/15/33(a)

    27,492       22,474,710  
   

 

 

 

Jamaica — 0.9%

   

Jamaica Government International Bond
6.75%, 04/28/28

    31,034       31,409,511  

7.88%, 07/28/45

    39,797       42,542,993  

8.00%, 03/15/39

    27,197       30,093,481  
   

 

 

 
      104,045,985  
Jordan — 0.9%            

Jordan Government International Bond
5.75%, 01/31/27(a)

    21,978       19,780,200  

5.85%, 07/07/30(a)

    26,959       22,746,656  

6.13%, 01/29/26(a)

    21,787       20,180,209  

7.38%, 10/10/47(a)

    22,264       16,781,490  

7.50%, 01/13/29(a)

    27,386       25,366,282  
   

 

 

 
      104,854,837  

 

 

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

  19


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Kazakhstan — 0.9%

   

Kazakhstan Government International Bond
4.88%, 10/14/44(a)

  $         22,184     $ 18,246,340  

5.13%, 07/21/25(a)

    54,342       54,479,485  

6.50%, 07/21/45(a)

    33,169       32,505,620  
   

 

 

 
              105,231,445  
Kenya — 0.6%            

Republic of Kenya Government International Bond
6.30%, 01/23/34(a)

    21,920       15,015,200  

7.25%, 02/28/28(a)

    22,262       18,032,220  

8.00%, 05/22/32(a)

    26,464       20,741,160  

8.25%, 02/28/48(a)

    21,640       15,202,100  
   

 

 

 
      68,990,680  
Kuwait — 0.8%            

Kuwait International Government Bond, 3.50%, 03/20/27(a)

    98,289       93,038,893  
   

 

 

 

Lebanon — 0.1%

   

Lebanon Government International Bond
0.00%, 11/27/26(a)(e)(f)

    35,609       2,089,892  

6.00%, 01/27/23(a)(e)(f)

    25,132       1,530,790  

6.10%, 10/04/24(a)(e)(f)

    21,875       1,334,813  

6.65%, 02/26/30(a)(e)(f)

    31,017       1,903,513  

6.75%, 11/29/27(a)(e)(f)

    23,028       1,387,437  

6.85%, 03/23/27(a)(e)(f)

    28,409       1,731,480  

7.00%, 03/23/32(a)(e)(f)

    22,986       1,379,390  
   

 

 

 
      11,357,315  
Malaysia — 0.3%            

Malaysia Sovereign Sukuk Bhd, 3.04%, 04/22/25(a)

    21,647       20,931,567  

Malaysia Sukuk Global Bhd, 3.18%, 04/27/26(a)

    21,857       20,806,334  
   

 

 

 
      41,737,901  
Mexico — 3.2%            

Mexico Government International Bond
2.66%, 05/24/31 (Call 02/24/31)

    25,084       19,527,894  

3.25%, 04/16/30 (Call 01/16/30)

    16,270       13,699,340  

3.50%, 02/12/34 (Call 11/12/33)

    21,139       16,086,779  

3.75%, 01/11/28

    13,565       12,506,930  

3.75%, 04/19/71 (Call 10/19/70)

    22,597       12,371,857  

3.77%, 05/24/61 (Call 11/24/60)

    22,802       12,746,318  

4.13%, 01/21/26

    14,938       14,527,803  

4.15%, 03/28/27

    17,290       16,564,339  

4.28%, 08/14/41 (Call 02/14/41)

    18,332       13,024,886  

4.35%, 01/15/47

    9,345       6,303,203  

4.40%, 02/12/52 (Call 08/12/51)

    16,636       10,954,806  

4.50%, 04/22/29

    21,869       20,196,021  

4.50%, 01/31/50 (Call 07/31/49)

    14,353       9,824,629  

4.60%, 01/23/46

    17,156       12,103,558  

4.60%, 02/10/48

    13,564       9,426,980  

4.75%, 04/27/32 (Call 01/27/32)

    17,936       15,873,360  

4.75%, 03/08/44

    26,610       19,619,021  

4.88%, 05/19/33 (Call 02/19/33)

    16,305       14,307,637  

5.00%, 04/27/51 (Call 10/27/50)

    19,032       13,969,869  

5.40%, 02/09/28 (Call 01/09/28)

    8,849       8,680,869  

5.55%, 01/21/45

    20,418       16,895,895  

5.75%, 10/12/2110

    19,562       14,798,653  

6.05%, 01/11/40

    20,848       18,658,960  

6.34%, 05/04/53 (Call 11/04/52)

    21,427       18,566,495  

6.35%, 02/09/35 (Call 11/09/34)

    21,439       20,431,367  

6.75%, 09/27/34

    12,608       12,494,528  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Mexico (continued)

   

8.30%, 08/15/31

  $         8,376     $ 9,406,248  
   

 

 

 
              383,568,245  
Morocco — 0.7%            

Morocco Government International Bond
3.00%, 12/15/32(a)

    22,056       16,459,290  

4.00%, 12/15/50(a)

    27,607       16,322,639  

5.95%, 03/08/28(a)

    26,770       26,201,138  

6.50%, 09/08/33(a)

    27,527       26,391,511  
   

 

 

 
      85,374,578  
Nigeria — 2.0%            

Nigeria Government International Bond
6.13%, 09/28/28(a)

    27,133       22,045,563  

6.50%, 11/28/27(a)

    32,784       28,194,240  

7.14%, 02/23/30(a)

    27,216       21,806,820  

7.38%, 09/28/33(a)

    32,804       24,603,000  

7.63%, 11/21/25(a)

    24,223       23,496,310  

7.63%, 11/28/47(a)

    32,817       22,069,432  

7.70%, 02/23/38(a)

    27,438       19,480,980  

7.88%, 02/16/32(a)

    31,842       25,393,995  

8.25%, 09/28/51(a)

    27,301       19,076,574  

8.38%, 03/24/29(a)

    27,222       23,785,222  

8.75%, 01/21/31(a)

    21,432       18,351,150  
   

 

 

 
      248,303,286  
Oman — 3.4%            

Oman Government International Bond
4.75%, 06/15/26(a)

    48,496       46,503,784  

5.38%, 03/08/27(a)

    32,679       31,576,084  

5.63%, 01/17/28(a)

    48,173       46,427,210  

6.00%, 08/01/29(a)

    44,034       42,712,980  

6.25%, 01/25/31(a)

    33,070       32,119,237  

6.50%, 03/08/47(a)

    40,430       35,073,025  

6.75%, 10/28/27(a)

    27,405       27,636,230  

6.75%, 01/17/48(a)

    55,831       49,759,379  

7.00%, 01/25/51(a)

    20,561       18,864,718  

7.38%, 10/28/32(a)

    20,060       20,812,250  

Oman Sovereign Sukuk Co.
4.88%, 06/15/30(a)

    35,811       33,438,521  

5.93%, 10/31/25(a)

    30,385       30,195,094  
   

 

 

 
      415,118,512  
Pakistan — 0.5%            

Pakistan Global Sukuk Programme Co. Ltd. (The), 7.95%, 01/31/29(a)

    22,026       13,089,611  

Pakistan Government International Bond
6.00%, 04/08/26(a)

    28,731       15,589,440  

6.88%, 12/05/27(a)

    32,850       17,154,270  

7.38%, 04/08/31(a)

    30,630       14,862,289  
   

 

 

 
      60,695,610  
Panama — 2.7%            

Panama Government International Bond
2.25%, 09/29/32 (Call 06/29/32)

    43,028       29,086,928  

3.16%, 01/23/30 (Call 10/23/29)

    27,122       21,751,844  

3.30%, 01/19/33 (Call 10/19/32)

    18,023       13,228,882  

3.75%, 03/16/25 (Call 12/16/24)

    21,040       20,251,000  

3.87%, 07/23/60 (Call 01/23/60)

    51,542       26,904,924  

3.88%, 03/17/28 (Call 12/17/27)

    21,273       19,060,608  

4.30%, 04/29/53

    30,480       18,150,840  

4.50%, 05/15/47 (Call 11/15/46)

    20,282       13,031,185  

4.50%, 04/16/50 (Call 10/16/49)

    42,894       26,658,621  

4.50%, 04/01/56 (Call 10/01/55)

    43,697       26,261,897  

4.50%, 01/19/63 (Call 07/19/62)

    26,701       15,566,683  

 

 

20  

2 0 2 3   H A R E S   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Panama (continued)

   

6.40%, 02/14/35 (Call 11/14/34)

  $         39,134     $ 35,572,806  

6.70%, 01/26/36

    35,138       32,695,909  

6.85%, 03/28/54 (Call 09/28/53)

    20,259       17,280,927  

6.88%, 01/31/36 (Call 10/31/35)

    10,900       10,218,750  
   

 

 

 
              325,721,804  
Paraguay — 0.5%            

Paraguay Government International Bond
4.95%, 04/28/31 (Call 01/28/31)(a)

    21,914       19,875,998  

5.40%, 03/30/50 (Call 09/30/49)(a)

    25,850       19,322,875  

6.10%, 08/11/44(a)

    22,208       18,565,888  
   

 

 

 
      57,764,761  
Peru — 2.5%            

Peruvian Government International Bond
1.86%, 12/01/32 (Call 09/01/32)

    20,062       14,113,617  

2.78%, 01/23/31 (Call 10/23/30)

    70,466       56,443,266  

2.78%, 12/01/60 (Call 06/01/60)

    40,700       20,370,350  

3.00%, 01/15/34 (Call 10/15/33)

    45,671       34,458,769  

3.23%, 07/28/2121 (Call 01/28/21)

    20,304       10,182,456  

3.30%, 03/11/41 (Call 09/11/40)

    25,547       16,873,794  

3.55%, 03/10/51 (Call 09/10/50)

    35,438       22,166,469  

3.60%, 01/15/72 (Call 07/15/71)

    20,366       11,486,424  

5.63%, 11/18/50

    52,067       45,871,027  

6.55%, 03/14/37

    23,002       23,128,511  

8.75%, 11/21/33

    44,391       51,767,009  
   

 

 

 
      306,861,692  
Philippines — 3.4%            

Philippine Government International Bond
1.65%, 06/10/31

    19,541       14,610,415  

2.46%, 05/05/30

    15,590       12,780,526  

2.65%, 12/10/45

    23,089       13,369,224  

2.95%, 05/05/45

    21,179       12,975,950  

3.00%, 02/01/28

    30,585       27,561,673  

3.20%, 07/06/46

    35,521       22,269,180  

3.70%, 03/01/41

    31,506       22,784,194  

3.70%, 02/02/42

    31,482       22,494,519  

3.75%, 01/14/29

    22,797       20,923,543  

3.95%, 01/20/40

    31,526       24,080,505  

4.20%, 03/29/47

    15,854       11,777,302  

5.00%, 07/17/33

    19,873       18,680,620  

5.00%, 01/13/37

    20,756       18,891,488  

5.50%, 03/30/26

    15,859       15,847,740  

5.50%, 01/17/48

    19,941       17,867,335  

6.38%, 01/15/32

    15,977       16,523,893  

6.38%, 10/23/34

    29,460       30,239,512  

7.75%, 01/14/31

    27,117       30,172,001  

9.50%, 02/02/30

    30,273       35,885,614  

10.63%, 03/16/25

    22,251       23,713,558  
   

 

 

 
      413,448,792  
Poland — 2.1%            

Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego
5.38%, 05/22/33(a)

    38,376       35,689,680  

6.25%, 10/31/28(a)

    8,500       8,595,625  

6.25%, 10/31/28(b)

    11,725       11,856,906  

Republic of Poland Government International Bond
3.25%, 04/06/26

    37,584       35,590,920  

4.88%, 10/04/33 (Call 07/04/33)

    54,601       50,498,827  

5.50%, 11/16/27 (Call 08/16/27)

    31,995       32,125,220  

5.50%, 04/04/53 (Call 10/04/52)

    53,843       47,299,460  

5.75%, 11/16/32 (Call 08/16/32)

    32,574       32,235,882  
   

 

 

 
      253,892,520  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Qatar — 3.2%

   

Qatar Government International Bond
3.25%, 06/02/26(a)

  $         40,508     $         38,371,608  

3.40%, 04/16/25(a)

    21,970       21,234,005  

3.75%, 04/16/30(a)

    34,475       31,458,438  

4.00%, 03/14/29(a)

    46,285       43,507,900  

4.40%, 04/16/50(a)

    58,319       44,942,079  

4.50%, 04/23/28(a)

    34,701       33,575,300  

4.63%, 06/02/46(a)

    22,976       18,703,900  

4.82%, 03/14/49(a)

    70,210       57,374,734  

5.10%, 04/23/48(a)

    69,092       59,008,886  

5.75%, 01/20/42(a)

    11,051       10,582,769  

6.40%, 01/20/40(a)

    11,489       11,840,851  

9.75%, 06/15/30(a)

    16,129       19,873,133  
   

 

 

 
      390,473,603  
Romania — 2.2%            

Romanian Government International Bond
3.00%, 02/27/27(a)

    28,884       26,129,044  

3.00%, 02/14/31(a)

    27,920       22,056,800  

3.63%, 03/27/32(a)

    23,816       18,803,208  

4.00%, 02/14/51(a)

    43,532       26,595,331  

5.13%, 06/15/48(a)

    26,178       19,351,039  

5.25%, 11/25/27(a)

    21,476       20,745,386  

6.00%, 05/25/34(a)

    21,862       19,880,866  

6.13%, 01/22/44(a)

    21,862       18,807,879  

6.63%, 02/17/28(a)

    30,750       30,785,670  

7.13%, 01/17/33(a)

    34,896       34,618,692  

7.63%, 01/17/53(a)

    27,284       26,629,367  
   

 

 

 
      264,403,282  
Saudi Arabia — 5.1%            

KSA Sukuk Ltd.
2.25%, 05/17/31(a)

    15,635       12,351,650  

2.97%, 10/29/29(a)

    19,919       17,254,834  

3.63%, 04/20/27(a)

    36,141       33,927,364  

4.27%, 05/22/29(a)

    24,321       22,800,937  

4.30%, 01/19/29(a)

    15,851       14,979,195  

4.51%, 05/22/33(a)

    24,521       22,252,808  

5.27%, 10/25/28(a)

    19,337       19,095,288  

Saudi Government International Bond
2.25%, 02/02/33(a)

    22,083       16,589,854  

2.50%, 02/03/27(a)

    10,461       9,480,281  

2.75%, 02/03/32(a)

    8,036       6,479,025  

2.90%, 10/22/25(a)

    18,049       17,063,886  

3.25%, 10/26/26(a)

    42,076       39,341,060  

3.25%, 10/22/30(a)

    13,059       11,181,769  

3.25%, 11/17/51(a)

    10,037       5,821,460  

3.45%, 02/02/61(a)

    18,124       10,511,920  

3.63%, 03/04/28(a)

    41,265       38,118,544  

3.75%, 01/21/55(a)

    22,404       14,114,520  

4.00%, 04/17/25(a)

    33,689       32,733,917  

4.38%, 04/16/29(a)

    32,437       30,409,687  

4.50%, 04/17/30(a)

    23,932       22,376,420  

4.50%, 10/26/46(a)

    52,206       39,089,242  

4.50%, 04/22/60(a)

    24,431       17,651,398  

4.63%, 10/04/47(a)

    36,473       27,445,932  

4.75%, 01/18/28(a)

    26,582       25,718,085  

4.88%, 07/18/33(a)

    27,256       25,382,150  

5.00%, 04/17/49(a)

    28,230       22,407,562  

5.00%, 01/18/53(a)

    26,537       20,997,401  

5.25%, 01/16/50(a)

    29,291       24,091,847  

 

 

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

  21


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Saudi Arabia (continued)

   

5.50%, 10/25/32(a)

  $         19,596     $ 19,179,585  
   

 

 

 
              618,847,621  
Senegal — 0.3%            

Senegal Government International Bond
6.25%, 05/23/33(a)

    24,246       19,184,648  

6.75%, 03/13/48(a)

    22,324       14,789,650  
   

 

 

 
      33,974,298  
Serbia — 0.3%            

Serbia International Bond
2.13%, 12/01/30(a)

    26,552       19,431,284  

6.50%, 09/26/33(a)

    22,173       20,795,170  
   

 

 

 
      40,226,454  
South Africa — 2.6%            

Republic of South Africa Government International Bond
4.30%, 10/12/28

    40,917       35,188,620  

4.85%, 09/27/27

    20,267       18,670,974  

4.85%, 09/30/29

    41,379       35,120,426  

4.88%, 04/14/26

    24,760       23,522,000  

5.00%, 10/12/46

    20,451       12,372,855  

5.38%, 07/24/44

    20,708       13,667,280  

5.65%, 09/27/47

    30,691       19,949,150  

5.75%, 09/30/49

    61,007       39,654,550  

5.88%, 09/16/25

    41,389       40,796,723  

5.88%, 06/22/30

    28,776       25,214,970  

5.88%, 04/20/32

    28,464       24,016,500  

7.30%, 04/20/52

    32,438       25,261,093  
   

 

 

 
      313,435,141  
Sri Lanka — 0.8%            

Sri Lanka Government International Bond
6.20%, 05/11/27(a)(e)(f)

    32,810       16,243,903  

6.75%, 04/18/28(a)(e)(f)

    27,544       13,678,901  

6.83%, 07/18/26(a)(e)(f)

    21,979       11,268,414  

6.85%, 03/14/24(a)(e)(f)

    22,144       11,353,893  

6.85%, 11/03/25(a)(e)(f)

    32,600       16,694,134  

7.55%, 03/28/30(a)(e)(f)

    32,782       16,273,968  

7.85%, 03/14/29(a)(e)(f)

    30,872       15,273,613  
   

 

 

 
      100,786,826  
Trinidad And Tobago — 0.2%            

Trinidad & Tobago Government International Bond, 4.50%, 08/04/26(a)

    21,900       20,836,755  
   

 

 

 

Tunisia — 0.1%

   

Tunisian Republic, 5.75%, 01/30/25(a)

    21,923       15,154,274  
   

 

 

 

Turkey — 5.1%

   

Hazine Mustesarligi Varlik Kiralama AS
5.13%, 06/22/26(a)

    23,080       21,406,700  

7.25%, 02/24/27(a)

    27,565       26,692,568  

9.76%, 11/13/25(a)

    23,005       23,752,662  

Turkey Government International Bond
4.25%, 03/13/25

    18,103       17,265,736  

4.25%, 04/14/26

    14,305       13,124,838  

4.75%, 01/26/26

    15,854       14,863,125  

4.88%, 10/09/26

    28,189       25,933,880  

4.88%, 04/16/43

    27,596       16,730,075  

5.13%, 02/17/28

    18,535       16,403,475  

5.25%, 03/13/30

    17,835       14,713,875  

5.75%, 05/11/47

    32,481       21,153,251  

5.88%, 06/26/31

    16,105       13,347,019  
Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

Turkey (continued)

   

5.95%, 01/15/31

  $         20,857     $ 17,519,880  

6.00%, 03/25/27

    30,504       28,635,630  

6.00%, 01/14/41

    27,892       19,803,320  

6.13%, 10/24/28

    25,096       22,743,250  

6.38%, 10/14/25

    23,971       23,341,761  

6.50%, 09/20/33

    13,553       11,350,638  

6.63%, 02/17/45

    27,993       20,644,837  

6.75%, 05/30/40

    18,389       14,297,448  

6.88%, 03/17/36

    25,337       20,934,696  

7.25%, 03/05/38

    8,730       7,420,500  

7.38%, 02/05/25

    29,673       29,784,274  

7.63%, 04/26/29

    28,206       26,830,957  

8.00%, 02/14/34

    13,835       12,918,431  

8.60%, 09/24/27

    18,866       19,078,243  

9.13%, 07/13/30

    23,174       23,116,065  

9.38%, 03/14/29

    20,702       21,064,285  

9.38%, 01/19/33

    25,381       25,349,274  

9.88%, 01/15/28

    31,773       33,242,501  

11.88%, 01/15/30

    13,729       15,719,705  
   

 

 

 
              619,182,899  
Ukraine — 0.8%            

Ukraine Government International Bond
6.88%, 05/21/31(a)(e)(f)

    38,202       9,416,793  

7.25%, 03/15/35(a)(e)(f)

    56,196       14,133,294  

7.38%, 09/25/34(a)(e)(f)

    65,602       16,498,903  

7.75%, 09/01/23(a)(e)(f)

    29,664       9,047,520  

7.75%, 09/01/24(a)(e)(f)

    29,192       8,315,633  

7.75%, 09/01/25(a)(e)(f)

    29,337       8,331,708  

7.75%, 09/01/26(a)(e)(f)

    29,166       8,166,480  

7.75%, 09/01/27(a)(e)(f)

    28,937       8,044,486  

9.75%, 11/01/30(a)(e)(f)

    34,660       10,051,400  
   

 

 

 
      92,006,217  
United Arab Emirates — 3.2%            

Abu Dhabi Government International Bond
1.63%, 06/02/28(a)

    18,387       15,651,934  

1.70%, 03/02/31(a)

    13,766       10,715,592  

1.88%, 09/15/31(a)

    16,045       12,494,723  

2.50%, 04/16/25(a)

    27,874       26,602,109  

2.50%, 09/30/29(a)

    28,478       24,468,298  

2.70%, 09/02/70(a)

    13,872       7,035,705  

3.00%, 09/15/51(a)

    12,252       7,236,338  

3.13%, 05/03/26(a)

    24,456       23,072,707  

3.13%, 10/11/27(a)

    38,902       35,825,630  

3.13%, 04/16/30(a)

    27,977       24,576,046  

3.13%, 09/30/49(a)

    37,249       22,791,732  

3.88%, 04/16/50(a)

    37,652       26,603,491  

4.13%, 10/11/47(a)

    28,865       21,495,405  

Emirate of Dubai Government International Bond,
5.25%, 01/30/43(a)

    9,129       7,736,827  

Emirate of Dubai Government International Bonds,
3.90%, 09/09/50(a)

    11,380       7,283,200  

Finance Department Government of Sharjah
4.00%, 07/28/50(a)

    9,825       5,563,406  

6.50%, 11/23/32(a)

    9,260       8,959,050  

RAK Capital, 3.09%, 03/31/25(a)

    8,014       7,663,387  

Sharjah Sukuk Program Ltd.
2.94%, 06/10/27(a)

    9,392       8,417,580  

3.23%, 10/23/29(a)

    9,450       8,106,328  

3.85%, 04/03/26(a)

    9,799       9,272,304  

4.23%, 03/14/28(a)

    11,565       10,684,557  

 

 

22  

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Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Security  

Par

(000)

    Value  

United Arab Emirates (continued)

   

UAE International Government Bond
2.00%, 10/19/31(a)

  $ 9,850     $ 7,721,415  

2.88%, 10/19/41(a)

    8,997       5,862,108  

3.25%, 10/19/61(a)

    18,488       10,959,917  

4.05%, 07/07/32(a)

    17,060       15,529,931  

4.92%, 09/25/33(b)

    13,300       12,797,094  

4.95%, 07/07/52(a)

    11,527       9,715,100  
   

 

 

 
      394,841,914  
Uruguay — 2.1%            

Uruguay Government International Bond
4.38%, 10/27/27

    30,540       30,162,933  

4.38%, 01/23/31 (Call 10/23/30)

    44,960       42,402,561  

4.98%, 04/20/55

    56,501       47,065,309  

5.10%, 06/18/50

    85,352       73,573,827  

5.75%, 10/28/34 (Call 07/28/34)

    32,202       32,153,388  

7.63%, 03/21/36

    22,352       25,246,999  
   

 

 

 
      250,605,017  
Zambia — 0.2%            

Zambia Government International Bond
8.50%, 04/14/24(a)(e)(f)

    21,929       13,383,543  

8.97%, 07/30/27(a)(e)(f)

    27,286       16,550,664  
   

 

 

 
      29,934,207  
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government Obligations — 84.9%
(Cost: $13,979,419,859)

 

    10,307,940,624  
   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments — 98.0%
(Cost: $16,076,921,511)

 

    11,904,477,670  
   

 

 

 
     Shares         

Short-Term Securities

 

Money Market Funds — 0.4%

   

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares, 5.33%(j)(k)

    46,700,000       46,700,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Securities — 0.4%
(Cost: $46,700,000)

      46,700,000  
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 98.4%
(Cost: $16,123,621,511)

      11,951,177,670  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — 1.6%

      194,180,063  
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $   12,145,357,733  
   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

This security may be resold to qualified foreign investors and foreign institutional buyers under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933.

(b) 

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

(c) 

Perpetual security with no stated maturity date.

(d) 

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

(e) 

Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default.

(f) 

Non-income producing security.

(g) 

U.S. dollar denominated security issued by foreign domiciled entity.

(h) 

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

(i) 

Zero-coupon bond.

(j) 

Affiliate of the Fund.

(k) 

Annualized 7-day yield as of period end.

 

Affiliates

Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the year ended October 31, 2023 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliated Issuer    Value at
10/31/22
     Purchases
at Cost
     Proceeds
from Sale
     Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Value at
10/31/23
     Shares
Held at
10/31/23
     Income     

Capital

Gain
Distributions
from
Underlying
Funds

 

BlackRock Cash Funds: Treasury, SL Agency Shares

   $ 122,810,000      $      $ (76,110,000 )(a)     $      $      $ 46,700,000        46,700,000      $ 3,290,994      $ 106  
           

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

Represents net amount purchased (sold).

 

 

 

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

  23


Schedule of Investments  (continued)

October 31, 2023

  

iShares® J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond 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

                   

Corporate Bonds & Notes

     $        $ 1,596,537,046        $        $ 1,596,537,046  

Foreign Government Obligations

                10,307,940,624                   10,307,940,624  

Short-Term Securities

                   

Money Market Funds

             46,700,000                                        —          46,700,000  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
     $     46,700,000        $ 11,904,477,670        $                 —        $ 11,951,177,670  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

24  

2 0 2 3   H A R E S   A N N U A L   R E P O R T   T O   S H A R E H O L D E R S


 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

October 31, 2023

 

   

iShares

J.P. Morgan

Broad USD

Emerging

Markets

Bond ETF

   

iShares

J.P. Morgan USD

Emerging Markets

Bond ETF

 

 

 

ASSETS

   

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

  $ 37,415,306     $ 11,904,477,670  

Investments, at value — affiliated(c)

    590,000       46,700,000  

Cash

    5,036        

Cash pledged as collateral for securities lending

    161,077        

Foreign currency, at value(d)

    374       85,536  

Receivables:

   

Investments sold

    672,658       11,732,546  

Securities lending income — affiliated

    194        

Capital shares sold

          35,442,247  

Dividends — affiliated

    1,995       218,080  

Interest — unaffiliated

    466,987       170,367,073  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

    39,313,627       12,169,023,152  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

   

Bank overdraft

          10,749  

Collateral on securities loaned, at value

    161,077        

Payables:

   

Investments purchased

    880,753       19,452,600  

Investment advisory fees

    5,855       4,202,070  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    1,047,685       23,665,419  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

   

NET ASSETS

  $ 38,265,942     $ 12,145,357,733  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

   

Paid-in capital

  $ 40,193,947     $ 17,972,088,483  

Accumulated loss

    (1,928,005     (5,826,730,750
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  $ 38,265,942     $ 12,145,357,733  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE

   

Shares outstanding

    800,000       150,000,000  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value

  $ 47.83     $ 80.97  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares authorized

    Unlimited       Unlimited  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Par value

    None       None  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) Investments, at cost — unaffiliated

  $ 39,337,529     $ 16,076,921,511  

(b) Securities loaned, at value

  $ 154,871     $  

(c)  Investments, at cost — affiliated

  $ 590,000     $ 46,700,000  

(d) Foreign currency, at cost

  $ 383     $ 85,525  

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  25


 

Statements of Operations

Year Ended October 31, 2023

 

   

iShares

J.P. Morgan

Broad USD

Emerging

Markets

Bond ETF

 

 

 

 

 

(a)  

   

iShares

J.P. Morgan

USD

Emerging

Markets

Bond ETF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

   

Dividends — affiliated

  $ 15,507     $ 3,290,994  

Interest — unaffiliated

    1,812,216       785,179,646  

Securities lending income — affiliated — net

    1,425        

Other income — unaffiliated

    200       59,429  

Other income — affiliated

          63,375  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

    1,829,348       788,593,444  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES

   

Investment advisory

    54,930       57,906,631  

Interest expense

          63,375  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    54,930       57,970,006  

Less:

   

Investment advisory fees waived

    (5,493      
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived

    49,437       57,970,006  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    1,779,911       730,623,438  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

   

Net realized gain (loss) from:

   

Investments — unaffiliated

    (199,071     (177,115,430

Capital gain distributions from underlying funds — affiliated

          106  

Foreign currency transactions

          25  

In-kind redemptions — unaffiliated(b)

          (551,826,444
 

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (199,071     (728,941,743
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

   

Investments — unaffiliated

    (1,922,223     919,991,372  

Foreign currency translations

    (9     843  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (1,922,232     919,992,215  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    (2,121,303     191,050,472  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

  $ (341,392   $ 921,673,910  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) 

For the period from February 22, 2023 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 2023.

(b) 

See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

26  

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Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

    iShares
J.P. Morgan Broad
USD Emerging
Markets Bond ETF
     iShares
J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF
 
   

Period From
02/22/23

to 10/31/23

 
(a)  

 

    

Year Ended

10/31/23

 

 

      

Year Ended

10/31/22

 

 

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS

         

OPERATIONS

         

Net investment income

  $ 1,779,911      $ 730,623,438              $ 728,491,655  

Net realized loss

    (199,071      (728,941,743        (912,320,662

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    (1,922,232      919,992,215          (4,367,349,345
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (341,392      921,673,910          (4,551,178,352
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS(b)

         

Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to shareholders

    (1,586,613      (741,738,699        (739,764,342
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

         

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

    40,193,947        (1,703,746,600        (677,716,605
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

         

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    38,265,942        (1,523,811,389        (5,968,659,299

Beginning of period

           13,669,169,122          19,637,828,421  
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 38,265,942      $ 12,145,357,733        $ 13,669,169,122  
 

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

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

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  27


Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    iShares
J.P.
Morgan
Broad
USD
Emerging
Markets
Bond
ETF
 
   

Period

From

02/22/23

to

10/31/23

 

 

(a) 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 50.00  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income(b)

    2.22  

Net realized and unrealized gain(c)

    (2.41
 

 

 

 

Net increase from investment operations

    (0.19
 

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(d)

    (1.98
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 47.83  
 

 

 

 

Total Return(e)

 

Based on net asset value

    (0.48 )%(f) 
 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(g)

 

Total expenses

    0.20 %(h)  
 

 

 

 

Total expenses after fees waived

    0.18 %(h)  
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    6.48 %(h)  
 

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

  $ 38,266  
 

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(i)

    10
 

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Commencement of operations.

(b) 

Based on average shares outstanding.

(c) 

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

(d) 

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

(e) 

Where applicable, assumes the reinvestment of distributions.

(f) 

Not annualized.

(g) 

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

(h) 

Annualized.

(i) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

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Financial Highlights  (continued)

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF  
    Year Ended
10/31/23
    Year Ended
10/31/22
    Year Ended
10/31/21
    Year Ended
10/31/20
    Year Ended
10/31/19
 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 79.20     $ 109.65     $ 109.82     $ 113.14     $ 104.57  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(a)

    4.20       4.17       4.32       4.63       5.25  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)(b)

    1.79       (30.34     (0.14     (3.39     9.44  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from investment operations

    5.99       (26.17     4.18       1.24       14.69  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income(c)

    (4.22     (4.28     (4.35     (4.56     (6.12
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 80.97     $ 79.20     $ 109.65     $ 109.82     $ 113.14  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(d)

         

Based on net asset value

    7.46 %(e)       (24.42 )%      3.80     1.20     14.50
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets(f)

         

Total expenses

    0.39     0.39     0.39     0.39     0.39
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    4.95     4.44     3.86     4.22     4.81
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Data

         

Net assets, end of year (000)

  $ 12,145,358     $ 13,669,169     $ 19,637,828     $ 17,208,257     $ 14,482,306  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate(g)

    13     8     7     10     11
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(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) 

Includes payment received from an affiliate, which had no impact on the Fund’s total return.

(f) 

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

(g) 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes in-kind transactions.

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

I N A N C I A L   H I G H L I G H T S

  29


Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.    ORGANIZATION

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

These financial statements relate only to the following funds (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

 

iShares ETF  

Diversification    

Classification    

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond(a)

  Non-diversified    

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

  Diversified    

 

  (a) 

The Fund commenced operations on February 22, 2023.

2.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis.

Foreign Currency Translation: Each Fund’s books and records are maintained in U.S. dollars. Securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using prevailing market rates as quoted by one or more data service providers. Purchases and sales of investments are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the investments denominated in that currency will lose value; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.

Each Fund does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of investments for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the effects of changes in exchange rates on investments are not segregated in the Statements of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those investments, but are included as a component of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments. Each Fund reports realized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency related transactions as components of net realized gain (loss) for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are generally treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Bank Overdraft: The Funds had outstanding cash disbursements exceeding deposited cash amounts at the custodian during the reporting period and as of the report date and utilized its ability to temporarily borrow from that custodian for operational purposes. The Funds are obligated to repay the custodian for any overdraft, including any related costs or expenses, where applicable. For financial reporting purposes, overdraft fees, if any, are included in interest expense in the Statements of Operations.

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

Distributions: Dividends and distributions paid by each Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend dates. Distributions are determined on a tax basis and may differ from net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes. Dividends and distributions are paid in U.S. dollars and cannot be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Funds.

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

3.    INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

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

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments, with assistance from other BlackRock pricing committees.

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

 

   

Fixed-income investments for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued using the last available bid price or current market quotations provided by independent dealers or third-party pricing services. Pricing services generally value fixed income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but a fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. The pricing services may use matrix pricing or valuation models that utilize certain inputs and assumptions to derive values, including transaction data (e.g., recent representative bids and offers), market data, credit quality information, perceived market movements, news, and other relevant information. Certain fixed-income securities, including asset-backed and mortgage related securities may be valued based on valuation models that consider the estimated cash flows of each tranche of the entity, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche. The amortized cost method of valuation may be used with respect to debt obligations with sixty days or less remaining to maturity unless BFA determines such method does not represent fair value.

 

   

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

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

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

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

4.    SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

Zero-Coupon Bonds: Zero-coupon bonds are normally issued at a significant discount from face value and do not provide for periodic interest payments. These bonds may experience greater volatility in market value than other debt obligations of similar maturity which provide for regular interest payments.

Securities Lending: Each Fund may lend its securities to approved borrowers, such as brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The borrower pledges and maintains with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an approved bank, or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. The initial collateral received by each Fund is required to have a value of at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities for securities traded on U.S. exchanges and a value of at least 105% for all other securities. The collateral is maintained thereafter at a value equal to at least 100% of the current value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned by the Fund, on the next business day. During the term of the loan, each Fund is entitled to all distributions made on or in respect of the loaned

 

 

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

  31


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

securities but does not receive interest income on securities received as collateral. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions.

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

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

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

 

iShares ETF and Counterparty    

Securities Loaned

at Value

 

 

    

Cash Collateral

Received

 

(a)  

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

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

        

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  $ 106,547      $ (106,547   $     $  

Jefferies LLC

    48,324        (48,324            
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 154,871      $ (154,871   $     $  
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (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 each Fund is disclosed in the Fund’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

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

5.    INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

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

For its investment advisory services to the iShares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee of 0.20%, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund.

For its investment advisory services to the iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF, BFA is entitled to an annual investment advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly by the Fund, based on the Fund’s allocable portion of the aggregate of the average daily net assets of the Fund and certain other iShares funds, as follows:

 

Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets   Investment Advisory Fees  

First $19 billion

    0.4000

Over $19 billion, up to and including $33 billion

    0.3800  

Over $33 billion, up to and including $47 billion

    0.3610  

Over $47 billion

    0.3430  

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

Expense waivers: The total of the investment advisory fee and any other fund expenses are a fund’s total annual operating expenses. For the iShares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF, BFA has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its investment advisory fee for the Fund through February 29, 2024 in order to limit total annual operating expenses after fee waiver to 0.18% of average daily net assets.

This amount is included in investment advisory fees waived in the Statement of Operations. For the year ended ended October 31, 2023, the amounts waived in investment advisory fees pursuant to this arrangement were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Amounts Waived    

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 5,493    

Sub-Adviser: BFA has entered into a sub-advisory agreement with BlackRock International Limited (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of BFA, under which BFA pays the Sub-Adviser for services it provides to the Funds.

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

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

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

Pursuant to the current securities lending agreement, each Fund retains 82% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees), and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

In addition, commencing the business day following the date that the aggregate securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees generated across all 1940 Act iShares exchange-traded funds (the “iShares ETF Complex”) in that calendar year exceeds a specified threshold, each Fund, pursuant to the securities lending agreement, will retain for the remainder of that calendar year 85% of securities lending income (which excludes collateral investment fees) and the amount retained can never be less than 70% of the total of securities lending income plus the collateral investment fees.

The share of securities lending income earned by each Fund is shown as securities lending income – affiliated – net in its Statements of Operations. For the year ended October 31, 2023, the Funds paid BTC the following amounts for securities lending agent services:

 

iShares ETF   Amounts    

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 343    

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

During the year ended October 31 2023, the iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF received a reimbursement of $63,375 from an affiliate, which is included in Other income – affiliated in the Statement of Operations, related to an operating event.

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

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

6.    PURCHASES AND SALES

For the year ended October 31, 2023, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

 

iShares ETF   Purchases      Sales    

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 33,548,888      $ 3,901,344    

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

      1,948,257,968          1,818,996,667    

 

 

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

  33


Notes to Financial Statements   (continued)

 

For the year ended October 31, 2023, in-kind transactions were as follows:

 

iShares ETF  

In-kind

Purchases

    

In-kind  

Sales  

 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 9,558,449      $ —    

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

        9,029,990,726            10,758,718,608    

7.    INCOME TAX INFORMATION

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

Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of October 31, 2023, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds’ financial statements.

U.S. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or NAV per share. As of October 31, 2023, permanent differences attributable to realized gains (losses) from in-kind redemptions were reclassified to the following accounts:

 

iShares ETF   Paid-in Capital     Accumulated  
Earnings (Loss)  
 

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ (582,210,734     $  582,210,734    

The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:

 

iShares ETF   

Period Ended

10/31/23

 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond
Ordinary income

     $  1,586,613  
  

 

 

 

 

iShares ETF  

Year Ended

10/31/23

    

Year Ended

10/31/22

 

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond
Ordinary income

  $ 741,738,699        $739,764,342  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of October 31, 2023, the tax components of accumulated net earnings (losses) were as follows:

 

iShares ETF    

Undistributed

Ordinary Income

 

 

    



Non-expiring

Capital Loss
Carryforwards

 


(a) 
 

   

Net Unrealized

Gains (Losses)

 

(b) 

    Total  

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 206,717      $ (163,807   $ (1,970,915   $ (1,928,005 )   

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

    55,119,770        (1,667,746,796     (4,214,103,724     (5,826,730,750 )   

 

  (a) 

Amounts available to offset future realized capital gains.

 
  (b) 

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized gains (losses) was attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, amortization methods for premiums and discounts on fixed income securities, the classification of investments and the accrual of income on securities in default.

 

As of October 31, 2023, 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)   
 
 
 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 39,976,212      $ 247,559      $ (2,218,465   $ (1,970,906)    

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

    16,165,281,405        5,048,645        (4,219,152,380     (4,214,103,735)    

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

8.    PRINCIPAL RISKS

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

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

Market Risk: Investments in the securities of issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets involve certain additional risks that do not generally apply to investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or nonexistent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities; (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments; (iii) lack of publicly available or reliable information about issuers as a result of not being subject to the same degree of regulatory requirements and accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; and (iv) possible fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments.

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

Infectious Illness Risk: An outbreak of an infectious illness, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely impact the economies of many nations and the global economy, and may impact individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot be foreseen. An infectious illness outbreak may result in, among other things, closed international borders, prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions, market volatility or disruptions and other significant economic, social and political impacts.

Valuation Risk: The price each Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from each Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation technique or a price provided by an independent pricing service. Changes to significant unobservable inputs and assumptions (i.e., publicly traded company multiples, growth rate, time to exit) due to the lack of observable inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore each Fund’s results of operations. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by each Fund, and each Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. Each Fund’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.

Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that 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 Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds’ exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.

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

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

The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in fixed-income securities and/or uses derivatives tied to the fixed-income markets. Changes in market interest rates or economic conditions may affect the value and/or liquidity of such investments. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will decrease as interest rates rise and increase as interest rates fall. The Funds may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the period of historically low interest rates that ended in March 2022. The Federal Reserve has recently been raising the federal funds rate as part of its efforts to address inflation. There is a risk that interest rates will continue to rise, which will likely drive down the prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities, and could negatively impact the Funds’ performance.

 

 

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

  35


Notes to Financial Statements  (continued)

 

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.

 

9.

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

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

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Period Ended
10/31/23
 
iShares ETF   Shares      Amount  

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond(a)

    

Shares sold

    800,000      $ 40,193,947  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Year Ended
10/31/23
    Year Ended
10/31/22
 
iShares ETF   Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

       

Shares sold

    110,100,000     $ 9,394,461,609       101,500,000     $ 9,328,406,270  

Shares redeemed

    (132,700,000     (11,098,208,209     (108,000,000     (10,006,122,875
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (22,600,000   $ (1,703,746,600     (6,500,000   $ (677,716,605
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) 

The Fund commenced operations on February 22, 2023.

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

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

 

10.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

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

 

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Trustees of

iShares Trust and Shareholders of each of the two funds listed in the table below

Opinions on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of each of the funds listed in the table below (two of the funds constituting iShares Trust, hereafter collectively referred to as the “Funds”) as of October 31, 2023, the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets for each of the periods indicated in the table below, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds as of October 31, 2023, the results of each of their operations and the changes in each of their net assets for the periods indicated in the table below, and each of the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

  iShares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF(1)

  iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF(2)

 

(1) 

Statement of operations and statement of changes in net assets for the period February 22, 2023 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 2023.

 

(2) 

Statement of operations for the year ended October 31, 2023, and statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2023.

Basis for Opinions

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

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2023 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

December 21, 2023

We have served as the auditor of one or more BlackRock investment companies since 2000.

 

 

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

  37


Important Tax Information (unaudited)

 

The Funds intend to pass through to their shareholders the following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, of foreign source income earned and foreign taxes paid for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023:

 

 

 
iShares ETF  

Foreign Source    

Income Earned    

 

 

 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 1,791,626      

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

        785,056,687      

 

 

The Funds hereby designate the following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, of distributions from direct federal obligation interest for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023:

 

 

 
iShares ETF  

Federal Obligation    

Interest    

 

 

 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 9,504      

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

            1,942,069      

 

 

The law varies in each state as to whether and what percent of ordinary income dividends attributable to federal obligations is exempt from state income tax. Shareholders are advised to check with their tax advisers to determine if any portion of the dividends received is exempt from state income tax.

The Funds hereby designate the following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, as interest income eligible to be treated as a Section 163(j) interest dividend for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023:

 

 

 
iShares ETF   Interest Dividends      

 

 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 1,748,161      

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

        730,666,012      

 

 

The Funds hereby designate the following amounts, or maximum amounts allowable by law, as interest-related dividends eligible for exemption from U.S. withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023:

 

 

 
iShares ETF   Interest-Related    
Dividends    
 

 

 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $ 63,958      

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

            3,037,806      

 

 

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract

 

iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond 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 the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BFA (the “Advisory Agreement”), and the Sub-Advisory Agreement between BFA and BlackRock International Limited, (together the “Advisory Agreements”), 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 Agreements. At meetings on May 2, 2023 and May 15, 2023, 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 7-8, 2023, 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 Agreements 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 Agreements 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 and BlackRock International Limited; (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 Agreements 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 other fund(s) 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 any waivers and reimbursements) for the Fund were within range of the median of the investment advisory fee rates and overall expenses (net of any waivers and reimbursements) of the funds in its Peer Group, excluding iShares funds. The Board further noted that BFA pays BlackRock International Limited for sub-advisory services, and that are no additional fees imposed on the Fund in respect of the services provided under the Sub-Advisory Agreement(s).

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, 2022, 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 Agreements for the coming year.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided: Based on management’s representations, including information about ongoing 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 and BlackRock International Limited under the Advisory Agreements 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, including related programs implemented pursuant to regulatory requirements. 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, including those of the Sub-Advisor(s), 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 investment performance, investment and risk management

 

 

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

  39


Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract  (continued)

 

processes and strategies for BFA and BlackRock International Limited, which were provided at the May 2, 2023 meeting and throughout the year and matters related to BFA’s portfolio compliance program and other compliance programs and services.

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 Agreements supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreements 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 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 Agreements 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 Agreements 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 (as discussed above), including BFA’s and its affiliates’ estimated costs in providing services. The estimated cost information distinguished, among other things, between fixed and variable costs, and showed how the level and nature of fixed and variable costs may impact the existence or size of scale benefits, with the Board recognizing that potential economies of scale are difficult to measure. The 15(c) Committee and the Board reviewed information provided by BFA regarding the sharing of scale benefits with the iShares funds through various means, including, as applicable, through relatively low fee rates established at inception, breakpoints, waivers or other fee reductions, as well as through additional investment in the iShares business and the provision of improved or additional infrastructure and services to the iShares funds and their shareholders. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement for the Fund already provided for breakpoints in the Fund’s investment advisory fee rate as the assets of the Fund, on an aggregated basis with the assets of certain other iShares funds, increase. The Board noted that it would continue to assess the appropriateness of adding new or revised breakpoints in the future.

The Board concluded that this review of potential economies of scale and the sharing of related benefits, as well as the other factors considered at the meeting, supported the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreements 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, as applicable (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 further considered other direct benefits that might accrue to BFA, including the potential for reduction in the Fund’s expenses that are borne by BFA under the “all-inclusive” management fee arrangement, due in part to the size and scope of BFA’s investment operations servicing the Fund (and other funds in the iShares complex) as well as in response to a changing market environment. The Board also reviewed and considered information provided by BFA concerning authorized participant primary market order processing services that are provided by BlackRock Investments, LLC (“BRIL”), an affiliate of BFA, and paid for by authorized participants under the ETF Servicing Platform. 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

 

 

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Board Review and Approval of Investment Advisory Contract  (continued)

 

(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 Agreements 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 Agreements for the coming year.

 

 

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  41


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, 2023

 

     Total Cumulative Distributions
for the Fiscal Year
     % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative
Distributions for the Fiscal Year
 
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
 

J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bond

  $  1.983266      $  —      $  —      $  1.983266        100             100

J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond

    4.221624                      4.221624        100                   100  

Tailored Shareholder Reports for Open-End Mutual Funds and ETFs

Effective January 24, 2023, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to require open-end mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information. Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in a streamlined shareholder report but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these amendments on the shareholder reports for the Funds.

Premium/Discount Information

Information on the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads can be found at iShares.com.

Regulation under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive

The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, and its United Kingdom (“UK”) equivalent, ( “AIFMD”) impose detailed and prescriptive obligations on fund managers established in the European Union (the “EU”) and the UK. These do not currently apply to managers established outside of the EU or UK, such as BFA (the “Company”). Rather, the Company is only required to comply with certain disclosure, reporting and transparency obligations of AIFMD because it has registered the iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (the “Fund”) to be marketed to investors in the EU and/or UK.

Report on Remuneration

The Company is required under AIFMD to make quantitative disclosures of remuneration. These disclosures are made in line with BlackRock’s interpretation of currently available regulatory guidance on quantitative remuneration disclosures. As market or regulatory practice develops BlackRock may consider it appropriate to make changes to the way in which quantitative remuneration disclosures are calculated. Where such changes are made, this may result in disclosures in relation to a fund not being comparable to the disclosures made in the prior year, or in relation to other BlackRock fund disclosures in that same year.

Disclosures are provided in relation to (a) the staff of the Company; (b) staff who are senior management; and (c) staff who have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of the Fund.

All individuals included in the aggregated figures disclosed are rewarded in line with BlackRock’s remuneration policy for their responsibilities across the relevant BlackRock business area.As all individuals have a number of areas of responsibilities, only the portion of remuneration for those individuals’ services attributable to the Fund is included in the aggregate figures disclosed.

BlackRock has a clear and well-defined pay-for-performance philosophy, and compensation programs which support that philosophy.

BlackRock operates a total compensation model for remuneration which includes a base salary, which is contractual, and a discretionary bonus scheme. Although all employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus, there is no contractual obligation to make a discretionary bonus award to any employees. For senior management and staff who have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of the Fund, a significant percentage of variable remuneration is deferred over time.All employees are subject to a clawback policy.

Remuneration decisions for employees are made once annually in January following the end of the performance year, based on BlackRock’s full-year financial results and other non-financial goals and objectives. Alongside financial performance, individual total compensation is also based on strategic and operating results and other considerations such as management and leadership capabilities. No set formulas are established and no fixed benchmarks are used in determining annual incentive awards.

 

 

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Supplemental Information (unaudited)  (continued)

 

Annual incentive awards are paid from a bonus pool which is reviewed throughout the year by BlackRock’s independent compensation committee, taking into account both actual and projected financial information together with information provided by the Enterprise Risk and Regulatory Compliance departments in relation to any activities, incidents or events that warrant consideration in making compensation decisions. Individuals are not involved in setting their own remuneration.

Each of the control functions (Enterprise Risk, Legal & Compliance, and Internal Audit) each have their own organizational structures which are independent of the business units and therefore staff members in control functions are remunerated independently of the businesses they oversee. Functional bonus pools for those control functions are determined with reference to the performance of each individual function and the remuneration of the senior members of control functions is directly overseen by BlackRock’s independent remuneration committee.

Members of staff and senior management of the Company typically provide both AIFMD and non-AIFMD related services in respect of multiple funds, clients and functions of the Company and across the broader BlackRock group. Conversely, members of staff and senior management of the broader BlackRock group may provide both AIFMD and non-AIFMD related services in respect of multiple funds, clients and functions of the broader BlackRock group and of the Company. Therefore, the figures disclosed are a sum of individuals’ portion of remuneration attributable to the Company according to an objective apportionment methodology which acknowledges the multiple-service nature of the Company and the broader BlackRock group. Accordingly, the figures are not representative of any individual’s actual remuneration or their remuneration structure.

The amount of the total remuneration awarded to the Company’s staff in respect of the Company’s financial year ending December 31, 2022 was USD 4.12 million. This figure is comprised of fixed remuneration of USD 685 thousand and variable remuneration of USD 3.44 million. There was a total of 8 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above.

The amount of the aggregate remuneration awarded by the Company in respect of the Company’s financial year ending December 31, 2022, to its senior management was USD 2.96 million, and to other members of its staff whose actions potentially have a material impact on the risk profile of the Company or its funds was USD 970 thousand. These figures relate to the entire Company and not to the Fund.

Disclosures Under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation

The iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (the “Fund”) is registered under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive to be marketed to European Union (“EU”) investors, as noted above. As a result, certain disclosures are required under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (“SFDR”).

The Fund has not been categorized under the SFDR as an “Article 8” or “Article 9” product. In addition, the Fund’s investment strategy does not take into account the criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities under the EU sustainable investment taxonomy regulation or principal adverse impacts (“PAIs”) on sustainability factors under the SFDR. PAIs are identified under the SFDR as the material impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors relating to environmental, social and employee matters, respect for human rights, and anti-corruption and anti-bribery matters.

 

 

U P P L E M E N T A L  N F O R M A T I O N

  43


Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited)

 

The Board of Trustees has responsibility for the overall management and operations of the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed by BFA and other service providers. Each Trustee serves until he or she resigns, is removed, dies, retires or becomes incapacitated. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, resignation or removal. Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust are referred to as independent trustees (“Independent Trustees”).

The registered investment companies advised by BFA or its affiliates (the “BlackRock-advised Funds”) are organized into one complex of open-end equity, multi-asset, index and money market funds and ETFs (the “BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex”), one complex of closed-end funds and open-end non-index fixed-income funds (including ETFs) (the “BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex”) and one complex of ETFs (“Exchange-Traded Fund Complex”) (each, a “BlackRock Fund Complex”). Each Fundis included in the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex. Each Trustee also serves as a Director of iShares, Inc. and a Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust and, as a result, oversees all of the funds within the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex, which consists of 404 funds as of October 31, 2023. With the exception of Robert S. Kapito, Salim Ramji and Aaron Wasserman, the address of each Trustee and officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 400 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. The address of Mr. Kapito, Mr. Ramji and Mr. Wasserman is c/o BlackRock, Inc., 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. The Board has designated John E. Kerrigan as its Independent Board Chair. Additional information about the Funds’ Trustees and officers may be found in the Funds’ combined Statement of Additional Information, which is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737).

 

Interested Trustees
       
Name     
(Year of     
Birth)
    
   Position(s)   

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Other Directorships Held by Trustee

Robert S. Kapito(a)

(1957)

   Trustee (since 2009).    President, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2006); Vice Chairman of BlackRock, Inc. and Head of BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group (since its formation in 1998) and BlackRock, Inc.’s predecessor entities (since 1988); Trustee, University of Pennsylvania (since 2009); President of Board of Directors, Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund (since 2002).    Director of BlackRock, Inc. (since 2006); Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2009); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011).

Salim Ramji(b)

(1970)

   Trustee (since 2019).    Senior Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2014); Global Head of BlackRock’s ETF and Index Investments Business (since 2019); Head of BlackRock’s U.S. Wealth Advisory Business (2015-2019); Global Head of Corporate Strategy, BlackRock, Inc. (2014-2015); Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company (2010-2014).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2019); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2019).

 

(a)

Robert S. Kapito is deemed to be an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust due to his affiliations with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates.

(b) 

Salim Ramji is deemed to be an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust due to his affiliations with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates.

 

Independent Trustees
       
Name     
(Year of     
Birth)
    
   Position(s)   

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Other Directorships Held by Trustee

John E. Kerrigan

(1955)

   Trustee (since 2005); Independent Board Chair (since 2022).    Chief Investment Officer, Santa Clara University (since 2002).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011); Independent Board Chair of iShares, Inc. and iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2022).

Jane D. Carlin

(1956)

   Trustee (since 2015); Risk Committee Chair (since 2016).    Consultant (since 2012); Member of the Audit Committee (2012-2018), Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2017-2018) and Director of PHH Corporation (mortgage solutions) (2012-2018); Managing Director and Global Head of Financial Holding Company Governance & Assurance and the Global Head of Operational Risk Management of Morgan Stanley (2006-2012).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2015); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2015); Member of the Audit Committee (since 2016), Chair of the Audit Committee (since 2020) and Director of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (since 2016).

Richard L. Fagnani

(1954)

   Trustee (since 2017); Audit Committee Chair (since 2019).    Partner, KPMG LLP (2002-2016); Director of One Generation Away (since 2021).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2017); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2017).

 

 

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Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited)  (continued)

 

Independent Trustees (continued)
       
Name     
(Year of     
Birth)
    
   Position(s)   

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Other Directorships Held by Trustee

Cecilia H. Herbert

(1949)

   Trustee (since 2005); Nominating and Governance and Equity Plus Committee Chairs (since 2022).    Chair of the Finance Committee (since 2019) and Trustee and Member of the Finance, Audit and Quality Committees of Stanford Health Care (since 2016); Trustee of WNET, New York’s public media company (since 2011) and Member of the Audit Committee (since 2018), Investment Committee (since 2011) and Personnel Committee (since 2022); Member of the Wyoming State Investment Funds Committee (since 2022); Director of the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts (since 2021); Trustee of Forward Funds (14 portfolios) (2009-2018); Trustee of Salient MF Trust (4 portfolios) (2015-2018).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2005); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011).

Drew E. Lawton

(1959)

   Trustee (since 2017); 15(c) Committee Chair (since 2017).    Senior Managing Director of New York Life Insurance Company (2010-2015).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2017); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2017); Director of Jackson Financial Inc. (since 2021).

John E. Martinez

(1961)

   Trustee (since 2003); Securities Lending Committee Chair (since 2019).    Director of Real Estate Equity Exchange, Inc. (since 2005); Director of Cloudera Foundation (2017-2020); and Director of Reading Partners (2012-2016).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2003); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011).

Madhav V. Rajan

(1964)

   Trustee (since 2011); Fixed-Income Plus Committee Chair (since 2019).    Dean, and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 2017); Advisory Board Member (since 2016) and Director (since 2020) of C.M. Capital Corporation; Chair of the Board for the Center for Research in Security Prices, LLC (since 2020); Robert K. Jaedicke Professor of Accounting, Stanford University Graduate School of Business (2001-2017); Professor of Law (by courtesy), Stanford Law School (2005-2017); Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Head of MBA Program, Stanford University Graduate School of Business (2010-2016).    Director of iShares, Inc. (since 2011); Trustee of iShares U.S. ETF Trust (since 2011).

 

Officers
     
Name (Year
of Birth)
   Position(s)   

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

Dominik Rohé

(1973)

   President (since 2023).    Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2005); Head of Americas ETF and Index Investments (since 2023); Head of Latin America (2019-2023).

Trent Walker

(1974)

   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (since 2020).    Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since September 2019); Chief Financial Officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, BlackRock Funds, BlackRock Funds II, BlackRock Funds IV, BlackRock Funds V and BlackRock Funds VI (since 2021); Executive Vice President of PIMCO (2016-2019); Senior Vice President of PIMCO (2008-2015); Treasurer (2013-2019) and Assistant Treasurer (2007-2017) of PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series, PIMCO Equity Series VIT, PIMCO Managed Accounts Trust, 2 PIMCO-sponsored interval funds and 21 PIMCO-sponsored closed-end funds.

Aaron Wasserman

(1974)

   Chief Compliance Officer (iShares, Inc. and iShares Trust, since 2023; iShares U.S. ETF Trust, since 2023).    Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. (since 2018); Chief Compliance Officer of the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex, the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex and the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex (since 2023); Deputy Chief Compliance Officer for the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex, the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex and the Exchange-Traded Fund Complex (2014-2023).

Marisa Rolland

(1980)

   Secretary (since 2022).    Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2023); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2018-2022); Vice President, BlackRock, Inc. (2010-2017).

Rachel Aguirre

(1982)

   Executive Vice President (since 2022).    Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2018); Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2009-2018); Head of U.S. iShares Product (since 2022); Head of EII U.S. Product Engineering (since 2021); Co-Head of EII’s Americas Portfolio Engineering (2020-2021); Head of Developed Markets Portfolio Engineering (2016-2019).

Jennifer Hsui

(1976)

   Executive Vice President (since 2022).    Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2009); Co-Head of Index Equity (since 2022).

 

 

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  45


Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited)  (continued)

 

Officers (continued)
     
Name (Year
of Birth)
   Position(s)   

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

James Mauro

(1970)

   Executive Vice President (since 2022).    Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (since 2010); Head of Fixed Income Index Investments in the Americas and Head of San Francisco Core Portfolio Management (since 2020).

 

Effective March 30, 2023, Dominik Rohé replaced Armando Senra as President.

Effective July 1, 2023, Aaron Wasserman replaced Charles Park as Chief Compliance Officer.

 

 

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

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

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

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

 

 

E N E R A L  N F O R M A T I O N

  47


Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

 

Currency Abbreviation
USD    United States Dollar
Portfolio Abbreviation
CJSC    Closed Joint Stock Company
CMT    Constant Maturity Treasury
JSC    Joint Stock Company
PJSC    Public Joint Stock Company

 

 

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Want to know more?

iShares.com    |    1-800-474-2737

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

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

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

The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by JPMorgan Chase & Co., 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.

© 2023 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-AR-1014-1023

 

 

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